We won't fire Lemonis, and we shouldn't, but I wish he would just leave

[Todd4State]

You don't think hosting a regional is good? LOL
Some of you have this false reality in your heads about how insanely great MSU baseball has been. We have one title ever. He won it. I'll bust him on recruiting, but that's about it other than Foxhall and his stupid injury policy. That's why I give him a couple years and no big buyout. He can sink or swim with that recruiting.. Next year is total rebuild too.

Most of our issues are because of injuries- not recruiting. This team has a completely different season if Stone Simmons, Dohm, and Pico are healthy all year long. The offense is different with a healthy Highfill and if Kohler is 100%- we're just now seeing him reach his potential. We've also been without Cupp, Loftin, and Grant too.

[Cooterpoot]

Most of our issues are because of injuries- not recruiting. This team has a completely different season if Stone Simmons, Dohm, and Pico are healthy all year long. The offense is different with a healthy Highfill and if Kohler is 100%- we're just now seeing him reach his potential. We've also been without Cupp, Loftin, and Grant too.

Nah, we haven't recruited worth a shit and you'll see it next year in a massive way. Injuries hurt for sure, but recruiting is trash. We don't have many kids left from the last few classes either.

[BeardoMSU]

Nah, we haven't recruited worth a shit and you'll see it next year in a massive way. Injuries hurt for sure, but recruiting is trash. We don't have many kids left from the last few classes either.

Well this is ****ing ominous....

[Todd4State]

Nah, we haven't recruited worth a shit and you'll see it next year in a massive way. Injuries hurt for sure, but recruiting is trash. We don't have many kids left from the last few classes either.

I expect us to hit the portal pretty hard. I'll worry about 2025 if we completely swing and miss in the portal- and no I'm not talking about swinging and missing on whoever this portal season's Braden Montgomery is.

To be honest, I think that's just life in this era of college baseball.

I think if we can get Hardin back that would be nice. I like Nolan Stevens, Luke Dotson, and Bradley Loftin's potential. We should get Makhai Grant back as well. I'm optimistic that Parker can make Gavin Black and Siary better next plus we should get some decent JUCO pitchers plus whatever we can get out of the portal.

We might get Highfill back. I'm not sure if it's at catcher though. I'm sure we'll get a catcher out of the portal.

Our MIF looks strong with Cupp and Pulliam. And that's if Mershon goes pro. If Mershon comes back we can play Pulliam in the OF. Jackson McKenzie and Henry Allen are solid prospects but again I expect us to get corner INF/OF guys out of the portal as well. We get Chance back for the OF. Stevens should take one of the OF spots and we get Rives Reynolds back.

What I described is our worst case scenario and it really doesn't look that bad AS LONG as we do OK in the portal. I mean I went scorched earth on draft prospects and assumed we lost guys like Pico too. And we should have plenty of NIL money freed up losing our seniors and guys like Hines and Dakota. Not to mention we don't look like a dumpster fire anymore which probably helps.

[StateDawg44]

You don't think hosting a regional is good? LOL
Some of you have this false reality in your heads about how insanely great MSU baseball has been. We have one title ever. He won it. I'll bust him on recruiting, but that's about it other than Foxhall and his stupid injury policy. That's why I give him a couple years and no big buyout. He can sink or swim with that recruiting.. Next year is total rebuild too.

Not sure where I said that or even remotely hinted at that. Don?t twist my words.

But he definitely doesn?t deserve an extension for it. Maybe a pat on the back after the previous two years. Why make it harder to fire him next year when he tanks again though. In recruiting, the portal and on the field. I?m not saying we deserve the pick of the litter but he?s got a big overhaul ahead of him.

Some of you can?t grasp how we can still be fans and hope we do well but don?t believe in our head coach. Just like players who he tries to recruit from the portal that have snubbed their nose at him. The exact reason we are in this situation.

Yes injuries have created some problems but injuries happen every year so that?s not something new or unique to our team.

[Pancho]

StateDawg44 with a dose of truth serum about Lemo.

[civildawg]

Just like they also forgot about two Omaha trips and a NC. I agree- it is crazy.

Yeah and which ones have happened more recently? Also let's not act like multiple coaches have taken our program to Omaha recently.

[Brobi-wan]

Lemo will probably get fired next year. I hope I’m wrong, because if I’m right that means we suck again. I have watched almost every game this season. We are just a couple of arms away from being a top ten team. If somebody in the BP can figure it out in the next week or two that will be season changing. See scUM 2022 for reference.

I think the bone some people pick on here is that there’s a couple people who seem like they want Lemo gone more than they want the team to win. I grew up as a state fan. Grand parents went there, mom and dad went there, and I went there. So I know how frustrating it can be and I think that’s what most of us feel about baseball right now. It was the one sport we KNEW we were good at consistently. Not every year, but consistently.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Not sure where I said that or even remotely hinted at that. Don?t twist my words.

But he definitely doesn?t deserve an extension for it. Maybe a pat on the back after the previous two years. Why make it harder to fire him next year when he tanks again though. In recruiting, the portal and on the field. I?m not saying we deserve the pick of the litter but he?s got a big overhaul ahead of him.

Some of you can?t grasp how we can still be fans and hope we do well but don?t believe in our head coach. Just like players who he tries to recruit from the portal that have snubbed their nose at him. The exact reason we are in this situation.

Yes injuries have created some problems but injuries happen every year so that?s not something new or unique to our team.

You have to extend him to 3 years. If you don't it leaves one year on the contract and he can't recruit anyone with one year left on the contract. You may could get by extending it just a year but I imagine it'll be extended to 3 years.

