Weekend rotation

[MAYHOO22]

The official word probably will not come out until tomorrow. My guess:

Friday: Stupp
Saturday: Cotto
Sunday: Lee or Bosma

Sunday starter could depend on opposing team's number of rightie or leftie hitters.

I think Harney is set in stone for closer. Middle relief is anyone's guess.

 

[Comebakatz3]

The official word probably will not come out until tomorrow. My guess:

Friday: Stupp
Saturday: Cotto
Sunday: Lee or Bosma

Sunday starter could depend on opposing team's number of rightie or leftie hitters.

I think Harney is set in stone for closer. Middle relief is anyone's guess.

Pitching is so crazy I don't even know if the staff is fully comfortable with it right now.

Stupp is the only sure thing.

I think Cotto is probably the next one that is a lock to be on the weekend, but not sure if he'll go Saturday or Sunday.

I think I'd probably prefer Lee to get the other start. My thinking on it is that UK has 1 other LHP that has experience, and that's Hazelwood, who is coming off an injury. So, we'll have to rely on redshirt freshman Evan Byers or true freshmen Jackson Nove or Reed Gannon. That's all the lefties we have. So, with Cotto already being a lefty in the rotation, it makes more sense to me to have an experienced lefty for relief than it does to start him.

I am not sure what will happen with Harney. It really seemed like Williams might lock down the closer position. So, I almost feel like they'll use Harney as a swiss army knife. He'll be worked similarly to Arkansas' Kopps and come into any and every situation of need.

 

[MAYHOO22]

Pitching is so crazy I don't even know if the staff is fully comfortable with it right now.

Stupp is the only sure thing.

I think Cotto is probably the next one that is a lock to be on the weekend, but not sure if he'll go Saturday or Sunday.

I think I'd probably prefer Lee to get the other start. My thinking on it is that UK has 1 other LHP that has experience, and that's Hazelwood, who is coming off an injury. So, we'll have to rely on redshirt freshman Evan Byers or true freshmen Jackson Nove or Reed Gannon. That's all the lefties we have. So, with Cotto already being a lefty in the rotation, it makes more sense to me to have an experienced lefty for relief than it does to start him.

I am not sure what will happen with Harney. It really seemed like Williams might lock down the closer position. So, I almost feel like they'll use Harney as a swiss army knife. He'll be worked similarly to Arkansas' Kopps and come into any and every situation of need.

I think you are spot on with Harney. Can be a long reliver, spot starter, or close. I really like his versatility. Proven guy & had quality outings last year. Your take on the lefty pitchers is spot on as well. Probably hoping Lee can secure the Sunday role again until Mason is fully healthy for longer outings.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I think you are spot on with Harney. Can be a long reliver, spot starter, or close. I really like his versatility. Proven guy & had quality outings last year. Your take on the lefty pitchers is spot on as well. Probably hoping Lee can secure the Sunday role again until Mason is fully healthy for longer outings.

An interesting part of the equation for me is also pitching development.

Hagenow is the highest ranked recruit UK has gotten since Alex Meyer. Yet, talk about him has been quiet this year and he may not factor into our weekend rotation until he's a junior, which is pretty crazy for a guy that most of us pictured being a Friday night ace for our team. Are we still looking to develop him into a weekend starter? If not him then are we looking to develop anyone else, or will we again look to replace Stupp, Bosma, and/or Lee with transfers? Does he pitch midweek as a sophomore or do we bring him out of the bullpen to provide relief in SEC play?

How about the other upcoming sophomores? Any we might look to turn into starters or are they all going to be bullpen arms while here? Hudepohl seems like a candidate to be a starter, so do we develop that, and how?

Same thing with freshmen. What role do they have? We have a lot of experienced arms and shouldn’t need to rely on a lot of the freshmen, but how much do we use them to develop them and what kind of role do we see some of these guys having going forward year to year?

 

[MAYHOO22]

An interesting part of the equation for me is also pitching development.

Hagenow is the highest ranked recruit UK has gotten since Alex Meyer. Yet, talk about him has been quiet this year and he may not factor into our weekend rotation until he's a junior, which is pretty crazy for a guy that most of us pictured being a Friday night ace for our team. Are we still looking to develop him into a weekend starter? If not him then are we looking to develop anyone else, or will we again look to replace Stupp, Bosma, and/or Lee with transfers? Does he pitch midweek as a sophomore or do we bring him out of the bullpen to provide relief in SEC play?

How about the other upcoming sophomores? Any we might look to turn into starters or are they all going to be bullpen arms while here? Hudepohl seems like a candidate to be a starter, so do we develop that, and how?

Same thing with freshmen. What role do they have? We have a lot of experienced arms and shouldn’t need to rely on a lot of the freshmen, but how much do we use them to develop them and what kind of role do we see some of these guys having going forward year to year?

I have heard a rumor on Hagenow. No proof, just what I heard. He had a minor injury last year......but it involves throwing strikes. More mental I assume.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I have heard a rumor on Hagenow. No proof, just what I heard. He had a minor injury last year......but it involves throwing strikes. More mental I assume.

