S1E1 – Bats, Bombs and Speed with Steven Meier
In the premier episode of Hudson Homers, CB and Gary preview the ODU lineup and chat with Monarch Centerfielder Steven Meier.
Transcript
Yeah.
2
:Hello, Monarch fans and
welcome to the first episode
3
:of the Hudson Homers podcast.
4
:I guess you can call it now
the Monarchist podcast network.
5
:So if you go to our website, we're
no longer two podcasts, one group.
6
:We are three podcasts, one group,
and we are certainly excited to
7
:get this one rolling because we're
going to talk all about ODU baseball
8
:here on the Hudson Homers podcast.
9
:I am Gary and I'm joined
by my awesome co host.
10
:You've probably seen his work all
over our website and social media.
11
:Mr.
12
:C.
13
:B.
14
:Wilkins, thanks so much for
jumping into this venture.
15
:Yeah, I mean, I'm very excited.
16
:I'm looking forward to, you know, one
of my favorite things in the world
17
:is ODU baseball, so I'm very excited
to They talk about him a bunch.
18
:I'm not sure that anyone that's not
directly affiliated with the program
19
:knows more about ODU baseball than cb.
20
:He's around them year round.
21
:He's plugged into the high
school baseball scene.
22
:Other colleges, if you follow him on
Twitter or Instagram, you're constantly
23
:seeing stuff from baseball in the area.
24
:So a wealth of knowledge.
25
:Joining me here to talk all about
the good ODU baseball stuff.
26
:So you're gonna get two episodes
here before this season starts.
27
:One each either Monday or Tuesday
before the regular season gets started.
28
:We're going to break it into one episode
where we talk a lot about the offense
29
:and the bats and dollars for dingers.
30
:We're going to have a special guest
join us for that episode as well.
31
:Then we'll have a second episode come out.
32
:That's talking more about the pitching,
the bullpen, the fielding, and we'll
33
:have another Monarch join us to talk
more about the pitching staff and the
34
:bullpen and all of that good stuff.
35
:So getting you two episodes before
the season gets kicked off here.
36
:With George Washington
starting on February 16th.
37
:So CB, you are nice enough to
throw together a little projected
38
:depth chart for ODU this season.
39
:So I was hoping we could kind of
dive in and talk about new faces
40
:and just an overview on the roster.
41
:And then we can go position
by position from there.
42
:Yeah, that sounds great.
43
:I'm, I'm.
44
:You know, my depth chart obviously is
not at all accurate, but it's the best
45
:I can come up with based on what I saw.
46
:I mean, obviously it'll get blown
up within a week, uh, but you
47
:know, that's how it goes when you
just look, yeah, that's baseball.
48
:That's college baseball for sure.
49
:Yeah.
50
:Well, awesome.
51
:I know we've got quite a
few new guys on the team.
52
:I think you had a clock that wasn't
20 new guys coming to the team.
53
:I think we actually came up with 22.
54
:I think that's where we ended up
at was 22 new guys, which is a lot.
55
:I think we had 20 or 21 last year.
56
:So it's, I mean, that's, I
think it's just how college
57
:sports are going to be anymore.
58
:I think.
59
:You're just going to have a lot of
turnover and just guys are always
60
:trying to find some place that
they can play and contribute and
61
:do what they know they can do.
62
:Teams are always looking
for those guys too.
63
:So hopefully the guys we brought in,
we brought in a bunch of great kids.
64
:That's one thing I know
is that they're out there.
65
:They're great kids.
66
:And I know in the fall, when I was seeing
a few of the guys, even before they, I
67
:really got to some practices, I saw them
just at some random sporting events.
68
:And without me even saying a thing,
whoever I was talking to, they'd be
69
:like, man, we're going to be really good.
70
:You know, we're going to be really good.
71
:I was like, I like that.
72
:I like them saying that.
73
:Yeah, you love hearing that, you
know, coming off the last season that
74
:started off really well, but really
kind of faltered down the stretch.
75
:But even with kind of a quote
unquote disappointing season for ODU
76
:baseball, there were still 32 and 23.
77
:They're 15 and 15 in conference.
78
:I think that's really from
the back half of the season.
79
:They're not the way they wanted
to end it, but certainly not a
80
:disaster of a season by any means.
81
:But I think you hit the nail on
the head with the roster management
82
:and bringing in 20 plus new guys.
83
:I just think that's the way of
college baseball these days, both
84
:with the transfer portal and a lot of
guys moving, but also you're really
85
:seeing the effects of the MLB draft
shrinking and those minor league
86
:systems shrinking and guys are staying
in college for a couple extra years.
87
:And maybe in the past, there
would be a later round draft pick.
88
:And get the chance to go.
89
:So I'm sure that coach Fenwood is loving
having to do all this roster management,
90
:but as a college baseball fan, the overall
product across really all of college
91
:baseball has gone up because you have
more talent staying in the college ranks.
92
:Yeah, I think it's absolutely true.
93
:I was telling the guy the other day,
I was talking about how much he loves
94
:college basketball and football.
95
:I was like, man, you got
to start watching baseball.
96
:It's always fun.
97
:You know, the intensity level is
always fun, but man, the product is
98
:really raised up because, and we get
to see, we get to the Sunbelt, which
99
:is, it's a power five conference.
100
:We are probably by most metrics about the
fourth best conference in the country.
101
:Um, so you get to see some
really phenomenal baseball.
102
:You're going to see guys who are
going to be playing in the pros.
103
:I know ODU's draft history
is pretty fantastic.
104
:We've got a lot of guys that
are in there and hopefully we're
105
:going to be able to talk to.
106
:Some of them throughout the course
of the season and kind of see what
107
:their experience has been like, but
there's some great ball in the Sunbelt.
