How Mitch Gaspard built Alabama's new-look lineup
The University of Alabama’s most successful lineup this season was no accident. The Crimson Tide offense had shown improvement in its series against Auburn that gave head coach Mitch Gaspard confidence when he jotted down the batting order for Friday’s game against Arkansas.
The lineup hasn’t changed since Friday, as Alabama has gone 4-0 while scoring a season-high 33 runs in that stretch. It’s likely to be the same nine batters in the same order when No. 6 South Carolina arrives for the regular season’s final series on Thursday.
“As long as we continue on the path we're on now, it won't change from what you're seeing right now,” Gaspard said on Tuesday.
Rather than starting at the top, the key change was to move catcher Will Haynie. He’s batting .226 on the season but leads the team with a .273 average in SEC play. He’s been even hotter as of late, .428 with four home runs and three walks in the last seven games. He batted seventh or eighth much of the season but is fifth in this lineup.
"I think it started with Haynie,” Gaspard said. “I knew we had to get him up. I felt like the five hole is a comfortable spot for him in an RBI spot.”
From there, Gaspard looked at the leadoff spot. Freshman Cobie Vance has batted first, but left fielder Keith Holcombe has also produced there. Holcombe spent much of March and April splitting time between football and baseball but now can devote his full attention to the diamond.
“I like Cobie better in the two than I do in the one, so it was who can be the leadoff guy?” Gaspard said. “Now that we have Holcombe every day, he's really starting to figure it out. The one thing for a kid that hasn't played a lot of college baseball, he's got a tremendous eye at the plate. He doesn't swing at balls. He does a great job in the one hole, so it was natural to put Cobie in the two.”
Vance launched a solo home run in the first inning on Friday against Arkansas that Gaspard credited with sparking the offense’s confidence. It was a long-awaited moment for the Crimson Tide’s lineup.
"Hitting is contagious,” senior Georgie Salem said. “… Cobie gets a big hit and people start believing and then next thing you know, everyone goes up to the plate and the ball looks bigger. It doesn't look like a sunflower seed coming in there. When you have confidence and everyone is clicking together it just looks easier and everything simplifies."
Salem also had a hot bat. He’s on a nine-game hitting streak and hit home runs on Sunday and Tuesday. He has 10 RBIs in the last four games, batting third.
“I've always felt like George (Salem) can be a really good three hole hitter,” Gaspard said, “not just because he can split gaps but he's still a really good bunter, a really good runner and it gives you three really athletic guys to start the game.”
Freshman right fielder Chandler Taylor, UA’s most consistent power hitter, bats cleanup with Haynie right behind him. First baseman Cody Henry bats sixth, giving Alabama a switch hitter near the middle of the order. He’s followed by senior Chance Vincent, whose .292 batting average is best among all players with at least 100 at-bats. He’s also second on the team with 28 RBIs.
“Vincent has probably been for most of the year our most consistent hitter with average in the seven hole,” Gaspard said.
The bottom of the order is rounded out by Sam Finnerty, a freshman, batting eighth as the designated hitter, and shortstop Daniel Cucjen.
“I think Finnerty is a good young hitter,” Gaspard said. “I think he's going to figure it out and get some big hits moving forward. Danny kind of resets the bottom to get us back going again, a guy that's going to give you pesky at bats in the nine hole.”
Gaspard had been searching all season for the right nine players in the right order. It looks like he’s found it just in time.
“This is our best lineup,” he said. “There's no question.”
No. 6 South Carolina at Alabama
Where: Sewell-Thomas Stadium
Schedule: Today at 7 p.m., Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m.
Records: Alabama 31-21, 15-12 SEC; South Carolina 39-13, 17-9 SEC
Radio: 99.1 FM
Reach Ben Jones at ben@tidesports.com or 205-722-0196.