New to Baseball

[TopDog4TN]

So first I have to admit I've never been much of a baseball fan, other than watching some of the world series here and there. However, Vitello and the Vols have gotten me into it here lately at least at the collegiate level. Something about this team, and the intensity they play with really makes it a much more fun game to watch for me now than before.

With that being said I had a few questions for you guys that have been around the sport for a while and know a lot more about it than I do.

First off, where do yall believe this success of late has come from? I have to be honest again and say that I do not know where the players on the team were rated recruiting wise coming out of highschool, but I did check on this years and last years recruiting rankings and notice Tennessee isn't close to the big baseball schools like Vanderbilt (I did read an article about them legally cheating within the realms of being a private school and essentially handing out more scholarships than the NCAA allows through a loop hole program they use), LSU, Texas, etc... So is the success purely that of great coaching or a combination of a few things? Just want to know yalls thoughts on that.

Next, what do you think it will take for Tennessee to enter that elite club of recruiting in baseball, and is elite recruiting as essential in baseball as say it is in Football/Basketball?

Lastly, do you guys think we have a good shot at going to Omaha this season and winning it all? Not just a wild chance at it but are we legitimately a contender to bring home the championship?

This team has been a blast to watch, from Gilberts walk off grand slam last year, to seeing Ben Joyce showing off a rocket of an arm this year. We seem to have a very dependable batting lineup, and last year (again remember I know absolutely nothing so this is just an assumption) it seemed we were only a really dependable closing pitcher away from being a threat to win it all last year.

I hang around the football forum a good bit, but have been over here lately reading a lot of you guys posts trying to catch up on some things. Looking forward to a great year for the Vols. Thanks in advance for your input.

Go Vols!

 

[vol66]

So first I have to admit I've never been much of a baseball fan, other than watching some of the world series here and there. However, Vitello and the Vols have gotten me into it here lately at least at the collegiate level. Something about this team, and the intensity they play with really makes it a much more fun game to watch for me now than before.

With that being said I had a few questions for you guys that have been around the sport for a while and know a lot more about it than I do.

First off, where do yall believe this success of late has come from? I have to be honest again and say that I do not know where the players on the team were rated recruiting wise coming out of highschool, but I did check on this years and last years recruiting rankings and notice Tennessee isn't close to the big baseball schools like Vanderbilt (I did read an article about them legally cheating within the realms of being a private school and essentially handing out more scholarships than the NCAA allows through a loop hole program they use), LSU, Texas, etc... So is the success purely that of great coaching or a combination of a few things? Just want to know yalls thoughts on that.

Next, what do you think it will take for Tennessee to enter that elite club of recruiting in baseball, and is elite recruiting as essential in baseball as say it is in Football/Basketball?

Lastly, do you guys think we have a good shot at going to Omaha this season and winning it all? Not just a wild chance at it but are we legitimately a contender to bring home the championship?

This team has been a blast to watch, from Gilberts walk off grand slam last year, to seeing Ben Joyce showing off a rocket of an arm this year. We seem to have a very dependable batting lineup, and last year (again remember I know absolutely nothing so this is just an assumption) it seemed we were only a really dependable closing pitcher away from being a threat to win it all last year.

I hang around the football forum a good bit, but have been over here lately reading a lot of you guys posts trying to catch up on some things. Looking forward to a great year for the Vols. Thanks in advance for your input.

Go Vols!

That’s a lot of questions and info. So here goes…

College baseball is not football, it’s not even basketball, which is a tournament sport. By the end of this week we should have played 5 games in seven days, weather.

We seem to be recruiting just fine and I’ll leave your Vandyboys question to @BruinVol .

I attribute the success to a bunch of hard working folks trying to get better every day, literally, every day.

The sky is the limit for this bunch if we get e’rbody healthy. Long season is long.

Hope that helps, ask away.

 

[vol66]

Oh yeah! Welcome to the BaseVols forum!!!

GBO!!!

 

[VolMarine1371]

So first I have to admit I've never been much of a baseball fan, other than watching some of the world series here and there. However, Vitello and the Vols have gotten me into it here lately at least at the collegiate level. Something about this team, and the intensity they play with really makes it a much more fun game to watch for me now than before.

With that being said I had a few questions for you guys that have been around the sport for a while and know a lot more about it than I do.

First off, where do yall believe this success of late has come from? I have to be honest again and say that I do not know where the players on the team were rated recruiting wise coming out of highschool, but I did check on this years and last years recruiting rankings and notice Tennessee isn't close to the big baseball schools like Vanderbilt (I did read an article about them legally cheating within the realms of being a private school and essentially handing out more scholarships than the NCAA allows through a loop hole program they use), LSU, Texas, etc... So is the success purely that of great coaching or a combination of a few things? Just want to know yalls thoughts on that.

