Summer ball
A lot of guys could play and that was big, they haven’t had that lately
Vastine being able to get 200 ABs in the Norwoods League was big
They’e had time to acclimate to class and the weight room
Hliboki/Doolin
Hliboki ahead of Doolin
Hliboki will throw this fall
Who won’t be available in the fall?
They’re holding several pitchers back and he’ll let Scott Brown determine that
This is a lot like 2014-15 when the pitchers’ schedules are different
So is anybody out for the fall?
Nobody in that position
Why was Schrek a fit?
Academics
They had a relationship and not because he went to HS with Hliboki
And he was available after the draft
They may have reached out to a lot of kids in a grad school situation but it had to be perfect because it’s one year and you’re inserting him into the team
Will they use the portal more in the future?
If they recruit someone, they see something in them
If someone doesn’t stick at Vandy, they want something they can’t provide, most notably playing time, or they didn’t fulfill their obligations as student-athletes
He’s not saying they’ll never dip into the portal but that’s counterproductive
It feels better that way, to be able to home-grow your guys
Three infielders returning, what are his top options?
Davis played well at 3B and SS
Vastine has played 4 different positions
He likes them all as players
Is this similar to another season with who they bring back?
Not sure, but bringing seniors back is good, those guys can provide more than the ball and the bat and the glove
That’s more pitching and that’s a positive
Said they have 10 seniors right now including Schreck
The most they had prior to that was 2019 but those were position players
Player leadership, how did he feel last year and about this year?
Don’t know yet
Not always a correlation between the success you had and the leadership
Tate and Dominic were great leaders for them a year ago
He tries not to compare the years but this year it’s been calm waters—intentional, mature, the academic piece coincides with the athletic piece
When Sarah Sanders, their academic advisor, tells him they are handling academics well, that always gives him hope. (Implied that’s the case.)
On NIL and transfer portal, how does he feel about it
Long pause
That’s a lot all they can do is navigate in their structure and do the best they can
He had a lot of conversations with Candice about it, the school is handling NIL methodically an intentionally and that bodes well
It’s good to be intentional, quick Covid decisions led to bad mistakes (I think he means NCAA)
That creates foundational cracks inside the locker room when Player A gets something, Player B gets something else and Player C gets nothing
18-20-year-old kids can’t manage that
He doesn’t enjoy this part of athletics right now
The situations are what they are, Vandy has handled its business well
The game has changed, it will continue to change
Does the NCAA need a “baseball commissioner?”
He doesn’t know
Everyone is looking for strong guidance
Sankey is a good leader, he offers a lot of strength
If it ever got to that point, they’d think of that and move to that but right now he doesn’t think so
Last year he started more true freshman that he had before, what kind of growth can that lead to this year?
Growth is up to them, they can take what they’re done and capitalize on that
How does he feel about his catching situation?
Good, Bulger has experience and Espinal does too, he caught every other day in the summer
Poteet and Law have good skill sets
What rule changes were there in the offseason?
Not much from the coaching staff?
Minor changes in the rule book, they’re usually a year behind MLB and he thinks they need the same rule book
Were there rule changes for equipment, anything like MLB checking pitchers
Not really, they have to do things within the guidelines of how they do it
On the Maldonado family being together
Jokes about how it cut the family’s expenses
Very athletic family
That family does a nice job of raising four kids
Is Nick more of a starter or reliever?
Don’t know, they have to get his help in the right direction
Probably dependent on the rest of the team
He’s less than 100%
Hunter Owen
Fine, healthy
A lot of guys could play and that was big, they haven’t had that lately
Vastine being able to get 200 ABs in the Norwoods League was big
They’e had time to acclimate to class and the weight room
Hliboki/Doolin
Hliboki ahead of Doolin
Hliboki will throw this fall
Who won’t be available in the fall?
They’re holding several pitchers back and he’ll let Scott Brown determine that
This is a lot like 2014-15 when the pitchers’ schedules are different
So is anybody out for the fall?
Nobody in that position
Why was Schrek a fit?
Academics
They had a relationship and not because he went to HS with Hliboki
And he was available after the draft
They may have reached out to a lot of kids in a grad school situation but it had to be perfect because it’s one year and you’re inserting him into the team
Will they use the portal more in the future?
If they recruit someone, they see something in them
If someone doesn’t stick at Vandy, they want something they can’t provide, most notably playing time, or they didn’t fulfill their obligations as student-athletes
He’s not saying they’ll never dip into the portal but that’s counterproductive
It feels better that way, to be able to home-grow your guys
Three infielders returning, what are his top options?
Davis played well at 3B and SS
Vastine has played 4 different positions
He likes them all as players
Is this similar to another season with who they bring back?
Not sure, but bringing seniors back is good, those guys can provide more than the ball and the bat and the glove
That’s more pitching and that’s a positive
Said they have 10 seniors right now including Schreck
The most they had prior to that was 2019 but those were position players
Player leadership, how did he feel last year and about this year?
Don’t know yet
Not always a correlation between the success you had and the leadership
Tate and Dominic were great leaders for them a year ago
He tries not to compare the years but this year it’s been calm waters—intentional, mature, the academic piece coincides with the athletic piece
When Sarah Sanders, their academic advisor, tells him they are handling academics well, that always gives him hope. (Implied that’s the case.)
On NIL and transfer portal, how does he feel about it
Long pause
That’s a lot all they can do is navigate in their structure and do the best they can
He had a lot of conversations with Candice about it, the school is handling NIL methodically an intentionally and that bodes well
It’s good to be intentional, quick Covid decisions led to bad mistakes (I think he means NCAA)
That creates foundational cracks inside the locker room when Player A gets something, Player B gets something else and Player C gets nothing
18-20-year-old kids can’t manage that
He doesn’t enjoy this part of athletics right now
The situations are what they are, Vandy has handled its business well
The game has changed, it will continue to change
Does the NCAA need a “baseball commissioner?”
He doesn’t know
Everyone is looking for strong guidance
Sankey is a good leader, he offers a lot of strength
If it ever got to that point, they’d think of that and move to that but right now he doesn’t think so
Last year he started more true freshman that he had before, what kind of growth can that lead to this year?
Growth is up to them, they can take what they’re done and capitalize on that
How does he feel about his catching situation?
Good, Bulger has experience and Espinal does too, he caught every other day in the summer
Poteet and Law have good skill sets
What rule changes were there in the offseason?
Not much from the coaching staff?
Minor changes in the rule book, they’re usually a year behind MLB and he thinks they need the same rule book
Were there rule changes for equipment, anything like MLB checking pitchers
Not really, they have to do things within the guidelines of how they do it
On the Maldonado family being together
Jokes about how it cut the family’s expenses
Very athletic family
That family does a nice job of raising four kids
Is Nick more of a starter or reliever?
Don’t know, they have to get his help in the right direction
Probably dependent on the rest of the team
He’s less than 100%
Hunter Owen
Fine, healthy
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