Question about Elander

[South Florida Vol]

Tied for 1st in SEC in fielding percentage.

Hard to argue this........but does it seem like the defense is at times not well positioned? Seems like the outfield plays too deep and the infield is not in the right place more than it is. It also seems to be mismatched like everyone is playing a secondary position.

I do not have specifics to back this up, although I could probably find some critical plays pretty easily. I definitely do not have the knowledge to know the nuances of the positioning related to situations. I am asking more than I am saying this is going on, but am curious what others have observed or if anyone has thoughts on this either way? A defensive play here or there, which might not have been an error, could have made the difference in some of these close losses?

 

[taylorvol]

Hard to argue this........but does it seem like the defense is at times not well positioned? Seems like the outfield plays too deep and the infield is not in the right place more than it is. It also seems to be mismatched like everyone is playing a secondary position.

I do not have specifics to back this up, although I could probably find some critical plays pretty easily. I definitely do not have the knowledge to know the nuances of the positioning related to situations. I am asking more than I am saying this is going on, but am curious what others have observed or if anyone has thoughts on this either way? A defensive play here or there, which might not have been an error, could have made the difference in some of these close losses?

All good points. The defensive shifts giveth and taketh for sure. The reality is I personally notice and remember when the shift doesn’t work but I conveniently forget when it works. What I don’t understand is shifting out of double play opportunities. The lack of offense and bullpen deficiencies certainly haven’t helped take the focus off of when the shift fails.

 

[Local Yokel]

Right now, I'd love to see him chew some of his assistant's out for the "performance" of their units; especially a certain assistant who carries himself like he's Temu Tony V and has a segment on a show with Mike Keith every Thursday

Do what? You want to see the head coach publicly rip his staff? Sure, that will end well: wow.

 

[taylorvol]

Regarding Kivett's show with Mike Keith - does anyone enjoy it? I do not think he is a good personality for this, it is goofy and annoying. Just have the players on there. I could care less about time spent on it, I just think it is not a great segment.

Admittedly, I’ve only watched it twice. It was okay.

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

Do what? You want to see the head coach publicly rip his staff? Sure, that will end well: wow.

I didn't say anything about doing it "publicly"; and I'm sure you are aware of this, but Nick Saban - considered one of the GOATs of college football - would chew his assistant's a**es out on the sidelines all the time, in full view of the TV cameras (which makes it public IMO) and he never had any issues when it came to winning.

 

[South Florida Vol]

All good points. The defensive shifts giveth and taketh for sure. The reality is I personally notice and remember when the shift doesn’t work but I conveniently forget when it works. What I don’t understand is shifting out of double play opportunities. The lack of offense and bullpen deficiencies certainly haven’t helped take the focus off of when the shift fails.

Agreed. Very easy to look for, and find, all kinds of faults when a team is underperforming expectations. All of these issues aside, I still think this team has it in them to turn it around. And a regional host would not want any part of this team as a 2 or 3 seed. Might be fun to start playing the underdog role, just need to win a series they are not supposed and get hot. Like this weekend in Starkville.

 

[taylorvol]

Agreed. Very easy to look for, and find, all kinds of faults when a team is underperforming expectations. All of these issues aside, I still think this team has it in them to turn it around. And a regional host would not want any part of this team as a 2 or 3 seed. Might be fun to start playing the underdog role, just need to win a series they are not supposed and get hot. Like this weekend in Starkville.

Completely agree!

 

[a vol n tears]

Although not the topic of the OP, there are some comments about the infielders.
Just my opinion but I think the coaches need to swing extremely hard for a top rated shortstop. The SEC has several SS that are very good. I don’t think Marin is near good enough as a shortstop. Even if his bat gathers some power, I think getting a legit top SS would allow them to move him to 2nd which he could handle better. If his power improves, maybe even 3rd base. Fields well but range is below the better ones.

 

[vol66]

Hard to argue this........but does it seem like the defense is at times not well positioned? Seems like the outfield plays too deep and the infield is not in the right place more than it is. It also seems to be mismatched like everyone is playing a secondary position.

I do not have specifics to back this up, although I could probably find some critical plays pretty easily. I definitely do not have the knowledge to know the nuances of the positioning related to situations. I am asking more than I am saying this is going on, but am curious what others have observed or if anyone has thoughts on this either way? A defensive play here or there, which might not have been an error, could have made the difference in some of these close losses?

I can only go on years past, but we seem to employ shifts, extreme shifts, more this season. And, I don’t recall it ever really being much of a topic previous to this year.

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

I can only go on years past, but we seem to employ shifts, extreme shifts, more this season. And, I don’t recall it ever really being much of a topic previous to this year.

The shifts with the bases loaded drive me up a wall

 

[taylorvol]

I can only go on years past, but we seem to employ shifts, extreme shifts, more this season. And, I don’t recall it ever really being much of a topic previous to this year.

. Frank didn’t like extreme shifts nor did McCann. Time and place.

 

[Local Yokel]

I didn't say anything about doing it "publicly"; and I'm sure you are aware of this, but Nick Saban - considered one of the GOATs of college football - would chew his assistant's a**es out on the sidelines all the time, in full view of the TV cameras (which makes it public IMO) and he never had any issues when it came to winning.

the blatant contradiction in this post is laughable. Elander isn’t Saban.

 

[MT_Vol]

So, what you are saying is AD took the easy way out and didn't look for a "replacement HC" for a program near the top of college baseball where the HC is very important to maintain momentum.

