Good season Bat Cats!

[maysvilleky]

Good season Cats! 40 wins & Regional win!

Still didn’t like some of the decisions made by the Coaching staff this year but the team was competitive all year and had an identity!

I’d take a repeat next season! I think anything close they will get the fan support and bring excitement to UK BB.

 

[Cefiro]

I’m still not sold on NM being the answer. One good season in 7 years.

 

[SeanCain]

I’m still not sold on NM being the answer. One good season in 7 years.

I’m not either at this point. He’s worked magic this year and next year will determine a lot for me.

 

[catzfanjim]

It was a good season and our players have nothing to be ashamed of.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Mingione bought himself two more years in my opinion. Unless next year is just epically bad. Go out and make a regional and he's well off the chopping block.

Will be interesting to see what happens with our staff. Roszel has now has a top 5 SEC staff two years in a row despite having no studs or ace type pitchers. Just put together a good staff top to bottom. Has to make him a favorable candidate somewhere. Coggins is rumored to be in line to go to Georgia possibly. So, those possible changes could be a big factor.

 

[Basil Cat]

I’m not either at this point. He’s worked magic this year and next year will determine a lot for me.

Agree and listening to his post game press conference really concerns me. Said he hasn’t spent a lot of time thinking about next year, yikes!!! I guarantee you Jay Johnson, Tony Vitello, and Kevin O’Sullivan have found time to think a lot about next years roster. I think NM is very satisfied. He emphasized his accomplishments about 2 regionals in 7 years and none before that. I agree that is some progress, but you better be relentless to coach in the SEC.

We all know MB is satisfied with NM and they both will play up hosting this year and the RPI ranking. But the bottom line is we will be talking about from Lexington and not Omaha.

 

[backinky2018]

Mingione bought himself two more years in my opinion. Unless next year is just epically bad. Go out and make a regional and he's well off the chopping block.

Will be interesting to see what happens with our staff. Roszel has now has a top 5 SEC staff two years in a row despite having no studs or ace type pitchers. Just put together a good staff top to bottom. Has to make him a favorable candidate somewhere. Coggins is rumored to be in line to go to Georgia possibly. So, those possible changes could be a big factor.

I agree with this. The program needs more consistent results, but when you take our school to just its second super in school history, you shouldn't get canned the following year.

 

[Cefiro]

Mingione bought himself two more years in my opinion. Unless next year is just epically bad. Go out and make a regional and he's well off the chopping block.

Will be interesting to see what happens with our staff. Roszel has now has a top 5 SEC staff two years in a row despite having no studs or ace type pitchers. Just put together a good staff top to bottom. Has to make him a favorable candidate somewhere. Coggins is rumored to be in line to go to Georgia possibly. So, those possible changes could be a big factor.

Mitch is going to give him a much longer contract than that! I only wish I could suck at my job for 6 years, have 1 decent year and get an extension and a raise. Helps when you’re church buddies with your boss though.

 

[maysvilleky]

I agree with the 2 year comment above. He should have 2 years to show consistency before getting a longer contract.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Mitch is going to give him a much longer contract than that! I only wish I could suck at my job for 6 years, have 1 decent year and get an extension and a raise. Helps when you’re church buddies with your boss though.

I am going to give Mingione a bit of a clean slate here and not harp on his past as much as I will just look to his future. Things have changed in college athletics and it is possible that he's embraced that in a way that could really turn things around for himself and UK.

He got an automatic 1 year extension just for making the NCAA tournament. Not sure if that means that Mitch will also go back and tack on to that. At this point, if I am AD I wait and see what happens next year. I think we have a good enough core group returning that UK should expect to have another solid year next year, but if we fall off some and don't make the NCAA tournament then I think the concerns about years like 2017 and 2023 being more anamolies than consistent success begin to rise up again.

