Indiana University Athletics
IU Looking To Think Less, Hit More
3/2/2016 2:51:00 PM | Baseball
By Sam Beishuizen, IUHoosiers.com | Twitter
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - If former Yankee great Yogi Berra was correct and baseball really is 90 percent mental and "the other half physical," Indiana baseball is right to think it will snap out of its hitting slump with time.
That is, if the Hoosiers can stop worrying about it.
"I think there's a lot of thinking going on in the box, which is never a good thing," senior infielder Brian Wilhite said. "Going against a 90 mph fastball, there's really only so much thinking you can really do to be ready."
Wilhite isn't alone in his rational. After scoring just six runs over a three-game series last weekend against Cal State Fullerton, the Hoosiers (1-5) have come to a consensus that they need to relax at the plate if they want the offense to wake up this weekend in Port Charlotte, Florida, where Indiana will play four games in as many days.
Head coach Chris Lemonis said before the season began that hitting would be a process. Of Indiana's five batting average leaders from a season ago, only now-sophomore outfielder Craig Dedelow is back in the clubhouse.
Lemonis holds firm in saying a lack of experience, not a lack of talent, is Indiana's major point of concern.
"We're a coach, and then we're a little bit physiologist in this game of baseball because there's so much in there," Lemonis said. "There is a side that we overthink it and overanalyze it and over everything. It's such a game of relaxed aggression, just being able to go out there and play. Hopefully, some of those guys can learn from that side and relax and play a little bit."
The physical side of practice hasn't changed much. The Hoosiers are still practicing the same situational drills they are used to using, and Wilhite said a few players have been spending more time with coaches one-on-one to fine tune their swings.
At the same time, Indiana doesn't want to overwork at the risk of frustration mounting, particularly after dropping back-to-back series to start the season. That part, junior infielder Tony Butler admits, is more difficult considering three of IU's five losses have come in extra innings.
"Being on a losing streak is a little tough on hitters, especially when we're not putting up runs as we think we can," Butler said. "Everybody's pressing a little bit which is normal, but I think we've all just got to take a step back, relax and let the game come to us."
Indiana will get its chance beginning Thursday against Seton Hall. The Hoosiers will then take on Illinois State, Seton Hall a second time and then Butler to close out the weekend before returning to Bloomington for the home-opening series against Western Carolina at Bart Kaufman Field.
Between now and then, Indiana will have hoped to have gotten closer to establishing a hitting identity.
Whether that be through small ball, power hitting or however the Hoosiers can manufacture runs, Indiana will take what it can get. Butler said that by the time the floodgates open, it's only a matter of time before any batting problems take care of themselves.
"Hitting is contagious," Butler said. "Hopefully we can start out hot on our game Thursday and keep it rolling from there."
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - If former Yankee great Yogi Berra was correct and baseball really is 90 percent mental and "the other half physical," Indiana baseball is right to think it will snap out of its hitting slump with time.
That is, if the Hoosiers can stop worrying about it.
"I think there's a lot of thinking going on in the box, which is never a good thing," senior infielder Brian Wilhite said. "Going against a 90 mph fastball, there's really only so much thinking you can really do to be ready."
Wilhite isn't alone in his rational. After scoring just six runs over a three-game series last weekend against Cal State Fullerton, the Hoosiers (1-5) have come to a consensus that they need to relax at the plate if they want the offense to wake up this weekend in Port Charlotte, Florida, where Indiana will play four games in as many days.
Head coach Chris Lemonis said before the season began that hitting would be a process. Of Indiana's five batting average leaders from a season ago, only now-sophomore outfielder Craig Dedelow is back in the clubhouse.
Lemonis holds firm in saying a lack of experience, not a lack of talent, is Indiana's major point of concern.
"We're a coach, and then we're a little bit physiologist in this game of baseball because there's so much in there," Lemonis said. "There is a side that we overthink it and overanalyze it and over everything. It's such a game of relaxed aggression, just being able to go out there and play. Hopefully, some of those guys can learn from that side and relax and play a little bit."
The physical side of practice hasn't changed much. The Hoosiers are still practicing the same situational drills they are used to using, and Wilhite said a few players have been spending more time with coaches one-on-one to fine tune their swings.
At the same time, Indiana doesn't want to overwork at the risk of frustration mounting, particularly after dropping back-to-back series to start the season. That part, junior infielder Tony Butler admits, is more difficult considering three of IU's five losses have come in extra innings.
"Being on a losing streak is a little tough on hitters, especially when we're not putting up runs as we think we can," Butler said. "Everybody's pressing a little bit which is normal, but I think we've all just got to take a step back, relax and let the game come to us."
Indiana will get its chance beginning Thursday against Seton Hall. The Hoosiers will then take on Illinois State, Seton Hall a second time and then Butler to close out the weekend before returning to Bloomington for the home-opening series against Western Carolina at Bart Kaufman Field.
Between now and then, Indiana will have hoped to have gotten closer to establishing a hitting identity.
Whether that be through small ball, power hitting or however the Hoosiers can manufacture runs, Indiana will take what it can get. Butler said that by the time the floodgates open, it's only a matter of time before any batting problems take care of themselves.
"Hitting is contagious," Butler said. "Hopefully we can start out hot on our game Thursday and keep it rolling from there."
Players Mentioned
Jacksonville Baseball Classic - Notre Dame Press Conference
Sunday, February 22
Jacksonville Baseball Classic - UCF Press Conference
Saturday, February 21
Jacksonville Baseball Classic - LSU Press Conference
Friday, February 20
Big Ten Tournament Press Conference - vs. Rutgers
Wednesday, May 21