UT - Wow What an Off-Season! | High School Baseball Web

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After a successful 2004 campaign, that included an NCAA regioal appearance things looked to have improved over on the hill.

The Vols lost Brian Cleveland, Derek Tharpe, Ben Riley, Beau Massey, Brandon Crowe and Dusty Johnson to graduation. But that is normal in all programs.

Then came the MLB draft:
Patrick Hicklin was a 16th round selection and has signed a pro contract foregoing his senior season

Scott Drucker was drafted by the A's and has signed, also bypassing his senior season at UT.

Adam Howard (Walters State) a UT signee was drafted by the D'Backs and has signed his pro contract.

Eli Iorg was drafted in the 16th round -- He has not signed and my source tells me that he will return to UT next season

Jay Rainville (UT signee) was a sandwich round selection and opted for pro ball over UT

Jonathan Arencibia (UT signee) was a 17th round selection (catcher) no word whether he has or will sign a Mariners pro contract

James Adkins (UT signee) was a 13th round selection (Phillies) no word whether he has or will sign a pro contract

Outfielder Todd Martin transferred to MTSU

Season long starting catcher Nick Crowe was dismissed from the team and is rumored to be heading elsewhere. Note: Crowe was one of the Vols leading hitters.

Rod Delmonico was not given a contract extension after the Regional appearance

Pitching coach Fred Corral has left for Oklahoma

With no shortstop recruited does this mean that King will move across the infield? Norrid and Alley look solid at last years starting slots. Suarez to continue as the everyday DH or will he assume a defensive position?

Kemp must improve his power numbers after hitting only 2 homeruns last season. Edmundson is having a solid summer wood bat season. Rivera and Iorg in the other OF spots, or does Eli move back to the infield?

How does Chase Headley fit into the picture? Fitzgerald to possibly compete for one of the outfield spots, or will his arm be needed full time on the mound?

A weekend starting pitching rotation of Hochaver, Watson and Cobb is intact and looks to be very good, but the bullpen and mid-week starters have been decimated.

4 eligible pitchers lost to the draft and possibly another.

A team that had trouble scoring runs against good pitching last season must find it's lost offensive capabilities.

Wow .... What an off-season, so far!

7/9/0410:44 PM

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HiwasseeVolAdmin

Humm...I guess this means that all the academic work will likely be taken care of over the summer.

Aside from that, thanks for the Vols preseason assessment. I thought you might do one!

The great coaches rise to the top by having all the recruiting savvy to sway those players to transfer into a top SEC program. I know I can rest well knowing my beloved Vols are in good hands.

7/10/046:10 AM

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cbg500+ posts

Ladies & Gents,

We can blame no one but Mike Hamilton (UT AD) for this blunder. Why would anyone think that Rod would ever change his ways. History is being repeated once again it that UT has a successful season and will then be down for several years. Remember that a zebra never changes it's stripes and Rod will not change. Hamilton is going to allow the program to hit bottom before making a change. Most of the people on this board have been asking for a change for several years but nothing has happened. IMO it will take a MAJOR DONOR to step forward and tell Hamilton to force "Ray Bans" out of Knoxville. If I ran my business the way that the UT baseball program is operated I would have gone broke several years ago. What a joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7/10/0411:42 AM

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HiwasseeVolAdmin

The News Sentinel has decided to release the news:

Sports digest: July 11
July 11, 2004

UT athletics Corral to be named pitching coach at Oklahoma University of Tennessee pitching coach Fred Corral has agreed in principle to become pitching coach at Oklahoma.

Corral made an immediate impact on the pitching staff upon his arrival in 2003. The Vols had a 5.51 ERA in 2002 and saw it dip to 3.88 in 2003 and 3.51 this past season.

Corral replaces Ray Hayward, who resigned his position with the Sooners last month.

In other UT news:

Baseball player Todd Martin has transferred from UT to Middle Tennessee State. Martin played in 23 games for the Vols in 2004 with five starts, including playing in all three games in the NCAA Regional in Kinston, N.C. The outfielder batted .267 with four doubles and eight runs scored in 30 at-bats, walking seven times.

7/11/0411:13 AM

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