MLB Draft Talk (July 13th 6pm EDT & July 14th 11:30am EDT)

#776
#776
TheMookieMonster said:
I guess I’m not entirely certain how to formulate my thoughts in this very nuanced discussion, but I just disagree with what seems to be the underlying thesis of this discussion that transfers or “mercenaries” as some have called them do not buy into the mission of the team or the culture here and are actively part of the reason Tennessee did not reach Omaha again this year. I fully believe from what I watch that very few transfers Tennessee has taken in have not bought into Tony’s mission or the culture he has built here.


I just fundamentally disagree with the idea that if this team had more leadership our season would have been different. Or that because Andrew Fischer or Liam Doyle weren’t “leaders” that this team failed. To draw a line from last year’s team to this year’s team and claim that this year’s team failed because we didn’t have enough continuity and that we relied too much on transfers or “mercenaries” seems to almost rewrite history that the 2024 team does not win a national title if not for some very important transfers that not only bought into the culture but did so in a short amount of time.

It just has felt like there is this unfair opinion percolating underneath this conversation that these guys have less value or should not be as cherished by Vol Nation because they didn’t choose to commit to us immediately out of high school. I just didn’t like some of the implications being thrown around.
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Mookie, I think things may have veered toward absolute values when each year’s team is built individually. Realistically you are trying to analyze three dozen athletes and how they are baked into a team. Each team is gonna be different.

I think it’s tweener sports dog days and the board faithful are simply getting restless… 🤣🤙🏼
 
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#777
#777
taylorvol said:
Some are just tremendous college players and don’t have the “metrics” the Scouts desire for MLB. You can’t measure heart and desire. Ensley was a great player at TN and cemented his legendary career with a NC. He could still sign FA contract but obviously wasn’t drafted…
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Hunter will have himself a very nice career in Knoxville...
 
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#778
#778
TheMookieMonster said:
I guess I’m not entirely certain how to formulate my thoughts in this very nuanced discussion, but I just disagree with what seems to be the underlying thesis of this discussion that transfers or “mercenaries” as some have called them do not buy into the mission of the team or the culture here and are actively part of the reason Tennessee did not reach Omaha again this year. I fully believe from what I watch that very few transfers Tennessee has taken in have not bought into Tony’s mission or the culture he has built here.


I just fundamentally disagree with the idea that if this team had more leadership our season would have been different. Or that because Andrew Fischer or Liam Doyle weren’t “leaders” that this team failed. To draw a line from last year’s team to this year’s team and claim that this year’s team failed because we didn’t have enough continuity and that we relied too much on transfers or “mercenaries” seems to almost rewrite history that the 2024 team does not win a national title if not for some very important transfers that not only bought into the culture but did so in a short amount of time.

It just has felt like there is this unfair opinion percolating underneath this conversation that these guys have less value or should not be as cherished by Vol Nation because they didn’t choose to commit to us immediately out of high school. I just didn’t like some of the implications being thrown around.
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I think you‘re mixing my points up with others. All in all, it’s an interesting debate and I enjoy hearing perspectives—especially when they are expressed with maturity as yours have been.
My opinion is:
1) The 2025 team didn’t fail. After experiencing huge attrition to MLB, they had a great season evidenced by winning a Regional
2) An Omaha team needs a mix of seasoned upperclassmen, portal transfers, and stud freshmen. I’m all for bringing Chapman and Bargo back for their experience and senior leadership
3) Star players aren’t necessarily your team leaders. Some fan favorites aren’t clubhouse favorites.
4) CTV and staff pick incredible portal transfers. Doyle, KiLen, and Fischer all had tremendous seasons.
 
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#781
#781
TheMookieMonster said:
I think it’s somewhat telling that “one of the best hitters” in our lineup did not even get drafted in a 20 round draft. That is kind of a stark illustration of the offensive issues we had as a team in SEC play. I’m ready for some new blood. It’s a harsh reality, but that is just how professional sports are (which let’s not kid ourselves, this is now professional sports).
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There’s a lot that goes into the draft. New blood is fun and exciting. Saying Bargo is an unproductive player is just flat out incorrect. He was one of the most productive players on a super regional team and has been productive over the course of 3 different SEC seasons and a summer in the cape.

Every year’s roster has one guy the fanbase just irrationally hates and I don’t totally get it.

