re: What are your expectations for the baseball team this year?

The team being put together will be the most talented roster overall since '09 and '13.

While I wasn't a fan of promoting Nolan Cain and inserting Micah Gibbs into the hitting coach role they deserve the opportunity to prove me wrong and I hope they will for years to come. I still think a few established names would have jumped at the opportunity even this late in the year.

A few quick thoughts that have been in my head since October...

-I love the move to get Deichmann out of the infield and into a corner outfield spot. He'll absolutely excel at the college level with his athleticism.
-The 2017 team will be the most athletic group Mainieri has ever put together, speed will be throughout the lineup.
-Hunter Kiel will be turn some heads and be a dominant force along with Newman at the back end of the bullpen.
-As people have said the two freshmen in (Smith and Slaughter) could very well end up finding starting gigs and will be All-SEC type players before their careers are done.
-The catching position will be extremely strong and the loser (I think) will slide to DH in February.
-Does Bryce Adams arrive this year or go quietly in the night?

All in all the lineup will be solid and there's enough guys fighting for spots that Mainieri won't be forced to keep specific players in because of defense. If one of the freshmen (Hess, Peterson, Walker, Reese) are able to throw a quality start consistently I would take a deep breath and enjoy what you're about to see.