Start with a new pitching coach. Belanger was terrible as he did not develop most of our younger pitchers and left UK lacking pitching depth. Also, I was disappointed in Mingione's handling , lewisof pitchers during the season.Hjelle, Lewis and Thompson all did not pitch to their potential. They cost themselves a lot of money and it would not surprise me if Hjelle or Lewis come back for their senior year.
Mingione needs to make changes-
- Thread starter Gabewcat
- Start date
I agree. Sitting at a game, i overheard some scouts talking about our pitchers and some of their mechanics. One guy said "Who is their pitching coach? Is he any good? That is an easy tweak to make..."
BS. No pro scout would make that remark, epecially within earshot of a fan.
I think injuries had much more to do with the pitching struggles and depth than anything Belanger did.
Pretty hard to tell what impact they had. Lewis and Hjelle were the only two that weren't injured most of the year. Hjelle had ana amazing year last year, so it's not unreasonable that he might not match that. Lewis was pretty darn good most of the year and he started to develop a third pitch.
Just from a pure depth standpoint they were really short for much of the year. There were guys asked to throw important innings out of the bullpen that would not have been if they hadn’t had so many injuries in the fall. Haake really struggled as a starter while Thompson was out and that also took an arm from the pen. I’m as disappointed as anyone, but I don’t think this was some great failure of this coaching staff. There is so little margin for error in the sec. Florida got the overall 1 seed and lost 6 of its last 7.
You would think that but I heard something very similar. I forget who we were playing but it was the second to last home series. Hjelle was pitching and a scout was talking to another scout and I was eavesdropping. The scout asked the other scout what he knew about Belanger, said that he KNEW what Hjelle was doing different than last year and if he could tell then a good pitching coach should be able to tell also. He never said what it was though. I don't know where Stuck was sitting but I was sitting 3 rows behind home plate where the scouts usually sit unless a ticket holder makes them move.
I thought it was very interesting to say the least and posted about when I got home so you can believe it or not but I swear it was true. The scouts talk to each other all the time and likely think no one is listening.
I'm not disagreeing with you. I just can't tell how much of the struggle was because of injuries. I'm not entirely impressed with the development of those that weren't injured, but I also realize that injuries can resonate. So, that's why I'm really giving Belanger the wait and see.
I believe injuries were the big factor concerning the pitching staff this season, no question. However there were some flaws in pitching strategy, ie. the approach on having an 0-2 count on the opposing batters, too many times instead of wasting an 0-2 pitch, our pitchers left the ball too much over the plate, resulting in base hits, when there shouldn't have been.
Also too much trying to nibble early in the count, instead of going after the hitters and trying to put them away. Hope this strategy changes next season.
Also too much trying to nibble early in the count, instead of going after the hitters and trying to put them away. Hope this strategy changes next season.
That’s fair. I just think the lack of pen depth really put a strain on everything. Really only Coleman and machamer were guys you could count on. Haake looked good in relief, but then struggled as a starter. I know that trey huntsman had mentioned that there were I believe 5 guys who had tommy John in the fall. That’s going to have an affect.
Ohh yea, there were a ton of injuries even before the season. No doubt about that. Haake came in with the freak slip on the ice. Then you had Dobzanski, Jordan and Macciocchi all redshirting from injury. You might also have some others that aren't listed on the roster that redshirted because of injury. Marozas is one that fits this. Not sure if he will be back next year though.
Then you also had 5 pitchers go down to injury at the end of the season.
Yeah, that’s why I just can’t get too down on the coaches. Just the nature of the beast though, Belanger was praised by most everyone lost year for basically putting a brand new pitching staff together. This year there were struggles. Hope there is bounce back next year.
I am just a little frustrated(not by you) with all the hot takes. Gary Henderson only made 2 tourneys in 8 years and only had one season with a winning sec record. Even John Cohen, who did a great job of turning the program around, had some really bad years. I think Mingione is the right guy and the program is in a good place.
