Lack of Pitching depth killed Vol chances

[wmcovol]

Once Ark got on the bullpen, they scored in majority of the innings. That and defense was the difference IMO.

 

[VolMarine1371]

Once Ark got on the bullpen, they scored in majority of the innings. That and defense was the difference IMO.

I think we held out on. Arkansas scored only 1 run more than we did this series. All 3 games was decided by 1 run each. By the way I see it Arkansas and UT are the top 2 teams in the country.

 

[Volsbaseballfan1]

Leath and Joyce sure would have been nice. Not much at all separates these 2 teams. I think they will meet again.

 

[peerless98]

I think we held out on. Arkansas scored only 1 run more than we did this series. All 3 games was decided by 1 run each. By the way I see it Arkansas and UT are the top 2 teams in the country.

Possibly, but we are likely not at their level yet.

 

[VolMarine1371]

Possibly, but we are likely not at their level yet.

How you figure? It’s a serious question. We scored 1 less run than them over the series. Our starting pitchers was better u think. All 3 games was decided by 1 run each. Each game could have went either way. It looked to me they was evenly matched. Each team could have been swept this weekend and either team could have very easily been 2-1 and at the same time 1-2. These was the top 2 teams that played to is entire weekend in all of college baseball.

 

[PeachCobler]

So do they lack pitching depth too? Because we lost the series by 1 run....

 

[TheMookieMonster]

So do they lack pitching depth too? Because we lost the series by 1 run....

It’s not that we lack depth, our bullpen just isn’t as good as theirs in general. Our bullpen performed well this weekend though, we just don’t have a guy like Kopp on our team and outside of Hunley the rest of our bullpen can be kind of suspect if they aren’t locating because no one in the bullpen throws hard.

 

[6-4-3]

Once Ark got on the bullpen, they scored in majority of the innings. That and defense was the difference IMO.

Actually, our bullpen was the ONLY reason we had a chance to win the Friday game. Bullpen gave up 1 unearned run in 4.2 inn, so basically 5 inn. That wasnt the reason for the Friday loss. The Arkansas bullpen was good, but without Kopps they are about like everyone else. Not to mention we walked off on their bullpen on Saturday. Are we deep? Not really. But the guys we have used have done pretty dang good and have stepped up to compensate for injuries to our staff.

 

[PeachCobler]

It’s not that we lack depth, our bullpen just isn’t as good as theirs in general. Our bullpen performed well this weekend though, we just don’t have a guy like Kopp on our team and outside of Hunley the rest of our bullpen can be kind of suspect if they aren’t locating because no one in the bullpen throws hard.

Don’t disagree that their bullpen is better, but that’s not what the OP said/what I was replying to

Are they starting threads about how our starting pitching is better and that theirs killed them? Probably not

Overall point is, we lost the series by 1 run to the #1 team in the country

Our team is what it is at this point. It isn’t going to change. Starting threads complaining about the few, minuscule deficiencies is a complete waste of time. We are better in most categories than almost everybody in the entire country

In a few weeks these guys will be gone, and Vitello may be as well. How about we spend our time enjoying the positives rather than searching for negatives?

Baffling to me that people can do that during the season we’re having

 

[TN_gal]

Actually, our bullpen was the ONLY reason we had a chance to win the Friday game. Bullpen gave up 1 unearned run in 4.2 inn, so basically 5 inn. That wasnt the reason for the Friday loss. The Arkansas bullpen was good, but without Kopps they are about like everyone else. Not to mention we walked off on their bullpen on Saturday. Are we deep? Not really. But the guys we have used have done pretty dang good and have stepped up to compensate for injuries to our staff.

I'm curious about how Arkansas will manage their pitching rotation in the postseason. While Kopps has been a gamechanger for them in weekend series., it'll be different in the postseason when it's longer than a 3 game series. They are going to need another closer because Kopps can't always help them.

 

[VolMarine1371]

It’s not that we lack depth, our bullpen just isn’t as good as theirs in general. Our bullpen performed well this weekend though, we just don’t have a guy like Kopp on our team and outside of Hunley the rest of our bullpen can be kind of suspect if they aren’t locating because no one in the bullpen throws hard.

Our bullpen was just as as good. They have 1 man in the bullpen that’s the best in the country. Without him you can prolly give them at least 4-6 more losses or blown saves.

 

[6-4-3]

I'm curious about how Arkansas will manage their pitching rotation in the postseason. While Kopps has been a gamechanger for them in weekend series., it'll be different in the postseason when it's more than a 3 game series. They are going to need another closer because Kopps can't always help them.

