A comparison?

[fryeguy93]

For those guys who are my age or older.

This team with limited talented and even more limited coaching may mirror another Vol team which many may be familiar with; the 1993-1994 Tennessee Basketball team.

I graduated UT in December 1993 so I recall the first half of that season very well. By the way, at the same time the UT baseball program was humming along getting ready for the second Todd Helton season.

The basketball team started their pre-SEC slate 2-6 with some bad losses to UALR, VaTech, and Western Carolina. They were blown out by Syracuse and mediocre Tiger High team. Their 2 wins were against incredibly bad UTM to open season and to even worse Mercer team. Midway through the conference slate they beat TennTech. With this massive momentum the Vols finished SEC slate 2-14 and was beat again by MissSt in SEC Tourney.

This was the season after Alan Houston and his "Stand around and watch" teammates graduated.

I compare Cody Hawn and Blake Forsythe leaving to Alan Houston leaving. As they provided much of the Vol offense as well as some stability.

The coaching staff knows this is important season. They know there has to be improvement and this embarrassing OOC schedule shows they are thrashing in the water.

They recognize there is little talent in the lineup. There is no more (likely less) talent in the pitching staff. Worse, not only is the talent questionable, it is young as well.

I appreciate the optimism by some on here, but I think the chances of the Vols finishing under .500 (even with soft schedule) is greater than a .500 finish.

The 1994 Vol cagers finished 5-22 (.185) overall and 2-15 (.118) against SEC.

The equivalent winning percentages in baseball would result 10-45 overall record and 4-26 in SEC.

I don't think these records are likely as there is far more luck in baseball than basketball. Our Vols could get a few extra breaks here and there and get 4-5 extra conference wins.

Plus the Vols' out-of-conference record would need to be 6-19. With the very bad opponents we have scheduled, this does not seem likely. I hope not anyway. At least Wade Houston scheduled some tough OOC teams even if he did not beat them.


So midway through season, let's expect Todd Raleigh to again state

(1) his team is still fighting, "We're really uhhh uhhhh uhhh close"
(2) ERA has improved over 2010 (due mainly to dead bats)
(3) Vols are running bases better.

If the Vols are not above .500 going into SEC play. Then Hamilton needs to pull the trigger immediately and send the man packing.

The only way this team has a chance is to play and excel playing small ball. Even the Raleigh defenders have to admit the man has no experience and prior success in coaching such a team.

[orangepeopleeater]

You lost me at the 1993-1994 Tennessee Basketball team.

[fryeguy93]

Originally Posted by orangepeopleeater

You lost me at the 1993-1994 Tennessee Basketball team.

Up until 2011, that basketball team was the worst UT sports team of anyone's memory. This baseball team with it's talent and experience problems (and poor coaching) could be similar.

That's why the comparison.

Is Todd Raleigh like Wade Houston? However, Wade produced a son who was the best player in country?

[Hobock]

Although I appreciate the effort you put into that post, it seems difficult to make comparisons to a team that has yet to play a single inning of ball.

[sdowell]

tennessee will probably be above 500 going to the sec season with the cupcake schedule they have. then they will go 9-21 in the sec, which will then get raleigh fired. after that, we hire a new coach that will take at least 2seasons to recruit new blood that will be competitive. it will be a long time till we are good again in baseball. a long time !!

[fryeguy93]

Originally Posted by Hobock

Although I appreciate the effort you put into that post, it seems difficult to make comparisons to a team that has yet to play a single inning of ball.

Easy, we knew that basketball team was going to be terrible. Making predictions is what we do in January and February.

I think Toles may be the best player but he will only bat every third inning.

[P.D. Shooter]

I did hear some good news today. Ramsey's arm is getting better. Heard he may be limited to DH here at the start but may be ready to pitch the next weekend or so. We may also see some of Duffy and Thurber on the bump due to injuries. I know they both have been throwing pens.

[Hobock]

Originally Posted by fryeguy93

Easy, we knew that basketball team was going to be terrible. Making predictions is what we do in January and February.

I think Toles may be the best player but he will only bat every third inning.

I hope you're right about Toles. He certainly has as many (or more) tools as anyone on the team. The most important factor for a true freshman is how they respond to adversity. Once SEC teams get a book on how to pitch to you, it can make for a frustrating experience for a kid who's used to high school pitchers that serve it up.

[firestorm]

Originally Posted by sdowell

tennessee will probably be above 500 going to the sec season with the cupcake schedule they have. then they will go 9-21 in the sec, which will then get raleigh fired. after that, we hire a new coach that will take at least 2seasons to recruit new blood that will be competitive. it will be a long time till we are good again in baseball. a long time !!

I disagree going 9-21 in the SEC. This team is not going to get off to a poor start in the SEC,and

You can say it will be a long time until the Dawgs are good in baseball again.

[VolsSportsFan]

Originally Posted by fryeguy93

Up until 2011, that basketball team was the worst UT sports team of anyone's memory. This baseball team with it's talent and experience problems (and poor coaching) could be similar.

That's why the comparison.

Is Todd Raleigh like Wade Houston? However, Wade produced a son who was the best player in country?

While that was definitely up there, wasn't there a baseball team in the late 80s that won like 4 games?

[VolGraduate]

Great comparison
Posted via VolNation Mobile

[VolDoc11]

Originally Posted by Hobock

I hope you're right about Toles. He certainly has as many (or more) tools as anyone on the team. The most important factor for a true freshman is how they respond to adversity. Once SEC teams get a book on how to pitch to you, it can make for a frustrating experience for a kid who's used to high school pitchers that serve it up.

I heard Toles is extremely lazy.. but I guess if you are that talented.. you dont need to work at this level..I guess.

[Hobock]

Originally Posted by VolDoc11

I heard Toles is extremely lazy.. but I guess if you are that talented.. you dont need to work at this level..I guess.

Toles was notorious for not running out ground balls when he first got to UT. I think Raleigh has worked out those "kinks"...

[VolDoc11]

Bet he does not work as hard as Josh L. Not many hustle like him. If Toles is going to center and I heard Thurber in left and the other freshman stud in right.. then where will Josh go?

[Hobock]

Originally Posted by VolDoc11

Bet he does not work as hard as Josh L. Not many hustle like him. If Toles is going to center and I heard Thurber in left and the other freshman stud in right.. then where will Josh go?

Toles in Center, Thurber in Right, Fritts in Left,
Liles at 1B.