Official 2014 Summer Baseball Thread

#701
#701
As the summer season winds down, let me say thanks on behalf of all of VolNation baseball followers who have throughly enjoyed keeping up with the guy's progress this summer and appreciate all the time and effort you have put into this.........looking forward to the fall!

A big thanks vol66! :thumbsup:

OT
 
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#702
#702
vol66 said:
California League - The Pitchers

Zac Grotz: 36 IP, 33 H, 16 R, 15 ER, 7 BB, 7 HBP, 28 SO, 3.75 ERA, W/L 0/2.

526 TP, 353 S, 173 B

Grotz pitched 6 innings for the Vols last season and his ERA was 6.00



Tei Vanderford: 16 IP, 11 H, 3 R, 2 HR, 3 ER, 3 BB, 16 SO, 1.69 ERA, W/L 1/1

221 TP, 151 S, 70 B

Vanderford did not pitch for the Vols last season.



I don't believe in speculating about players futures when they are playing games, and for the guys in the California Collegiate League the season is over.

Both of these guys were brought in from the Cali JUCO ranks. I don't think it is typical to bring in a JUCO guy and red shirt him is it? That's exactly what Vanderford would be, a rising RS Jr. Grotz would be a senior.

It seems odd.

Adding to the weirdness...When UT released the destinations of the players for summer ball, Grotz wasn't on the list. AND UT has not listed his stats or mentioned him at all in the weekly updates they have provided this summer. Maybe it was just an oversight.

Vanderford hasn't pitched since before July 8th because I went back and looked at my updates and he's been stuck on 16 IP since at least then.

I'm not willing to say these guys won't be back. I have no idea. It does seem strange though.

As for their summer stats...first, take them with a grain of salt. Vanderford's ERA is nice, but 16 innings is not a lot work for a guy that didn't pitch at all this past season. I guess it's possible he was injured...I dunno.

Grotz threw a lot of pitches if the stats can be trusted and a 3.75 ERA is much better than the 6.00 ERA he had for the Vols last season.

The truth is, it's all so odd, I don't want to delve into the stats any further.

I'm not saying anyone is not coming back, pure speculation here...If the rumors about Josh Peterson not coming back are true and if these two don't make it back, they are California kids, then...in terms of numbers...I'M JUST SAYING...we wouldn't be far from the normal number of RHP we typically carry.

Again, for all I know both of these guys could have been injured last season and maybe not including Grotz on the list of summer ball guys was just a mistake, things happen I guess.


In the CCL we still have Kane, Schultz and Moberg to discuss, but I'd like to wait a day and see if the stats get updated further, Kane just had a 125 pitch outing and his stats don't seem to reflect it, the Championship was this weekend and both Moberg and Schultz might not have been updated yet.


More to come...


GBO!!!
Click to expand...

I guess we'll see in a few weeks how all this shakes out.....Vanderford's summer stats are pretty decent for not throwing much over the last 9 months. It is odd how he hasn't thrown since early July. Could be any number of reasons.....
 
#703
#703
vol66 said:
Retweeted by Andy Cox



BuDRLBTIMAAO5XQ.jpg:large


:dunno:
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That doesn't sound good. Bettencourt was one of our better relievers last year.
 
#706
#706
Cal Ripkin League - Eric Martin

In 2013 Zack Godley threw 108.1 innings, had a 3.49 ERA and he had a .242 BAA.

Eric Martin made 22 appearances, most for the team, had an ERA of 3.49 tied for team best, and a .228 BAA, only Drake Owenby's .204 BAA was better. Owenby's ERA was 5.60. In fact, besides Godley and Martin, every Vols pitcher had an ERA over 5.00.

In the 2014 season, coming off of injury, Martin only pitched 5 innings, his ERA was 3.60 and his .222 BAA was 20 points below the team BAA of .242 and second only to Andy Cox's .178. 5 innings might not be a fair sample size, but still...

This summer Eric Martin:

10 G, 11 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 7 BB, 8 SO, 3.27 ERA, .175 BAA

His BAA never got above .200.

In his first six appearances, all of the 1 inning variety, he gave up no runs, 2 hits, 2 walks, 6 K's. After facing the first 22 batters of the summer his ERA was 0.00 and his BAA was .100

That was the period of June 6th to June 28th.

On July 6th, he had a bad inning giving up 3 hits and 3 earned runs and his ERA went from 0.00 to 3.86.

On July 12th, he gave up a hit, an earned run and a walk with 2 K's and his ERA jumped to 4.50.

He would make only 2 more appearances, he gave up no runs.

In his final appearance, he got 2 innings of work.

2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 0 SO, facing 9 batters...

In 8 out of his 10 appearances he gave up no runs.


Hopefully, Eric Martin is on his way back to his 2013 form. We could sure use him.


More to come...


GBO!!!
 
