UT Rally Not Enough as #11 SC Wins, 12-8

[VN News]

Tennessee scored seven runs in the third inning but it wasn't enough as No. 11 South Carolina clinched a series win with a 12-8 victory on Saturday.

More...


Discuss.

 

[BigOrange51]

Serrano had a great comment about all of these losses in his radio interview after the game. He said that no one is pointing fingers. More eloquently, but in general what he was saying was that the team approaches these tough games as a unified group. And it was very evident in that 7 run third. After we give up 8 runs in the first 3 innings its easy to blame Williams, and kind of give up the fight. We did not do that. We did our best to pick Nick up.

As much as I like that we are playing that unselfishly, it concerns me that if its always the pitching doing the digging and the hitting doing the climbing out of those holes, the team starts to divide right down that line. In reality, most teams have that divide by default. The pitchers have to hold themselves accountable. I don't know that that isn't exactly whats going on but as a group, the pitchers have to stay on top of each other to limit mistakes that are costing us runs and games.

It's apparent to me that we have the bats to compete in this league. We just do not have the arms to keep up. Right now, we have to focus on the little things as a pitching staff. Walks, HBP's, wild pitches... they have to all but disappear for us to have success. We are really close, and I think it'll turn pretty soon, but this program is not going very far without some studs on the hill.

 

[1985Vols]

Its plain and simple.Hard to win baseball games if you don't have pitching. Same issue we had under Raleigh. Serrano better get busy recruiting some SEC caliber pitchers or his time on the hill will be short too.

 

[vol66]

We need to win tomorrow, we're on a six game skid.

 

[RichRollin]

Its plain and simple.Hard to win baseball games if you don't have pitching. Same issue we had under Raleigh. Serrano better get busy recruiting some SEC caliber pitchers or his time on the hill will be short too.

Dude we didn't have pitching, hitting, waterboys, anything when he took this job. List 5 legit coaches who would take this job if we fire him. Not stupid idiotic unrealistic names. Name me five coaches who we could get. It's just gonna take time whether some like it or not. Fire him and get another assclown like Raleigh and your precious program just might suck forever.

 

[Backwards K]

Location, location, location, location. Just as important in pitching as it is in business. These young pitchers stay behind in the count which results in walks or just trying to throw a strike on a 2-0 or 3-1 count which normally ends up in the gap or in the street behind the wall. At this point in the season, I do not understand that. As young pitchers in the SEC, it's expected that they will give up hits, but it's not unreasonable to expect them to throw strikes.

As for the hitting, the batting averages are fine but they still need some pop in the middle of the lineup. It would be nice to be able to score 2 runs with less than 4 hits and a couple of bunts. But, you do have to admire the heart of this team to continue to fight.

Again, many of the pieces are in place but they do need consistent pitching and a little more power in the line up. It's obvious that a ONE or two on here have an axe to grind with Serrano but he is the man for the job and this will get turned around.

 

[1985Vols]

Dude we didn't have pitching, hitting, waterboys, anything when he took this job. List 5 legit coaches who would take this job if we fire him. Not stupid idiotic unrealistic names. Name me five coaches who we could get. It's just gonna take time whether some like it or not. Fire him and get another assclown like Raleigh and your precious program just might suck forever.

This is The University of Tennessee, not Longwood State. Oh wait, we lost to them this week. I get what you are saying and while I was excited when we hired CDS, I am not seeing any improvement over what we had 3 years ago. Maybe I'm a little impatient but as a Vols fan, I am getting sick and tired of having to say "Wait 'till next year" in every sport we have with our $120M athletics budget. Getting a little ridiculous IMO.

 

[RichRollin]

Location, location, location, location. Just as important in pitching as it is in business. These young pitchers stay behind in the count which results in walks or just trying to throw a strike on a 2-0 or 3-1 count which normally ends up in the gap or in the street behind the wall. At this point in the season, I do not understand that. As young pitchers in the SEC, it's expected that they will give up hits, but it's not unreasonable to expect them to throw strikes.

As for the hitting, the batting averages are fine but they still need some pop in the middle of the lineup. It would be nice to be able to score 2 runs with less than 4 hits and a couple of bunts. But, you do have to admire the heart of this team to continue to fight.

Again, many of the pieces are in place but they do need consistent pitching and a little more power in the line up. It's obvious that a ONE or two on here have an axe to grind with Serrano but he is the man for the job and this will get turned around.

It's also amazing to me how our offense is average with less than two outs, yet they suddenly become dangerous with 2 outs. Especially with the youth within the lineup. This Vincent Jackson dude is gonna be awesome. As you've stated...need a couple more of him.

And yes...we need arms. Can't "smoke and mirror" your way when you lack pitching. That's at any level, much less this meat grinder of a conference.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

This is The University of Tennessee, not Longwood State. Oh wait, we lost to them this week. I get what you are saying and while I was excited when we hired CDS, I am not seeing any improvement over what we had 3 years ago. Maybe I'm a little impatient but as a Vols fan, I am getting sick and tired of having to say "Wait 'till next year" in every sport we have with our $120M athletics budget. Getting a little ridiculous IMO.

So what's your solution?