Very good point. How they manage him will be worth watching. The postseason will expose the depth of all the teams given they could play several games in a short time. Relievers starting games, pitchers on short rest. Gonna be interesting for sure!

 

[peerless98]

How you figure? It’s a serious question. We scored 1 less run than them over the series. Our starting pitchers was better u think. All 3 games was decided by 1 run each. Each game could have went either way. It looked to me they was evenly matched. Each team could have been swept this weekend and either team could have very easily been 2-1 and at the same time 1-2. These was the top 2 teams that played to is entire weekend in all of college baseball.

I think their bats 1-9 is better than ours, and their bullpen is better IMO

 

[TN_gal]

Very good point. How they manage him will be worth watching. The postseason will expose the depth of all the teams given they could play several games in a short time. Relievers starting games, pitchers on short rest. Gonna be interesting for sure!

Yes, agreed! That's why midweek games are important for trying out pitchers to give them experience in the regular season in prep for postseason. Will be worth monitoring for many teams. I'm still wrapping my head around the fact that we're talking about Tennessee in the postseason. While they experienced it in 2019, this is still rather new. I'm glad we have a few more weeks with our team!

 

[fryeguy93]

Our pitching depth was fine.
Three 1-run games against a top tier opponent.
Using Kopps for 3 innings on Friday cost the Razorbacks the Saturday afternoon game and should have cost them today.
Tidwell pitched out of his mind today and deserved a win.
Our relief pitching kept us in all three games. This is all you can hope for.
I don't believe a reliever gave up a crooked number all weekend. Nevermind- I remember Kirby had a rough inning after a leadoff strike out and was credited with 2 ERs

 

[VolMarine1371]

I think their bats 1-9 is better than ours, and their bullpen is better IMO

Take away Kopps and there bullpen is suspect as we seen today.

 

[joshwa]

Our pitching is good. Starters good, bullpen good. I believe we hung on to our starters a little too long. Arkansas didn't hesitate to go to the bullpen. Seemed like they were changing pitchers every other inning. I believe they had their ace from Fridays game throwing in relief on Sunday. They used everyone they had. Some twice.
Proud of our guys. We battled

 

[drawing dead]

Possibly, but we are likely not at their level yet.

Funny stuff. #1 team in the country was owned by true freshman. Were it not for a blooper, bad read, or whatever they don’t score a run in 7 inn off a kid that was in HS last year. They also had a 25 year old man getting strikes called in the chalk which he will not get when SEC play is over. If Leath were healthy they don’t score the entire game IMO.

Yeah we are at their level even with 2 big time injuries and by the way Arky hasn’t had a significant injury yet this year.

 

[cHiZzLeVOL]

Our defense was the difference maker in this game. A lot of mistakes and lack of being able to cover space lost that game. The error by the third baseman that allowed a runner to get on base. Also, the ball to the wall. If that was Arkansas’ centerfielder it would of been caught.

 

[orangemadam]

I'll tend to agree with chizzle in a way. Our average D compared to their outstanding D was the difference.

In the first game, they made 3 outstanding plays in the OF that most teams would not make and it cost us 2 or 3 runs. That was the series winner for them.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Our bullpen was just as as good. They have 1 man in the bullpen that’s the best in the country. Without him you can prolly give them at least 4-6 more losses or blown saves.

The thing is baseball doesn't work like that. You could just as easily say "Take away Max Ferguson and the Vols get swept." Or any other number of combinations. The fact is they DO have Kopps. Just like the Yankees had Rivera, or the 2013 Red Sox had primetime Craig Kimbrel. It still counts. You can't just take away one player.

 

[TVOL71]

Slightly off subject, but remember to vote for Evan Russell for the senior class award at the link below - the Kentucky player now leads, can't have that. GBO.
Baseball | Senior CLASS Award

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Our defense was the difference maker in this game. A lot of mistakes and lack of being able to cover space lost that game. The error by the third baseman that allowed a runner to get on base. Also, the ball to the wall. If that was Arkansas’ centerfielder it would of been caught.

Agreed. That CF is terrific, covers an amazing amount of ground. They were the better team defensively for the most part. A lot has been said here about: if we are on their level. I think we are just a tad behind them, mostly because they are so fundamentally sound. For example, their bunting was stellar. So was their base running. They also don't try to pull outside pitches like we do. I think their position player roster is a bit more talented, but not the pitching roster. We're very close, but I think as of now they are the better team.