The Good News:
The Volunteers made baby steps in the progress department last year, pulling a winning record, reaching the 30 win mark and increasing their RPI from 2009s No. 58 to last years No. 45. They also owned wins over NCAA teams Oregon State and UConn and also had winning weekends vs. Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. Could it be time for coach Todd Raleigh and crew to make a bigger jump? Well it could be tough. But having the double-play combo of Zach Osborne (.286-5-25) and Khayyan Norfork (.261, 15SBs) is a great start. Also, dual threat Matt Ramsey will be one of the better two-way talents in the country in his junior year. The biggest off-season news was that 4th round draft pick Andrew Toles, a lightning-in-a-bottle center fielder, turned down the Marlins and became a Vol instead. Hes joined by first-year phenoms C Ethan Bennett and RHP Nick Williams, who were both Louisville Slugger All Americans and should make a difference early on.
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The Bad News:
Oh mercy! The UT ship is taking on more leaks than the Volunteer Navy on football Saturdays. Still no trip to the NCAA tournament since their 2005 College World Series appearance for the Big Orange. Plus, names like Bryan Morgado and Cody Hawn were team leaders and dominators on the diamond the last few years and have moved on to pro ball. Joining them are four of the top five hitters and 35 of their 56 starts on the mound from last years arm corps. In fact, Matt Ramsey is the only pitcher returning to the squad that had an ERA of less than 5.00. OF Josh Lyles (.298, 20SBs) and Khayyan Norfork (15SBs) will need to up the ante on the basepaths since the team lost so much of the power and will have to play more station-to-station ball. This team will have to lean heavily on the new blood, which is always tough to do going into SEC battles. Yikes.
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Schedule Note:
21-4.
Thats the number of home vs. road games the Vols will play in non-conference play for the 2011 season. And with the level of competition theyll take on (Milwaukee, Canisius, New Orleans, Manhattan well, the Jaspers will be pretty good Alabama A&M, Austin Peay, Lipscomb, UNC Asheville, Presbyterian, Appalachian State, Tennessee Tech, Belmont, etc.), 21-4 should probably be their record in those games as well.
21-4 in nonconference? NO FREAKING WAY....don't know if this writer's ever seen Raleigh's teams against non-SEC teams, especially the midweek ones
Gonna be a tough year guys
The Volunteers made baby steps in the progress department last year, pulling a winning record, reaching the 30 win mark and increasing their RPI from 2009s No. 58 to last years No. 45. They also owned wins over NCAA teams Oregon State and UConn and also had winning weekends vs. Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. Could it be time for coach Todd Raleigh and crew to make a bigger jump? Well it could be tough. But having the double-play combo of Zach Osborne (.286-5-25) and Khayyan Norfork (.261, 15SBs) is a great start. Also, dual threat Matt Ramsey will be one of the better two-way talents in the country in his junior year. The biggest off-season news was that 4th round draft pick Andrew Toles, a lightning-in-a-bottle center fielder, turned down the Marlins and became a Vol instead. Hes joined by first-year phenoms C Ethan Bennett and RHP Nick Williams, who were both Louisville Slugger All Americans and should make a difference early on.
.
The Bad News:
Oh mercy! The UT ship is taking on more leaks than the Volunteer Navy on football Saturdays. Still no trip to the NCAA tournament since their 2005 College World Series appearance for the Big Orange. Plus, names like Bryan Morgado and Cody Hawn were team leaders and dominators on the diamond the last few years and have moved on to pro ball. Joining them are four of the top five hitters and 35 of their 56 starts on the mound from last years arm corps. In fact, Matt Ramsey is the only pitcher returning to the squad that had an ERA of less than 5.00. OF Josh Lyles (.298, 20SBs) and Khayyan Norfork (15SBs) will need to up the ante on the basepaths since the team lost so much of the power and will have to play more station-to-station ball. This team will have to lean heavily on the new blood, which is always tough to do going into SEC battles. Yikes.
.
Schedule Note:
21-4.
Thats the number of home vs. road games the Vols will play in non-conference play for the 2011 season. And with the level of competition theyll take on (Milwaukee, Canisius, New Orleans, Manhattan well, the Jaspers will be pretty good Alabama A&M, Austin Peay, Lipscomb, UNC Asheville, Presbyterian, Appalachian State, Tennessee Tech, Belmont, etc.), 21-4 should probably be their record in those games as well.
21-4 in nonconference? NO FREAKING WAY....don't know if this writer's ever seen Raleigh's teams against non-SEC teams, especially the midweek ones
Gonna be a tough year guys
