The juniors who left early are:
- Rich Poythress (1B)
Joey Lewis (C/DH)
Michael Demperio (2B)
Matt Cerione (OF)
Dean Weaver (Closer)
- Zach Dotson (Pitcher)
Miles Head (1B/C)
Based on their performances this summer, I think you're going to see a big contribution from Peter Verdin (C/OF) and Zach Cone (OF). Lyle Allen can play first base or outfield, and Jonathan Taylor may emerge as a steady lead-off hitter this year with a year under his belt.
I agree with Perno that we have enough pitching if Cecil Tanner and Michael Palazzone take the next step in their growth.
But as Perno says in the ABH article, the question is one of power. Chicks dig the long ball. Chase Davidson is probably the most important person on the roster to emerge with the big bat. He's got the body and the raw material. It just has to click for him.
PWD
5 comments:
My eyes must be deceiving me, but it looks like you listed Michael Demperio on the list of Juniors who left.
Surely he transferred.
There is no way he got drafted, right?
I think everyone was surprised by Demperio leaving AND getting drafted - but it was probably for the best that he move on.
And Paul - don't forget about Colby May providing some much needed pop - if he can continue to improve I wouldn't be surprised to see him turn in some big power numbers down the road.
A little off-topic, but I think worth mentioning since we're talking college baseball. Brent Schoening, a former AU star pitcher in the late 90's, passed away yesterday after a year-long battle with leukemia. I knew him personally as he was married to my cousin. Just a really genuinely nice guy and amazing athlete. The entire situation is incredibly heart-breaking. Keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Lewis is the only one in that group that I'm disappointed about. Poythress was a given, Cerione wasn't going to have a roster spot even if he came back to school, Demperio wasn't going to improve his stock and probably wouldn't have started at all next season, and Weaver was likely at his peak between his draft position and having leverage as a junior.
But Lewis signing was just stupid. He went so low in the draft that he's not even going to get an opportunity to make the show without being absolutely phenomenal. We could've used his power and an experienced catcher. Good luck to him, but I absolutely think he made the wrong decision.
At this point, though, I'm not completely positive he wasn't being directed out the door by Perno. Based on his comments about strikeouts and Mass and Lewis being weak defensive catchers, he may have wanted to free up the roster spot and take a chance on what Verdin/Glisson could do.
It'll be interesting seeing a small ball-oriented team coached by Perno if that actually happens.
I think this could be a fun team. Perno has already stated that the 8position players that trot out on opening day will most likely be the same 8 guys all the way through 2011. You have the chance to have a good weekend rotaion and Earls and Walters coming back is bigger than it might appear. The power will be a problem but this team will be more athletic and better defensively.
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