Report Card (Week 4)

[Comebakatz3]

Call this week 4, although UK missed a week. This week features a how we did against Western Kentucky and Georgia State. Overall, we got 4 wins, so we can't complain about that. However, let's take a deeper dive into how we did.

Overall: A

Again, we got 4 wins and 2 of them were in fairly convincing fashion. Against Ball State the offense struggled a whole lot, but that changed a lot this weekend. UK coaches love what they call, "biggie," innings. Those are innings where UK scored 4 or more runs. By my recollection, Friday was the first time UK has done that since the Milwaukee series to start the year, and we did it twice that game. So, it was definitely good to see us get back to producing, especially against these teams that we should be beating soundly. Pitching also remained very solid.

Starters: A

Ryan Hagenow - We start with the midweek guy who went against WKU. He struggled some in this one, at least compared to what we're used to him doing. He went just 3.2 innings giving up 2 runs, 1 earned and striking out 6 and walking 2. The good thing is that hitters still continue to struggle to get on base against him as he only gave up 2 hits. Still, he struggled to throw strikes in this one and threw 80 pitches in less than 4 innings. Still, he pitched through adversity and you have to like that. B

Cole Stupp - Stupp had a pretty solid outing as he gave up just 1 earned run and struck out 6 hitters through 6 innings. What is a bit concerning is that he gave up 6 hits in that outing. Maybe it is my pessimistic eye looking towards the future, but I am a bit concerned that a guy like Stupp will struggle more in the future as SEC teams will be able to string those hits together rather than do what Ga State did and get them randomly. However, what should travel well into league play is the fact that he gave up 0 walks and just 1 HBP. Limiting free bags is huge, and that is something UK pitchers, Stupp included, have done great on. A

Mason Hazelwood - I still don't fully understand why he isn't pitching on Fridays, but whatever. He showed he should be our ace this weekend as he struckout an amazing 12 GA State hitters through 6 innings of work. He gave up just 3 hits and 1 walk and left the game with a shoutout to his name. A+

Zack Lee - Lee also somewhat struggled, but it wasn't necessarily a bad outing for him. Much like with Hagenow, I think we were just expecting more. Lee went 4 innings giving up 3 hits and 1 earned run. He had 4 Ks and 1 walk. So, again, those numbers don't look bad but it just felt like he struggled. Where he seems to get off kitler is when runners get on. That is where he seems to lose the focus. I'd say he is so far our least reliable starter. He did well pitching out of at least 1 jam yesterday. B

Bullpen - A-

Overall the bullpen was solid, but there were a few hiccups. Of course 2 of the games were out of reach, so those didn't matter as much, but when they were needed to close the door in the close ones it was more of a mixed bag.

Holt Jones - Jones continues to be a great arm out of the bullpen. He had 2 appearances this week and went a combined 3.2 innings giving up 0 runs, 2 hits, striking out 2 and walking 0. Not overpowering strikeout dominance, but he got the outs and ate up innings. That is exactly what you love to see out of a bullpen guy. In the WKU game he came in with UK down 2-1 and I believe with 2 outs and 2 men on. He got a fly out to right to end the inning and close the door so that WKU didn't score more. In the Sunday game he inherited a runner at third with two outs and he took care of business by getting a strikeout. Perfect. A+

Zach Kammin - Kammin has just recently gotten of the medical sheet and the staff are using him. He got 2 appearances this week, just like Jones did, but the results were different. Kammin pitched 1.1 innings with 0.1 coming in a struggle against WKU. He gave up 3 runs (2 earned) on 3 hits with a walk and a K. Those runs allowed WKU back into the game and almost cost UK. Those 3 tied the game up in the 7th before UK took back the lead in the bottom half. In the Saturday against Ga State he was much better with 3 strikeouts and just 1 hit given up. C-

Daniel Harper - Harper had just one appearance this week as he came in to relieve Kammin and shut the door on WKU in the top of the 7th. It was not ideal. He inherited runners in the WKU game on second and third with 1 out. He gave up a walk on 4 straight to load the bases and then gave up a sac fly which tied the game. He then got the last out with a fly out. The damage could have been much worse than what he gave up, but you'd still like to see him slam the door there. C

