There's no Grapefruit League for Tennessee. The Vols' 2010 baseball season is up and running, snow and all.
Coach Todd Raleigh's third UT squad opened practice Friday - indoors - and is building toward the Feb. 19 opener against Atlantic-10 champion Xavier.
The Vols, Raleigh said Monday, are equipped to improve on last year's 26-29 finish in which they missed the SEC tournament for the second consecutive year.
"We're healthy, very upbeat,'' he said. "We've got the best team, I feel, since I've been here in a long shot.
"We've got a lot of things to look forward to.''
One of them is the return of last year's three leading hitters, Cody Hawn (.364, 22 HR), Blake Forsythe (.347, 15 HR), and Josh Liles (.313, 8 HR).
Center fielder Kentrail Davis was the chief loss from last year's lineup. He was a supplemental first-round draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Liles will move from right to center field, possibly making way for freshman Chris Fritts or sophomore Charley Thurber in right.
"Charley's a guy to watch out for,'' Raleigh said. "He's going to be a great player here. He had to play last year and his numbers are not that great but this guy is ready to take the next step.''
Fritts, a Texan, is one of several freshman expected to make an impact. Another is 6-foot-4 Cody Stubbs, who will be Hawn's understudy at first base.
Alan Walden of Chattanooga Red Bank headlines a contingent of freshmen pitchers.
"The good thing is I don't need all those freshmen this year,'' Raleigh said. "Hopefully I can put 'em in roles they can succeed in.
"In the past, depth-wise, that's been hard to do.''
Hawn begins his senior year with preseason All-America notice. He's coming off one of the best seasons ever by a UT hitter.
"People say, 'Can he repeat that?' '' Raleigh said. "I think if you watch his swing, yes, he can repeat that.
"Maybe he'll get a few more pitches to hit because we're a better lineup.''
The biggest area of need is pitching. Last year's staff had a collective 6.15 ERA. Raleigh thinks that has been addressed.
Bryan Morgado, college baseball's highest-drafted player to return to school, will be the Friday night starter. Sophomore Steven Gruver has the inside track as the Saturday starter.
Farragut alum Rob Catapano, a North Carolina transfer, is battling for the third starting spot, along with sophomore Adam Adkins and senior Stephen McCray.
"Our biggest improvement will be on the mound, I don't think there's any question,'' Raleigh said.
"We're deeper, we've got a lot of different looks and we've got more established roles than we've had. We know who's going to be the starter, reliever, closer, etc. In the past we've just had to kind of piece it together.''
Upcoming: The annual Leadoff Banquet is Friday at the Knoxville Convention Center. Tickets are $40 (call 865-974-9001). Former Vols Chris Burke, Luke Hochevar, J.P. Arencibia and Chase Headley will be on hand.
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Comments » 27
easleychuck writes:
It would be great to see the baseball team be in the discussion in the conference again. Good luck to them.
iadvol writes:
College WS this year or say bye bye to Coach R
scvols writes:
I hope we do not suck this year.
mytrifecta writes:
I wouldn't go that far...but this team must be well above .500 and very competitive in the SEC. With the pitching we have I believe we'll do it.
MoneyBaby writes:
This season, Mr. Raleigh, save as much of your salary as you can and grab some office supplies. You have been in over your head from day one, and I look forward to seeeing you gone. You are the Jerry Green of UT Baseball, with even fewer skills.
budd#207344 writes:
These are his guys. He has turned over the roster so now we will see. But Pleeeeeease none of the "Bring back delmonico phooey"
RoadTrip writes:
Spin!!!
I bet the rest of the SEC is just shaking in their cleats over these comments.
You fixed your football mistake, MH. Please fix the baseball one after the season.
MikeTheTiger writes:
Please keep him!!! Makes winning the SEC a lot easier. Geaux Tigers!
chbradshaw writes:
I hope Coach Raleigh gets things turned around. If not, there is a hitting coach with the Mariners who once called UT home and would get the Vols back on the map real quick.
CrankE writes:
In the 2000 preseason, Jim Donnan, then UGA's head coach said that he'd waited 50whatever years to coach a team with this much talent. UGA promptly lost to lowly South Carolina (back when they were emerging from a 437 game losing streak or something like that) in their SEC opener. His goose was cooked and everyone knew it.
