Vols Shut Down Central Michigan, Sweep GCU Classic

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#1
Tennessee Baseball put together an impressive, full-team effort on Sunday, as the Volunteers took a 20-1 win over Central Michigan and completed a three-game sweep in the Grand Canyon University Classic at Brazell Stadium.

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#2
#2
Amazing what a difference it makes to have a hitting coach who works on fundamentals , encourages with positive reinforcement, and lets the guys swing away. This team is not as talented as the past few teams and I know the season is just starting, but it's evident, the hitters are more confident, loose, and being allowed to enjoy the game.

This Vols fan is glad to see Larry Simcox back on the staff.
 
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#4
#4
I hope Serrano realizes that Larry probably saved his job for him. Once this season plays out it will be time to pay the man.
 
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#5
#5
Good sweep and tons of offense! Need to keep this momentum going.
 
#7
#7
Backwards K said:
Amazing what a difference it makes to have a hitting coach who works on fundamentals , encourages with positive reinforcement, and lets the guys swing away. This team is not as talented as the past few teams and I know the season is just starting, but it's evident, the hitters are more confident, loose, and being allowed to enjoy the game.

This Vols fan is glad to see Larry Simcox back on the staff.
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I'm not trying to stir the pot here at all...but curious as to why bringing Simcox on staff was just done this pre-season? Perhaps it was an open invitation and he just now accepted it? Either way, I too am glad to have him back. I'm just too distanced from the program to know what the semantics are with the staff.
 
#8
#8
Toevol said:
I'm not trying to stir the pot here at all...but curious as to why bringing Simcox on staff was just done this pre-season? Perhaps it was an open invitation and he just now accepted it? Either way, I too am glad to have him back. I'm just too distanced from the program to know what the semantics are with the staff.
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Coach Bergeron had been with Coach Serrano at his previous stops, thus was very well thought of. Obviously, Coach Serrano had made moves to improve his staff previously but I believe 1. because that offensive approach had served them well previously and 2. loyalty to a guy that had been with him for so long it took him maybe longer than it should have to make a change.

In the off season CDS did some interviews about "small ball" and the fact that HS players on the west coast are more acquainted with that style where players from this area are not and it takes them longer to transition to that style of ball in college.

Also, Coach Simcox was running his own baseball academy at the time CDS was hired and I'm not sure he was ready to give that up at the time. Pure speculation on my part.

There were a lot of rumors floating about as well at the end of the season, but I don't know if it's even worth bringing it up. We all agree we're lucky to have Coach Simcox on board.
 
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#9
#9
vol66 said:
Coach Bergeron had been with Coach Serrano at his previous stops, thus was very well thought of. Obviously, Coach Serrano had made moves to improve his staff previously but I believe 1. because that offensive approach had served them well previously and 2. loyalty to a guy that had been with him for so long it took him maybe longer than it should have to make a change.

In the off season CDS did some interviews about "small ball" and the fact that HS players on the west coast are more acquainted with that style where players from this area are not and it takes them longer to transition to that style of ball in college.

Also, Coach Simcox was running his own baseball academy at the time CDS was hired and I'm not sure he was ready to give that up at the time. Pure speculation on my part.

There were a lot of rumors floating about as well at the end of the season, but I don't know if it's even worth bringing it up. We all agree we're lucky to have Coach Simcox on board.
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Thanks for your comments. I guess Diamond is still going strong, not sure about that.
Great point about small ball. I think your comment is accurate and makes a lot of sense regarding local kids vs. CDS' old base in Cali. So moving forward, I'm guessing we no longer will play small ball? Just interesting to me that its possible to over-manage baseball players now. There are times when you have to move runners via bunting, stealing, hitting behind runners, hit and runs, and giving the take sign on 3-0. To me, that is just good baseball.
I coach Sandy Koufax (Ages 12-14) and every one of my kids will know and understand what manufacturing a run is all about.
Hope it works out for these coaches. I don't know them personally, but they are good baseball men and reps of UT.
 