108
:I think we have a pretty solid non
conference schedule too, with a couple
109
:of ranked opponents getting Virginia and
East Carolina and a few others in there.
110
:Uh, I mean, I'm excited for the
season mainly just cause it means
111
:warmer weather and getting to
watch some baseball, hopefully some
112
:warmer weather here in February.
113
:But yeah, I think there's a lot to
look forward to with this new team.
114
:And one thing I think coach
Fenway did a good job of is.
115
:You know, these 22 new guys that
are coming in, they're not all
116
:freshmen, they're not all just juco.
117
:It's kind of a mix of guys that actually
have quite a bit of playing experience,
118
:whether it's at the D3 level, the juco
level, kind of, I think mimicking the
119
:model that coach Milton Jones had for ODU
women's basketball, where I'm going to
120
:go out and find people from all different
tenures, but with a background of
121
:coming from programs that have a history
of winning, or they've grown up in a
122
:culture of winning to kind of continue.
123
:The winning ways here at O.
124
:D.
125
:U.
126
:And I thought coach was done a really
good job of that, especially with
127
:the in state division three schools.
128
:Yeah, I mean, you always want
to find guys who have competed
129
:and guys were used to winning.
130
:And that's how you not
just build a culture.
131
:They have obviously have a culture,
but keep that culture going is by
132
:having guys who are really focused
on competing and playing hard and
133
:understand what it takes to win.
134
:I think that's a lot of times that yeah.
135
:You know, winning in high school is great.
136
:We want guys who went to high school,
but having some guys who won at
137
:the college level at different,
different levels really is important.
138
:I mean, we got Brandon pond is one of our
new pitchers and he won a, the national
139
:championship last year with Lynchburg.
140
:Like that's a big deal.
141
:That's a cool thing.
142
:And there's a couple of those guys.
143
:I mean, Hunter Cole coming from Randolph
Macon, they built a powerhouse of a
144
:program there and he was really the
best player in the ODAC conference.
145
:So him moving up a little bit
in competition, I mean, it's
146
:probably the perfect spot for him.
147
:Ray Hedrick there at Randolph Macon
does a great job of developing guys
148
:and has just built a powerhouse there.
149
:And then I think we have, we
have a couple of others too.
150
:Someone from Christopher
Newport, is that right?
151
:Yeah, we got Jay Cassidy.
152
:He came from Christopher Newport.
153
:And he's, he's the guy a couple of summers
ago, he pitched in the Summer League for
154
:the Pennsylvania Pilots over in Hampton.
155
:And it was just one of those
weird things that I think, I
156
:only got to like seven games.
157
:It was a weird summer for me.
158
:But I think he started four of them.
159
:So I probably saw him throw,
you know, 25, 27 innings.
160
:And the guy is just, was phenomenal.
161
:Um, it was kind of thing I was, I
actually was bugging Marin because I
162
:was telling him all of a sudden, you
gotta get this kid, gotta get this kid.
163
:And then he's, he's like, I can't go
get some kid from Southern school.
164
:Like, yeah, you know, me as a fan, I'm
like, but it turned out we got him.
165
:So it was great.
166
:A couple of years later, you know,
when he ended up and ready to move
167
:up to a level and just a great
kid and a really good pitcher.
168
:And yeah, so, so getting those guys,
especially guys already used to playing
169
:in Virginia and ready to compete.
170
:It's a big deal.
171
:It's good.
172
:I look at it too.
173
:We're almost the victims of our
own success a little bit, right?
174
:The amount of talent that we have put into
Major League Baseball or have come close
175
:to putting into Major League Baseball
the last couple of years, it's, it takes
176
:its toll on the roster at a certain point
when you have that many guys going out.
177
:So being able to refill some of those
roles and add some weapons to your
178
:arsenal that are already kind of.
179
:Proven known quantities, right?
180
:Like we, we know these guys
can hit, they can play.
181
:There's going to be a little bit of
adjustments to the level that they're
182
:facing, but not having to start from
scratch, I think is a big advantage
183
:and lets you kind of load balance.
184
:where people are in their seniority with
the team to not too many freshmen, not
185
:too many seniors and keep the turnover
relatively the same year over year.
186
:It is, it's not upsetting, but it
is, it's a good problem when you
187
:start moving guys onto the pros,
but it also, that success leads to
188
:guys wanting to come play for you.
189
:If they know I can come
play it over to you.
190
:And success there will lead me to
be a playing pro ball, then it's
191
:very easy to say, well, I'm going
to come play there because I know
192
:they're going to coach me up.
193
:I mean, we do a really good job,
particularly with infielders.
194
:Infielders know like they come here,
they're getting some high level
195
:coaching and going to really take off.
196
:That's just going to drive more talent up.
197
:It's obviously an exciting time for
ODU baseball with the new stadium on
198
:the horizon, really not that far away.
199
:Just kind of putting the final touches
on dates and what that's going to look
200
:like for a year, not playing at the bud.
201
:Yeah.
202
:There are some really big things ahead
for ODU baseball, and I think this is the
203
:first team that's going to help make that
push into what will likely be an even
204
:better era of ODU baseball moving forward.
205
:Yeah, I look at the current bud
with the Rally Alley and the
206
:Paul Keyes hitting facility.
207
:And even just the brick around the back
behind home plate and the way the dugouts
208
:are now, I mean, it wasn't 10 years ago.
209
:It was all, it was chain link fences
out in the back and the dugout was the
210
:ugly little, it didn't have the front,
uh, armrest to the fence lean on.
211
:I mean, it wasn't that long ago.
212
:It was.
213
:So for me watching, just seeing
what now it looks like a palace
214
:compared to what it used to.
