A new-look Tide infield will be put to the test in 2006, as Coach Wells faces the task of replacing key contributors such as four-year starter and accomplished hitter Allen Rice, the SEC's top defensive first baseman, Zac Welch, versatile, hard-hitting infielder Rocky Scelfo, and perhaps the best fielding shortstop in Alabama history, Cale Iorg. Iorg’s value to the 2005 team simply cannot be derived from box scores or stat sheets. Obviously, there is no way to calculate just how many runs he prevented with his phenomenal glovework at shortstop, but those who had the privilege of watching him play know that he saved quite a few. While Iorg’s presence will undoubtedly be missed, there are still capable options available to step in and perhaps lessen the impact of his departure. Junior Greg Paiml, a part-time starter at second last season, has the inside track for one of the starting middle infield jobs. Paiml’s strength is clearly his defense; he will likely be one of the conference’s top fielders at either second or short. What has prevented Paiml from becoming an elite player in this league is a frustrating inability to make consistent contact. He has demonstrated occasional homerun power and is capable of swiping a bag when called upon. The key for him is simply cutting down on the K’s. Frequently called upon to bunt, Paiml tied with Allen Rice for the team lead with 7 sacrifices last season. While he has dropped down some of the best bunts this team has seen in recent years, he has had a number of unsuccessful attempts as well. He has clearly proven that he has the ability to be great bunter, but he must be more consistent in his execution. Slick-fielding freshman Jeff Texada’s defense has received rave reviews from scouts, and many believe that he will be the one to take over as Iorg’s replacement at short. His high school batting numbers don’t necessarily jump out at you, yet this is due largely to his having constantly been pitched around. Generally considered to possess the potential to hit for both average and power, Texada will nevertheless be facing collegiate pitching for the first time, and it is practically impossible to accurately predict how long it will take any freshman to adjust to the new level. The third challenger in the middle infield is redshirt freshman Kyle Moore. A capable all-around infielder, Moore can handle second, short, or third with no trouble. Obviously, as is the case with Texada, Moore’s next at bat in a college game will be his first. A line-drive hitter with gap power, Moore has what it takes to become a significant contributor in his career, yet the question for 2006 is whether he’ll be able to hit. Summer ball numbers can be highly misleading, if not wholly irrelevant in some cases, but Moore struck out too much in the Jayhawk League and that may be an area he will need to improve in. Regardless of which combination emerges as the starting middle infield, we will undoubtedly have one of the SEC’s best when it comes to defense. The biggest question mark is how much production at the plate we can expect to get from these positions. Promising freshman prospect Kent Matthes was a high school shortstop, and may get an opportunity to show what he can do for the Tide at that position, yet some project him as a third baseman or outfielder.
Evan Bush has an excellent chance to join the exclusive 20-homerun club in the “-3 era,†which includes Andy Phillips (’99), Aaron Clark (’01), and Beau Hearod (’03). However, he’s not going to see very many pitches to hit unless someone steps up to protect him in the middle of the order. Bush is a patient hitter who will definitely draw his fair share of walks, but he fell into a slump late last season that really affected his numbers. Perhaps new hitting coach Joe Raccuia can help Bush make whatever adjustments he is in need of in order to become a more complete hitter. Bush has steadily improved with the glove over the course of his career, and has become a respectable fielder at the hot corner. This could be a huge year for the senior third baseman. Freshman Alex Avila will get a look on the infield corners, as will Spencer Pennington. Avila is a rare commodity in college baseball: a switch hitter. Pennington is probably best suited for first base, but he did play on the left side of the infield in high school and he definitely has the arm for third. The status of John Parker Wilson is unclear at this point. He has some talent, but his commitment to the football team may hinder his development as a baseball player, assuming he continues to try and balance both sports. Matt Downs is back working some at third, and I never understood why they took the bat out of his hands last season. Downs will be needed in the Tide bullpen first and foremost, but he’s also a decent right-handed bat to have on the bench. A capable pinch hitter, it was Downs whose line shot to right would have won the ’04 Vandy series had Worth Scott not made one of the most spectacular catches in Sewell-Thomas history.
