UK vs Boston College....

[Comebakatz3]

South Carolina baseball beat by Gardner-Webb Wednesday , 12-2! Evidently, USCe is in the same shape as our fighting UK baseball mildcats!USCe ranked 24th!

They got beat pretty badly last night, and that will happen in baseball. I think one big difference is that the Gardner Webb game was at least USC’s second midweek game. So, they weren’t pitching their best midweek starter, and may have had a little bit of a depleted bullpen. They also already have a series win against Clemson, which at least should pad their resume some. USCe has an RPI of 23 while UK’s sits at 62. We are 0-4 in Q1 and Q2 games and they are 5-3.

By the way, Tennessee is freaking scary good. 8-0 against Q1 and Q2 teams and 13-0 overall with 6 shutouts. I think their new coach has turned them around and they will be a highly competitive team again.

 

[CliffDweller25]

Apparently they moved him back to the bullpen. So, who is starting this weekend?

I hope Macciocchi joins the weekend rotation.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I hope Macciocchi joins the weekend rotation.

Have to imagine it is between him and Harper. Heck, both of them might need to go ahead and get the nod on the weekend. I personally like to have freshmen pitching the midweek games moreso than veterans. Get their confidence up and ease them into college baseball a bit. By the end of the year they will have faced some quality teams and be prepared to pitch against SEC competition in the SEC tournament. Then when you need a 4th starter in the NCAA tournament you have a guy prepared. Would rather see guys like Hazelwood out of the bullpen. He has experience and could start later in the year if needed, but he, IMO, has more value on the weekends.

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

I'm really disappointed in Ming. This team just looks BAD. Wasted a lot of great talent last year, and this year we look like a bottom SEC team.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I'm really disappointed in Ming. This team just looks BAD. Wasted a lot of great talent last year, and this year we look like a bottom SEC team.

Last year should have been much better than it was. UK had the pieces to have a great bullpen, but ZT got hurt and we had absolutely no one who could take his place. Haake struggled and never developed into the JUCO power that he was and UK really had no freshmen step up and become SEC starter material. Part of that was because UK had their top 3 pitchers redshirting due to arm injuries (Dobzanski, Marozas, and Jordan). UK rode their hitting through much of the year, but never developed the arms to really recover and we ended up with a top 2 or 3 hitting team in the SEC while finishing dead last in ERA. Now, all of that pitching talent is gone with the exception of ZT and we’re left with last year’s freshmen who still haven’t really developed into quality SEC talent, a bunch of true freshmen, and the injured guys are either gone or have not really recovered. I don’t know if this is all just kind of the perfect storm of bad luck, or if this is the program moving in the wrong direction, but I really don’t have good feelings about it.

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

They got beat pretty badly last night, and that will happen in baseball. I think one big difference is that the Gardner Webb game was at least USC’s second midweek game. So, they weren’t pitching their best midweek starter, and may have had a little bit of a depleted bullpen. They also already have a series win against Clemson, which at least should pad their resume some. USCe has an RPI of 23 while UK’s sits at 62. We are 0-4 in Q1 and Q2 games and they are 5-3.

By the way, Tennessee is freaking scary good. 8-0 against Q1 and Q2 teams and 13-0 overall with 6 shutouts. I think their new coach has turned them around and they will be a highly competitive team again.

This is true about UT baseball, they evidently have a Rick Barnes type hire in Baseball !

 

[Comebakatz3]

This is true about UT baseball, they evidently have a Rick Barnes type hire in Baseball !

Yea, it may be the same in its effect depending on how both end up doing, but they are different in that the baseball coach is in his first head coaching job, and Barnes was fired from Texas for being average.

 

[Old_Red]

Kentucky's recruiting rankings from PerfectGame:

2015 30th, 9th in the SEC
2016 26th, 10th in the SEC
2017 6th, 5th in the SEC
2018 11th, 6th in the SEC

Several of the other ranking services had Kentucky ranked lower but I couldn't find all the years. With those kind of rankings and Boston College not ranked below 50th in any of those years, do we have a player development problem or is it just the result of losing so much talent from last year? Maybe this team can jell but it hasn't happened early.

We have mediocre pitching, hitting, and fielding. And this against a schedule that is going to get a lot tougher.

