St. John's University Athletics
2006 Red Storm Baseball Season Preview
2/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 7, 2006
On the heels of one of the most successful seasons in school history, a veteran core and young, talented newcomers are set to take the field for the Red Storm baseball team in 2006. Five seniors and seven juniors will give a veteran presence to a team that also features 13 freshmen and eight sophomores. An offense with power up and down the lineup could put up some big numbers, and some young, power arms give the pitching staff a lot of depth for the 2006 BIG EAST schedule.
"We have Will Vogl, Eddie Schultz, Sam DeLuca, Chris Joachim and Anthony Smith that have gotten a lot of at-bats in conference," head coach Ed Blankmeyer said. "Those five guys have to step up.
I think we have more depth in the pitching staff, but we need to find a way to get deep into games and close them out."
Eighteen players return from the 2005 BIG EAST regular season title team, led by Vogl, Schultz, DeLuca, Joachim and Smith. A talented group of newcomers will get plenty of opportunities to play, but the Red Storm's nine upperclassmen will ultimately make the offense go.
While roles need to be filled in the starting rotation, Blankmeyer likes the depth of this year's pitching staff. Veteran Rob Delaney anchors the team's weekend rotation and leads a young staff that includes six freshmen and three sophomores. How the youth develops and the returning players respond to new roles are central factors to the team's success in 2006.
INFIELD
The Red Storm infield was a major part of the team's BIG EAST-leading defense last year, and the right side returns to the diamond in 2006. Co-captain Chris Joachim will start at first base, and junior Sam DeLuca will be the starter at second base. Freshman shortstop Gino Matias and sophomore third baseman Gil Zayas are the preseason favorites to win starting jobs, but a deep group of infielders features several players who can compete for positions early.
Preseason All-BIG EAST selection Eddie Schultz and junior Anthony Smith could see some time at first base, and Jeff Grantham, Daniel Rose and Steve Vitale all have the potential to win starting jobs in the early going.
"One concern for us is how stable we can make the left side of our defense," Blankmeyer said. "Our third base and shortstop positions are new. How we defend will depend a lot on how well that left side does."
A .291 career hitter, Joachim has been a consistent bat for the Red Storm for the past two seasons. He improved upon the numbers from his freshman season across the board in 2005 and hit .330 over the final 27 games of the season. He was a force in the NCAA Tournament, going 7-for-15 (.467) in four games at the Corvallis (Ore.) Regional, and will look to use that hot finish to propel him into the 2006 season.
It didn't take long for DeLuca to make the adjustment to BIG EAST baseball after transferring from Manhattan College last year. He went on to hit .292, reach base safely in 49 of 55 games and post a .380 on-base percentage. His all-around abilities at the plate will be relied upon to set the table for the St. John's lineup, and his play at second base will be vital for a defense that features some new faces up the middle.
Zayas saw some time as a reserve and pinch-hitter last season and followed that up with a strong summer for the Manchester Silkworms of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL). The sophomore has one of the strongest arms in the conference and should fill in nicely for the graduated Jim Martin at third base. An NECBL All Star this past summer, his offense and ability to make plays at the hot corner will be put to the test early.
Matias is the next in a long line of scrappy, defensive-minded shortstops in the St. John's program. The most recent of which, P.J. Antoniato, was selected in the 15th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball, leaving the shortstop position open for competition in 2006. Matias had a good summer and fall, and his aggressive approach to the game could make him a good fit for everyday shortstop duties.
Utility man Jeff Grantham could also challenge for a starting job, after hitting .346 with five RBI and nine runs in 28 games last season. Grantham is an intelligent player with the capability to fill in it at second and third base and shortstop, and he could see time at all three positions.
Freshman Daniel Rose will miss some time early with an injury, but could wind up in the infield or the outfield in 2006. Rose can play at shortstop or third base, and, when healthy, will provide another potential impact bat in the lineup.