The term “ sophomore slump†is often used in college sports, but over the years, “sophomore spike†has been more appropriate for several Tide baseball players (Zac Welch, Evan Bush, Adam Pavkovich, and Andy Phillips, to name a few). Although he may be restricted some this fall due to a broken hand, my pick for “sophomore spike†in ’06 is first baseman Matt Bentley. It will be difficult replacing Welch, who had established himself as the top defensive first baseman in the conference and helped carry the Tide down the stretch with his bat, but Bentley should prove to be a worthy successor. The lefthanded-hitting Bentley has legitimate power and could emerge as one of the team’s leading run-producers next season. Redshirt freshman Wes Henderson is also in the mix at first. Henderson is a good defensive first baseman who has shown signs of being able to swing the bat some. Another hitter to keep an eye on is two-way player Josh Copeland, a sophomore who saw a handful of at bats as a freshman. Copeland has no shortage of power, and could end up hitting a few off the Sewell-Thomas scoreboard in his career. Word has it that we may have another two-way player on the roster this season: Allen Ponder is supposed to get a chance to swing the bat some. The big righthander has as much raw power as anyone on the team (a safe pick in any homerun derby); the only question is how he will adjust having not hit regularly in quite some time.
Evan Bush has an excellent chance to join the exclusive 20-homerun club in the “-3 era,†which includes Andy Phillips (’99), Aaron Clark (’01), and Beau Hearod (’03). However, he’s not going to see very many pitches to hit unless someone steps up to protect him in the middle of the order. Bush is a patient hitter who will definitely draw his fair share of walks, but he fell into a slump late last season that really affected his numbers. Perhaps new hitting coach Joe Raccuia can help Bush make whatever adjustments he is in need of in order to become a more complete hitter. Bush has steadily improved with the glove over the course of his career, and has become a respectable fielder at the hot corner. This could be a huge year for the senior third baseman. Freshman Alex Avila will get a look on the infield corners, as will Spencer Pennington. Avila is a rare commodity in college baseball: a switch hitter. Pennington is probably best suited for first base, but he did play on the left side of the infield in high school and he definitely has the arm for third. The status of John Parker Wilson is unclear at this point. He has some talent, but his commitment to the football team may hinder his development as a baseball player, assuming he continues to try and balance both sports. Matt Downs is back working some at third, and I never understood why they took the bat out of his hands last season. Downs will be needed in the Tide bullpen first and foremost, but he’s also a decent right-handed bat to have on the bench. A capable pinch hitter, it was Downs whose line shot to right would have won the ’04 Vandy series had Worth Scott not made one of the most spectacular catches in Sewell-Thomas history.
The term “ sophomore slump†is often used in college sports, but over the years, “sophomore spike†has been more appropriate for several Tide baseball players (Zac Welch, Evan Bush, Adam Pavkovich, and Andy Phillips, to name a few). Although he may be restricted some this fall due to a broken hand, my pick for “sophomore spike†in ’06 is first baseman Matt Bentley. It will be difficult replacing Welch, who had established himself as the top defensive first baseman in the conference and helped carry the Tide down the stretch with his bat, but Bentley should prove to be a worthy successor. The lefthanded-hitting Bentley has legitimate power and could emerge as one of the team’s leading run-producers next season. Redshirt freshman Wes Henderson is also in the mix at first. Henderson is a good defensive first baseman who has shown signs of being able to swing the bat some. Another hitter to keep an eye on is two-way player Josh Copeland, a sophomore who saw a handful of at bats as a freshman. Copeland has no shortage of power, and could end up hitting a few off the Sewell-Thomas scoreboard in his career. Word has it that we may have another two-way player on the roster this season: Allen Ponder is supposed to get a chance to swing the bat some. The big righthander has as much raw power as anyone on the team (a safe pick in any homerun derby); the only question is how he will adjust having not hit regularly in quite some time.
