Are we really any better at this point?

[volforlife50]

I agree with your assessment. If you look at player development with the position players, the results have been mediocre to poor. The pitching has been good enough to stay competitive but this team plays with very little confidence.

No question a staff shakeup is needed, but with CDS only having one year left on his deal I wonder who he could hire that could make a big impact. When you hire a head coach who is a pitching guy, the head assistant who is in charge of the position players is going to have a huge impact on the program. Its unfortunate things have turned out the way they have because CDS is a standup guy who, with the right staff, could have this program in much better shape.[/QUOTE}

Will CDS let Bergy go based on their past relationship on the field and current friendship.

The answer is no. They have been friends to long. The manly thing would be for Bergy to resign and take the pressure off his friend. This wont happen because Bergy views our problems as the players fault, not his.

CDS needs to make an adjustment.

 

[SouthKnoxVOL]

I have seen this story before with the current defensive coordinator at Auburn.

The old "it's not him. It's his assistants." ploy.

yeah, no.

Horrible example.

 

[99gator]

Horrible example.

I don't think so.

Based on this thread, this Coach Bergy fella is responsible for hitting, fielding, and baserunning.

Coach Dill is the pitching coach.

Coach Serrano apparently is responsible for the selection of cheese used for stadium nachos and sharpening the blades of the lawn equipment used by the groundskeepers.....who are also the responsibility of Coach Bergy.

Since the assistants are responsible for everything, it would seem to me that getting rid of Serrano wouldn't really be that big of a deal. Just find someone who can make the nacho cheese selection for $400,000.00 a year and you're set.

Placing the blame on the assistants is bush league. The team has problems in every aspect of the game. Hitting, fielding, pitching, baserunning. Serrano's the man in charge. The only place to point the finger is at him.

Now, if you were to say that this mess is his responsibility, but he should be given more time....that's a different argument. But, again, passing the buck to the assistants.....no.

JMO

 

[vol66]

I don't think so.

Based on this thread, this Coach Bergy fella is responsible for hitting, fielding, and baserunning.

Coach Dill is the pitching coach.

Coach Serrano apparently is responsible for the selection of cheese used for stadium nachos and sharpening the blades of the lawn equipment used by the groundskeepers.....who are also the responsibility of Coach Bergy.

Since the assistants are responsible for everything, it would seem to me that getting rid of Serrano wouldn't really be that big of a deal. Just find someone who can make the nacho cheese selection for $400,000.00 a year and you're set.

Placing the blame on the assistants is bush league. The team has problems in every aspect of the game. Hitting, fielding, pitching, baserunning. Serrano's the man in charge. The only place to point the finger is at him.

Now, if you were to say that this mess is his responsibility, but he should be given more time....that's a different argument. But, again, passing the buck to the assistants.....no.

JMO

I think you are being a bit simplistic. Serrano has said that he doesn't coach the offense. Now what that means exactly I don't know. Does he teach the hitting, is he calling the steals, the hit and runs, the squeeze plays...of course ultimately he is responsible. He may have delegated some of his pitching stuff to Dill, but CDS calls every pitch and he decides when to bring the hook. Am I saying he has no say in what's going on offensively, of course not. I think they had to back way off "the pressure ball" for a plethora of reasons and I'm sure he had a say in it, I mean all one has to do is look at the steal attempts compared to previous seasons.

I think it's interesting that nobody discusses some of the things that have happened that may be reasons for the slide and whether those things are things that could/should be overcome...realistically.

 

[volforlife50]

I don't think so.

Based on this thread, this Coach Bergy fella is responsible for hitting, fielding, and baserunning.

Coach Dill is the pitching coach.

Coach Serrano apparently is responsible for the selection of cheese used for stadium nachos and sharpening the blades of the lawn equipment used by the groundskeepers.....who are also the responsibility of Coach Bergy.

Since the assistants are responsible for everything, it would seem to me that getting rid of Serrano wouldn't really be that big of a deal. Just find someone who can make the nacho cheese selection for $400,000.00 a year and you're set.