The AD hired who almost ALL of the fans and players wanted. A coach who helped Tony build what he built here. I'm also certain @preacherman20 knows more about the program than a clown like you ever will.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I don't know, man. Kivett might...MIGHT... spend an hour a week tops on Kivett's Corner? MK lays out all the work for it. And some of them are even taped weeks ahead so some weeks its zero time.

I know we all want to pick nits when things are rough but this feels extremely picky.

I am curious though. Did any of Tony’s assistant coaches have a weekly podcast? I know a couple of his players did, and those seem to be in short supply this season.

 

[Bigvalley84]

I still think it’s comical some think you could actually do a national search in October and convince a sitting experienced coach to change jobs in the middle of fall practice , it wasn’t gonna happen , maybe a C. Burke type , E has made some blunders for sure but our weak bullpen has been the biggest issue and TV and FA were heavily involved in choosing these guys , we also missed out on two big time portal bats that would have made a huge difference , one to Tx the other to A&M , going to the bullpen is maybe the hardest part of managing and right now outside of Appenzeller we’re just rolling the dice with each move E makes , I coached for a long time 16 U and it’s a bad feeling when you can’t get the last 3 outs , I sure don’t envy E right now because that’s who he’s got to work with , I’d bet good money there will be another bullpen retool when the seasons over unless these boys figure it out

 

[vol66]

I am curious though. Did any of Tony’s assistant coaches have a weekly podcast? I know a couple of his player did, and those seem to be in short supply this season.

I don’t recall assistants much but CTV did the Basillio thing fairly regularly, in addition to the 990 sports talk show which may be an obligation, not sure.

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

I still think it’s comical some think you could actually do a national search in October and convince a sitting experienced coach to change jobs in the middle of fall practice , it wasn’t gonna happen , maybe a C. Burke type , E has made some blunders for sure but our weak bullpen has been the biggest issue and TV and FA were heavily involved in choosing these guys , we also missed out on two big time portal bats that would have made a huge difference , one to Tx the other to A&M , going to the bullpen is maybe the hardest part of managing and right now outside of Appenzeller we’re just rolling the dice with each move E makes , I coached for a long time 16 U and it’s a bad feeling when you can’t get the last 3 outs , I sure don’t envy E right now because that’s who he’s got to work with , I’d bet good money there will be another bullpen retool when the seasons over unless these boys figure it out

Bullpen retool in addition to a retool of the offense.... gonna be a busy, busy portal season on Rocky Top this summer

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

I still think it’s comical some think you could actually do a national search in October and convince a sitting experienced coach to change jobs in the middle of fall practice , it wasn’t gonna happen , maybe a C. Burke type , E has made some blunders for sure but our weak bullpen has been the biggest issue and TV and FA were heavily involved in choosing these guys , we also missed out on two big time portal bats that would have made a huge difference , one to Tx the other to A&M , going to the bullpen is maybe the hardest part of managing and right now outside of Appenzeller we’re just rolling the dice with each move E makes , I coached for a long time 16 U and it’s a bad feeling when you can’t get the last 3 outs , I sure don’t envy E right now because that’s who he’s got to work with , I’d bet good money there will be another bullpen retool when the seasons over unless these boys figure it out

Robbins was the one we lost to Texas (currently their leading batter with a .334 average) and we also lost Advincula to Georgia Tech (where he currently is batting .406, yikes I wish Tony could've closed that one). We also lost portal commits DJ Newman, Clay Edmondson, Matt Barr, and Mason Estrada to the draft. Hard not to think 1-2 of Barr, Estrada, or Edmondson wouldn't have this bullpen looking 1000% better than it does today.

Also, it hurt going back to the portal thread and reading through all those names again *sigh*

 

[MarcoVol]

Thats not what i am saying. Before TV the team wasnt at a point that it is now. We needed someone that was ready to keep taking us to where TV got us. Building a team is somewhat easier than sustaining one. But the most valid point that can be made about this season is not who the head coach is. But losing FA hurts more than any of us probably thought it would.

TV left in October. You’re not luring away a big time coach in October.

Maybe, maybe Schnall would’ve came if you gave him a fat contract. Maybe.

 

[taylorvol]

I am curious though. Did any of Tony’s assistant coaches have a weekly podcast? I know a couple of his players did, and those seem to be in short supply this season.

No but keep in mind Kiv’s Corner is on Vol Network aka State Run Radio where the brand and messaging is carefully curated and controlled. Head Coaches have a contractual obligation to appear on it as well. With that said, I think Vol Network does an outstanding job with their broadcasts. I rarely if ever listen to their sports talk or podcasts so couldn’t comment much on those segments.

 

[Local Yokel]

The shifts with the bases loaded drive me up a wall

There’s a guy who stands next to Josh when we’re on defense. Brown hair, and doesn’t wear a ball cap. He is obviously an analytics guy. He needs to go. Josh is relying on analytics way too much. There isn’t enough sample size in college ball to get good statistical data. If we’d played some innings straight up, we’d have gotten out of trouble several times. Playing a heavy shift with the bases loaded is nuts.

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

There’s a guy who stands next to Josh when we’re on defense. Brown hair, and doesn’t wear a ball cap. He is obviously an analytics guy. He needs to go. Josh is relying on analytics way too much. There isn’t enough sample size in college ball to get good statistical data. If we’d played some innings straight up, we’d have gotten out of trouble several times. Playing a heavy shift with the bases loaded is nuts.

That's Zach Stovall, and yes he does need to go. He is stealing a living