The Official #11 Vandy @ #15 Tennessee Series Thread (Fri. 5/9 5:30PM EDT SEC Network) (Sat. 5/10 5PM EDT ESPN2) (Sun. 5/11 3PM EDT ESPN2)

[wtmvol]

This is absolutely true. Every segment of high-level college teams has a certain percentage of their fans who are abominable. To say otherwise would be like saying Tennessee fans have more alcoholics, more drug addicts, more severe mental illnesses, more criminals, etc, etc. than every other fan base. NOT TRUE.

one caveat - I feel certain LSU has more alcoholics than other fan bases

 

[txbo]

This team MAY make a run in the World Series but if they continue to tank it and make a quick exit in Hoover they will likely get an unfavorable draw which makes a run that much more unlikely. It's hard to repeat in the era of NIL because players are constantly moving but some of the pitching has been disappointing.

We have some things to clean up but I'll promise you one thing. Nobody wants to see a pissed off Vol squad show up to their regional as a 2 or 3 seed.

 

[MAD]

I'm honestly at the point where I'm just ready for this season to be over. Letting Vanderbilt come into our house and punk us has taken the last of the hope/life I had for this season away; I'm still going to watch, but I have minimal expectations now (maybe that's a good thing, though, as I always enjoy sports more when their isn't a burden of expectations)

 

[taylorvol]

I agree on the competitive at bats but that one defensive play could have propelled us to a win too , Chapman is really solid on defense , I know Tony’s searching for something but Dean struggled mightily on offense and defense and stayed in the lineup , I know he has more pro potential I guess , it’s Tony’s call and he’s been pretty dang good , I’m just saying I believe Chapman makes that play

Chapman makes that play 99 out of 100 times. As a junior, I ride with my veteran. Chapman earned the benefit of the doubt. Amick certainly received that benefit last year and Chapman shouod have received it yesterday IMHO.

 

[txbo]

 

[AthensVol2007]

My thoughts as well, also Newstrom & Grimmer combined for 1-8 with 3 strikeouts...so it's not like that change yielded better results than had Reese been in the lineup anyway.

That means they put the ball in play 5x. Thats 5 opportunities that could’ve yield productive outs depending on the base running situation. Thats 5 opportunities to run pitch counts up if you’re making contact. Grimmer’s last fly out advances Ensley to 3rd in any other inning, Chapman wasn’t getting that done this weekend.

 

[AthensVol2007]

If Reese starts and cranks a HR with 2 on in the 9th when Grimmer had the fly out would it have been the wrong call to sit him?

I'm not a fan of what if, Reese at the plate has been bad but you have to keep getting ABs to work out of slumps. Newstrom was the DH in the first 2 games, I saw no reason to start him at RF and put Grimmer in at DH (a guy that was only appearing in his 5th SEC game and was 0-4 in his previous 4 appearances)

No you don’t need to keep getting AB’s, sometimes you need a reset. Merritt was in the same boat in 2023 and Tony set him for several weeks and it completely changed his and our season when he came back. I guy that was 0-28 at one stretch then set for a handful of games came back to lead the team in HR’s by season’s end.

Not the same as sitting, but Dean has looked much better at the plate since he got dropped down the order. Perhaps Reese would do better earlier in the lineup when he’s had less time to see pitches and overthink things and he could just swing freely. Sometimes it’s just better to simply watch.

 

[AthensVol2007]

I have a hard time seeing us win a game there much less take the series. That place hasn't been so hospitable for our guys.

Or anyone this year. They’re 30-3 at home and dog walked the best pitching staff in the country last weekend there. They finally have an offense this season and 97 middle middle isn’t going to cut it against them.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

No you don’t need to keep getting AB’s, sometimes you need a reset. Merritt was in the same boat in 2023 and Tony set him for several weeks and it completely changed his and our season when he came back. I guy that was 0-28 at one stretch then set for a handful of games came back to lead the team in HR’s by season’s end.

Not the same as sitting, but Dean has looked much better at the plate since he got dropped down the order. Perhaps Reese would do better earlier in the lineup when he’s had less time to see pitches and overthink things and he could just swing freely. Sometimes it’s just better to simply watch.

Yeah, with how he's been swinging I'd probably just put Reese at the lead off spot. Sometimes an aggressive hitter is harder for a pitcher to deal with out the gate than someone who is willing to watch strikes.

On to the next game...for post season Reese has to be out of his slump though and on the field.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

This is absolutely true. Every segment of high-level college teams has a certain percentage of their fans who are abominable. To say otherwise would be like saying Tennessee fans have more alcoholics, more drug addicts, more severe mental illnesses, more criminals, etc, etc. than every other fan base. NOT TRUE.

Preach, man. Go look at Tiger Rant during football season. Or Rupp’s Rafters during any Kentucky basketball loss. Or Alabama sports radio whenever Saban would lose a single game. Insufferable people exist everywhere.

 

[Ned Land]

I know Reese has struggled at the plate but I believe he catches the ball that led to the triple before the two run homer

I said the same thing sitting there in the stands. It just feels like we are snakebit. Reese had been slumping so hard, and we needed a spark, it made sense the coaches would try something out there. Then that happens. Just everything backfiring when it feels like we've done the right thing. I feel bad for the coaches, theyve clearly tried everything. Of course we've all been there in life when we've given our best and things still aren't working out. I'm just hoping for the best down the stretch and trying to keep it in persepective. If we didn't bring in a single guy out of the portal we'd still field a very competitive team next year.