I believe Mingione did mention he got hurt last year and they shut him down at the end of the year. I think he's entirely healthy again, but also not entirely sure. Still, I just thought we'd hear more about him and how much of a factor he might be moving forward, and yet it kind of seems like he's slipped through the cracks.

Throwing strikes could be an issue, he gave up a lot of walks a year ago. Still, that comes into player development and getting him in a situation to succeed.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I have heard a rumor on Hagenow. No proof, just what I heard. He had a minor injury last year......but it involves throwing strikes. More mental I assume.

But I'll say that this is another frustration with baseball coverage. Admittedly, I don't listen to the coaches show all that much and maybe I'd learn more there. However, outside of that possibility, we rarely hear anything regarding actual news about the baseball team. Hagenow was hurt and they shut him down last year. We find that out in the fall of the next year rather than at the time.

This fall Harris and Fogel are hurt at some point, but we don't learn about it (at least I didn't) until media day, a week or so prior to the season and the news about it made it seem like it was common knowledge that was widely reported. They're back and will start, apparently, but even that isn't really common knowledge that is widely reported on.

Just so much news we could get on basic things like injuries and such that we never get.

 

[dtjr]

But I'll say that this is another frustration with baseball coverage. Admittedly, I don't listen to the coaches show all that much and maybe I'd learn more there. However, outside of that possibility, we rarely hear anything regarding actual news about the baseball team. Hagenow was hurt and they shut him down last year. We find that out in the fall of the next year rather than at the time.

This fall Harris and Fogel are hurt at some point, but we don't learn about it (at least I didn't) until media day, a week or so prior to the season and the news about it made it seem like it was common knowledge that was widely reported. They're back and will start, apparently, but even that isn't really common knowledge that is widely reported on.

Just so much news we could get on basic things like injuries and such that we never get.

Any chance there is better coverage this year?
Not sure why the local coverage is poor, this site and KSR are not great either.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Any chance there is better coverage this year?
Not sure why the local coverage is poor, this site and KSR are not great either.

Doubtful. It is the baseball program as much as anything else. They have social media, they have press conferences, they have call in shows, they have a director of communications (Matt May). They could address things like injuries and more general news if they wanted, but they just really don't. So, if the team isn't willing to put this type of stuff out then it isn't easy for sports writers to write about them other than just giving basic game information.

 

[CockyCat3]

I too wish there was better coverage. Derek Terry leaving doesn't help anything . I'm surprised there isn't some sort of weekly press conference or weekend preview from the coaches. Even if it was just a social media thing done by the student managers. Plan on the weekend rotation being Stupp, Cotto then Bosma. I'm ready to see what these guys have got this year!!! Lets goooooooo!

 

[Comebakatz3]

If they go with Bosma as a starter it will be interesting to see how healthy Hazelwood is and how much he's used and also how much they use the freshmen since we'll have no other lefties.

 

[enjyretirement2020]

Any chance there is better coverage this year?
Not sure why the local coverage is poor, this site and KSR are not great either.

Won't get coverage when you don't treat them nicely. I heard some of them complaining last season. Also, heard there was a little "oopsy" on a UK baseball coach last season when he accidentally sent the "press person" the not so flattering message he was writing about him! That's foot in mouth.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Ugh! Why is it taking so long!?

 

[Comebakatz3]

Well, in case you were looking for no new information, here you go:

https://ukathletics.com/news/2022/2/17/kentucky-baseball-going-to-jackson-ville-for-opener.aspx

They are literally just using quotes from media day. That's frustrating.

 

[enjyretirement2020]

Well, in case you were looking for no new information, here you go:

https://ukathletics.com/news/2022/2/17/kentucky-baseball-going-to-jackson-ville-for-opener.aspx

They are literally just using quotes from media day. That's frustrating.

That opening line..................he knows what it takes to win games in the SEC....pitching and defense.

Weren't they supposedly focused on defense last year but then had outfielders who aren't outfielders? That was frustrating. Then he claims "defense" but then often chose offensive players over defensive players. I'm just confused by what he says compared to what he does.

 

[dtjr]

That opening line..................he knows what it takes to win games in the SEC....pitching and defense.

Weren't they supposedly focused on defense last year but then had outfielders who aren't outfielders? That was frustrating. Then he claims "defense" but then often chose offensive players over defensive players. I'm just confused by what he says compared to what he does.

You are exactly right.

Anyone who actually watched games last year knows that our defense was not really as great as they say except for Ritter. Errors are only one basis for measuring that. What about missing the cutoffs, throwing behind runners, not getting to balls in the outfield etc.. All stuff that cost us runs last year.

 

[Comebakatz3]

That opening line..................he knows what it takes to win games in the SEC....pitching and defense.

Weren't they supposedly focused on defense last year but then had outfielders who aren't outfielders? That was frustrating. Then he claims "defense" but then often chose offensive players over defensive players. I'm just confused by what he says compared to what he does.

