Monday depressing thread (open at own risk)

[Comebakatz3]

Kentucky is in dead last in overall record in the SEC at the moment at 5-6. In fact, they are the only SEC team with a losing record.

UK is currently in 12th out of 14 teams in batting average. Amazingly, 7-5 LSU is hitting just .229 as a team while UK is hitting .247. 7-4 Miss State is also behind UK in batting average.

Kentucky ranks second to last in ERA at 4.59. Missouri trails them with a 5.14 ERA. However, I think Missouri's is a bit skewed in large part because of a game where they gave up 12 earned to McNeese State. They got a couple solid wins this weekend in the Shriner's Classic against Texas and Oklahoma.

Kentucky continues to bring up the rear in fielding percentage at .946. Only UK and TAMU have over 20 errors on the season with Alabama having the fewest with just 4.

 

[KYExtemper]

There are a LOT of problems that need fixing right now. Bats are pretty cold and the fielding was Little League-like over the weekend. I'm not giving up yet, but it's been tough to watch.

 

[Comebakatz3]

There are a LOT of problems that need fixing right now. Bats are pretty cold and the fielding was Little League-like over the weekend. I'm not giving up yet, but it's been tough to watch.

Fielding could have had several more errors that were not listed as such. It is that bad.

 

[Tskware]

Fielding could have had several more errors that were not listed as such. It is that bad.

We have 20 errors, while Alabama has only 4?? You just have to [roll]

And from what I have seen/heard, the calls on errors vs. hits have been pretty generous to UK.

 

[Comebakatz3]

We have 20 errors, while Alabama has only 4?? You just have to [roll]

And from what I have seen/heard, the calls on errors vs. hits have been pretty generous to UK.

Well, actually, we have 23. haha. TAMU has 20. No other team has more than 14, and 4 teams are still in single digits with Alabama being the lowest with 4. A .991 fielding percentage for Alabama with 11 DPs turned. UK has turned just 4, which is also a league low.

 

[irishcat1965]

Ming is a fraud and it is a disservice to the kids and the program to allow him to remain as coach at UK. It’s crystal clear he has no clue what he is doing and it would be better to allow an assistant to take over until the end of year. But Mitch doesn’t have the sack to do that unfortunately.

 

[Van Cleef]

Florida: RPI - 1, SOS - 12
Georgia: RPI - 4, SOS - 18
Mississippi: RPI - 5, SOS - 17
Alabama: RPI - 11, SOS - 94
LSU: RPI - 20, SOS - 6
Missouri: RPI - 39, SOS - 44
Arkansas: RPI - 42, SOS - 40
Tennessee: RPI - 45, SOS - 204
Texas A&M: RPI - 61, SOS - 115
Kentucky: RPI - 87, SOS - 29
Mississippi St: RPI - 114, SOS - 133
Vanderbilt: RPI - 120, SOS - 202
South Carolina: RPI - 148, SOS - 168
Auburn: RPI - 202, SOS - 261

warrennolan.com

 

[TuckyFB]

I remember when we all were scared that Mingione would leave for Miss St. I kind of wish that would’ve happened now.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

Yeah, this is all depressing.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Barring a miracle turnaround l believe Mitch will replace the staff at season's end...just go 75 miles up the road.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Barring a miracle turnaround l believe Mitch will replace the staff at season's end...just go 75 miles up the road.

I think there is at least a possible something to the idea that Roszel was brought in with an eye towards taking over if Mingione doesn't work out. If that is the case then we are not going for Williams, and will give Dan Roszel a fair shake. Just kind of surprises me that someone with such success came to UK and jumped on a ship taking on water when he didn't have to.

 

[sluggercatfan]

I think there is at least a possible something to the idea that Roszel was brought in with an eye towards taking over if Mingione doesn't work out. If that is the case then we are not going for Williams, and will give Dan Roszel a fair shake. Just kind of surprises me that someone with such success came to UK and jumped on a ship taking on water when he didn't have to.

IF this scenario is true...how can it not cause friction on the staff.?

 

[westharris]

I think it’s more likely Dan Roszel was guaranteed that coach mingione would have at least 2 more seasons.

 

[TuckyFB]

Is there a site to see what commits we have right now? I always wanted 247 and Rivals to start covering College Baseball.

 

[Comebakatz3]

IF this scenario is true...how can it not cause friction on the staff.?

I don't know. I don't even know that it is true... it is just 100 percent a speculation and a guess. The only reason that I even think about it is because it is strange to me that someone as established as Roszel, who already has a job that he was in for over 6 years with the same coach at ECU would decide to come to a struggling UK team that was short on great arms. So, I just think there could be a grain of truth into the thought that Roszel may have agreed to come to UK knowing that he might get a shot at being our next coach.

It could just be that Dan was finally getting a break to get into the SEC, or a power 5 conference and he jumped at the chance. I don't know. Still, it is a big strange to me that he would take on this job when it is clear to many that look at the program that it is struggling to stay afloat.

 

[TuckyFB]

I found this one and we were Top 25 last recruiting cycle...

https://www.perfectgame.org/rankings/Recruiting/Rankings.aspx

 

[Comebakatz3]

I found this one and we were Top 25 last recruiting cycle...

https://www.perfectgame.org/rankings/Recruiting/Rankings.aspx

Baseball recruiting is extremely difficult to follow and even harder to know what level of success you're having. The JUCO kids are on the PG website listed in the year they came out of high school instead of with the class that they will come to UK with. So, to find their names you have to look back a year or two, and then just go through the names until you find some that you might not recognize.

