Drew Beam

[NighthawkVol]

Wow. This kid is really good. I hadn’t even heard of him until just before the season. I hoped he’d be a nice stop-gap until Tidwell returned. But this kid is our 2nd best pitcher right now. And just a freshman. He pitched a 1-hitter in 7 2/3 in his first game against SEC competition. And the 1 hit could’ve been caught.

I don’t think he’s coming out of the weekend rotation, even when/if Tidwell returns 100%. In that scenario, I think Burns remains the Friday starter, and you just replace Dollander with Tidwell on Saturday, then leave Beam in the Sunday spot. That’s a helluva weekend rotation.

The other benefit of that is, you can make Dollander a midweek guy and have him work on improving his slide step to hold runners on against the mid majors so you’re not experimenting with his delivery in SEC games. Maybe he can get it figured out by the postseason.

 

[OldTimer]

Dollander leads the team in K’s with 44, averaging 1.84 K’s per inning. He’s not a mid-week guy, he’s a top draft pick guy who will start on the weekends. Beam had a terrific game for sure, he’s a pitch to contact pitcher and has caught everyone by surprise, a welcomed addition for sure.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Dollander leads the team in K’s with 44, averaging 1.84 K’s per inning. He’s not a mid-week guy, he’s a top draft pick guy who will start on the weekends. Beam had a terrific game for sure, he’s a pitch to contact pitcher and has caught everyone by surprise, a welcomed addition for sure.

Dollander also gives up a stolen base to every man who gets on 1st. That has to be fixed. Ks are great, but when every walk or single is an automatic double (or even triple), that’s a huge problem.

Beam was ruthlessly efficient today. He’s not a mid-week guy either, but there are only 3 weekend starter positions for these 4 guys.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Dollander also gives up a stolen base to every man who gets on 1st. That has to be fixed. Ks are great, but when every walk or single is an automatic double (or even triple), that’s a huge problem.

Beam was ruthlessly efficient today. He’s not a mid-week guy either, but there are only 3 weekend starter positions for these 4 guys.

In CFA we trust…

 

[OldTimer]

In CFA we trust…

Yep

 

[peerless98]

Dollander also gives up a stolen base to every man who gets on 1st. That has to be fixed. Ks are great, but when every walk or single is an automatic double (or even triple), that’s a huge problem.

Beam was ruthlessly efficient today. He’s not a mid-week guy either, but there are only 3 weekend starter positions for these 4 guys.

This is a perfect problem to have when we get to the post season.

 

[mr.checkerboards]

Dollander also gives up a stolen base to every man who gets on 1st. That has to be fixed. Ks are great, but when every walk or single is an automatic double (or even triple), that’s a huge problem.

Beam was ruthlessly efficient today. He’s not a mid-week guy either, but there are only 3 weekend starter positions for these 4 guys.

Maybe even 5 guys if they want to stretch Seth out.

 

[NighthawkVol]

This is a perfect problem to have when we get to the post season.

Yep. Which is also why I think it would be cool if Dollander could work out his delivery issues with runners on base as a midweek guy so he’s got it figured out by post season. Easier to experiment and work on stuff as a midweek guy rather than as a weekend guy.

 

[volfannga]

All 3 starters are doing a bang up job right now. Heck, we were one great catch away from a perfect game this afternoon. Kids are fun to watch. Getting 2 big guys back only makes things tougher - for others. And to think we were pre-season ranked 9th in the SEC.

 

[preacherman20]

I don’t get the hatred of Dollander. Other than one game he has rarely given up a stolen base and when he has he left them on base and they did not score. It is not just Dollander. It is Frank Anderson’s Philosophy. As long as they don’t score, it doesn’t matter.

 

[Zvols]

I don’t think you pull a guy who is near the top of the SEC in strikeouts. I think Beam joins the bullpen and likely gets used in long relief. During SECT & Regionals, it will be helpful to have a 4th starter. Last year, Sewell had to step in and start games after being a bullpen piece all season and we were fortunate that it went well. I’d say during season, you’ll see Beam, Sewell, and Halvorsen in long relief (2-4 innings) with Connell, Mabry, and McGlaughlin being in that 2-3 inning relief, and Walsh/Joyce as closers. Unreal plethora of pitching talent set up for the postseason.

 

[Volsbaseballfan]

Rotation won’t change , I think it stays as is until post season with Tidwell’s pitch count being built up as well as Halverson with Sewell being fresh as well. I think you will see Joyce being raised to about 40 pitches.
there are so many options and they are all good . We can all speculate but This staff knows how to handle this. Say what you want but this team is as good as I have seen in a long long long time.

 

[Volsbaseballfan]

Dolly is an elite Pitcher , Frank Anderson doesn’t believe in paying to much attention to runners. It’s been that way from day 1. Frustration at times yes. But when teams are hitting a buck 50 off your pitchers , it makes sense. Give up a run every now and again but get the batter out and all you have to do is look at the numbers and also if anyone ever questions FA, just look at his resume . He knows what he’s a doing. Has taught me a lot as a fan. I have stated several times over the years that its frustrating , but honestly I am getting more use to it. FA’s philosophy it throw strikes , play defense and keep teams from having big innings. Make teams beat you .