215
:And then to have this idea that
within a couple years we're going
216
:to have this just gorgeous place.
217
:I mean, that's very exciting.
218
:It's, it's a pretty awesome thought
of what's right around the corner for
219
:ODU baseball and just the big upswing.
220
:So they definitely need your support.
221
:All of you fans out there coming
to games, checking out the team,
222
:supporting them, all that good stuff.
223
:But.
224
:I want to jump into the depth chart
here a little bit and talk about what
225
:to expect coming back this season
because we do see some familiar names
226
:on here but also some very new ones.
227
:So CB, I'll, I'll let you take it
from here as far as what position
228
:you want to cover first from a very
projected non official depth chart.
229
:All right.
230
:Well, I'll tell you what, let's start
in the infield because we, I think the
231
:infield is where we're going to find the
most names that we kind of recognize.
232
:So third base, we got
Cain LaVarie coming back.
233
:Cain LaVarie, he's a senior lefty hitter.
234
:He's a phenomenal third baseman.
235
:The guy, honestly, it bothers
me he's still playing for us.
236
:I don't know how he's not
playing professionally.
237
:I will never stop being upset about that.
238
:I mean, as much as as happy as I am that
Kenny's here, I don't know what teams are
239
:looking at that they don't see him and
say, I got to have him playing pro for me.
240
:So Kenny, he's our third baseman,
but he's also going to do some
241
:pitching for us this year.
242
:Kenny, when he came out of high
school in:
243
:been for that weird 2020 COVID year
and the shortened draft, he probably
244
:definitely would have been drafted
maybe in that six to 10 round range.
245
:Maybe we never got to us, but he was
every bit as good a pitcher coming
246
:out of high school as he was a hitter.
247
:So they finally kind of have this come
around to say, okay, we want to let
248
:Kenny's arm do some work this year.
249
:And so they talk about it every
year, but this year I think
250
:it's actually going to happen.
251
:This is the first time I saw them
actually having some times where he
252
:was going to play, he's going to pitch.
253
:So he's playing first base.
254
:the days he's going to pitch.
255
:So you might see Kenny playing some
first base in addition to third.
256
:He looks very good over at first base,
despite not really having done it much.
257
:So those days where Kenny is not
playing third, you'll probably
258
:see Alex Boucher playing third.
259
:And Alex had a phenomenal season last year
as the everyday shortstop as a freshman.
260
:And so you'll see him playing third
when Kenny's not there, but you'll also
261
:probably see him playing first base a lot.
262
:He's probably the main
option at first base.
263
:So right there just with two guys
that are returning, but they're both
264
:kind of going to be in different
positions that maybe we've seen them in.
265
:The long way to return
to the bump for Kenny.
266
:Yeah, he is look, look dirty.
267
:I haven't seen him.
268
:I didn't get to go out this past
weekend, but when I was out there
269
:in the fall, he looked good.
270
:It looked really good.
271
:So that's Kenny's a gamer.
272
:He's a leader.
273
:Um, he's a talker on the field and down
there a lot and you can hear him talking
274
:light and it's all positive stuff.
275
:So he's, it's, he's a guy that's, it's,
as I said, I, I wish he was playing
276
:pro just for him, but for us, man,
uh, asset to have that guy around.
277
:Absolutely.
278
:And the position flexibility is a huge
plus for Kenny as well, but I think you,
279
:you hit it with the leadership angle.
280
:I think that it's going to be a very
solid leader for this team, especially
281
:getting going down the stretch.
282
:Yeah, for sure.
283
:So then going to shortstop Alex Boucher.
284
:As you said, he was the every
day shortstop last year.
285
:Um, I think if some different, I
think if we don't realize he was
286
:going to play shortstop every day,
we might have made some, if we
287
:knew he was going to be that good.
288
:I mean, I think they knew he was going
to be really good, but I didn't know if
289
:they knew he was going to take over, but.
290
:This year, Kyle Edwards
is gonna be the shortstop.
291
:Kyle had a phenomenal second
half of the season last year.
292
:Really just pounded the ball.
293
:He looked like he looked in high school.
294
:I mean, I've seen Kyle play
since he was about 14 years old.
295
:And the first year or so
here, he just didn't have the
296
:same swagger and confidence.
297
:And he's got it back.
298
:He, again, he's a leader.
299
:He has fun.
300
:He's got that long, wiry body.
301
:He just has that whip with his arms.
302
:And he's a phenomenal shortstop.
303
:So he's going to, he's going to
be the everyday shortstop again.
304
:If he occasionally isn't playing at
Boucher, we'll probably be there.
305
:Because Kyle might also play some outfield
if the lineup just needs it that day.
306
:Then, moving over to second
base, we're definitely going
307
:to have somebody new, right?
308
:It's going to be somebody we
haven't seen in the bud before.
309
:I would say most days our second
baseman is probably Maverick Stallings.
310
:He is a junior college kid, um, from St.
311
:John Rivers down in Florida, where
he had a very nice year for him.
312
:Yeah, St.
313
:John River State down in Florida.
314
:I had a very good year for him.
315
:So between him and then Gavin Abram,
who actually came to us from Clemson,
316
:spent the last two years at Clemson.
317
:He was a really highly sought
after guy out of high school.
318
:Went to Clemson, didn't play a ton
at Clemson, but I don't know what's
319
:going on at Clemson because I've,
again, I've seen him out here in the
320
:fall and Gavin looks outstanding.
321
:He was seeing time at second base.
322
:He saw some time at third and he's
been playing out in right field
323
:and looks good at all of them and
is really hitting the ball well.
324
:So that's, both those guys are
going to be very strong options.
325
:We have, one thing we have with our
depth chart is a lot of flexibility.