Gabe ...Hjelle pitched like the'17 season his last game. Thompson was hurt and projected #1 by some next season and no way are Hjelle and Lewis coming back
Henderson is garbage imo. He's lauded as a pitching guru, but never could get us higher than middle of the road in the SEC in pitching and most years was bottom half. Belanger was outstanding last year, but dead last this year. A good part of that is that there were injuries.
Belanger and Ming showed some flaws this year. Still, they are in just their second year here and they were a breath away from being the first coaches to take UK to back to back regionals in the history of the program.
Mingione misuse of Haake in bama and Florida games spoke volumes...no feel for the game
He also once called three suicide squeezes in a row that worked. Those were decisions you can question, but doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a feel for the game.
Thank you. I too was there in the lower seats behind home plate. I believe it was the Miss St. Series, if I remember correctly but might have been mizzou.
I like NM but even he has to realized that this past season was a bust. We should have never been in position to wind up being a bubble team from a pre-season Top 10 team. Injuries are part of the game but 3 injuries stand out, Pompey spraining his ankle climbing stairs to his apartment, Haake slipping on ice and breaking a bone on his non-throwing hand and Machemer hurting his back liftin weights.
Where was the strength coach when this happened, lifting weights can be dangerous if the person lifting is not supervised by someone. You just can't lose your closer to a freak injury.
Where was the strength coach when this happened, lifting weights can be dangerous if the person lifting is not supervised by someone. You just can't lose your closer to a freak injury.
Probably not coming back, but they do have that option as leverage in the upcoming MLB draft.
Haake had never pitched well for more than two innings and hadn't since. There was no reason to think he was going to keep doing well based on his history. Belanger and Mingione had no idea that the rest of the bullpen would let them down so badly.
I have crucified Ming for his handling of game 2 at Bama; however, that was Haake's best outing of the year. 0 runs given up through 7+ innings (he did have a lot of walks, but didn't pay for them until the 8th inning grand slam).
Hjelle,Pompey, Cottam, Lewis and likely Haake, Machamer and maybe even Dawson won't be returning. We're going to be relying on A LOT of freshmen and JuCos next year.
It could have been MSU because I was at both of those Friday night games. I know it was a game where Hjelle was pitching and struggling to throw strikes when I heard it because the scout was specifically talking about him.
First I want to apologize for calling you an ahole...lots of freshman and jucos. Kinda sounds like this year... think Haake, Mach and Dawson are likely returners, but I'm just guessing. Hope Shelby makes it to campus.
Last edited:
Agree with Hjelle, Lewis, Pompey, Cottam going on, Dawson, Machamer, and especially Haake should return and hone their craft more.
Haake should return but he will likely be drafted fairly high due to his potential.
Haake had a poor history of going deep in games, but he had one outing that showed he could do it. He was cruising in game 1 against Florida and he should have been left in at least another inning. He didn't even face the entire UF lineup.
I think Ming has a decent feel for the game, but this was just a bad mistake. Still, you're right that we don't know what might have happened if he had stuck with Haake. He may have done just as worse as the rest of the bullpen in the third inning.
He must have already turned 21, or will before the draft. That would make him eligible.
He is, but the rule states that you are also draft eligible at 21, so that is why he is eligible.
Dobzanski comes to mind but it's very hard to predict young arms coming off Tommy John.
Coleman could IMO, but he needs to develop some secondary pitches, can't just throw 2 and 4 seam fastballs all the time.
You may know about the recruits than I do. I admittedly don't keep up with that as well as you do. Mad props for that though. Still, I'd hope that Dobzanski will be more than a closer.
Overall, the projection for next year is fairly bleak. Lost two of three weekend starters and really have no one projected to replace them. Harper and Ramsey are candidates, but neither really showed dominance. Won't be easy finding two young guys with little experience to step up.
Similar threads