Fellow freshmen Steve Vitale, Scott Intravaia and Kevin Watkins could also push for time in the infield. Vitale could play early with Blankmeyer and staff looking to add some speed to the Red Storm lineup. Intravaia has worked on getting stronger through the fall and winter, has good knowledge of the game and can switch-hit. The athletic Watkins has a lot of potential and, depending on his development throughout the winter and early spring, could be a factor as early as this season.
OUTFIELD
The returning outfield is tested and experienced, led by seniors Ken Devenney and Will Vogl. The two are expected to start in center and right field, respectively, giving the Red Storm a veteran right side of the defense. Schultz, Smith, Bryan Dirr, Chris Anninos and transfer Justin Pane are all in the mix for time in left field, with Dirr also likely to play some center and right field.
Vogl saw action at all three outfield positions in his first season at St. John's and put up big offensive numbers in a variety of roles. He had 22 extra-base hits, drove in 40 runs and stole 10 bases in 2005, after two productive seasons at Skyline Junior College. He'll make the move to center field on a full-time basis this season and be looked at to be a major contributor, both offensively and defensively.
Injuries affected Devenney's consistency and production last season, but he is at full health heading into the spring. The senior hit .278 with 16 RBI and a .386 on-base percentage in limited at-bats a year ago, following a sophomore season (2004) in which he hit .338 and had a .538 slugging percentage. His bat, as well as his steady hand and leadership, will be key parts on a young 2006 team.
Redshirt sophomore Anninos hit .412 with four RBI and seven runs in 17 at-bats last year. If he can continue to swing the bat early in the 2006 season, he has the potential to break into the lineup and get consistent at-bats.
Dirr was last year's defensive replacement late in games and hit .261 with five RBI and seven runs in 29 at-bats. He will be relied upon for his defense again this season, with his contributions on offense defining his role in the outfield.
Pane comes to St. John's from Penn State University, where he played for two seasons. With a good arm and good speed, the senior will be in the mix for time in both corner outfield positions.
CATCHER
It's not easy for one player to replace Joe Burke's production, defense and veteran leadership, so Blankmeyer has brought in a group of four catchers to compete for the departed senior's position. Junior Brendan Monaghan has been Burke's backup the last two seasons, and Jarod Hickle has had a chance to log some innings behind the plate since transferring from UT-Pan American. Junior Ryan Mahoney, a transfer from South Carolina, has an edge for the starting job, and freshman Tommy Wasilowski could be the long-term solution for the position.
Mahoney, a native of Patterson, N.Y., returns to his home state after two seasons at South Carolina. He stands at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds and provides a potential impact left-handed bat. His talents behind the plate have been well documented, having earned an eighth round selection as a high school senior in the 2002 Major League draft. A move closer to his hometown could spark a quick adjustment to a new playing environment, and his physical talent could be an immediate asset to the St. John's program.
Monaghan and Hickle made a total of 19 starts in 2005, taking the everyday burden off of Burke. Still contenders for starting duties, the two will be important players regardless, with several doubleheaders and three-game series on the schedule.
Wasilowski has a strong body and a lot of potential at the plate and could be the Red Storm's starting catcher of the future. He has good size and a good arm, but needs to learn the nuances behind the plate before being able to catch every day.
DESIGNATED HITTER
Two players who could also get at-bats playing in the infield or the outfield give St. John's a potent tandem at designated hitter. Right-handed Eddie Schultz is a preseason All-BIG EAST selection at designated hitter, and left-handed Anthony Smith is a versatile athlete with power and the ability to drive in runs.
The left-right combo gives head coach Ed Blankmeyer the ability to mix and match in the lineup and on the field. A solid rotation between the left field, first base and designated hitter positions also helps conserve the energy of Schultz, Smith and first baseman Chris Joachim over a 56-game schedule.