326
:And a lot of talent and a lot of it's
gonna be hard for Finney to figure out
327
:I think how to use it all but it's gonna
be fun to figure out how to use it all
328
:It seems like a lot of kind of utility
guys that you can plug and play anywhere
329
:Which is a blessing and a curse curse
for a coach of who do you put where
330
:and who has the hot bat at the time?
331
:so i'm sure that'll get figured out
over the first year 10 to 15 games,
332
:but I like to look at that as a great
weapon to have, especially when you
333
:start looking at conference play
and the conference tournament at
334
:the end of the year, being able to
rotate guys like that is a huge win.
335
:Yeah, I mean, you know, a
baseball season is a grind.
336
:They play 56 games in a very short
amount of time, and guys get nicked
337
:up and beat up, and guys slump and
struggle, and some guys get hot, and
338
:I think it's gonna be one of those.
339
:Nobody ever wants to slump, but man, if
you slump in this, in this lineup, you
340
:might not get back in there for a while.
341
:Because there's a lot of options,
iron on iron for these spots.
342
:I mean, that's how you get better.
343
:You just bring in, you just have a
roster full of really good ballplayers.
344
:That helps.
345
:Yeah, it does.
346
:It does.
347
:And so, speaking of, so we already
talked about First Base having Boucher
348
:there a lot, Bavari there some.
349
:Another guy who was probably going
to see some time at First Base is
350
:Hunter Cole, who you mentioned before.
351
:He came to us from Randolph Macon, from
Granby High School right here in Norfolk.
352
:So it's again, the guy, I got to see a
bunch of play in high school, phenomenal
353
:kid, just a great kid, great family.
354
:And I've been a fan of his forever.
355
:I was so excited when he was playing
for the pilots this summer over there
356
:in Hampton and told me he was going to
come play ODU and I was like, I love it.
357
:Had a phenomenal summer too.
358
:And like you said, he was the ODAC player
of the year last year for Randolph Macon.
359
:So just a really, and he can also
play right and left field and
360
:play some very, kid runs well,
so there's more versatility.
361
:I'm excited to see what he can do.
362
:Obviously, getting up to speed
with the higher level of pitching
363
:is probably the only hurdle.
364
:But if he was playing well like
that in the summer against other
365
:college pitchers from all over the
place, I think that's going to be a
366
:pretty short learning curve for him.
367
:With his position flexibility, I mean,
got some options to sneak him in the
368
:lineup, especially if he gets hot.
369
:I'll tell you the catching in the
summer ball usually isn't as high level
370
:as it could be because a lot of times
you're dealing with guys who didn't
371
:play much and the reason they didn't
play much is not the best catchers,
372
:but he stole 30 bases this summer.
373
:In like half a season, so it's
just the fact that he's willing
374
:to run and has the speed to run.
375
:So I wouldn't expect him to
get 30 bags, but he can add
376
:some speed to your lineup too.
377
:That is a very nice weapon for us to
have, especially where it seems like maybe
378
:we won't have quite the number of home
run hitters that we've had in the past.
379
:Could be more of a double
singles kind of team.
380
:So to have some dudes with some
wheels and get in scoring position
381
:is going to be big for us.
382
:Yeah, somebody asked me the other
day on on twitter If I thought we're
383
:gonna see the same amount of home runs
and my answer is i'd be surprised if
384
:we saw another 100 home run season,
but I was also surprised The first,
385
:second and third time it happened.
386
:So, who knows?
387
:I, I agree.
388
:I think there's a lot of guys
who can really hit the ball.
389
:There's definitely some pop.
390
:And so speaking of pop, we'll go to
another, another spot in the lineup.
391
:Designated hitter.
392
:Uh, the DH, Jake Tyser is back.
393
:Man Mountain, the, the
giant from out west.
394
:He is one of the largest human
beings you'll ever see in your life.
395
:He's also one of the nicest.
396
:And the guy just hits
the ball extremely hard.
397
:I mean, he hits singles off the
wall because he hits it so hard, he
398
:just can't get to second base yet.
399
:It's incredibly fun.
400
:It's a shame.
401
:He got hurt.
402
:He's the guy who also
should be playing pro.
403
:I think you were talking about if
they still have a couple of minor
404
:league levels, they still have
a few more rounds of the draft.
405
:He'd be playing pro right now, but
unfortunate for him, but thankful
406
:for us that he's here because I
mean, if he's healthy, that guy
407
:could hit 30 home runs himself.
408
:He hit 16 last year and he
only started in 38 games.
409
:So I mean, that's.
410
:If he's able to stay healthy throughout
the season, he could do some big
411
:numbers and probably be one of the
Sunbelt leaders in home runs and
412
:slugging and all of those really
nice, fun stats you like to see from.
413
:Yeah.
414
:And even in those 38 games, he had
a wrist injury and a hand injury.
415
:And then was still playing a little bit
at the end with the hamstring injury.
416
:So even those 38 isn't,
it wasn't a real 38.
417
:He probably got about 20, 25 games
where he was actually healthy.
418
:If he's feeling good, I mean, he's
going to put up some monster numbers.
419
:They're going to have to put
some boards up on that chemistry
420
:building just to save some windows.
421
:I think the car is in the
parking garage across Elkhorn.
422
:They're going to be in peril.
423
:Yes.
424
:Didn't he hit one?
425
:Was it him or Fitzgerald last year?
426
:The hit went on top of the parking deck.
427
:I, I don't know.
428
:I don't know if that was confirmed
or not, but that's, I believe it.
429
:It's one of those stories.
430
:I would, any story you tell me
about either one of them hitting the
431
:ball very far, I would believe you.
432
:I'd have to go to the
film and try to find that.
433
:But yeah, it's.
