Softball LadyVols vs Western Kentucky

#9
#9
watch what Ralph had to say post game at utsports.com and back away from the ledge people. It will be okay.....
 
#10
#10
I have been really surprised by this year's team lack of hitting. I have been more surprised at Ralph's hitting lineup. He seems to have no one at the top of the order to get on base and set the table for the power hitters. He has Gaffin way down in the lineup when she should be the clean up hitter. He also needs someone in the three spot that doesn't strikeout so much. I thought McClain was recruited as a leadoff hitter and probably sophomore Geathers in the two spot. Regardless 14 strikeouts yesterday and only Gaffin and Aldrete go a hit.
 
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#11
#11
Well I must have taken the interview in a different way I suppose. I was surprised to hear him say that the pitcher for Wky was probably the best performance since Monica Abbot....seriously??? That's a bit dramatic in rationalizing a game. And probably not respectful of say....Ellen Renfro's performance against Oklahoma in the national championship game one. He also mentioned (again) the recruiting class rank of "next year". Hasn't UT gotten a top 5 class for several years in a row?? And mentioning young teams. Didn't Tennessee start 7 freshman and sophs last year?? IMO there is NO reason to panic. Had a bad night it happens. Lastly..."winning enough games to make the regional's". Which is certainly a respectful goal. But when did Tennessee resign themselves to just that goal?? How about the SEC Championship?? With the weather this year not playing games didn't hurt your winning %, but it did hurt that teams cohesion and ability to play together. There is alot of chemistry on sports teams and it matters how often they play. Pitching is now and it ever was this years Achilles for Tennessee.

gule said:
watch what Ralph had to say post game at utsports.com and back away from the ledge people. It will be okay.....
Click to expand...
 
#12
#12
Volfan2012 said:
I have been really surprised by this year's team lack of hitting. I have been more surprised at Ralph's hitting lineup. He seems to have no one at the top of the order to get on base and set the table for the power hitters. He has Gaffin way down in the lineup when she should be the clean up hitter. He also needs someone in the three spot that doesn't strikeout so much. I thought McClain was recruited as a leadoff hitter and probably sophomore Geathers in the two spot. Regardless 14 strikeouts yesterday and only Gaffin and Aldrete go a hit.
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I appreciate your comments but I disagree. He has Lewis at the 9 spot, then Gregg and Geer at the 1 and 2 followed by his power hitters Aldrete and Koenig. Koenig and Aldrete lead the team in HR's and RBI's so I believe 3 and 4 is exactly where they should be hitting - to drive home Lewis/Gregg/Geer. As you suggest, Gaffin can hit for power, but I believe she is farther down in the lineup to put her behind a couple of other hitters. The thinking here I believe is to intersperse the singles hitters with the power hitters.

Geathers was the leadoff hitter at the beginning of the season in place of Gregg, but Ralph spoke a few weeks ago about moving Gregg to the top of the order because Lewis was getting on base with one or two outs and then Geathers wasn't getting her home. Gregg can hit for both average and power.

McClain was struggling with her bat in practice and wasn't hitting well. She hit a homer a few games ago so maybe she will come around.
 
#13
#13
It has been mentioned before, this is a young team. And they play this way. Run-ruled by SC and then they turn around and run rule them in return. 9 runs in one game and then 14 strikeouts in the next. This is the mark of a young team. Long term, the hitting and fielding will be ok. Pitching? I'm not so sure about.
 
#14
#14
The only questionable thing in this game was having McSwain in left field. I don't know what she was doing there.
 
#15
#15
Terra said:
Well I must have taken the interview in a different way I suppose. I was surprised to hear him say that the pitcher for Wky was probably the best performance since Monica Abbot....seriously??? That's a bit dramatic in rationalizing a game. And probably not respectful of say....Ellen Renfro's performance against Oklahoma in the national championship game one. He also mentioned (again) the recruiting class rank of "next year". Hasn't UT gotten a top 5 class for several years in a row?? And mentioning young teams. Didn't Tennessee start 7 freshman and sophs last year?? IMO there is NO reason to panic. Had a bad night it happens. Lastly..."winning enough games to make the regional's". Which is certainly a respectful goal. But when did Tennessee resign themselves to just that goal?? How about the SEC Championship?? With the weather this year not playing games didn't hurt your winning %, but it did hurt that teams cohesion and ability to play together. There is alot of chemistry on sports teams and it matters how often they play. Pitching is now and it ever was this years Achilles for Tennessee.
Click to expand...

Your point is well taken but I think objectively if you look at our pitching staff and the schedule in front of us, making the NCAA tournament alone might require a miracle. I'll predict they'll go 29-24. There are absolutely no gimmie's on the rest of this SEC schedule.
 
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#16
#16
I think this is going to be a 'good' team. That's a damned sight less than what I expected of them.
 
#17
#17
I think the bad weather has really hurt the progress of the hitters this year. I think if Aldrete gets going the whole team will catch on fire. Also, finding a left fielder is a priority. If we had Hannah Akamine she would be starting out there right now.
 
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#18
#18
I predict a 24-19 season. BUT....again we have no idea how this team will react. There are just so many good players on that team I find it hard to believe they'll crash. After seeing McSwain in Cal. I was impressed. If she can push through the stress she's going to be a star. And my prediction is just through the SEC, not including the tournament etc. We also have to remember Ga, Miss St, Vir Tech etc. do not have overwhelming pitching staffs either. They may have one but no "staff". So I still think Tennessee may not be sitting all that bad right now. I think Tennessee will hold their #1 pitcher for Sunday's in order to have their best chance at at series split. But currently who is the #1?? You lost some players from last year who really did make some significant contributions and I don't think some people truly realize just how significant that is. Shipman and Renfro of course were the biggest. Giving up Akamine and Tobler was also a hit and one that may be showing at this point early in the season. I think the team will overcome this. They were never thought of as the long ball threat that some others were, but between those two I believe they were consistently high in OBP which is a form of player consistency and they made pitchers pitch alot of balls. And at this point that can be really important.

WVU05UT09 said:
Your point is well taken but I think objectively if you look at our pitching staff and the schedule in front of us, making the NCAA tournament alone might require a miracle. I'll predict they'll go 29-24. There are absolutely no gimmie's on the rest of this SEC schedule.
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#19
#19
And Davin....between Shipman, Aldrete, Davin and Tobler that was the SEC. Especially Davin and Tobler because according to the stats they really showed up in the SEC.

Terra said:
I predict a 24-19 season. BUT....again we have no idea how this team will react. There are just so many good players on that team I find it hard to believe they'll crash. After seeing McSwain in Cal. I was impressed. If she can push through the stress she's going to be a star. And my prediction is just through the SEC, not including the tournament etc. We also have to remember Ga, Miss St, Vir Tech etc. do not have overwhelming pitching staffs either. They may have one but no "staff". So I still think Tennessee may not be sitting all that bad right now. I think Tennessee will hold their #1 pitcher for Sunday's in order to have their best chance at at series split. But currently who is the #1?? You lost some players from last year who really did make some significant contributions and I don't think some people truly realize just how significant that is. Shipman and Renfro of course were the biggest. Giving up Akamine and Tobler was also a hit and one that may be showing at this point early in the season. I think the team will overcome this. They were never thought of as the long ball threat that some others were, but between those two I believe they were consistently high in OBP which is a form of player consistency and they made pitchers pitch alot of balls. And at this point that can be really important.
Click to expand...
 
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