Statistically we were the best defensive team in Kentucky history a year ago. Not sure how much stock I put into that stat. One thing is, that pitchers throwing a ball away on a pickoff move are often counted. I don't think UK really had anyone with a great or effective pickoff move, so most of the time we used that it was just a keep them close type of throw and not a dangerous one. We also had a lot of instances where a ball could or should have been caught in the OF, but the OF got a horrible read off the bat and rather than being an out it went for a hit; or we had some poor communication that helped lead to an outfielder not getting to a ball, or even instances of a ball being thrown to the wrong cut off person that allowed an extra base. Anu had a perfect season statistically, but he was obviously not a great defensive outfielder. So, the stats don't tell the tale there.

Last year was kind of all over the place, which I think hurt the team because many felt uncomfortable where they were or with what they were doing.

This year I think really think only Plastiak is playing in a position that we might not call his natural position. Not that he can't play there and not that he won't do well. Just mean that he's the only one really making a switch from one position to the other.

 

[enjyretirement2020]

You are exactly right.

Anyone who actually watched games last year knows that our defense was not really as great as they say except for Ritter. Errors are only one basis for measuring that. What about missing the cutoffs, throwing behind runners, not getting to balls in the outfield etc.. All stuff that cost us runs last year.

It was really painful to watch Harmon at the beginning of the season and then Anu in the outfield. If we are being honest, Schultz should not have been out there either. Then the two "qualified" outfielders be on the bench? Shelby didn't even get a chance and Hill didn't get his chance until Harmon and Anu tanked. It makes me wonder what the Coach had against those two because that just made absolutely no sense to me.

So many decisions that just make you scratch your head and say "What are we doing?" So I am sorry, I just don't buy it when he says we are focused on defense.

 

[CockyCat3]

Ugh! Why is it taking so long!?

Rotation? You didn't believe me when I said Stupp, Cotto, Bosma?

 

[SeanCain]

But I'll say that this is another frustration with baseball coverage. Admittedly, I don't listen to the coaches show all that much and maybe I'd learn more there. However, outside of that possibility, we rarely hear anything regarding actual news about the baseball team. Hagenow was hurt and they shut him down last year. We find that out in the fall of the next year rather than at the time.

This fall Harris and Fogel are hurt at some point, but we don't learn about it (at least I didn't) until media day, a week or so prior to the season and the news about it made it seem like it was common knowledge that was widely reported. They're back and will start, apparently, but even that isn't really common knowledge that is widely reported on.

Just so much news we could get on basic things like injuries and such that we never get.

Might be time to mention this to Justin. Perhaps he will put more resources in baseball.

 

[SeanCain]

Tomorrow is the big day. All will be known soon.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Rotation? You didn't believe me when I said Stupp, Cotto, Bosma?

Hahaha, I trust you on that. Now make this day and tomorrow go by faster so we can get to first pitch already!

 

[Comebakatz3]

Might be time to mention this to Justin. Perhaps he will put more resources in baseball.

They do a decent job over on this site, but again, I think the bigger issue is about UK and not about the independent reporters. Just look at the press release done today and published by UKathletics.com itself... no new information. They merely took quotes from media day and summed up what was said during that time, almost in the exact same order. So, they don't even care to put out a new release with new statements and news a day before first pitch. If they won't do that, I doubt that Jeff or anyone else is going to get much out of them.

 

[enjyretirement2020]

Rotation? You didn't believe me when I said Stupp, Cotto, Bosma?

So if you know the pitching rotation which has not been published yet, is your son in the weekend rotation?

 

[Tskware]

Weather looks decent for our first three games, chilly but clear tomorrow, then warming up into the low 60s for Saturday/Sunday, about as good as you can ask for in February.

 

[SeanCain]

They do a decent job over on this site, but again, I think the bigger issue is about UK and not about the independent reporters. Just look at the press release done today and published by UKathletics.com itself... no new information. They merely took quotes from media day and summed up what was said during that time, almost in the exact same order. So, they don't even care to put out a new release with new statements and news a day before first pitch. If they won't do that, I doubt that Jeff or anyone else is going to get much out of them.

Bottom line is it’s hard to have a winner if the administration isn’t in full support. It’s not hard to understand why UK has traditionally only been good in one sport.

 

[TuckyFB]

Ready for the season to start tomorrow. Is Jacksonville St any good? I have no idea tbh

 

[Comebakatz3]

Ready for the season to start tomorrow. Is Jacksonville St any good? I have no idea tbh

Projected 4th in their conference. So, not really. They have had solid teams at times, but don't think this will be one of those years.

 

[TuckyFB]

Projected 4th in their conference. So, not really. They have had solid teams at times, but don't think this will be one of those years.

Hopefully we can start the season with a first series sweep

 

[Comebakatz3]

Hopefully we can start the season with a first series sweep

Would be a let down if we didn't win basically every OOC game before conference play outside of TCU and maybe Indiana.

 

[dtjr]

Would be a let down if we didn't win basically every OOC game before conference play outside of TCU and maybe Indiana.

I would agree. Our out of conference schedule besides Louisville is weak.