Play Ball!

David R.

February 11, 2010 - 4:57 PM

As spring time nears, the days count down until the first pitch is thrown to spark a new season of Oregon Baseball. With the team's new field completed, all Oregon fans are hopeful that the Ducks can right the wrongs of last season. Coach Horton has high expectations for this year's baseball squad. In fact, he told the Oregon Daily Emerald that he would be disappointed if the Ducks didn't make it to the College World Series, held in Omaha, Nebraska in legendary Rosenblatt Stadium.

As is the case with most new programs, the Ducks struggled last season, dropping 26 of their last 28 games. Remembering the disappointment of last year's season, the players need to forget about the past and take on this season with force as they have a replenished team, with new talent, that is eager to take the field. The Ducks have a chance to shock the league and do some damage. As might be expected, the rest of the Pacific 10 Conference doesn't view this Ducks team as being a major threat. The coaches of the Pac 10 have picked the Ducks to finish last in the conference for this season. In my opinion, this works in favor of the Ducks. When your team is picked to finish first in a division or conference, it means one thing: Every team will be excited and ready to play you, and every team will throw their best pitcher at you. The story won't be the same for the Ducks. When you are picked to finish last, it means that every team will underestimate your capabilities. Teams will overlook you which gives you the chance to catch them off guard. Also, teams won't want to waste a good pitcher on a team that isn't supposed to be any good. In this respect, the Ducks batters will usually be facing the pitchers that aren't yet good enough to be number one starters.

Even last season the Ducks proved that they can compete with some of the best teams in the country. In an extra-inning game in PGE Park in Portland last spring, the Ducks defeated the Oregon State Beavers at a neutral site. It was only a few years ago that the Beavers won back to back World Series, a feat that is rarely accomplished.

As every coach will preach, the Ducks need to prevent themselves from overlooking teams that may appear weak, as many teams will do to them. Last season, for whatever reason, the Ducks lost twice to the Portland Pilots. At the same time, in the home opener they defeated the Fresno State Bulldogs who have won a College World Series more recently than the Beavers have.

It will be interesting to see how the season unfolds. Coach Horton expects a trip to Omaha, while the rest of the Pacific 10 thinks the Ducks are going no were fast. It is on the shoulders of the younger members of last year's team to take over and become leaders, and take the team where it wants to go. With the season right around the corner, I can't wait to be in the bleachers at PK Park watching our Ducks play ball in the spring-time sun shine.