Austin Strickland - One appearance and threw 1 inning and had a couple of strikeouts while not giving up a hit. Good outing for him. This one came in the 8th inning with UK up just 1 run. So, he more than did his job in getting UK to the closer with a chance to win. A+

Sean Harney - Not quite as dominating this week as he has been in the past, but he still picked up 2 more saves and took care of business. He actually came into the WKU and the Sunday game in order to get saves and threw 3 total innings. In that time he gave up 4 hits and had 4 strikeouts. He didn't give up and runs, so that part is huge. Still, he made it a bit more interesting with those hits and a couple of HBPs. I don't think the threat was ever too major for UK with Harney on the mound. A

Wyatt Hudepohl - Had two fairly strong innings on Friday as he threw in the 7th and the 8th and gave up just 1 hit. That was the only base runner he allowed and he also got a K. Good work for the freshman A+

Alex Degen - Made his debut in the 9th of the 16-1 trouncing. Glad to see him back. He gave up a single to center, but that was it. Everything else was a democratic out. A

Jimmy Ramsey - Ramsey struggled in a way with his control. He took over in the 7th for Hazelwood and immediately threw 6 straight balls. A mound visit from Roszel corrected things and from there he did well getting a strikeout, a lineout and a grounder to third to end the inning and his weekend. Ramsey did his job and you like to see that, but my faith in the big man continues to be limited. I would not like to see him come in to too many high pressure spots. I give him a B+ because he does his job, but would have liked to have seen him be sharper from the start.

Hunter Rigsby - The big man made his season debut on Saturday and looked good, but he also botched the shutout in the 9th. He gave up a single and a triple, but he also struckout the side. I'm not mad at it as it was just his first outing and he still struck out the side. Still, just kind of some hard luck to give up that triple. B

Dillon Marsh - Marsh came in on Sunday and looked pretty solid in 1 inning of work. He gave up 1 hit but got a couple of strikeouts. Probably could have gone further and I think is a pretty reliable arm out of the bullpen. A

Seth Logue - Seth has done well this year, but Sunday was not his best outing. He pitched just 0.2 innings and gave up a run on 1 hit, a home run. He then gave up a walk and had a runner at 3rd before giving the ball over to Holt Jones. Just a fairly rough go for Logue, but he will be all right. Had a strikeout. C

 

[Comebakatz3]

Fielding - C

3 errors in 4 games, all three of them coming against WKU. I think 2 of them were on pickoff plays. I think there were probably more mistakes than those 3 errors indicate, but they weren't necessarily errors. Anu had several instances in left where he was slow to get to a ball or slow to break on a ball. Not many of those really cost us, but they were still not played correctly. So, it just wasn't very clean even though this weekend we were technically error free.

Coaching - B

I usually do this one at the end, but I figure I will do it here. A mixed bag for me. Roszel had a couple of mound visits that were perfectly timed. One with Ramsey that immediately got him refocused and another with another pitcher in the same game. However, I don't understand the sub patterns we have with the lineup. Why did Lewis and Grace play while Church didn't play for 2 days? On Sunday UK is hitting in the 6th and we get the bases loaded with 0 outs. UK sent up Rubalcaba and Ritter, both of whom struck out. Church is sitting on your bench with a .472 batting average and UK still sends up two struggling hitters rather than take 1 down. Not to mention that UK pinch hit with Kessler for Grace (a good idea), but then they take him out with a pinch runner (Lewis), so you lose the option to then have him as a catcher. Many of the sub patterns (even with runners) is weird. Another one... on Saturday Anu gets on base in the 8th and UK takes him down and puts in a pinch runner, Chase Bryan who got thrown out at 2nd trying to steal. Then they take down Bryan and put in Hill for defense. Why not just put in the good running Hill as a pinch runner, or just leave in Bryan? Just makes no sense. They also like to use Liebert as a pinch runner over faster players, which is weird to me. I dunno, just a lot of weird patterns to me.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Fielding - C

3 errors in 4 games, all three of them coming against WKU. I think 2 of them were on pickoff plays. I think there were probably more mistakes than those 3 errors indicate, but they weren't necessarily errors. Anu had several instances in left where he was slow to get to a ball or slow to break on a ball. Not many of those really cost us, but they were still not played correctly. So, it just wasn't very clean even though this weekend we were technically error free.