Still, I think this bought him at least 2 years. Like I said, that might not be the case if we have a 7 win SEC season or something like that next year, but if we barely miss the tournament or something like we have in the past then I think we can afford to wait and see how 2025 goes. These big years are great, but the key is being consisent. Tennessee is in their third straight Super Regional and might make the CWS for the second time in 2 years. We don't necessarily have to be consistent at that high of a level but I'd like to see us at least making regionals 2 out of every 4 years or so. I think that sort of consistency allows you to build more as a program. Stoops has been consistent and while he hasn't been able to take that next step, I think when/if he passes off the program to the next guy we will be in a much better situation due to what he's created. I want the same for the baseball program. So, from here I want to see Mingione go out and prove to us all that this year is somewhat the new norm.

 

[SeanCain]

Agree and listening to his post game press conference really concerns me. Said he hasn’t spent a lot of time thinking about next year, yikes!!! I guarantee you Jay Johnson, Tony Vitello, and Kevin O’Sullivan have found time to think a lot about next years roster. I think NM is very satisfied. He emphasized his accomplishments about 2 regionals in 7 years and none before that. I agree that is some progress, but you better be relentless to coach in the SEC.

We all know MB is satisfied with NM and they both will play up hosting this year and the RPI ranking. But the bottom line is we will be talking about from Lexington and not Omaha.

You know a stat I heard about Mingione is he has never been a head coach before UK. That’s not just college but any level. This is his first go around as the head guy. That’s hard to believe he has never been the main guy, even in Little League or Babe Ruth.

You’re 💯 correct about those other coaches. If you want to be successful you have to eat and sleep baseball 24/7.

 

[vhcat70]

Better season (by far?) than anticipated. I'll take it. Congratulations, Cats.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Better season (by far?) than anticipated. I'll take it. Congratulations, Cats.

Definitely better than anticipated. I wasn't exactly sure how to gauge this team. I took the stance that our typically finishes have been in the 10-13 range in the league over the last several years, so I imagined that this one would be similar just based off that history. We finished well above that and instead finished as the 12th best team in the country.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Mingione bought himself two more years in my opinion. Unless next year is just epically bad. Go out and make a regional and he's well off the chopping block.

Will be interesting to see what happens with our staff. Roszel has now has a top 5 SEC staff two years in a row despite having no studs or ace type pitchers. Just put together a good staff top to bottom. Has to make him a favorable candidate somewhere. Coggins is rumored to be in line to go to Georgia possibly. So, those possible changes could be a big factor.

Didn't like the rotation for the supers at all!!!

 

[Comebakatz3]

Didn't like the rotation for the supers at all!!!

I just dont know that we had great options to start regardless. Smith is the other starter... he's been shaky at times too. So, wouldn't necessarily believe that he'd be outstanding at keeping the LSU bats at bay. I think it was our lack of a true ace finally catching up to us.

 

[maysvilleky]

I just dont know that we had great options to start regardless. Smith is the other starter... he's been shaky at times too. So, wouldn't necessarily believe that he'd be outstanding at keeping the LSU bats at bay. I think it was our lack of a true ace finally catching up to us.

Down 5-3, UK had their chances. Moore was keeping LSU at bay but his pitch count finally caught up to him. It was only going with Giles for 1 batter that baffled me.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Down 5-3, UK had their chances. Moore was keeping LSU at bay but his pitch count finally caught up to him. It was only going with Giles for 1 batter that baffled me.

Agreed. Then Cotto was a strange pick

 

[Crazycat68]

Agreed. Then Cotto was a strange pick

Agree with both. Man if Cotto could get his control down he would be filthy. Lefty throwing 96 with wipeout slider. 2 years gone by don’t know if he will get there. He has improved a little though I think.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Agree with both. Man if Cotto could get his control down he would be filthy. Lefty throwing 96 with wipeout slider. 2 years gone by don’t know if he will get there. He has improved a little though I think.

Not sure he stays long enough for us to see that potential. It's too tempting for a pro team to let him go by.

