Portal Activity (News and Rumors)

[BruinVol]

Not true. Ortega was the surprise at 2B and certainly wasn't the clear cut starter. I get it—you’re not a Jaslove fan but I stand by my surprise that he’s hitting the portal when SS is wide open. Hope he finds a starting job at a place that suits him.

I don’t think TV is ever going to have a defensive first SS. The ballpark(HRs/Turf) doesn’t call for that and I think that’s smart on his part

With that said jaslove is a good defender but light with the bat. That’s why I don’t think he ever had a future as an everyday player here

 

[WGWTFA98]

Do y’all think maybe the reason we’ve not heard anything on Denton is Tony doesn’t want to scare off Amick before enrolling?

No because I think there’s room for both to play. I also think Denton is ready to go pro, but if he’s not getting offered anything then he might as well come back and play for what will be one of the best teams in college baseball, have fun, and make NIL money

 

[WGWTFA98]

If not, I'm kind of intrigued by Amick at 3rd, Denton at 2B and Moore in the outfield.

If Denton returns, I believe this is what will happen. Lots of moving parts still because we haven’t done fall ball yet, but I think this is kind of what they envision

 

[WGWTFA98]

Not true. Ortega was the surprise at 2B and certainly wasn't the clear cut starter. I get it—you’re not a Jaslove fan but I stand by my surprise that he’s hitting the portal when SS is wide open. Hope he finds a starting job at a place that suits him.

It’s not that I’m not a jaslove fan lmao. He got put in a tough situation earlier this year and played fine. But he hit sub .200 before we even made it to conference play. It’s okay to say the guy isn’t quite to the level of this conference, very few are.

And no Ortega was not out of nowhere. Every person on that team knew he was a stud.

 

[WGWTFA98]

I don’t think TV is ever going to have a defensive first SS. The ballpark(HRs/Turf) doesn’t call for that and I think that’s smart on his part

With that said jaslove is a good defender but light with the bat. That’s why I don’t think he ever had a future as an everyday player here

I disagree with this because basically every SS he’s had was a wizard defensively. BUT, I do agree that he’s not gonna play a very sub par hitter at SS just to get a boost defensively. Not really where the college game is heading, and they trust their pitching too

 

[youcancallmeAl]

You think Denton is athletic enough to play SS?? Or does coach try a incoming Freshmen it's really a important position in infield I would say most important!!

His arm is not one of his strengths at third. I I'm thinking he might not the arm for SS. Also he might not have the speed. I don't see him as a middle infielder.

 

[WGWTFA98]

His arm is not one of his strengths at third. I I'm thinking he might not the arm for SS. Also he might not have the speed. I don't see him as a middle infielder.

Yeah agree he is definitely not a SS. He is perfectly acceptable at 3B, but I think some of the coaches think he’s actually a better fit at 2B. He’s a better defensive player than many on here give him credit for though, he’s just not an insane athlete who looks crazy doing it. Has good instincts though.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

I don’t think TV is ever going to have a defensive first SS. The ballpark(HRs/Turf) doesn’t call for that and I think that’s smart on his part

With that said jaslove is a good defender but light with the bat. That’s why I don’t think he ever had a future as an everyday player here

He had a defense first SS last year.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Yeah agree he is definitely not a SS. He is perfectly acceptable at 3B, but I think some of the coaches think he’s actually a better fit at 2B. He’s a better defensive player than many on here give him credit for though, he’s just not an insane athlete who looks crazy doing it. Has good instincts though.

Just curious - not challenging - but what makes us think he's a better fit at 2B? To me, he doesn't have the speed. Am I wrong?

 

[WGWTFA98]

He had a defense first SS last year.

Dude Ahuna hit like .310 with 50 RBIs lmao. Yeah his defense was better than his offense but he was still a very good offensive player.

 

[WGWTFA98]

Just curious - not challenging - but what makes us think he's a better fit at 2B? To me, he doesn't have the speed. Am I wrong?

I’m not a baseball coach or scout so idk. I just know that people think that. I think people think he’s a sure handed glove and has good instincts off the bat. He’s not fast which is why he’s never gonna play SS but you don’t necessarily need a ton of range at 2B, but again I’m definitely no scout/coach

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Dude Ahuna hit like .310 with 50 RBIs lmao. Yeah his defense was better than his offense but he was still a very good offensive player.

