Cavs baseball back at practice sorting position battles

Chris Taylor emerged from the batting cage raving about how far the baseball was travelling on a picturesque afternoon at Davenport Field.

Rookie outfielders Derek Fisher and Mike Papi offered support to the claim moments later, planting multiple batting practice fastballs in the green bleachers in right field.

Virginia coach Brian O’Connor cracked a smile following one blast, albeit a sign of emotion that did not linger.

The ninth-year skipper was ready to get to work as his 17th-ranked team officially opened the 2012 campaign with the first practice of the season last week. The Cavaliers have less than three weeks and fewer practices than that figure based on NCAA regulations before the season begins with a non-league showdown with Boston College at a four-team invitational hosted by Coastal Carolina in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

O’Connor is confident that his team has ample time to sort out position battles and roles on the new-look pitching staff.

“Three weeks is enough. After about two weeks you are champing at the bit and you are ready to play,” O’Connor said. “We will be as prepared as we can possibly be on opening day and we have a group of kids that really work hard and are diligent.

“They will absolutely be prepared to be successful that opening weekend.”

After facing Boston College on Feb. 17, the Cavaliers will face Coastal Carolina on Feb. 18 and James Madison on Feb. 19. The final two games will be against programs that are not nationally ranked but received votes in the coaches’ poll.

The biggest mystery lies in the announcement of the weekend rotation. Virginia does not have a pitcher on the staff that logged more than 43 innings last year.

O’Connor said he had “no idea,” at this point, but barring the use of two left-handed pitchers in the weekend order it is expected that junior RHP Branden Kline will shift from his role as closer to one as the Friday night starter. The skipper could split two southpaws (Kyle Crockett and Scott Silverstein) up with Kline as his Saturday starter.

Kline was 4-1 with an earned run average of 1.88 in 2011, but pitched just 43 innings over 32 appearances. Junior RHP Whit Mayberry (5-0, 3.00 ERA) and junior-college transfer Joel Effertz, a former pitcher at Arizona, are candidates for the rotation, too, according to O’Connor.

“Obviously it has been noted that we lost our entire rotation from last year, but I think we have some really great candidates to step in and fill those roles,” he said. “I think it is going to be a situation, from a pitching standpoint, that it is going to evolve as the season goes on.

“We have to look at what guys are best in what roles and the only way you really find that out is through competition. Practice is practice, but you really don’t know until the game is on the line and you see what guys can do on a consistent basis.”

By moving Kline, Virginia will also need a new closer or multiple options in the ninth inning.

Justin Thompson, a right-handed throwing senior, has the most experience among the options being considered, but the Danville native does not have a save in his 40 career appearances.

On Friday afternoon before practice and prior to hitting grounders to former third baseman Steven Proscia, Thompson was just happy to be back on the diamond and for what the new season could bring.

“It’s easy to get hyped up for this day. Everyone is out ready and we have been working all fall and to come in and know that we are three weeks away, everyone is excited and ready to go,” Thompson said. “We have a lot of guys that are not unproven. We have players that it is just their time to step up now. They have already done some good things in this program and now they are going to be counted on to do those things every game. It is really exciting to see some players that haven’t really been able to get out there and see how they respond to it.”