If Bargo wants to come back I believe Tennessee will figure out a way to make it happen and fans should be excited about that. I think tennessee will be honest with him that they recruited the current roster with the thought he’d be gone and if he wants to come back he’s welcome to but he’s fighting for a spot like everyone else and nothing is guaranteed.
 
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#782
#782
WGWTFA98 said:
There’s a lot that goes into the draft. New blood is fun and exciting. Saying Bargo is an unproductive player is just flat out incorrect. He was one of the most productive players on a super regional team and has been productive over the course of 3 different SEC seasons and a summer in the cape.

Every year’s roster has one guy the fanbase just irrationally hates and I don’t totally get it.

If Bargo wants to come back I believe Tennessee will figure out a way to make it happen and fans should be excited about that. I think tennessee will be honest with him that they recruited the current roster with the thought he’d be gone and if he wants to come back he’s welcome to but he’s fighting for a spot like everyone else and nothing is guaranteed.
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Agreed 100%. Bargo is all heart and gave his all for TN. It doesn’t sound like CTV will make a roster spot for him. I‘m really disappointed. Bargo can’t transfer and is in a real bind unless he signs a FA deal. I expect Chapman will come back unless he signs a Free Agent deal. I was hoping TN would be able to have 6-10 DSAs but Ben McKee said only 3 DSAs for TN. McKee also said it was more likely that Chapman would come back than Bargo. That will mean only 37 on roster and TN will have to cut 7 players. I guess this is the harsh reality of the new world of college athletics as the cutoff for DSAs was July 6th—well before the MLB draft. NCAA is a mess,,,,
 
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#783
#783
taylorvol said:
I think you‘re mixing my points up with others. All in all, it’s an interesting debate and I enjoy hearing perspectives—especially when they are expressed with maturity as yours have been.
My opinion is:
1) The 2025 team didn’t fail. After experiencing huge attrition to MLB, they had a great season evidenced by winning a Regional
2) An Omaha team needs a mix of seasoned upperclassmen, portal transfers, and stud freshmen. I’m all for bringing Chapman and Bargo back for their experience and senior leadership
3) Star players aren’t necessarily your team leaders. Some fan favorites aren’t clubhouse favorites.
4) CTV and staff pick incredible portal transfers. Doyle, KiLen, and Fischer all had tremendous seasons.
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What I like about your response is it isn't prone to absolutes and exaggeration.
 
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#784
#784
People making assumptions about who will or will not be on the team. I have no idea. I'll trust Tony will gather all the information and decide.
 
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#785
#785
taylorvol said:
Agreed 100%. Bargo is all heart and gave his all for TN. It doesn’t sound like CTV will make a roster spot for him. I‘m really disappointed. Bargo can’t transfer and is in a real bind unless he signs a FA deal. I expect Chapman will come back unless he signs a Free Agent deal. I was hoping TN would be able to have 6-10 DSAs but Ben McKee said only 3 DSAs for TN. McKee also said it was more likely that Chapman would come back than Bargo. That will mean only 37 on roster and TN will have to cut 7 players. I guess this is the harsh reality of the new world of college athletics as the cutoff for DSAs was July 6th—well before the MLB draft. NCAA is a mess,,,,
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Where did you see/hear about the 3 DSAs? Was that when he was on Basilio?
 
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#786
#786
WGWTFA98 said:
There’s a lot that goes into the draft. New blood is fun and exciting. Saying Bargo is an unproductive player is just flat out incorrect. He was one of the most productive players on a super regional team and has been productive over the course of 3 different SEC seasons and a summer in the cape.

Every year’s roster has one guy the fanbase just irrationally hates and I don’t totally get it.

If Bargo wants to come back I believe Tennessee will figure out a way to make it happen and fans should be excited about that. I think tennessee will be honest with him that they recruited the current roster with the thought he’d be gone and if he wants to come back he’s welcome to but he’s fighting for a spot like everyone else and nothing is guaranteed.
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I think it’s extremely hyperbolic and irrational to suggest I hate Dalton Bargo. I doubt anyone in this fanbase hates Dalton Bargo. That’s a strong word and also why it’s difficult to ever discuss the shortcomings of a player because people immediately pin you as some nut case that’s unreasonable to ever suggest any of our players may have a ceiling.

