vols66 asked me "what is problem w/team?

[Backwards K]

Here's my thoughts:

--Vols have not replaced bats or toughness that Smart, Price, and Maddox brought to the field last year.
--Vols really weak at both corner infield positions, one OF position.
--Bottom of order is overmatched badly by SEC pitching
--Vols bunt too much, give away too many outs on the bases, and have no power hitters. Scoring runs is like pulling teeth.
--Marks is only SEC quality starter and he would be a Sunday guy, at best for any team in the top half of the SEC.
--Cox has lost arm strength and is not as good as last year and no other pitcher is that versatile to cover those roles.
--Cant' get to Lee with a lead late in game. May as well start him. Not sure if he can give you 7 quality inn.
--KSerrano is not consistent enough to count on as a closer or weekend starter. Too much potential to be a week day guy or long relief guy. Has always struggled w/pressure
--Vols show a lack of mental toughness: lack of 2 out hits and/or hits w/RISP. On mound, too many walks, too many 2-0, 3-1 counts. In field, too many errors and bone head mistakes.
--Don't see this getting any better this year. Struggle to get that "coveted" 12th position in SEC standings.

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[vol66]

***Glad you started a thread on it, think it's time to air things out, thanks BK.

I agree with a lot of it. As it pertains to replacing Maddox, Smart and Price I knew it would be difficult offensively and I said all summer that I didn't know if Senzel could defensively hold his own...I thought Rodgers showed improvement both hitting and in the field but that's because he played basically no ball last season...of the three guys we've tried there he's the only one that can hit at all...so I'll be agreeing with all of your points regarding the bottom of our batting order...I don't want people to think I'm ragging on Senzel, he's made some fantastic plays, it's the routine ones, especially double play balls, he's had trouble with and that's mental imo.

I agree with the bunting to a degree. Early in games when by hook or by crook we get our lead off man on, yeah I don't like AJ bunting in the first inning, it's not that he's not good at it, he's the career leader at UT in doing it, but because the bottom of the line-up has been poor thus far our RBI's are more likely to come from the top 5 guys in the order...don't like giving up an out for a base there, jmo. I think that happened 1st inning of game three versus Vandy.

As far as the pitching goes, well...it wasn't expected to look like it does and my expectations for the season changed when we not only had to replace Williams, but Martin and Cox too. I don't know if I agree regarding Marks being a Sunday guy for everyone else, but certainly he's been the only consistent guy. I agree about Lee, he needs more innings somehow and CDS said the same yesterday, why it took the Cox injury to arrive at that decision is something I can find fault with.

As for what they can accomplish the rest of the way...other than A&M, many of the teams left on our schedule have been struggling with similar issues and I think 12 of our last 15 games are at home. It's all still there, Ole Miss is very similar to us, it's a winnable series even on the road. I agree with you about the mental toughness and would throw out lack of team leadership from guys like AJ, Stew, Cox etc...I believe they still have time to turn it around, it's gonna take a streak though, tough to do in the SEC.

Finally, I'll add to your points and say, these juniors aren't helping their draft stock any.

 

[OldTimer]

Finally, I'll add to your points and say, these juniors aren't helping their draft stock any.

except Andrew Lee. It's going to be real interesting to see where some of these guys get drafted and what they decide. I predict we will loose 2 guys to the draft.

Both of the previous post offer valid points and honest assessments.

Is it fixable, to a certain point, yes. I honestly believe most of the issues are mental at this point. Its sorta like the football schedule when we play the stretch of tough SEC games, all the faults are exposed and magnified exponentially.

As 66 mentions, when the schedule calms down I think we will pick up some momentum.

I honestly believe they will turn it around and make it to Hoover. Which at this point is all we can ask for........

 

[vol66]

except Andrew Lee. It's going to be real interesting to see where some of these guys get drafted and what they decide. I predict we will loose 2 guys to the draft.

Both of the previous post offer valid points and honest assessments.

Is it fixable, to a certain point, yes. I honestly believe most of the issues are mental at this point. Its sorta like the football schedule when we play the stretch of tough SEC games, all the faults are exposed and magnified exponentially.

As 66 mentions, when the schedule calms down I think we will pick up some momentum.

I honestly believe they will turn it around and make it to Hoover. Which at this point is all we can ask for........

Yeah, I shouldn't have lumped Andrew in there...thanks for weighing in Old Timer.

 

[31VFL]

I'd like to see the starters this weekend be a mix of Reid, Marks, and Owenby. Reid didn't have his best stuff against Vandy but minimized the damage, and his two starts before that were solid, shutting out an APSU team that beat the brakes off the ball tonight against MTSU and swept TTU this past weekend, and shutting out Cincy.

 

[vol66]

I'd like to see the starters this weekend be a mix of Reid, Marks, and Owenby. Reid didn't have his best stuff against Vandy but minimized the damage, and his two starts before that were solid, shutting out an APSU team that beat the brakes off the ball tonight against MTSU and swept TTU this past weekend, and shutting out Cincy.

You must be thinking of somebody besides Reid...he's only faced one batter and I don't think he pitched versus Vandy.

