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a few positives from last night’s debacle

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 8:47 am
by roanoke
It is a long season and there are going to be games like that one. It hurts because it was in hand all night - until it wasn’t.

It is a dangerous series because UT is backed into a corner and has plenty of talent. Again, it is a long season - ask Ole Miss after last year.

Even in a bad loss, there were various positives and lessons.

First positive, Carter Holton looked good and recovered. Very nice to see after the fatigue and then unconvincing start last week against the gamecocks. He had good movement and looked sharp.

Second positive, our infield pulled off the sports center #1 play of the day - and likely the play of the season. The play will be remembered longer than the outcome of the game. Good for the brand.

Lessons: if Owen isn’t ready - rest him. UT’s closer last night needed some time to regroup early in the season - but he was lights out last night. We need healthy pitchers in May and June more than we need wins now.

I’m in the camp that closers are best when used one inning at a time except in emergencies. Last night wasn’t an emergency. Ginther looked great in the seventh. I wish he had been left in for the eighth. Maldo was great in the eighth - but less so in the 9th. To be fair, the tying homer was a great pitch that was golfed out. Still that stadium is tiny and poses problems for both Maldo and Reilly who give up fly balls - that can carry out there. We need Maldo to be confident in May and June. Pitching him like a one inning closer will help there. His velo dropped noticeably after the first inning.

Last lesson: contact, small ball, advance runners, LOB. Mrs. Roanoke commented in the 7th inning that we had left too many runners on all night. I believe the 8th was our first 1-2-3 inning. 3 runs is not enough under those circumstances. Bunt, learn to make contact to beat the shift. Too many guy’s trying to pull at all costs. Small ball = team ball. We bunted once last night and got a hit!! Make them field. 19 strikeouts is not good. When it isn’t your night swinging for the stars - adjust to contact.

Re: a few positives from last night’s debacle

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:58 am
by DivergentDore
You nailed it with "Too many guy's trying to pull at all costs". Saw at least 25 swings last night where batters (both teams but mainly ours) had front hip open whiffing at low outside sliders and breaking balls. This strongly insinuates batters sitting dead red fastball on 0-1, 1-1, and 1-2 counts. Very low probability of getting a fastball in those counts.

Re: a few positives from last night’s debacle

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 11:28 am
by Vandy187187
How about today's debacle?

Re: No positives, but same lessons

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 12:34 pm
by roanoke
Through 3 innings, 5 LOB.

Bases loaded and no one out in second - no runs.

The staff needs to require contact when contact is required. The glaring fails the last two days put more focus on this recurring problem.

We really need to deal with it. We hack too much, stroke not enough. Bunt and swing to beat the shift really rarely. Tennessee’s first inning was a study in swinging for singles to beat the shift.

Re: a few positives from last night’s debacle

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2023 1:39 pm
by charlestonalum
We have some time to figure things out by tomorrow. Hard to stomach 7 stright losses to these guys: so win tomorrow and stay in 1st place.