Placing the blame on the assistants is bush league. The team has problems in every aspect of the game. Hitting, fielding, pitching, baserunning. Serrano's the man in charge. The only place to point the finger is at him.

Now, if you were to say that this mess is his responsibility, but he should be given more time....that's a different argument. But, again, passing the buck to the assistants.....no.

JMO

Coach Bergy is responsible for the offense and infield defense. That is the two problems that stand out the most to me.

Yea , I agree the buck stops with the head coach. College assistants on most teams, in all sports, are responsible for different aspects of the game. They have a baseball operations person, recruiting coordinater, hitting coach, pitching coach, infield coach, outfield coach and in UT's case an offense coach.
Most assistants double up on some of those jobs.

Head coaches in all sports fire assistants on a yearly basis. Since CDS has hired a pitching coach I would have no clue as to his responsibility now. My guess is he oversees the team and lets his assistants do their jobs. From the looks of CDS and Bergy they are picking and eating the nachos and cheese I think your term of bush league is a little strong, as the each assistant is responsible for their aspect of the game. But,CDS is responsible for his assistants.

 

[volforlife50]

I think you are being a bit simplistic. Serrano has said that he doesn't coach the offense. Now what that means exactly I don't know. Does he teach the hitting, is he calling the steals, the hit and runs, the squeeze plays...of course ultimately he is responsible. He may have delegated some of his pitching stuff to Dill, but CDS calls every pitch and he decides when to bring the hook. Am I saying he has no say in what's going on offensively, of course not. I think they had to back way off "the pressure ball" for a plethora of reasons and I'm sure he had a say in it, I mean all one has to do is look at the steal attempts compared to previous seasons.

I think it's interesting that nobody discusses some of the things that have happened that may be reasons for the slide and whether those things are things that could/should be overcome...realistically.

Good point. They seem to find a way not to win. It appears to me that they play tight, with fear of making a mistake. Baseball is hard enough to play without pressure being applied to the players. These players perform well in the summer where there is no pressure from coaches.

Lack of enough quality players to provide depth has been telling. It was a struggle, then Jackson goes down, well its bad.

How to overcome.IMO Start with replacing Bergy, as he is not liked by the players and that kind of news travels on the baseball circuit. Next develope the players you get. Just being in the SEC is enough to recruit quality players.

 

[vol66]

Good point. They seem to find a way not to win. It appears to me that they play tight, with fear of making a mistake. Baseball is hard enough to play without pressure being applied to the players. These players perform well in the summer where there is no pressure from coaches.

Lack of enough quality players to provide depth has been telling. It was a struggle, then Jackson goes down, well its bad.

How to overcome.IMO Start with replacing Bergy, as he is not liked by the players and that kind of news travels on the baseball circuit. Next develope the players you get. Just being in the SEC is enough to recruit quality players.

The bit about the players not liking Bergeron, what's that all about? That's a serious charge imo.

As for the other, I'm talking about specific things and yes losing your lead off hitter and at least second if not first at steals is big. Once he landed in the one spot we went 8-8, 4-8 since his injury. Maddox and Smart combined for 32/43 Steals/Attempts last season, this WHOLE TEAM is 37/60. That's a dramatic change and it has no doubt changed what we can realistically do in terms of the offense they like to employ.

Losing Tyler Schultz, the best hitter of the roster-ed catchers before the season and forcing Santiago into the mix. CDS said we couldn't expect much production offensively and playing freshman usually means mistakes. Houser has actually improved in the hitting department this season.

But I go back to the end of last season. Everyone on here at the time was pretty fired up in no small part because we only had to replace Nick Williams from the weekend rotation. Andy Cox was going to be a starter and Hunter Martin was going to be a starter. By the end of summer it looked like things were in really good shape. Bret Marks certainly looked the part, Andrew Lee looked as good as he ever had and KS, though he broke his ankle, had some promising outings in Alaska.

Then in the fall as I watched the practice lists every week, Martin and Cox weren't throwing...the same goes for the practices leading up to the season those two weren't throwing starter type innings. Marks was, Serrano was, Owenby was, maybe a couple of others.

