Tennessee Softball 2023

#3,055
#3,055
Just some random thoughts. I know some posters have expressed concerns that Payton Gottshall may need to leave the weekend rotation. I understand that concern. Payton has struggled her last two starts.

But let's take a look at her numbers.
Payton has pitched 41.1 innings. She has 65 strikeouts and only 7 walks. She has given up 9 earned runs on 19 hits. Thoes are incredible numbers. She is 7 and 0 for the year. With the inconsistency of umpires these days, I dare say a good pitcher would be hard pressed to get those type numbers pitching to a manakin.

Even with her two (relatively) short appearances against Alabama and Texas A& M she has a complete game win against Ole Miss and a 3.1 inning performance against LSU. In total she has pitched 12.2 innings in four series against SEC Competition. Yes, the SEC is better than the MAC. But there are 14 teams in the MAC and I gurantee those teams have talent.

As I said in a post yesterday, she has been struggling with one pitch. What ever she intends that pitch to do...unfortunately it's not working. What ever the issue is, Megan came out in the first inning and tried to settle her down. Karen called the culprit pitch to three consecutive batters resulting in three base hits. But it lets you know Karen and Megan believed they could get her going. When she hit Wiggins it was a different pitch signaling she had lost control of more than one pitch. Thank goodness for Pickens who had her own struggles on Saturday.

Baylor is currently 23rd in 2 April RPI. Mercer is 173rd. There are currently 306 teams listed. Baylor will be a tough out and I suspect Mercer will surprise.
 
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#3,058
#3,058
There's a fine line between pulling a pitcher when she's struggling and ruining a pitcher's confidence by pulling him or her early in too many games--and I think Karen has a history of yanking pitchers at the first sign of trouble--or certainly the second. In most cases she does not believe in letting pitchers work
their way out of trouble--and that's how pitchers lose confidence. If I'm Weekly, the next time Gottshall starts I'm going to try and stick with her as long as possible. It's hard to play if coaches are looking over your shoulder.
 
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#3,059
#3,059
turbovol said:
There's a fine line between pulling a pitcher when she's struggling and ruining a pitcher's confidence by pulling him or her early in too many games--and I think Karen has a history of yanking pitchers at the first sign of trouble--or certainly the second. In most cases she does not believe in letting pitchers work
their way out of trouble--and that's how pitchers lose confidence. If I'm Weekly, the next time Gottshall starts I'm going to try and stick with her as long as possible. It's hard to play if coaches are looking over your shoulder.
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i feel like she’s let pickens work through a lot of trouble this season, along with rogers. i do agree tho, she needs to let gottshall work through her trouble. she has a shorter leash with her.
 
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#3,060
#3,060
Kentucky beat Georgia 4-0 tonight. We are now back in first place at 10 and 2. Georgia is now 9 and 2. We can't relax with Mercer and Baylor coming in for two games each midweek. We play Virginia Tech this weekend. Each opponent will want to take us down. But we do have a reprieve from SEC play.

Georgia has seven pitchers on their roster. Wow, thought we were deep.
 
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#3,062
#3,062
turbovol said:
There's a fine line between pulling a pitcher when she's struggling and ruining a pitcher's confidence by pulling him or her early in too many games--and I think Karen has a history of yanking pitchers at the first sign of trouble--or certainly the second. In most cases she does not believe in letting pitchers work
their way out of trouble--and that's how pitchers lose confidence. If I'm Weekly, the next time Gottshall starts I'm going to try and stick with her as long as possible. It's hard to play if coaches are looking over your shoulder.
Click to expand...
Accurate statement
 
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#3,064
#3,064
orange beard said:
Start her against Mercer and ride her till the end.
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Pitching is ups, downs and rhythm. Nobody puts more pressure on themselves than a pitcher because of the ball being in their hand each pitch and the responsibility of the position. The slightest thing wrong is the difference in a strike or ball.
 
