8 - Friday, Aprill1, 2011

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

8 - Friday, April 1, 2011 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom

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BASEBALL PREVIEW 2011

Turning Two: Middle infielders journey
t hogh second season together

By NEAL ROTHSCHILD
Daily Sports Writer
Two competing ideals of col-
lege sports play tug of war every
day across the country.
At one end of the rope, you have
the sensational prospects who use
college sports as a stepping stone to
the pros. Education maybe impor-
tant to these athletes, but playing
professionally is the end goal.
On the other side, you have the
guys who thirst for the opportuni-
ty to continue their playing career
as long as possible. They may not
have the talent to play at the high-
est level, but they're willing to
work extremely hard to get all that
they can out of their ability.
That game of tug of war might
as well be played over second base
at Ray Fisher Stadium by Anthony
Toth and Derek Dennis.
No one could have expected
second baseman Anthony Toth to
be a starting infielder and team
captain for the Wolverines. The
Lorain, Ohio, native was lightly
recruited outofhighschool,where
he didn't start until his senior year.
His prospects for collegiate ball
weren't looking good until a Mich-
igan assistant coach saw him at a
showcase in Ohio and invited him
to a winter camp in Ann Arbor.
"I wasn't going to go because I
grew up an Ohio State fan," Toth
said. "So the last place I thought
to go was Michigan. Coach wrote
me a couple letters and wanted
me at camp. I came to camp, and
he offered me a walk-on spot, so I
took it."
Although he was happy to be
playing college baseball, Toth
wasn't exactly a prized recruit his
freshman year.
"He had to work from the bot-
tom up," Michigan coach Rich
Maloney said. "He was pretty
much, on the 35-man roster, prob-
ably the 34th or 35th man."
Toth beat the odds to see play-
ing time his freshman year and
then start his redshirt sophomore
and junior years. The fifth-year
senior was named a team captain
this season.
"He worked himself into being
captain of the team which says a
tremendous amount about him,
his work ethic, his desire and his
competitiveness," Maloney said.
It was a different story for the
shortstop.
"Derek, on the other hand,
comes from all the accolades,"
Maloney said. "We competed for
Derek, who could have went any-
where in the country. He could
have called up anybody and they
would have taken him in a heart-
beat."
Dennis, the shortstop who
grew up in Ohio but moved to Ada,
Mich. when he was 7, took a differ-
ent route to Ann Arbor.
He was drafted out of high
school by the Tampa Bay Rays in
the 10th round of the MLB draft
and has the tools for a professional
career.
He's 6-foot-3, has quick hands
and the type of range that makes
scouts drool. He passed up a
$750,000 offer from Tampa Bay to
come to Michigan.
"I knew that I wasn't really
ready to play pro ball, and I figured
that college would be a good expe-
rience," Dennis said. "In the end, I

knew I wanted to be close to home
and playing for Coach Maloney
was my top choice."
As much as Toth and Dennis
may come from different acclaim,
they have been perfect comple-
ments to each other in their time
as Michigan's double-play combi-
nation.
When Dennis came to Ann
Arbor, Toth had been the starting
shortstop the previous year. But
there was no controversy in mov-
ing Toth to second base for the
2010 season.
"You've got a pro prospect play-
ingshortstop, so thatwasn't avery
difficult decision when you've got
a talent like Derek Dennis," Malo-
ney said, "Anthony's a very good
college infielder and certainly an
outstanding second baseman."
Dennis and Toth wasted little
time getting acclimated to being
Michigan's new double-play tan-
dem. The two worked during
practice and put in time together
- on their own - to get the tim-
ing and cohesion that a middle
infield combination needs. They
took ground balls after practice,
worked on double-play balls and
got used to eachother's throws.
It wasn't all serious. To keep the
mood light, they goofed around,
showed some flash and had fun
with it.
Dennis credits Toth with help-
ing him develop as a shortstop in
his first year.
"He told me a lot of little point-
ers that I'd never known about like
reading the ball off the bat and
double-playstuffthathe hadexpe-
rienced the year before," Dennis
said. "I think he's the best second
baseman in the league."
Maloney also had to make a
point to adjust his coaching style
to cater to each player's person-
alities.
"One, you have to
motivate in a cer-
tain way. Another
person you have
to moti-
vate
in a dif-
ferent way," Maloney said.
"I think that's for everybody on
the team. The coaches that have
success in their careers have the
ability to find which buttons to
push to motivate those guys."
Dennis and Toth grew even
closer after being paired as road
roommates last season. According
to Toth, it is a Michigan tradition
for the starting second baseman
and shortstop to room together
to develop unity between the two
positions.
"I think Anthony's helped
Derek a lot in keeping him
grounded, and I think Derek
brings some flash that prob-
ably has helped Anthony
out," Maloney said.
That season, Toth
hit .309 while Den-
nis batted .267 en
route to Michi-
gan's second-
place finish
in the Big
Ten.

