Ok, I said I'd write one of these up and since I wanted to include the MLB Draft, I'm behind all the other "experts" roaming around the internet. Of course this is my own "expert" opinion as if I'm any more qualified than the rest of the blogosphere.

The 2009 Season:

It's hard to argue that the season was not a success. The team tied for first in the SEC West with LSU and was two bad throws by Brett Basham from in a Sunday game in Baton Rouge from having the title outright. They also set a record for SEC wins with 20. All of this was done without one real offensive superstar, but instead quality pitching, a Bianco hallmark, and a whole bunch of singles to manufacture runs. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a team get so many hits that didn't result in extra bases.

Batting:

As I eluded to, this was a team where power hitting was virtually absent. While this team actually hit more home runs than the 2007 squad (56 in '09 compared to 51 in '07), there was a significant decrease from last year to this year attributable largely to 3B Cody Overbeck signing after a stellar junior season where he hit 17 HRs, and none of his replacements materialized at the plate with 3B Logan Williams batting a woeful .045 on 1 for 22 hitting and 3B Mike Snyder batting .200 on 5 of 25 hitting. Neither were able to put a ball into the terraces beyond the fences at O-U Stadium. 1B Matt Smith's power numbers also plummeted in exchange for increased batting average (.336 vs. .283) and fewer strikeouts (57 Ks in 232 ABs vs. 80 Ks in 226 ABs) while OF Logan Power's HR totals dipped slightly but was able to go from 13 doubles in '08 to 20 in '09. 2B/3B Zach Miller managed to rebound nicely from an off year in 2008 raising his average from .280 to .341 and looked more like the Freshman All-American he was in '07 when he hit .361 out of nowhere. SS Kevin Mort came in and solidified the shortstop position but was unable to contribute with the stick as much as Rebel fans would want after watching years of Matt Tolbert and Zach Cozart. Mort finished fifth on the team in RBIs with 33 while hitting .286 and rarely striking out but he did most of his damage off of a relatively soft non-conference schedule as his SEC average was a meager .210. The platoon at 2B between Evan Button and Tim Ferguson worked out well for most of the season in terms of what they did at the plate though both would probably tell you that they did not meet expectations. Ferguson led the team with a .358 average while also picking up 4 3Bs to show off his speed but only managed 2 HRs. Button was solid hitting .325 but also hit only 2 HRs. Both of these guys had the potential to hit seven or eight but it never materialized. C Kyle Henson was a surprise after having to sit out all of the 2008 season with a NCAA suspension and injury. Henson came in and hit .338 and tied for the team lead with 8 HRs after taking over full time duty from C Brett Basham following the LSU series. Speaking of Basham, not having to catch 99.9% of the innings seemingly gave him enough rest to swing the bat better as his average improved from .261 in '08 to .287 in '09. He showed steady improvement at the plate over the past three years. DH Matt Snyder exploded out of nowhere against Anthony Renaudo on a dark Friday night in Baton Rouge with two balls that still have not landed. Snyder ended the season batting .298 but provided power in his limited ABs hitting 8 HRs

The outfield consisted of a platoon of guys who could never really get going as expected. OF Logan Power was talked about earlier and finished his Rebel career as the all-time RBI leader in school history as a very solid overall hitter. CF Jordan Henry put up good numbers batting .343 with an awesome .473 OBP. He rarely struck out and walked around one out of every five times he came up to bat. While he greatly improved on his '08 numbers, he still paled in comparison to his Freshman All-American season in '07 where he hit .376 and was a danger when he was at the plate. Towards the hit of the season, it became woefully apparent that he was incapable of turning on a ball best evidenced by the position of the CF in the Western Kentucky game. The WKU CF was playing about 40 feet behind the shortstop. The platoon crew of David Phillips, Jeremy Travis, Michael Hubbard, and Taylor Hashman never worked out. Phillips and Travis split ABs depending on the lefty-righty matchup of the pitcher and I think it threw both of them in a funk. Phillips only managed to hit .290 with 2 HRs while fanning 31 times in 100 ABs. Travis flashed power early in the season, especially in Baton Rouge, and ended the season hitting .279 (a team worst among guys with at least 100 ABs) but did hit 7 HRs though most were early on. Michael Hubbard was primarily a late game defensive replacement but the JC All-American only managed to hit .293 and 2 HRs in limited plate appearances. Taylor Hashman was the RH DH early on and played sparingly in the field. His numbers are surprising as he only batted .210 but had an OBP of .417 attributable to a good eye at the plate.