I really don't follow baseball, but I hope Coach Raleigh is right. Not much good can come of an unfulfilled preseason boast.
FWBVol writes:
As others have stated this is the make or break year for Raleigh.
I think Tennessee needs to finish no worse than third in the SEC East and get a bid to NCAA tournament for Raleigh to keep his job.
ccantrell#227456 writes:
The team couldn't be any worse, so I hope it's better. Go Vols..
GreerVol22 writes:
Her we go again with another Jack Azz that doesn't know boo about Delmonico...Look at his contract years and performance during them... now compare that to non contract years...nuff said.
rckytpfn#211158 writes:
Oh I hope he is right. One of my business partners' son is a pitcher for the Gators and I really can't stand to hear any more about florida.
GO VOLS!!!
AWOLVol writes:
Well, at least a solid SEC Tourney performance and an appearance in the NCAA Tourney. I don't know that he's got to make it all the way to Omaha, but you're absolutely right that he's GOT to make some marked improvement this year.
ArkyVol73 writes:
Awol - sounds like he has the right formula now. When a pitching staff gives up over 6 runs a game you best have some hitting which we did last year. We just couldn't stop anyone from scoring. If the pitching comes thru like coach thinks, we'll be a fun team to watch.
OrangePride writes:
I sure hope this team really competes and does well. Pitching was a real issue last year and you just never knew exactly what to expect. IF (and that's a big IF) they can get a steady product from their starting 3, I think there are enough bats to be a factor in the east. For CR, this year is really do or die time. He cannot afford to miss the tournament a third time! In fact he needs to not only make the tournament, the VOLS need to be a factor in it! Good Luck VOLS! GO BIG ORANGE!
Volunatic writes:
I hope Raleigh is right about this year's baseball Vols.
bobbarbilly writes:
A lot of these posts sound like the Cleveland fans in the movie "Major League".
DC_Vol writes:
Does that mean Raleigh will kick more or less players off the team than in years past?
Intheknow30 writes:
baffling. just baffling that you dont pay enough attention to know your record against raliegh. LSU may be the only team in america (other than us at UT that is) that cant wait to see raliegh go.
Intheknow30 writes:
Pitching woes last year were greatly influenced by the fact that Raleigh was calling pitches all year and shaking off was not allowed. If that has changed these natural athletes have a great chance to succeed. If not, I dont see the pitching side being much different.
Having said that, I hope everyone can perform to their potential and we can make a trip to Omaha. This season could easily be a great one. All the pieces are there.
Intheknow30 writes:
"I see Kentucky and Tennessee battling for a ninth spot out of that league — but with Paxton's status in limbo, I'd probably lean toward the Volunteers. That's one of my sleeper teams for this year — they're going to be better than people think."
-Aaron Fitt (Baseball America)
coachbenchpressfakebakes writes:
When the inevitable happens I hope we look at Kevin McMullan, UVA Assistant.
McMullan can recruit with anybody and is a witch of a hitting coach.
Thanks for your time Coach Raleigh now move over for a real coach.
VOLsince68 writes:
I agree. He has pretty much stunk it up since taking over the reigns. I still have not understood the firing of Delmonico. Maybe one day I will.....
Nonetheless, if he don't have them performing this year, he needs to go. His output has been horrible considering we've had pretty good talent (not great). It just seems like they have greatly underachieved under Raleigh.
GO VOLS!!!!!!
orange_peel writes:
The firing of Delmonico was all Hamilton. He did great with Pearl and he saw an opportunity to put his mark on the other sports as well. Fulmer and Delmonico were let go because of Hamilton's ego. I looked forward to the day that Hamilton leaves and Fulmer can be named AD.
Halls3 writes:
Wow I figured they would have discontinued baseball by now as bad as UT is. Of course Hammy hit another homer with Raleigh just like he did with Kiffin. Why can't UT see the light & fire the man before he ruins all UT athletics. Pearl is great & all until you get to see the likes of Brian Williams & Melvin Goins conduct themselves in public (THUGS!!!!!!!!!!). The way they degrade women & Pearl himself is unbelievable & you don't believe me I have about 50+ witnesses to the statements these two thugs made. Get rid of Hammy, Williams, Goins, & Raleigh & bring UT back to prominance.
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