434
:There's, there's, there's still
definitely some pop, but yeah, I think,
435
:yeah, but I think that the contact, the
gappers and the speed may be something
436
:we rely on more this year than before,
or we'll do, we're just going to hit
437
:another a hundred home run season.
438
:That's what I was speaking
of contact and speed.
439
:Let's talk about our guy.
440
:Who's probably going to Rome
center field for Stephen Meyer.
441
:Stephen Meyer coming to us from
Columbia Basin now in Washington.
442
:So Stephen, he, I'm pretty sure he
led that league in stolen bases.
443
:He hit well over 330.
444
:He is a phenomenal ball player.
445
:He hits the ball very hard.
446
:He runs very hard.
447
:He plays great center field.
448
:Like I am extremely excited to
watch this kid get to play at this
449
:level coming up from junior college.
450
:He is absolutely one that we
want to want to keep an eye on.
451
:I think one that's going to stand
out quite a bit just with the speed,
452
:if nothing else, in center field.
453
:You've pumped him up to me.
454
:I'm excited and he'll be joining us.
455
:Here later in this episode to hear more
and learn more about Stephen Meyer.
456
:He's a great kid really fun.
457
:That's the reason I wanted to come on as
a real personable kid, but Really good
458
:outfielder and I am very excited about
what he can do in a lineup with both the
459
:power speed Just hitting the ball around.
460
:So then standing in the outfield,
as you said, Gavin Abrams is going
461
:to see some time in right field.
462
:I see Hunter Cole having
some time out there.
463
:We've got Luke waters who ended up being
mostly right field last year for us.
464
:And it had an outstanding
year as a sophomore.
465
:It was kind of like he was,
came in as an infielder.
466
:Good infielder, not necessarily at our
level of infielder, and so they just, once
467
:they put him out in the outfield, they
don't have to worry about him or he can
468
:just go out and run and catch the ball.
469
:He took off offensively, did what
he could do, and so he, if he could
470
:come back and have a very similar
season or elevate that, man, you
471
:got a, you got a really great ball
player on your hands as a junior.
472
:Just being able to keep his bat in the
lineup, I think, is a key aspect of that
473
:too, so it goes back to that position
flexibility and Being able to put the
474
:hot bats in at the right spot in the
lineup and then mess around with him on
475
:the field umpires scorecards Probably
pretty ugly at the end of most of our yeah
476
:We have and then so another option out
there in the outfield is Nick Mueller.
477
:I think it's Mueller I'm gonna say
boy, I believe it's a Nick Mueller
478
:is another option out left field.
479
:So he's a another juco kid from
out in In Texas, I think he started
480
:out at Texas A& M, and so he's
a lefty hitter, a lot of pop.
481
:So you play left field, play
some right field, might DH
482
:depending on how things go.
483
:But there's another good
option in the outfield.
484
:Then T.
485
:J.
486
:Aiken is a freshman from South Carolina.
487
:Really just tall, rangy, athletic.
488
:He was a little bit nicked up, so I didn't
get to see a ton of him in the fall.
489
:With the deep depth of this lineup, I'm
not real sure how much he's going to get
490
:to play, but he's a very good ball player.
491
:He's definitely one of those guys
in a couple years that might be a
492
:team leader as far as batting goes.
493
:And who knows what comes out of the
early part of spring camp and who's able
494
:to get some spots, but I mean, having
some young talent that you were able
495
:to ease into division one baseball, in
my opinion, I think is a good thing.
496
:And something that doesn't get to
happen a lot anymore in college
497
:baseball with the transfer portal.
498
:But I think if, if you're in
that spot, you're looking ahead
499
:at some pretty good guys that.
500
:should be challenging you to continue to
raise the bar of what your performance is.
501
:Yeah, absolutely.
502
:And to that, to that end, I skipped
over a couple of our young infielders.
503
:So they're kind of in the same boat as TJ.
504
:So Rowan Massey, who is from
Connecticut, is you may remember if
505
:you're a old time Yankees fan, his
dad, Billy Massey, he played for the
506
:Columbus Clippers for about four years.
507
:I remember seeing Billy
Massey when I was a kid.
508
:Going out the old Met Park pre
Harbor Park, planning the tides.
509
:And then Carter Sunderman,
who's an infielder from Ohio,
510
:and they're so they're both.
511
:You're going to see time at third
base, second base, shortstop.
512
:Again, not real sure how much time
they're going to play, but they're
513
:both excellent ball players.
514
:They're both definitely big
parts of the future here.
515
:If, and if they can find a way to work
themselves in the lineup, man, that's
516
:the, you're going to have some, so
again, Finney has some good problems.
517
:It'll be interesting to see the
lineup combos over the first 15, 20
518
:games and seeing what works and what
doesn't and when to pull what levers.
519
:I think that'll be a lot
of fun to watch this year.
520
:I think you're going to see
more guys kind of rotate through
521
:the lineup that maybe even.
522
:Some of our years prior, I think the last
position we went to look at was catcher.
523
:And I know we've had a good bit of
turnover there coming into this season.
524
:We did actually right
before I get to that.
525
:So Jack Spites, another
guy, he's an outfielder.
526
:I'd be surprised to see him, but I think
he's going to be a pinch hitter DH option.
527
:And so he's the guy, he's actually
originally from Chesapeake and
528
:then moved down to Florida.
529
:And so he ended up back here.
530
:He was with us a little bit last
year, an elbow injury kind of limited
531
:him, but he's a very good hitter.
532
:Who's going to, I think, see some
time, maybe not as much in the
533
:field, but at the plate for sure.
534
:So yes, catcher.
535
:All right.
536
:So catcher, we definitely, we
have out of our four catchers,
537
:three of them are brand new to us.