After the 2010 season, Toth had
a chat with Maloney about wheth-
er he would stay for his fifth year.
Toth let him know that he would
love the opportunity to play in the
Cape Cod Baseball League - the
premier summer playground for
amateur baseball. Maloney had
connections with the Wareham
Gatemen of the CCBL and was
able to get Toth and Dennis on the
team.
Almost every American major
leaguer who went to college has
played in the Massachusetts
league. The 10-team wooden bat
league represents the beauty of
amateur sports. The idyllic fields
are barely high school quality, and
fans sit on the lawns down the
outfield lines eating hot dogs and
lobster rolls as pink sunsets color
the summer sky. The league does
without the tired presence of jum-
botrons, artificial noise and gim-
micky promotions.
But the popular vacation spot
pulls in the best college players
from around the country every
summer. Players stay with host
families, and many hold jobs dur-
ing the day - before their games
- to pay the rent.
"Everyone that ever has gone
there (that I've coached) has really
enjoyed their experience, and
they've relished it for the rest of
their lives," Maloney said. "Not
too many guys get that opportu-
nity, so to send two of them to get
that experience, it's great."
Toth and Dennis roomed
together with a host family who
lived 20 minutes from the field.
"We had a great host family
with some dogs, a pool-," Dennis
said.
"And no air con-
ditioning," Toth
chimed in.
"That
was pretty
bad," Dennis
said.

The real revelation was in the
caliber of play.
"It's unlike anything you'll ever
see in college baseball," Toth said.
"Even guys that were coming out
of the bullpen were some schools'
Friday night guys, which are their
best guys. It's definitely where you
go to improve and that's where you
really learn how to hit."
Although Dennis and Toth hit
under .300 for the Gatemen, who
finished 19-24-1, playing at that
level of competition helped them
develop their offensive abilities.
When the Wolverines played their
fall game against the Ontario Blue
Jays, Toth said that the pitches
looked like beach balls after hit-
ting against some of the best
pitching in the country during the
summer.
With two guys spending so
much time together, a relation-
ship can go in one of two direc-
tions. Luckily for Toth and Dennis,
things went in a good direction.
"We're pretty close," Toth said.
"We were roommates last year
on the road at Michigan and then
going out to summer ball together,
we got closer and bonded more
because it was just him and I a lot.
And this year, we're really com-
fortable acting like 5 year olds
around each other."
Specifically, comedian Brian
Regan's work is fodder for much
of their fun. But just as quickly as
Toth and Dennis came together
last year, they will abruptly part
ways at the end of the season when
Toth graduates.
Toth wants to continue his
baseball career. He said he would
jump at the opportunity to play
professionally if he is drafted this
summer, but if that doesn't hap-
pen, he wants to play ball in Italy.
He has family living there, and
his ability to get dual-citizenship
makes it a lot easier to get on a
team.
If that doesn't work out, he'll
have to leave the sport behind.
"Choice No. 3 is hit the
real world," Toth said.
"I'm a

