2025 NCAA Baseball Portal Thread

[StarkVegasSteve]

There is something up with that. That's not normal.

You just have to wonder if the way they have recruited is finally catching up to them, in terms of numbers. I mean they had 29 pitchers on their roster this year and recruited 10 from the HS ranks. That's not including anything they bring in from the portal. When you recruit as well as Tennessee does, eventually a log jam is going to happen. Add in to that there's only so many innings to go around and so many starters and you have this type of attrition.

[basedog]

I never thought Ace would leave after he signed his NIL deal before the House bill passed. He and his agent are smart.

Yep, something is wrong at Tn.

[Coursesuper]

You just have to wonder if the way they have recruited is finally catching up to them, in terms of numbers. I mean they had 29 pitchers on their roster this year and recruited 10 from the HS ranks. That's not including anything they bring in from the portal. When you recruit as well as Tennessee does, eventually a log jam is going to happen. Add in to that there's only so many innings to go around and so many starters and you have this type of attrition.

The portal is not as simple as many believe. Yes, it is a quick fix for brining in talent, but you must bring in talent that fits your system and fits with the type players that you have on the current roster. On bad apple can ruin the pie so recruiting the right guy for you is important.

[ZedFedder]

Vitello is the kind of guy who can have really high highs but low lows. He encourages his players to be arrogant and disrespectful. The only problem is that goes both ways. You teach guys to engrave that into who they are, but they are also going to have that same personality towards their coaches eventually.

[Coach34]

The number of pitchers Tennessee has had hit the portal is shocking. I think I've seen it's around 20.

I saw the other day they had over 50 guys in the baseball program this Spring. That's crazy.

[basedog]

Vitello is the kind of guy who can have really high highs but low lows. He encourages his players to be arrogant and disrespectful. The only problem is that goes both ways. You teach guys to engrave that into who they are, but they are also going to have that same personality towards their coaches eventually.

Yep

[BrunswickDawg]

There is something up with that. That's not normal.

Why should anyone be shocked. His ways and attitude will eventually wear thin and cause a lot of friction. Chase Burns leaving and going to Wake a couple of years ago was a red flag to me.
I kind of look at Vitello as a Billy Martin type - winner. hard charging, scrapping and clawing to always win, but those demons are going to cause teams to blow up.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Vitello is the kind of guy who can have really high highs but low lows. He encourages his players to be arrogant and disrespectful. The only problem is that goes both ways. You teach guys to engrave that into who they are, but they are also going to have that same personality towards their coaches eventually.

But to Tony's credit, when your low lows are a Super Regional then people don't care too much. I mean this guy has been on an incredible run the last 5 years.

257-81(.761) with a national championship, 3 CWS appearances, and 2 Supers. Like that's ELITE. We may hate the guy but make no mistake, he can recruit and motivate as good as anyone in America at hte moment.

[Todd4State]

You just have to wonder if the way they have recruited is finally catching up to them, in terms of numbers. I mean they had 29 pitchers on their roster this year and recruited 10 from the HS ranks. That's not including anything they bring in from the portal. When you recruit as well as Tennessee does, eventually a log jam is going to happen. Add in to that there's only so many innings to go around and so many starters and you have this type of attrition.

That's true but in theory there are going to be innings for several guys. Losing guys like Burns and Loy is a red flag.

And it's not like this is a coaching change situation.

[ZedFedder]

But to Tony's credit, when your low lows are a Super Regional then people don't care too much. I mean this guy has been on an incredible run the last 5 years.

257-81(.761) with a national championship, 3 CWS appearances, and 2 Supers. Like that's ELITE. We may hate the guy but make no mistake, he can recruit and motivate as good as anyone in America at hte moment.

I don?t disagree. I am interested in how the next couple of years play out.

[Todd4State]

Why should anyone be shocked. His ways and attitude will eventually wear thin and cause a lot of friction. Chase Burns leaving and going to Wake a couple of years ago was a red flag to me.
I kind of look at Vitello as a Billy Martin type - winner. hard charging, scrapping and clawing to always win, but those demons are going to cause teams to blow up.

It has felt like a powder keg for years there. I'm surprised that no one has gotten into a brawl with them.

I just have to wonder if it's on the verge of exploding at some point in several different ways.