 

[taylorvol]

I loved the fire that Ensley showed all weekend but especially at the end of the game. I had a Birds Eye view of several Vandy players yelling and cursing into the TN dugout during their “celebration“. Vandy instigated it and Ensley told them where they needed to go. Gotta love a heated instate rivalry

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

I loved the fire that Ensley showed all weekend but especially at the end of the game. I had a Birds Eye view of several Vandy players yelling and cursing into the TN dugout during their “celebration“. Vandy instigated it and Ensley told them where they needed to go. Gotta love a heated instate rivalry

I hope we bend them over in Hoover if we see them.... hell, I hope we bend them over and whoop their ass every year moving forward!

 

[VOL931]

I blame the black jerseys.

So far, only Liam Doyle has been able to overcome the black jerseys.

Didn't they originally plan to retire those? Or did I imagine reading that??

 

[VOL931]

It's the way they are losing that is so painful. Bad errors, wild pitches, giving up stolen bases in droves, giving up bad HR's often on 2 strikes, outhitting opponents but leaving multiple guys on base.
I get the post-rain problem today, but the seats should be packed for a Vandy series. Tough season or not, let's show Tony we appreciate what he has done here.

More than once TV has criticized fans this season. Don't think it was the right move.

 

[VOL931]

I don't know what the problem is overall. They may need to get away from the home run derby and play some small ball. The pitchers need to hold the runners, we can't afford to give free runs with our staff. Play baseball, get hits, steal bases, bunt for position, anything to get runs. The last batter had the bases loaded and swung for the fences on the first 3 pitches without even touching the baseball. Shake it up and get ready to make a run!

Do you honestly think CTV is gonna make these kinds of adjustments?

 

[VOL931]

Vandy is 15th in the league in BA. 11th in walks, 13th in K’s, 14th in HR’s, 15th in doubles, 13th in hits. This was a complete anamoly for them.

They beat the VOLS using exact same offensive strategy all teams have since and including UK

 

[VOL931]

What’s everyone’s thoughts on what we need to do in Arkansas to host a Regional , I’m gonna say win the series or we’ll be on the road

Best thing that could happen to the team is to be on the road for all of it. Not being a local fan, I say go on the road. Get away from all the pressure.

 

[VOL931]

We have some things to clean up but I'll promise you one thing. Nobody wants to see a pissed off Vol squad show up to their regional as a 2 or 3 seed.

Converse can be said also. Nobody believes they can't beat this VOLS team. The key. Steal bases. Hit toward certain defenders. Oh and steal bases.

 

[Orange931]

I will say yesterday felt like previous years teams in a way as far as fighting to the end. It was unfortunate that we left so many on base and it cost us. I’m hoping someone else steps up in a big way as far as pitching, it can’t only be Doyle or we’re screwed as we’re seeing now.

 

[ETNVolunteer1]

I will say yesterday felt like previous years teams in a way as far as fighting to the end. It was unfortunate that we left so many on base and it cost us. I’m hoping someone else steps up in a big way as far as pitching, it can’t only be Doyle or we’re screwed as we’re seeing now.

Was listening to a college baseball YouTube show a few weeks ago and all of the guys are former D1 players. I think they said to go far in the postseason you need 5-6 guys you can truly count on pitching-wise. Said you need two really good arms and at least 3 bullpen guys you’re confident in. We need a few guys to step it up or like you said we’re in trouble.

 

[TikiVol]

Season has been a bit of a struggle-fest, but anyone else taking solace in the fact that we're not Texas A&M? Lose in heartbreaking fashion in the CWS, have your coach bail on you in the process, regroup to be preseason #1, completely tank 1st half of the season, then come storming back to get into postseason position, only to get swept by lowly Missouri at home which all but eliminates them from the tournament conversation (barring a road sweep over Georgia).

It's been a season full of frustration, but if this is what a down year looks like for Tennessee baseball, then we're doing fine.

I take solace that we are not A&M - but when I remember that they beat us, the pain comes back!

 

[Proud Army Wife]

We have some things to clean up but I'll promise you one thing. Nobody wants to see a pissed off Vol squad show up to their regional as a 2 or 3 seed.

The Clemson fans were big mad about it and for good reason lol.

 

[wtmvol]

I take solace that we are not A&M - but when I remember that they beat us, the pain comes back!

They would trade baseball programs with us in a heartbeat.

 

[TigerMan]

one caveat - I feel certain LSU has more alcoholics than other fan bases

Functional alcohols! The Cajuns don’t tolerate drunkenness without production. So drink as much as you want, but you better get your butt up, go to work, and take care of the home, every day!

I’d actually disagree slightly though. Sure, the Cajuns drink. But, Ohio State fans are some of the heaviest drinkers imo. Hell, those people riot, and flip over cop cars after WINNING games! Was in a bar on High St there (on campus) many years ago during football season. Was wearing a Wright St sweatshirt, and my God, I was verbally assaulted by every drunk in the place, and everywhere else I went that day. And Wright St doesn’t even have a football team! One dude even winged a shot glass at me, at which point I had to defend myself. It was crazy! Florida fans rank pretty high in the drinking business as well.

We can take this a step further though, and add in the drug use by fans! Hands down, Oklahoma wins with their meth consumption! Point of all this…. every school has those fans. Some just have a few more than others!