Article on UT Baseball

Delmonico's Vols to build on success
Mark Etheridge
SEBaseball.com Publisher

Coming into last season, few people predicted an Omaha run for the Tennessee Volunteers. Instead, Coach Rod Delmonico and staff saw their team evolve into a star-studded team that contended for the SEC title, hosted and won a Regional, knocked off the ACC champion Georgia Tech on the road, and roared into the College World Series. Tennessee lost some of those key players like SEC Pitcher of the Year Luke Hochever, and current pro hitters Eli Iorg, Chase Headley, Eric King, and Josh Alley. Still, with all those players gone, the Vols should contend for the SEC crown in 2006.


Craig Jackson
Tennessee has to replace stars like Luke Hochevar
"I hope people pick us fifth again," Delmonico told SEBaseball.com Tuesday. "The last two times we have been picked fifth we have gone to the College World Series. We play better when we are underdogs."

Don't expect that to happen. Tennessee will be picked near the top of the SEC East along with National runner-up Florida and traditional power South Carolina.

The Volunteers took advantage of an experienced roster a year ago to enjoy a fine season, their second consecutive Regional appearance.

"I thought we had a good year in 2004 considering we were without Luke for so long," Delmonico explained. "The year before those players had good seasons. Cale Iorg, Chase Headley, Eric King all had good first years but they were learning the SEC. Last year they knew what to expect. We had established solid players who got better. Then our good players became great players. We also got great contributions from a freshman class than had not gotten much attention."

Three freshmen played vital roles last season. Those three will lead the way in 2006. Lefthander James Adkins (10-5/3.32) finished the season as the team's top pitcher. Catcher JP Arencibia (.322/14/71) really blossomed late in the season and carried that over this summer leading Team USA in hitting. Outfielder Julio Borbon (.350/3/42/12 sbs) hit .350, good for third on the team.

"When you return your #1 pitcher, your #3 pitcher, and your closer, you have to like your chances," Delmonico said. "James Adkins turned in a great freshman year. He punched out 12 in the SEC Tournament and 14 in the Regional. He has real good stuff and is a mature player. He understands how hard he will have to work. He was fortunate in that he was mentored by Hoch. What a great guy to learn from."


Mark Etheridge
James Adkins was a freshman all-conference selection
Arencibia slugged fourteen home runs, tying him for second on the team with Headley one homer behind Iorg.

"I knew JP had juice but I didn't know how he would handle the move from high school to the SEC," said the coach. "He had hit 24 home runs the year before - 14 in high school and another ten in summer ball against good competition. He went on to hit fourteen for us. Then he goes to Team USA and hits .404 leading them in hitting. He can be as good as he wants to be. Thinking back, there have not been many catchers in this league that hit for average, hit for power, and played good defense. He can be one of those."

The offense will depend on returnees Arencibia, Borbon, Michael Rivera (.331/1/42/13 sbs), Kelly Edmundson (.328/8/39), and Chris Kemp (.278/2/45 in '04).

"Rivera is a solid veteran who hit .330 last season," Delmonico said. "Arencibia is the best catcher in the league. Chris Kemp was a starter at first base in 2004 who missed last season for academics. He is back. Kelly (Edmundson) hit eight home runs last year. He will play DH and maybe some right field. Chris Siewert is a solid player who can play short, third, and the outfield. Jarred Frazier is great athlete who I really like."

Frazier is just one of a fine class of players the Vols brought in.

"This year our class is a little higher regarded," Delmonico said. "We have three pitchers who throw 90-94. One was a third round pick. One is a transfer from South Florida who was one of the top prospects in summer ball. I have never brought in a group of arms like that. I think we reloaded and have a chance to be solid. I really like our team.

Kemp should play first and Rivera should play second. Siewart is battling freshman Tony Delmonico at shortstop and Ryan Castellanos and Cody Brown at third. Frazier and juco transfer Brian Van Kirk should flank Borbon in the outfield.

