Going forward, the KY series, & pitching

#27
#27
malibuvol said:
Glad to get the series win, but giving up 6 home runs to Ky on Sunday is worrisome...Especially since this Ky team is not known for hitting home runs...Yes, the wind was blowing out.
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This isn’t last years Kentucky “small ball” team. They can and have raked the ball.
 
#28
#28
AllThingsTN said:
This isn’t last years Kentucky “small ball” team. They can and have raked the ball.
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The crazy thing is when they do play small ball I think it doesn’t serve this Kentucky bunch any good. They are capable of getting big hits and when they give 1-3 outs a game away to move some base runners over it is not going to help them against teams with big bats who get a full 27 outs to hit the ball in gaps and over the fence.
 
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#30
#30
NighthawkVol said:
If beating a top 5 team in their park isn’t a season highlight, then season highlights aren’t possible and you should watch nature shows instead. No one is dismissing what UT is. But UT was not favored to win that series by most.

That’s easily the biggest series of the season for Tennessee and there aren’t any bigger for the remainder of the season, outside of maybe Vanderbilt. Maybe.
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Highlight versus "signature win" is better.
 
#31
#31
ThatVolGuy said:
If you're only looking at the rankings, then yes, this outcome was always plausible. But Kentucky is atop the SEC standings, and coming into this series, they were probably the hottest team in the country. This is the only program in the conference that's never been to Omaha, they're having a dream season, they're in first place, and they packed the house in Lexington with record-breaking crowds to play their most hated rival.

To me, it goes beyond your standard #3 versus #4. We just beat a really, really good team in a very difficult environment. Do not undersell this accomplishment.
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You are underselling how good we are, is it a WOW series for UK if they win 2 of 3? We are the #4 team in the country. We have a better winning %, one more win and same # of losses.

Before this past weekend, UK had 19 opponents with a combined record that is 408-335. Time will tell if they can last in a much harder part of their schedule, they didnt start off so good 1-2. They also have Vandy and Arkansas coming up and a decent USC.
 
#32
#32
Golfprovol said:
You are underselling how good we are.
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Uh ... no. Not at all. It's okay to acknowledge the strength of an opponent, especially when their RPI and strength of schedule have outstripped ours so far. Kentucky is an excellent baseball team, is 100% an Omaha contender, and still looks like they're in the driver's seat for the SEC regular season title. That makes it all the more impressive that we came into Lexington and handed them their first SEC series loss of the season. In fact, I'd put it right up there with Alabama's series win over Arkansas as the most impressive of the year, and maybe slightly ahead since the Vols did it on the road.
 
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#33
#33
AllThingsTN said:
This isn’t last years Kentucky “small ball” team. They can and have raked the ball.
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Prior to the Tennessee series, KY had hit 51 home runs for the year...TN had 102 home runs I believe prior to the series...KY hit 9 home runs or 17.6% of their total home runs for the year against UT...So, this year's 'small ball' KY team raked Tennessee pitching...
 
#34
#34
malibuvol said:
Prior to the Tennessee series, KY had hit 51 home runs for the year...TN had 102 home runs I believe prior to the series...KY hit 9 home runs or 17.6% of their total home runs for the year against UT...So, this year's 'small ball' KY team raked Tennessee pitching...
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KY was #3 in SEC play in HRs behind only TN and A&M (they were only 1 HR behind A&M and 10 behind TN). They have better HR power than most every SEC school.
 
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#35
#35
malibuvol said:
Prior to the Tennessee series, KY had hit 51 home runs for the year...TN had 102 home runs I believe prior to the series...KY hit 9 home runs or 17.6% of their total home runs for the year against UT...So, this year's 'small ball' KY team raked Tennessee pitching...
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UK started off slow because they play in a bigger park with colder weather to start the season. Once they hit SEC play with warmer weather they started raking.... not just Vol pitching.
 
