This really just occurred to me randomly but here's something I realized that's genuinely insane about this year's team.
Vandy only returned 2 starting position players who started in over 50% of games last season (Vastine and Austin) and ZERO of the four pitchers who started the most SEC games (they lost Holton, Futrell, Cunningham, and Carter). I don't have the numbers to back this claim up, but it wouldn't surprise me if that is the least returning talent of any team in the entire SEC.
Barczi, Holcomb, and Thompson were the only guys on the roster with any SEC experience in the roles they were given this year. Our best bullpen arms in Hawks and Kranzler were non-factors last year, aside from a few nice appearances by Kranzler late. Bowker was at Georgetown facing future car salesmen, Fennell was the Sunday guy for a mid Dayton team, Johnston and Rigdon were in high school (and Rigdon was fresh off of TJ surgery).
Sure, things are different in the portal era and you can get away with not returning much talent (i.e. Vandy football and basketball this year), but the "marquee" portal acquisitions haven't done much at all. Dzierwa dipped last minute and screwed over the staff and Mancini has really, really struggled. Riley Nelson has been the best hitter on the team and was playing JUCO ball while committed to a school nobody has ever heard of just a few months prior to getting on campus.
Anyway, what I'm getting at is that this team was made up of a bunch of pieces that had little to no experience whatsoever and were entirely unproven. Now, those pieces were talented, but if someone was the head coach of this team they would absolutely be forgiven for throwing up their hands and saying they just can't make this work. There was just too much turnover and not enough of a foundation to build off of. But Tim Corbin didn't say that. He has this misfit group in prime position to end the year as a top-8 team in the NCAA and playing their best ball heading to the postseason. Hats off to him. This really might be his best coaching job ever.
Sidenote: I'm very excited for the future. That young, inexperienced core we have this year is gonna be back next year but be well seasoned and ready to beat everyone. To quote Stephen A Smith, returning a senior Riley Nelson; juniors Holcomb, Barczi, Kranzler, Fennell, and McElvain; and sophomores Rigdon, Barczi, and Bryan has me fantasizing and salivating over a potential NCAA championship. Add a top-level starter from the portal and 1 or 2 solid bats and you'll have a very real shot.
Vandy only returned 2 starting position players who started in over 50% of games last season (Vastine and Austin) and ZERO of the four pitchers who started the most SEC games (they lost Holton, Futrell, Cunningham, and Carter). I don't have the numbers to back this claim up, but it wouldn't surprise me if that is the least returning talent of any team in the entire SEC.
Barczi, Holcomb, and Thompson were the only guys on the roster with any SEC experience in the roles they were given this year. Our best bullpen arms in Hawks and Kranzler were non-factors last year, aside from a few nice appearances by Kranzler late. Bowker was at Georgetown facing future car salesmen, Fennell was the Sunday guy for a mid Dayton team, Johnston and Rigdon were in high school (and Rigdon was fresh off of TJ surgery).
Sure, things are different in the portal era and you can get away with not returning much talent (i.e. Vandy football and basketball this year), but the "marquee" portal acquisitions haven't done much at all. Dzierwa dipped last minute and screwed over the staff and Mancini has really, really struggled. Riley Nelson has been the best hitter on the team and was playing JUCO ball while committed to a school nobody has ever heard of just a few months prior to getting on campus.
Anyway, what I'm getting at is that this team was made up of a bunch of pieces that had little to no experience whatsoever and were entirely unproven. Now, those pieces were talented, but if someone was the head coach of this team they would absolutely be forgiven for throwing up their hands and saying they just can't make this work. There was just too much turnover and not enough of a foundation to build off of. But Tim Corbin didn't say that. He has this misfit group in prime position to end the year as a top-8 team in the NCAA and playing their best ball heading to the postseason. Hats off to him. This really might be his best coaching job ever.
Sidenote: I'm very excited for the future. That young, inexperienced core we have this year is gonna be back next year but be well seasoned and ready to beat everyone. To quote Stephen A Smith, returning a senior Riley Nelson; juniors Holcomb, Barczi, Kranzler, Fennell, and McElvain; and sophomores Rigdon, Barczi, and Bryan has me fantasizing and salivating over a potential NCAA championship. Add a top-level starter from the portal and 1 or 2 solid bats and you'll have a very real shot.