[AlSwearengen]

It has felt like a powder keg for years there. I'm surprised that no one has gotten into a brawl with them.

I just have to wonder if it's on the verge of exploding at some point in several different ways.

Ark/Tenn have had an ongoing drama since Vitello left for Tenn. After this season’s episode, I paid a little attention to press conferences, interviews, and online fan chatter. I didn’t think it before, but now I believe that if DVH retired today, Vitello very well might leave for Ark. You get a vibe that fans are tired of DVH not getting it done and you get more than a vibe that they want Vitello. Add in that Vitello was being nostalgic about Ark in a press conference and if I were Tenn, I’d be a little nervous. Of course, things could change between now and when DVH retires, but right now, things with Tenn and Vitello feel a little wonky.

[The Federalist Engineer]

The Portal is not over:

"Once they're in, they can take visits, talk to coaches, and commit even after the window closes. The deadline is just for entering, not committing."

So in 11-12 days, all the drafted guys can be replaced with other portal kids. With pitchers, still plenty of dudes. If Arroyo and Godbout don't like their draft position, they can take their talents to Starkville.

[Todd4State]

Ark/Tenn have had an ongoing drama since Vitello left for Tenn. After this season’s episode, I paid a little attention to press conferences, interviews, and online fan chatter. I didn’t think it before, but now I believe that if DVH retired today, Vitello very well might leave for Ark. You get a vibe that fans are tired of DVH not getting it done and you get more than a vibe that they want Vitello. Add in that Vitello was being nostalgic about Ark in a press conference and if I were Tenn, I’d be a little nervous. Of course, things could change between now and when DVH retires, but right now, things with Tenn and Vitello feel a little wonky.

I agree 100%. They are desperate for a National Championship and it just doesn't seem like it's going to happen for Van Horn. And I think Arkansas would pay him and I think there is very good chance that they keep Hobbs with Vitello. They have the money and commitment in baseball to pay Vitello as well.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Ark/Tenn have had an ongoing drama since Vitello left for Tenn. After this season?s episode, I paid a little attention to press conferences, interviews, and online fan chatter. I didn?t think it before, but now I believe that if DVH retired today, Vitello very well might leave for Ark. You get a vibe that fans are tired of DVH not getting it done and you get more than a vibe that they want Vitello. Add in that Vitello was being nostalgic about Ark in a press conference and if I were Tenn, I?d be a little nervous. Of course, things could change between now and when DVH retires, but right now, things with Tenn and Vitello feel a little wonky.

It will be very interesting to see what happens when DVH hangs it up. That's been one of the 2-3 jobs that people have thought Vitello might leave for. However, with how much Tennessee has put into baseball, it will be very interesting to see how that changes things.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Jacob Pruitt has entered the portal. Not really a shock there. I know O'Connor told him his NIL package would be very minimal so it's probably for the best. He just never regained the form he had at Indiana St. We also had to overpay because of losing the UK pitcher to the draft last year.

[Coursesuper]

Jacob Pruitt has entered the portal. Not really a shock there. I know O'Connor told him his NIL package would be very minimal so it's probably for the best. He just never regained the form he had at Indiana St. We also had to overpay because of losing the UK pitcher to the draft last year.

Roster spots are gong to be at a premium and very competitive, best to be upfront about everything now rater than later.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Jacob Pruitt has entered the portal. Not really a shock there. I know O'Connor told him his NIL package would be very minimal so it's probably for the best. He just never regained the form he had at Indiana St. We also had to overpay because of losing the UK pitcher to the draft last year.

Only 2 SEC innings and a +7 ERA in 16 midweek innings. Walks, Wild Pitches, Hit Bats Men, and 3-2 counts.

The team was factoring him for a big role. So he was given much opportunity. He could turn good in a small school next season, he was a good, reliable arm for Indiana State.

[confucius say]

Jacob Pruitt has entered the portal. Not really a shock there. I know O'Connor told him his NIL package would be very minimal so it's probably for the best. He just never regained the form he had at Indiana St. We also had to overpay because of losing the UK pitcher to the draft last year.

Best for him and us probably.

Also, all the "zero loyalty" people get quiet when it is us leaving a player instead of a player leaving us.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Best for him and us probably.

Also, all the "zero loyalty" people get quiet when it is us leaving a player instead of a player leaving us.

Yep. Weird how that happens.