And when he was slumping Tony moved him down in the lineup but kept him in there for his defense. He was definitely not an offense first SS, dude.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

double post

 

[WGWTFA98]

And when he was slumping Tony moved him down in the lineup but kept him in there for his defense. He was definitely not an offense first SS, dude.

Okay well the point clearly went over your head. Of course he’s going to care about defense in a SS, but he’s not going to play a dude who might hit sub .200 just to get defense out there

And nobody is saying Ahuna was an offensive first player, his defense was better than his offense. But he absolutely was still a good offensive player

 

[WGWTFA98]

The worst offensive SS Tony has played were Martinez and Lawson. And Martinez led his team in doubles and hit .280. Lawson had some serious bottom of the lineup pop, and hit .270 but also had 12 HRs/45 RBIs.

The fact is they are never going to play a guy who doesn’t hit for average or power unless they have legitimately no choice, and that’s exactly why Jaslove left

 

[WGWTFA98]

Martinez was another guy who’s defense was better than his offense, but again on offense he still led the team in doubles and hit .280. He was producing offensively. Jaslove has an sec caliber glove, but if you can’t hit above .200 or at the very least hit for big power, you aren’t going to be a regular player at this level

 

[BruinVol]

I disagree with this because basically every SS he’s had was a wizard defensively. BUT, I do agree that he’s not gonna play a very sub par hitter at SS just to get a boost defensively. Not really where the college game is heading, and they trust their pitching too

I think we are saying the same thing. I just don’t think he’s ever going to play an Ozzie smith type defensive guy that struggles at the plate

 

[WGWTFA98]

I think we are saying the same thing. I just don’t think he’s ever going to play an Ozzie smith type defensive guy that struggles at the plate

Agree with this and they recruit too well to probably ever have to do that anyways. Jaslove was never going to hit well enough. They actually really liked Kendro, but with the draft shaking out how it did there wasn’t enough scholly money left so that kind of tells you where the priorities are lying.

Right now they’ve got 4 very talented options on the roster. And it’s definitely not out of the question they add another in the portal, so keep an eye out for that.

They’re going to be fine at SS

 

[txbo]

I thought a long time ago you said you had a Belmont (Bruins) connection.

My daughter got her nursing degree from Belmont.

 

[Weezer]

How about develop the ones we have ?

You could try cheering for the team we have and caring less about how it was built. Whether they come from high school, JuCo, or the portal, when they put on the jersey, they're Vols.

 

[Weezer]

Guys whoever wins the SS job is going to have really earned it. I know everyone wants a proven commodity, but every proven commodity was unproven at one point. The fact is there are 5 highly talented guys who could win that spot, so odds are whoever wins will have had to play pretty damn well to get that spot

Bradke Lohry
Alex Perry
Ariel Antigua
Blake Grimmer
Dean Curley

JMO, but I think between those players we could possibly see our SS and our 2B. Even if Denton comes back, not sure he could play 2B, and I think CMo's future is in the OF.

 

[BruinVol]

They actually really liked Kendro, but with the draft shaking out how it did there wasn’t enough scholly money left so that kind of tells you where the priorities are lying.

@TheMookieMonster

 

[Volator]

I think we are saying the same thing. I just don’t think he’s ever going to play an Ozzie smith type defensive guy that struggles at the plate

so a lifetime mlb average of 262 with over 2400 hits struggles at the plate
your lunacy knows no bounds

 

[WGWTFA98]

JMO, but I think between those players we could possibly see our SS and our 2B. Even if Denton comes back, not sure he could play 2B, and I think CMo's future is in the OF.

Definitely possible. I’d say if Denton is back he’s probably gonna try 2B and if not then CMo probably is next up to stay at 2B but it is definitely possible a newcomer is at 2B too. It really comes down to whether there’s a bigger need in the OF or at 2B

 

[taylorvol]

It’s not that I’m not a jaslove fan lmao. He got put in a tough situation earlier this year and played fine. But he hit sub .200 before we even made it to conference play. It’s okay to say the guy isn’t quite to the level of this conference, very few are.

And no Ortega was not out of nowhere. Every person on that team knew he was a stud.

Jaslove only had 28 at bats in OOC play prior to SEC play beginning. Not a large enough sample size so not sure how anyone could definitively say he wouldn’t hit .250 in SEC. I will say his D was spectacular but who really knows if his bat would have sufficed. Hope we find some great options at SS as that’s the only big ? in the lineup.