Vol pitching exodus

[savannahfan]

Not sure what has to happen, but the pitching has to get much, much better. A total revamp

To get better look to the pitching staff!!

 

[CINCYVOL]

Bullpen was disappointing this year, making room for new pitchers

 

[WGWTFA98]

Majority of it is roster crunch due to roster limits. Most of the guys either barely or never even pitched for us.

I think there’s at least a few of they would’ve like to hang onto, but those guys wanted bigger roles than being offered

Bottom line is they were going to have like 60 players on the roster between expected returnees and their signing class plus portal. 25ish of those guys were always gonna have to go

 

[iVolSoHard]

I think the baseball side is going to become such a mess roster-wise in a year or two that the NCAA will have no choice but to expand to 40-43 (especially after every coach in the Power 4 bitches about the changes)

Yeah, it's weird that they went with 34 spots instead of matching the 40 man roster of an MLB team at minimum.

You can't really miss on any prospects with a 34 man roster and it sucks even more when you're an elite recruiter and have to deal with draft risks every year.

 

[fryeguy93]

Thoughts:

* We were all disappointed with pitching this year. However, the Vols still finished #14 in team ERA at 4.06. CCU (#2), Texas (#6), LSU (#7), Vanderbilt (#8), and Arkansas (#10). Maybe the sky wasn't falling. However, our bullpen did seemingly underperform. The vols pitching ranked higher than Vols hitting as they finished #46 in BA.
* CFA has a great reputation coaching guys up. It's telling that only a few guys got better as season went on. Krenzel's illness clearly effected him.
* I Love Dylan Loy but as a crafty lefty in these days and times, he needs to be comfortable in bullpen spot in pro ball. I don't think he got the trust from coaches that we expected in second season.
* We are desperate for LHP. Gotta believe we are beating the bushes hard. I wonder if the coaching staff have rented a condo on the cape.

 

[WGWTFA98]

The pitching wasn’t as bad as many say this year, just wasn’t as good as it normally is. Defense and not enough bat to ball were the teams “issues” (reminder this team made the super regional and SEC semis lol)

They’re about to land a LHP probably later today. They’ll add another

I get it’s scary without many proven guys heading into next season, but depending how the draft goes they could have as many as 3-4 guys who are probable future first rounders on their pitching staff. There will not be a lack of talent

 

[volfannga]

This shrinkage in spots combined with NIl and the portal is going to wreck the path out of high school. Slots at the top schools will be upper classes and the experience and maturity gap will force multiple transfers. NCAA with its greed, neglect and arrogance is killing that student athlete - university bond. I hate it for these kids.

 

[greasemachine]

They go from being able to transfer once, but you had to sit out a year before you could play for your new school and a million rules. To now, a "free for all portal" and could transfer 3 years in a row, seemingly without any rules.

They go from not even being allowed to call,talk, see a prospect, until a certain time frame, down to the minute and not being able to pick up the tab for a burger for a kid. Remember Evan Russell and the 2022 boys got a talkin' to because they joked around with the prop of a mcdonald's? bag in the dugout. To now, writing checks left and right, commitments are to schools who have the most to spend, and paying past players who were denied/not allowed an NIL deal.
There will be no more teams like 2022 and 2024. Those boys played 3 years together and knew what everyone's next move was going to be on the field and mound. You can't buy that.
I am and will be forever grateful Z was there for the absolute best years. He has made lifelong friends
and keeps in touch with Tony more than he probably should.
The "VFL" will definitely mean something different going forward. #48 #VFL
️
#ihatetheportal

 

[NEBBDad]

It was only 5 years ago rosters were 35 and not 40. The rosters went to 40 after COVID due to giving players an extra year of eligibility, so eventually this needed to be evened back out. There was a time colleges had JV teams, but that was taken away and teams made adjustments, so will they adjust to this. As far as the pitchers leaving, don't be surprised when a handful end up at SEC schools, as I can guarantee that will happen. With the expanded scholrships, this change is a win and will also hopefully help get rid of the new trend of being in college as long as possible. It is time that the players get their years in and move on, need to stop having 24 and 25 year olds in college athletics and taking spots from 18/19 years olds.

 

[taylorvol]

It’s sad to think that 22 and 24 were anomalies and we will see 75% or more brand new rosters year over year moving forward. We will barely learn their names before a new team emerges. I’m not sure I will stick around for it if that becomes the new reality. The optimist in me thinks it will improve…

 

[Orange.]

I happened to speak with someone this morning and learned the following. Between current roster and commitments we have around 85 player spots to manage. The new NCAA roster limits us to 34 in 2026. That means around 50 will have to be cut or leave via the portal. That is just an incredible loss of talent. These are not rec players but SEC caliber talent. NCAA knows how to solve a problem doesn't it.

The 85 number may have slipped in from football. That’s their number iirc.

 

[Volprofch05]

It’s sad to think that 22 and 24 were anomalies and we will see 75% or more brand new rosters year over year moving forward. We will barely learn their names before a new team emerges. I’m not sure I will stick around for it if that becomes the new reality. The optimist in me thinks it will improve…

Sorry TV, but you’re not allowed to bail, we need you in here

 

[@1RBFjr]

They go from being able to transfer once, but you had to sit out a year before you could play for your new school and a million rules. To now, a "free for all portal" and could transfer 3 years in a row, seemingly without any rules.

They go from not even being allowed to call,talk, see a prospect, until a certain time frame, down to the minute and not being able to pick up the tab for a burger . . . .

NC State was scouting our guys at an Owls game Friday. We had another player out, visiting Mississippi State. Others are making visits. We have one player (if not two) looking for his fourth school in four years.

