Monday (not so) depressing thread

[Comebakatz3]

A good week for the UK baseball team. We expected that we could and should go 5-0 this week and UK pulled it off, even after having to scramble to replace Bradley on the weekend.

The bad news is that UK still has the worst record in the SEC at 10-6. Surprisingly, Arkansas (9-5) and LSU (11-5) aren't too far ahead of UK, and Missouri (9-5) is also keeping its head above water.

On a better note, UK has climbed the ladder in batting average. A week ago we were something like second from last, but this week we find ourselves hitting .292 overall, which puts us solidly in the middle of the SEC, tied at 7 with UGA. Auburn leads the league hitting an astounding .346. LSU surprisingly sits in last at .248.

Kentucky pitching continues to hang near the bottom of the league with a 4.47 ERA. Only Missouri finds themselves struggling more. What you see with UK is that they are giving up way way too many hits. UK is last in hits given up with 140, and the next closest team is Missouri at 129. Tennessee currently leads the league with the lowest ERA at 1.81.

UK fielding continues to bring up the rear in the SEC at .956, but we're a bit closer to climbing out of last with TAMU sitting at .957.

John Rhodes and Austin Schultz have also made an appearance on the top 15 hitters list. Rhodes is hitting .411 and is 12th on the list while Schultz is hitting .393 and is 14th. Rhodes also leads the league in doubles while Schultz is second in total bases.

Notes from this weekend:

Florida is the only unbeaten team in the nation.

Tennessee went into the weekend undefeated and dropped two of three against Wright State.

Alabama also went into the weekend undefeated and dropped one game to Lipscomb.

Vanderbilt had a bad weekend losing two of three to start the weekend, with the Friday game being against UCLA and the Saturday game against Southern Cal. They salvaged things with a win against 22nd ranked TCU on Sunday.

I just have to say that Wright State has had to have played the toughest schedule in the entire country. Poor kids are 5-9 and have played Miss State (3), Auburn (3), Tennessee (3), Louisville (1). Their only games not against SEC opponents are Western Kentucky (3) and Miami (OH). Must have been huge for them to go into Knoxville and steal a series win against the Vols, which gives them 3 very quality wins. As a UK fan, mad props to Wright State for beating two teams (UT and Louisville) that we hate.

This week is where the rubber meets the road. UK travels to Vanderbilt. The Dores do not look as dominant as they could, with just a 12-5 record to this point. They are also hitting just .269 as a team (11th in the league), but their ERA is second best in the league at 1.83. Will be a great test to see if any corner has been turned this week.

 

[dtjr]

I guess its about what we thought would happen a few weeks ago.

After a very bad series against TCU, we came home and tried to gain some confidence playing lesser competition. The UNC Wilmington was another bad series but our offense has picked up a bit since then. Our pitching still needs to find itself with some solid outings going into SEC play.

If some guys can stay hot in the batting order and we find a consistent lineup we could be respectable in SEC play.

Our defense and baseball acumen leave a lot to be desired though so I don't see us winning the close games yet.

We need another win tomorrow then hope to be respectable in Nashville.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I guess its about what we thought would happen a few weeks ago.

After a very bad series against TCU, we came home and tried to gain some confidence playing lesser competition. The UNC Wilmington was another bad series but our offense has picked up a bit since then. Our pitching still needs to find itself with some solid outings going into SEC play.

If some guys can stay hot in the batting order and we find a consistent lineup we could be respectable in SEC play.

Our defense and baseball acumen leave a lot to be desired though so I don't see us winning the close games yet.

We need another win tomorrow then hope to be respectable in Nashville.

There are still questions. Our offense did well this week, but it was against 1 team that currently has a winning record. We faced teams that have a combined 20-37 record this week. Our weekend series we faced two teams that each just have 2 wins so far. So, there will be a huge step up next weekend, especially with pitching.

UK allowed Oakland to score its second highest run total this season, only Cincy had allowed more to them. They had been held to 1 run or less 4 times in their 12 games. Norfolk State might be the worst team we face all season. They have played basically no one and still haven't won (Wagner, Albany, VMI, VCU, Morehead State, Radford, EKU, and us.) So, we're their only P5 game, and they still have just two wins, which came against Wagner. They have given up double digits runs in 8 of their 12 games.

So, the question is... what can or will UK do when we face actual pitching again? We will face Kumar Rocker, an All American sophomore on Friday and we will find out real quick whether we've turned a corner at the plate, or if it was fools gold from playing horrible teams.

