Tennessee Softball 2023

#13,301
#13,301
Woodlawn VOL said:
I agree with that, I just think Karen’s decision today was a bad one. You go with your best when you get to this point and we didn’t go with either. We haven’t played great today anyway, but I think it was a show of weakness play by Coach to go the direction she went. Sure if it works you’re a genius but you have to go with your best chances. And we passed on both. I am sure she will defend her decision, and that is fine. But it doesn’t make it the right one.
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The thing is, had we beat OK today, OK would have gone to the bottom of the bracket. We basically threw this game to avoid (probably) Stanford.
 
#13,302
#13,302
volman128 said:
Moreover, nobody should've expected to win this game. I think it's okay to be frustrated because we never were really given a chance and we aren't being competitive, but anyone who thought we were winning today was living in a fantasy land. OU won't lose in this tournament.
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But wouldn’t you put your best pitchers out there. HELLOOOOOOO
 
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#13,305
#13,305
ukvols said:
The strategy did not ‘backfire’ if the philosophy was, ‘if we win, that is awesome, but if we lose, who cares?’

They decided to save their top two pitchers instead of risking the damage of going all in today and losing.

It’s asinine that Okla. State has the advantage of resting today while we played. We should have played yesterday, and the 0-1 games should have been today. But, we negated their advantage by giving our top two pitchers the day off.
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The rest doesn’t really change anything but with pitchers. And we rested both.
 
#13,306
#13,306
I don't know if anyone heard the comments earlier but the broadcast team was talking about their hope the rules committee would install a pitch clock. Today is a great example of why it's needed.

First pitch 3:15
Last pitch 5:24
TOG: 2:09 - and that is only playing 4.5 innings.
 
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#13,307
#13,307
mr.checkerboards said:
I'm gonna be honest, I don't get why Bahl is so good. I really feel like batters psyche themselves out against her. She's not bad at all but her numbers are better than they should be.
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She's a first team AA for a reason, lol. She was the #1 recruit coming out of high school, too. She has pretty much every pitch in the book + good velocity on her hard pitches.
 
#13,308
#13,308
I believe Coach Weakly was hoping to steal this one but ultimately knew it would be extremely difficult. By saving both good pitchers you set yourself up decently to make a run through the losers bracket. At this point, all teams are probably shooting for 2nd place. I do believe both UT starting pitchers can beat Oklahoma St and whoever may be waiting in the semi finals.
I'm NOT saying this was a great strategy. I'm just trying to rationalize what we saw today.
 
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#13,309
#13,309
kregman said:
The joke will be on her one day. It is easy to win with the talent they have at present. Nothing lasts forever.
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I don't hate Gasso but I've never been a big fan. Has never been gracious in defeat and doesn't like to give the other team their props when they lose or are pressed hard. And keep in mind that prior to Ricketts she hadn't been to OKC in quite a while. She's a good coach but she's a better recruiter than she is a coach.

It will be interesting to see how OU fares once they come into the SEC.
 
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#13,310
#13,310
volman128 said:
Moreover, nobody should've expected to win this game. I think it's okay to be frustrated because we never were really given a chance and we aren't being competitive, but anyone who thought we were winning today was living in a fantasy land. OU won't lose in this tournament.
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You could very well be correct, but in a short series like this you have to trot your best players out there and give them a chance to shine and maybe the bats wake up with the game being close.

We can second guess all we want, but it is obvious at this time that the strategy used here was tragically flawed.
 
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#13,311
#13,311
Don't disagree with any poster. It's frustrating! The objective has always been to get to the Championship (three game) series.

From day one we knew that would be against Oklahoma. So as it stands now we have to win three games to get to the championship series. Oklahoma has to win one. If we had won today we still have to beat Oklahoma 2 out of 3 starting next week. Winning today may have kicked the hornets nest.

KP didn't pitch badly. Field her position, and we may have had something. I said early if we can find an unbiased umpiring crew, I like our chances. Still waiting!
 
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#13,312
#13,312
Hope we can get to the final four. Going to be difficult, but it will be Rogers tomorrow. If we can put some runs on the board we can get there and then just take it one game at a time.
 
#13,313
#13,313
EconVol92 said:
You could very well be correct, but in a short series like this you have to trot your best players out there and give them a chance to shine and maybe the bats wake up with the game being close.

We can second guess all we want, but it is obvious at this time that the strategy used here was tragically flawed.
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It was flawed but you also can't win games if you don't score.
 
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#13,317
#13,317
I was impressed by Pickens. I don’t hate the move to start her. Throw more heat instead of change and field the ball cleanly and we might be in a different place. Can’t give them anything and expect a win.
 
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#13,319
#13,319
kregman said:
The joke will be on her one day. It is easy to win with the talent they have at present. Nothing lasts forever.
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So after she wins 10 championships and is named best coach of all time and made 100's of millions, we'll have the last laugh. I see we're always playing the long game in Tennessee.
 
#13,321
#13,321
Beat Oklahoma State (who has two AA pitchers) and we get to the semis, which to me has been my goal the whole time: play to your seeding. You're seeded 4th so you should at least get to the semis. Florida State, who I think will beat Washington easily, should be waiting. Will be tough to beat them twice if we get past OSU.
 
#13,324
#13,324
volman128 said:
Beat Oklahoma State (who has two AA pitchers) and we get to the semis, which to me has been my goal the whole time: play to your seeding. You're seeded 4th so you should at least get to the semis. Florida State, who I think will beat Washington easily, should be waiting. Will be tough to beat them twice if we get past OSU.
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We can do it!
 
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#13,325
#13,325
VolGirl05 said:
LOL.

TODAY. Whatever day today is. So if it’s a Saturday, you play to win on *Saturday.* If it’s a Monday, you play to win on *Monday.*

If it’s a Saturday and you’re playing to win in your head on a hypothetical Monday, you’re a loser with a loser mentality.

(For reference, see the methods employed today by the back-to-back defending national champions VS. those employed by the person with more CWS appearances without a title than anyone.) 😉
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Also, there’s a thing called momentum. Our team has had momentum through the SEC Tournament, Regionals, and Super Regionals. Now this decision to not play our best pitchers for this huge game. If I were playing, I would be furious. Momentum is not something you can lay aside, then pick up later, and yes, I do hope Karen gets the last laugh, but right now, for me, well, there are no words.
 
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