What it boils down to is replacing the entire weekend rotation...so my question is when you look at the roster is that reasonable, that you lose two of your best pitchers and it's something that SHOULD be overcome. Some other teams, maybe it is, but what about this one? Cox didn't start a game until half the season was over. Neither Cox or Martin look as good as last year imo.

I mean Owenby goes from a reliever role or a closer role, he had 2 starts to his name through his first two years to a Sunday guy. Hmmm. Honestly, he's done better than I thought he would.

I've talked about the games cancelled and how that limits development of the young pitchers/players. Realistically, when do you throw Quint Robinson or Soto, for example, into the mix now? As a coach you have to trust them, but what is the trust based on, they haven't been under the lights in the midweek...because of the hole, they became must win.

The whole season just seems like a snowball, a little thing here, a little thing there and the snowball just keeps getting bigger and bigger as we roll down the schedule.

 

[volforlife50]

The bit about the players not liking Bergeron, what's that all about? That's a serious charge imo.

As for the other, I'm talking about specific things and yes losing your lead off hitter and at least second if not first at steals is big. Once he landed in the one spot we went 8-8, 4-8 since his injury. Maddox and Smart combined for 32/43 Steals/Attempts last season, this WHOLE TEAM is 37/60. That's a dramatic change and it has no doubt changed what we can realistically do in terms of the offense they like to employ.

Losing Tyler Schultz, the best hitter of the roster-ed catchers before the season and forcing Santiago into the mix. CDS said we couldn't expect much production offensively and playing freshman usually means mistakes. Houser has actually improved in the hitting department this season.

But I go back to the end of last season. Everyone on here at the time was pretty fired up in no small part because we only had to replace Nick Williams from the weekend rotation. Andy Cox was going to be a starter and Hunter Martin was going to be a starter. By the end of summer it looked like things were in really good shape. Bret Marks certainly looked the part, Andrew Lee looked as good as he ever had and KS, though he broke his ankle, had some promising outings in Alaska.

Then in the fall as I watched the practice lists every week, Martin and Cox weren't throwing...the same goes for the practices leading up to the season those two weren't throwing starter type innings. Marks was, Serrano was, Owenby was, maybe a couple of others.

What it boils down to is replacing the entire weekend rotation...so my question is when you look at the roster is that reasonable, that you lose two of your best pitchers and it's something that SHOULD be overcome. Some other teams, maybe it is, but what about this one? Cox didn't start a game until half the season was over. Neither Cox or Martin look as good as last year imo.

I mean Owenby goes from a reliever role or a closer role, he had 2 starts to his name through his first two years to a Sunday guy. Hmmm. Honestly, he's done better than I thought he would.

I've talked about the games cancelled and how that limits development of the young pitchers/players. Realistically, when do you throw Quint Robinson or Soto, for example, into the mix now? As a coach you have to trust them, but what is the trust based on, they haven't been under the lights in the midweek...because of the hole, they became must win.

The whole season just seems like a snowball, a little thing here, a little thing there and the snowball just keeps getting bigger and bigger as we roll down the schedule.

Its all the same thing, quality depth. Your given the northern team arguement about losing games/practice. Most everyone has dealt with lost games/practice to some degree. Its been a crazy weather year.

I think CDS has wasted Andrew Lee on the mound. Why do you need a closer if you cant get to a close situation?

I think it is more of an avalanche than a snow ball.

The Bergy thing is not a serious charge. Its not the first time a coach has not been liked. Dont be so dramatic. Go to a few away games, make a few friends with parents, drink a few beers, then open your ears and be a good listener. Its no secret.

 

[vol66]

Its all the same thing, quality depth. Your given the northern team arguement about losing games/practice. Most everyone has dealt with lost games/practice to some degree. Its been a crazy weather year.

I think CDS has wasted Andrew Lee on the mound. Why do you need a closer if you cant get to a close situation?

I think it is more of an avalanche than a snow ball.