538
:One of our returners was Jake who played.
539
:Just a little bit last
year, but played very well.
540
:He got a lot of walks in
the few appearances he got.
541
:Very good hitter from Western Branch in
Chesapeake, which they just, Roland out
542
:there just produces good ballplayers.
543
:But our two guys who I think are really
going to split the time, I really couldn't
544
:tell you how they're going to split
it, but Evan Holman and Jack Slater.
545
:Slater played at the same JUCO that
Gavin Abrams played at out in St.
546
:John's River State College in Florida.
547
:Holman's from Bellevue
College in Washington.
548
:He's originally from Oregon,
but he played in Washington.
549
:And he's a switch hitter.
550
:Slater's a lefty hitter.
551
:So there's just a little bit different for
catchers, usually just righty righty guys.
552
:But again, both very solid hitters.
553
:I don't think either one of them
has kind of that home run pop that
554
:we've had in the last few years.
555
:But just both guys who are
really good at those bat to ball
556
:skills, putting the ball in play.
557
:Um, and just making things happen
and both very good catchers.
558
:So I think it's going to be interesting
to see if one or the other kind
559
:of takes over more of the playing
time, but they both are very good
560
:ballplayers, good catchers, good leaders.
561
:So it's going to be interesting
to see how that all shakes out
562
:with the firepower in the lineup.
563
:If they can draw some walks,
they can put the ball in play and
564
:avoid strikeouts and double plays.
565
:That's a, that's just bonus.
566
:I feel like with this lineup, you're
getting that from the catcher position,
567
:plus just being strong defensively,
being able to call games well, like
568
:there's a lot to like there, but it
will be interesting to watch that
569
:dynamic unfold of who's taking the
lead from a playing time standpoint.
570
:Yeah, this is definitely a lineup
where hitting eighth or ninth
571
:is not like a slight on you.
572
:It's just, well, somebody has to
go down and hit eighth or ninth.
573
:Realistically, you can just
be turning the order over.
574
:I think that's the way I look at
it, especially if you are stacked.
575
:You see some of the really good Major
League teams are basically doing that,
576
:where they've got a really good hitter in
their eight and their nine hole, and it's
577
:so that their leadoff hitter can be, have
a little bit more power, hit some more
578
:home runs, and come up with guys on base.
579
:So, I'm excited for it.
580
:I think it's going to be a slightly
different offense than maybe what we're
581
:used to, but I like the direction that
it's going to, where we're bringing in all
582
:this talent with different backgrounds.
583
:We're adding to the talent that we
already had here that's coming back.
584
:I mean, it's just, it feels like a
reload from coach Finwood and his
585
:staff rather than What I think most
programs will be suffering a pretty
586
:substantial rebuild this year.
587
:Yeah, I think most teams, you're bringing
in 20 new guys, you're rebuilding.
588
:But I think if you look at who's come
back, I mean, again, LaVarie's back,
589
:Kyle Edwards is back, Boucher is
back, Waters is back, Tyser is back.
590
:That was a pretty substantial
segment of your lineup.
591
:Uh, that's there.
592
:The biggest loss we had,
obviously, was Hunter Fitzgerald.
593
:That guy was just all world for us.
594
:But the rest of these guys that we
kept and the guys we brought in,
595
:it really doesn't feel like I'm not
looking at this lineup thinking like,
596
:Oh man, I wish we had what we had.
597
:Like, no, this lineup is outstanding.
598
:And like I said, in very interchangeable,
a lot of moving pieces, you could
599
:come up with a different lineup every
day and still have a good lineup.
600
:Again, Finney has got his work cut out.
601
:Yeah.
602
:Finney definitely has his work
cut out for him this year.
603
:Working with this lineup, finding the
right combos and all of those good things.
604
:But I'm excited for it.
605
:I'm excited to see these guys in
action here in a couple of weeks.
606
:Stick with us here.
607
:We are going to have an interview
with Stephen Meyer shortly, and then
608
:we will be back in episode two to
chat through pitchers, some defense,
609
:and then talk with another monarch.
610
:So thanks again for tuning into
the Hudson Homer's podcast.
611
:Welcome back to the Hudson homers podcast.
612
:Monarch fans.
613
:We are lucky today to be
joined by Stephen Meyer.
614
:He's an outfielder for the
Monarchs transfer him from Columbia
615
:basin college, originally from
the great state of Washington.
616
:Stephen, thanks so much for joining us.
617
:Of course.
618
:I'm glad I can be on the podcast.
619
:Glad we were able to steal you away
for a couple of minutes here, but
620
:we'd love to hear a little bit about
your recruitment process and how
621
:you ended up here at Old Dominion.
622
:Of course.
623
:So I played two seasons at
CBC, Columbia Basin, and I had
624
:a pretty solid freshman year.
625
:I didn't finish the way I
wanted and got not the greatest.
626
:I got kind of big leagued by the schools
in the West Coast, which happens, and
627
:I came back for my sophomore year and
in the fall early coach last year,
628
:came out to a showcase for Washington,
Oregon, Idaho, Canada, kind of schools.
629
:And that's where we touched base and flew
me out and we had a nice visit and they
630
:checked every single box that I needed
and that I wanted, that I cared about.
631
:And that's about it really.
632
:Came a great place from there.
633
:Think about those check boxes.
634
:Like what was maybe like one or two
for you that ODU really checked off?
635
:I mean, really, it was basically
I needed my school to be
636
:partially paid for at least.
637
:I needed a place where we can
go win a conference, go play
638
:in a regional, and go win.
639
:I wanted to win.
640
:Obviously have a great camaraderie
and team morale and culture,
641
:as some people like saying.
642
:Every facility, obviously.
643
:I needed to get everything out of it.