"Brian Van Kirk has as much power as anyone we've had. The other day he hit a ball about 20 feet off the ground the opposite field to right and drove it out of the park. He also hit one to center that had to go 450 feet. He just has tremendous power. I think he could be special and a player everyone will be asking about."

One player certainly to draw attention is Tony Delmonico, the coaches' oldest son. Tony, regarded as one of the top junior shortstop prospects in the nation, enrolled in college a year early.


Mark Etheridge
Craig Cobb could be used in a variety of roles
Another highly regarded freshman is righthander Josh Lindblom. Lindblon turned down pro ball after being a third round selection.

"Lindblom is a big boy who throws hard," said his coach. "He'll throw 89-92 with a good breaking ball. I don't want to put extra pressure on him, but he reminds me of Luke. Luke was the most talented guy but he also worked as hard as anybody. Josh is similar in that he is a very driven , very goal oriented. He wants to win 12 games and be All-American. I like that confidence."

Delmonico would likeLindblom to fill one of the weekend starter roles. Other candidates include Ty Pryor, Craig Cobb (7-4/4.53), Ryne Simpson, Danny Wiltz, Drew Bowlin, Aaron Everett.

Some have wondered if closer Sean Watson (7-3/2.85/7 svs) might move to the rotation from his closer role. Delmonico liked what he saw from Watson in the pen.

"I want to keep him there. I really like what he gave us last year. I think that move gave us a chance to win out of three each weekend. It made it hard to sweep but if you can win two out of three every weekend you'll be in good shape. At the College World Series he was throwing 95/96, but he is a guy who throws in the low 90s with a power breaking ball. He likes being the closer because he can max out for four fo five hitters.

"Cobb is probably the first guy out the pen. I like bringing him in after some of the hard throwers and before Watson. He could also get ten starts for us as the Tuesday/Wednesday starter. But a lot of that stuff will play itself out."

Tennessee hosted a Regional last season where they defeated Austin Peay, Winthrop, and Wichita State to advance. That Regional was a huge success answering some questions about Tennessee's baseball attendance. The fans rose to the occasion with great support for the team down the stretch.

"The last series of the regular season against Georgia we sold out and for the Regional we sold out," Delmonico said. "We even added bleachers in left-center field for the Regional. We had a tremendous atmosphere. But we have always had great support for the Regionals. What we'd like to do is do a better job selling our season tickets. We have some momentum to build on and I think our College World Series trip will help us."

Tennessee has announced the 2006 schedule, featuring a rematch with Super Regional foe Georgia Tech in the Baseball at the Beach Tournament in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.


Mark Etheridge
Rod Delmonico should have another strong club this season
"We like to make a trip to South Florida because we recruit that area," Said Delmonico. "We like to play Miami, Florida International, or Florida Atlantic. This year we go to Florida Atlantic to open our season. Then we have a difficult tournament in South Carolina where we play Georgia Tech, Coastal Carolina, and Virginia Commonwealth. All three were in Regionals last year. With those we have six tough games where we will have to play very well to win. We hope that will get us ready for SEC play."

Count Delmonico in the "against" column when it comes to the proposed season changes.

"We are right on the borderline between good weather and bad weather. This year we open on February 3rd and we usually play at home the second week of February. That allows us spread some games out and not have so many midweeks during the conference season. I would like a start date but not that late. I'd like it about February 15. I also don't like shortening the season. I'm not really in favor of either one of the changes but if it passes we'll just keep going about our business.

"I really would like two things to be done for college baseball. I'd like to have a graduate assistant position. That is the way I got started and many other coaches around the nation got their start. That helps them get their Masters and helps them not have to borrow money to work as a volunteer assistant. The other thing I'd like is to go back to the way it used to be and let us play games in the fall. If they would give us x amount of fall games that would be great. Maybe bring in a junior college for three games or maybe three junior colleges and play round-robin. That way we could recruit along with giving our players a chance to play in game-like situations."

Credit to Mark Etheridge of SEBaseball.com