 

[sluggercatfan]

This is true about UT baseball, they evidently have a Rick Barnes type hire in Baseball !

Thought RB was suppose to be a horrible coach!

 

[Comebakatz3]

Kentucky's recruiting rankings from PerfectGame:

2015 30th, 9th in the SEC
2016 26th, 10th in the SEC
2017 6th, 5th in the SEC
2018 11th, 6th in the SEC

Several of the other ranking services had Kentucky ranked lower but I couldn't find all the years. With those kind of rankings and Boston College not ranked below 50th in any of those years, do we have a player development problem or is it just the result of losing so much talent from last year? Maybe this team can jell but it hasn't happened early.

We have mediocre pitching, hitting, and fielding. And this against a schedule that is going to get a lot tougher.

Despite these rankings, we start just 2 players out of 9 that were recruited in the 17 and 18 classes. Kessler and Cam Hill are the only two. Everyone else is either a transfer, a JUCO, or older. Shelby, Reed, Daniel, Lewis, Collett, Rodriguez, and Shinn. Hill is not starting as much and if you take him off of there then you can probably add another JUCO/transfer/older to that because Curtis started yesterday, and Gei has started in the past.

So, we are relying heavily on the JUCO and transfer ranks and do not seem to be asking the players that make up these great recruiting classes to step up in the field and at the plate.

The pitching is different as this year we are heavily relying on the newcomers.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Thought RB was suppose to be a horrible coach!

Barnes is kind of an enigma. I think he might be a great coach with players who are underrated and an average coach with players who are more one and done types. So, maybe he isn't as good with getting young guys with egos to set those aside and work as he is with coaching up kids with a chip on their shoulder.

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

Thought RB was suppose to be a horrible coach!

Some on these boards would say so...... They would be wrong !

 

[cats1068]

Last year should have been much better than it was. UK had the pieces to have a great bullpen, but ZT got hurt and we had absolutely no one who could take his place. Haake struggled and never developed into the JUCO power that he was and UK really had no freshmen step up and become SEC starter material. Part of that was because UK had their top 3 pitchers redshirting due to arm injuries (Dobzanski, Marozas, and Jordan). UK rode their hitting through much of the year, but never developed the arms to really recover and we ended up with a top 2 or 3 hitting team in the SEC while finishing dead last in ERA. Now, all of that pitching talent is gone with the exception of ZT and we’re left with last year’s freshmen who still haven’t really developed into quality SEC talent, a bunch of true freshmen, and the injured guys are either gone or have not really recovered. I don’t know if this is all just kind of the perfect storm of bad luck, or if this is the program moving in the wrong direction, but I really don’t have good feelings about it.

This year’s team reminds me of the 2014 basketball team. A lot of good parts but haven’t found a way to gel together yet. That 2014 team didn’t get it together until the postseason. Sometimes, you just lose too much at one time and it’s almost impossible to overcome. This is a serious question. How many players on the team are D1 proven? Not many.

 

[Comebakatz3]

This year’s team reminds me of the 2014 basketball team. A lot of good parts but haven’t found a way to gel together yet. That 2014 team didn’t get it together until the postseason. Sometimes, you just lose too much at one time and it’s almost impossible to overcome. This is a serious question. How many players on the team are D1 proven? Not many.

It wouldn't feel so bad if the second year guys Harper, Hazelwood, Ramsey, etc. were guys we could lean on and could eat up innings. As it is, there is just no one to turn to that you can be sure will give you a quality outing.

 

[sluggercatfan]

This year’s team reminds me of the 2014 basketball team. A lot of good parts but haven’t found a way to gel together yet. That 2014 team didn’t get it together until the postseason. Sometimes, you just lose too much at one time and it’s almost impossible to overcome. This is a serious question. How many players on the team are D1 proven? Not many.

Collett, Thompson, Shinn and i think Shelby will be very good. The rest are big ? marks. Several are not sec players.

 

[MAYHOO22]

South Carolina baseball beat by Gardner-Webb Wednesday , 12-2! Evidently, USCe is in the same shape as our fighting UK baseball mildcats!USCe ranked 24th!

