Power adjustment
Once relentless, TCU offense takes on new look

By Colleen Casey
Skiff Staff

With the absence of consistent power hitters in the lineup this season, head coach Lance Brown said his philosophy of relying on home runs to build the team’s offense has gone down the drain.

Last season, college players had to adjust to aluminum bats that had been altered to hit similar to the wooden bats used professionally.

Erin Munger/SKIFF STAFF Junior shortstop Erick Macha hit better than .300 last season and was fifth in the Western Athletic Conference in stolen bases.

Because of this adjustment, Brown said this season he’s focusing on the quality, not quantity, of long-range hitting.

“We have changed our philosophy from day one,” Brown said. “We have a better knowledge of the strike zone, and we’re not as free-swinging.”

Since the equipment change last season, the team made shifts in the way players, such as graduates Mark Hamilton, Levi Groomer and Shaun Wooley, played.

With those hitting contributors, Brown said he felt comfortable allowing them to swing away, especially with the bases loaded.

“We had a team with individuals that did well,” Brown said. “(This season) we’re equipped to bunt, hit and run and be effective with the new equipment.”

Brown said the quality of hitting he’s seen during practices has gone up and down.

“All our players are not familiar with bunting and hitting with the new equipment,” Brown said. “Our recruits have had to adjust, since they were really recruited as power hitters.”

Brown said his top three hitters are junior shortstop Eric Macha, senior catcher Jason Price and senior outfielder Tom Bates.

In 2000, Bates hit .340 with six home runs, and Macha hit .316 with eight triples and 16 stolen bases.

Price, another contributor last season, said the team hasn’t lost much offensively, and he said the adjustment will not limit the team’s capability.

“We won’t necessarily look for replacements (for departed players),” Price said. “ I don’t see the adjustment to the bats to be a problem at all either.”

Price said he expects the team to adopt a philosophy based more on strategical hitting, which is not dependent on home runs. However, he also said home runs will not be completely abolished from their game.

Bates said this philosophy will help make the team hit better, make smarter choices and not commit costly errors.

“This season we’re definitely on the upside,” Bates said. “We won’t see as strong of leaders, but the middle of our line up is strong.”

Bates said there isn’t one strong point to the team, but he said he thinks this team will be successful as long as they continue to improve the quality of offense, defense and pitching.

“I think our pitching has improved since last year. We have very good assets in all areas, and we’ll always be looking to improve them, especially our offense.”

Colleen Casey
c.m.casey@student.tcu.edu