Vols Suffer 7-3 Setback to #25 Va Tech

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Two big innings by No. 25 Virginia Tech proved to be too much to overcome as Tennessee dropped a 7-3 decision on the final day of the USA Baseball Irish Classic at Coleman Field at the National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.

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Discuss.
 
#2
#2
I don't follow baseball, but I like to see all the UT teams do well.
It's my understanding that the new coach was supposed to be a vast improvement over the old one. Is the Vol baseball team getting better or not? So far, they don't seem to be winning a lot.
 
#3
#3
Special Ed said:
I don't follow baseball, but I like to see all the UT teams do well.
It's my understanding that the new coach was supposed to be a vast improvement over the old one. Is the Vol baseball team getting better or not? So far, they don't seem to be winning a lot.
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I think they have gotten better but not able to constitently win.
 
#4
#4
Special Ed said:
I don't follow baseball, but I like to see all the UT teams do well.
It's my understanding that the new coach was supposed to be a vast improvement over the old one. Is the Vol baseball team getting better or not? So far, they don't seem to be winning a lot.
Click to expand...

This team is ridiculously young.
 
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#5
#5
Special Ed said:
I don't follow baseball, but I like to see all the UT teams do well.
It's my understanding that the new coach was supposed to be a vast improvement over the old one. Is the Vol baseball team getting better or not? So far, they don't seem to be winning a lot.
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if you dont understand the dynamic of this team and the state of the program, I'd suggest doing some research on it before jumping to dumb conclusions.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#6
#6
whocaresgobobcats said:
if you dont understand the dynamic of this team and the state of the program, I'd suggest doing some research on it before jumping to dumb conclusions.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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Why you gotta be like dat?
That's why the person was asking. They already stated they were unfamiliar with the program. :eek:k:
I actually appreciate when someone is curious about our other sports that may not get as much attention as football or basketball.:thumbsup:
Youth is a big factor plus Maddox is the only returning starter from last year's team and he's only a sophomore.
GO VOLS!
 
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#7
#7
SouthKnoxVOL said:
This team is ridiculously young.
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This.

I know it's a standard "excuse" around UT lately, but Serrano inherited jack. Todd Raleigh was the baseball equivalent to Dooley, probably worse. He had no business being hired as coach.
 
#8
#8
VolsSportsFan said:
This.

I know it's a standard "excuse" around UT lately, but Serrano inherited jack. Todd Raleigh was the baseball equivalent to Dooley, probably worse. He had no business being hired as coach.
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This is very much on point. His game day coaching was about equal to Dooley's, perhaps worse. And Dooley was a better recruiter.

As I stated on another thread...Serrano is probably the most proven coach we have in any sport on the hill besides the Weakleys. If Tennessee fans don't give Dave Serrano time to fix the baseball program, they don't deserve to see success in any sport.
 
#9
#9
RollerVol said:
Why you gotta be like dat?
That's why the person was asking. They already stated they were unfamiliar with the program. :eek:k:
I actually appreciate when someone is curious about our other sports that may not get as much attention as football or basketball.:thumbsup:
Youth is a big factor plus Maddox is the only returning starter from last year's team and he's only a sophomore.
GO VOLS!
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Just ignore him, he's one of the biggest jerks around here. All of his posts lately have been attacks and insults. Glad he presents himself as an Ohio fan rather than a Tennessee fan.

I'm in the same boat as the person who asked. I'm not in Tennessee and can't see the games so I just check out the scores. I want the Vols to do well in all sports. I guess wanting the team to win and getting to know the team is a crime in the minds of Ohio Bobcat fans.

I mean seriously... how can someone possibly be upset over something so trivial? Talk about angry and bitter for absolutely no reason.
 
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#10
#10
CDS and staff are playing young guys because they have chosen to play young guys. They didn't have to gut the roster the way that they did. Futhermore, there is a ton of top notch high school talent in this state and the current staff is yet to sign any of it. The uphill battle is gettin steeper for the Vols. I guess I'm just pissed that vandy is gonna hand our asses to us the next three years. Sorry for the rant
 
