Tony Vitello suggests plan for Tennessee Vols over the weekend that doesn't make too much sense
To be clear, Tony Vitello will forget more baseball than I'll ever know. I'm not saying I'm right and he's wrong at anything baseball related, because he's one of the best in the business after leading the Tennessee Vols to the school's first title last year. Just to put that disclaimer out there. However, looking […]
To be clear, Tony Vitello will forget more baseball than I'll ever know. I'm not saying I'm right and he's wrong at anything baseball related, because he's one of the best in the business after leading the Tennessee Vols to the school's first title last year. Just to put that disclaimer out there.
However, looking at the Vols' potential weekend rotation for the Knoxville regional, what sticks out is an opportunity to set up their starting rotation in a way that could help them have their best chance at success. Often times, teams who host will throw their best pitcher in game two, given the typically relative ease of the opening game.
But that doesn't sound like it's going to be the case with Tennessee this weekend. Asked about whether he plans on sticking with staff ace Liam Doyle first, then Marcus Phillips, Vitello indicated that's likely going to be the plan.
"More than likely," Vitello said. "We've got some bullpens today. See how those go, and then have some conversations, but that's kind of been the order that held true through the season until we had schedule quirks there with the Thursday series and the tournament.
"So, regardless of how we're doing – we're not looking to out-strategize anybody this time of year – just outcompete people or compete to the best of our abilities and hopefully that gets us where we want, and if that doesn't, then maybe the fans give us an edge that pushes us over the top because that's been the case a few times this time of year for us when we've been fortunate enough to be in Knoxville."
There would be a couple of big reasons for holding Doyle for Saturday. First, you'd think you'd want your best pitcher on the bump for likely your more challenging game, to repeat the obvious.
However, if 3 seed Cincinnati wins, they're one of the best teams in all of college baseball at stealing bases. They ranked third among all Power Four teams this year with 128. Doyle, a left hander with a terrific fastball is better suited to handle that running game as opposed to Phillips, who's struggled to hold runners this year.
Again, Vitello knows more baseball ten times over than I ever will, but it simply seems like the logical move to hold their star left hander for Saturday instead of Friday.
We'll find out this weekend which way the Vols' skipper wants to go.
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