I do not hate Dalton Bargo. I do not even dislike Dalton Bargo. I’m very appreciative of what he’s done in his time at Tennessee, I have simply suggested I think I’d prefer to slot some of the high ceiling players in ahead of him. Dalton undoubtedly has more experience than many of the players that will be on next year’s roster, and some may prefer that experience as an everyday lineup type guy. That’s fine. That’s your opinion. I just don’t know how much juice is left to squeeze in the proverbial orange when there are younger players I think have a higher ceiling than him.
 
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#787
#787
taylorvol said:
Agreed 100%. Bargo is all heart and gave his all for TN. It doesn’t sound like CTV will make a roster spot for him. I‘m really disappointed. Bargo can’t transfer and is in a real bind unless he signs a FA deal. I expect Chapman will come back unless he signs a Free Agent deal. I was hoping TN would be able to have 6-10 DSAs but Ben McKee said only 3 DSAs for TN. McKee also said it was more likely that Chapman would come back than Bargo. That will mean only 37 on roster and TN will have to cut 7 players. I guess this is the harsh reality of the new world of college athletics as the cutoff for DSAs was July 6th—well before the MLB draft. NCAA is a mess,,,,
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Going forward, I wonder if draft eligible players that are borderline draft picks will also enter the transfer portal before the deadline due to the new roster limits.
 
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#789
#789
iVolSoHard said:
Going forward, I wonder if draft eligible players that are borderline draft picks will also enter the transfer portal before the deadline due to the new roster limits.
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I think that would be a great backup plan but I’d be sure during the exit interview to confirm with the coaching staff that they have a spot if they don’t get drafted.
 
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#790
#790
TheMookieMonster said:
I think it’s extremely hyperbolic and irrational to suggest I hate Dalton Bargo. I doubt anyone in this fanbase hates Dalton Bargo. That’s a strong word and also why it’s difficult to ever discuss the shortcomings of a player because people immediately pin you as some nut case that’s unreasonable to ever suggest any of our players may have a ceiling.

I do not hate Dalton Bargo. I do not even dislike Dalton Bargo. I’m very appreciative of what he’s done in his time at Tennessee, I have simply suggested I think I’d prefer to slot some of the high ceiling players in ahead of him. Dalton undoubtedly has more experience than many of the players that will be on next year’s roster, and some may prefer that experience as an everyday lineup type guy. That’s fine. That’s your opinion. I just don’t know how much juice is left to squeeze in the proverbial orange when there are younger players I think have a higher ceiling than him.
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Just my personal opinion: I'd rather have Chapman back than Bargo.

Chapman has the higher ceiling, but Bargo has the higher floor between the 2.
 
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#792
#792
VolFan_stuck_in_the_901 said:
Why are we only doing 3 DSAs when other schools are doing 6-8? Feels like we're putting ourselves at an unnecessary disadvantage
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Great question. I think with revenue sharing, Danny White is looking to cut costs wherever he can. The DSA designation gives you a free roster spot for up to 4 years—-huge competitive advantage but figure it’s potentially $200K cost per DSA over their career (depending if they stay the full 4 years).
 
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#793
#793
taylorvol said:
Great question. I think with revenue sharing, Danny White is looking to cut costs wherever he can. The DSA designation gives you a free roster spot for up to 4 years—-huge competitive advantage but figure it’s potentially $200K cost per DSA over their career (depending if they stay the full 4 years).
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So we still have to cover the costs of the DSAs via rev share? For some reason I thought those guys had to cover the costs on their own
 
#794
#794
VolFan_stuck_in_the_901 said:
So we still have to cover the costs of the DSAs via rev share? For some reason I thought those guys had to cover the costs on their own
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They receive full scholarships just like the others. The ~$200K would be projected costs of tuition and related university costs of an athlete over 4 years. I mentioned revenue sharing because it’s an additional expense for the athletic dept.
 
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#799
#799
taylorvol said:
Sometime’s I’d rather not know how some of the sausage is made. It’s definitely a business and the clubhouse can be messy, but I guess the same could be said for most boardrooms and offices. 🍊👍👍👊👊😀😀🍊🍊👊. I firmly believe that you have to be a good teammate to be a good leader. It’s not all about performance on the field.
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Think Charlie Taylor.
 
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