Next, what do you think it will take for Tennessee to enter that elite club of recruiting in baseball, and is elite recruiting as essential in baseball as say it is in Football/Basketball?

Lastly, do you guys think we have a good shot at going to Omaha this season and winning it all? Not just a wild chance at it but are we legitimately a contender to bring home the championship?

This team has been a blast to watch, from Gilberts walk off grand slam last year, to seeing Ben Joyce showing off a rocket of an arm this year. We seem to have a very dependable batting lineup, and last year (again remember I know absolutely nothing so this is just an assumption) it seemed we were only a really dependable closing pitcher away from being a threat to win it all last year.

I hang around the football forum a good bit, but have been over here lately reading a lot of you guys posts trying to catch up on some things. Looking forward to a great year for the Vols. Thanks in advance for your input.

Go Vols!

I would say one of the biggest things about recruiting is that Coach Vitello and staff really know how to judge talent. Once they get to Tennessee Vitello and staff have proven to be great developers of the talent they have had over the years. Last year wasn’t a fluke, if you can remember we was 15-0 when the pandemic ended our season when we had Garrett Crochet in which he went on to be a very high draft pick and took less than a year to make it to the major leagues. Last year team had 7 players drafted in the top 12 rounds, and this year team I think is better. Chase Burns was rated #15 overall player in the country and #5 pitcher, he was drafted out of high school and many thought he wouldn’t even make it campus and chose to play pro ball. Tidwell is a pre season all American and will be drafted real high. Jordan Beck was drafted out of high school and chose to come play for UT. Vitello is selling a vision and kids wanna be a part of that and choosing to come to UT over the draft says a lot about the recruiting of Coach Vitello and staff.

 

[feathersax]

Welcome to Diamond Vol baseball! I appreciate your comments, questions & echo the thoughts of others who responded. SEC baseball is truly special, & as Tennessee gets into conference play you'll notice the skills of all the teams, managers, fans, etc. Our family has being going to the SEC Baseball Tournament in Hoover AL since 2003. It's the best sports bargain around. Batter UP!

 

[VolPack22]

Just watch these two videos and you will have your answer. We have the best coach in the country and the players view him as one of them. Sometimes it’s not about the actual game of baseball, or any sport for that matter, but about how the coach ingratiates themselves with the team and the fan base. Vitello is a rare breed of being able to walk the fine line of no nonsense and fun guy. He was the hidden gem of college baseball coaches and we were lucky enough for him to choose us. Enjoy the ride.

 

[The Original Fade]

People who think baseball is boring don’t understand the game. It’s the same reason I think hockey and soccer are boring. They’re not, but they are to me because I don’t really understand the game. Baseball is awesome and the greatest sport on earth if you have a passion for it.

 

[OldTimer]

First off, where do yall believe this success of late has come from?

This is the Cliff’s notes answer, Coach Tony Vitello.

 

[vol66]

This is the Cliff’s notes answer, Coach Tony Vitello.

Damn, I shoulda. Thanks OT!

 

[Batman1948]

The answers to your questions are pretty simple-----

We finally hired a great head coach and he put together and he hired top notch assistants.
Our pitching coach is without a doubt the best pitching coach in college baseball. I'll let you google him so you can form your own opinion.
We are signing the top-rated players in the state. Those guys pretty much signed with Candy prior to this staff.
Enjoy the ride beause it's gonna be a long ride

 

[OldTimer]

People who think baseball is boring don’t understand the game. It’s the same reason I think hockey and soccer are boring. They’re not, but they are to me because I don’t really understand the game. Baseball is awesome and the greatest sport on earth if you have a passion for it.

Same goes for golf, I watch it almost more than baseball. However I love golf and those who don‘t or don‘t play can‘t watch more than 5 minutes of a tournament.

 

[vol66]

Same goes for golf, I watch it almost more than baseball. However I love golf and those who don‘t or don‘t play can‘t watch more than 5 minutes of a tournament.

I get golf. Never played it, not dressed anyway, and got to mow the greens once. ONCE. I don’t get soccer, arguably, the biggest sport in the world or NASCAR, but in a pinch it’s fine I reckon.

 

[GrayWaterCanine]

I think he took players that were good enough, played them to their strengths, and gave them attitude. I also think his recruiting will skyrocket over the next few years, if he gets the facilities he needs. I don't think this is a national championship contender. I think they are a CWS contender. I just don't think the young pitching is ready to make that final leap possible. They are going to be really fun to watch, though.

