AJ Russell question

#7
#7
chuckiepoo said:
Not to start, but assuming he’ll get at least an inning.

Edit: maybe not. Could be held for weekend per @taylorvol.
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I’m making a guess that we see him for a few innings in relief on Saturday. I bet no more than 40 or so pitches. Can’t wait to see him in SEC action. Perhaps wishful thinking but I’d be surprised if we don’t see Mr Russell this weekend.
 
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#9
#9
www.rockytopinsider.com

Tennessee Baseball Notebook: Where The Vols Stand At The Halfway Point In SEC Play | Rocky Top Insider

Taking a look at where the Vols stand at the halfway point in SEC play in this latest edition of the Tennessee baseball notebook.
www.rockytopinsider.com www.rockytopinsider.com


With Russell getting more into the swing of things, his SEC debut is coming soon. Possibly as early as this weekend against Kentucky


Tennessee does decide to use Russell as a starter, who do they bump from the weekend rotation?

As of a few weekends ago, that was an easy question. Russell would slide into the Sunday spot with Liam Doyle and Marcus Phillips staying in their respective spots. But with Phillips struggling in consecutive starts, Tennessee could plug Russell in on Saturday and keep freshman Tegan Kuhns as the Sunday starter.

If Russell does start this weekend, I think Sunday is still the most likely spot while Tennessee rolls with Phillips at least one more week. But that question is a lot more complicated than it was a few weeks ago.
 
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#10
#10
taylorvol said:
I’m making a guess that we see him for a few innings in relief on Saturday. I bet no more than 40 or so pitches. Can’t wait to see him in SEC action. Perhaps wishful thinking but I’d be surprised if we don’t see Mr Russell this weekend.
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I heard former Vol pitcher Will Heflin discuss this. He said with AJ coming back from Tommy John surgery, he would expect that he would only be used as a starter, not in relief. Based on that, my thoughts are that AJ could be an "opener" for Kuhns Sunday.
 
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#11
#11
WillisWG said:
www.rockytopinsider.com

Tennessee Baseball Notebook: Where The Vols Stand At The Halfway Point In SEC Play | Rocky Top Insider

Taking a look at where the Vols stand at the halfway point in SEC play in this latest edition of the Tennessee baseball notebook.
www.rockytopinsider.com www.rockytopinsider.com


With Russell getting more into the swing of things, his SEC debut is coming soon. Possibly as early as this weekend against Kentucky


Tennessee does decide to use Russell as a starter, who do they bump from the weekend rotation?

As of a few weekends ago, that was an easy question. Russell would slide into the Sunday spot with Liam Doyle and Marcus Phillips staying in their respective spots. But with Phillips struggling in consecutive starts, Tennessee could plug Russell in on Saturday and keep freshman Tegan Kuhns as the Sunday starter.

If Russell does start this weekend, I think Sunday is still the most likely spot while Tennessee rolls with Phillips at least one more week. But that question is a lot more complicated than it was a few weeks ago.
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IMHO there’s zero chance that Phillips doesn’t start on Sat. This game means everything to Phillips and his family as his Dad played at UK. CTV won’t take that moment away from Marcus.
 
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#12
#12
taylorvol said:
IMHO there’s zero chance that Phillips doesn’t start on Sat. This game means everything to Phillips and his family as his Dad played at UK. CTV won’t take that moment away from Marcus.
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All he's lacking is holding the runner little closer to the base and little quicker to the plate. But they can't steal if there not on base . Glad to have AJ available for the weekend. Curious to see how much he gets to pitch. I missed your help in the game thread last night the negas were at it again.
 
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#13
#13
volsagain said:
All he's lacking is holding the runner little closer to the base and little quicker to the plate. But they can't steal if there not on base . Glad to have AJ available for the weekend. Curious to see how much he gets to pitch. I missed your help in the game thread last night the negas were at it again.
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I bet he’s throws over a little more and MAYBE they implement a pitch out to keep them honest, but he definitely won’t be changing his delivery. Yep, I was at the game last night so no posting for me. The negaVols hatred and overall entitlement behavior is tiresome.
 
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#14
#14
TechnoVol said:
I heard former Vol pitcher Will Heflin discuss this. He said with AJ coming back from Tommy John surgery, he would expect that he would only be used as a starter, not in relief. Based on that, my thoughts are that AJ could be an "opener" for Kuhns Sunday.
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Interesting. I obviously don’t know much about TJ recovery.

What is the rationale behind this? Did Heflin say?
 
#15
#15
TechnoVol said:
I heard former Vol pitcher Will Heflin discuss this. He said with AJ coming back from Tommy John surgery, he would expect that he would only be used as a starter, not in relief. Based on that, my thoughts are that AJ could be an "opener" for Kuhns Sunday.
Click to expand...
I’m pretty sure Kuhns will start on Sunday. I think we’ll see Russell in a relief role and likely take over a clean inning either on Sat or Sun. That will allow him to know when he’s going to pitch and warm up/prepare accordingly vs coming in during the middle of an inning with runners on base. I think he may even go 3 innings as long as the pitch count stays low.
 
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#16
#16
Ritzwatch said:
Interesting. I obviously don’t know much about TJ recovery.

What is the rationale behind this? Did Heflin say?
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Will mentioned that it wouldn't be good to warm him up and then not pitch immediately due to changing circumstances. He felt like it needed to be a controlled situation which in his opinion meant that he would be used as a starter. I guess we'll see this weekend!
 
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#17
#17
Ritzwatch said:
Interesting. I obviously don’t know much about TJ recovery.

What is the rationale behind this? Did Heflin say?
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Heflin said starting will allow Russell to undergo his normal pregame routine, warm up, etc—knowing a set time when he would pitch. Relief role often requires “getting hot” quickly or even multiple times before going into a game. That stress isn’t ideal for a P rehabbing from injury. CTV has said he will likely use a hybrid where he brings Russell in during a certain inning, so he can warm up/prepare accordingly.
 
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#18
#18

AJ Russell To Make SEC Season Debut In Tennessee Baseball Series Against Kentucky | Rocky Top Insider

Tennessee right-handed pitcher AJ Russell is poised to make his SEC season debut this weekend against Kentucky.
www.rockytopinsider.com www.rockytopinsider.com

Vitello said to expect Russell to throw only one or two innings this weekend against the Wildcats so it’s unlikely to be a splashy SEC debut. But even two innings could go a long way for a Tennessee pitching staff that has been a tad short on reliable arms in SEC play.

“How valuable would three outs have been on Sunday? You know? Or there’s several other games I could bring up too,” Vitello said. “But whether it’s him or (Andrew) Behnke or somebody else, if you can go out there and get us one to three outs, or you get us four outs, that’s a pretty big deal over the course of an SEC weekend, even if it’s in a loss.”

“For now, I think it’s a hybrid,” Vitello said of Russell’s role. “It’ll be (a) relief (outing), but I don’t have any intention of bringing him in right in the middle of an inning to start the whole deal. So probably starting an inning.”
 
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