The Bergy thing is not a serious charge. Its not the first time a coach has not been liked. Dont be so dramatic. Go to a few away games, make a few friends with parents, drink a few beers, then open your ears and be a good listener. Its no secret.

People keep saying that, Missouri lost a grand total of three games.

I agree regarding Lee, though I've wondered if he has enough different stuff to get through a line up more than once.


Lol, not being dramatic, but in my experience here when people make an accusation they try to back it up with something...if you say that's occurred I'll take your word for it.

You didn't answer any of the questions, which was the point of my post.

 

[volforlife50]

People keep saying that, Missouri lost a grand total of three games.

I agree regarding Lee, though I've wondered if he has enough different stuff to get through a line up more than once.


Lol, not being dramatic, but in my experience here when people make an accusation they try to back it up with something...if you say that's occurred I'll take your word for it.

You didn't answer any of the questions, which was the point of my post.

I think your assessment was spot on. It would be hard to make a argument against it. The part about losing all 3 weekend starters, not sure anyone can recover quickly from that. I guess we will never know how good Lee really is.


I usually back up everything I say but I see no need to drag a parents name into it. As for answering questions 66, are we really any better?

 

[vol66]

I think your assessment was spot on. It would be hard to make a argument against it. The part about losing all 3 weekend starters, not sure anyone can recover quickly from that. I guess we will never know how good Lee really is.


I usually back up everything I say but I see no need to drag a parents name into it. As for answering questions 66, are we really any better?

No, we aren't better. From a wins/loss perspective we're worse. But, anyone can look at the record and see that.

The question is why aren't we better. What are the reasons we struggle? Were the problems we had last year the same problems we're having this year? Even with the health problems of Cox and Martin is the pitching better now than it was when CDS started.

These are a lot of factors but some simply want to say the Coach sucks, or the players suck, little league teams play better ball etc...

Last year the number one problem was our pitchers giving up free passes. There may have been other issues, but when you give up 260 BB/HBP, it's a recipe for disaster. That number is 146 right now. If you look at the BB/SO ratio, all of the returners have improved there except for Martin and his injury/soreness probably has something to do with that. Defense wasn't much of a problem last year, for the first 2/3 of the season we were right there with the best of all time UT teams falling off at the end to finish at .971. So, what's the issue this year?

 

[knoxville's finest]

No, we aren't better. From a wins/loss perspective we're worse. But, anyone can look at the record and see that.

The question is why aren't we better. What are the reasons we struggle? Were the problems we had last year the same problems we're having this year? Even with the health problems of Cox and Martin is the pitching better now than it was when CDS started.

These are a lot of factors but some simply want to say the Coach sucks, or the players suck, little league teams play better ball etc...

Last year the number one problem was our pitchers giving up free passes. There may have been other issues, but when you give up 260 BB/HBP, it's a recipe for disaster. That number is 146 right now. If you look at the BB/SO ratio, all of the returners have improved there except for Martin and his injury/soreness probably has something to do with that. Defense wasn't much of a problem last year, for the first 2/3 of the season we were right there with the best of all time UT teams falling off at the end to finish at .971. So, what's the issue this year?

No leadership. Plus half the lineup can't hit.

 

[volforlife50]

No, we aren't better. From a wins/loss perspective we're worse. But, anyone can look at the record and see that.

The question is why aren't we better. What are the reasons we struggle? Were the problems we had last year the same problems we're having this year? Even with the health problems of Cox and Martin is the pitching better now than it was when CDS started.

These are a lot of factors but some simply want to say the Coach sucks, or the players suck, little league teams play better ball etc...

Last year the number one problem was our pitchers giving up free passes. There may have been other issues, but when you give up 260 BB/HBP, it's a recipe for disaster. That number is 146 right now. If you look at the BB/SO ratio, all of the returners have improved there except for Martin and his injury/soreness probably has something to do with that. Defense wasn't much of a problem last year, for the first 2/3 of the season we were right there with the best of all time UT teams falling off at the end to finish at .971. So, what's the issue this year?

