Todd Raleigh is liking what he's seeing.

Fall baseball drills are just beginning to heat up at the University of Tennessee, but Raleigh has seen enough to make some predictions.

"I'm really excited," the second-year coach said Thursday. "I can't tell you how it will relate as far as wins go, but there's no question in my mind we're better. There's no doubt about it.

"There's not a position on the field that we're not better than we were last year. I don't think a coach can say that very often."

Then he smiled.

Gone is the first-year feeling-out phase where players were adjusting to Raleigh's system and Raleigh was adjusting to player personalities.

Everyone knows what's expected and the comfort levels are translating to the practice field.

"Last year a lot of times going into games I felt like this guy has to do this - Kentrail (Davis) needs to hit a home run, the pitcher needs to go seven or eight innings and we couldn't make more than one error to have a chance to win," Raleigh said. "This year I don't feel like that's the case.

"Talent wise we're going to be OK and we've got players doing it the right way."

The public can get its first look at a new-look Vols beginning at 6 tonight in the first of seven Orange and White World Series exhibitions. Admission is free at renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

For Raleigh, this is an opportunity to see how much his veterans have progressed and which newcomers can contribute.

"I want to see who can compete," he said. "We'll try some different things in the lineup and defensively to see who can do the little things - take the extra base - do the things that help us win games that don't show up in the stat sheet.

"I want to see who can do it when the lights come on."

Davis, a freshman All-American last year, is obviously one of those guys.

The sophomore center fielder is full speed after resting a wrist injury that cost him a trip to Europe with Team USA last summer.

"He leads by example with how hard he plays," Raleigh said. "I like his mentality. If we can all adopt that, we're going to be more than fine. He's the kind of guy you want to build a team around."

Junior Jeff Lockwood, a former standout at Halls High School, is another player earning raves from Raleigh.

"Jeff's doing an absolutely unbelievable job," he said. "He's doing all the right things on and off the field, his hustle has been great.

"He's focused. He's driven and he's motivated."

The rosters:

n Orange: Nick Hernandez, Davis, Josh Liles, Cody Hawn, Charley Thurber, Matt Hamaker, Gary Wilson, Zach Osborne, Mike Hornsby, Danny Wiltz, Ryne Simpson, Dylan Hochevar, Aaron Tullo, Steven Gruver, Adam Adkins, Will Locante, Hunter Daniel and Mason Forbis.

n White: Bryan Morgado, Cody Brown, Lockwood, P.J. Polk, Jarred Frazier, Blake Forsythe, Cody Grisham, Steve Crnkovich, Joey Rosas, Matt Ramsey, Clayton Gant, Davis Hall, Stephen McCray and Tyler Horne.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.