Why???

[BruinVol]

After winning game 3 at georgia, a nice mid week win against a good team, and a huge Friday night win, why on earth did DS feel the need to start a freshmen(Zajac) in game 2 in his first appearance of the year?


Is there a logical explanation? It seems to me that the Vols had to be feeling good about themselves and to try something that far out of the box was foolish.
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[firestorm]

Originally Posted by BruinVol

After winning game 3 at georgia, a nice mid week win against a good team, and a huge Friday night win why on earth did DS feel the need to start a freshmen(Zajac) in game 2 in his first appearance of the year?


Is there a logical explanation? It seems to me that the Vols had to be feeling good about themselves and to try something that far out of the box was foolish.
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All I can think of is maybe he thought it's better for the Freshman to get experience early in the first half of SEC Games instead of the second half.
That and possible to much confidence after a major 4-1 win. Sure the Vols won, and a terrific performance by Godley but not complete domination as in no Hitter.

The Vols Defense contained the Wildcats from producing the big hits, major throwing error to first, and a hit that was favorable getting behind the Wildcats catcher.

[vol66]

I wondered the same thing, Thornton was scheduled to pitch. The article just mentioned "circumstances", nothing specific and after game three he was asked if he regretted not starting Thornton in game two, Serrano said he wouldn't second guess himself.

Seemed odd to me too, we had some momentum. That's why he gets paid the bucks I guess.

In addition, we have 2 mid-week games this week, seems like Zajak could've gotten a start then.

[E-Tizzle]

Originally Posted by BruinVol

After winning game 3 at georgia, a nice mid week win against a good team, and a huge Friday night win, why on earth did DS feel the need to start a freshmen(Zajac) in game 2 in his first appearance of the year?


Is there a logical explanation? It seems to me that the Vols had to be feeling good about themselves and to try something that far out of the box was foolish.
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Originally Posted by vol66

I wondered the same thing, Thornton was scheduled to pitch. The article just mentioned "circumstances", nothing specific and after game three he was asked if he regretted not starting Thornton in game two, Serrano said he wouldn't second guess himself.

Seemed odd to me too, we had some momentum. That's why he gets paid the bucks I guess.

In addition, we have 2 mid-week games this week, seems like Zajak could've gotten a start then.

"Circumstances" could mean a variety of things (tough week of practice, academic, team rules, injury/precaution). The fact that CDS said he wouldn't second guess himself tells me all that I need to know.

I can remember plenty of instances from my playing days where guys were quietly pulled from the weekend rotation for very legitimate reasons. Just because it wasn't announced to the media/public, doesn't mean that it wasn't a legitimate reason. Now if you hear players coming out to the media about it, then you can second guess CDS, but I really don't see that happening.

CDS is a really good coach, and is still dealing with a lot of players with whom he did not recruit. Anything is possible, but if the rotation goes back to normal, I wouldn't put much thought into it.

[BruinVol]

My issue isn't because there was a change made in the rotation. I know that happens all the time for reasons on and off the field. My problem is that DS chose a freshmen that hadn't made a pitch in his career to make the replacement. A team with a big 3game winning streak and a lot of momentum shouldn't do something so out of the box unless I am missing something. Not saying it decided the series but it sure is very perplexing.
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[Vols4us]

Does it matter who starts if the team only scores two total runs in two games? The problem is not pitching - it's hitting and scoring runs.

[firestorm]

Originally Posted by Vols4us

Does it matter who starts if the team only scores two total runs in two games? The problem is not pitching - it's hitting and scoring runs.

Pitching is a problem. In the 2 SEC Wins offense's were contained. The UG Bulldogs were shut out 3-0, UK Wildcats contained in a 4-1 loss.
In the losses both the Wildcats and UG Bulldogs have had major innings of scoring more than 3 runs, and not being contained continue to score.

Can't deny the hitting, and scoring runs is abysmal plus problems but to say pitching isn't is foolish.
2 Losses to the UG Dawgs 10-5 plus a shutout, 2 losses to Wildcats 6-2, and 6-0.