Smith could see a majority of the at-bats at designated hitter, but the two-way player will also see time in the outfield, at first base and as a reliever. Smith is a transfer from George Washington University, where he was the Atlantic-10 Conference Rookie of the Year in 2004. As a sophomore at St. John's last year, he had three home runs, 12 extra-base hits and 23 RBI in 42 games, and finished the regular season with hits in nine of his last 10 games.
STARTING PITCHING
Veterans at the top of the rotation and in the bullpen, and a young, exciting group of power arms highlight the Red Storm's pitching staff in 2006. Juniors Rob Delaney, Justin Muir and Anthony Smith figure to have prominent roles on a young staff that is also expected to start newcomers Scott Barnes, Justin Gutsie, Colin Lynch, Luis Monell and Jared Yecker. Delaney projects as the team's top starter, and the remaining spots in the BIG EAST and mid-week rotations are up for grabs between the five newcomers, Nick Luisi and Muir.
"With 80 percent of the BIG EAST innings gone to graduation and the draft, pitching is the major question mark," Blankmeyer said. "Can our starters go late into games? Time will tell, but I do think we have more depth this year."
Delaney had a solid season in 2005, going 5-2 with a 4.37 ERA in 45.1 innings. He made 15 total appearances and four starts and allowed just one home run and one stolen base. The junior started the season with a 0.68 ERA in his first 26.1 innings and closed it with a 2.25 ERA over his last 8.0 innings. His leadership and ability to shut opposing hitters down will go a long way in setting an example for the Red Storm's young pitching staff.
Muir pitched in a variety of roles in 2005 and closed the season on a strong note. Over his last 13 appearances of the regular season, Muir was 2-1 with a 2.66 ERA, capped by a scoreless appearance against Pittsburgh in which he struck out five batters in 2.1 innings. He also had a solid 3.38 ERA in seven conference games and was one of three pitchers on the team to strike out over a batter per inning (32 K's in 31.1 IP).
Luisi had one of the best falls on the team and made a push for a big role in 2006. The left-hander was dominant at times last season and held opposing hitters to just a .218 average. He was also the team's most effective pitcher in NCAA Regional games at then third-ranked Oregon State. He gave up two runs and struck out six batters in 5.2 innings in two NCAA Tournament appearances and carried that momentum into the summer and fall.
Barnes and Monell, two of the top four newcomers in the BIG EAST according to Baseball America, have both earned starting roles. Barnes, a 43rd round selection by the Washington Nationals in the 2005 draft, was a combined 17-1 with respective ERAs of 0.97 and 0.13 as a junior and senior at Cathedral High School in Chicopee, Mass. The 6-foot-3 left-hander has a good arm and a quality breaking ball and is pushing to make BIG EAST starts after a productive fall.
Monell comes to St. John's after two dominant seasons at El Paso Community College in El Paso, Texas. The junior was his conference's Pitcher of the Year in 2004 after going 8-2 with a 3.49 ERA and 105 strikeouts. A native of Brooklyn, Monell has a live, loose arm and the potential to dominate hitters at the highest levels of collegiate baseball.
Freshmen Gutsie, Lynch and Yecker are exciting talents who will pitch in starting roles throughout the spring. Gutsie "has the ability to be a frontline BIG EAST pitcher" according to Blankmeyer, and Lynch has won over the coaching staff by coming on strong in the spring. Both flash potential plus-breaking pitches and should be fixtures on the Red Storm staff for years to come.
Yecker is another power arm that should begin the year as a consistent mid-week starter. The 6-foot-6 freshman right-hander consistently touches 90 mph with his fastball and could flourish under the tutelage of pitching coach Scott Brown.
BULLPEN
The bullpen should be deep through the middle and late innings, but the team must find a way to fill the void left by closer Craig Hansen when he departed for the Boston Red Sox organization. James Lally got some opportunities to close games last season, and Matt Tosoni could find himself in the closing role. Smith is expected to throw in late relief, and Rich Armento, George Brown, Luisi and Muir are all good relief options, depending on how the starting rotation unfolds.