Position-by- Position
Breakdown
By DANIEL WASSERMAN been steady thus far, but his hit-
Daily Sports Writer ting is below last year's numbers
when he was named to the fresh-
After a dreary start to the sea- man All-American team. Bion-
son, no one is more excited to di's on-base percentage is down
hit the reset button with a clean .70 percentage points to .354 -
conference record than Michi- not what Michigan needs out of
gan. Originally tabbed as the No. its leadoff hitter, though he does
2 team in the Big Ten, the Wol- lead the team with 12 RBI. Bion-
verines (6-16 overall) are in des- di is second on the team in steals
perate need of momentum. . with nine and covers centerfield
Michigan coach Rich Malo- with ease. He has shown his
ney - in his ninth season with ability to bunt for a hit and will
the team - said he's never seen need to continue finding ways to
a team begin a season in such a get on base if Michigan has any
slump (Michigan is hitting .248 chance of breaking free from its
with under four runs per game). lack of offensive production.
Fifth-year senior captain Antho-
ny Toth sparked some contro- Left field
versy when he called out the To say there's been a drop off
team's effort, saying his team- in the production in left field
mates are "cutting corners." from last year is like saying the
With a chance to forget the Wolverines start to the season
non-conference schedule, the wasn't great. Replacing last
Wolverines begin their pursuit year's All-Big Ten left fielder
of rectifying the season in their Ryan LaMarre, a .419 hitter,
chase for the program's 36th Big Maloney has gone to left field by
Ten title, and first since 2008. committee - with no one stick-
Here's a position-by-position ing. Freshman Alex Lakatos -
look at this year's team: also a pitcher - is hitting just
.233 in 10 starts. Redshirt soph-
First base omore Kevin Krantz is hitting
As the only newcomer to the just .214 with just 12 hits and 18
infield, redshirt junior Garrett strikeouts in 18 starts. At this
Stephens came in with big shoes point, it seems any production
to fill. With just 12 career starts fromleft field will be a nice addi-
- only two of which came at first tion to the bottom of the lineup,
base - it's hisjob to fill in for for- but it shouldn't be counted on.
mer captain and All-Big Ten first
baseman Mike Dufek. Stephens Catcher
had a red-hot start to the season In another colossal drop-off,
- he's still second on the team the Wolverines replaced Chris
with 11 RBI - while working Berset and his .373 average
his way up to the clean-up spot, with a catching platoon. Junior
but has since cooled, now hit- Coley Crank, who's primar-
ting nearthe bottom of the order ily been the designated hitter,
with a,.250 batting average. In was recently moved to catcher
a lineup that severely lacks the to try to produce something
ability to drive in runs, Stephens behind the plate. Crank's num-
will be looked upon to rediscov- bers were superb last year - he
er his swing. hit .324, and led the team with
a .596 slugging percentage and
Second base 14 homeruns. But this season,
Toth, who started in each Crank is hitting just .208. Red-
of the 134 games over the last shirt freshmen Zach Johnson
three years, is now a staple in the and John DiLaura and freshman
lineup and the heart and soul of Cole Martin began the season
the team. Despite any extra-base as the primary catchers, but are
power, he manages to get on hitting a dismal.164 combined.
base, steal bases, and play stellar
defense. Toth isn't a superstar, Starting pitching
but with a history of clutch hit- The Michigan starters have
ting- he has seven career game- been inconsistent to say the
winning hits - and uncanny least.
leadership, he's the kind of guy Maloney shuffled the rotation
every team needs. a bit, but has seemed to settle on
three for now: redshirt sopho-
Third base mores Bobby Brosnahan and
In his third year as the start- Tyler Mills and sophomore Kyle
ing third baseman, junior John Clark.
Lorenz is off to a slow start. A New pitching coach Matt
solid fielder, Michigan had high White, a former first-round pick,
hopes for Lorenz coming into has seen his staff plagued with
the season, as he started in the injuries - seniors Kolby Wood
top half of the lineup. But due to and Travis Smith are both out
a meager .304 on-base percent- indefinitely (Smith recently had
age, the junior is now hitting surgery). The lefty Brosnahan
near the bottom of the order. was the early season ace, but has
since been anythingbut. Though
Shortstop he's shown recent signs of prom-
Expectations are sky-high ise, Brosnahan is just 1-5 with a
for sophomore Derek Dennis, 7.39 ERA. Command hasbeen an
Michigan's most talented player issue - he's walked as many (14),
and highest-ranked prospect, as he's struck out.
but Dennis has struggled to find Mills is Maloney's favorite
consistency. While his .407 on- pitcher to talk about, describing
base percentage is encouraging him as "electric." He's shown
and the reason he's been hit- flashes, but inexperience has
ting in the three-hole, it's time sometimes turned the electric-