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#36
#36
taylorvol said:
KY was #3 in SEC play in HRs behind only TN and A&M (they were only 1 HR behind A&M and 10 behind TN). They have better HR power than most every SEC school.
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SEC Leaders Summary as of Apr 21, 2024 (SEC games only)



Team Batting g avg ab r h 2b 3b hr bb so sb-att
Kentucky18.320612162196381418012532-47
Tennessee18.30761615818943151741649-14
Texas A&M18.300637155191372428616620-26
Alabama18.2816159517330426481274-5
Georgia18.27861513517136038851549-10
Mississippi State18.273601114164240207915816-19
Vanderbilt18.273598102163384175415523-26
LSU18.2576109415730133761744-7
South Carolina18.252603109152321249720116-23
Ole Miss18.24858891146201237915913-15
Auburn18.24758884145270196717316-20
Florida18.2456179915132136691918-11
Arkansas18.23859696142212279014311-15
Missouri18.2055846612018585921514-22
Totals126.2678480156022604262340510432305195-260
 
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#37
#37
txbo said:
SEC Leaders Summary as of Apr 21, 2024 (SEC games only)



Team Batting g avg ab r h 2b 3b hr bb so sb-att
Kentucky18.320612162196381418012532-47
Tennessee18.30761615818943151741649-14
Texas A&M18.300637155191372428616620-26
Alabama18.2816159517330426481274-5
Georgia18.27861513517136038851549-10
Mississippi State18.273601114164240207915816-19
Vanderbilt18.273598102163384175415523-26
LSU18.2576109415730133761744-7
South Carolina18.252603109152321249720116-23
Ole Miss18.24858891146201237915913-15
Auburn18.24758884145270196717316-20
Florida18.2456179915132136691918-11
Arkansas18.23859696142212279014311-15
Missouri18.2055846612018585921514-22
Totals126.2678480156022604262340510432305195-260
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The number to keep an eye on for Kentucky is the strikeout number. Maintaining the high average, high pop, while always putting the ball in play is big for them. They will give many team fits if they continue that trend. Looking like those 3 up top are very well rounded ball clubs. Of course Arkansas pitching can keep them in any series.
 
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#39
#39
txbo said:
SEC Leaders Summary as of Apr 21, 2024 (SEC games only)



Team Batting g avg ab r h 2b 3b hr bb so sb-att
Kentucky18.320612162196381418012532-47
Tennessee18.30761615818943151741649-14
Texas A&M18.300637155191372428616620-26
Alabama18.2816159517330426481274-5
Georgia18.27861513517136038851549-10
Mississippi State18.273601114164240207915816-19
Vanderbilt18.273598102163384175415523-26
LSU18.2576109415730133761744-7
South Carolina18.252603109152321249720116-23
Ole Miss18.24858891146201237915913-15
Auburn18.24758884145270196717316-20
Florida18.2456179915132136691918-11
Arkansas18.23859696142212279014311-15
Missouri18.2055846612018585921514-22
Totals126.2678480156022604262340510432305195-260
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Good stuff!
 
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#40
#40
volplaya8 said:
The number to keep an eye on for Kentucky is the strikeout number. Maintaining the high average, high pop, while always putting the ball in play is big for them. They will give many team fits if they continue that trend. Looking like those 3 up top are very well rounded ball clubs. Of course Arkansas pitching can keep them in any series.
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Exactly! Spot-on, sir.
 
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#41
#41
Golfprovol said:
You are underselling how good we are, is it a WOW series for UK if they win 2 of 3? We are the #4 team in the country. We have a better winning %, one more win and same # of losses.

Before this past weekend, UK had 19 opponents with a combined record that is 408-335. Time will tell if they can last in a much harder part of their schedule, they didnt start off so good 1-2. They also have Vandy and Arkansas coming up and a decent USC.
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Two absolute outstanding teams. Winning 2-3 on the road is huge to validatwhat we think we are. If UK had won, it was more validation they are very good.

We just might see them again.
 
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#42
#42
2 Answers to questions
1. I think Russell will be back in mid-May and will be used sparingly because Frank and Tony are very cautious with players coming back from injuries. I think he will come out of bullpen to start with and maybe have short starts. I think he helps us but maybe not as much as some think unless we make that long run which we should. He could be the force that Chase was last year out of the pen.
2. The homeruns yesterday were strongly wind aided on both sides. Kirby said that balls that would normally be fly balls were jumping out of that park when they got up in the wind. He feared every fly ball was going out when it got up in the wind. He gave up more home runs yesterday than all high school school and travel ball for 4 years.
 