Coaching - B

I usually do this one at the end, but I figure I will do it here. A mixed bag for me. Roszel had a couple of mound visits that were perfectly timed. One with Ramsey that immediately got him refocused and another with another pitcher in the same game. However, I don't understand the sub patterns we have with the lineup. Why did Lewis and Grace play while Church didn't play for 2 days? On Sunday UK is hitting in the 6th and we get the bases loaded with 0 outs. UK sent up Rubalcaba and Ritter, both of whom struck out. Church is sitting on your bench with a .472 batting average and UK still sends up two struggling hitters rather than take 1 down. Not to mention that UK pinch hit with Kessler for Grace (a good idea), but then they take him out with a pinch runner (Lewis), so you lose the option to then have him as a catcher. Many of the sub patterns (even with runners) is weird. Another one... on Saturday Anu gets on base in the 8th and UK takes him down and puts in a pinch runner, Chase Bryan who got thrown out at 2nd trying to steal. Then they take down Bryan and put in Hill for defense. Why not just put in the good running Hill as a pinch runner, or just leave in Bryan? Just makes no sense. They also like to use Liebert as a pinch runner over faster players, which is weird to me. I dunno, just a lot of weird patterns to me.

Was raising cane about the 6th inning fiasco with the bases loaded...lots of head scratching with tbis staff. I still think Shelby should be given a shot and sit Anu. I like Lewis, but at this point he should be used only as a pr or mop up duty. I totally did not understand the deal with Reese. We'll see.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Hitting - B

I think when you look at one game you believe that hitting improved, but then you back up a bit and you see that we scored just 4 on Sunday, only 6 on Tuesday in a tight game and then 6 again on Saturday. While 6 isn't bad, it really isn't all that different from what we were doing before the coaches make changes to try to get better hitting.

Austin Schultz - Just keeps doing what leadoff men do, getting on base. Hit 6-16 (.375) for the week with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts. Had a couple doubles and a couple stolen bases. Did have a big 2 out strikeout with the bases loaded, but that happens. A+

Oraj Anu - I feel like I am picking on Anu some, but I just don't know why he is in the OF and he didn't exactly prove that he should be hitting this week either. This week he was moved up to the 2 hole and he went 4-18 (.222).He got 3 hits on Saturday and even a few of those were questionable if I remember correctly., meaning they just weren't hit that well. He had 4 strikeouts and didn't draw a walk. He did score in every game, but you look for more from your 2 hole, especially with suspect defense. D

John Rhodes - He went 5-15 (.333). Basically, he had two really good games and then two poor ones. He went 2 for 3 in both of the first games and then went a combined 1-9 in the last two. He had 3 Ks to 2 walks, and when he did hit the ball he tended to get RBIs. Two of his hits were doubles, and one a home run. B

TJ Collett - TJ just so much feels to me like an all or nothing type of hitter. He went 5 for 15 (.333) this week with 3 of those 5 being home runs, getting one in each of the weekend games. Two of those, amazingly, were practically just wristed over the fence while the third was a no doubt monster. He did have an outstanding oppo hit late in the Sunday game that went for a double and that got UK the lead back. Still, something about him at the plate just feels like the value is limited if he isn't hitting home runs. This weekend he was hitting them, so we hope that continues. A



Rueben Church - Unless I hear otherwise, our coaches (or at least one) are dumb. Rueben Church hit 4-8 (.500) this week in the two games he played. He struck out once and walked one time. One of those 4 hits was his second triple of the year and another was a double. Why he did not play the next two games is just mind blowing. If he isn't hurt or something then he should be playing. Point blank. Just silly that he wasn't out there. A+