 

[NorCalVol67]

I get golf. Never played it, not dressed anyway, and got to mow the greens once. ONCE. I don’t get soccer, arguably, the biggest sport in the world or NASCAR, but in a pinch it’s fine I reckon.

I don’t get NASCAR either, but I watch more soccer than football. Granted, it is played year round.

 

[TopDog4TN]

People who think baseball is boring don’t understand the game. It’s the same reason I think hockey and soccer are boring. They’re not, but they are to me because I don’t really understand the game. Baseball is awesome and the greatest sport on earth if you have a passion for it.

No, you're 100% right, I didn't mean it to come across as me saying it was boring, I guess other than the Braves in the 90's when I was young, and watching the home run record chase between McGuire and Sosa, I just never had anything peak my interest enough to try and learn the game as in depth as I know football or basketball. Now the Vols are an extremely fun team to watch and it gives me more reason to make time to catch games and try and learn the game much more. I used to get too restless between pitches, for what I considered "action" and wouldn't sit around long enough watching a game to learn enough about it. Now, I'm starting to respect the art of pitching and enjoying that aspect of the game the same as I do a good defensive battle in a football game. I want to find a hockey team to watch too, I been meaning to catch some Predator games and just haven't for whatever reason. Thanks for your response! Go Vols!

 

[TopDog4TN]

Just watch these two videos and you will have your answer. We have the best coach in the country and the players view him as one of them. Sometimes it’s not about the actual game of baseball, or any sport for that matter, but about how the coach ingratiates themselves with the team and the fan base. Vitello is a rare breed of being able to walk the fine line of no nonsense and fun guy. He was the hidden gem of college baseball coaches and we were lucky enough for him to choose us. Enjoy the ride.

These I did see last year, and loved it! Love the energy our coach brings to the game, the team and the fans! Here's to hoping he sticks around for a long time!

 

[TopDog4TN]

Welcome to Diamond Vol baseball! I appreciate your comments, questions & echo the thoughts of others who responded. SEC baseball is truly special, & as Tennessee gets into conference play you'll notice the skills of all the teams, managers, fans, etc. Our family has being going to the SEC Baseball Tournament in Hoover AL since 2003. It's the best sports bargain around. Batter UP!

I caught many of the conference games last year and those were the ones that got me really interested. Some great baseball being played in those games. I remember specifically the LSU, Arky, and Vandy games being very fun to watch. Thanks for your response and the warm welcome! I hope to be going to a game this year, I live in NC so it's a little bit of a trip I have to plan but nothing that can't be accomplished with a little time.

 

[TopDog4TN]

Oh yeah! Welcome to the BaseVols forum!!!

GBO!!!

I appreciate the welcoming, I hope to learn a lot about the game, and our team moving forward!

 

[feathersax]

I caught many of the conference games last year and those were the ones that got me really interested. Some great baseball being played in those games. I remember specifically the LSU, Arky, and Vandy games being very fun to watch. Thanks for your response and the warm welcome! I hope to be going to a game this year, I live in NC so it's a little bit of a trip I have to plan but nothing that can't be accomplished with a little time.

Hope you can go to Hoover. Here's the view from our seats. We've made many great friends with fans from other schools. Very friendly atmosphere, yet the fierce competition remains.

 

[VolPack22]

These I did see last year, and loved it! Love the energy our coach brings to the game, the team and the fans! Here's to hoping he sticks around for a long time!

Tennessee made Vitello one of the highest paid college baseball coaches in the country and is now making more than several MLB managers. One of the stipulations was that he wanted increased capacity and top shelf facilities. Danny White seems to have made a commitment to that. We had 4,500 fans showing up each game in February for a series against Georgia Southern. Lindsey Nelson Stadium only has a capacity of 4,283. Honestly with the trajectory of this program, they could double the capacity and it would still sellout for a big series. Fans have proven that if you give us a winner, we will give them the best support in the country. Doesn’t matter if it’s football, basketball, baseball, we will fill the stadiums/arenas.

 

[Zvols]

So first I have to admit I've never been much of a baseball fan, other than watching some of the world series here and there. However, Vitello and the Vols have gotten me into it here lately at least at the collegiate level. Something about this team, and the intensity they play with really makes it a much more fun game to watch for me now than before.

With that being said I had a few questions for you guys that have been around the sport for a while and know a lot more about it than I do.

First off, where do yall believe this success of late has come from? I have to be honest again and say that I do not know where the players on the team were rated recruiting wise coming out of highschool, but I did check on this years and last years recruiting rankings and notice Tennessee isn't close to the big baseball schools like Vanderbilt (I did read an article about them legally cheating within the realms of being a private school and essentially handing out more scholarships than the NCAA allows through a loop hole program they use), LSU, Texas, etc... So is the success purely that of great coaching or a combination of a few things? Just want to know yalls thoughts on that.

