2016 Preseason Breakdown: Dave Serrano with Bob Kesling
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DonDiego
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Volsfaninva917
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Why is that? Care to elaborate?
However I'm with you, listening to CDS speak on various interviews he's gone back and forth with who will be starting certain positions and pitching rotations. He seems uncertain and that's not a good sign
considering the season is less than a week away.
#GBO
3 days left before it's baseball time in TN
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I'm with ya OT, but sometimes I have to be fair and every year CDS finds a way to pump up the team, probably just trying to get people excited. Last year his detractors used it against him saying that he caused too much pressure.
I agree though, we have a chance to better expectations and I'm for the upperclassmen getting a shot, just hope CDS has a short leash. I don't want to spend the whole "preseason" watching guys kick the ball all over the infield.
fryeguy93
Rufus X. Sarsaparilli
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I say we'll see a lot of experimentation early on in the season UNLESS he hits on a lineup early that plays lights out. Even then. There will be no long outings by starting pitching until SEC plays begins.
It would be quite a luxury to have a clear closer and set-up man real early. As well as batter before and after Senzel.
It would be quite a luxury to have a clear closer and set-up man real early. As well as batter before and after Senzel.
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Not knowing anything but taking an educated guess, I would imagine the top of the order for game 1 is:
Hall
Lance
Senzel
Jackson
CDS has already stated on his radio interview that Cox will go 4 and then followed by Freeman on Friday, Serrano 4 followed by Soto on Saturday and then Warren 4 and then Martin on Sunday.
31VFL
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Nick Senzel is no longer ?little guy? on baseball field
I noticed Dopirak included Bryant Harris in his potential new guys to have an impact along with Neal and Bartlett. I wouldn't be shocked to see Harris end up playing a bigger role as the year goes.
I noticed Dopirak included Bryant Harris in his potential new guys to have an impact along with Neal and Bartlett. I wouldn't be shocked to see Harris end up playing a bigger role as the year goes.
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Backwards K
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The talent level is down from last year's lineup. Pitching rotation is not deep and several untested guys have to step up in a hurry. However, replacing Bergeron with Simcox will offset some of the deficiencies in the batting lineup. The hitters will be looser, more confident and able to swing away more often. A great cloud was lifted off this team when Bergeron was let go and Simcox is a player's coach who will have the hitters ready to battle.
fryeguy93
Rufus X. Sarsaparilli
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This may be the best the SEC ever has been top-to-bottom now that the middle and the back has picked up their game.
It's hard to pick a "worst" team as even Missouri has improved their program.
That makes rebuilding tough and succeeding in pre-SEC schedule imperative for the Vols. However, no team should be able to run away with the title early on as everyone should be bunched up.
Tennessee did draw a relatively favorable schedule for once, and the odds of having another season of extraordinarily bad weather luck causing the slow start does not look likely.
The Vols get to play the top 3 teams in SEC at home (LSU, Florida and Vanderbilt) and avoid Texas A&M, Arkansas and Miss State completely. (3 of top 4 in West)
With the parity in SEC, it may be hard to get more than 1 or 2 teams as national seeds but should have a great deal of schools hosting regions and beating our ACC Lil' Bros at their place.
Because we avoid 3 of top 4 from west, I don't see how we can be picked to finish 7th in east.
When all is said and done, I suspect Texas A&M is the best team in conference but their schedule is brutal and I don't think their soft pre-season schedule will be good preparation.
Due to schedule alone, I think Arkansas will surprise the conference. They avoid Vandy and host Florida. They have a tough opening weekend at South Carolina. Survive that and they should do well.
Alabama has a "like new" stadium and play neither Florida or Vanderbilt but do play So. Carolina at home in last weekend. Keep an eye on them. They do host LSU the 1st SEC weekend. Their record may be better than their talent and confidence goes a long way in baseball.
(1) Florida
(2) South Carolina
(3) Vanderbilt
(4) Kentucky (5) Tennessee (6) Georgia (7) Missouri
(1) Arkansas (2) LSU
(3) Alabama (4) Texas A&M
(5) Mississippi State (6) Mississippi
(7) Auburn
I know there are no East and West titles anymore. This is a mental exercises
I think Vanderbilt is replacing too much but will be much better by end of season. You could throw a blanket over the east 4-7. Any of those teams could be 4th.
And for some reason, I will never be sold on Kentucky. I just think of them as a good cold-weather program but not an overly talented one. Tennessee should always beat UK more times than not. However, UK does have a softer schedule than UT as they do not play LSU and host Fla, SC, & Ark. So I gave them 4. But they do play in Knoxville the first week of Keeneland and the NCAA Final 4 weekend, so expect only about 3 mothers wearing blue in the stands.
