Why Tennessee Vols' reputation might keep them out of the College World Series
The Tennessee Vols might not advance to the College World Series, which would be a colossal letdown for the best team in college baseball. Tennessee got down 8-1 early against Notre Dame in Knoxville on Friday night. That alone isn't a huge deal. Losing star outfielder Drew Gilbert for Saturday's game, however, is a big […]
The Tennessee Vols might not advance to the College World Series, which would be a colossal letdown for the best team in college baseball.
Tennessee got down 8-1 early against Notre Dame in Knoxville on Friday night. That alone isn't a huge deal.
Losing star outfielder Drew Gilbert for Saturday's game, however, is a big deal.
Gilbert was ejected from the game after arguing a very questionable strike call in the fifth inning.
As a result of the ejection, Gilbert will be suspended for game two on Saturday.
Losing Gilbert for the second game of the series is a brutal blow to Tennessee's College World Series hopes. Gilbert is one of the most clutch players in the game and a massive source of energy for the team. He's not a player the Vols can afford to lose.
Of course, Tennessee shouldn't have lost Gilbert. Sure, he lost his cool. But the home plate umpire ejected him from the game quicker than I've ever seen a player ejected before.
Should Gilbert have questioned the call the way he did?
Definitely not (even though it was probably a ball).
But at the same time, the umpire should've recognized that this is a Super Regional, and ejecting Gilbert means the center fielder will also miss Saturday's game. That quick hook could completely alter the outcome of the series.
It certainly feels as though Tennessee's reputation led to Gilbert's ejection. It's almost like that umpire came into the night knowing that he was going to eject a Vols player if there was anything questionable that came up. It's just unfortunate that an umpire inserted himself into the game instead of letting the two teams on the field settle things.
A lot of umpires seem to have massive egos. They want to make the game about themselves. And that's exactly what we saw on Friday night.
Unfortunately for Tennessee, one umpire stroking his ego might end up costing the Vols a trip to Omaha.
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