Next, what do you think it will take for Tennessee to enter that elite club of recruiting in baseball, and is elite recruiting as essential in baseball as say it is in Football/Basketball?

Lastly, do you guys think we have a good shot at going to Omaha this season and winning it all? Not just a wild chance at it but are we legitimately a contender to bring home the championship?

This team has been a blast to watch, from Gilberts walk off grand slam last year, to seeing Ben Joyce showing off a rocket of an arm this year. We seem to have a very dependable batting lineup, and last year (again remember I know absolutely nothing so this is just an assumption) it seemed we were only a really dependable closing pitcher away from being a threat to win it all last year.

I hang around the football forum a good bit, but have been over here lately reading a lot of you guys posts trying to catch up on some things. Looking forward to a great year for the Vols. Thanks in advance for your input.

Go Vols!

As most have said, this program has risen to a new tier because of Tony Vitello. He hired one of the most highly regarded pitching coaches in the country. He identified lesser talent in the beginning and developed them into stars. Frank Anderson has turned so many of our pitchers into formidable guys like Crochet, Leath, Dallas, Hunley, Tidwell, and Sewell. Now he’s doing it with young stars Burns, Dollander, Joyce, and Beam. Recruits are gravitating to Tennessee now because they play an exciting, aggressive style and most of that is because the team has taken on the personality of their coach. Tennessee probably won’t ever be in the consistent level as Texas, LSU, Vandy, etc because we don’t allocate as many resources to baseball, but we are somewhat a sleeping giant due to the baseball talent in the area. Vitello pulled in a top 5 class last year and I’d expect the Vols to be top 10-15 every year going forward. 2024 may be the best class in history if we can get some of the top guys to campus. As far as this season, we were considered a bubble team to host a regional (top 16) and it appears that is going to be much more likely. We lost a lot of infield guys and people wrote us off preseason. The pitching staff should be elite if Tidwell & Halvorsen come back (top 3 in the country). I expect us to finish around 10th in the country and make it to super regionals. We’ll have to see if the bats stay hot against better talent before I expect anything more.

 

[TopDog4TN]

As most have said, this program has risen to a new tier because of Tony Vitello. He hired one of the most highly regarded pitching coaches in the country. He identified lesser talent in the beginning and developed them into stars. Frank Anderson has turned so many of our pitchers into formidable guys like Crochet, Leath, Dallas, Hunley, Tidwell, and Sewell. Now he’s doing it with young stars Burns, Dollander, Joyce, and Beam. Recruits are gravitating to Tennessee now because they play an exciting, aggressive style and most of that is because the team has taken on the personality of their coach. Tennessee probably won’t ever be in the consistent level as Texas, LSU, Vandy, etc because we don’t allocate as many resources to baseball, but we are somewhat a sleeping giant due to the baseball talent in the area. Vitello pulled in a top 5 class last year and I’d expect the Vols to be top 10-15 every year going forward. 2024 may be the best class in history if we can get some of the top guys to campus. As far as this season, we were considered a bubble team to host a regional (top 16) and it appears that is going to be much more likely. We lost a lot of infield guys and people wrote us off preseason. The pitching staff should be elite if Tidwell & Halvorsen come back (top 3 in the country). I expect us to finish around 10th in the country and make it to super regionals. We’ll have to see if the bats stay hot against better talent before I expect anything more.

Thats a lot of great information. I knew some of the bigger names on the team but wasn't familiar enough yet to know who we lost and what to expect from our current roster. Thanks for the input!

 

[Zvols]

Thats a lot of great information. I knew some of the bigger names on the team but wasn't familiar enough yet to know who we lost and what to expect from our current roster. Thanks for the input!

Beck, Gilbert, Lipcious, and Russell, are the names you’ll recognize from the lineup last season. Sewell, Walsh, Connell, and Tidwell at a later point, are the notable pitching staff that returned. Lipscomb, Ortega, Lawson, Scott, Booker, Steenstra, and Taylor are guys that are new to the lineup but have been in the program. Stephenson and Chambers are highly regarded JUCO transfers. Ensley, Dickey, and Payne probably will only be deep deep depth guys in blowouts like this weekend. Moore, Burke, Tears are superstar freshmen that will be key next year, and this year for Moore. Dollander transferred from Georgia Southern, Halvorsen transferred from Mizzou, E.Smith transferred from Vandy, and Burns is a star freshman. Last year’s team had a unique clutch factor, even though there were a lot of slumps during the season. This team seems more consistent but they’ll have to replicate it against top competition before they get any notoriety. I can’t imagine what this team would’ve looked like if Spikes and Dooney had made it to campus.