Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Shortstop Closes The Gap On Opposing Hitters
May 19, 2004 | Cowboy Baseball
Many times, opposing batters drive pitches up the middle thinking it's a base hit. As they race down the line, they notice the umpire signal out, which causes them to look at the hole that once was there.
All that remains is Oklahoma State shortstop Chris Gutierrez dusting himself off after making a diving catch and throw look routine. OSU coach Frank Anderson has had one of the best seats all season when it comes to watching sophomore Chris Gutierrez kill opposing hitters chances of getting on base.
“He's solidified our infield,” Anderson said. “He's been real solid and made some good plays. He's just been consistent. That is the best thing. He plays good every day, day in and day out.”
In his first year as a Cowboy, Gutierrez was not so brilliant. As a freshman, Gutierrez committed 20 errors while collecting 141 assists and a fielding percentage of .917.
Through 51 games this season, Gutierrez has committed seven errors while building a team-high 136 assists and .968 fielding percentage.
Gutierrez said it was the aid of new assistant coach Greg Evans that helped better his defensive abilities.
“Coach Evans came over here from Texas Tech and he really worked with me during the fall just to make sure I could make the routine plays,” Gutierrez said. “Last year, I botched a lot of pretty easy plays that I shouldn't have. I used to always work on the great plays instead of the routine plays.”
Gutierrez also said the idea of messing up plagued him throughout his freshman season, which is something he has pushed away.
“It might have been that I was afraid to not make any errors,” Gutierrez said. “This year, I'm not afraid that I'm going to make an error. I just want to make sure I make the routine plays. If I make the great plays, well that's just a bonus.”
Gutierrez has not only improved his defensive game, but he has also begun making a name for himself at the plate.
After batting .304 with 51 hits, including one home run, and knocking in 23 runners, Gutierrez came back this season with a more explosive season at the plate.
“Honestly, I've hit the ball better this year,” Gutierrez said. “Things just haven't fallen sometimes. I thought I hit the ball well all day today. I had two hits to show for it.”
In the 13-2 victory against Western Illinois Tuesday, Gutierrez added his fifth home run of the season.
“My first at-bat, I got a good pitch to hit,” Gutierrez said. “I fouled off a pretty decent pitch before that. I got lucky and hit one out.”
After watching the young shortstop bat in practices before the season, Anderson said he knew Gutierrez could hit for power.
“I've been trying to get him to understand that if he just stays back, he could drive the ball out of here,” Anderson said. “He has driven the ball out of here. I think he's second in the team in home runs in conference – some ungodly deal.”
With 53 hits and 35 RBIs, Gutierrez said his hitting has surprised him, but it shouldn't after listening to his coach.
“Yeah, he has preached that to me (laughter),” Gutierrez said. “He told me that at the beginning of the year and after last year hitting only one out, I was like, ‘Yeah, yeah.' But you've got to believe him. He knows what he's talking about.”
While he enjoys his second season at OSU, the Orlando, Fla. Native said the weather is something he has not gotten used to yet.
“I still don't understand the Oklahoma weather,” Gutierrez said. It's beautiful this week. It was beautiful last week, but when we played Nebraska on the Friday night, it was just horrid.”
When Gutierrez gets the chance, he said he loves to spend time on the beach, which is something Oklahoma lacks.
“There's not much beach around here (laughter),” Gutierrez said. “I try to get in the water whenever I can over at Jefferson Commons' pool or Campus Park's pool. I even go to the lake every once in a while.”
With the lack of beaches, Gutierrez has been able to catch up on the movies he has missed. Before the season began, he said ‘Top Gun' was his favorite movie.
“I hadn't seen my favorite yet, which was ‘Scarface'” Gutierrez said. “My parents didn't have that one in the house, and I always watched ‘Top Gun.' “No one back home really watched it (‘Scarface'). I came here and all the older college guys loved it. I had to sit down and watch it in a hotel room, and I loved that movie from then on.”
Hours before many home games, Gutierrez spends time watching movies in the confines of Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.
“I like to come here maybe an hour or two early and sit down and watch movies,” Gutierrez said. “We have a big screen in a lounge where we can sit there and watch movies in surround sound.”
Spending the extra time around the stadium has also given many of his teammates more opportunities to give the shortstop a hard time.
“I get ribbed about having a girlfriend that they say she drags me around, but I really don't think so,” Gutierrez said. “Other than that, they say sometimes that I play a little too loose and that I'm not enough uptight. It's all in fun and I know they're just fooling around.”
At the end of this season, Gutierrez said he will have to get ready for a new look infield by the time the Cowboys take the field next year.
“I think we're probably going to need to get a new third baseman and a new catcher,” Gutierrez said. “We also are gonna need a first baseman, but those are all very high profile positions. They are very sought after positions, so a lot of players play them.
“Hopefully, we have some good recruits to play there because we're not expecting them to be here next year.”
Before Gutierrez has to worry about learning new names, the Cowboys have a season to finish, which includes a road trip to Missouri to conclude the Big 12 schedule.
“We've got a tough series ahead of us,” Gutierrez said. “Going into Mizzou is going to be tough. They'll have that one fan sitting ten rows back saying bad things about your momma, so it will be tough.”
With the Cowboys resting two wins behind Texas for the top spot in the Big 12, Gutierrez said he hopes Texas A&M will help the Cowboys in the final weekend of the regular season.
“Hopefully, Texas A&M can take care of business against Texas,” Gutierrez said. “Maybe we can come out of this thing with first place if we play baseball the way I know we can.”
