The Official Tennessee @ Oklahoma Series Thread (Thurs. 5/14 7:30PM ET SECN+) (Sat. 5/16 2PM ET SECN+) (Sat. 5/16 45 mins after game 2 SECN+)

[chuckiepoo]

I was unable to watch the game live, but after watching the replay, thanks again @VetVol, it sure seemed like OU players were constantly jawing at us tonight. Was that the actual case?

Bitches. Nuff said.

 

[feathersax]

Hard to get 4 strikes in this league. Bravo.

Nothlng like a Lucky Strike.

 

[JCP201]

My phone gave out!! The bull pen got shakey but held on for the win! Good start.

 

[THEONLYTENISEE]

Anybody seen an early mock draft? What current players are likely entering the draft?

 

[NighthawkVol]

I wonder if there's any way we host regional if we win this series and win two in Hoover

I think our RPI is too low. But we didn’t cancel any midweeks. If the committee is serious about punishing teams who did, maybe we get a bump?

 

[NighthawkVol]

Anybody seen an early mock draft? What current players are likely entering the draft?

Kuhns is a first rounder. Ford is gone, Reese is a senior, Blanco is a senior.

Grimmer may or may not go. I suspect Wright is in the same boat. Fewer rounds could have those guys coming back.

But we return a lot (assuming they don’t transfer). This is a young team. Clark, Grindlinger, Brown, Marin, Abernathy, Lawless, Mack, Appenzeller…and maybe Grimmer/Wright…makes a nice core of returnees. We will have a much more experienced team next year.

We also have a nice group of talented freshman pitchers who should make an impact next season.

 

[rockytop25]

Kuhns is a first rounder. Ford is gone, Reese is a senior, Blanco is a senior.

Grimmer may or may not go. I suspect Wright is in the same boat. Fewer rounds could have those guys coming back.

But we return a lot (assuming they don’t transfer). This is a young team. Clark, Grindlinger, Brown, Marin, Abernathy, Lawless, Mack, Appenzeller…and maybe Grimmer/Wright…makes a nice core of returnees. We will have a much more experienced team next year.

We also have a nice group of talented freshman pitchers who should make an impact next season.

Marin is draft eligible and will be gone.

Grimmer was getting draft buzz last year, I imagine he’ll be gone. Wright will get drafted high enough (IMO) to go. I think I ready a couple weeks ago someone said a scout had Wright in the top 10 rounds

 

[WillisWG]

Last night's attendance 3175...bigger than I thought but still pretty small

 

[TechnoVol]

Kuhns is a first rounder. Ford is gone, Reese is a senior, Blanco is a senior.

Grimmer may or may not go. I suspect Wright is in the same boat. Fewer rounds could have those guys coming back.

But we return a lot (assuming they don’t transfer). This is a young team. Clark, Grindlinger, Brown, Marin, Abernathy, Lawless, Mack, Appenzeller…and maybe Grimmer/Wright…makes a nice core of returnees. We will have a much more experienced team next year.

We also have a nice group of talented freshman pitchers who should make an impact next season.

We’ll hit the portal hard for experienced pitchers and big bats.

 

[TennesseeFan07]

Last night's attendance 3175...bigger than I thought but still pretty small

I thought it was about 317.

 

[THEONLYTENISEE]

Kuhns is a first rounder. Ford is gone, Reese is a senior, Blanco is a senior.

Grimmer may or may not go. I suspect Wright is in the same boat. Fewer rounds could have those guys coming back.

But we return a lot (assuming they don’t transfer). This is a young team. Clark, Grindlinger, Brown, Marin, Abernathy, Lawless, Mack, Appenzeller…and maybe Grimmer/Wright…makes a nice core of returnees. We will have a much more experienced team next year.

We also have a nice group of talented freshman pitchers who should make an impact next season.

So biggest portal needs would be 3rd, SS and starting pitchers?

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

Last night's attendance 3175...bigger than I thought but still pretty small

There might have been that many tickets sold, but there were not even close to that many butts in seats

 

[Volador]

Last night's attendance 3175...bigger than I thought but still pretty small

This is what your girlfriend said, right?????

 

[txbo]

Honestly I’m not all too impressed with the top teams this year. UCLA and Ga Tech are scary sure, and we had that UGA series. Idc what anyone says, idk how they keep getting away with it, but our ‘24 Vol team was probably one of the best ever and even the field they faced in Omaha was top-notch. These top teams this season can be had.

You're right. That field of teams in the 2024 CWS was absolutely loaded. Every team deserved to be there.

 

[Sam I Am]

You’re a moron.

Now my feelings......my feelings.

 

[GiveHim6InSC]

A great game. Then we took their guy in the portal.

Clemson hasn't been right in football either since we beat them badly in the 2022 Orange Bowl. We wrecked their progams in both sports. In a matter of months.

And, CRB left their basketball program and they’ve been irrelevant since.
I am enjoying every second of not having to listen to Clemson people run their mouths about me wearing the “wrong shade of Orange” and how bad the SEC is

 

[WillisWG]

And, CRB left their basketball program and they’ve been irrelevant since.
I am enjoying every second of not having to listen to Clemson people run their mouths about me wearing the “wrong shade of Orange” and how bad the SEC is

.

 

[fryeguy93]

Let's steal one more game tonight

Since the game is on ESPN+ again, I surmise we will be watching on the radio.

