A superstitious practice of male athletes — particularly baseball players — is to shave one’s beard when on-field performance begins to worsen. Following a three-game sweep at the hands of Mississippi State last weekend, starting pitcher Matt Krook and multiple other Ducks got rid of their facial hair.
“It’s kind of a ‘fresh start’ deal,” Krook said.
Pac-12 play begins on Friday against Utah, and the Ducks (8-5) are not where they hoped they would be this point in the season. The team batting average sits at a conference-low .206. The starting pitching, the team’s bright spot all season, was battered in Starkville.
A fresh start in conference is exactly what manager George Horton is hoping for.
“It’s refreshing if you’re limping into [Pac-12 play] and you say, ‘Well, this is another phase of our season, and we’re all 0-0,’” Horton said.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you we are concerned about our lack of excellence on the road. Make no mistake about it, Mississippi State played the game really well — a lot better than we did… I hope that’s not a prelude for how it is going to go for us.”
Oregon’s starting rotation combined to allow 14 runs (11 earned) on 17 hits, 12 walks, three hit batsmen and six strikeouts against the Bulldogs. Krook was pulled from the game Saturday just two outs into the first inning after five consecutive batters reached base on walks and hit-by-pitches.
“I honestly don’t really know what happened,” Krook said. “I just completely lost feel for the strike zone, and it just got away from me pretty quick.”
Krook assured his arm feels “great” despite the rough outing.
Horton and Cole Irvin both cited the inclement weather in Starkville as a factor in the pitching staff’s off weekend, but Krook said it’s not an excuse. On the way home from the Mississippi series, Krook and the pitchers agreed their best course of action is to “make it a memory” and “flush it” to focus on the road ahead.
Horton originally saw last weekend as a dress rehearsal for Pac-12 play, for which he is now “concerned but excited.” He figured the SEC match-ups against Alabama and Mississippi State would simulate the experience of a Pac-12 game because of the atmosphere and level of competition. But the Alabama game was canceled due to weather, and few fans showed up to see the Ducks play the Bulldogs for the same reason, plus the fact the game came during Mississippi State’s spring break.
The upcoming series against Utah provides Oregon an opportunity to get back on track. The Utes enter with a conference-low 4.99 ERA and 23 errors, the most in the Pac-12. Its team batting average is .271. Oregon enters the series with a 2.72 team ERA.
“We have to get our confidence and mojo back,” Horton said.
The three-game series begins Friday, 6:00 p.m at PK Park.
Follow Kenny Jacoby on Twitter @KennyJacoby