#707
#707
Great Lakes League - Derek Lance

Sometimes it gets lost on me that Derek Lance came into the program at the same time as Simcox, Stewart, Houser, Jackson etc..I guess because those guys had to step right in and play.

In some ways I think Lance is what player development will look like going forward.

As a freshman, Lance played in 15 games getting 11 starts. He hit .143...

That summer he played for Cincinnati, as he did this summer.

In the summer of 2013:

.215 BA, 20 GP, 18 GS, 65 AB, 7 R, 14 H, 3 2B, 11 RBI, 11 BB, 1 HBP, 11 SO, .262 SLG, .333 OBP, 3/7 SB/ATT

For UT in 2014:

.291 BA, 32 GP, 21 GS, 79 AB, 11 R, 23 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 12 BB, 20 SO, .405 SLG, .380 OBP, 3-4 SB/ATT

For Cincinnati this summer:

.317 AB, 31 G, 120 AB, 23 R, 38 H, 6 2B, 11 RBI, 12 BB, 2 HBP, 18 SO, SLG .367, OBP .388, 9-13 SB/ATT



Lance got into the action for Tennessee as the season went on and he delivered some clutch hits for the Vols in 2014.

He took that to Cincinnati this summer, his .317 BA was the best on the team, no other Steam player hit .300. He made the ALL-STAR Game, his team played for the championship and he won some league awards.

I expect big things from him this year, he's ready to have a break out season and he's been preparing for it for two years.


More to come...


GBO!!!
 
#708
#708
California League - Part II

In 2013 Jeff Moberg played in 36 games, starting 25 and he batted .242 for the Vols. In fact, Moberg lead the team in SAC Hits. He was playing behind Taylor Smart at 2B and Maddox was at 3B in 2013. He got a few starts in LF and as DH, but mostly at 2B.

Smart (as a temp) and Maddox would go to the Cape and Moberg went to Alaska to play for the Glacier Pilots.

Moberg hit .278 that summer, tied for second best on the team. He got a lot of valuable experience and one stat stood out to me that summer. In 54 at bats he struck out 4 times, just 4 times. In the meantime, up in the Cape, Maddox moved on to Team USA and Smart made the team. He played short stop. He played first base. He played third...a lot, his ability to play multiple positions kept him in the Cape because he only batted .181.

When the 2014 season rolled around Maddox was back at 2B and Smart was at 3B. Moberg got 1 start in 2014 while playing in only 15 games. His BA was .188...

Maddox has moved on to the minors, as has Smart. This would seem to be an important time for Moberg. Most people seem to think Senzel will replace Maddox, I'm not convinced.

Moberg's summer stats:

BA: .283, 145 AB, 33 R, 41 H, 6 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 22 BB, 8 HBP, 28 SO, 14-17 SB/ATT, .379 SLG, .406 OBP, FLD% .950

As a true freshman he hit .242 and in two summers of work since then he's hit around .280. The only stat that bothers me above is the .950 FLD %, his freshman year he was .953, though he was perfect in the few games he was in for the Vols last season. He'd have to clean that up to get to Maddox's .983...And of course, he will have to hit closer to .280 than .240.



Steven Kane played for Scott Pickler at Cypress Community College this past season. The same Cypress former Vol Matt Esparza called home this past season. The Same Scott Pickler that coached Taylor Smart last summer and AJ, Owenby and VJax this summer in the Cape and he's former Vol Jeff Picker's dad.

I don't know why I mention that...

I'm going to gloss over Kane's summer stats because I just don't know how much faith to put in them.

His ERA was .299, his BAA was .217...he gave up 28 hits, 14 walks, had 28 K's in 32.1 IP. He was 2nd on the team in IP and in total pitches to...Esparza... as he was at Cypress. You can see all of his stat's here:

http://www.calsummerball.com/iScore Baseball Team Stats - Los Angeles Brewers 2014.htm

In Kane's last game he threw 125 pitches, 90 + the game before that. We have kind of lacked that type of player. Marks put up some high pitch counts this summer which is good too.

Kane is an intriguing player, I didn't get to SEE him, but I listened to some of his games and followed his stats...I think the whole Pickler/Esparza thing makes it interesting too...have to wait and see...


I'm going to wait on Schultz, I want to put him with Houser...


More to come...


GBO!!!
 
#711
#711
Huge game for Brewster tonight. About 10 days ago, I said Lee's Whitecaps were all but mathematically out of the play-off race.

Brewster, well off the pace for much of the summer, has won five of six. Combined with a skid by Chatham, the Whitecaps put themselves into the thick of the playoff race. And last night, they took a full leap, beating Harwich 2-0 while Chatham lost to Orleans. That means Brewster is in fourth place by a point over Chatham, with one game to play.

It’s a rare feat.
Click to expand...


Apparently, it's a bit of an unprecedented comeback.