644
:You know, obviously there's
little things here and there, but
645
:everything overall kind of check.
646
:That's a great checklist.
647
:See, that's a really good checklist.
648
:Thank you.
649
:Yeah, I tried to, there's definitely a
lot of, I wouldn't say flashier options.
650
:during my recruiting, but there's
places that try to win me over by their
651
:facilities and buy cool new Oakleys and
their gloves and their bats and all that.
652
:And that wasn't exactly
what I was looking for.
653
:I know ODU fans will be happy to hear that
winning part and believing in the program
654
:can win and win this season coming up.
655
:So certainly glad to hear that, but.
656
:What's, did you just get to campus
for the spring semester or were
657
:you here for part of the fall too?
658
:I was here for the entire fall.
659
:So I came August 20th.
660
:I drove here actually.
661
:Oh, all the way from Washington?
662
:Yeah, that was a fun, that was a fun trip.
663
:Oh, that is awesome.
664
:Any, any good spots you
stopped at on the way here?
665
:I mean, we kind of saw everything.
666
:We drove through nothing of Nebraska and
Wyoming and saw, ended up in the Midwest
667
:where we saw Royals game and part of
Indiana and Illinois and West Virginia.
668
:So we kind of saw all you can
see out of other states, which
669
:isn't much, to be honest.
670
:I mean, covered the whole, the whole
nation there, but what's it been like
671
:for you on campus since you've got a
full semester under your belt now and
672
:fall ball and all that good stuff.
673
:What's your experience been like so far?
674
:It's been great to be honest.
675
:I think part of the reason I committed
here was the supporting staff.
676
:There's a lot of good people that
are around us that helps a lot and
677
:also the relativity to our like
teammates in the houses are great.
678
:Like the fact that I can knock
next door and there's a teammate
679
:there or walk down a block and we
can go play poker or something.
680
:You know what I mean?
681
:Like there's a lot of good camaraderie
and there's also people like Amy Lynch
682
:in the Academics who kind of feels like
the mom away from mom sometimes and the
683
:coaches you see it real good with and
really enjoyed my first semester here
684
:more, not more than I thought I would,
but that, like, it's just kind of all
685
:clicking exactly how I hoped it would.
686
:We are definitely glad to hear that.
687
:CB, I think you had an
outfield related question.
688
:Did I have an outfield related question?
689
:So Steve, you're going to play
center field probably, right?
690
:I mean, that's realistically where
you're going to end up, right?
691
:Yeah.
692
:So, how would you rate yourself as an
outfielder and then further as a hitter?
693
:How do you see yourself?
694
:I think as an outfielder, I don't
think I'm going to let a ball drop
695
:this year if I'm being honest.
696
:We'll see how my legs come up with
me, but I love playing outfield.
697
:I believe it.
698
:Yes.
699
:I was talking you up earlier here to Gary.
700
:I'm a, I'm a big Stephen Meyer fan.
701
:I really appreciate that.
702
:Was pumping you up with the wheels and the
fielding and the bat and all that stuff.
703
:So Sunbelt player of the year, I
think we'd go ahead and light it up.
704
:Let's do it.
705
:I mean, might as well, right?
706
:You choose for the stars.
707
:You might hit the moon,
that kind of thing, right?
708
:Hey, it's great.
709
:Yeah.
710
:I'm like that.
711
:Don't spike.
712
:Let's do it.
713
:So, so as a hitter, how
do you kind of do it all?
714
:Like you, you're not like a, you
know, the big time Jake Tyser
715
:power hitter, but you got pop.
716
:Yeah, of course.
717
:I, so coming from a Juco in
Washington, it's not very warm there.
718
:played in a lot of 15 degree
weather games, doubleheaders in
719
:the week, weekdays coming here.
720
:We played with wood bats as well.
721
:So coming here early in the fall, I
came out with my like, wow, I'm, if
722
:I can hit bombs with wood bats at
practice, I can hit some bombs here, you
723
:know, on the east coast, this is easy.
724
:And then I found it real quick.
725
:If I don't stay within myself,
I end up not doing as well.
726
:And so I think honestly, it's just
about staying within, it'll be a lot of.
727
:Hustle triples, hustle doubles, and
then when they fly, they'll fly.
728
:So, just keep playing my game.
729
:I think the power will be there,
and I think it'll complement guys
730
:like Tyser, like you said earlier.
731
:No, I love that.
732
:That's one thing I noticed about you, is
you are going to hit the ball hard and
733
:then run even harder, which is, as a fan,
I think you couldn't ask for much more.
734
:Yeah, I think I owe it to my
parents to run real hard every time.
735
:I don't think there's a reason not to.
736
:I think I was sacrificed by them too
much to not hustle every single second.
737
:That's great.
738
:How often are they going
to come out and see you?
739
:I'm hoping once or twice.
740
:I think maybe, I think they
said maybe once a month.
741
:That's fantastic.
742
:So I think it.
743
:March, April, and May, so
maybe three times, hopefully.
744
:We'll find out, but
they'll come September.
745
:Are they planning on, is it all
here at Old Dominion, or are
746
:there going to be any road trips?
747
:I think it's scheduled for my mom
to come out on the Northeastern
748
:Series, which will be a great one.
749
:And then maybe against
Louisiana, we'll find out.
750
:That's excellent, that's
a lot, that's great.
751
:We've had a lot of kids from out West
there, and I know it varies how often
752
:they're able to come out and see them.
753
:It's a neat pipeline we have going
with all the talent out there.
754
:Yeah, for sure.
755
:I mean, the best part is, you know,
ESPN Plus, you put that on it.
756
:It might be 10 p.
757
:m.
758
:our time, but it's 7 p.
759
:m.