Bunting. I do not think it would be an overstatement to say it was not our area of expertise this season. We played a lot of small ball this year in an attempt to overcome both the HR power and gap power that the offense seemed to struggle with but bunting seemed to come back and bite us more often than not, even when it was the correct call. Too often were bunts whiffed, popped up to the third baseman or pitcher, bunted right back at the pitcher, bunted over the catcher's head, etc. Bunting is a fairly fundamental thing to do yet we were unable to execute. Jordan Henry needed to understand that if he's going to sac bunt then he needs to go ahead and square and do it. His half drag/half sac bunt method never seemed to work as he would often miss the first pitch which would lead the first and third baseman just playing the sac bunt and leaving nowhere to drag the ball to. He might be taught to do it that way or given free reign to do it as he sees fit, but it just did not seem to work all that often.

Overall I liked the fact that the team batting average increased from 2008 (.295) to 2009 (.310) but the in ability to drive the ball into the gaps killed us in terms of stringing together runs to form the big inning. While many of the people sitting around me ranted on and on about swinging at first pitch fastballs, I think that is really the way to go. It is usually the best pitch you are going to get so go out there and take your cut. It is an approach that is very successful for guys like Ray Tanner at South Carolina and Dan McDonnell at Louisville. The real problem with our approach at the plate has been the inability to hit the offspeed pitch. This is not a new problem by far and goes back as far as I can really remember. Our guys can hammer pitchers that love to focus on their fastball (see the USC game against Dyson, UK game against Paxton, and LSU game against Renaudo) but when an opposing team throws a guy that can throw a great 12-6 curveball or hard slider/cutter, we struggle. It really does remind me of Pedro Cerrano from the beginning of Major League.

Baserunning:

I will keep this one short. Baserunning blunders seemed to occur more than one would think though none were as egregious as poor Matt Hightower of WKU wandering off the bag thinking there were three outs. Guys seemed to get lost on the basepaths at times running into outs. Jordan Henry was phenomenal on the basepaths however stealing 38 bases in 44 attempts and often stretching his bloop singles into doubles out of shear hustle. Tim Ferguson was also great when he managed to get on stealing 18 of 19 while leading the team in triples. After these guys though, basestealing was virtually non-existent and the lack of threat kept us from running the hit-and-run more which would have played right into the "only hit singles" approach.

Pitching:

What can you say about the pitching? Bianco always gets great numbers out his staffs. Even without All-American Scott Bittle for the second half of the season, the team managed to put together a 4.06 ERA which was good enough for second in the conference while striking out 623 batters in 567.2 IP. LHP Drew Pomeranz was suspended early in the season for a DUI incident but came in and got better and better as the season progressed culminating in a phenomenal outing where he allowed only 2 hits and 1 walk while striking out 16 in a complete game against hot hitting WKU after shutting down a Monmouth team two days prior in a 10 strikeout in 7 IP game. Pomeranz finished the season 8-4 with a stellar 3.40 ERA striking out 124 while only walking 37 and was best when he could get the crowd behind him and not overthrow his plus curveball. RHP Scott Bittle made the move from closer to starter for the LSU series and did not disappoint shutting down the Tigers. Unfortunately for Bittle, the switch from closer to starter took its toll on his shoulder and he was shut down before making a start at Auburn and never made it back on the field. He finished, however, with a 5-2 record and 3 svs with a 2.17 ERA and striking out 66. The numbers were definitely down from his ridiculous '08 year (7-1, 8 svs, 1.78 ERA, 130 Ks) but he was dominant when he pitched nonetheless. RHP Phillip Irwin and LHP Brett Bukvich rounded out the starters for the majority of the season. Irwin was very impressive for the year following an '08 season where he did not do much. With a fastball in the low 90s, he was able to draw enough attention off his curve (though more like a slurve) enough to get batters out. While opposing teams hit .300 off of him, he rarely gave up runs and pushed through any trouble by throwing strikes and getting outs which is all Coach Bianco really asks out of his pitchers. Irwin finished the season 8-3 with a 3.84 ERA and 73 Ks. Bukvich was the enigma of the starters and has been for his career. He obviously has great movement on his fastball and a devastating changeup when he's on but at times they both went flat on him. Still, Bukvich was a guy who threw strikes and let the defense back him up just like Irwin as he went 9-3 with a 4.42 ERA and 72 Ks versus only 16 BBs.