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#10
#10
Toevol said:
Thanks for your comments. I guess Diamond is still going strong, not sure about that.
Great point about small ball. I think your comment is accurate and makes a lot of sense regarding local kids vs. CDS' old base in Cali. So moving forward, I'm guessing we no longer will play small ball? Just interesting to me that its possible to over-manage baseball players now. There are times when you have to move runners via bunting, stealing, hitting behind runners, hit and runs, and giving the take sign on 3-0. To me, that is just good baseball.
I coach Sandy Koufax (Ages 12-14) and every one of my kids will know and understand what manufacturing a run is all about.
Hope it works out for these coaches. I don't know them personally, but they are good baseball men and reps of UT.
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I realize Diamond is still going strong, but I think his role would have to change due to recruiting rules, it took a bit for that to get worked out and delayed his starting date after he was hired. I could be wrong on that, Deerpark or maybe another poster has insight on that issue.

We had a sac bunt this weekend I guess. But if you watched last year we would get the lead off man on in the first inning , no outs and AJ would come to the plate and bunt and I think many of us were questioning that strategy. I think we'll still do all of the things you mentioned...Moberg is a good example. When Moberg came to the plate last season everyone here would think bunt, so would the opposition, because that's all he was allowed to do. Don't even get me started regarding running the bases, too aggressive, to many mistakes/chances. We've hit and run a few times already this year...all of that is still there, just...I dunno, in moderation and allowing the kids to swing the bats has to be a breath of fresh air to all of them.
 
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#11
#11
It's deeper than that 66. Bergeron was overbearing and negative and his philosophy on bunting, taking too many pitches, and hitting behind the runners really held the offense back. Simcox holds the guys accountable but has a much different attitude (encouraging and positive) and believes in letting the guys swing the bat in the games and in BP. Should have been on staff all along but there have been rumors that the UTAD didn't want any remnants of the Delmonico era kept around.

Last year's team was more talented on paper and they struggled to score runs against everyone. Team seems much looser and more confident this year and that is no coincidence.
 
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#12
#12
Backwards K said:
It's deeper than that 66. Bergeron was overbearing and negative and his philosophy on bunting, taking too many pitches, and hitting behind the runners really held the offense back. Simcox holds the guys accountable but has a much different attitude (encouraging and positive) and believes in letting the guys swing the bat in the games and in BP. Should have been on staff all along but there have been rumors that the UTAD didn't want any remnants of the Delmonico era kept around.

Last year's team was more talented on paper and they struggled to score runs against everyone. Team seems much looser and more confident this year and that is no coincidence.
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That's kind of what I was getting at about rumors. But yeah, I feel strongly enough about it to say it's the reason AJ wasn't taken higher in the draft, that philosophy cost him money.

We all lived it last season and we discussed it a lot, time to move on and hope better days are ahead.
 
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#13
#13
Appreciate it fellers. I'm new to the baseball message board, so don't mean to stir up old issues.

Glad that it sounds like CDS isn't too hard-headed to try a different approach! Some of these guys will carry their beliefs all the way to the soup line - whether it is working or not.
 
#14
#14
Toevol said:
Appreciate it fellers. I'm new to the baseball message board, so don't mean to stir up old issues.

Glad that it sounds like CDS isn't too hard-headed to try a different approach! Some of these guys will carry their beliefs all the way to the soup line - whether it is working or not.
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Welcome aboard! post often.
 
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#15
#15
vol66 said:
That's kind of what I was getting at about rumors. But yeah, I feel strongly enough about it to say it's the reason AJ wasn't taken higher in the draft, that philosophy cost him money.

We all lived it last season and we discussed it a lot, time to move on and hope better days are ahead.
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AJ crushed the ball late last season and kept the pace in his early minor league posts.

I suspect he'll at least get a cup of coffee in the majors sometime
 
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