760
:their time for me.
761
:So for, for my parents.
762
:So it's, that's bad.
763
:That is such a blessing to
have that ability for them
764
:at home to be able to watch.
765
:That's great.
766
:Exactly.
767
:You know, they're already paying
for it anyway, because it's
768
:bundled with Hulu and Disney plus.
769
:And all that.
770
:Might as well catch all ODU
and Sunbelt stuff you can, but
771
:you're talking about your mom.
772
:And I was just reading the bio
that your mom played softball and
773
:volleyball, the division one level.
774
:Yeah, she's a baller.
775
:I'll tell you that much.
776
:She was a catcher.
777
:So she understands game for sure.
778
:Yeah, nothing much to say there She's
about five foot three of pure grit.
779
:So just the perfect trainer for you
coming up to get all that hustle
780
:in you Yeah, definitely might not
know how to hit a baseball exactly
781
:but she knows how to hustle.
782
:So it's been great Oh, that is awesome
So just before we start recording you're
783
:talking about you're in one of the
baseball houses with a couple of the guys
784
:you got other teammates right around you
Is there anyone that like you connected
785
:with first when you got to campus, anyone
that you've gotten super close with,
786
:aside from, and it could be the guys
that you're actually living with now.
787
:Yeah.
788
:I mean, there's a lot of guys who
it's been a slower process for me to
789
:connect with guys, just cause I didn't
want to, you know, junior transfer.
790
:I didn't want to put myself out there
too far and rub anyone the wrong way.
791
:And I think I realized that I
probably did more harm than good.
792
:I should've just been myself earlier and
it would have turned out just the way
793
:it is now, but definitely my roommates.
794
:I mean, Dylan Brown and.
795
:Dylan Brown is not who I expected him
to be, but I love him because of that.
796
:Like he's such a good dude.
797
:Uh, John Holabat's obviously Kyle Finn.
798
:Great guys.
799
:I can't really say there's like
anyone, like if anyone, I'll
800
:hang out with all these guys.
801
:Like there's no one I'm like, there's
no one above the rest, I think they're
802
:all just great dudes, which is so
good to have because I've played on
803
:some teams where it's been, sometimes,
you know, you get a little, you get
804
:some interesting characters on there.
805
:For sure.
806
:That's great to hear.
807
:That's one thing I've been telling
everybody, you know, we talked about
808
:there's like 22 new players, as I said,
but they brought in just a bunch of
809
:great guys, which is really good to see.
810
:Yeah.
811
:Yeah.
812
:So I gotta know, cause Dylan Brown,
love Dylan Brown, guy, I mean,
813
:nicest kid in the world, I think.
814
:What did you think he
was going to be like?
815
:What was about him that you,
what was the perception?
816
:Just you know, assuming going into a
college house, I was like, all right,
817
:these guys are probably like frat boys.
818
:You know, you never know.
819
:Big D1, cool guys.
820
:I'm like, all right, Dylan
Brown, he looked like a pretty
821
:good ball player last year.
822
:Who knows what he's going to be like.
823
:And so obviously I don't assume
the worst, but I assume, you know,
824
:I put in my two cents of what it
could be and then hope for the best.
825
:And obviously me and him, we mean him
nerd out all the time about weird things.
826
:So that's great.
827
:That's excellent.
828
:That is really cool to hear.
829
:I'm glad to just hear that chemistry.
830
:Cause it seems like this from
coach Finn was recruiting strategy.
831
:It was definitely bringing good guys
and bringing guys from all different
832
:styles of background, whether it's Juco,
division three, division other power
833
:conferences, but really all based in.
834
:Like teams and backgrounds that have
won and continue that culture of winning
835
:while not being that weird guy that
people don't like to hang out with.
836
:Exactly.
837
:Like it's been great.
838
:Like seeing someone like Brandon Pond
from Lynchburg who won a national
839
:championship and a guy like Gavin Abrams
who played in the ACC for two years.
840
:Like, it's like, you just get a lot
of people from different walks of life
841
:that you kind of can learn more from.
842
:So it's been great.
843
:Awesome.
844
:Steven, we'll finish up
with one more question.
845
:Uh, so.
846
:Allegedly this summer, we're going to
get a new EA sports college football
847
:game, which I obviously be super excited
about, but I'd be even more excited if
848
:they brought back the EA sports college
baseball game for a couple of years.
849
:I know those may have been a
little before your time, but.
850
:You know, if you were to, if they were
to make an EA college sports baseball
851
:game, what would be your ratings on there?
852
:And how badly would you dominate
your teammates in that game?
853
:I don't think I've ever
really ever played.
854
:I've never been much of a MLB the show
or a college baseball kind of guy, but
855
:I would compete and I think my ratings
would be, I mean, 99 speeds all I
856
:really need and then I'll find a way.
857
:That's fair enough.
858
:We can build on the rest there.
859
:Steven, thanks so much for joining us
today and being one of the first guests
860
:here on the Hudson Homers podcast.
861
:Hope to talk to you quite a bit
throughout the season and definitely
862
:looking forward to you guys getting
things kicked off here in a couple weeks.
863
:Sounds good.
864
:It'll be good to see you out there.
865
:Thanks for tuning in to the first
episode of the Hudson Homers podcast.
866
:CB and I will be back next
week to give you a preview.
867
:of Old Dominion starting
rotation and their bullpen.
868
:We'll also have an interview with
someone from the Monarch pitching staff.
869
:We're also gonna take a look forward
to Old Dominion's schedule this year,
870
:pointing out some key opponents,
key road trips, and of course
871
:diving into a little bit of the
history into some of the matchups.
872
:Hope that you, uh, join us
for episode two next week.
873
:Go Monarchs!
874
:Okay.
