Outfield:
Polk said the focus of recruiting for this year was the infield and pitching. That’s because the outfield can only get better.
“Our outfield is a veteran group,” he said, appearing relieved to have a veteran group at all. The four players who will compete for innings and at-bats will be the same four that did it all of last year.
Jon Mungle, the oldest of the group, said, “No thanks.” to the Milwaukee Brewers organization to return for his junior year. The leftfielder is among a select few remaining Bulldogs with proven home run power, finishing second on the team the past two years in that category.
Three true freshmen graced the outfield in 2003: Brad Corley, Joseph Hunter and Jeff Butts. Corley started 56 games in right and made seven starts on the mound. He should throw even more pitches this year, but don’t let it fool you. He batted .321 last season as a true freshman.
Hunter, once referred to by Polk as the team’s “best defensive player,” started 40 games in centerfield last year, but a hand injury made room for Jeff Butts at the position. Butts accumulated a .313 batting average while playing all three outfield positions.
3rd base:
Co-captain Steve Gendron turned down the San Diego Padres organization to stick around for his senior year. He’s started every game since coming to State except three during his true freshman year. Gendron earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2003. He’ll start at third unless he scoots over to short.
Shortstop:
For the last 246 Bulldog games, Matthew Maniscalco filled the gap. Rookie Bunky Kateon seemed to be his chosen replacement until an MRI revealed a torn rotator cuff in the fall. “We’re not sure how quickly he’ll be ready for the season,” Polk said. “He’s a potential redshirt, but right now, we’re going day by day.”
2nd base:
Thomas Berkery wrestled the spot away from Scarbrough last year, and there’s a good chance he still has a stranglehold on it.
Casey Hamilton earned Polk’s praise at the preseason press conference for his hitting ability, and Jeffrey Rea and Josh Thoms also find themselves in the hunt to play if Berkery is behind the plate.
1st Base
The big lefthander, Matthew Brinson, is gone. But the medium-sized righty, former second baseman Tyler Scarbrough, has “made the adaptation to first base very well” according to Polk.
The coaching veteran added that Brad Jones, Brian LaNinfa and Ryan Harbuck should challenge for playing time, with Jones “having the edge a little bit on defense over the others.”
Pitching:
With 24 of last year’s 42 wins recorded by non-returning pitchers, some think this will be the problem area for the Bulldogs.
Alan Johnson, Jeff Lacher and Jamie Gant have earned weekend starts in no certain order. Johnson, a junior, took the hill on Saturdays last year and was named SEC Pitcher of the Week three times.
Lacher, a senior co-captain, pitched his way from Tuesdays to Sundays in 2003, notching a 6-0 season record.
Gant, after redshirting in 2002, used his first year of eligibility to lead all MSU pitchers with a 1.15 earned run average en route to a 6-1 mark.
Catching:
Craig Tatum wore the equipment for most of last year as a redshirt freshman, but J. B. Tucker caught 20 games. With Tucker gone, Tatum could use some Tylenol for his soon-to-be aching knees. Polk says Berkery could give Tatum an occasional break. “Thomas is a very versatile kid-probably one of the better athletes on our team.”
Bullpen: Returning from last year will be Saunders Ramsey, Brett Cleveland and Brooks Dunn.
In 2003, the three combined for 64 and two-thirds innings, two decisions and one win (Dunn). Coming to help will be Georgia Tech transfer Jon Crosby, junior college transfers Todd Doolittle and Eric Ebers and the newly acquired Josh Johnson.
Hitting:
Ten Bulldogs batted at least .300 a year ago, but only four remain.
“We worked hard on bat discipline with our hitters,” Polk said. “We feel like that’s very important with the nature of our ballclub so we have a better on-base percentage than even last year.”
Polk said they’ve also worked to reduce the number of fly-outs and pop-ups, or what he calls “I-got-its.”
Regardless, don’t expect too many balls to be flying out of the park. “I don’t consider this a power ball club,” he said. “If we don’t hit many, hope the other team doesn’t also.”