ThatVolGuy
Debonair Extraordinaire
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2008
- Messages
- 1,376
- Likes
- 2,199
The crazy thing is when they do play small ball I think it doesn’t serve this Kentucky bunch any good. They are capable of getting big hits and when they give 1-3 outs a game away to move some base runners over it is not going to help them against teams with big bats who get a full 27 outs to hit the ball in gaps and over the fence.This isn’t last years Kentucky “small ball” team. They can and have raked the ball.
Highlight versus "signature win" is better.If beating a top 5 team in their park isn’t a season highlight, then season highlights aren’t possible and you should watch nature shows instead. No one is dismissing what UT is. But UT was not favored to win that series by most.
That’s easily the biggest series of the season for Tennessee and there aren’t any bigger for the remainder of the season, outside of maybe Vanderbilt. Maybe.
You are underselling how good we are, is it a WOW series for UK if they win 2 of 3? We are the #4 team in the country. We have a better winning %, one more win and same # of losses.If you're only looking at the rankings, then yes, this outcome was always plausible. But Kentucky is atop the SEC standings, and coming into this series, they were probably the hottest team in the country. This is the only program in the conference that's never been to Omaha, they're having a dream season, they're in first place, and they packed the house in Lexington with record-breaking crowds to play their most hated rival.
To me, it goes beyond your standard #3 versus #4. We just beat a really, really good team in a very difficult environment. Do not undersell this accomplishment.
Uh ... no. Not at all. It's okay to acknowledge the strength of an opponent, especially when their RPI and strength of schedule have outstripped ours so far. Kentucky is an excellent baseball team, is 100% an Omaha contender, and still looks like they're in the driver's seat for the SEC regular season title. That makes it all the more impressive that we came into Lexington and handed them their first SEC series loss of the season. In fact, I'd put it right up there with Alabama's series win over Arkansas as the most impressive of the year, and maybe slightly ahead since the Vols did it on the road.You are underselling how good we are.
Prior to the Tennessee series, KY had hit 51 home runs for the year...TN had 102 home runs I believe prior to the series...KY hit 9 home runs or 17.6% of their total home runs for the year against UT...So, this year's 'small ball' KY team raked Tennessee pitching...This isn’t last years Kentucky “small ball” team. They can and have raked the ball.
KY was #3 in SEC play in HRs behind only TN and A&M (they were only 1 HR behind A&M and 10 behind TN). They have better HR power than most every SEC school.Prior to the Tennessee series, KY had hit 51 home runs for the year...TN had 102 home runs I believe prior to the series...KY hit 9 home runs or 17.6% of their total home runs for the year against UT...So, this year's 'small ball' KY team raked Tennessee pitching...
UK started off slow because they play in a bigger park with colder weather to start the season. Once they hit SEC play with warmer weather they started raking.... not just Vol pitching.Prior to the Tennessee series, KY had hit 51 home runs for the year...TN had 102 home runs I believe prior to the series...KY hit 9 home runs or 17.6% of their total home runs for the year against UT...So, this year's 'small ball' KY team raked Tennessee pitching...
SEC Leaders Summary as of Apr 21, 2024 (SEC games only)KY was #3 in SEC play in HRs behind only TN and A&M (they were only 1 HR behind A&M and 10 behind TN). They have better HR power than most every SEC school.
Team Batting | g | avg | ab | r | h | 2b | 3b | hr | bb | so | sb-att |
Kentucky | 18 | .320 | 612 | 162 | 196 | 38 | 1 | 41 | 80 | 125 | 32-47 |
Tennessee | 18 | .307 | 616 | 158 | 189 | 43 | 1 | 51 | 74 | 164 | 9-14 |
Texas A&M | 18 | .300 | 637 | 155 | 191 | 37 | 2 | 42 | 86 | 166 | 20-26 |
Alabama | 18 | .281 | 615 | 95 | 173 | 30 | 4 | 26 | 48 | 127 | 4-5 |
Georgia | 18 | .278 | 615 | 135 | 171 | 36 | 0 | 38 | 85 | 154 | 9-10 |
Mississippi State | 18 | .273 | 601 | 114 | 164 | 24 | 0 | 20 | 79 | 158 | 16-19 |
Vanderbilt | 18 | .273 | 598 | 102 | 163 | 38 | 4 | 17 | 54 | 155 | 23-26 |
LSU | 18 | .257 | 610 | 94 | 157 | 30 | 1 | 33 | 76 | 174 | 4-7 |
South Carolina | 18 | .252 | 603 | 109 | 152 | 32 | 1 | 24 | 97 | 201 | 16-23 |
Ole Miss | 18 | .248 | 588 | 91 | 146 | 20 | 1 | 23 | 79 | 159 | 13-15 |
Auburn | 18 | .247 | 588 | 84 | 145 | 27 | 0 | 19 | 67 | 173 | 16-20 |
Florida | 18 | .245 | 617 | 99 | 151 | 32 | 1 | 36 | 69 | 191 | 8-11 |
Arkansas | 18 | .238 | 596 | 96 | 142 | 21 | 2 | 27 | 90 | 143 | 11-15 |
Missouri | 18 | .205 | 584 | 66 | 120 | 18 | 5 | 8 | 59 | 215 | 14-22 |
Totals | 126 | .267 | 8480 | 1560 | 2260 | 426 | 23 | 405 | 1043 | 2305 | 195-260 |
The number to keep an eye on for Kentucky is the strikeout number. Maintaining the high average, high pop, while always putting the ball in play is big for them. They will give many team fits if they continue that trend. Looking like those 3 up top are very well rounded ball clubs. Of course Arkansas pitching can keep them in any series.SEC Leaders Summary as of Apr 21, 2024 (SEC games only)
