It's almost like Polk never left Mississippi State

STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI - Just a few feet from second base in a stadium that bares his name, Mississippi State coach Ron Polk whips baseballs at his first basemen, some wide right, some wide left, some one-hoppers. <br> <br> Polk planned to retire in Starkville one day. Instead, a surprising series of events brought him back sooner than expected to work. <br> <br> In many ways, it&#39;s as if he never left. <br> <br> ``I moved right into my old home that I had been renting. I moved back into my same office that I had for 22 years, and I&#39;m coaching on the same field that I coached on from 1976 until 1997,&#39;&#39; he said. ``So, I had a big comfort zone.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Polk said it is the players who have had the tough job adapting to him. <br> <br> ``But I&#39;ve been delighted with the young men and their progress and with the commitment they&#39;ve made to a new coaching staff,&#39;&#39; he said. <br> <br> Polk replaced his successor at Mississippi State, Pat McMahon, who left to take over at Florida. <br> <br> Unlike Polk&#39;s last job at Georgia, these Bulldogs don&#39;t need to be rebuilt. Mississippi State (39-23) won the Southeastern Conference tournament for the first time since 1990 last season, and played in a super regional for the second straight season. <br> <br> ``The strength of the ballclub has got to be an experienced catcher, an experienced infield and a strong pitching staff,&#39;&#39; Polk said. <br> <br> Pitching fueled the Bulldogs&#39; title run last season, and much of the staff returns. <br> <br> Tanner Brock, who passed on a chance to play pro ball, had a breakthrough junior season going 7-2 with a 4.44 ERA. He and sophomore Paul Maholm (8-4, 4.04) will hold down the top two spots in the Bulldogs&#39; rotation. <br> <br> The bullpen may not be as deep, but Chris Young (5-1, 2.81), the MVP of the SEC tournament is back along with Jonathan Papelbon and Ryan Carroll, who also was drafted. <br> <br> The Bulldogs showed little power last season and their best power source, Jon Knott, has graduated. <br> <br> First baseman Matthew Brinson could develop into a longball threat. He hit four homers in two games as the Bulldogs won a regional in Columbus, Ohio, after hitting just three in the regular season. <br> <br> Third baseman Steve Gendron (.286 avg., 0 HRs, 28 RBIs), shortstop Matthew Maniscalco (.232, 0, 24) and second baseman Michael Brown (.285, 5 28) all are back. Jason Burkley (.286, 3, 44), a patient hitter who led the SEC in walks with 68, is at catcher. <br> <br> Gendron and Brown have both been working in the outfield, where the Bulldogs are thin. <br> <br> Mississippi State needs Gendron, Brinson, Brown and Burkley to progress as hitters to contend in the super competitive SEC West. <br> <br> ``If we can hit .320 for the season and have timely hitting, I don&#39;t care if we hit a home run,&#39;&#39; Polk said. <br> <br> Still, Polk would welcome a few homers. <br> <br> ``I&#39;d like to shake some hands at third base, though,&#39;&#39; he said. ``I don&#39;t want to stand around with my hands in my pockets the whole season.&#39;&#39;

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