The west is brutal to pick. I think every team has a chance to win the west except Auburn. A&M is moved down due to tough schedule. Alabama is moved up due to favorable schedule. I'm still not enamored with LSU's talent and coaching
The SEC has a legitimate shot at 11 teams in the NCAA tourney but will have to prove it early on non conference play.
Simcox' offense will decide how far Tennessee goes. We saw last season how much better A&M was just because of their offense. If the Vols can hit appreciably better early season - they almost have to; and then can hit better with RISP the entire season then I could see the Vols easily getting to Hoover and into NCAA.
If the Vols can clinch SEC bid before the last weekend vs. UGA, then they should qualify for NCAA play.
I've said before, last season would have ended in NCAA tourney without the atrocious stop-and-start non-conference season where we could not field or hit the ball. I don't see that happening again but we do have less experience after graduation. We need some pitchers that underperformed so far to pitch to their talent level and above, we need transfers to step in and throw well and we need to desperately protect Senzel in the lineup.
Again, it would be nice if we hit upon a good lineup early on in the season with everybody getting off to good start. Then everyone will know their roles from day 1.
It's hard to pick a "worst" team as even Missouri has improved their program.
That makes rebuilding tough and succeeding in pre-SEC schedule imperative for the Vols. However, no team should be able to run away with the title early on as everyone should be bunched up.
Tennessee did draw a relatively favorable schedule for once, and the odds of having another season of extraordinarily bad weather luck causing the slow start does not look likely.
The Vols get to play the top 3 teams in SEC at home (LSU, Florida and Vanderbilt) and avoid Texas A&M, Arkansas and Miss State completely. (3 of top 4 in West)
With the parity in SEC, it may be hard to get more than 1 or 2 teams as national seeds but should have a great deal of schools hosting regions and beating our ACC Lil' Bros at their place.
Because we avoid 3 of top 4 from west, I don't see how we can be picked to finish 7th in east.
When all is said and done, I suspect Texas A&M is the best team in conference but their schedule is brutal and I don't think their soft pre-season schedule will be good preparation.
Due to schedule alone, I think Arkansas will surprise the conference. They avoid Vandy and host Florida. They have a tough opening weekend at South Carolina. Survive that and they should do well.
Alabama has a "like new" stadium and play neither Florida or Vanderbilt but do play So. Carolina at home in last weekend. Keep an eye on them. They do host LSU the 1st SEC weekend. Their record may be better than their talent and confidence goes a long way in baseball.
(1) Florida
(2) South Carolina
(3) Vanderbilt
(4) Kentucky (5) Tennessee (6) Georgia (7) Missouri
(1) Arkansas (2) LSU
(3) Alabama (4) Texas A&M
(5) Mississippi State (6) Mississippi
(7) Auburn
I know there are no East and West titles anymore. This is a mental exercises
I think Vanderbilt is replacing too much but will be much better by end of season. You could throw a blanket over the east 4-7. Any of those teams could be 4th.
And for some reason, I will never be sold on Kentucky. I just think of them as a good cold-weather program but not an overly talented one. Tennessee should always beat UK more times than not. However, UK does have a softer schedule than UT as they do not play LSU and host Fla, SC, & Ark. So I gave them 4. But they do play in Knoxville the first week of Keeneland and the NCAA Final 4 weekend, so expect only about 3 mothers wearing blue in the stands.
The west is brutal to pick. I think every team has a chance to win the west except Auburn. A&M is moved down due to tough schedule. Alabama is moved up due to favorable schedule. I'm still not enamored with LSU's talent and coaching
The SEC has a legitimate shot at 11 teams in the NCAA tourney but will have to prove it early on non conference play.
Simcox' offense will decide how far Tennessee goes. We saw last season how much better A&M was just because of their offense. If the Vols can hit appreciably better early season - they almost have to; and then can hit better with RISP the entire season then I could see the Vols easily getting to Hoover and into NCAA.
If the Vols can clinch SEC bid before the last weekend vs. UGA, then they should qualify for NCAA play.
I've said before, last season would have ended in NCAA tourney without the atrocious stop-and-start non-conference season where we could not field or hit the ball. I don't see that happening again but we do have less experience after graduation. We need some pitchers that underperformed so far to pitch to their talent level and above, we need transfers to step in and throw well and we need to desperately protect Senzel in the lineup.
Again, it would be nice if we hit upon a good lineup early on in the season with everybody getting off to good start. Then everyone will know their roles from day 1.
Backwards K
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