5 Players to Watch
Caleb Cotham
Pitcher
Corbin called Cotham one of Vandy’s most improved pitchers. The right-hander threw well in the fall and has a chance to start after redshirting in 2007.
Andrew Giobbi
Catcher / First Baseman
Corbin will have to be creative in order to get Giobbi’s bat in the lineup. After hitting .312 with a homer and 25 RBIs in 2007, the redshirt sophomore is expected to fill in as catcher, first baseman and designated hitter.
Drew Hayes
Pitcher
The Dores recruited the hard-throwing Hayes coming out of high school, but he chose to play for his dad at Bethel College. After one productive season, Hayes changed his mind and transferred to Vandy. Now, he has the potential to take over for Casey Weathers as the team’s closer.
Mark Lamm
Pitcher
Corbin is thrilled he didn’t have to burn Lamm’s redshirt in last year’s NCAA regional. He expects the right-hander to thrive as a starter or reliever.
Steven Liddle
Outfielder / First Baseman
A star in the making, the redshirt freshman may have to be patient in 2008. After an outstanding summer, the versatile Liddle hopes to find playing time at five different positions — first base, designated hitter and all three outfield spots.
5 Question Marks
Who is going to replace Casey Weathers?
While Vandy will surely miss David Price, the loss of closer Casey Weathers is equally significant. Weathers went 12-2 with a 2.37 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 49.1 innings and was drafted eighth overall by the Colorado Rockies in the MLB draft. Hopefully newcomers such as Drew Hayes and Mark Lamm are ready to help fill the void.
How will the pitching staff progress?
The Commodore offense may be explosive, but it’s not always going to be able to outscore its opponent. While sophomore Mikie Minor is a stud, are juniors Nick Christiani and Brett Jacobson ready to be leaders? Are the freshmen mentally and physically prepared for life in the Southeastern Conference? Only time well tell.
How do you maintain good chemistry?
With such a deep and talented team, Tim Corbin has a problem most coaches would love to have — he needs to find ways to get everyone playing time. What makes Corbin’s job easier is the fact the players genuinely like one another and care about one thing, and one thing only: winning.
Can the Commodores go back-to-back?
A year ago, Vandy won the SEC regular season and tournament titles. Coaches predicted it will do the same in 2008, but will the Commodores be able to handle the high expectations?
Omaha or bust?
For most starters, this is it — their last shot to get to Omaha. As successful as they were in 2007, the Commodores still fell short of their ultimate goal, which was advancing to the College World Series. Will 2008 be different?
By the Numbers
.324 Team batting average last year
11 Returning hitters who made a start in 2007
3 Preseason ranking in Baseball America poll
1,699 Miles the team will travel for their first three games of the season in Tempe, Ariz.
15 Consecutive home games the Commodores have after the Arizona road swing
10 Players on the roster who have been selected in the Major League Draft
13 Weeks the Commodores were ranked number one in the country in 2007
11 Economics majors on the squad
4 SEC titles Vanderbilt has won in its history
$8,500,000 Amount that former pitcher David Price accepted from the Tampa Bay Rays after being taken with No. 1 pick in the MLB draft
.727 Dominic de la Osa’s slugging percentage
10 Number of outfield assists by David Macias
35 Consecutive games Ryan Flaherty has hit safely in
.386 Pedro Alvarez’s batting average
.226 Opponents’ batting average against Mike Minor
54 Wins in 2007, most in school history
745 Miles to Omaha, Neb., site of the College World Series
10. Big-time Arms
Led by Mike Minor, a standout on the U.S. National Team this past summer, the Commodores’ rotation features some serious firepower. With juniors Brett Jacobson and Nick Christiani returning to the staff, Vanderbilt has a solid core of pitchers to build around. The young guys, while unproven, have serious upside.
9. They’ve Got Something To Prove
After falling to Michigan last year in the NCAA regional, you’d better believe these guys have a chip on their shoulder. They expect to win, and they know the pressure will be on them all year long.
8. Pedro Alvarez
This guy is the top prospect in the country. A first-team All-American by Baseball America, Rivals.com and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Alvarez may very well follow recent Vandy alum David Price as the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB draft.
7. The Ultimate Senior Season
Vanderbilt starts seven seniors and you can bet that they will do anything to make their final season in the black and gold a special one.
6. Best Offense in History?
The Commodores have the best 3-4-5 hitters in the country in de la Osa, Alvarez and Flaherty, but its their depth that separates this lineup from the rest. From one to nine, pitchers do not get a chance to breath. Expect these guys to put up some football-like scores at The Hawk this spring.
5. Tim Corbin
Vanderbilt’s baseball program has become one of the best in the country thanks to Corbin, who arrived in Nashville in 2003. A great recruiter, motivator and leader, the energetic Corbin is a major reason why this team is as fun to watch as it is.
4. Hawkins Field
What’s better than sitting out on Olin Lawn or behind the left field fence watching baseball on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon? How about a Friday night beating on the bleachers and cheering for one of the best teams in the country? From its diehard fans to its Green Monster replica, not to mention the skyboxes (25th Avenue garage), baseball at the Hawk is an experience unlike any other at Vandy.
3. Back-to-Back SEC Champs?
If in 2003 anyone said Vanderbilt would have taken home the Southeastern Conference championship this soon, a few odd looks might have been exchanged. Now there’s an expectation the Commodores will take home the top prize in the toughest conference in college baseball for the second straight year.
2. National Powerhouse
After being the No. 1 team in the nation for the majority of last year, there’s no reason to think this year’s squad won’t attain the same credentials. Even if they don’t officially take the top spot, the Commodores will be one of the premier baseball teams in the nation.
1. It’s Baseball Season!
The crack (OK, ping) of the bat, the sound of ball hitting glove; when the umpire says, “Play ball,” nothing marks the beginning of spring like baseball season. The 2008 Commodores will give fans more to cheer about than just the great weather as they make another run at the national championship.
