Fall softball

[Nickid1975]

Vines at first may not happen but she has started all fall games at first...her arm from left is questionable.

 

[LVJeff]

I think putting Vines at first will not happen. That is a true waste of speed . May happen but in my opinion will not. Pitching is always the key and the weeklys again dropped the ball.

If I understand correctly it's not a matter of if it will happen, it's already happened. Perhaps you meant putting Vines at first this spring will not happen, and of course that does remain to be seen.

Ralph did not say this, but perhaps putting Vines at first is an acknowledgement that the team has a lot of good outfielders - where do they all play?, or the team needs a better defensive first baseman than any of the other options.

I generally don't make a lot of predictions so I'll wait and see what happens this spring.

 

[sccshortstop]

If I understand correctly it's not a matter of if it will happen, it's already happened. Perhaps you meant putting Vines at first this spring will not happen, and of course that does remain to be seen.

Ralph did not say this, but perhaps putting Vines at first is an acknowledgement that the team has a lot of good outfielders - where do they all play?, or the team needs a better defensive first baseman than any of the other options.

I generally don't make a lot of predictions so I'll wait and see what happens this spring.

Just my opinion Jeff and that is all. Another poster stated she has started all fall games at first which I did not know. Still think the reason is because getting new kids experience in the speed of the SEC games as well as to see what they can do . Who really know why except ralph and Karen who know best.

 

[DeerPark12]

I think putting Vines at first will not happen. That is a true waste of speed . May happen but in my opinion will not. Pitching is always the key and the weeklys again dropped the ball.

Disagree. She has never looked comfortable in the outfield. You have to have her in the lineup, but there are at least four outfielders on the roster better than she is defensively.

 

[LVJeff]

Where did Vines play in high school and travel ball?

 

[armchair]

Are we going to see Taylor Rowland this year--top 60 player who was hurt last year? I thought that we might see her at first base, though I really don't know where's she played in the past other than being listed on the roster as "infield.' Yet another left bat! We will be hell for opposing right-hand pitchers this year, and let's hope we don't see many left-handers.

 

[DeerPark12]

Are we going to see Taylor Rowland this year--top 60 player who was hurt last year? I thought that we might see her at first base, though I really don't know where's she played in the past other than being listed on the roster as "infield.' Yet another left bat! We will be hell for opposing right-hand pitchers this year, and let's hope we don't see many left-handers.

She has played some at first base this fall. Still trying to get her swing back after the knee injury last year.

 

[sccshortstop]

Disagree. She has never looked comfortable in the outfield. You have to have her in the lineup, but there are at least four outfielders on the roster better than she is defensively.

Well I guess that tells you how our outfield was last year as much as anything else. First base last year was at best fair and if Vines is the answer now then she should have been last year as well.. I just give my thoughts and opinion. I have coached HS fast pitch softball for several years and once was state champions and once state runner up.
Still I don't claim to know much about it and this team as folks closer to the program do.

 

[LVJeff]

Here is what is listed in Vines' UT bio:

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB
◾In the So Cal A's 2014 run, Vines hit .500 (16-for-32) and displayed outstanding defense in the outfield with good instincts, range and fundamentals

I found another web entry that said Vines played centerfield and was a three-year club teammate of Megan Geer's. But that may be in error because I thought Geer played centerfield on her club team. I don't find anything that says she played first base.

Regardless, I hope Vines has or develops the instincts for first base if that is where she will play. She reminds me of Rainey Gaffin and I always thought Gaffin was or could have been an outstanding first baseman with her speed, quickness, and instincts. Maybe the coaches see the same in Vines.