[E-Tizzle]

Originally Posted by BruinVol

My issue isn't because there was a change made in the rotation. I know that happens all the time for reasons on and off the field. My problem is that DS chose a freshmen that hadn't made a pitch in his career to make the replacement. A team with a big 3game winning streak and a lot of momentum shouldn't do something so out of the box unless I am missing something. Not saying it decided the series but it sure is very perplexing.
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Gotta throw that first inning at some point. If he recruited the kid, then he must have potential. For all we know, the kid could have looked dominant in the 'pen.

[DeerPark12]

It seems to me that, outside of Godley, we don't have a "starting" pitcher that is going to give us 6-7 innings.

So what Serrano has been forced into is basically treating every other game as a midweek game, where he's counting on guys to give 2-3 good innings each. If they pitch longer than that, it's a bonus. Using that strategy, it doesn't really even matter who starts, as long as he can give you two good innings.

Zajac gave up two earned runs in the second, then left in the third. He did what we needed. He was credited as the losing pitcher, but his pitching is not what lost the game for us. Past Godley, I don't see our other pitchers needing to do anything other than not lose games for us.

Even if Nick Williams becomes a full-time starter, Serrano is still looking at this the same way. He just wants to win games, and with the people we have on the roster, piecing together innings from pitchers to form complete games is the best way to do it. It's a little outside of the box, but that's where our talent is. We're going to have to find a way to hit the ball, though.

[BruinVol]

Originally Posted by etmccreary

Gotta throw that first inning at some point. If he recruited the kid, then he must have potential. For all we know, the kid could have looked dominant in the 'pen.

He didnt recruit the kid and the he "has to the throw the first pitch sometime" argument doesnt hold water. Thats why you have a preconference schedule and midweek games. Zajac should have pitched in any of those games to get his feet wet unless he had some sort of injury and I have seen nothing to convince me that was the case.

[DeerPark12]

Originally Posted by BruinVol

He didnt recruit the kid and the he "has to the throw the first pitch sometime" argument doesnt hold water. Thats why you have a preconference schedule and midweek games. Zajac should have pitched in any of those games to get his feet wet unless he had some sort of injury and I have seen nothing to convince me that was the case.

So the fact that he performed well against a top-10 team doesn't change that?

I just don't see how you know better than the coaching staff on this issue.

[BruinVol]

Originally Posted by DeerPark12

So the fact that he performed well against a top-10 team doesn't change that?

I just don't see how you know better than the coaching staff on this issue.

Deer you and I are usually in agreement here but I don't see how starting a kid with zero experience doesn't open up DS for criticism. A 3game win streak isn't a time for experimenting with lineups IMO after a losing streak sure why not. Giving up 3 runs in less than 3innings isn't a good start no matter if it was viewed as a staff day or not.
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[DeerPark12]

Originally Posted by BruinVol

Deer you and I are usually in agreement here but I don't see how starting a kid with zero experience doesn't open up DS for criticism. A 3game win streak isn't a time for experimenting with lineups IMO after a losing streak sure why not. Giving up 3 runs in less than 3innings isn't a good start no matter if it was viewed as a staff day or not.
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For accuracy's sake, he gave up two runs. The run scored in the third inning was charged to Thornton, per the box score.

With the trouble that Thornton and others on the staff have had, I don't think starting someone new was a momentum killer.

[BruinVol]

Originally Posted by DeerPark12

For accuracy's sake, he gave up two runs. The run scored in the third inning was charged to Thornton, per the box score.

With the trouble that Thornton and others on the staff have had, I don't think starting someone new was a momentum killer.

Fair enough. Can you state why Zajac hadn't pitched before this weekend? Unless he was injured that is probably the only real possible criticism.
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[DeerPark12]

Originally Posted by BruinVol

Fair enough. Can you state why Zajac hadn't pitched before this weekend? Unless he was injured that is probably the only real possible criticism.
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My understanding is that after a VERY strong fall, he had been having trouble finding the strike zone in practices this spring. He turned it around the last couple of weeks and he was the one guy UK hadn't seen on film.