RAZORACKS BASEBALL : Arkansas doesn’t sweat later start
Posted on Saturday, February 2, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas'baseball team spent Groundhog Day last year opening its season at Louisiana Tech.
Today, the Razorbacks are waiting to begin full practices outdoors as they prepare for the season opener that is still 27 days away.
The reason for the late start is a new NCAA rule for college baseball that mandates a uniform starting date for practices and games. Teams cannot begin full practices outdoors before Feb. 1 or play games before the third full weekend in February.
The change was pushed by Northern schools, which argued they were at a disadvantage because winter weather in their region prevented them from starting at the same time as schools in warmer climates.
The new rule doesn't affect the number of games teams play or the College World Series. Teams will play a 56-game regular-season schedule, and the College World Series starst June 13, two days earlier than last season.
"I like the new rule,"Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. "Teams like Hawaii and Arizona State were getting an early start and spreading out their schedule so much that they didn't have to play many midweek games. That gave them an advantage.
"We have a common starting date now, and that's more fair for everyone, especially teams in the North."
Melting snow pushed Arkansas indoors again Friday, but the Razorbacks hope to move outside by early next week. The Razorbacks won't practice outside today because several players will be recognized for academic achievements during halftime of Arkansas' basketball game against Florida at Walton Arena.
Arkansas will play 10 of its first 13 games at home, starting Feb. 22 with Wright State. The Razorbacks' first road trip begins Feb. 29 for a tournament at College Station, Texas. SEC play begins March 14 against Georgia at Baum Stadium.
Arkansas went 43-21 last season and won the SEC West championship for the second time in four years. Arkansas hosted an NCAA regional tournament for a second consecutive year but was eliminated after two losses to Oklahoma State.
Arkansas' biggest challenge this season will be rebuilding its starting pitching rotation after Nick Schmidt, Jess Todd and Duke Welker turned professional. The three juniors combined for a 27-11 record last season, and Schmidt and Todd were firstteam All-SEC players. First baseman Danny Hamblin, who set a school record with 57 career home runs, and catcher Brian Walker also must be replaced.
Third baseman Logan Forsythe returns after leading Arkansas last season with a. 347 average. Casey Coon returns in left field after leading the Razorbacks with 71 RBI, and Tim Smalling is back at shortstop after hitting. 288 as a freshman.
Arkansas hopes pitcher Shaun Seibert is fully recovered from an elbow injury that forced him to miss most of last season. Left-hander Dallas Keuchel is expected to be more consistent after going 6-3 with a 5. 88 ERA as a freshman, and several newcomers will compete for playing time on the mound and in the field.
"Shaun is probably about 75 or 80 percent recovered now, but he's going to be back,"Van Horn said. "Even if he's not 100 percent, he can still get people out.
"He's working real hard, and he's kind of on a mission."
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