Just a couple of years ago, I ‘caught’ one assistant coach scouting/trying to recruit during the dead period, and another coach asked me to let a player from another school know he was there and wouldn’t mind talking All of that’s mild compared to today.

 

[TechnoVol]

I'm having a hard time understanding why all of these pitchers are entering the portal. Several of them were highly rated and we beat out other top tier teams to get them on campus. Were the evaluations off on some, while others decided to look for a better opportunity. I'm with @taylorvol, If we basically have a 85% new roster each year, I'm going to be less inclined to avidly follow the program like I have for years.

 

[greasemachine]

.

 

[volfannga]

.

Sad to think guys like Hunter Ensley will be few and far between.

 

[Volgrandpa]

.

Perfect! No need to develop players anymore. Just go out and buy new players for next year. Portal and NIL have really changed the game.

 

[knoxvol52]

It’s sad to think that 22 and 24 were anomalies and we will see 75% or more brand new rosters year over year moving forward. We will barely learn their names before a new team emerges. I’m not sure I will stick around for it if that becomes the new reality. The optimist in me thinks it will improve…

Recruiting classes will get smaller also. Going to need to be more selective on the commitments. After first couple of years of this 34 player roster I believe teams will be able to adjust to it...

 

[taylorvol]

Sad to think guys like Hunter Ensley will be few and far between.

Legends like Hunter Ensley and Evan Russell and Trey Lipscomb might never happen with this new world of college athletics.

 

[Cosmo Kramer]

Legends like Hunter Ensley and Evan Russell and Trey Lipscomb might never happen with this new world of college athletics.

And Ortega

 

[LAVol1]

It’s not about trusting CTV. In the age of unlimited portal transfers, NIL, and 34 man rosters, you will lose players you wanted to keep. Impossible to give everyone enough innings, at bats, etc. Plus, sometimes players just aren’t happy at UT. That’s OK and some are just better fits elsewhere.

A lot of parents play a major role in players being malcontents. Too many think their child is better than they really are. My son's college coach set parents straight in his first parent's meeting. He told them "Most every player here was all-state. If you come to me and ask me why your son is not playing more, I'm going to give you the answer right now: 'he's not good enough'. If you don't want to hear that answer, don't ask why."

 

[WillisWG]

LHP Dylan Loy: 4-0, 3.97 ERA, 33 APP, 34.0 IP
LHP Bryson Thacker: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 APP
RHP Thomas Crabtree: 2-0, 3.00 ERA, 15 IP. 12 APP, 2 GS
RHP Austin Hunley: 2-0, 2.79 ERA, 9.2 IP, 12 APP
LHP/OF Brayden Sharp: 1-0, 6.75 ERA, 8.0 IP, 8 APP, 0-for-5, 2 R
LHP Andrew Behnke: 2-0, 5.11 ERA, 14 APP
RHP Austin Breedlove: 3-0, 3.42 ERA, 25 APP, 2 GS
LHP Michael Sharman: 3-1, 3.18 ERA, 17 APP, 3 GS
RHP Tanner Wiggins: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 APP
LHP Brayden May: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 APP
LHP Luke Payne: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 APP
LHP Ryler Smart: DNP
RHP Beau Revord: DNP
LHP Dane Bjorn: DNP
RHP Stratton Scott: DNP
RHP Andrew DuMont: DNP
RHP Ben Martin: DNP
RHP Aidan Hayse: DNP
RHP Tate Strickland: DNP
RHP Ryan Combs

 

[6-4-3]

There is very little player development that goes on anymore at the larger schools. As I’ve mentioned, I’m associated with an MLB org and we see it consistently. Tenneseee is no different than the other programs. Buy the best players you can for a year and then they are gone. Focus and cater to those guys and spend very little or no time developing the other younger ones that can become better players. It’s not the coaching staff’s fault, those are the rules of the game now. Gone are the days of freshmen “paying their dues” until it is their turn, while developing their skills. Coaches don’t have time for that anymore. Can’t invest time into kids just to see them leave a year or two later for greener pastures. Coaches and programs aren’t to blame, the system is. Gone are the days of playing for the name on the front of the jersey because it’s your school and you’ve always wanted to be there “when you grow up”. Now you play for the name on the back of the jersey instead. There is no loyalty from coaches or players. Again, not their fault. It’s the system we have allowed to emerge within the sport. It’s a shame really. Sad to watch. It’s turning more into professional baseball by the day, which is not a good thing.

 

[Volgrandpa]

There is very little player development that goes on anymore at the larger schools. As I’ve mentioned, I’m associated with an MLB org and we see it consistently. Tenneseee is no different than the other programs. Buy the best players you can for a year and then they are gone. Focus and cater to those guys and spend very little or no time developing the other younger ones that can become better players. It’s not the coaching staff’s fault, that’s the rules of the game now. Gone are the days of freshman “paying their dues” until it is their turn, while developing their skills. Coaches don’t have time for that anymore. Can’t invest time into kids just to see them leave a year or two later for greener pastures. Coaches and programs aren’t to blame, the system is. Gone are the days of playing for the name on the front of the jersey because it’s your school and you’ve always wanted to be there “when you grow up”. Now you play for the name on the back of the jersey instead. There is no loyalty from coaches or players. Again, not their fault. It’s the system we have allowed to emerge within the sport. It’s a shame really. Sad to watch. It’s turning more into professional baseball by the day, which is not a good thing.

Well put.

 

[Legion of Doom]

They likely have 6 or 7 incoming freshmen of the 9 pitchers they signed with the 2nd rated recruiting class.