 

[Crazycat68]

If someone could put together a team by team roster of players lost/added for SEC that would be awesome. I would but I’m technically challenged along with other things lol. Come on comebak you got it. LMAO

 

[Comebakatz3]

If someone could put together a team by team roster of players lost/added for SEC that would be awesome. I would but I’m technically challenged along with other things lol. Come on comebak you got it. LMAO

That is a tall order. Unfortunately I don't have access to the transfer portal database. I know you can get a list through D1Baseball, but it is a minimum of $140 a year to subscribe to their content and I just haven't been able to convince myself to pull that trigger. Someone with access to that database should be able to pretty easily see that though, as I believe that they do have that database sortable by team. Sorry I've failed you. haha

 

[Crazycat68]

LSU struggled with the junk ball

That is a tall order. Unfortunately I don't have access to the transfer portal database. I know you can get a list through D1Baseball, but it is a minimum of $140 a year to subscribe to their content and I just haven't been able to convince myself to pull that trigger. Someone with access to that database should be able to pretty easily see that though, as I believe that they do have that database sortable by team. Sorry I've failed you. haha

No sir I appreciate and enjoy your posts.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

That is a tall order. Unfortunately I don't have access to the transfer portal database. I know you can get a list through D1Baseball, but it is a minimum of $140 a year to subscribe to their content and I just haven't been able to convince myself to pull that trigger. Someone with access to that database should be able to pretty easily see that though, as I believe that they do have that database sortable by team. Sorry I've failed you. haha

So I subscribe to D1Baseball and follow their transfer portal chart they put out. Obviously I cant link it with it being behind a paywall but if wanted or allowed, I can post the copy/paste the chart on here.

 

[Comebakatz3]

So I subscribe to D1Baseball and follow their transfer portal chart they put out. Obviously I cant link it with it being behind a paywall but if wanted or allowed, I can post the copy/paste the chart on here.

I cant really give permission, but D1 definitely shares some big updates regularly.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

I cant really give permission, but D1 definitely shares some big updates regularly.

So I will try to figure out how to paste it here where its legible. Are people more interesting in the SEC or the whole country?

 

[Comebakatz3]

So I will try to figure out how to paste it here where its legible. Are people more interesting in the SEC or the whole country?

If you don't care to update me on UK, I'll use that to update our 2024 outlook post. I'd much appreciate it

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

According to the tracker, Kentucky has had four players enter the portal. They are:

Kendall Ewell
Tanner Kim
Reed Gannon
Seth Logue-Just added

And the only transfer we have gotten so far is:

Trey Paige from Delaware State

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

A couple of interesting tidbits from the list.

Texas A&M has already taken 5 transfers.

LSU got a player from South Carolina

Alabama has lost 7 to the portal

Florida has lost 6

Georgia has lost 8

Louisville has lost 8

LSU 6

Mizzou has lost 17 players!

Ole Miss 14

 

[Crazycat68]

So I will try to figure out how to paste it here where its legible. Are people more interesting in the SEC or the whole country?

Anything cats and SEC if ya can. Thank you

 

[Crazycat68]

According to the tracker, Kentucky has had four players enter the portal. They are:

Kendall Ewell
Tanner Kim
Reed Gannon
Seth Logue-Just added

And the only transfer we have gotten so far is:

Trey Paige from Delaware State

Anybody have any info on Paige. Sorry if previously mentioned.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

Anybody have any info on Paige. Sorry if previously mentioned.

Hey is an infielder who can play all positions including the corners in the outfield.

Named the 2022 MEAC pre-season player of the year.

In 2023 hit .372 with 14 home runs, 53 rbis and only struck out 30 times in 191 at bats.

Was originally going to Penn State but when their coach resigned, he decommitted and ended up at Kentucky.

 

[maysvilleky]

Hey is an infielder who can play all positions including the corners in the outfield.

Named the 2022 MEAC pre-season player of the year.

In 2023 hit .372 with 14 home runs, 53 rbis and only struck out 30 times in 191 at bats.

Was originally going to Penn State but when their coach resigned, he decommitted and ended up at Kentucky.

Sounds like a nice pickup.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Wow... Smith was largely under appreciated throughout the year by the media, so surprised by this.