 

[KYExtemper]

Tough to know what will happen in the WKU game. WKU won their weekend series with Purdue but then got annihilated in the third game of the series 19-1 and has a 10-5 record on the year, winning all four of their weekend series.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Gotta give credit to Hazelwood and to Ramsey for doing what they are supposed to do on the weekends. Still, it seems like UK will basically have one automatic loss every weekend, and that will be the case unless we can find a third starter. Marsh, Lee, and now Degen have all struggled in that role, so UK is running out of options. I'd like to see Degen get another shot at it, but he might be more of a bullpen guy than a starter and it is hard at this point to use Vanderbilt on the road as a great barometer.

 

[BluegrassBaseball]

There are still questions. Our offense did well this week, but it was against 1 team that currently has a winning record. We faced teams that have a combined 20-37 record this week. Our weekend series we faced two teams that each just have 2 wins so far. So, there will be a huge step up next weekend, especially with pitching.

UK allowed Oakland to score its second highest run total this season, only Cincy had allowed more to them. They had been held to 1 run or less 4 times in their 12 games. Norfolk State might be the worst team we face all season. They have played basically no one and still haven't won (Wagner, Albany, VMI, VCU, Morehead State, Radford, EKU, and us.) So, we're their only P5 game, and they still have just two wins, which came against Wagner. They have given up double digits runs in 8 of their 12 games.

So, the question is... what can or will UK do when we face actual pitching again? We will face Kumar Rocker, an All American sophomore on Friday and we will find out real quick whether we've turned a corner at the plate, or if it was fools gold from playing horrible teams.

Agree that Norfolk State is probably the weakest team we’ll play all season. They did, however, manage to win two of three games in their season opening series at home against Wagner.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Agree that Norfolk State is probably the weakest team we’ll play all season. They did, however, manage to win two of three games in their season opening series at home against Wagner.

Yep, so there might be one baseball team worse. lol

 

[sluggercatfan]

Gotta give credit to Hazelwood and to Ramsey for doing what they are supposed to do on the weekends. Still, it seems like UK will basically have one automatic loss every weekend, and that will be the case unless we can find a third starter. Marsh, Lee, and now Degen have all struggled in that role, so UK is running out of options. I'd like to see Degen get another shot at it, but he might be more of a bullpen guy than a starter and it is hard at this point to use Vanderbilt on the road as a great barometer.

When do think Jordan returns, if at all, and what kind of role does he play?

 

[Comebakatz3]

When do think Jordan returns, if at all, and what kind of role does he play?

I haven't heard anyone indicate that he wouldn't return to baseball. The timing of his return will be dependent upon how deep the basketball team goes in the tournament. I'd assume that he will jump right into baseball after that is over. At that point, I think his role is going to be bullpen and probably largely seeing time in games that are not in doubt, so blowouts either way. I would then hope that they try to work him into tougher spots as the season moves on. Doubt that he starts at any point this year, but anything is possible I guess.

 

[sluggercatfan]

I haven't heard anyone indicate that he wouldn't return to baseball. The timing of his return will be dependent upon how deep the basketball team goes in the tournament. I'd assume that he will jump right into baseball after that is over. At that point, I think his role is going to be bullpen and probably largely seeing time in games that are not in doubt, so blowouts either way. I would then hope that they try to work him into tougher spots as the season moves on. Doubt that he starts at any point this year, but anything is possible I guess.

The reason l bring up him returning to bb is that the only purpose he's serving is an extra practice body and if he's coming back to play a vital role on the team he'd be back for start of conference play...just saying.

 

[Comebakatz3]

The reason l bring up him returning to bb is that the only purpose he's serving is an extra practice body and if he's coming back to play a vital role on the team he'd be back for start of conference play...just saying.

I have no idea, but I just get the itchy feeling that there is kind of more to the story on this. There are leaks that the players don't really like playing for Mingione, so it could be part of that, and that Jordan enjoyed being able to somewhat get away from him. It could also be that Jordan believed that his role on the team might be limited, so he was not overly concerned with losing a limited role to be an extra body on the baseball team. It could just be that he put a ton of value on being able to say that he was on the basketball team and knows they might even have a shot at a title (let's hope).

It could be any combination, or none of these. I really have no idea. To me it would not make a whole lot of sense to him to be so willing to join basketball, and for Mingione to willingly allow him to do so, if he were going to be a major contributor on the baseball team this spring, and a 'shoe-in,' as a starter, especially a weekend starter.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Those were my thoughts as well... something just dosent fit in this scenario.