The rest of the staff was none to shabby either. LHP Nathan Baker may have the second best stuff on the team behind Pomeranz as he could really run his fastball up into the mid 90s when he needed to. Baker began the season as a weekday started but soon found himself as a key long relief during SEC play coming in often to help out starters that might have been struggling. He could get a bit wild as he would lose control of his fastball at times but threw strikes and walked few. Baker finished the season 4-3 with a 3.63 ERA while striking out 69 against only 16 BBs. RHP Aaron Barrett began the season as the Friday starter with Pomeranz suspended and immediately showed that he has overpowering stuff with a hard biting slider and a fastball that can get into the high 90s but too often did he get behind in the count which led to him trying to place his fastball more than just throwing with the catcher. This led to a flat fastball that was hit hard and hit often. Once he got out of the starter's role, he got better and was able to just go out and throw. Barrett finished the season 0-1 with a 8.70 ERA and struck out 33 in 30 IP. Setup man RHP David Goforth throws the ball harder than anyone who sits on the Rebel bench as he hit 99mph on the radar gun often. Pitching for the first time in a Rebel uniform, Goforth was solid and effectively wild which unfortunately led to a large number of walks. However, once guys got on base, he never flinched, focused on the next batter, and finished the season 1-1 and 3 svs with a 2.80 ERA and striking out 36 against 20 BBs. Closer RHP Jake Morgan emergence was the reason that Scott Bittle was able to move into the rotation. Morgan was phenomenal out of the bullpen showing a heavy fastball and hard slider and at one point had gotten 18 consecutive outs by strikeout. He got roughed up in a couple games but rebounded nicely and showed more guts than any pitcher I've seen when he came in against Virginia and threw three innings of shutout baseball despite breaking his nose four hours earlier and bleeding all over the place. Morgan finished up 4-1 with 9 svs and a 3.46 ERA and 55 Ks against only 7 BBs. RHP Rory McKean and LHP Kyle Barbeck were the only other guys that threw substantial innings. McKean had a down year compared to the '08 season (3.35 ERA in '08 and 4.53 ERA in '09) but was the go to guy for middle relief when Baker was unavailable later in the season. McKean was a solid out eater for the middle innings though gave up more hits than you would have liked him to. He finished with the aforementioned 4.53 with a 5-1 record and 1 sv. Barbeck came in as a highly touted freshman from Missouri and struggled like many freshman do. While he didn't show overpowering stuff like Pomeranz or Baker, it seemed he was still trying to feel out the collegiate game when he was on the mound. Barbeck's numbers do not really tell the story as they are unduly inflated by an abysmal snow game against TCU. I do not know if he ended up being redshirted, was hurt, or what but he was absent from the bench in the second half of the season. Barbeck ended up 0-0 with a 5.89 ERA. RHP Wade Broyles, RHP Michael Park, and LHP Matt Tracy made up the rest of the pitchers. Broyles got the most work of the three and was impressive when he pitched. Tracy was as well and I thought he should have pitched more as he would have been a qualify left arm out of the bullpen. Park struggled in his limited appearances. The last pitcher was RHP Chris Corrigan who was booted off the team early on and made no serious contribution to the team except losing to a bad Mercer team in the second game of the season.

