⚾ 🥎 ⚾ Alabama visits Kentucky: UK sweeps series with Sunday win

Series Info:	Probable Pitching:	Tune In:
Location: Lexington, Ky. Venue: Kentucky Proud Park Friday, March 13 – UK 7-4 Saturday, March 14 – UK 8-7 Sunday, March 15 – 12 p.m. CT – SEC Network+ See the full schedule	Friday, March 13 RHP Tyler Fay (UA) vs. RHP Jaxon Jelkin (UK) Saturday, March 14 LHP Zane Adams (UA) vs. LHP Ben Cleaver (UK) Sunday, March 15 RHP Myles Upchurch (UA) vs. RHP Nate Harris (UK)	Live Stats Live Audio (The Varsity Network) Video Links Friday at No. 21 Kentucky (SEC Network+) Saturday at No. 21 Kentucky (SEC Network+) Sunday at No. 21 Kentucky (SEC Network+)

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

This is a series Bama can win, IF the starting pitching can carry over some momentum into conference play. IF the lineup can find their bats and not leave guys on base. IF they don't commit costly errors and give away outs. But, up to this point, in a 3 game series, this team hasn't done all 3 of those things. They are capable, but at some point they have to show it. Kentucky isn't a lineup full of maulers, but they are good hitters, especially situationally. They run, bunt, and stress a defense as well as anyone. Bama has to play smart and clean. But based on what they've shown, just stealing 1 of 3 feels like the most likely outcome.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Lebron with a solo shot to left start things off for Bama... I'll take it!

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

And just like that Kentucky answered back with a 2 run shot in the bottom half of the first... I think I'll just let this one play out. Updates will be few if any from me... and after tonight, I'll be out of town for a few days, so there won't be many then either, though I will be watching the games as time allows... or watching the replays.

 

[Bammerboy321]

Down 7-4. Had a 1-0 lead then immediately gave up seven runs. Now Alabama's back to boom or bust at the plate.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Down 7-4. Had a 1-0 lead then immediately gave up seven runs. Now Alabama's back to boom or bust at the plate.

Hasn't been much "boom"... Vaughn adjusted a 2 or 3 weeks ago to playing more small ball, more than I've ever seen him do. No way he'd have done that if he felt comfortable with the power on this team. Personally, I think every team should be well versed in small ball regardless, but that's beside the point. Fact is, this team is going to have to scratch and claw for runs, and then hope the pitchers can keep it within striking distance.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

At least Fay managed to go 7 and save the pen some...

 

[Bammerboy321]

Ball hair. Alabama does nothing in the 9th. Why is this program so ass.

 

[Bammerboy321]

Got up 4-1 on Kentucky, then allowed them to score seven unanswered runs, then fell short of the rally. Lost 8-7

Retaining JJ should be a fireball offense. This program has allowed Kentucky of all programs to surpass them.

There's Alabama basketball pain then there's 50 feet of hell that is Alabama baseball.

 

[Bammerboy321]

Down 5-1 with bases loaded in the T7, nobody out.

 

[Bammerboy321]

Bama loses despite a late push. Vaughn ain't it.

 

[BamaFan334]

Bama loses despite a late push. Vaughn ain't it.

People here as recent as a mo th ago felt the baseball program was being managed beautifully by Byrne.

 

[Bammerboy321]

People here as recent as a mo th ago felt the baseball program was being managed beautifully by Byrne.

I was kind of a wait and see mode. Vaughn had a promising start, beating teams like Arizona and Indiana. Also winning the series vs a title-winning TN team at home, South Carolina, and Arkansas. But the caveat is he hasn't won any games in the regionals, he has had lackluster performances in the SECT, and his offense hasn't truly been great.

We really didn't need Vaughn to not turn out well here. Programs like TN, Kentucky, UGA, and even auburn now have made significant strides while we have dwindled seasons away with Gaspard, Bo, Goff, and unfortunately now Vaughn. We can blame the lottery all we want, but a lack of quality coaching is the main reason this program has been dog shit since Wells retired.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

People here as recent as a mo th ago felt the baseball program was being managed beautifully by Byrne.

There hasn’t been a lot of discussion re: Bama Baseball this season outside of a half dozen or so people on here. I don’t recall any posts about such, but maybe I missed it or just don’t remember. Either are certainly possible. But since it was brought up, I’m curious what you’d have him do?

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Bama really needed to win one of those games in Lexington. Most of the rest of the weekends are gonna be even more difficult. And there’s really no reason for any optimism.

 

[BamaFan334]

There hasn’t been a lot of discussion re: Bama Baseball this season outside of a half dozen or so people on here. I don’t recall any posts about such, but maybe I missed it or just don’t remember. Either are certainly possible. But since it was brought up, I’m curious what you’d have him do?