 

[GuRu]

I'd like to see the starters this weekend be a mix of Reid, Marks, and Owenby. Reid didn't have his best stuff against Vandy but minimized the damage, and his two starts before that were solid, shutting out an APSU team that beat the brakes off the ball tonight against MTSU and swept TTU this past weekend, and shutting out Cincy.

I think you're thinking about warren. It will be interesting who they put in that 3rd spot of the rotation. The d has got to improve and they really miss maddux in the lead off spot. Jackson is needed lower in the order and now he is hurt. I'm a huge Serrano fan and am glad he is the coach but this system doesn't work unless you play good d and get on base. Really need lance to bounce back.

 

[vol66]

Just to throw out a few more topics that haven't been mentioned...

I've actually heard CDS say he doesn't have much to do with the offense, it's really Coach Bergeron and the "system" they've employed at CSF and UCI...

Coach Mo left a couple of years ago, he's really a hitting coach, and Aric Thomas replaced him as recruiting coordinator. recruiting is better, but the hitting is not...and does the recruiting profile and the system match well?

Just throwing that out there to add to the discussion.

 

[31VFL]

You must be thinking of somebody besides Reid...he's only faced one batter and I don't think he pitched versus Vandy.

Yes, Warren. I had read the post regarding Reid before I posted and mixed the names up. Lol

 

[vol66]

Yes, Warren. I had read the post regarding Reid before I posted and mixed the names up. Lol

Well, they are both "Zach"...easy to do...gonna be interesting for sure.

 

[GuRu]

If you recruit better it should in a way offset the loss of a hitting coach. I like that they recruit fast athletic players but you need a few guys that can put the ball in the gap. 1st and 3rd and corner OF are places you need 2-3 big bats.

On the hitting coach note
I noticed watching a little that leftridge starts his hips late in his swing. The hips should start your swing and not your hands. Also, lance front foot is steps toward 3rd base every swing and he isn't getting good plate coverage.

 

[knoxville's finest]

except Andrew Lee. It's going to be real interesting to see where some of these guys get drafted and what they decide. I predict we will loose 2 guys to the draft.

Both of the previous post offer valid points and honest assessments.

Is it fixable, to a certain point, yes. I honestly believe most of the issues are mental at this point. Its sorta like the football schedule when we play the stretch of tough SEC games, all the faults are exposed and magnified exponentially.

As 66 mentions, when the schedule calms down I think we will pick up some momentum.

I honestly believe they will turn it around and make it to Hoover. Which at this point is all we can ask for........

Besides Stewart, who's the 2nd lost to the draft?

 

[GuRu]

Does anyone else want to see a weekend rotation of Cox, Marks, and Owenby? Move Serrano into cox spot in the pen ( I thought Serrano looked good out of the pen last weekend) Or replace Cox with Lee? And have cox in his same spot and Serrano the closer.

I just think we are giving away games trying to win one with the way it is now and to get back into it we need to start winning series.

 

[vol66]

Does anyone else want to see a weekend rotation of Cox, Marks, and Owenby? Move Serrano into cox spot in the pen ( I thought Serrano looked good out of the pen last weekend) Or replace Cox with Lee? And have cox in his same spot and Serrano the closer.

I just think we are giving away games trying to win one with the way it is now and to get back into it we need to start winning series.

I can't speak for anyone else, but Cox hasn't been healthy. We all thought Cox would be the Friday night guy, but when the season started he wasn't healthy...then last week he hurt his oblique and CDS said on Monday that Cox would make the trip, but he may or may no be able to pitch. He did okay today but he's not back to form yet imo. In addition, Hunter Martin hasn't been healthy either, that's two starters from last year that, due to health, haven't been able to go all out.

I agree KS looks better coming on in relief. I'm a big Lee fan, big time! However, I'm not sure he has enough stuff to get through a line up effectively more than twice, love to hear what others think on that. He has the temperament to be a Friday guy, just not sure he' got the secondary pitches for it, but he needs more innings imo.

 

[GuRu]

I can't speak for anyone else, but Cox hasn't been healthy. We all thought Cox would be the Friday night guy, but when the season started he wasn't healthy...then last week he hurt his oblique and CDS said on Monday that Cox would make the trip, but he may or may no be able to pitch. He did okay today but he's not back to form yet imo. In addition, Hunter Martin hasn't been healthy either, that's two starters from last year that, due to health, haven't been able to go all out.

I agree KS looks better coming on in relief. I'm a big Lee fan, big time! However, I'm not sure he has enough stuff to get through a line up effectively more than twice, love to hear what others think on that. He has the temperament to be a Friday guy, just not sure he' got the secondary pitches for it, but he needs more innings imo.

Injuries have really hurt, if Martin or Cox were throwing like they did last year I think the record would be a lot better.

Right now I think we are one or two quality arms short. Cox has looked good lately but idk how healthy he is. Really need Cox, Martin, Serrano, or even warren to step up and get deep into games in the rotation.

Chris hall has looked good the last two nights, would really help if stepped up the rest of the year.