Overall the pitching was great all year. The only glaring problem was the inability to prevent runners from stealing which was exploited by a very aggressive Virginia team in the super regional. None of the pitchers seemed to exhibit a slide step to the plate to get the ball there faster, especially the left handers.

Fielding:

The fielding was great all year until one really fatal play by Evan Button at second to whom my heart goes out to for it. The fielding improved dramatically from the '08 season though it was still low by recent standards. Kevin Mort came in and solidified a shortstop position that had 30 errors in the '08 season. Mort finished the '09 year with only seven. This was better than any of the three season that the slick fielding Zach Cozart spent in Oxford. Matt Smith improved dramatically at first base though still gets lost when the ball is in space. His ability to pick the ball off the dirt also got better but he missed some of the easier ones that he should have gotten (Button's infamous soft toss). Miller's move to third base was a stroke of genius in locking down the spot that was struggling when manned by Button, Williams, or Mike Snyder. Miller played the position as if he were at second which led to some awkward sidearm throws that sailed on him but he was impressive nonetheless. If only he could have been three or four inches taller to catch some of those choppers.

The outfield was solid all year at getting to the ball but got lost throwing it at times. There were times, especially in the Virginia series, where balls were inexplicably thrown into second instead of hitting the first or third cut. Jordan Henry commanded a good centerfield and was able to get to most anything in the gaps and improved his arm strength from the previous season. Power was solid but not spectacular but could bring the ball in on a line when he needed to. The same could be said about Jeremy Travis. David Phillips struggled at times with balls going under his glove or throws that were going to nowhere in particular.

2009 MLB Draft:

4th (129th) - RHP Scott Bittle (Sr.) - Cardinals
5th (145th) - LHP Nathan Baker (Jr.) - Pirates
7th (215th) - OF Jordan Henry (Jr.) - Indians
18th (548th) - LHP Brett Bukvich (Sr.) - Marlins
21st (625th) - RHP Phillip Irwin (Jr.) - Pirates
22nd (666th) - 2B Evan Button (Jr.) - Diamondbacks
27th (814th) - RHP Aaron Barrett (Jr.) - Rangers
39th (1167th) - C Kyle Henson (Sr.) - Giants
49th (1481st) - 1B Matt Smith (So.) - Astros
50th (1494th) - C Brett Basham (Sr.) - Padres

From what I've read, Baker, Henry, Irwin, and Button are all going to go ahead and sign with their teams more than likely. Irwin and Button have already graduated and Baker will get enough money that he should not pass it up. Barrett is likely to return along with Matt Smith. I'm really surprised that Logan Power fell from a 22nd round pick last year to undrafted this year.

3rd (107th) - RHP/SS David Renfroe (HS) - Red Sox

Renfroe was the only draftee that ended up being drafted as far as I can tell. While all Rebels hope that the Red Sox will not be able to come up with $3 million in overslot money to sign Renfroe, nobody is naive enough to believe that will be the case.

2009 Signees:

RHP Eric Callendar - Meridian CC
RHP Jordan Cooper - Farragut HS
LHP Matt Crouse - Young Harris CC
OF Chris Ellis - Stratford HS
IF Evan Frazar - St. Pius X HS
C Miles Hamblin - Howard CC
OF Chad Hunter - Walters State CC
OF Zach Lowery - Kennesaw Mountain HS
OF Tanner Mathis - Barbe HS
RHP/1B Brooks Oursler - Franklin Academy
RHP/SS David Renfroe - South Panola HS
RHP Trent Rothlin - Walters State CC
LHP Jon Andy Scott - Northeast Mississippi CC
SS Alex Yarbrough - Allen HS

2010 and Beyond:

Here is a picture of what I think that the lineup should be.