The projected Sooner starter tonight is freshman RHP Xander Mercurius who will be making his first start. from Las Vegas whose brother LJ is also on the team

5.65 ERA
0-0
15 appearances
1 save
28.2 innings
26 H
19 R
18 ER
13 BB
27 SO
5 HBP
5 2B
0 3B
6 HR
.241 BAVG

Mercurius is averaging a little over 1.2 inns an appearance. His fastball tops out in the mid to upper 90s and throws a curve and slider. He on the short size at abouot 5-9. He's listed at 5-10.

His last appearance was on Saturday in Arkansas where he was 1st guy out of the bullpen after 1 out in the third. He went 2 innings and faced 10 batters. Gave up 1 hit , 1 ER, 3 Walks, 2 SO in 42 pitches.

This appears to be a planned short starter. It's no secret the Vols abuse lefties and we did so last night against their LH starter. In fact, after the lefty starter was knocked out 4 of the next 5 arms in the game were righties with the only lefty facing one batter. I doubt the Vols will see many lefties throw more than a handful of at bats the rest of the series.

His longest outing by far was 5 innings at LSU as he came in in the second inning in a 7-1 loss. The Sooners were down 0-4 already and he gave up only 1 more inherited run. In that second inning, the Sooners gave up 1 hit. 2 walks, 1 HPB, 3 runs , and committed 3 errors before Mercurius even got in the game.

Mercurius has appearances in 10 SEC games. He appeared in game one against Texas Tech but nothing again in 18 days. I'm not sure if this was injury related or not. He was a highly recruited (#83 RHP) guy so the Sooners are looking to end some tough pitching starts the last few weekends with new blood.

He got roughed up in the first game and at Vanderbilt (he gave up 5 ruins in .2 innings) but the Sooners still won the game. He also got no outs against 3 batters who all scored (2 hits/1 walk/12 pitches) against Florida 2 weeks ago. The Sooners were already down 7-0 before he got in game in the fifth.

Tennessee hitters (especially the lefties) need to get onto the freshman early and give Evan the early lead and eat innings for what may be another bullpen game on Saturday

 

[Heehawvol70]

More gusty winds to left tonight?

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

Let's steal one more game tonight

Since the game is on ESPN+ again, I surmise we will be watching on the radio.

The projected Sooner starter tonight is freshman RHP Xander Mercurius who will be making his first start. from Las Vegas whose brother LJ is also on the team

5.65 ERA
0-0
15 appearances
1 save
28.2 innings
26 H
19 R
18 ER
13 BB
27 SO
5 HBP
5 2B
0 3B
6 HR
.241 BAVG

Mercurius is averaging a little over 1.2 inns an appearance. His fastball tops out in the mid to upper 90s and throws a curve and slider. He on the short size at abouot 5-9. He's listed at 5-10.

His last appearance was on Saturday in Arkansas where he was 1st guy out of the bullpen after 1 out in the third. He went 2 innings and faced 10 batters. Gave up 1 hit , 1 ER, 3 Walks, 2 SO in 42 pitches.

This appears to be a planned short starter. It's no secret the Vols abuse lefties and we did so last night against their LH starter. In fact, after the lefty starter was knocked out 4 of the next 5 arms in the game were righties with the only lefty facing one batter. I doubt the Vols will see many lefties throw more than a handful of at bats the rest of the series.

His longest outing by far was 5 innings at LSU as he came in in the second inning in a 7-1 loss. The Sooners were down 0-4 already and he gave up only 1 more inherited run. In that second inning, the Sooners gave up 1 hit. 2 walks, 1 HPB, 3 runs , and committed 3 errors before Mercurius even got in the game.

Mercurius has appearances in 10 SEC games. He appeared in game one against Texas Tech but nothing again in 18 days. I'm not sure if this was injury related or not. He was a highly recruited (#83 RHP) guy so the Sooners are looking to end some tough pitching starts the last few weekends with new blood.

He got roughed up in the first game and at Vanderbilt (he gave up 5 ruins in .2 innings) but the Sooners still won the game. He also got no outs against 3 batters who all scored (2 hits/1 walk/12 pitches) against Florida 2 weeks ago. The Sooners were already down 7-0 before he got in game in the fifth.

Tennessee hitters (especially the lefties) need to get onto the freshman early and give Evan the early lead and eat innings for what may be another bullpen game on Saturday

I kind of assumed he was functioning as an "opener" for his brother

 

[fryeguy93]

I kind of assumed he was functioning as an "opener" for his brother

It looks like they've had 2 inning openers several weekends, but it's hard to tell because that opener has a habit of getting shelled.

 

[Tenacjim]

You're right. That field of teams in the 2024 CWS was absolutely loaded. Every team deserved to be there.

Well, maybe all the teams with the exception of Kentucky…..they deserve NOTHING!

 

[dillyo51]

Thank you Manny!

CLUTCH!!

 

[TechnoVol]

More gusty winds to left tonight?

Yes, winds will be very similar tonight as they were last night. Coming out of the south which means blowing out to left.

 

[fryeguy93]

Early Scores

Clemson 0 T3
Va Tech 0
- Need VaTech wins

Notre Dame 1
Pitt 1 B3

Liberty 0 T1
MTSU 0
- Need to keep Liberty down into the 30s RPI

Kent 0 T4
Toledo 1
- Need Kent to keep winning for RPI and SOS

Mercer 5
ETSU 6 B6
- Bucs for RPI and SOS

Youngstown St 6
Wright St 5 B9
-Need Weight to win this series against a week opponent

EKU 8 T3
Bellarmine 0
-Why is Bellarmine div 1?!?!?

Oakland 4
Milwaukee 8 F