Baseball at TN, Sun 3/16, 1:00 pm

Who then?

 

Someone who can get 3-6 outs every time they step on the mound, no walks, no hbp’s, no hits, and no runs.

-Capt Obvious

 

Well, I have to say after seeing a weekend’s worth of RHP @
95mph another RHP @ 95 was not a mystery.

Again, we’ve got to pitch both sides of the plate, change speeds and change eye levels.

 

That's above my pay grade. Are you saying he is our only option for that role?

 

No, he's saying you have a problem with that decision, what's your solution? There were a few other guys positioned for this role in the early season, but they have taken on longer relief roles instead. Those are necessary also. There are a finite number of arms, and they don't all have Michael Byrne consistency. It's early in the season. Roles are still being defined. Hell, we were still making wholesale changes going into the tourney last year.

 

Are you his official spokesperson? Just an observation - didn't mean to get everyone's panties in a bunch. #GoGators

 

Gators pitching has been inconsistent for four or five seasons now. Why?

What is Tony V. doing to produce the results he's getting.

I fear Sully has settled in and lost his focus. The same will likely occur to Tony V after 13ish seasons

 

I answered a question you asked on an open forum.

 

2023: National Runner-Up
2024: CWS Semi-Finalist

Definitely some issues that need to be addressed but to say Sully has "settled in and lost his focus" seems a little crazy.

 

Don't mind the vol and his historically bad takes. Claims to be both, but doesn't come here to do anything but shit on the gators and pimp the vols.

 

Vol troll post. Vols have a long bsb history as one of the worst teams in the SEC and will return their before long. I haven't yet figured out Vitello who is unlike other winning coaches, but he'll be gone from Vols before too long.

 

You’re just being polite @TheBoss—

He’s a prima donna and he encourages his players to be prima donna’s as well.

 

UT is the best program in College baseball. That’s so weird to say given their history. Anybody got any dirt on Tony?? lol I kid I kid. Long season to go.

 

You don't read what few posts I add to the group. That much is obvious.
I'm never rude, disrespectful, or engage in name-calling.
Just because I refrain from posting daily does not make me a troll or a troublemaker, if my opinion differs from yours.

Everyone on this board knows that Gator baseball was not elite for the seasons of 2019 - 2022 (save for the Covid season). We struggled to even get out of our own regionals despite having an elite (highly ranked and talented) roster. Even last year our ERA was stupidly high.

I use Tony V as an example because UT is now clearly the best baseball program in the SEC. Just review the stats for yourself.
I have been critical of Sully in the past as have 50% of the regulars on this board.

I've never cheered for UT to beat my GATORS in any sport - EVER!
Losing to UT is less stressful to me than any other team. That much is true.

I'm fortunate to have access to the entering workings of UT athletics. Those who believe that Tony V. will leave UT are wrong, unless of course an elite MLB (Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, etc) team comes calling. He'll never leave UT for any other college program. He loves UT, the fans, and living in beautiful east Tennessee. UT made him the highest-paid college baseball coach last year and will continue to give him whatever he wants. He will stay and become legendary in UT athletics. Mark my words.

 

After last season I thought McNeillie might be the closer this year, but I guess Sully likes him better eating up innings in middle relief. At this point, I just want to have a lead to close out.

 

2x—

I thought the same thing coming into this season with regards to McNeille fitting into the closer role. However at the start of this season’s schedule he didn’t seem to be pitching with the same confidence he was displaying at the end of last season, at least IMHO.

But he has seemed to revive his confidence in his last two or three outings, again in my opinion. I believe he has the pitches and the ability to compete in the closer role as does Philpott.
Regardless of who fills the role it requires the ability to perform well under pressure every time out of the gate.

As I have said in previous conversations with our group here—
Consistency is the key. With pitching we always talk about the three C’s—Command, Control, and Confidence. While putting all of this in perspective it still requires our pitchers to be able to attack the strike zone, pitch by design on both sides of the plate, change speeds, and change eye levels.


The challenge is always to do it between the chalk lines. That’s why we play the games.

 

The roster and season stats are readily available. You have access to the same info i do....performance so far this season.
I don't see a clear cut closer at present. Several options, most of which have been shaky as often as they have been on. I would imagine Sully will continue tinkering until someone relatively reliable emerges....if that ever happens

 

Agreed. This statement supports my point. Pre 2019 Gators baseball faithful never wondered or worried about matters such as these.

 

Of course they did....you have years with a clear guy, and years where it's a committee, and years where no one ever emerges. It's college baseball, uf has had the luxury of some quality closers but it isn't ever automatic. Byrne was a walkon who was the 3rd starter on his own high school team. He developed, more touted guys often don't.

 

I noticed the change when Sully stepped away from being the pitching coach a few years back