The one thing a coach cannot prepare for is injuries. If you lose a couple of key players, especially pitching, its gona hurt. But you gota go with what you have.
Maybe the reason we struggle is our position players(1) have reached their ceiling (2) play timid or(3) just cant handle the mental side of the game. We make mistakes at the worst posible time.

IMO the pitching has shown flashes of being really good. Marks and Ownbey have been really good at times. It seems CDS has a tough time seeing when they hit the wall or maybe he has no confidence in his bullpen.
We have also had some pitchers not live up to their hype.
The defense is hard to figure out. How can we be that good then suddenly lose it? One answer is alot of our errors occur when we try do do to much. Example, our ss over throws the ball on a double play simply because he tried to put a little extra zip on the ball. Third base has really been a problem this year, some mental some physical. Something no one has mentioned, why cant we get a bunt down? We have to bunt because we simply cant hit.

I go back to summer ball. 66 you follow each player all summer, do you think the pressure being applied to the players during school ball affects their play. Summer is loose, no pressure, therefore the results are better. CDS even said earlier he thought he had put to much pressure on them.
To answer your question, the problem is the team as a whole.
CDS should stay, we will not get anyone better. As I said , he needs to make some adjustments.

 

[vol66]

The one thing a coach cannot prepare for is injuries. If you lose a couple of key players, especially pitching, its gona hurt. But you gota go with what you have.
Maybe the reason we struggle is our position players(1) have reached their ceiling (2) play timid or(3) just cant handle the mental side of the game. We make mistakes at the worst posible time.

IMO the pitching has shown flashes of being really good. Marks and Ownbey have been really good at times. It seems CDS has a tough time seeing when they hit the wall or maybe he has no confidence in his bullpen.
We have also had some pitchers not live up to their hype.
The defense is hard to figure out. How can we be that good then suddenly lose it? One answer is alot of our errors occur when we try do do to much. Example, our ss over throws the ball on a double play simply because he tried to put a little extra zip on the ball. Third base has really been a problem this year, some mental some physical. Something no one has mentioned, why cant we get a bunt down? We have to bunt because we simply cant hit.

I go back to summer ball. 66 you follow each player all summer, do you think the pressure being applied to the players during school ball affects their play. Summer is loose, no pressure, therefore the results are better. CDS even said earlier he thought he had put to much pressure on them.
To answer your question, the problem is the team as a whole.
CDS should stay, we will not get anyone better. As I said , he needs to make some adjustments.

And now Owenby is being evaluated...he didn't get yanked early this weekend due to performance, he was sore going into the game and CDS didn't want to make it worse. He "might" be available this weekend.

I agree with you, the beginning of the year the pitching was good, good enough to win more games than we did. The unearned runs caused by errors, not just in the field but off the mound hurt us early. Of late the starters haven't been able to go deep enough, the fielding has been a little better but the offense has gone in the tank.

As for the defense...some won't like it, but here goes...you really only have AJ and Houser returning to the infield...Rodgers and Senzel didn't get to play very much at their positions last year. Senzel mostly DH'd and Rodgers got some midweek stuff. Then Senzel cut his summer short and while he was there he played a little bit of everything, he wasn't the official second baseman. Rodgers improved in the field, still wasn't hitting great. Now you hope when they return they make great strides in the off season, but...

I never saw Moberg playing 3B though I did think he might get a chance at 2B...Langhorne is really a short stop, at least I think he was and none of that really matters because none of them can hit very well. Pruett has taken it and run with it, no errors yet and he's hitting SEC pitching...but it took a long time to get there.

Lee hasn't played 1B since his freshman season, but he looks fine there...again it took a while to get there though. Hopefully Maggio finds his way and his season was cut short last year too.

Are any of the above better fielders than Maddox or Smart? That's the problem, they aren't freshman but they have the experience of a freshmen in the field.

