Vol pitching exodus

#51
#51
6-4-3 said:
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.
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Agreed. At least pro sports have guardrails and restrictions on free agency and player movement. College has total chaos with “everyone’s a free agent“. It’s becoming a joke with players playing for 4 or 5 different schools during their college careers. Bring on collective bargaining!
 
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#52
#52
fryeguy93 said:
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.
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Fwiw, I wouldn't necessarily call BA a good measure of hitting production.
 
#53
#53
taylorvol said:
Agreed. At least pro sports have guardrails and restrictions on free agency and player movement. College has total chaos with “everyone’s a free agent“. It’s becoming a joke with players playing for 4 or 5 different schools during their college careers. Bring on collective bargaining!
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Agree 100%. Pro ball is much more restrictive. Just my personal feelings, but as this continues I find myself losing interest in teams and programs in general now that there is no continuity from year to year. What’s the point, honestly. Something has been lost in all this chaos. Or, maybe I am just “old school”.
 
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#54
#54
6-4-3 said:
Agree 100%. Pro ball is much more restrictive. Just my personal feelings, but as this continues I find myself losing interest in teams and programs in general now that there is no continuity from year to year. What’s the point, honestly. Something has been lost in all this chaos. Or, maybe I am just “old school”.
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I feel exactly the same way. No team continuity and future looks like just a bunch of individuals looking for a payday or quick notoriety for MLB draft leverage. One of the most popular players is one of the most selfish “it’s all about me and my stats” guy who has worn the uniform. We need more team guys who have dreamed of playing for the Vols—not a bunch of one year mercenaries.
 
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#56
#56
6-4-3 said:
Agree 100%. Pro ball is much more restrictive. Just my personal feelings, but as this continues I find myself losing interest in teams and programs in general now that there is no continuity from year to year. What’s the point, honestly. Something has been lost in all this chaos. Or, maybe I am just “old school”.
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No. Not sure who has written these open annual NIL contracts. I have to assume it is at the plate of the collectives.
 
#63
#63
TechnoVol said:
Good to know, I didn't realize that.
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  • Standard Window:
    The primary transfer window for non-graduate players is June 2nd to July 1st.

  • Graduate Transfers:
    Graduate transfers can enter the portal at any time.

  • Coaching Changes:
    Players on a team whose head coach leaves also have an additional 30-day window to enter the portal says 247Sports.

  • Purpose:
    The portal allows players to explore other programs and potentially transfer to a new school.

  • Eligibility:
    Entering the portal during the designated window is crucial for a player's eligibility at a new institution.

  • Beyond the Window:
    While players can be contacted by other coaches and commit to a new school at any time, they must have officially entered the portal during the June 2nd - July 1st window to be eligible.
 
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#65
#65
6-4-3 said:
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.
Click to expand...
Hate it.
 
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#66
#66
chuckiepoo said:
  • Standard Window:
    The primary transfer window for non-graduate players is June 2nd to July 1st.
  • Graduate Transfers:
    Graduate transfers can enter the portal at any time.
  • Coaching Changes:
    Players on a team whose head coach leaves also have an additional 30-day window to enter the portal says 247Sports.
  • Purpose:
    The portal allows players to explore other programs and potentially transfer to a new school.
  • Eligibility:
    Entering the portal during the designated window is crucial for a player's eligibility at a new institution.
  • Beyond the Window:
    While players can be contacted by other coaches and commit to a new school at any time, they must have officially entered the portal during the June 2nd - July 1st window to be eligible.
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Who'da known that those old pre-computer strategy board games would prepare us for following college baseball?

1751148357598.png
 
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#67
#67
6-4-3 said:
Agree 100%. Pro ball is much more restrictive. Just my personal feelings, but as this continues I find myself losing interest in teams and programs in general now that there is no continuity from year to year. What’s the point, honestly. Something has been lost in all this chaos. Or, maybe I am just “old school”.
Click to expand...
taylorvol said:
I feel exactly the same way. No team continuity and future looks like just a bunch of individuals looking for a payday or quick notoriety for MLB draft leverage. One of the most popular players is one of the most selfish “it’s all about me and my stats” guy who has worn the uniform. We need more team guys who have dreamed of playing for the Vols—not a bunch of one year mercenaries.
Click to expand...
Even Seinfeld's oft cited observation about team loyalty doesn't hold up anymore.
1751148639732.png

Today's teams aren't even loyal to their own laundry!

1751148794101.png
 
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#70
#70
Volgrandpa said:
Sharman commits to Clemson.
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They’re more butt hurt about the headline on their site stating he’s an SEC transfer than anything else.
They absolutely HATE the SEC and anything associated with it. Somebody finally got on there and statues the obvious, which is that he only pitched midweek games against mid-majors. Some of them are ready to run their coach off already
 
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#72
#72
NEBBDad said:
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.
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Yeah but what’s changing is the overage you could have. Last we held nearly 20 guys off the active roster so that they could rehab from injuries or take a year to develop because we liked their upside. Much harder to do that now.

A guy like Anson Seibert would be a legitimately tough decision to keep around when he has to miss an entire year. Same thing with AJ Russell. You have a few pitchers out for the year and it can get thin very quick
 
#73
#73
Volprofch05 said:
The funny thing is there was so much discussion about Kuhns being gone, but it ended up being almost everyone except for Kuhns hitting the portal.
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Tbh part of that was because Kuhns was one of the few worth keeping around.

Of all the pitchers who left, not many are gonna be better than guys we have on the roster next year
 
#74
#74
www.rockytopinsider.com

Two Trends Of Note With Tennessee Baseball's Pitching Additions In Transfer Portal | Rocky Top Insider

Analyzing two Tennessee baseball pitching trends with its incoming transfers and returning players on the mound.
www.rockytopinsider.com www.rockytopinsider.com

Tennessee Adding Pitchers With Low Walk Rates

The most common denominator of Tennessee’s staffs under pitching coach Frank Anderson has been an ability to throw strikes. While many teams have struggled to consistently find the strike zone, the Vols have lived there under Anderson’s guidance, making other teams earn everything they get at the plate.

That’s what made the 2025 Tennessee pitching staff so unusual. A talented staff, the Vols struggled with walks last season. Thanks in large part to Liam Doyle, Tennessee’s staff had major strikeout stuff. Its 30.1% strikeout rate was the second highest of Vitello’s tenure behind only 2023.

But while the 2023 team boasted a modest 7.6% walk rate, Tennessee’s 2025 staff posted a 9.5% walk rate. It was the highest walk rate of Vitello and Anderson’s time in Knoxville, even eclipsing their 2018 pitching staff that was the worst in the last eight years by a long shot.
 
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