Huskers look to new pitchers in fall camp
Much like NASCAR faced a few years ago when a swarm of upcoming drivers brought the Nextel Cup racing circuit a new identity, the Nebraska baseball team could use a new marketing pitch for its 2008 pitching staff.
To borrow from that campaign, “Young Guns” would definitely be fitting.
Having lost six of seven underclassmen who were drafted to professional ball, the Huskers this fall are going through their biggest transition on the mound in years. The 17-member staff includes 12 pitchers who have never played for NU.
“I have no idea about a nickname - but that would be kind of cool, actually,” redshirt freshman Eric Rose said Thursday.
Whatever catchy tag may come, the Billings, Mont., native is confident the pitchers will make it hold up.
And he doesn't care that after senior right-hander Johnny Dorn, who has a 31-9 career record while starting 43 of 50 games, the Huskers have just three combined starts from the rest of the staff.
Like many of the NU newbies, Rose went into summer ball with a focus to step up his game, realizing that the 2008 season would offer numerous opportunities.
Rose spent last spring rehabbing following surgery to repair a ruptured disc in his back. He then went 2-2 with three saves and a 3.00 earned-run average as a reliever for the Hays, Kan., team that finished second at the NBC World Series (the most prestigious event for summer collegiate teams).
Another redshirt freshman left-hander, Brian Feekin of Papillion, performed well enough this summer to be chosen for the Coastal Plain League All-Star game.
“Every year, every place I've coached, there's always guys that crawl out of the rock that you had no idea what they were going to do, and they come out and they do it,” said first-year pitching coach Eric Newman. “We're going to develop the guys who are here.”
Though Dorn, junior left-hander Dan Jennings and senior right-hander Thad Weber (the only draftee to return) would appear to be early favorites for weekend starting spots, most roles are completely up for grabs. The only other experienced pitchers are third-year bullpen regulars: right-hander Erik Bird and lefty Zach Herr.
“Last week, we had Johnny Dorn pitching the last inning of a scrimmage,” said Rose, who knows better than to believe that's where Dorn will be come spring.
His primary point was this: There's enough talent and competition among the rookies trying to catch Newman's attention that Rose is confident the Huskers will be tough to hit.
“It's not like we're not sure about our situations, like we're tentative about anything. We're all real excited about the spring, and we're ready to go,” he said. “For how hard we've worked, there's no way that we're not going to have a good year.
“All we've thought of this fall was not rebuilding, it was reloading. We've all grown a lot this summer.”
Added Jennings, a junior left-hander who emerged down the stretch last season and finished with an encouraging relief outing against Arizona State in the NCAA regional: “It's almost a destiny. A lot of guys are (thinking) it's their time.”
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
To borrow from that campaign, “Young Guns” would definitely be fitting.
Having lost six of seven underclassmen who were drafted to professional ball, the Huskers this fall are going through their biggest transition on the mound in years. The 17-member staff includes 12 pitchers who have never played for NU.
“I have no idea about a nickname - but that would be kind of cool, actually,” redshirt freshman Eric Rose said Thursday.
Whatever catchy tag may come, the Billings, Mont., native is confident the pitchers will make it hold up.
And he doesn't care that after senior right-hander Johnny Dorn, who has a 31-9 career record while starting 43 of 50 games, the Huskers have just three combined starts from the rest of the staff.
Like many of the NU newbies, Rose went into summer ball with a focus to step up his game, realizing that the 2008 season would offer numerous opportunities.
Rose spent last spring rehabbing following surgery to repair a ruptured disc in his back. He then went 2-2 with three saves and a 3.00 earned-run average as a reliever for the Hays, Kan., team that finished second at the NBC World Series (the most prestigious event for summer collegiate teams).
Another redshirt freshman left-hander, Brian Feekin of Papillion, performed well enough this summer to be chosen for the Coastal Plain League All-Star game.
“Every year, every place I've coached, there's always guys that crawl out of the rock that you had no idea what they were going to do, and they come out and they do it,” said first-year pitching coach Eric Newman. “We're going to develop the guys who are here.”
Though Dorn, junior left-hander Dan Jennings and senior right-hander Thad Weber (the only draftee to return) would appear to be early favorites for weekend starting spots, most roles are completely up for grabs. The only other experienced pitchers are third-year bullpen regulars: right-hander Erik Bird and lefty Zach Herr.
“Last week, we had Johnny Dorn pitching the last inning of a scrimmage,” said Rose, who knows better than to believe that's where Dorn will be come spring.
His primary point was this: There's enough talent and competition among the rookies trying to catch Newman's attention that Rose is confident the Huskers will be tough to hit.
“It's not like we're not sure about our situations, like we're tentative about anything. We're all real excited about the spring, and we're ready to go,” he said. “For how hard we've worked, there's no way that we're not going to have a good year.
“All we've thought of this fall was not rebuilding, it was reloading. We've all grown a lot this summer.”
Added Jennings, a junior left-hander who emerged down the stretch last season and finished with an encouraging relief outing against Arizona State in the NCAA regional: “It's almost a destiny. A lot of guys are (thinking) it's their time.”
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
Copyright © 2002-2008 Lincoln Journal Star. All rights reserved.