Still, if you look at those numbers, we are not too far off from what Louisville is doing or has done.

Go back to 2016:
UK: 26
UL: 23

UK: 6
UL: 23

UK: 11
UL: 3

UK: 15
UL: 13

Average player ranking:
UK: 5.04
UL: 5.37

So, it doesn't seem like we are that far off. So, either UL found more 'diamonds in the rough,' or they developed players better than UK did over the past 4 years. I also imagine that they may have had some better retention and possibly fewer injuries than UK.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I think it’s more likely Dan Roszel was guaranteed that coach mingione would have at least 2 more seasons.

Very well could be that, especially given that Mingione's contract is for two more years. Still, hard to see anyone wanting to jump onto this. But hey, I like I good conspiracy theory. lol

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

Vanderbilt: RPI - 120, SOS - 202

say what now?

 

[Comebakatz3]

say what now?

RPI is extremely skewed right now being how early it is in the year. Teams like Tennessee, despite beating a top 10 opponent do not (or at least didn't at one point this weekend) have a Q1 win because Texas Tech isn't in the top 50 or whatever. In large part, I think, it is due to schedules often being easier early in the season.

 

[TuckyFB]

Baseball recruiting is extremely difficult to follow and even harder to know what level of success you're having. The JUCO kids are on the PG website listed in the year they came out of high school instead of with the class that they will come to UK with. So, to find their names you have to look back a year or two, and then just go through the names until you find some that you might not recognize.

Still, if you look at those numbers, we are not too far off from what Louisville is doing or has done.

Go back to 2016:
UK: 26
UL: 23

UK: 6
UL: 23

UK: 11
UL: 3

UK: 15
UL: 13

Average player ranking:
UK: 5.04
UL: 5.37

So, it doesn't seem like we are that far off. So, either UL found more 'diamonds in the rough,' or they developed players better than UK did over the past 4 years. I also imagine that they may have had some better retention and possibly fewer injuries than UK.

I think it has to do with better player development and Louisville’s staff is so much better than ours. As much as it pains me to say.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I think it has to do with better player development and Louisville’s staff is so much better than ours. As much as it pains me to say.

I agree, player development plays a major role. However, they also get good stuff out of guys early, so player recognition is also big.

2014 for example was ranked 33 while UK was ranked 39th. That year they had Lincoln Henzman come in as a freshman (which would have been 2015), and he became a Freshman All American (and I believe dominated us). He played 3 years and was 'Stopper of The Year,' as a junior. They also got Devin Hairston that year (might remember his brother playing at UK). Hairston wasn't amazing as a freshman, but was still the Louisville Regional Most Outstanding Player. He turned into an All American his sophomore year, and was a third team AA his junior year. They also got Brendan McKay that year. I don't think he needs any introduction on what he did at UL.

Another player in that class was Drew Ellis, who redshirted in 2015, but worked his way to being an All American and a 2nd round pick by 2017. Also Kade McClure who worked his way to being a 6th round pick in 2017 and was an All American by one publication in 2016.

This is just one random class I looked at for them, and I just started looking at it because I remembered Lincoln Henzman. So, this was a class that had an average player ranking of just 3.42, but yet they had numerous All Americans. So, that is not just player development, but also recognizing the raw talent and getting the most out of it. Two things we seem to be lacking.

 

[Shipwreck Kelly]

Regarding the recruiting and development by the two schools, recent results are not favorable for UK.

Good post from “jrburt” in a UK baseball post on the football board regarding UK’s staff snoozing and missing out on a kid who grew up a UK fan (with parents who are UK alums) but now plays for the Cards. Post mentions that UofL aggressively recruited him out of JUCO (as did Bama and others) and UK staff didn’t give him a sniff.

 

[TuckyFB]

Regarding the recruiting and development by the two schools, recent results are not favorable for UK.

Good post from “jrburt” in a UK baseball post on the football board regarding UK’s staff snoozing and missing out on a kid who grew up a UK fan (with parents who are UK alums) but now plays for the Cards. Post mentions that UofL aggressively recruited him out of JUCO (as did Bama and others) and UK staff didn’t give him a sniff.

I heard about that... This staff doesn't know what they're doing and anyone with eyes can see it.

 

[dtjr]

I am looking at some of the recruits of this incoming class and if the JUCO's make it to Lexington they may help but I don't see many of the backups who won't get drafted doing much in the future.

It seems like we are not only being out recruited but some of our recruits are not legitimate SEC types players.

So not only recruiting but also player development is the issue.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

Recruiting JUCO players carry a risk. Its hard to build continuity on a team with such an influx of players coming and going. That affects chemistry, roles and leadership. Just look at some of the better teams to come through Lexington. There was a chemistry between the guys because they played with each other for 3+ years. JUCOs should not dominate your roster.

 

[Nawlij_rivals71126]

Regarding the recruiting and development by the two schools, recent results are not favorable for UK.

Good post from “jrburt” in a UK baseball post on the football board regarding UK’s staff snoozing and missing out on a kid who grew up a UK fan (with parents who are UK alums) but now plays for the Cards. Post mentions that UofL aggressively recruited him out of JUCO (as did Bama and others) and UK staff didn’t give him a sniff.

Nothing new...this has gone on since Madison...look at all the studs that have come from Owensboro that have gone on to play for Florida, Clemson, LSU and Louisville....because the staffs have never gone there to recruit.

UK baseball recruiting has historically been geographically restricted and quite frankly beyond curious...and now with the advent of big youth travel baseball showcase events, getting to see more kids more frequently has never been easier...