[StateDawg44]

You have to extend him to 3 years. If you don't it leaves one year on the contract and he can't recruit anyone with one year left on the contract. You may could get by extending it just a year but I imagine it'll be extended to 3 years.

Eh... So we get some players and we suck again next year. Who is to say they don't transfer out regardless. With the portal now available and especially with no limit on transfers coming I don't think this means as much.

You think Lemonis' coaching is the main reason some of these players have chosen to come to play for us?

[StateDawg44]

Why is it that TN can lose almost their entire starting lineup back to back years but reload and are top 5 year after year since Vitello has arrived?

They essentially have zero history as a baseball program.

[Santiago]

I expect us to hit the portal pretty hard. I'll worry about 2025 if we completely swing and miss in the portal- and no I'm not talking about swinging and missing on whoever this portal season's Braden Montgomery is.

To be honest, I think that's just life in this era of college baseball.

I think if we can get Hardin back that would be nice. I like Nolan Stevens, Luke Dotson, and Bradley Loftin's potential. We should get Makhai Grant back as well. I'm optimistic that Parker can make Gavin Black and Siary better next plus we should get some decent JUCO pitchers plus whatever we can get out of the portal.

We might get Highfill back. I'm not sure if it's at catcher though. I'm sure we'll get a catcher out of the portal.

Our MIF looks strong with Cupp and Pulliam. And that's if Mershon goes pro. If Mershon comes back we can play Pulliam in the OF. Jackson McKenzie and Henry Allen are solid prospects but again I expect us to get corner INF/OF guys out of the portal as well. We get Chance back for the OF. Stevens should take one of the OF spots and we get Rives Reynolds back.

What I described is our worst case scenario and it really doesn't look that bad AS LONG as we do OK in the portal. I mean I went scorched earth on draft prospects and assumed we lost guys like Pico too. And we should have plenty of NIL money freed up losing our seniors and guys like Hines and Dakota. Not to mention we don't look like a dumpster fire anymore which probably helps.

I am about ready to change the phrase from "Swing and miss" to something about our base running such as "hopefully we try the portal and don't have runners on bases" ***

[Todd4State]

Why is it that TN can lose almost their entire starting lineup back to back years but reload and are top 5 year after year since Vitello has arrived?

They essentially have zero history as a baseball program.

Because of the transfer portal.

[Santiago]

Why is it that TN can lose almost their entire starting lineup back to back years but reload and are top 5 year after year since Vitello has arrived?

They essentially have zero history as a baseball program.

Agree, and TN lost Chase Burns on top of that to Wake.
When I see some saying here "who else lost their top pitcher in the SEC" , well TN did to the portal and are reloading.
Edit: Burns has already broken Wake's single season strikeout record.
Vitello must not have looked back at TN's last 25 years and explained to the fans not to expect too much.***

[Todd4State]

Eh... So we get some players and we suck again next year. Who is to say they don't transfer out regardless. With the portal now available and especially with no limit on transfers coming I don't think this means as much.

You think Lemonis' coaching is the main reason some of these players have chosen to come to play for us?

It's definitely part of it. Maybe the assistants moreso than Lemonis. Most of our guys have multiple SEC opportunities.

[GoDawgz]

This years team's bullpen doesn't have the quality depth it takes to make a run in a regional, super....
Mess up and lose 1st or 2nd game and they are in trouble.

[Todd4State]

Yeah and which ones have happened more recently? Also let's not act like multiple coaches have taken our program to Omaha recently.

Well the most recent is a good season. Which makes the case that I was right about Foxhall being the major problem.

[CaptainObvious]

Because of the transfer portal.

So zero baseball history for Tennessee vs State's Baseball history means Tennessee's coach is a better HS AND Portal recruiter then State's coach!

Your Honor, The State Rests!

[Todd4State]

Not sure where I said that or even remotely hinted at that. Don?t twist my words.

But he definitely doesn?t deserve an extension for it. Maybe a pat on the back after the previous two years. Why make it harder to fire him next year when he tanks again though. In recruiting, the portal and on the field. I?m not saying we deserve the pick of the litter but he?s got a big overhaul ahead of him.

Some of you can?t grasp how we can still be fans and hope we do well but don?t believe in our head coach. Just like players who he tries to recruit from the portal that have snubbed their nose at him. The exact reason we are in this situation.

Yes injuries have created some problems but injuries happen every year so that?s not something new or unique to our team.

We can extend him and not give him a ridiculous buyout. We're not run by Larry Templeton anymore.

Losing your ace, closer, starting catcher, opening day shortstop and having to deal with other key guys like Pico recovering is what I would consider a lot more than a typical team injury wise.

[StateDawg44]

It's definitely part of it. Maybe the assistants moreso than Lemonis. Most of our guys have multiple SEC opportunities.

The point is a good coach who knows what he is doing will evaluate where the needs are and will take advantage of the portal and fill the gaps and be back just as strong next year without batting an eye. Build depth and develop. Can you say he's done this?

Our fans are just hoping he can pull a miracle out of his ass next year. Meanwhile, other fanbases of the current top teams have full confidence that their coaches will make the right moves. Even if they lose half the pitching staff or majority of their offensive production.

We haven't had a 3rd basemen for 3 years now. Kohler is just now beginning to show a sign of a pulse. Certainly not enough to tip the cap to Lemonis yet.

We don't have a bit of depth on the bench that can pinch-hit. Next year our fans will say, "They need some time to adjust to SEC pitching". By that point, it's too late.

He hasn't proven that he can contend with a lot of teams now that basically everyone has opened their eyes and are fully invested.

It's not going to change until we make a change and make a solid hire.