Feb. 17, 2011
ARLINGTON, Tex. - Chad Comer, UT Arlington's affable fifth-year senior catcher, understands all questions he and teammates have fielded this preseason about Michael Choice.
After all, Choice's accolades through his UT Arlington career are staggering: He finished his three-year collegiate career by making several All-America teams as a junior and was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. He won the Southland Conference batting crown while leading the nation in walks. He also broke the UTA career home run record by belting 16 in his final go-around with the Mavericks despite walking 76 times in 285 plate appearances.
Comer doesn't shrug off the lingering questions about how the Mavericks will fill the void in the middle of the lineup. He knows the questions, themselves, have some validity. How do you replace someone of Choice's caliber?
Comer's response: One batter at a time.
"We're just going to have to be more productive from top to bottom in the lineup," Comer said. "We're going to have to do all the little things right. We can't just sit around and wait for the three-run home run anymore."
Then he adds this little caveat: "I think it might actually make us a better team this year."
Truth is, the Choice-less lineup isn't exactly suffering on paper as the Mavericks prepare to head to Houston for the season-opening series on Friday.
UTA returns seven players who started at least 33 games last year, including Comer, who in 2010 set career-highs in virtually every statistic but doubles (he had 14 after hitting 15 in 2009).
RF Preston Beck is back after a record-setting freshman campaign for which he earned a spot on the Louisville Slugger All-America team. Beck hit .352 last year and broke UTA freshman records for hits in a season (82) and hit streak (20). He starts the year on that 20-game hit streak.
Beck seems the most likely candidate to fill the No. 3 spot in the batting order Choice manned throughout his UT Arlington career. He has shown increased power during the preseason after hitting two home runs in 2010. His 104 total bases rank first among returning hitters.
SS Jesse Payne will also provide a middle-of-the-lineup bat after hitting six home runs (second on team in 2010) and accumulating 22 extra-base hits (third on team). He hit .306 and hit his stride in conference play, where he hit .323. Payne might have more opportunities to run this year as well after swiping six bases in eight attempts last year.
1B Jordan Vaughn benefitted from hitting in front of Choice last year, where he batted .314 with 14 doubles. He will likely stay in the No. 2 spot in the Mavericks' lineup this year. Vaughn, like Payne, saved his best for last. He capped a breakout sophomore season by earning a spot on the All-Southland Conference Tournament team.
3B Brian Nephew swung a hot bat during the preseason and should improve upon the .255 batting average he had in 2010. Nephew has power, as evidenced by his 12 doubles and four home runs.
OF Nick Orr will add speed to the bottom of the order if he can fend off junior-college transfer Philip Incaviglia for the starting job in center field. Either will capably handle the defensive duties. Orr hit just .248 last year but tied for second on the team with 22 walks and was 7 for 9 in stolen-base attempts.
There are three more newcomers who are expected to start the season in the Opening Day lineup and all three could have significant impacts immediately, including a pair of true freshmen.
Ryan Walker appears to be the leading candidate to man left field at the start of the season. The true freshman has limited outfield experience but coaches think he is athletic enough to handle the position and his bat has made him too valuable to leave on the bench. Look for him to get some chances to lead off.
Junior-college transfer 2B Michael Guerra has impressed coaches to the point where he might open the 2011 season batting cleanup.
The other newcomer likely in the starting lineup is Greg McCall, primarily a catcher who had to hit his way into the designated hitter spot because of Comer.
There are several options on the bench for the Mavericks, led by senior OF/INF Bryant Lopez, who hit .268 last year and adds a speed presence. OF Jake Pinchback batted .300 last year in limited at-bats and should get his share of chances this season, as should INF/OF Cody Dyvig, who hit .293 as a regular starter at second base last year.
INF Daniel Jordan will get opportunities to spell several different infielders throughout the season.
In the outfield, Preston Morrow, Incaviglia and Orr will constantly battle for the center field spot.
While there isn't a Choice in the middle of the order this year, Comer thinks the balance will set the tone this season.
