Video: Giobbi chats with White, Reid

by Barca Blog - Since we're back on the road for the second week in a row, we thought we'd continue the Hoover trend by giving you some more behind-the-scenes footage of the Commodore baseball team in Louisville.

In this segment, catcher Andrew Giobbi chats with outfielder Jonathan White and pitcher Chase Reid about a variety of topics including who has the best beach body... Johnny or Chase? Watch below:

Leading man

by Barca Blog - Baseball head coach Tim Corbin decided to change things up at Arkansas last weekend by putting junior catcher Andrew Giobbi in an unfamiliar position... at the top of the Commodores' batting lineup.

“It’s actually the only spot that I hadn’t hit in college baseball.” Giobbi admitted.

Giobbi might not look like your prototypical leadoff hitter, but according to Corbin, “a leadoff hitter is a leadoff hitter usually one time during the course of the game. Giobbi is a fastball hitter and good on the bases, too.”

Before Giobbi appeared first in the order, Brian Harris had occupied that spot for 31 of 32 games. In the Commodores’ two victories over the top-ranked Razorbacks, Giobbi responded to the move by reaching base four times in eleven trips to the plate. He had a double, single, two walks, three RBIs, three runs, and two stolen bases.

That’s right, two stolen bases. Giobbi came into the series with only five career steals. But speed isn’t the only factor in determining a good leadoff hitter.

“He’s got very, very good instincts on the bases,” Corbin said. “Baserunning is more instinctual, it’s more reading the looks of the pitcher and getting the timing down. Andrew’s very good at that."

“We watch a lot of film on (Baltimore Orioles player) Brian Roberts,” Giobbi added. “You can be the fastest guy in the world but if you can’t get a lead because you’re scared to get picked off, you’re never going to steal a bag.”

Of course, teammates were quick to poke Giobbi about being "the slowest leadoff hitter in the history of college baseball."

And that’s fine with him.

“Get on base and score runs - that’s all it is.”

[Editor's Note: In his third consecutive game in the leadoff role Tuesday against Middle Tennessee, Giobbi hit a three-run homer in the Commodores' 15-7 rout of the Blue Raiders. He finished with a team-high three hits and four RBIs with two runs, a walk, and another stolen base.]

Baseball: Andrew Giobbi Out For Awhile

by SID - Junior catcher Andrew Giobbi broke his hand in his first at bat in Friday's win over Vermont. Head coach Tim Corbin said he is likely out 4-6 weeks. Despite the injury Giobbi continued to play and finished out the game. Coach Corbin said after Saturday's win over Vermont that "Gio" showed amazing toughness, just like he did over the summer when playing in the Cape. He was hit in the face by a pitch early in the summer and came back to finish out the season with Harwich. The league honored him with its 10th Man Award.

With Giobbi out, the catching position which was once an area of experienced depth, is now a question mark with little to no experience outside of practice. Curt Casali went into the year as the starter but has switched to first base due to an arm injury. Aaron Westlake has practiced behind the plate at times, but Saturday's game was his first real game action. He caught a no-hitter for six-plus innings and had four hits so you could say he had a good day.

Westlake's backup is redshirt freshman Drew Fann from Oakland High in Murfreesboro. Fann has yet to see action in a real game on the collegiate level, but he did belt a homer off of freshman flame-thrower Sonny Gray in the Black and Gold Series in the fall.

In a season of new faces in different places, add another change to the list.