TheWaveReport.com - Rejuvenation still underway in fall ball

October 29, 2009

Scott Kushner
TheWaveReport.com Senior Editor

Two weeks into the fall baseball routine, reality is starting to settle in for coach Rick Jones.

Leading a team with 17 newcomers, 15 freshman and a host of question marks, one would think the nerves would already be piling up on Tulane's winningest baseball coach.

Instead, the renewed sense of enthusiasm and rejuvenation is still taking place, both in the Retif Clubhouse and on the Turchin Stadium field. Even the doldrums which naturally occur midway through an offseason practice don't seem to be slowing the bounce and vigor this team started the month with.

"It seems to me, and there's no utopia, we are back to being in a situation that I love being a part of," Jones said. "It's why I love being at Tulane."

"Based on what I see, this group of freshmen seem to be from a citizenship point, where we want them to be, which is a credit to families. Instead of entitlement, in a general term, there is a program pride. I know it's genuine. I think it is a nucleus to build with."

After battling issues post-Katrina with junior college stopgaps and MLB draft defections, the current crop of freshman has already shown a return to the Tulane process.

"This is the first class since the storm that has the quality and quantity that we were accustomed to prior to it," Jones said. "But because we were so decimated the prior year by the draft, we have a bigger class than we normally would have and that's a concern because when you have that many young players there is a lot of obstacles they will be experiencing for the first time."

Between the 56-game schedule, competing in the classroom and being new to the environment (umpires, fans, road trips, media), the grind of a season catches up to newcomers significantly quicker than veterans.

Where the large class becomes an advantage is in its movable parts. With so many versatile players and so few established starters, Tulane can pick and choose from a variety of batting orders and defensive alignments.

That wasn't the case last year, when Jones felt handcuffed by injuries and a thin bench which forced him to sacrifice defense for offense and vice versa.

For the past few weeks, Tulane's staff has been putting together a series of lineups which is constantly evolving. During the course of a single intrasquad, Jones said he changed his starting lineup three times.

Outside of catcher Jeremy Schaffer, third baseman Rob Segedin and outfielder Nick Boullosa there aren't any position players who have proven themselves at the collegiate level.

In the infield, Garrett Cannizaro and Brennan Middleton will likely patrol the middle with Brian Barry a solid backup option. Alex Byo, who was considered UNO's best signee, has a beat on first base and can also be a factor on the mound.

"Getting Alex Byo, in my mind, was redemption for losing some of those draft picks last year," Jones said. "This guy is going to be an impact player as a freshman."

In the outfield, Cody Robinson and Brandon Boudreaux have immediately made their presence felt, becoming early contenders to start.

So that leaves a possibility - if not a likelihood - that five of eight position players on opening day could come from the freshman class. It leaves some intimidating prospects.

Jones' best comparison was to his 1995 team which seven freshman starters and finished 32-26, losing nine one-run games. By 1996, the Wave improved to 40-plus wins, earning a berth to the NCAA Tournament and turned Tulane into a perennial postseason team.

Now in the heart of Fall Ball, the obstacles are clear but so is the goal. To return Tulane to its place amongst the nation's elite.

And it won't be from a quick-fix.

"I know we are going to take some lumps and we are going to make some youthful mistakes because of the tough schedule that we have," Jones said. "But I believe this is a nucleus that can give us a chance."

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