 

[LVJeff]

My mild complaints about the lack of fall softball news must have been seen. There are a bunch of twitter entries about last night's game with ETSU:


Vols defeat ETSU, 7-0, to wrap up fall ball! #GBO

B8: RBI single for @megregg5 extends the Tennessee lead to 7-0. #GBO

B8: Towering 2-run HR by Brooke Vines makes it 6-0 Vols. We're playing extra innings to get some more work in. #GBO

Matty Moss looking dominant as ever. She hasn't allowed a base runner in two innings of work. #GBO

Vols leading ETSU, 4-0 through 5 innings here at Lee Stadium. Matty Moss now pitching for UT. #GBO

B5: RBI single for @Megan_Geer14 extends the UT lead to 4-0! #GBO

After 4 innings Tennessee still leads ETSU, 4-0. #GBO

B3: Solo HR to LF by @ScarletMcSwain makes it 3-0 Vols! #GBO

UT freshman pitcher and Maryville native Caylan Arnold looking solid through three innings! #GBO

Vols lead ETSU 2-0 after two innings of play. #GBO

Vols on the board early with an RBI single by Brooke Vines! #GBO

Vols and Buccaneers are underway!

 

[sccshortstop]

My mild complaints about the lack of fall softball news must have been seen. There are a bunch of twitter entries about last night's game with ETSU:


Vols defeat ETSU, 7-0, to wrap up fall ball! #GBO

B8: RBI single for @megregg5 extends the Tennessee lead to 7-0. #GBO

B8: Towering 2-run HR by Brooke Vines makes it 6-0 Vols. We're playing extra innings to get some more work in. #GBO

Matty Moss looking dominant as ever. She hasn't allowed a base runner in two innings of work. #GBO

Vols leading ETSU, 4-0 through 5 innings here at Lee Stadium. Matty Moss now pitching for UT. #GBO

B5: RBI single for @Megan_Geer14 extends the UT lead to 4-0! #GBO

After 4 innings Tennessee still leads ETSU, 4-0. #GBO

B3: Solo HR to LF by @ScarletMcSwain makes it 3-0 Vols! #GBO

UT freshman pitcher and Maryville native Caylan Arnold looking solid through three innings! #GBO

Vols lead ETSU 2-0 after two innings of play. #GBO

Vols on the board early with an RBI single by Brooke Vines! #GBO

Vols and Buccaneers are underway!

Thanks Jeff. I know where ever Vines settles in she will be great. May be a better athlete than Rainey who also was a bonus pitcher. Vines may not have the power that Rainey had but she does have more speed. A towering HR last nite sounds good. I will be surprised if Vines is not an AA before she is finished.

Always good to chew the fat with you!!!

 

[armchair]

It's unusual to put an athlete as good as Vines at first, even if she doesn't have a great arm. First is not a position where speed and quickness is required. In any case, I'm sure the coaches will do what's best for the team.

 

[LVJeff]

It's unusual to put an athlete as good as Vines at first, even if she doesn't have a great arm. First is not a position where speed and quickness is required. In any case, I'm sure the coaches will do what's best for the team.

There is a glut of good players. Think of all the outfielders and who sits and who plays. Geer is arguably the team's best or second best player - she has to play. If Holcombe is as good as Ralph says she is then she needs to play. McClain has so much speed it would be nice if her bat comes around - maybe it will this season. Same with Geathers except her bat is already solid. All 5 of these players counting Vines need to be on the field. Vines is the tallest of the bunch so first base may be a good fit. We'll see.

Another point of view is that if the pitching is poor or mediocre, the team may very well need an athletic first baseman to field as many balls as possible.

This was my POV about last season's team - no doubt last season's fielding was terrible, but the pitching broke down so often it put a lot of pressure on the fielders.

This team will be as good as the pitching is. Moss has to be dominant and one of the remainders - either Brake or Morrison or Arnold have to provide quality minutes in my opinion for the team to equal or better last season's record.

 

[DeerPark12]

My mild complaints about the lack of fall softball news must have been seen. There are a bunch of twitter entries about last night's game with ETSU:

No offense, but your comments had nothing to do with it.

This was a D1 opponent, they played a more traditional lineup and it wasn't up against other sports that are in season, so there was staff available to cover the game.