for Dennis to show the ability ity into a power outage. He's 1-2
that ranked him in the top 10 for with a 4.60 ERA. Clark has come
shortstops coming out of high on nicely as a newcomer to the
school. Dennis has improved his rotation, also going 1-2, but with
range and anchors Michigan's a very respectable 3.42 ERA.
defense, which will be counted Opening weekend start-
upon if the Wolverines continue ers- junior Brandon Sinnery
to struggle at the plate. and sophomore Ben Ballentine
- have seen little action after
Right field struggling last month.
Freshman Michael O'Neill
has done everything Michigan Relief pitching
could've asked of him and more After being overworked in
so far. O'Neill is the closest thing the first few weeks due to strug-
the Wolverines have to a five- gling starters, the bullpen has
tool player. While his power - settled in a bit. Junior Keven
like the rest of the lineup - is Vangheluwe has 2.81 ERA and
light, he hits for average (team 17 strikeouts in just 16 innings
leading .333 batting average and freshman Jake Engels has
with hits in 20 of 22 games), has a 2.89 ERA in seven appear-
speed (he leads the team with ances. Lakatos, Maloney's other
12 steals), has a superb arm (an favorite pitcher with an "electric Q
impressive four assists from arm," will serve as the closer.
the outfield) and boasts excel- But as Maloney warned, he
lent range. Currently the clean- may be too good to stay in the
up hitter, O'Neill has been the bullpen. Maloney called the
only quality producing batter righty a "workhorse," saying he
thus far. If he keeps his pace, he could close out games in four to
should be named to the fresh- five inning appearances.
man All-American team and be Lakatos has shown promise
a future mainstay as an All-Con- with 11 strikeouts in 13.1 innings,
ference outfielder. but his 12 walks and a 7.43 ERA a
need to improve before he can
Center field truly be counted upon in save
Sophomore Patrick Biondi has situations.

S
n
r
i
11
a
p
S
a

"But
it was a nice
situation."
The Gatemen
were comprised of
players from across the
country, including guys
from Indiana, Harvard,
Texas, Vanderbilt, Duke, TCU,
Maine, Elon and Georgia Tech.
Dennis described the team as a
goofy group of guys, but said that
they got along well.

sport manage-
ment major, and
right now I'm look-s
ing to go into real estate
investment."
Dennis also has his sights set on
the bright lights.
"I'd love to play professional
baseball," he said. "I've just
heard great things from
people who have made it
there. So it's been a goal
of mine and a dream."
Though Dennis is
only a sophomore,
he is eligible to
be drafted again
this year
because his
21st birth-
day is
within
45
days
of the
draft. He
said that
although play-
ing in the pros
is his end goal, he hasn't given
much thought about when he
wants to sign that contract.
Both Wolverine middle infield-
ers could conceivably be gone
at the end of the year.
While the two are consider-
ing their futures, they have to
remain focused on the current
task - turning the Wolverines'
season around.
Michigan has fallen flat in
the first half of the season,
going 6-16 in its non-conference
games. While Dennis is bat-
ting .280 and leads the team
with a .407 on-base percentage,
Toth has struggled offensively
recently and his average stands
at .244.
"It's funny because with
how poorly we've been doing,
we can still end this week-
end and be first place in the
Big Ten," Toth said. "We still
want to win a Big Ten cham-
pionship because that goal is
still very real and very right in
front of us."

STAFF PICKS
The Daily baseball beat
predicts the 2011 season
The Daily's baseball beat
writers guess how Michigan ,
will stack up to the rest
of the Big Ten and which
players will step up. Zach Neal Daniel
Helfand Rothschild Wasserman
Michiganoverallrecord 21-34 24-31 26-29
Michigan Big Ten record 11-13 (6th) 10-14 (7th) 13-11 (5th)
Michigan MVP Michael O'Neill O'Neill Patrick Biondi
Michigan Pitcher of the Year Tyler Mills Mills Kyle Clark
Michigan Freshman of the Year Michael O'Neil O'Neill O'Nell
Big Ten Regular Season Champion Minnesota Indiana Indiana
Big Ten Regular Season Runner-Up Indiana Michigan State Minnesota
Big Ten Regular Season Third Place Michigan State Minnesota Michigan State
Big Ten Tournament Champion Michigan State Michigan State Iowa
Big Ten Tournament Runner-up Minnesota Purdue Michigan State
BigTenMVP AlexDickerson,Indiana Dickerson Dickerson
Big Ten Surprise Team Michigan State Penn State Michigan State
Big Ten Disappointing Team Michigan Michigan Michigan
Michigan season ends here Misses Big Ten Tournament Misses Big Ten Tournament 2nd Round Big Ten Tournament
National Champion Virginia Virginia Vanderbilt