To be fair to Carolina, they did beat top 25 Clemson 2 of three. We haven't beaten anyone of substance.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

I hate to mention this, and I don’t know why I’m even doing it, but there is no reason why the team west of here has enjoyed the success they have and UK is still spinning it’s wheels.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I hate to mention this, and I don’t know why I’m even doing it, but there is no reason why the team west of here has enjoyed the success they have and UK is still spinning it’s wheels.

Well, the reason is they found one of the best coaches in the game. For all of his faults, their AD had a knack for finding great coaches and their baseball coach is a testament to that. However, you’re entire right that there is no reason that we cannot enjoy the same or a similar level of success as they have enjoyed.

 

[RogerIndy]

Well, the reason is they found one of the best coaches in the game. For all of his faults, their AD had a knack for finding great coaches and their baseball coach is a testament to that. However, you’re entire right that there is no reason that we cannot enjoy the same or a similar level of success as they have enjoyed.

So, speaking of coaches, what do you think of Mingione? Do you think he is the guy to get us to the next level in the SEC? Just as in football, I don't think we are talking about competing with Florida and LSU, but if we can at least consistently get to the the tournament, and host 2 out of 3 times, that would be an improvement.

 

[Comebakatz3]

So, speaking of coaches, what do you think of Mingione? Do you think he is the guy to get us to the next level in the SEC? Just as in football, I don't think we are talking about competing with Florida and LSU, but if we can at least consistently get to the the tournament, and host 2 out of 3 times, that would be an improvement.

I am going to give him a bit of a pass for a bit. I can come up with enough excuses to continue to avoid him being on the hotseat even if we have a horrible year. However, it all comes down to furthering improvement. Right now, there are some big red flags that have me concerned.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

So, speaking of coaches, what do you think of Mingione? Do you think he is the guy to get us to the next level in the SEC? Just as in football, I don't think we are talking about competing with Florida and LSU, but if we can at least consistently get to the the tournament, and host 2 out of 3 times, that would be an improvement.

I know Minge was a very hot assistant coming from MSU but its hard to judge right now if hes the guy. I think he is. I also think, like Stoops, he needs to start shaking the staff tree. The big thing I see with this group this year, and I think it was mentioned already, there is a lack of leadership from the players. That 2017 team you had some very vocal leaders in Evan White, Cottam, Mahan and a few others. Someone this year needs to step up to that role.

 

[sluggercatfan]

I hate to mention this, and I don’t know why I’m even doing it, but there is no reason why the team west of here has enjoyed the success they have and UK is still spinning it’s wheels.

Probably one of three best coaches in CBB...excellent recruiting even to that hell hole and also have to battle the weather

 

[sluggercatfan]

I am going to give him a bit of a pass for a bit. I can come up with enough excuses to continue to avoid him being on the hotseat even if we have a horrible year. However, it all comes down to furthering improvement. Right now, there are some big red flags that have me concerned.

BIG RED FLAGS...starting with recruiting.

 

[sluggercatfan]

I know Minge was a very hot assistant coming from MSU but its hard to judge right now if hes the guy. I think he is. I also think, like Stoops, he needs to start shaking the staff tree. The big thing I see with this group this year, and I think it was mentioned already, there is a lack of leadership from the players. That 2017 team you had some very vocal leaders in Evan White, Cottam, Mahan and a few others. Someone this year needs to step up to that role.

Beginning to think it's time to be the HC and not the players best buddy.

 

[sluggercatfan]

I know Minge was a very hot assistant coming from MSU but its hard to judge right now if hes the guy. I think he is. I also think, like Stoops, he needs to start shaking the staff tree. The big thing I see with this group this year, and I think it was mentioned already, there is a lack of leadership from the players. That 2017 team you had some very vocal leaders in Evan White, Cottam, Mahan and a few others. Someone this year needs to step up to that role.

All recruited by the precious staff without the benefit of the best facility in the conference! I am conceding this season already, so the off season and recruiting are going to be BIG!

 

[Comebakatz3]

All recruited by the precious staff without the benefit of the best facility in the conference! I am conceding this season already, so the off season and recruiting are going to be BIG!

Recruiting for 2019 we are currently ranked 30th.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Wish we could have Piecoro all year on the TV broadcast.

Amen!!! He and coach are very good!