#11
#11
thegreatwhite1 said:
CDS and staff are playing young guys because they have chosen to play young guys.
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I agree. Stated this on another thread. Serrano can't blame the woes on having a young team when he CHOSE to have the young team. If you will notice the ONE game they won this series (Staurday) was when he played a limited number or freshmen. Do NOT understand why he is hell bent on starting freshmen who already are leading the SEC in errors AND strikeouts. There has to be a backup for every position or there is no incentive to perform any better. And when there is a backup who is performing better they need to get the start. That just seems to be common sense. His choices for lineup positioning is just baffling. The DH spot is a joke, his short stop has 6 errors already and a .158 BA, his catcher is leading the SEC in strikeouts. I don't doubt that any of these guys are talented players but you can't just put them all in at once and then blame them for the loss. The blame falls on the coach. I just don't see the wisdom in his decisions. Baseball is just as much mental as talent. You do not make a young team into winners by lumping them all in together and letting them lose for an entire season. You play the players that will win and let the younger ones build up their confidence. I do like Serrano and do wish the team success but I think the youth excuse is bogus.
 
#12
#12
I certainy am not one to shy away from being negative. ( nick williams faced 4 hitters today and got all 4 out. For the life of me I can't understand why he isn't on the mound to start to every 9th inning in a save situation)

But putting the young studs in the lineup and letting them play thru early failures is EXACTLY what DS should do with this years freshmen class. They will be better sooner because of it IMO.
 
#13
#13
Serrano could have had some more experience players on the roster, sure. But they would have fared no better than in past seasons and when those guys graduate, the team would be in no better shape than before.

So we have more talented but younger players and unlike the Delmonico era, they are not JUCO guys but true freshman so CDS is thinking long term rather CRD's short term gains.

The JUCO route left UT prone to highs and lows.

Using the same rather below par players will also get us nothing but a 4-5 more wins at most.
 
#14
#14
thegreatwhite1 said:
CDS and staff are playing young guys because they have chosen to play young guys. They didn't have to gut the roster the way that they did. Futhermore, there is a ton of top notch high school talent in this state and the current staff is yet to sign any of it. The uphill battle is gettin steeper for the Vols. I guess I'm just pissed that vandy is gonna hand our asses to us the next three years. Sorry for the rant
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What was the recrord last year? You don't seem to get it do you? The upper classmen were not SEC quality for the most part. These freshman are SEC quality for the most part...they're just freshman. If we had the upper classmen from last year our record would be the same. The upperclassmen last year could barely scratch a .250 average, and that's a fact. Like it or not, he's building this program for long term success.

As for recruiting, LOL...he brought in several really good players from in-state. Simcox, Andrew Lee, Drake Owenby are three local kids off the top of my head that are legit. Recruiting isn't a good area to attempt to attack Serrano.

Just because his plan doesn't work for some of our fans doesn't mean the plan won't work. Give it time, we will be playing solid SEC baseball for a long time. Or...we can run Serrano off. After he left a perrinial powerhouse program, lush fertile recruiting grounds, and uprooted his family to come cross country to coach our team. This guy sacrificed a lot to coach our program. I'm really ashamed of our fans.
 
#15
#15
RichRollin said:
What was the recrord last year? You don't seem to get it do you? The upper classmen were not SEC quality for the most part. These freshman are SEC quality for the most part...they're just freshman. If we had the upper classmen from last year our record would be the same. The upperclassmen last year could barely scratch a .250 average, and that's a fact. Like it or not, he's building this program for long term success.

As for recruiting, LOL...he brought in several really good players from in-state. Simcox, Andrew Lee, Drake Owenby are three local kids off the top of my head that are legit. Recruiting isn't a good area to attempt to attack Serrano.

Just because his plan doesn't work for some of our fans doesn't mean the plan won't work. Give it time, we will be playing solid SEC baseball for a long time. Or...we can run Serrano off. After he left a perrinial powerhouse program, lush fertile recruiting grounds, and uprooted his family to come cross country to coach our team. This guy sacrificed a lot to coach our program. I'm really ashamed of our fans.
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Yeah I get it Rich. I have been there watching them get their asses handed to them for the last 5 years. I agree that the guys that aren't there now weren't top notch talent. CDS has a small ball offense with an OVC pitching staff which ain't going to work. Heck that might even be an insult to the OVC. I guess I come from the Herm Edwards train of thought where "you play to win the game", instead of the wait till these guys grow up and then we will win.

I'd play my best players and allow them to get comfortable in the lineup instead of changing it up every game like CDS has done since he has been here. I bet there hasn't been the same lineup in back to back games since he got here.

With that said, I believe that CDS will get the program going in the right direction. Im not calling for him to be fired by any means. I do want to see us win... because that is why you play the game.
 
