The Official #1 Tennessee @ Vandy SEC Tourney Semi-Final Game Thread (Sat. May 25 4:30PM EST SEC NETWORK)

[6-4-3]

Next man up!

The good news for them is that the scouting reports on them are pretty thin given lack of innings in the SEC. Ideally, if they each only see the lineup once, they will likely be effective. Then move to the next guy.

 

[theroyz71]

I was just wondering, did anybody think we should’ve pulled Phillips?

I won't lie, the thought crossed my mind but I was hoping he would work out of it.

 

[6-4-3]

Which part of Tennessee baseball history do you think most fans remember (or care about):

1. 2022 team that won regular season and tournament titles but failed to make it to the World Series

2. 2023 team that won no sec titles but made it to the World Series.

We judge teams by history all the time, and there’s one metric that matters in our sport - and it’s not a tournament title.

And I know my reply really wasn’t addressing what you were talking about, but just had to throw my opinion in there for what team I remember. lol.

 

[theroyz71]

Do you remember it for the wins, or that we were knocked out in supers (or both)?

For the wins and how dominant they were, until they weren't.

 

[volplaya8]

I actually put the 2021 team ahead of both of the years you mention. That blue collar team was full of guys that transformed this program to open the door for the 2022 and 2023 teams. That team is the one that built what we have today. Late inning wins and walk offs, scrappy, talented and confident. They were trailblazers, winning a regional for the first time in many years, winning a super, and going to the CWS for the first time in like 16 years. That team put us on the map, put butts in the seats, caused us to add seating for a regional, created a watch party on a Jumbotron in the street for supers, and got UT fans excited about something during a time of Covid and lackluster performance in other UT sports. Personally, I believe that is the team that got this run started, without question. I know CTV has mentioned the same many times.

To piggyback off of this I looked at my fiancé when we won that 2021 supers and I told her remember this moment, we will never be as excited or pure joy seen today and in the week before when Gilbert hit his walkoff. We have now changed this program and its expectations and you will never see this reaction again. Then we saw it in 2022 with the greatest team ever assembled and people were actually disappointed when they were amazing and ran through the league like something we had never seen before. Now we have people complaining if we don’t win the entire thing. It is funny how fast things change. I will say this…the 19 and 20 guys were the true trialblazers, I think the 20 team was headed for great things and they were a wonderful group that the 21 team built off of. The first true stars that signed up with Tony when we were absolutely nothing…the Zach Daniels and Alerick Soularies of the the world will forever be some of my all time faves! I hate they got stripped of that 20 season and had moved on by 21.

 

[WillisWG]

Committee is setting up a 1/16 with Mississippi State. This one seed and no rest scares me.

That's today's D1 projection

 

[volplaya8]

That's today's D1 projection

Southern Miss in their regional would have something to say about that…I love regional baseball weekend!

 

[knoxvol52]

Somebody was up throwing but I couldn’t tell who it was from my seat.

Dylan Loy.

 

[knoxvol52]

History says otherwise.

Come on man, you have watched enough baseball to know that usually the best team on paper doesn't win the Championship.

Fresno State with a hurt Aaron Judge in RF won the damn CWS with almost 30 losses.

 

[greasemachine]

️

 

[volplaya8]

️

Studs on and off the field!

 

[kell7517]

Pitching Loy today would take pitches away from him tomorrow. It’s called being a manager.

Is that what it’s called. Wouldn’t have mattered if we lost now would it. Play for the day. Not tomorrow. It’s called staying alive.

 

[knoxvol52]

Committee is setting up a 1/16 with Mississippi State. This one seed and no rest scares me.

@VolPack22

What does rest for teams that dominate regular seasons?

Ask the Braves and Dodgers about last 6 postseasons.

 

[NighthawkVol]

I was just wondering, did anybody think we should’ve pulled Phillips?

No. And I said that at the time. Because pulling Phillips takes away an arm for today, which could affect next week. TV played it perfectly (and Phillips rewarded him).

 

[NighthawkVol]

Is that what it’s called. Wouldn’t have mattered if we lost now would it. Play for the day. Not tomorrow. It’s called staying alive.

Nope. It wouldn’t have. Not in the grand scheme. You try to win with the guys on the field, but you don’t sacrifice the bigger prize in doing so. That’s how TV played it.

 

[theroyz71]

I just finished watching the highlights on YouTube. I have to say, the defense was outstanding yesterday.

 

[VolPack22]

@VolPack22

What does rest for teams that dominate regular seasons?

Ask the Braves and Dodgers about last 6 postseasons.

The last 2 seasons alone, the Dodgers and Braves have been the 1 and 2 seeds in the NL and lost their first series of the postseason. They took an entire week off while the other teams got to stay in a rhythm and play a best of 3 games wildcard series. It’s a fact that baseball players need to keep playing as opposed to resting a week.

 

[VolPack22]

Is that what it’s called. Wouldn’t have mattered if we lost now would it. Play for the day. Not tomorrow. It’s called staying alive.

It’s called Tony is the manager and he knows what he is doing. Question him all you wish, you be proven wrong more times than not. Best coach in the country and it isn’t really close right now.

 

[tn4elvis]

The last 2 seasons alone, the Dodgers and Braves have been the 1 and 2 seeds in the NL and lost their first series of the postseason. They took an entire week off while the other teams got to stay in a rhythm and play a best of 3 games wildcard series. It’s a fact that baseball players need to keep playing as opposed to resting a week.

I think that is some what true. I think the Braves had an open try out for guys wanting to play in some scrimmage games during the off week.

 

[VolPack22]

I think that is some what true. I think the Braves had an open try out for guys wanting to play in some scrimmage games during the off week.

Yeah but that’s not the same as facing an Aaron Nola or Zack Wheeler that are trying to beat your brains in because they are a hated rival. MLB postseason games are on another level. The intensity of those games cannot be simulated.

 

[tn4elvis]

Yeah but that’s not the same as facing an Aaron Nola or Zack Wheeler that are trying to beat your brains in because they are a hated rival. MLB postseason games are on another level. The intensity of those games cannot be simulated.

Braves need to get and stay healthy

 

[VolPack22]

Braves need to get and stay healthy

I have zero confidence in that happening. Murphy strains his oblique opening day. Strider has UCL surgery 2 starts into the season. Riley gets inflammation then Snitker runs him out there anyways and then he is out multiple weeks. Smith-Shawver has a great season debut and has another oblique strain so he will be out at least 2 months. Add to all that, Ozuna is literally the only producing and Acuña has forgotten how to play baseball.

 

[WillisWG]

C

I was just wondering, did anybody think we should’ve pulled Phillips?

CTV has some stones. General consensus was go get him but he showed great faith in Phillips and the D to get it done.

It was "the" point where many a Vol fan saw an L coming and VandyLand were thinking were going get the W then we ripped it away from them. That they thought they had it only to watch slip away makes me very, very happy.

 

[volplaya8]

Nope. It wouldn’t have. Not in the grand scheme. You try to win with the guys on the field, but you don’t sacrifice the bigger prize in doing so. That’s how TV played it.

Yes bingo…but he was asking if anybody was…there were plenty of people who dont know any better saying to pull him…hahaha

 

[MagnoliaVol]

If he has it, this would be a great game for @Freak to post