It was in the Grading Byrne discussion thread I started.

I mean, what would I have him do??? Learn to recruit a deeper starting rotation, build around your stars, and create visibility for one. You're an SEC program and recruit like a damn JUCO school. You get your talent evaluators and have them work with proven scouts and make sure they align with what is gonna work for your program. Too many ballplayers out there with amazing talent to be a forgotten program in the SEC. We're Alabama for goodness sakes. I have no doubt someone will bring up money which I have already said I don't agree with, but if it is the case you better just be fucking that much better to make it happen. I'd be curious if all 16 teams that made the Supers last year spent more than us. I give a D1 coach making the money these guys make zero excuses for not running a desirable program. A lot of others give grace, but I don't, because when you accept a role you are stating you are going to do what it takes to succeed and a lot of the time we don't see it. Byrne is at fault as well as it's his job to give these coaches thr resources they need to be successful, so the blame falls somewhere or is shared, because I don't think you can look at it and say the program is better off than it was.

I want to add that if a program wants it bad enough, they make it happen. I'll say it again, what has Yea Alabama done outside of the First Pitch Dinner in a damn weekday of all things? I mean, that's high school shit. Justin LeBron could bring in thousands of dollars himself on Meet and Greets and autographs with rhe team and that stuff is never offered. The one thing I'm getting from our athletic department is they want the easy money. "Just write us a check" instead of getting creative and driving revenue. Football can't continue to drive everything. Basketball and baseball popularity have enough where they can assist and help carry the load as well.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

It was in the Grading Byrne discussion thread I started.

I mean, what would I have him do??? Learn to recruit a deeper starting rotation, build around your stars, and create visibility for one. You're an SEC program and recruit like a damn JUCO school. You get your talent evaluators and have them work with proven scouts and make sure they align with what is gonna work for your program. Too many ballplayers out there with amazing talent to be a forgotten program in the SEC. We're Alabama for goodness sakes. I have no doubt someone will bring up money which I have already said I don't agree with, but if it is the case you better just be fucking that much better to make it happen. I'd be curious if all 16 teams that made the Supers last year spent more than us. I give a D1 coach making the money these guys make zero excuses for not running a desirable program. A lot of others give grace, but I don't, because when you accept a role you are stating you are going to do what it takes to succeed and a lot of the time we don't see it. Byrne is at fault as well as it's his job to give these coaches thr resources they need to be successful, so the blame falls somewhere or is shared, because I don't think you can look at it and say the program is better off than it was.

I want to add that if a program wants it bad enough, they make it happen. I'll say it again, what has Yea Alabama done outside of the First Pitch Dinner in a damn weekday of all things? I mean, that's high school shit. Justin LeBron could bring in thousands of dollars himself on Meet and Greets and autographs with rhe team and that stuff is never offered. The one thing I'm getting from our athletic department is they want the easy money. "Just write us a check" instead of getting creative and driving revenue. Football can't continue to drive everything. Basketball and baseball popularity have enough where they can assist and help carry the load as well.

Ok. I recall that thread. I don’t know the content of it and I don’t believe I commented on in it. I may go dig it up later.

On the other stuff, I was specifically asking about Byrne since you brought him up in the previous reply. You got around to answering it. Was just curious.

 

[BamaFan334]

Ok. I recall that thread. I don’t know the content of it and I don’t believe I commented on in it. I may go dig it up later.

On the other stuff, I was specifically asking about Byrne since you brought him up in the previous reply. You got around to answering it. Was just curious.

Everything revolves around him. He's the boss. When things don't go well, you gotta look in his direction. I don't have any issues with him, but I personally feel he's a bit arrogant and and falling short of the guys before him. He did extremely well getting Oats, and keeping him will likely be his legacy. DeBoar will be another, obviously. I just don't see why we can't be good at baseball. Reputation as a football school and with the growth in softball and basketball are other pillars to build off of. Stadium renovations have been made, so now you gotta pull out all the stops. I feel fundraising is Byrne's passion and the Crimson Standard was created, but I don't recall hearing jack about that outside of Saban's initial push. Yea Alabama is failing in my eyes and Byrne should absolutely take the blame on that.

By the way, I reached out to Yea Alabama back in December about getting Justin LeBron and/or Audrey VandaGriff to do a camp at our facility. Just heard back from then two weeks ago. Four months after submitting through their website, four months! And that message was "adding XXXX to help you", and have not heard a word from him in the two weeks since that. Pisses me off as a business owner, pisses me off as an alumni, pisses me off as a booster, and pisses me off as a fan.