TAT: Razorbacks Get F When It Comes to Fielding Errors

This article originally appeared in the March 28, 2013 issue of The Arkansas Traveler.

(NOTE: This story went to press before the Mississippi Valley State game in Little Rock Wednesday, so it doesn't include Brian Anderson's 12th error of the season.)

Since starting as the preseason No. 1 team in the country, Arkansas’ baseball team has hit several roadblocks, but seems to have gotten back on track after sweeping No. 6 South Carolina over the weekend.

Despite the three wins, I remain wary because of one glaring problem with the Razorbacks: errors.

It feels like they have at least one fielding or throwing error every game, and they almost have. In their first 25 games, they have had twice as many multi-error games (12) as error-free games (6).

The errors peaked in the rubber game of the opening Southeastern Conference series against Ole Miss March 17, when they committed five. Two of those errors came in the 13th inning and allowed the Rebels to score the game-winning runs.

Even in the series sweep in Columbia, S.C., Arkansas committed five errors. The fifth error of the series allowed the Gamecocks to score a pair of runs and force extra innings in the final game of the series.

Following that series, their overall team fielding percentage was .961. If you don’t know anything about baseball, just know this: that’s bad. How bad is it?

It is the worst in the SEC and 173rd out of 296 Division I baseball teams. The Razorbacks rank just ahead of Nicholls State and right behind Canisius.

Nicholls State. Canisius. Yeah, those are real schools.

However, I think it is too early to write off Arkansas’ chances of success this season. Many fans, myself included, are concerned with these numbers, but a little research shows that there is still hope.

In Arkansas’ previous three College World Series seasons, 2004, 2009 and 2012, they posted team fielding percentages of .959, .968 and .970, respectively.

Over the past five seasons, the Razorbacks’ two College World Series teams would rank 36th (2009) and tied for 27th (2012) out of 40 participants, so teams with worse fielding percentages have still proven to be successful.

The position that is having the most trouble with errors is shortstop. Sophomore Brett McAfee has started 20 games at shortstop and has committed six errors, which is second only to sophomore Brian Anderson, who has 11. Anderson has started four games at shortstop, as well as 17 games at third base and three games in the outfield.

The only other Razorback to start at shortstop is freshman Jordan Farris, and he committed his only error of the season in his one start there.

Shortstop is usually considered the “quarterback of the infield” and is vital to the defensive success of a team. A lot of balls are hit at the shortstop, so committing errors could easily cost Arkansas wins, as it did against Ole Miss.

I don’t know if this is a psychological issue or if it’s just a performance issue, but head coach Dave Van Horn needs to figure it out and get it fixed before it costs them more games, whether it’s McAfee, Anderson, Farris or even someone like junior Dominic Ficociello, a two-time All-SEC Defensive Team selection.

McAfee started Tuesday against Mississippi Valley State and didn’t commit any errors while converting on all five of his opportunities. Hopefully he will be able to carry that type of performance over into SEC play.

For now, I am going to try not to worry about it and trust Van Horn to work it all out.