Obviously I have Hamblin starting at third and backing up Hightower at catcher (who I believe is the better defensive option and a good hitter in his own right) but I believe that we have to have both his and Snyder's bat in the lineup at all times. Mike Snyder is pretty limited in position to third so he can back up Hamblin. Miller would move back to second where he is more comfortable and incoming freshman Evan Frazar will back him up there. Kevin Mort will hold down the shortstop position for his senior year but I think that freshman Alex Yarbrough will get in to spell him from time to time, at least early in the year with the expanded rosters. Matt Smith will spend his last season at Ole Miss at first base with Matt Snyder backing him up and playing the DH. Brooks Oursler is a possibility as he is a big guy (6'7" 245) with big time power but with Smith and Snyder there he's redshirt potential. However, it's possible you see Smith move into RF and let Snyder and Oursler battle it out. Smith is a native RHP/OF.

Also missing is David Phillips. I cannot see him playing next year but that might be residual disappointment from his horrible regional and super regional performances, both with the glove and with the bat. Coach Bianco likes to give his JC guys a chance at the starting spot so I think that Chad Hunter will be battling out with Chris Ellis and Taylor Hashman in left field but I think Hunter is going to win that battle to allow Ellis to grow into the position and Hashman lackluster hitting this spring. In center, I think Tim Ferguson is going to get first crack at that spot and is going to win. Tanner Mathis is fast as lightning and swings a stick similar in power to Jordan Henry so he'll get in somewhere. In right, Zach Lowery brings much needed power to the outfield. I think Logan Williams is going to move to the outfield to make room for Frazar at second but he'll probably just be a utility everywhere guy. Cliff Vaughn did not play a lot but he was in right field when he did. He may not be back next year as I believe he did not almost come back this year.

Lineup:

1. CF Tim Ferguson
2. LF Chad Hunter
3. 1B Matt Smith
4. 3B Miles Hamblin
5. DH Matt Snyder
6. 2B Zach Miller
7. RF Zach Lowery
8. C Taylor Hightower
9. SS Kevin Mort

Pitching:

Friday: LHP Drew Pomeranz
Saturday: RHP Aaron Barrett
Sunday: LHP Matt Crouse/RHP Trent Rothlin/RHP Jordan Cooper
Tuesday: LHP Kyle Barbeck
Wednesday: RHP Trent Rothlin/LHP Matt Crouse/RHPLHP Jordan Cooper
SU: David Goforth
CL: Jake Morgan
Remaining guys: RHP Wade Broyles, LHP Matt Tracy, RHP Michael Park, RHP Kyle Thornton, RHP Brett Huber, RHP Blair Wright, LHP Eric Callendar

Pomeraz will obviously be the Friday guy going into the season and I think that you will see Barrett move back into the Saturday role now that he has a season under his belt. The Sunday job will probably be between Crouse and Rothlin, both JC guys but I am going with Crouse just for another left handed starter. It could also be RHP Jordan Cooper if Bianco gives him a shot. The midweek guys I think are going to be Barbeck and the loser between the battle of Crouse and Rothlin. Some people see Goforth starting next year but I just cannot see a two pitch guy starting successfully. I know he throws it hard but he seems better served in a setup role for Morgan. The rest of the guys will be relief in some capacity. They have all redshirted at least one year except for Callendar. I think Jordan Cooper and Jon Andy Scott could be redshirt candidates from this group. Cooper is an excellent pitcher and played for one of the best teams in the nation but we are loaded with right handed pitchers and many will be leaving after this year. However, Bianco likes to throw his big freshman recruits into the fire so who knows. Scott did not pitch last year as he was rehabing from Tommy John surgery so another year of working that out should be good for him.

Final Caveat and Editst:

I have no idea who is still on the team at this point following exit interviews. I am sure names will be popping up soon around the internet and I'll edit this as needed if I remember. Flipping around the internet and asking around on campus, it seems that Logan Williams and Kyle Thornton are players likely not to return. I guess this means I'll put David Phillips back in RF but I refuse to start him.

Fixed the handedness of Jordan Cooper. I blame Yancy for listing him as a RHP on the commitment thread and that I wrote this in a hurry. I'm sure he will get his look at a spot in the rotation along with the JC guys, especially after leading Farragut to a final #8 ranking overall.