Trae Harmon - Harmon was feeling it for most of the week as he went 6-13 (.462). Moving him to the DH was a good idea as it paid off with a lot of hits 2 home runs and 2 doubles from the big guy. He just missed another home run, IIRC, as he cranked one to left center off the wall. He also drew 2 walks and limited the strikeouts to just 3. Got hit by at least one pitch and I think they credited him for 2 stolen bases. A+

Alonso Rubalcaba - Ruby hit 4-12 (.333) over his four games this past week. Picked up an error defensively, but was solid otherwise. He got at least 1 hit in every game except Sunday and had a double on Saturday. This is the kind of hitting we need from the bottom of the lineup if we want to be successful. B

Chase Estep - Played in just 3 games this week but did a fine job. Went 6-12 (.500) and had a hit in each game. 4 RBIs and just 1 strikeout and 1 walk. They put him at 3rd for Saturday and Sunday and he was excellent over there and showed a really strong arm. A+

Ryan Ritter - Ritter is trending up as his bat seems to get more reliable. He went 4-12 (.333) this weekend with 2 strikeouts and 1 walk. A hit in each game. The hitting isn't extremely clutch, but your 9 hole hitter went .333 so you can't be mad at that. B

Zeke Lewis - Just inexcusable to continue to play him at anything except for a defensive sub and/or a PH. Went 0-3 (.000) this weekend with 1 walk and 1 strikeout. He did steal a base and scored a run on the weekend. Defense is always solid and he has great range, but just hasn't proven he has ever been able to hit competitively. D

Drew Grace - It is a small sample size, but it is still a failing grade. Grace continues to be hitless on the year and his start this weekend didn't help things. He was a sub on Friday and got the starting nod on Sunday and went 04 (.000) with two strikeouts. He did play well defensively, which saves him from an F. D-

Kirk Liebert - The sub catcher came in and pinch hit in the WKU and went 1-2 (.500) with a strikeout. His hit was an RBI and he scored twice in the game. Exactly what you want to see from a PH and sub. A

Jaren Shelby -Shelby got some work as a sub this weekend and he just couldn't make the most of them. Went 0-3 (.000) with a walk and a strikeout. Did fine defensively C-

Cam Hill - Hill also came in as a sub, but had just 2 at bats. In one he lined a ball to second where the 2bhad been playing deep all day. If he plays at normal depth it is a single. He was playing shallow right and it went for an out. Good at bat. Hill also had a walk. Played well defensively. B

Coltyn Kessler - Pinch hitting is not easy. So, these grades against some of these guys isn't extremely fair, and Kessler is one of them. He got 3 chances and went hitless 0-2 (.000) but did draw a walk, the walk loading the bases with 0 outs. He had one strikeout. C-

Chase Bryan - Played but only pinch ran and actually got thrown out at second. Not grading him on just that though.

I think the hitting this weekend was good enough to win UK a chunk of games, but I think that 16 run was more an anomaly than what we can expect. It was just the second time this year that UK has posted a double digit number.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Was raising cane about the 6th inning fiasco with the bases loaded...lots of head scratching with tbis staff. I still think Shelby should be given a shot and sit Anu. I like Lewis, but at this point he should be used only as a pr or mop up duty. I totally did not understand the deal with Reese. We'll see.

My concern with Shelby is that when conference play starts, he'll struggle. While he hasn't started much this year he isn't exactly doing great, hitting just .167. Last year he hit just .260, which isn't horrible, but it is a lot less than you'd expect from him, especially with our schedule. The year prior he hit .273, but in conference play that dropped all the way to .215. The last one was a long time ago, so there is that.

My understanding is that Shelby struggled all fall, so he needs to start putting together good ABs in practice and warm ups and then take that to pinch hit opportunities before he gets his chance.

