CatsPause.com - Cats opting for new approach in 2009

February 26, 2009

Matt May
CatsPause.com Senior Writer

Chicks dig the long ball, this much we know. Gary Henderson does as well, he just knows there might not be as many of them at Cliff Hagan Stadium this season.

The new Kentucky baseball coach has watched the Cats' mashers hammer the ball out of the park with frightening frequency the past few years but his first squad doesn't appear to have the same punch in 2009.

"I'm a huge fan of the three-run home run," Henderson quipped at UK's Baseball Media Day. "Having said that we lost about 75 percent of our home runs and a lot of our production, but the program will have some power in it."

Led by bombers Collin Cowgill, Sawyer Carroll and Brian Spear the Cats cranked out 83 home runs during a 44-win season last spring. More often than not the game plan was to work a few walks out of the opposing pitcher and then swing for the fences, an approach that worked given 45 of those round trippers came with men on base.

Without those three homer-happy bats - and Ryan Wilkes as well - the style of attack will shift to a small-ball look in Henderson's first season at the helm.

"We're not going to bang the ball out of the yard like we have in the past," junior outfielder Keenan Wiley said. "We're not going to hit 100 home runs or 75, 80 home runs. That's what we used to win games (last year) but our offense is going to be based more on bunting, hit-and-run, stealing bases and win games in a lot of different ways than we have in the past.

"I think it's really going to help because there are a lot of really good pitchers in this league and sometimes you really have to work to manufacture runs. We lost a couple of close games last year because we couldn't manufacture any runs."

Of the Cats' 19 losses last year, 13 were by either one or two runs. Although numbers don't always tell the whole story it's reasonable to wonder if the ability to create runs in was other than clearing the fence could have made the difference between hosting a NCAA Tournament regional or higher seeding.

When John Cohen resigned to take the head coaching position at Mississippi State Henderson set out to find the right fit as the new hitting instructor. He settled on Brian Green, a young gun who has spent his entire coaching career on the west coast where small-ball is much more common than the Southeastern Conference.

"We're going to be very exciting," senior third baseman Chris 'Sparky' McClendon said. "(Opponents) don't know what club you're going to face."

Henderson stressed the importance of sizing up a roster and adjusting to what you have rather than look at the 310-foot mark down the right field line at Cliff Hagan Stadium and hold firm in waiting to pound the ball onto the football practice fields beyond that fence.

"You have to conform to your personnel and there is no question we are going to have to rely on something other than hitting 1.5 home runs a game," Henderson said. "That approach won't work with this group. That's not to say we can't hit home runs but we are going to have to approach things differently."

McClendon, Wiley, shortstop Chris Wade and outfielder Bryan Rose should lead the way in the new approach. The quartet totaled 25 stolen bases and combined to hit 60 doubles and triples, all of which contribute to putting pressure on the opponent without jacking the ball out of the park.

While it may not be as exhilarating as hearing that distinctive ping and watching the baseball soar through the air there should be no shortage of excitement at the ballpark.

The chicks will grow to love that as well.

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
The Cats open their 32-game home schedule at Cliff Hagan Stadium on Friday afternoon in the first of a four-game series with Western Michigan. UK split their season-opening four-game strip to Myrtle Beach, S.C. last weekend and now return to friendlier confines for a 10-game stretch before opening Southeastern Conference play at LSU Mar. 13-15.

Friday, Feb. 27 - vs. Western Michigan, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 28 - vs. Western Michigan, Noon
Saturday, Feb. 28 - vs. Western Michigan, 2 p.m.
Sunday, Mar. 1 - vs. Western Michigan, 1 p.m.

Matt May is the baseball beat reporter for The Cats' Pause. If you have questions or comments about the Cats e-mail him here.

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