The "Coaches Poll" is from USA Today and ESPN. LINK. I don't know what they were smoking when they made some of those choices. UCLA number 2, with FOUR home runs in its returning starting lineup? At least Baseball America listed reasons for its ratings.


Another thing about the Baseball America review. While writer Aaron Fitt mentioned Turner, Swanson and five freshman pitchers, he made it sound as though the North Carolina roster has more experience than Vanderbilt. Using his own suggested starting lineups and top 4 pitchers, UNC has 2 Seniors, 5 Juniors, 4 Sophomores and 2 Freshmen. Vanderbilt has 3 Seniors, 6 Juniors and 4 Sophomores. The experience factor adds up more for Vanderbilt than for UNC.

Of all the other teams in the Baseball America Top 25, only #23 Southern Miss has no Freshman or transfers listed among the 13 players listed as starters and top pitchers. Oklahoma (#19) has SIX Freshmen, Jucos or other transfers among its 13 top players.


Vanderbilt has such great depth, with Freshmen pushing for three or four starting positions and a plethora of great pitchers. This is going to be THE YEAR OF THE 'DORE!