#17
#17
RichRollin said:
What was the recrord last year? You don't seem to get it do you? The upper classmen were not SEC quality for the most part. These freshman are SEC quality for the most part...they're just freshman. If we had the upper classmen from last year our record would be the same. The upperclassmen last year could barely scratch a .250 average, and that's a fact. Like it or not, he's building this program for long term success.

As for recruiting, LOL...he brought in several really good players from in-state. Simcox, Andrew Lee, Drake Owenby are three local kids off the top of my head that are legit. Recruiting isn't a good area to attempt to attack Serrano.

Just because his plan doesn't work for some of our fans doesn't mean the plan won't work. Give it time, we will be playing solid SEC baseball for a long time. Or...we can run Serrano off. After he left a perrinial powerhouse program, lush fertile recruiting grounds, and uprooted his family to come cross country to coach our team. This guy sacrificed a lot to coach our program. I'm really ashamed of our fans.
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Please, let's not make the coach into Mother Theresa. I'm glad we hired him, but it wasn't a sacrifice on his part to triple his pay, move to a lower cost area, remove himself from the California university system's uncertain budget future, and step into the nation's toughest conference. It was a good career move, not a mission of mercy.

I'm also not sold on the theory that the majority of this year's freshmen are recognized as SEC caliber anywhere beyond Knoxville city limits. Nearly all the elite 2012 high school grads were already committed before Serrano was even hired. A couple guys did have other SEC options, but I'm not aware that he nabbed anybody Vandy or other upper tier schools in the conference really went after hard. He did the best anyone could have under the circumstances, but I expect considerable roster turnover again next year.

It feeds the impatience you deplore when you oversell this freshman class. Look how our best player, Will Maddox, compares to the rest of last year's all-freshman SEC team and ask yourself which current freshman is on track to join that company. Then ask yourself which freshman or any other player on the team could win the same role he has on the Vols with a team in the top half of the SEC. I even include Maddox in that category because he doesn't really have the power you want in the 3-hole in the lineup or a corner infield spot. We still have a long ways to go.

I'm not criticizing any decisions the coaches made. He was dealt a bad hand. But it's hard to make a serious argument based on on-field performance that this team is better than last year's. Who replaces Steck and Morgan's power? Who has an arm like Pierce? Is Simcox as a freshman either the fielder or the hitter Zach Osborne was as a senior? Where are Blount's 11 saves going to come from (I know, I know)? Who can come in like Steck did last year and kill a big inning by throwing 95? These kids might get better than last year's team, but they haven't shown it on the field yet.

I have said all along not to judge Serrano until the 2013 high school grads have played their sophomore season. I still think that is the realistic schedule for seeing meaningful improvement.
 
#18
#18
ShowmeVols said:
Please, let's not make the coach into Mother Theresa. I'm glad we hired him, but it wasn't a sacrifice on his part to triple his pay, move to a lower cost area, remove himself from the California university system's uncertain budget future, and step into the nation's toughest conference. It was a good career move, not a mission of mercy.

I'm also not sold on the theory that the majority of this year's freshmen are recognized as SEC caliber anywhere beyond Knoxville city limits. Nearly all the elite 2012 high school grads were already committed before Serrano was even hired. A couple guys did have other SEC options, but I'm not aware that he nabbed anybody Vandy or other upper tier schools in the conference really went after hard. He did the best anyone could have under the circumstances, but I expect considerable roster turnover again next year.

It feeds the impatience you deplore when you oversell this freshman class. Look how our best player, Will Maddox, compares to the rest of last year's all-freshman SEC team and ask yourself which current freshman is on track to join that company. Then ask yourself which freshman or any other player on the team could win the same role he has on the Vols with a team in the top half of the SEC. I even include Maddox in that category because he doesn't really have the power you want in the 3-hole in the lineup or a corner infield spot. We still have a long ways to go.

I'm not criticizing any decisions the coaches made. He was dealt a bad hand. But it's hard to make a serious argument based on on-field performance that this team is better than last year's. Who replaces Steck and Morgan's power? Who has an arm like Pierce? Is Simcox as a freshman either the fielder or the hitter Zach Osborne was as a senior? Where are Blount's 11 saves going to come from (I know, I know)? Who can come in like Steck did last year and kill a big inning by throwing 95? These kids might get better than last year's team, but they haven't shown it on the field yet.