I don't know about the pressure, maybe...the real take away from summer ball, at least what I thought at the time, was simply...where are the runs going to come from? Who is going to replace the RBI of Maddox and Smart and Price...the stolen bases, who will do what Maddox does for the team or maybe the pitching will be so good...that's kind of where I was...as a team it wasn't a great summer. The heart and soul of this team are juniors and if they can't handle pressure or rising expectations then I guess you have to question their make up individually and then collectively. This is SEC baseball, not the Alaska Collegiate League.

 

[volforlife50]

And now Owenby is being evaluated...he didn't get yanked early this weekend due to performance, he was sore going into the game and CDS didn't want to make it worse. He "might" be available this weekend.

I agree with you, the beginning of the year the pitching was good, good enough to win more games than we did. The unearned runs caused by errors, not just in the field but off the mound hurt us early. Of late the starters haven't been able to go deep enough, the fielding has been a little better but the offense has gone in the tank.

As for the defense...some won't like it, but here goes...you really only have AJ and Houser returning to the infield...Rodgers and Senzel didn't get to play very much at their positions last year. Senzel mostly DH'd and Rodgers got some midweek stuff. Then Senzel cut his summer short and while he was there he played a little bit of everything, he wasn't the official second baseman. Rodgers improved in the field, still wasn't hitting great. Now you hope when they return they make great strides in the off season, but...

I never saw Moberg playing 3B though I did think he might get a chance at 2B...Langhorne is really a short stop, at least I think he was and none of that really matters because none of them can hit very well. Pruett has taken it and run with it, no errors yet and he's hitting SEC pitching...but it took a long time to get there.

Lee hasn't played 1B since his freshman season, but he looks fine there...again it took a while to get there though. Hopefully Maggio finds his way and his season was cut short last year too.

Are any of the above better fielders than Maddox or Smart? That's the problem, they aren't freshman but they have the experience of a freshmen in the field.

I don't know about the pressure, maybe...the real take away from summer ball, at least what I thought at the time, was simply...where are the runs going to come from? Who is going to replace the RBI of Maddox and Smart and Price...the stolen bases, who will do what Maddox does for the team or maybe the pitching will be so good...that's kind of where I was...as a team it wasn't a great summer. The heart and soul of this team are juniors and if they can't handle pressure or rising expectations then I guess you have to question their make up individually and then collectively. This is SEC baseball, not the Alaska Collegiate League.

Maybe we can get on a 10 game win streak and all will be well. I hope Owenby gets good news. He throws alota breaking balls. We all are frustrated.

 

[vol66]

Maybe we can get on a 10 game win streak and all will be well. I hope Owenby gets good news. He throws alota breaking balls. We all are frustrated.

I felt a lot better about our chances before SC took 2 of 3 from Vandy...they are 3-9 in away games, so there's that. 12 away games, must be nice. Yeah, hope it's nothing serious for Owenby.

 

[Revo1]

Avid reader of the baseball forum here and big fan of UT baseball. Never expected to be where we are at today. I don't know if this topic has been discussed but wanted to throw something out and get a few comments. This is meant as no disrespect to Pruett at all. I wonder if the staff has ever considered Senzel at 3rd? I am a Senzel fan and not saying anything here about taking him out of the line-up or DH. To me, he has seemed a little uneasy with footwork and getting in to correct throwing positions on DP's. If you were to project him to next level do you see middle infield? I can think of a number of situations were we get the lead out at 2nd, on fairly easy DP balls, but the turns are sloppy. Plays that didn't go down as errors but they sure did hurt us.

Do we have someone else defensively that might be better in the middle infield than Senzel? With our below average hitting this year I would think strength defensively up the middle is critical. I really don't know...maybe it's Pruett...I don't know the bench well enough? When I see Senzel he looks like a 3rd baseman to me and he appears to have the kind of instincts you need to play there. So I am totally off base? I know this point isn't something that would have cured all the ills of this team. But it is something that struck me fairly early when the Simcox/Senzel was rolled out to the MI.