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#43
#43
By the way.

I noticed Friday night that the lights were more - shall I say, more "efficient" than they were in 2022.

You don't suppose they dimmed the lights 2 years ago to even the playing field and then made them brighter when they thought they had the better team?

I bet the wished the could've dimmed the lights in afternoon games this weekend.
 
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#44
#44
preacherman20 said:
2 Answers to questions
1. I think Russell will be back in mid-May and will be used sparingly because Frank and Tony are very cautious with players coming back from injuries. I think he will come out of bullpen to start with and maybe have short starts. I think he helps us but maybe not as much as some think unless we make that long run which we should. He could be the force that Chase was last year out of the pen.
2. The homeruns yesterday were strongly wind aided on both sides. Kirby said that balls that would normally be fly balls were jumping out of that park when they got up in the wind. He feared every fly ball was going out when it got up in the wind. He gave up more home runs yesterday than all high school school and travel ball for 4 years.
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I have more windburn than sunburn to attest to the weekend!
 
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#45
#45
If this game were last year, Kirby would have come in in the 5th, gotten the huge DP and that would have been that. A new pitcher would have come on for the 6th and we would all be talking about how great his outing was. Yesterday though, we were clearly out of arms, which forced Kirby to go well beyond what I think he should have been asked to do. Then you had the freaking wind and a Kentucky team that can clearly hit the ball hard. So yes, he gave up 4 HR's, but that's just the type of game it was yesterday. It was a don't worry about the stats; just win type game. And that's what we did. If nothing else, Kirby ate up innings and kept the numbers from being too curvy in a game where real curvy numbers were much easier to come by than usual.
 
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#46
#46
Golfprovol said:
Not to throw shade, but making that series out to be WOW because they are the #3 team in America seems to dismiss that we are the #4 team in America. If we were unranked or like 20th, then I think your statement would be more valid, but two top 5 teams were playing. We should be able to beat them, they should be able to beat us. We had a little more hitting and a little better pitching and won the series.
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Actually, it is a special win when you win a matchup like this. Your definition would ONLY apply to a substantial upset over a much higher ranked opponent, which is a very limited definition IMO. What this does show is that we have overcome some of the shortcomings of the Tony Vitello era and have the horses to compete against the competition that will be in the CWS. That is a WOW game and a statement game.
 
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#47
#47
wtmvol said:
If this game were last year, Kirby would have come in in the 5th, gotten the huge DP and that would have been that. A new pitcher would have come on for the 6th and we would all be talking about how great his outing was. Yesterday though, we were clearly out of arms, which forced Kirby to go well beyond what I think he should have been asked to do. Then you had the freaking wind and a Kentucky team that can clearly hit the ball hard. So yes, he gave up 4 HR's, but that's just the type of game it was yesterday. It was a don't worry about the stats; just win type game. And that's what we did. If nothing else, Kirby ate up innings and kept the numbers from being too curvy in a game where real curvy numbers were much easier to come by than usual.
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Well said
 
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#48
#48
To everyone talking about field size / ballpark size .... well it is about the same size +15 left field side. Center to right is max 10 feet down to even at the line. Now the foul areas are much larger and help pitchers get outs with foul ball pop-ups.

Lindsey NelsonKentucky Proud
Left Field:
320 ft
335 ft
Left-Center Field:
360 ft
375 ft
Center Field:
390 ft
400 ft
Right-Center Field:
360 ft
365 ft
Right Field: 320 ft320 ft

Field size
 
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#50
#50
malibuvol said:
Prior to the Tennessee series, KY had hit 51 home runs for the year...TN had 102 home runs I believe prior to the series...KY hit 9 home runs or 17.6% of their total home runs for the year against UT...So, this year's 'small ball' KY team raked Tennessee pitching...
Click to expand...
In conference is a different story, I see others have already provided the stats.
 
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