So, to me... Hill getting dropped is the weird one. He was hitting .280 before they benched him and he was your best defensive outfielder. I guess I get that they think Anu is a better threat at the plate, but after this weekend Anu is hitting just .275 and none of his numbers look much, if any, more impressive than Hill's. So, you lose the defense and aren't gaining much at all at the plate.

 

[micatz]

I do not believe Church was at the Ballpark on Saturday, and I don't believe he was there Sunday either.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I do not believe Church was at the Ballpark on Saturday, and I don't believe he was there Sunday either.

Thanks for the info. I haven't heard anything about what was up with him not starting the last two days. So, I don't know if he was sick, hurt, or it was a decision to rest him or what. If he wasn't there and was unwell in some way then it is obviously understandable that he didn't play. However, if he was good to go and didn't then that is just absolutely silly.

 

[TuckyFB]

Great write-up, CB.

Hopefully we can win tomorrow vs. Murray St and get off to a good start in SEC play with the Mizzou series.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Great write-up, CB.

Hopefully we can win tomorrow vs. Murray St and get off to a good start in SEC play with the Mizzou series.

I think I will be a tad disappointed if UK can't go 4-0 this week. I will be calling for heads if we go anything less than 3-1. I mean... Missouri is bad. Like, really really bad. They are just 7-10 with 4 of those wins coming against St. Louis and Illinois State. They have a team ERA of 7.24 and a team batting average of .256, both of which are last in the league. They only score something like 5 runs per game on average. They are just bad and if we really need to and should sweep them.

 

[CatWalk]

I can't imagine any coaching staff would intentionally bench anyone playing the way Church has been playing so far. I assumed he must have gotten injured (or possibly sick).

 

[TuckyFB]

I think I will be a tad disappointed if UK can't go 4-0 this week. I will be calling for heads if we go anything less than 3-1. I mean... Missouri is bad. Like, really really bad. They are just 7-10 with 4 of those wins coming against St. Louis and Illinois State. They have a team ERA of 7.24 and a team batting average of .256, both of which are last in the league. They only score something like 5 runs per game on average. They are just bad and if we really need to and should sweep them.

Mizzou sucks that bad but weren't they ranked above us in the pre-season SEC rankings?

 

[Comebakatz3]

Mizzou sucks that bad but weren't they ranked above us in the pre-season SEC rankings?

Yes. I don't think anyone expected them to be as bad as they are and I don't think anyone expected our pitching staff to lead the SEC in ERA at this point.

 

[BlueStoops]

Great rundown. I figured something was up with Church when he wasn’t in the lineup Sunday. I can understand giving a random day off to allow another guy a game, especially against an inferior opponent, but once it was back to back days I assumed it wasn’t a coaching decision. Hopefully he’s back soon with whatever is going on. Estep at 2B and Church at 3B looks to be the way to play things right now. Church isn’t going to hit .500 against the SEC arms but hopefully the freshman won’t get overwhelmed, need him to keep hitting.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I can't imagine any coaching staff would intentionally bench anyone playing the way Church has been playing so far. I assumed he must have gotten injured (or possibly sick).

True, I just didn't hear anyone say, "Church isn't available," on either of those days. I may have missed it though. I brushed off him not playing in 1 game but the 2nd one was really more of the shocker. Even still, to me, it makes more sense to then move Schultz into 2nd and then have Hill back in center rather than having Lewis/Grace for both those games.

 

[TuckyFB]

Yes. I don't think anyone expected them to be as bad as they are and I don't think anyone expected our pitching staff to lead the SEC in ERA at this point.

Definitely true. I think we'll be 4-0 this week. Murray St isn't bad, they lost the series to then #1 Arkansas but gave them a run for their money in one of the games I watched.

 

[CliffDweller25]

Thanks for the info. I haven't heard anything about what was up with him not starting the last two days. So, I don't know if he was sick, hurt, or it was a decision to rest him or what. If he wasn't there and was unwell in some way then it is obviously understandable that he didn't play. However, if he was good to go and didn't then that is just absolutely silly.

Radio said on Saturday that "He was unavailable."