 

[vol66]

Avid reader of the baseball forum here and big fan of UT baseball. Never expected to be where we are at today. I don't know if this topic has been discussed but wanted to throw something out and get a few comments. This is meant as no disrespect to Pruett at all. I wonder if the staff has ever considered Senzel at 3rd? I am a Senzel fan and not saying anything here about taking him out of the line-up or DH. To me, he has seemed a little uneasy with footwork and getting in to correct throwing positions on DP's. If you were to project him to next level do you see middle infield? I can think of a number of situations were we get the lead out at 2nd, on fairly easy DP balls, but the turns are sloppy. Plays that didn't go down as errors but they sure did hurt us.

Do we have someone else defensively that might be better in the middle infield than Senzel? With our below average hitting this year I would think strength defensively up the middle is critical. I really don't know...maybe it's Pruett...I don't know the bench well enough? When I see Senzel he looks like a 3rd baseman to me and he appears to have the kind of instincts you need to play there. So I am totally off base? I know this point isn't something that would have cured all the ills of this team. But it is something that struck me fairly early when the Simcox/Senzel was rolled out to the MI.

This is not really to your point, but CDS was asked today if it was time for a youth movement. Serrano said that he'd thought about it, but to do it now would be saying we're playing for next year...he's not ready to say that and until we're mathematically out of it, and unless Pruett stops hitting, I think it's all likely to remain the same with him at 3B and Rodgers coming in versus lefty relievers.

As I said previously, Senzel played some 3B and some 1B out in Alaska, It's hard for me to really evaluate it because, for one, I'm not a person with a lot of knowledge about the details of those positions and two whether it was home sickness or burn out, he wasn't playing like he wanted to be there, he didn't seem himself...except for the week that CDS was there, he left shortly after that.

At the time I wondered two things. Did CDS tell the coach out there to evaluate him at different positions or was the coach trying to find a place for him to fit because he certainly had some good infielders not named Senzel and Rodgers. I'll never know.

The most interesting experiment of the whole summer was AJ playing 3B in the Cape. He had no problem making the throws and I would tell anyone who would listen that he was better at 3B than any of the guys they tried, but they didn't have anyone better at short than AJ.

Prior to Pruett at 3B, when it was a revolving door, I kind of hoped we'd move AJ there and give Langhorne a shot in the midweek at SS...but because of the hole we dug, all of that stuff took a back seat to actually having to win those games.

I guess I didn't answer your question...and I guess I'll ask one of you...do you think Senzel is quick enough to be at 3B?

 

[Freak]

Avid reader of the baseball forum here and big fan of UT baseball. Never expected to be where we are at today. I don't know if this topic has been discussed but wanted to throw something out and get a few comments. This is meant as no disrespect to Pruett at all. I wonder if the staff has ever considered Senzel at 3rd? I am a Senzel fan and not saying anything here about taking him out of the line-up or DH. To me, he has seemed a little uneasy with footwork and getting in to correct throwing positions on DP's. If you were to project him to next level do you see middle infield? I can think of a number of situations were we get the lead out at 2nd, on fairly easy DP balls, but the turns are sloppy. Plays that didn't go down as errors but they sure did hurt us.

Do we have someone else defensively that might be better in the middle infield than Senzel? With our below average hitting this year I would think strength defensively up the middle is critical. I really don't know...maybe it's Pruett...I don't know the bench well enough? When I see Senzel he looks like a 3rd baseman to me and he appears to have the kind of instincts you need to play there. So I am totally off base? I know this point isn't something that would have cured all the ills of this team. But it is something that struck me fairly early when the Simcox/Senzel was rolled out to the MI.

Wow, I was about to welcome you to the board but realized it was your first post after registering in 2011! Post more often.

 

[rookievol]

I respect the evaluation in the posts by vol66 & Revo1 but not sure why we are evaluating individual players. Moving Senzel or Simcox around isn't going to solve our problems. The team is made up of more than just our middle infield. Shoot the Kentucky middle infield (Shelby & Heady) has 28 errors on the season & they just swept us. It just hasn't been the year we all had hoped for. We are all frustrated fans & I'm sure the players are also frustrated. Hopefully we can grow from it & make some strides finishing strong this season & going forward.

