Spring Break
After national championship run, Beavers reload
Defending national champion Oregon State picked to finish second in Pac-10 behind ASU after big losses on mound, infield
Casey Grogan
Issue date: 2/7/07 Section: Sports
Just as the starting pitching rotation has reloaded, so has the bullpen. Kunz has first shot at replacing Gunderson as the team's closer and is expected to receive pressure from freshmen Jorge Reyes and Blake Keitzman.
"It is just a different mind mentality," Kunz said. "Being the set-up guy last year was 'get the three outs and make sure no one scores.' Now I'm the last guy, and nobody is behind me. I like it"
One of the only constants on the field for OSU will be behind the plate. Junior Mitch Canham turned down a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals in order to return to catch for the Beavers. Canham hit the ball extremely well at Hilo, returning to Corvallis with a .646 average.
"Canham and Barney are the only everyday starters we've got back," said head coach Pat Casey. "I expect leadership and production offensively and defensively. They need to be the heart and soul of our club."
Oregon State is set to play what could be a very tough non-conference schedule. OSU plays five returning NCAA tournament teams, as well as four teams ranked by Baseball America in the top 50.
"The schedule is going to be good," Stutes said. "Once we get into the Arizonas and USCs, we can look back and say 'Hey, we've already been to Georgia and Texas A&M. It's kind of comforting having teams like those under your belts before Pac-10."
The Beavers head to Athens, Ga., to meet the Bulldogs in a three-game set this weekend. The Bulldogs will be opening their season against the team that ended their season at the CWS in OSU. Georgia is led by closer Josh Fields.
"We expect a World Series-caliber club that has guys returning," Casey said. "It's a very big challenge with the kids we have returning. We expect a hostile environment. They've got Fields, one of the best closers in the country. I expect them to be strong."
The schedule does not get easier as the Beavers travel to Arizona to play Gonzaga, Arizona State and Missouri. The No. 16 Sun Devils will look to get a leg up on the Beavers before the two teams meet in Pac-10 play. Missouri is fresh off an appearance against Cal-State Fullerton in last season's Super Regional.
On March 8, Oregon State will finally play in front of a Goss Stadium crowd, as the Beavers will host the No. 21 Evansville Purple Aces. OSU will host San Francisco the following week as conference play nears.
Oregon State was picked to finish second by Baseball America and the Pac-10 coaches, behind the Sun Devils during conference play.
"We'll still have a bulls-eye on our back no matter what," Kunz said. "Regardless of whether we lost all those guys or not, we were still national champs last year - we're still going to have that big bulls-eye on our backs."
The national champions are making changes not only in who will take the field, but they are making many aesthetic changes as well. A new scoreboard resides in right field, and OSU will now play on a FieldTurf infield. And thanks to a deal with Nike and Wilson, OSU now has multiple uniform combinations, as well as new hats.
"We have like eight different uniforms this year," Kunz said.
"It is just a different mind mentality," Kunz said. "Being the set-up guy last year was 'get the three outs and make sure no one scores.' Now I'm the last guy, and nobody is behind me. I like it"
One of the only constants on the field for OSU will be behind the plate. Junior Mitch Canham turned down a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals in order to return to catch for the Beavers. Canham hit the ball extremely well at Hilo, returning to Corvallis with a .646 average.
"Canham and Barney are the only everyday starters we've got back," said head coach Pat Casey. "I expect leadership and production offensively and defensively. They need to be the heart and soul of our club."
Oregon State is set to play what could be a very tough non-conference schedule. OSU plays five returning NCAA tournament teams, as well as four teams ranked by Baseball America in the top 50.
"The schedule is going to be good," Stutes said. "Once we get into the Arizonas and USCs, we can look back and say 'Hey, we've already been to Georgia and Texas A&M. It's kind of comforting having teams like those under your belts before Pac-10."
The Beavers head to Athens, Ga., to meet the Bulldogs in a three-game set this weekend. The Bulldogs will be opening their season against the team that ended their season at the CWS in OSU. Georgia is led by closer Josh Fields.
"We expect a World Series-caliber club that has guys returning," Casey said. "It's a very big challenge with the kids we have returning. We expect a hostile environment. They've got Fields, one of the best closers in the country. I expect them to be strong."
The schedule does not get easier as the Beavers travel to Arizona to play Gonzaga, Arizona State and Missouri. The No. 16 Sun Devils will look to get a leg up on the Beavers before the two teams meet in Pac-10 play. Missouri is fresh off an appearance against Cal-State Fullerton in last season's Super Regional.
On March 8, Oregon State will finally play in front of a Goss Stadium crowd, as the Beavers will host the No. 21 Evansville Purple Aces. OSU will host San Francisco the following week as conference play nears.
Oregon State was picked to finish second by Baseball America and the Pac-10 coaches, behind the Sun Devils during conference play.
"We'll still have a bulls-eye on our back no matter what," Kunz said. "Regardless of whether we lost all those guys or not, we were still national champs last year - we're still going to have that big bulls-eye on our backs."
The national champions are making changes not only in who will take the field, but they are making many aesthetic changes as well. A new scoreboard resides in right field, and OSU will now play on a FieldTurf infield. And thanks to a deal with Nike and Wilson, OSU now has multiple uniform combinations, as well as new hats.
"We have like eight different uniforms this year," Kunz said.
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Jim
posted 2/07/07 @ 11:16 AM PST
Go Beavers!
Your positive attitude does us proud!
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