With SEC play starting this weekend, I was wondering what everyone's expectations are looking ahead. UT has been pretty impressive in its early season games, beating some pretty solid teams on the road and holding serve at home. The pitching has been really good and we've had several guys start off hot at the plate. The contributions have come from a good mix of gristled veterans and talented freshman. The following are some questions I've been thinking about this week as the competition steps up a notch this weekend:
Should making the SEC tournament be the only expectation? Will you be happy if it's done in the same fashion as the last few years?
Is this team good enough to receive an NCAA tournament birth?
How do the Vols need to finish in order for Serrano to continue his tenure?
Do we have enough pitching depth to be competitive in conference?
Will the talented newcomers eventually hit a freshman wall?
What is your SEC prediction for this team?
Just curious, and wanting to start discussion. Feel free to share any and all thoughts.
I believe CDS has the staff now and the addition of Helton is going to at least give Serrano a powerful voice to make upgrades to the program. That is no small thing.
We've started off strong before only to wither due to the grind of SEC play.
Again we are 2 to 5 games behind the other SEC teams in non conference games so comparing stats at this juncture can be misleading.
However, the strike out to walk ratio at this point is noteworthy. We had nine pitchers hit the mound yesterday and only gave up 1 walk while striking out 8. The return of Westphal yesterday adds to what appears to be the deepest pitching staff with the most velo of any staff of the CDS era.
All of this bodes well, but we'll have to wait and see. This weekend will be a great test because SC has played a top 10 schedule. Our opponents thus far have a combined ERA of 6.71 which is much different from the 3.02 we will face this weekend. We left 13 on base against AP, can't do that against SC.
As for tourney chances, somewhere around .500 or 15-15 in SEC play is sort of the standard and on paper, for the first time in a long time, not only do we have the pitching to make the NCAA, but we have enough to actually compete. The past couple of years we've made the SEC but had we won the first game there was no way we would have enough pitching to win game 2. Obviously, as everyone else has said, we'll have to wait and see how the young guns hold up to the pressure of the SEC. I can't stress enough how important health is, how important a little luck in that regard is.
I think CDS needs to make the NCAA this season and him making it is probably in the best interest of Tennessee Baseball. However, should he not, it will be hard for even me to justify him staying.
Something needs to happen over there to wake the Admin up about college baseball and if a change will infuse energy so be it. The something that needs to happen is getting to the tournament, significant post season play is the only thing that will wake folks up.
I don't blame Serrano for it all even though it's his job to win games at the end of the day and I believe he underestimated how difficult the job would be here. But, he hasn't had a lot of help either.
If I wanted to take the time I could make a convincing case that the Tennessee baseball job is right at the bottom with two or three others in the SEC. I want CDS to succeed and now is the time.
So, to sum up...on paper we have the pitching, may have the hitting to make the post season, but that's no guarantee. Avoid being swept and don't lose bad midweek games that crush your RPI.
GBO!!!