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#3,065
#3,065
turbovol said:
There's a fine line between pulling a pitcher when she's struggling and ruining a pitcher's confidence by pulling him or her early in too many games--and I think Karen has a history of yanking pitchers at the first sign of trouble--or certainly the second. In most cases she does not believe in letting pitchers work
their way out of trouble--and that's how pitchers lose confidence. If I'm Weekly, the next time Gottshall starts I'm going to try and stick with her as long as possible. It's hard to play if coaches are looking over your shoulder.
Click to expand...

As opposed to TV who seems to do what you suggest? It's hard to play comeback ball when you find yourself behind in the first inning. At least in SB you can bring a pitcher back in.

Choose your poison.
 
#3,067
#3,067
I4Vols said:
As opposed to TV who seems to do what you suggest? It's hard to play comeback ball when you find yourself behind in the first inning. At least in SB you can bring a pitcher back in.

Choose your poison.
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Agree to an extent. Playing from behind 1-2 runs is different than 3-5 runs after one. Our offense should be able to create opportunities to get 1-2 of those back in the first three innings. If not then we have other issues being overlooked because of pitching.
 
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#3,071
#3,071
I know everyone can look these up but thought since I have the time would compile some statistics.

ESPN.COM Softball Ratings as of 3 April
Clemson #4 (Tn shut out Clemson 1-0 early)
Tn #5
Georgia #8 (Tn does not play)
Arkansas #9
Texas #10 ( scheduled but Wx cancelation)
LSU # T 12 (Tn swept series)
Alabama #14 (Tn won series 2 to 1)
Kentucky # 15
VA Tech # 17 (Tn plays Tech on Tuesday next week)
Florida #18
Texas A&M #19 (Tn took series 2 to 1)
Northwestern #20 (Tn shutout 6-0 early)
Baylor #22 (Tn plays Baylor twice this week)

This is a big week for us. Baylor and Virginia Tech will need a win to bolster their NCAA Tournament resume. As @kregman has pointed out several times we need to finish in the top 8 to get a Super Regional in Knoxville. So, although we are not having a conference series this weekend the stakes can't get any higher. (We also play Mercer twice this week).
 
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#3,072
#3,072
Aladywhovolunteer said:
I know everyone can look these up but thought since I have the time would compile some statistics.

ESPN.COM Softball Ratings as of 27 March
Tn #3
Clemson #5 (Tn shut out Clemson 1-0 early)
Georgia #10 (Tn does not play)
Arkansas #11
LSU #12 (Tn swept series)
Flordia #T 13
Alabama #T 13 (Tn won series 2 to 1)
Kentucky #T 16
VA Tech # T 16 (Tn plays Tech this weekend)
Texas A&M #21 (Tn took series 2 to 1)
Baylor #22 (Tn plays Baylor twice this week)

This is a big week for us. Baylor and Virginia Tech will need a win to bolster their NCAA Tournament resume. As @kregman has pointed out several times we need to finish in the top 8 to get a Super Regional in Knoxville. So, although we are not having a conference series this weekend the stakes can't get any higher.
Click to expand...

Good stuff, thank you. They play Mercer and Baylor Thursday and Friday this week. They play VT Tuesday night next week and at UK next weekend.
https://utsports.com/sports/softball/schedule
 
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#3,074
#3,074
kregman said:
I can’t believe they would not put those games on sec+
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UT only has one control room to produce broadcasts, they have to hire a TV truck and crew if there are multiple events at the same time. They were scheduled to do all four games on SECN+, but the baseball series vs. Florida was moved to Thursday-Saturday and UT is obligated to provide its production room and equipment to produce those games for linear TV, per the SEC/ESPN TV contract. By the time baseball was moved, the production unit they normally hire to do games when there is a conflict was committed to another event.
 
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#3,075
#3,075
DeerPark12 said:
UT only has one control room to produce broadcasts, they have to hire a TV truck and crew if there are multiple events at the same time. They were scheduled to do all four games on SECN+, but the baseball series vs. Florida was moved to Thursday-Saturday and UT is obligated to provide its production room and equipment to produce those games for linear TV, per the SEC/ESPN TV contract. By the time baseball was moved, the production unit they normally hire to do games when there is a conflict was committed to another event.
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Bummer. No chance?
 
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