 

[youcancallmeAl]

I don’t think you pull a guy who is near the top of the SEC in strikeouts. I think Beam joins the bullpen and likely gets used in long relief. During SECT & Regionals, it will be helpful to have a 4th starter. Last year, Sewell had to step in and start games after being a bullpen piece all season and we were fortunate that it went well. I’d say during season, you’ll see Beam, Sewell, and Halvorsen in long relief (2-4 innings) with Connell, Mabry, and McGlaughlin being in that 2-3 inning relief, and Walsh/Joyce as closers. Unreal plethora of pitching talent set up for the postseason.

Assuming Tidwell and Halvorsen get completely healthy at some point, we have an embarrassment of riches at starting pitcher, not to mention the bullpen. I think we will need Tidwell to lead the staff if he can come back in time to get back up to speed. He is the only one of the starters or potential starters who has regional and Omaha experience. Don't discount that experience. It will likely be needed to help lead the youngsters as the season wears down the freshmen later on.

 

[Volsbaseballfan]

Chase Dollander - has had one bad inning in his time at UT… couldn’t throw strikes with his fastball and got rattled. Guys we are 19-1 . He’s one heck of a pitcher. This team is loaded in every regard !! There’s depth every where. Leadership, experience and the guys that have earned playing time are getting. Better every game. We just took a solid SEC team to the Wood shed for 27 innings and it never was any doubt who the best team was.

 

[txbo]

I don’t get the hatred of Dollander. Other than one game he has rarely given up a stolen base and when he has he left them on base and they did not score. It is not just Dollander. It is Frank Anderson’s Philosophy. As long as they don’t score, it doesn’t matter.

Not fair. Questioning Dollander as hatred is just not objective as competition gets better and better.

 

[NighthawkVol]

I don’t get the hatred of Dollander. Other than one game he has rarely given up a stolen base and when he has he left them on base and they did not score. It is not just Dollander. It is Frank Anderson’s Philosophy. As long as they don’t score, it doesn’t matter.

I don't think anyone has exhibited hatred. I love Dollander. He's got incredible stuff. We have an abundance of talent in the starting pitching department. Whoever is the odd man out when/if Tidwell returns to 100% is still an amazing pitcher.

As for the runners/base stealers, the Baylor game was bad, but he only allowed 2 hits yesterday, one of which was a home run, and the other was a single. The guy who singled stole 2nd. So it's great that he's not allowing many guys on base, but bad that when he does, they get to 2nd or 3rd. I just don't see this issue with Beam, which is why I think he should get the nod while CD works on getting a little faster to home plate as a midweek guy. As competition gets better, I could see this being a bigger problem, unless it is fixed.

Of course, it's not my call, but blowing hot air is what these boards are for.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Maybe even 5 guys if they want to stretch Seth out.

What role do we see Seth playing? Closer? Midweek? Long relief?

 

[Volsbaseballfan]

I see Seth as long Relief.

 

[AthensVol2007]

Dollander also gives up a stolen base to every man who gets on 1st. That has to be fixed. Ks are great, but when every walk or single is an automatic double (or even triple), that’s a huge problem.

Beam was ruthlessly efficient today. He’s not a mid-week guy either, but there are only 3 weekend starter positions for these 4 guys.

His high K rate also leads to higher pitch counts. Definitely like the K’s and won’t trade them for hits or walks but he’s going to be limited on his innings if he doesn’t get it down. Beam is the most efficient of the 3 right now.

 

[txbo]

Chase Dollander - has had one bad inning in his time at UT… couldn’t throw strikes with his fastball and got rattled. Guys we are 19-1 . He’s one heck of a pitcher. This team is loaded in every regard !! There’s depth every where. Leadership, experience and the guys that have earned playing time are getting. Better every game. We just took a solid SEC team to the Wood shed for 27 innings and it never was any doubt who the best team was.

He also set an NCAA record in stolen bases in one inning.

 

[vol66]

If you must nit pick, pick away.

 

[fryeguy93]

I think the obvious solution is to cancel all midweek games and persuading the SEC opponents to play 4 games instead.

First (Baseball) world problems

 

[mr.checkerboards]

What role do we see Seth playing? Closer? Midweek? Long relief?

When the dust settles I think he ends up as another bride guy. 6-7th inning need a big out kind of spot. He gets the ball to Walsh, Kirby Joyce etc....

 

[BigDave]

I don’t get the hatred of Dollander. Other than one game he has rarely given up a stolen base and when he has he left them on base and they did not score. It is not just Dollander. It is Frank Anderson’s Philosophy. As long as they don’t score, it doesn’t matter.

I do not think that this conversation is "hatred" towards Dollander at all, in fact I beleive that everyone is pointing to the situation of when Blade returns who gets bumped. Discussions on items that need to be worked on are just facts, Dollander does allow quite a few stolen bases and needs to clean that up as we head into a brutal stretch of the SEC. This critique is not personal, I think if you talk to Dollander, and you probably have, and CFA, both will state this observation is correct and that they are working on it as we write/speak.

Personally, I like every pitcher that we have on the roster . . . each and everyone of these kids brings it to every game! And all of them have a chance to be drafted!

GBO