 

[31VFL]

And now Owenby is being evaluated...he didn't get yanked early this weekend due to performance, he was sore going into the game and CDS didn't want to make it worse. He "might" be available this weekend.

I agree with you, the beginning of the year the pitching was good, good enough to win more games than we did. The unearned runs caused by errors, not just in the field but off the mound hurt us early. Of late the starters haven't been able to go deep enough, the fielding has been a little better but the offense has gone in the tank.

As for the defense...some won't like it, but here goes...you really only have AJ and Houser returning to the infield...Rodgers and Senzel didn't get to play very much at their positions last year. Senzel mostly DH'd and Rodgers got some midweek stuff. Then Senzel cut his summer short and while he was there he played a little bit of everything, he wasn't the official second baseman. Rodgers improved in the field, still wasn't hitting great. Now you hope when they return they make great strides in the off season, but...

I never saw Moberg playing 3B though I did think he might get a chance at 2B...Langhorne is really a short stop, at least I think he was and none of that really matters because none of them can hit very well. Pruett has taken it and run with it, no errors yet and he's hitting SEC pitching...but it took a long time to get there.

Lee hasn't played 1B since his freshman season, but he looks fine there...again it took a while to get there though. Hopefully Maggio finds his way and his season was cut short last year too.

Are any of the above better fielders than Maddox or Smart? That's the problem, they aren't freshman but they have the experience of a freshmen in the field.

I don't know about the pressure, maybe...the real take away from summer ball, at least what I thought at the time, was simply...where are the runs going to come from? Who is going to replace the RBI of Maddox and Smart and Price...the stolen bases, who will do what Maddox does for the team or maybe the pitching will be so good...that's kind of where I was...as a team it wasn't a great summer. The heart and soul of this team are juniors and if they can't handle pressure or rising expectations then I guess you have to question their make up individually and then collectively. This is SEC baseball, not the Alaska Collegiate League.

I know Serrano encouraged Lance to work at 3rd base this past summer. Did we ever give him a shot there this year?

 

[vol66]

I respect the evaluation in the posts by vol66 & Revo1 but not sure why we are evaluating individual players. Moving Senzel or Simcox around isn't going to solve our problems. The team is made up of more than just our middle infield. Shoot the Kentucky middle infield (Shelby & Heady) has 28 errors on the season & they just swept us. It just hasn't been the year we all had hoped for. We are all frustrated fans & I'm sure the players are also frustrated. Hopefully we can grow from it & make some strides finishing strong this season & going forward.

You are of course correct, moving some guys around at this stage isn't going to fix all that ails this team. Still its an actual baseball question and while in the posts you reference we're talking about a handful of guys, overall the discussion forum wide has covered many issues.

I'd also add the civility being shown in what has been a difficult season is something I really appreciate as someone who spends far too much time here.

 

[vol66]

I know Serrano encouraged Lance to work at 3rd base this past summer. Did we ever give him a shot there this year?

Not that I know of and you are right he did play some 3B up in Cincinnati last summer. I know he has a relationship with the Steam but I hope he gets placed in a tougher league next summer...well if he plays next summer.

 

[volforlife50]

Not that I know of and you are right he did play some 3B up in Cincinnati last summer. I know he has a relationship with the Steam but I hope he gets placed in a tougher league next summer...well if he plays next summer.

Pruiett is by far our best option a third. The kid has made all the plays and makes solid contact at the plate. But, I dont see him ever hitting for power. Lance needs to hit better to play everyday. We need a more prototypical third baseman, size with power. Do we have one in the next recruiting class?

 

[vol66]

Pruiett is by far our best option a third. The kid has made all the plays and makes solid contact at the plate. But, I dont see him ever hitting for power. Lance needs to hit better to play everyday. We need a more prototypical third baseman, size with power. Do we have one in the next recruiting class?

https://mlbdraftcountdown.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/2015-position-rankings-3b/

Hayes/Cabbage...Cabbage is currently SS for Grainger...had 10+ MLB scouts at a recent game...

Hayes is 6'1 207...Cabbage is 6'3 209