Banquet

[dcdore]

Was a great event again. This team has real possibilities.

[commadore]

Come on, man, give us some details!

[dcdore]

Nothing much you already know. Corbin spent a couple minutes introducing each player, mentioning (without notes) his parents by name, siblings, major and bits about his game.

We sat at a table with a couple of sets of parents - both had sons coming off injuries/surgery and were so complimentary of Corbin and the program as well as clearly hopeful for the season.

I have a sense, as most have already surmised, that the lineup will be:
1b Infante
2b Paul
SS Kaiser
3b Gonzales/Blaylock or a surprise So/Junior
RF Bleday
CF Jones (probably)
RF Grisanti/DeMarco (maybe Scott)
C Duvall/Soloman (maybe Clarke or Scott)

Starters:
Raby (duh)
King
Fellows/Day

Key relievers:
Gillis
Conger
Fellows

Other relief:
Willis?
Stover
Wilson
Brown?

[commadore]

Nothing much you already know. Corbin spent a couple minutes introducing each player, mentioning (without notes) his parents by name, siblings, major and bits about his game.

We sat at a table with a couple of sets of parents - both had sons coming off injuries/surgery and were so complimentary of Corbin and the program as well as clearly hopeful for the season.

I have a sense, as most have already surmised, that the lineup will be:
1b Infante
2b Paul
SS Kaiser
3b Gonzales/Blaylock or a surprise So/Junior
RF Bleday
CF Jones (probably)
RF Grisanti/DeMarco (maybe Scott)
C Duvall/Soloman (maybe Clarke or Scott)

Starters:
Raby (duh)
King
Fellows/Day

Key relievers:
Gillis
Conger
Fellows

Other relief:
Willis?
Stover
Wilson
Brown?

Thanks. 7 days.

[Versus75]

... are Blaylock and Solomon.

You were able to pick up some vibes at the banquet and I haven't even been to a practice. If Blaylock and Solomon can battle for starting positions, that shows the great depth Vanderbilt has. Look at these player rankings (compared to their listed positions and ALL positions*) from http://www.perfectgame.org

*Infielders, in particular, were not necessarily ranked at the same position as we now consider them

CATCHERS
........................................ RANK ......
YEAR .. POS ..... PLAYER ........... POS ... OVERALL
2017 ... C ...... Philip Clarke ...... 4 ...... 64
2016 ... C ...... Ty Duvall ......... 23 ..... 172
2017 ... C ...... Tyler Solomon ..... 35 ..... 336

THIRD BASEMEN
........................................ RANK ......
YEAR .. POS ..... PLAYER ........... POS ... OVERALL
2017 .. MIF ..... Jayson Gonzalez ... 10 ...... 58
2017 .. MIF ..... Austin Martin ..... 18 ...... 92
2016 ... 3B ..... Alex Brewer ....... 18 ..... 306
2017 ... SS ..... Garrett Blaylock .. 38 ..... 218
2016 ... SS ..... Harrison Ray ...... 46 ..... 250

Add to that our depth of outfielders and coach has a great number of DH, platoon and PH options.

P.S. Talk about a team stocking catchers: Last season Ole Miss platooned 2016 #3 Cooper Johnson and 2015 #12 Nick Fortes. Meanwhile, 2016 #6 Thomas Dillard got at-bats but not as a catcher and 2015 #69 Carson Klepzig rode the pines. The 2017 class includes #20 catcher Golston Gillespie. All but Klepzig are on the 2017 roster. Dillard is listed as C-OF. I suppose our OF-C Stephen Scott gives the 'Dores four catchers also.

Edit: I see that Brewer has left the team.

[ScrappyDore]

From the video posted last week from practice. It looked like Gonzalez and Blaylock were getting all of the 3rd base reps. As for Solomon being number 2 at catcher. That might be a stretch. I would be shocked if Clark is the 3. Unless he has switched positions. Of course Solomon could have been way under rated as well.