Vols off to a good start 10-3

I've been to 4 or 5 of the Vols first few home games and have been rather happy with what I've seen.

The pitching staff is rounding out strong. With Hochevar, Watson, and Adkins the Vols should do quite well in the SEC assuming the offensive production pulls through. The Vols will lose a few SEC games due to Watson's occasional lack of control and Adkins inexperience. As with Hochevar, the Vols should win almost every game that he pitches. Craig Cobb has been very consistant and will be a great reliever.

The biggest impact thus far from my perspective is true freshman J.P. Arencibia. Having read about him I had high expectations and so far he has met those. As of today (3/9/05) he is batting .387 with 6 HR and 18 RBI in 14 games. If the bottom half can produce it will help him to see a lot more pitches. Josh Alley has been hitting the ball well and providing a good spark at the top of the line-up.

Julio Borbon has had a rough start but in today's game against Oakland had two bunts in a row for hits. He is a very good bunter and with his speed should NEVER swing the bat.

Just my brief, mediocre view of the games I've seen thus far. Looking forward to some good ball I hope!

A few weeks ago the Beacon had a very nice article on Arencibia. He has a great deal of talent and I'm glad the Vols have him.

Most people thought that pitching would be the team strength this year, but I didn't see Atkins coming around so fast. I'm happy to see Craig Cobb doing so well and giving the hometown fans a favorite son.

It will be interesting to see how the team does in the meat of the schedule. I think Rod has them believing they can get to Omaha and that is the first step in getting there.

If they can avoid the injury bug this year they have a shot at winning a few games. Arencebia and Adkins are both making quite an impact. Edmundson (.460), King (.411), and Alley (.390), Iorg (.344), and Rivera (.333) have jumped off to great starts.

Hi Vol & Bizazz
Mark down March 16 in Noxville
and March 23 in Johnson City

Go Bucs

The Jolly Roger

Jolly I'm looking forward to it. Being a night game I'll probably be able to attend the game in K-town - unless I sneak up to Milligan that afternoon.

I wish we could move this baseball season back a couple of weeks. Work is getting in the way of having a good time LOL.

btw - The Knoxville crowd is doing great things for the Bucs.

The SEC awaits the VOLS... While OSU, Bethune-Cookman, Tennessee Tech, James Madison, UNC Wilmington, George Mason, Morehead State are all good wins, the proof of the VOL's strength remains in the SEC schedule. The SEC schedule seems to have been their undoing for the last couple of years. Maybe this year they can overcome that hurdle.

As much as I may hate to say it the Bomber is correct. The head skipper has played what many would consider the most padded schedule in D1 college baseball. For all of the people that are calling for old "Ray Bans" head at the end of the season, I don't think it is going to happen. Mike Hamilton is on the hot seat now with the mens basketball coaching situation and IMO he will not want to make anymore difficult decisions. The only way that a change will be made with baseball is if for some unknown reason "Big Jim" takes an interest in baseball and demands that "Ray Bans" be exchanged for a baseball coach and not someone that just coaches baseball. In the coaching profession being in the right place at the right time means everything and it appears that "Ray Bans" will be saved again by the theory of the university has bigger fish to fry.