University of Georgia Athletics
Inside The Numbers Of The 2011 Season
July 28, 2011 | Baseball
July 28, 2011
On Wednesday, the NCAA baseball committee released the final statistical data in college baseball for the 2011 season. The numbers showed significant changes in power and run production due in part to the new bat specifications that took effect in 2011.
Here's a look at the data for Division I Baseball in 2011:
*Teams had a .282 batting average compared to .305 in 2010.
(Georgia batted .274 in 2011 compared to .301 in 2010)
*Home runs per game dropped to 0.52 compared to 0.94 in 2010.
(Georgia hit 40 home runs in 2011 compared to 45 in 2011)
*Overall scoring dipped from 6.98 last season to 5.58 this year.
(Georgia's scoring went from 6.09 in 2010 to 4.77 in 2011)
Earned-Run Averages were 4.67 in 2011 compared to 5.95 in 2010.
(*Georgia's ERA was 4.90 in 2011 compared to 8.51 in 2010; *Greatest improvement in school history)
Team Fielding Percentage registered an all-time high of .964.
(Georgia set a school record at .974 in 2011 compared to .964 in 2010)
The new bat standards in 2011 featured a stricter "Ball-Bat Coefficient of Restitution" (BBCOR) standard that reduced a batted ball's exit speed. According to the NCAA, the BBCOR formula provided a better measure of a bat's performance and allowed the Baseball Rules Committee and bat-testing laboratories to better predict field performance based on lab tests. The goal is for non-wood bats that meet this new standard to perform similarly to wood bats. The Baseball Rules Committee implemented the standards with hopes of bring more balance to the game.
2011 GEORGIA SEASON IN REVIEW
The 2011 Bulldogs will not be remembered for claiming any titles, but they did capture the hearts of their fans for being a resilient bunch.
Georgia displayed true grit. They were a team that did not have any student-athletes earn All-Southeastern Conference honors; a team that ranked 10th in the SEC in Batting (.274); 10th in Pitching (4.90 ERA); and tied for first in Fielding Percentage (school record .974). Still, this team garnered the 10th NCAA bid in school history and the sixth under head coach David Perno. They reached the final of the NCAA Corvallis (Ore.) Regional.
"I'm really proud of how this team battled all season," said Perno. "It wasn't easy for them, and they overcame a lot to go as far as they did."
Boasting the nation's top-rated schedule and a Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) at No. 16, Georgia (33-32, 16-14 SEC) played an SEC-high 37 games versus ranked teams and led the SEC with 17 wins over top 25 clubs. The Bulldogs were road warriors, tallying an SEC-high 37 games away from home.
For the second straight season, Georgia lost a starter to a devastating injury. In 2011, it was junior Johnathan Taylor (J.T.), the leadoff hitter and centerfielder. He collided with teammate Zach Cone during the 11th game of the year. Georgia dedicated the rest of the season to J.T., fighting its way to the SEC Tournament in the nation's toughest league, not to mention most difficult division.
Georgia finished fourth in the SEC behind Eastern Division rivals South Carolina, Florida and Vanderbilt, all who advanced to the College World Series and ended the year ranked 1-2-3 in the final USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 Coaches poll.
At the SEC Tournament, Georgia needed to win three games to have a record above .500 to be eligible for an NCAA at-large bid, and they did that with a remarkable run to the semifinals that featured wins over No. 1 South Carolina and No. 3 Florida. Incidentally when the Bulldogs upset the Gamecocks to eliminate them from the tournament, it would be their last loss. USC (55-14) would end the year on a 10-game winning streak and capture its second consecutive national title. In this year's CWS Finals, they beat the Gators (53-19).
Top Bulldog Performers
Junior RHP Michael Palazzone (10-5, 3.14 ERA) was one of the top pitchers in the SEC with seven wins over ranked foes and a league-best four complete games. Palazzone's wins included beating #3 Vanderbilt, #4 Florida, #5 Florida State, #9 LSU, #14 Arkansas and #24 Miss. State. He made the SEC All-Tournament team, going 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in two appearances. On two days rest following a loss to #3 Vanderbilt, he went 4.1 innings and allowed one unearned run in getting a win in relief over #3 Florida to reach the SEC Tournament semifinals and qualify the Bulldogs for an NCAA at-large bid.
Sophomore LHP Alex Wood (6-7, 4.44 ERA) tossed his first career complete game in beating Auburn 3-2 to keep Georgia's season alive at the SEC Tournament. In March at #10 UCLA, he beat the Bruins and the eventual number one overall pick in the MLB draft in Gerrit Cole.
Sophomore SS Kyle Farmer (.308-8-58) ranked fifth in the SEC in RBI and led the the team in home runs. He made the NCAA Regional All-Tournament team after batting .375 with five RBI.
Junior 2B Levi Hyams (.332-5-38) led the team in batting and made the NCAA Regional All-Tournament team after hitting .529 in four games. Hyams and Farmer excelled defensively all season, helping the Bulldogs turn 62 double plays, the second most in the league behind national champion South Carolina.
In his first season as a closer, redshirt sophomore Tyler Maloof ranked third nationally with 18 saves. Maloof tied the school record for saves (Josh Fields, 18 in 2008) and was 18-for-19.
Bulldogs In The 2011 MLB Draft
Georgia had a record 18 players (7 current, 11 signees) selected in the MLB draft. Junior outfielder Zach Cone led the way as a First Round "sandwich pick" of the Texas Rangers, the 37th overall selection. Named to the SEC All-Defensive team, Cone batted .275-4-35 with 13 stolen bases and a perfect fielding percentage in 161 total chances. He became the ninth first round pick in school history. In a classy move, the Rangers also selected injured Bulldog Johnathan Taylor in the 33rd round.
Along with Cone, first baseman Chase Davidson (Houston) and pitchers Cecil Tanner (Oakland) and Ben Cornwell (Seattle) signed professional contracts.
On Deck
The fall semester at Georgia starts August 15. Tentatively, fall practice is slated to begin Sept. 19. The 2010 season opens at Foley Field on Feb. 17. A complete 2011 schedule will be released later this year.