Team Batting g avg ab r h 2b 3b hr bb so sb-att Kentucky 18 .320 612 162 196 38 1 41 80 125 32-47 Tennessee 18 .307 616 158 189 43 1 51 74 164 9-14 Texas A&M 18 .300 637 155 191 37 2 42 86 166 20-26 Alabama 18 .281 615 95 173 30 4 26 48 127 4-5 Georgia 18 .278 615 135 171 36 0 38 85 154 9-10 Mississippi State 18 .273 601 114 164 24 0 20 79 158 16-19 Vanderbilt 18 .273 598 102 163 38 4 17 54 155 23-26 LSU 18 .257 610 94 157 30 1 33 76 174 4-7 South Carolina 18 .252 603 109 152 32 1 24 97 201 16-23 Ole Miss 18 .248 588 91 146 20 1 23 79 159 13-15 Auburn 18 .247 588 84 145 27 0 19 67 173 16-20 Florida 18 .245 617 99 151 32 1 36 69 191 8-11 Arkansas 18 .238 596 96 142 21 2 27 90 143 11-15 Missouri 18 .205 584 66 120 18 5 8 59 215 14-22 Totals 126 .267 8480 1560 2260 426 23 405 1043 2305 195-260
Good stuff!SEC Leaders Summary as of Apr 21, 2024 (SEC games only)
Team Batting g avg ab r h 2b 3b hr bb so sb-att Kentucky 18 .320 612 162 196 38 1 41 80 125 32-47 Tennessee 18 .307 616 158 189 43 1 51 74 164 9-14 Texas A&M 18 .300 637 155 191 37 2 42 86 166 20-26 Alabama 18 .281 615 95 173 30 4 26 48 127 4-5 Georgia 18 .278 615 135 171 36 0 38 85 154 9-10 Mississippi State 18 .273 601 114 164 24 0 20 79 158 16-19 Vanderbilt 18 .273 598 102 163 38 4 17 54 155 23-26 LSU 18 .257 610 94 157 30 1 33 76 174 4-7 South Carolina 18 .252 603 109 152 32 1 24 97 201 16-23 Ole Miss 18 .248 588 91 146 20 1 23 79 159 13-15 Auburn 18 .247 588 84 145 27 0 19 67 173 16-20 Florida 18 .245 617 99 151 32 1 36 69 191 8-11 Arkansas 18 .238 596 96 142 21 2 27 90 143 11-15 Missouri 18 .205 584 66 120 18 5 8 59 215 14-22 Totals 126 .267 8480 1560 2260 426 23 405 1043 2305 195-260
Exactly! Spot-on, sir.The number to keep an eye on for Kentucky is the strikeout number. Maintaining the high average, high pop, while always putting the ball in play is big for them. They will give many team fits if they continue that trend. Looking like those 3 up top are very well rounded ball clubs. Of course Arkansas pitching can keep them in any series.
Two absolute outstanding teams. Winning 2-3 on the road is huge to validatwhat we think we are. If UK had won, it was more validation they are very good.You are underselling how good we are, is it a WOW series for UK if they win 2 of 3? We are the #4 team in the country. We have a better winning %, one more win and same # of losses.
Before this past weekend, UK had 19 opponents with a combined record that is 408-335. Time will tell if they can last in a much harder part of their schedule, they didnt start off so good 1-2. They also have Vandy and Arkansas coming up and a decent USC.
I have more windburn than sunburn to attest to the weekend!2 Answers to questions
1. I think Russell will be back in mid-May and will be used sparingly because Frank and Tony are very cautious with players coming back from injuries. I think he will come out of bullpen to start with and maybe have short starts. I think he helps us but maybe not as much as some think unless we make that long run which we should. He could be the force that Chase was last year out of the pen.
2. The homeruns yesterday were strongly wind aided on both sides. Kirby said that balls that would normally be fly balls were jumping out of that park when they got up in the wind. He feared every fly ball was going out when it got up in the wind. He gave up more home runs yesterday than all high school school and travel ball for 4 years.
Actually, it is a special win when you win a matchup like this. Your definition would ONLY apply to a substantial upset over a much higher ranked opponent, which is a very limited definition IMO. What this does show is that we have overcome some of the shortcomings of the Tony Vitello era and have the horses to compete against the competition that will be in the CWS. That is a WOW game and a statement game.Not to throw shade, but making that series out to be WOW because they are the #3 team in America seems to dismiss that we are the #4 team in America. If we were unranked or like 20th, then I think your statement would be more valid, but two top 5 teams were playing. We should be able to beat them, they should be able to beat us. We had a little more hitting and a little better pitching and won the series.
Well saidIf this game were last year, Kirby would have come in in the 5th, gotten the huge DP and that would have been that. A new pitcher would have come on for the 6th and we would all be talking about how great his outing was. Yesterday though, we were clearly out of arms, which forced Kirby to go well beyond what I think he should have been asked to do. Then you had the freaking wind and a Kentucky team that can clearly hit the ball hard. So yes, he gave up 4 HR's, but that's just the type of game it was yesterday. It was a don't worry about the stats; just win type game. And that's what we did. If nothing else, Kirby ate up innings and kept the numbers from being too curvy in a game where real curvy numbers were much easier to come by than usual.
Lindsey Nelson | Kentucky Proud | ||
Left Field: |
| 335 ft | |
Left-Center Field: |
| 375 ft | |
Center Field: |
| 400 ft | |
Right-Center Field: |
| 365 ft | |
Right Field: | 320 ft | 320 ft |
Field size |
---|
In conference is a different story, I see others have already provided the stats.Prior to the Tennessee series, KY had hit 51 home runs for the year...TN had 102 home runs I believe prior to the series...KY hit 9 home runs or 17.6% of their total home runs for the year against UT...So, this year's 'small ball' KY team raked Tennessee pitching...