Huskers practice positional flexibility
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BY CURT McKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star
Dan Johnston knew UC Riverside’s Ben Price had put a good swing on the ball, and so the Nebraska outfielder immediately retreated to Haymarket Park’s left field wall and waited there hoping to make a game-ending catch.
He was left with maybe a couple feet to spare, and so the play ended up being routine — for an outfielder.
Johnston, however, is, by trade, a shortstop.
“Our lineup’s pretty versatile,” said the freshman from Papillion, who still was surprised to be where he was when the Huskers completed their doubleheader sweep last Saturday. “I don’t know how it’ll be later in the season, but it could help us in a lot of situations.”
To hear NU coach Mike Anderson, the Huskers aren’t blessed with more players who are capable of playing multiple positions. It’s just that this team could need to be more versatile in order to achieve like he wants.
In the game that Johnston came in as a defensive replacement, Nebraska started Ben Kline at first base, Cody Neer at catcher, Clay Cuno in left and Andy Cotton at shortstop. Kline is the regular shortstop, while Neer has spent most of his early playing time at first, so that combination may never be used against this season.
Or maybe it will. After all, through eight contests, Nebraska, which begins a four-game home series against Northern Colorado today, has used four players at first and seven outfielders.
The unusually high numbers have come about not only out of matchup considerations, but also because of player availability.
For instance, the player penciled to be NU’s opening-day first baseman, Tyler Farst, has yet to see action because of a hamstring injury.
Senior infielder Craig Corriston also missed the first six games as penalty for an NCAA rules violation.
Since Corriston’s return, the Huskers have lost designated hitter Jeff Tezak, who led last year’s team in hitting, to a season-ending knee injury. And so now Corriston, who finished last year playing third, can expect to play anywhere from first to left field to designated hitter.
“I’m just going to be comfortable being uncomfortable,” Corriston said, smiling. “I’ve got to be open-minded, because, yeah, I don’t know where I’m going to be from day to day. (But) everybody’s open-minded. Nobody’s set in their ways.”
Good thing, because even Anderson admits to having written in lineups that make him think of sandlot baseball.
There’s some obvious risk involved to putting players out of their normal positions, but “you’ve got to be a little versatile to create some offense,” he said.
An example of that would be Tyler Rank, a freshman primarily recruited as a pitcher. But Rank also has shown he can be an offensive weapon.
“Tyler needs some work at first base, but he can hit, we think,” Anderson said. “There’s a lot of those (types on the team).
“I don’t want to play around with the defense. Our defense is strong, but there’s situations that you’d have to be kind of open to playing some different positions (in order to add some offensive punch).”
Of NU’s 16 position players who have been available, 14 have started. Johnston and Brett Sowers are in the minority, but have each played in five games.
Kline, Neer and Corriston are the ones who’ve played multiple positions, but as Anderson searches for ways to add some potency to a club that’s hitting .293 as a team and averaging 7.5 runs, others should be prepared to step out of their primary spot.
“You never know what you’re going to get when you come to the park, which is a good thing,” Corriston said, “just from staying on your toes, not getting comfortable and being satisfied with what you’re doing.”
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
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