 

[dtjr]

Well as we have seen from former players of Ming on twitter, there could be something to players not seeing eye to eye with him.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

This weekend will show where UK stands as a team. Vandys pitching is insane. And as much as I want to have hope in the weekend guys for Kentucky, I’m not sure they can go toe to toe with Vandys arms.

 

[cat_in_the_hat]

I have no idea, but I just get the itchy feeling that there is kind of more to the story on this. There are leaks that the players don't really like playing for Mingione, so it could be part of that, and that Jordan enjoyed being able to somewhat get away from him. It could also be that Jordan believed that his role on the team might be limited, so he was not overly concerned with losing a limited role to be an extra body on the baseball team. It could just be that he put a ton of value on being able to say that he was on the basketball team and knows they might even have a shot at a title (let's hope).

It could be any combination, or none of these. I really have no idea. To me it would not make a whole lot of sense to him to be so willing to join basketball, and for Mingione to willingly allow him to do so, if he were going to be a major contributor on the baseball team this spring, and a 'shoe-in,' as a starter, especially a weekend starter.

I agree with you. There has to be more to it, especially if he is on a baseball scholarship. Even though they are partial scholarships, I can't imagine a coach using a scholarship on a player then letting him miss a huge portion of the season volunteering to be a practice player on another team. It just doesn't add up.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I agree with you. There has to be more to it, especially if he is on a baseball scholarship. Even though they are partial scholarships, I can't imagine a coach using a scholarship on a player then letting him miss a huge portion of the season volunteering to be a practice player on another team. It just doesn't add up.

I don't think Mingione anticipated that the move would last through the entire basketball season.

 

[sluggercatfan]

This weekend will show where UK stands as a team. Vandys pitching is insane. And as much as I want to have hope in the weekend guys for Kentucky, I’m not sure they can go toe to toe with Vandys arms.

Look for Vandy to score 10+ each game...WKU scores vs Purdue W 8-3 & 11-2 lost 19-1.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Look for Vandy to score 10+ each game...WKU scores vs Purdue W 8-3 & 11-2 lost 19-1.

It is possible, but Vandy is struggling offensively this season. They have scored 5 runs or less in 8 of their 17 games this season, and have reached double digits just twice. Their highest (2) are 10 run games.

What we are more likely to see is that they will score 4-5 runs and UK may very well struggle to hit the amazing Vandy pitchers, who have an ERA well under 2.00.

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

If it weren't for the UNCW series, then Uk's outlook wouldn't be as bleak. As it is, I think anything less than a sweep by Vandy this weekend is good news for uK. Take 2 of 3 and there is new hope. Take 1, and it's treading water. Get swept and it renews what most of us already think (i.e. this is a sinking ship)

 

[Comebakatz3]

If it weren't for the UNCW series, then Uk's outlook wouldn't be as bleak. As it is, I think anything less than a sweep by Vandy this weekend is good news for uK. Take 2 of 3 and there is new hope. Take 1, and it's treading water. Get swept and it renews what most of us already think (i.e. this is a sinking ship)

Yea, but the problem with it all is that we're talking about UK playing in 2 series against 2 opponents that are likely to make the NCAA tournament. In those 6 games UK is 0-3 and lost by a combined score of 11-40.

I don't think any other UK opponents, to this point, are guaranteed to be NCAA tournament teams. So, it is the blowout losses to the competitive teams that are really making this seem so bad. However, it is possible that we have turned a bit of a corner and the offense was just slumping some early. It will be this weekend when we know this for sure, as Vanderbilt pitching is some of the best in the nation. If we hit them, we can hit anyone.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

If it weren't for the UNCW series, then Uk's outlook wouldn't be as bleak. As it is, I think anything less than a sweep by Vandy this weekend is good news for uK. Take 2 of 3 and there is new hope. Take 1, and it's treading water. Get swept and it renews what most of us already think (i.e. this is a sinking ship)

I agree with this to a point. However, keep in mind last year UK started out 13-4 and finished 13-25. I know, I know years are different. The problem with this weekend against Vandy, a sweep will realistically put UK behind the 8 ball for the rest of conference play. Florida is next weekend followed by Miss. State. You hope UK can pull a series win in the next three weeks. You hope for 5-4, 6-3 start but you could also being staring at 0-9, 2-7. And if that happens, what does the locker room start to look like. Especially if there is already a disconnect between Minge and the guys.

The big part I disagree with is the offense. Yeah, theyre hitting the ball well, but its not been against quality pitching. Lets hope that the success theyve had will spill over into conference play.