"The bottom line is, can we close out a game?" Blankmeyer said of his bullpen. "We have a lot of depth, but we have to determine who can close. With Craig [Hansen] being the closer last year, it was almost automatic. Now, we have to determine who can fill that role."
Lally finished with three saves last season and was productive in 24 bullpen appearances. He allowed just 14 hits and 21 base runners in 20.1 innings and posted a 4.87 ERA. His deceptive submarine delivery is extremely tough on right-handed batters, and he could be looked at early to help fill the closer role.
Smith will pitch out of the bullpen in addition to making regular starts as a position player and DH. The left-hander had a 1.50 ERA as a reliever last season and was also effective at home, posting a 2.77 ERA and a .205 batting average against in 13.0 innings. He went on the have a solid summer, recording a 2.70 ERA for the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod League - the nation's elite summer collegiate league. His ability to get outs in the middle and late innings will be a key to how the team can close out games.
Tosoni makes his return to the St. John's staff after taking a medical redshirt in 2005. In his last full season with the Red Storm, Tosoni had a 5-2 overall record, a 3-1 record in BIG EAST play and a 2.91 ERA. Tosoni could pitch in middle or late relief to start the season, but, depending on his health and effectiveness, could also see starting duties as the season wears on.
Brown has the ability to start or work in a variety of relief roles, as he did as a freshman last season. He has a good arm and deceptive delivery from the left side and has some quality experience after posting a 2.82 ERA in 22.1 innings last season.
Freshman and local product Rich Armento also figures into the middle relief mix, along with a combination of others when they're not making starts. Armento relies on a deceptive delivery and deceptive motion to get outs has an 'out pitch' in a split finger fastball.
THE 2006 SCHEDULE
St. John's hits the road for trips through the states of Texas, Tennessee and South Carolina to kick off the 2006 season. A three-game set at Texas Tech (Feb. 17-19) will be the first of back-to-back challenging weekends spent in Texas. After the series in Lubbock, Texas, the Red Storm will head to Houston for the Rice/Crowne Plaza Invitational. A difficult field awaits in host Rice (Feb. 24), Texas State (Feb. 25) and Nebraska (Feb. 26).
The Red Storm then travels to Johnson City, Tenn. for three games against East Tennessee State (March 3-5) to begin the month of March. A Tuesday game at Charleston Southern (March 7) and a three-game weekend series at the College of Charleston (March 10-12) concludes a group of 13 road games, and the team welcomes Albany (March 14) for its home opener. Non-conference games against Quinnipiac (March 18-19), at Fairfield (March 21) and at Temple (March 22) are to follow, before opening the 2006 BIG EAST schedule at Villanova (March 24-26).
St. John's returns to New York for weekday games against Columbia (March 28) and at Wagner (March 29) and hosts its first conference series against Georgetown (March 31-April 2) to open April. The Red Storm's next two conference series come on the road against the predicted top two teams in the league. Trips to Pittsburgh (April 7-9) and Notre Dame (April 14-15) will be early league tests for the young Red Storm, with the two series surrounded by non-conference games at St. Francis (April 4), against Fairleigh Dickinson (April 5), St. Peter's (April 11), Long Island (April 18) and Hofstra (April 19).
Three of the Red Storm's next four conference series come at home against Connecticut (April 21-23), Seton Hall (May 6-7) and newcomer South Florida (May 12-14). The two remaining road trips come at Rutgers (April 28-30) and Cincinnati (May 18-20), with the series against the Bearcats closing the regular season schedule.
The 2006 BIG EAST Tournament will feature the top eight teams in the 12-team league and will take place at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater, Fla. from May 23-28. NCAA Regional play will take place at campus sites from June 2-5, followed by Super Regionals (June 9-11 or June 10-12) and the 60th annual College World Series (June 16-25) in Omaha, Neb.