Brewster’s comeback – if it’s completed – would stand alone. On July 25, the Whitecaps lost to Chatham 8-3. They fell to 12-24-1, while Chatham improved to 16-20-1. The Anglers had an eight-point cushion, with seven games to play.

Since then, Brewster hasn’t lost, and Chatham has gone 1-5. That’s the recipe for a takeover.
Click to expand...


At this point, I believe every Vol in the Cape has a shot at the playoffs...or I could be totally wrong. Trust nothing I say. :)


If the Whitecaps beat Harwich tonight, they’re in. If they don’t, and Chatham loses, they’re still in. But if Chatham wins, then the comeback will have been for naught.

It’s a sprint to the finish now.
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Riding the Wave

Game starts at 7 PM
 
#712
#712
I think this tops it all...Andrew Lee is batting in the 3 spot tonight and.....he's playing 2B!

BuOVQaDIMAEexlL.jpg:large


Stream isn't up yet, but I will post a link.
 
#714
#714
Owenby comes in bot. 8th up by a run, gives up a single, then walks the next batter, gets the hook...
 
#715
#715
Brewster loses 12-2 tonight in one of the ugliest baseball games I've ever seen. Brewster lost what must be the bulk of their line up. Not only was Lee at 2B, the catcher was at 3B, they had a left handed SS, a pitcher in RF...you get the picture.

For his part, Lee didn't look all that bad at 2B compared to some of the other guys. He went 0/3 with a walk.

Brewster now waits to see if Chatham can come back from being 2 runs down to Orleans who probably wishes they could have kept Stewart around a while longer.
 
#717
#717
Chatham loses 12-7 and Brewster, despite it's loss tonight and the depleted roster, moves on to the playoffs. I'm not sure about Houser's Harbor Hawks, but I think they are in as well as the Y-D guys.

I think there is a make up game tomorrow and that the playoffs start Wednesday...I'll double check on that because I know so many folks want to know. :p

All that is left tonight is that Charpie might get into the Rox game...

GBO!

PS...As a DirecTV guy, super pumped about the news today regarding the SEC Network...that's going to be a big deal for college baseball and softball. A BIG DEAL!
 
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#718
#718
AND just like that Charpie is on...1 out, runners on the corners...bot. 5th, trailing 3-0

TC: 0-1 swinging, 0-2 swinging, RBI single to CF, runners on the corners, 1 out

TC: 0-1 called, 1-1, foul 1-2, 2-2, strike 'em out throw 'em out dbl play!

TP 8, 6 S, 2 B...run not charged to Charpie, now trailing 4-0
 
#719
#719
Bot. 6th, the Rox picked up some runs to make it 4-2...listen: 1390 THE FAN - Listen Live

TC: 1-0, foul 1-1, 1-2, K SWINGING! 1 away..."Breaking pitch was absolutely stellar", say announcers...

TC: 1-0, foul 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, K SWINGING! 2 away

TC: 0-1 swinging, 0-2 swinging, 1-2, line out to CF, Charpie gets them in order.


TP 21, 15 S, 6 B
 
#720
#720
Bot. 7th, STRRRRRRRRRRRETCH! lol, been a while...The Rox trail 4-2

TC: 1-0, foul 1-1, fly out to RF, 1 away

TC: 0-1 called, 1-1, fly out in foul territory, 2 away

TC: 0-1 swinging, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, K LOOKING!

"7Th Batter retired by the TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER!", says announcer


TP 32, 22 S, 10 B
 
#721
#721
:crossfingers: Bot. 8th, ROX score 6 runs (top 8) to take the lead, 8-4...long half inning, almost 30 min., hope Charpie is still feeling it...

TC: 0-1, 1-1 Line out to 3B

TC: 1-0, 2-0, foul 2-1, 2-2 swinging, foul, deep to CF caught at the warning track for 2 away.

TC: 1-0, 1-1 swinging, 1-2 called, 2-2 just low, 3-2, walk...1 on, 2 outs...

TC: wild pitch, runner advances 1-0, fly out to RF ends the inning! Walk and wild pitch don't come back to haunt TC!


TP 49, 31 S, 18 B
 
#722
#722
Bot. 9th, The Rox lead 9-4...and that's it for Charpie


Final line: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
 
#724
#724
Charpie picks up the win, he's 4-1 on the summer. It was arguably his best game of the summer and his 3.2 innings was his longest outing.

Thrilled for the young man. He came in trailing and held them at bay long enough for his team to make the comeback and he also had to sit on the bench for a long time twice, yet kept his focus. Big "W" for Charpie, congrats!!!

ERA drops to 4.66
 
#725
#725
So, every UT player DID make the playoffs in the Cape League...

OVERALL SEEDINGS

1. Bourne

2. Harwich

3. Falmouth

4. Orleans

5. Y-D (AJ, VJax, Owenby)

6. Hyannis (Houser)

7. Cotuit

8. Brewster (Lee)

The best of three, 1st round, starts tomorrow.
 
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