I have said all along not to judge Serrano until the 2013 high school grads have played their sophomore season. I still think that is the realistic schedule for seeing meaningful improvement.
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Steckenrider was the man on the mound...for 2-3 innings. He was highly over rated hitting. Osborne was a good shortstop, what was his batting average. Unless it took a miraculous jump by seasons end I remember it being in the lower 200s. Is that what you want from your upper classmen? Mid to lower 200 batting averages? And a defeatist attitude to go with it. If we had those guys back we would be average at best and people would still be moaning. Again, if the upperclassmen were so good...what happened last year? Those guys were maxed out and we were losing. I guess that's my point. As far as I'm concerned, this young team isn't much if any worse with a much higher ceiling. Recruiting is gonna get better. Everything's just gonna take time. I'm telling you, I'm one of the least patient people walking the face of this earth. But dude was dealt a pathetically weak hand.
 
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#19
#19
According to Warren Nolan, we've played the 10th toughest schedule in the nation, 2nd in the SEC behind only LSU thus far. RPI is a very respectable 48. I certainly agree with Bruin regarding Nick Williams. I don't pretend to know what CDS is thinking, but it seems like the only way to know what you have in these young freshmen is to put them in some games against good competition and see how they handle the pressure and handle adversity. Kidd and Bennett would be a BIG help based on what I've heard so far. I think it was hoped that Houser would have a better bat, but without Bennett, Manis is a safer play imo.

This is the time of year to expose the young guys and see what they can do, I agree though, it's time to start the tweaking and fine tuning. Winning out this week would be huge.

*edit* I was looking at some stats and realized that Bennett started a game in the ASU series. Belmont game has been scrubbed.
 
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#20
#20
RichRollin said:
Steckenrider was the man on the mound...for 2-3 innings. He was highly over rated hitting. Osborne was a good shortstop, what was his batting average. Unless it took a miraculous jump by seasons end I remember it being in the lower 200s. Is that what you want from your upper classmen? Mid to lower 200 batting averages? And a defeatist attitude to go with it. If we had those guys back we would be average at best and people would still be moaning. Again, if the upperclassmen were so good...what happened last year? Those guys were maxed out and we were losing. I guess that's my point. As far as I'm concerned, this young team isn't much if any worse with a much higher ceiling. Recruiting is gonna get better. Everything's just gonna take time. I'm telling you, I'm one of the least patient people walking the face of this earth. But dude was dealt a pathetically weak hand.
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Rich,
I don't think we disagree about any of this. I'm not saying this team isn't the best team that could have been assembled for this year given the circumstances. I'm saying they have not yet shown they are already better than last year's guys. Some folks are way more enthusiastic about this year's potential than the on-field performance demonstrated so far warrants. They might indeed get a lot better, but they haven't yet given me a reason to believe--for this year.
 
#21
#21
Last year, we couldn't even hit the ball out of the infield. Osborne, Fritts, Pierce, etc. Our top RBI guy had 28 for the entire year! Our best way to get on base was a HBP. Teams certainly weren't afraid to pitch to anybody. We were playing about our heads last year until Godley went down about half way through the SEC season which stretched us even thinner on the mound.
 
#22
#22
yes, let's judge this team full of freshmen and JUCOs 15 games into the season and not expect them to get any better.

you sure do type a lot of words, but they don't make much sense.
 
#23
#23
I am hoping 2-3 of these freshmen will have a Maddox type impact this year and then Price filling in nicely as well. That would essentially give us a good base lineup to go compete with. Maddox hit .297 last year.
 
#25
#25
ShowmeVols said:
Rich,
I don't think we disagree about any of this. I'm not saying this team isn't the best team that could have been assembled for this year given the circumstances. I'm saying they have not yet shown they are already better than last year's guys. Some folks are way more enthusiastic about this year's potential than the on-field performance demonstrated so far warrants. They might indeed get a lot better, but they haven't yet given me a reason to believe--for this year.
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I'm not expecting a whole lot this year when it's said and done. Perhaps they're not better than last year, but up until this point the schedule is brutal compared to last years if I remember correctly. I just think this years results thus far are due to youth and lack of quality depth in areas. Last year I felt it was lack of talent and quality depth. I think guys like Simcox, Visciano, Vincent Jackson, Owenby, Lee, etc. when they are juniors will be way better than last years upperclassmen. The talent isn't where it needs to be, but these boys will serve as a great foundation. But I see what you are saying, and your argument is valid.
 
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