April 22, 2025 • 19 mins
Darren Headrick talks with Kentucky Baseball Coach Nick Mingione. Listen starting at 7:30pm ET.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello everybody, and welcome into the Nick Menjeones Show here
on the UK Sports Network. I'm Darren Hedrick with you,
and over the next half hour we'll chat with the
head coach about an exciting week for Kentucky baseball.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The team went three to one with.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
That walk off victory over the Miami RedHawks out of
the MAC on Tuesday night, and then they got that
series win against Tennessee down in Knoxville. And whether you
look at one poll that says Tennessee was number two
or another that says they were number four, the Cats
collected their first top five series win on the road
since twenty fifteen, when they took two to three against
(00:35):
the Florida Gators. Meanwhile, the Wildcats also got their first
series win in Knoxville since two and sixteen. Pitching was
the story this weekend. Ben Cleaver nick McKay both outstanding
in their starts, going seven innings each. The bullpen was
lights out, Kentucky only needed to use seven pitchers. Meanwhile,
(00:56):
the Wildcats stole bases left and right on the Tennessee defense,
going sixteen for eighteen in Pilford bags. We'll talk about
all of that with head coach Nick Minjeon coming up.
This is the Nick Minjeon Show here on the UK
Sports Network. Welcome back into the Nickmnjeon Show here on
the UK Sports Network as the Coach slides in alongside
us and coming off a three to one week that
(01:17):
included a series win in Knoxville over a number two
or number four Tennessee team depending on what poll you
look at, but still a top five series win on
the road for the Wildcats this weekend and Coach, the
week started. The tone was set with a walk off
against Miami of Ohio and your team rolled to three victories.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Yeah, that was a fun game, and quite frankly, it
seems like two weeks ago. You know, I think the
older I get and being in the league for nineteen years,
these weekends they start to take some stuff out of you,
but still have a lot of energy and still excited.
But at the same time, you know, that game I
thought was one where we just grinded it out and
it was going to take a walk off.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Bunt to get it done.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
And you know, we talk all the time about doing
whatever it takes to win and give the guys credit.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
You know, that carried right over.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Into the weekend, and you know, although Friday night we
didn't get the result we wanted. I just thought I
explained to the team how we are three plays away
from that game going in our favor, and there's times
where you lose games and that's not the case.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
So let's just be really clear. And this is not
coach min Gione looking at things through these.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
You know, goggles eyes, you know, but literally it was
three plays away from us winning on Friday.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
But I thought the job that Nick.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
McKay did, I mean, he just magnificent outing where he
inserted his dominance.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
No question, and real quick.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Circling back to the walkoff bun against Miami, it's the
second time you've won a game on a walk off
bunt Texas in the fifteen innings when they threw it
down the line and you were able to score. But
that just goes back to when you play that aggressive style,
it's get the ball and play.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Something good's going to happen.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah, you know, I think if you even look at
what our padding average is when we put the ball
in play, especially with two strikes, you'd be amazed.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
It's pretty amazing.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
And when we're at our best, we have guys that
step in that box and they just compete at the
highest level and they refuse to just strike out with
just like week at bats, right, and we're going to
have some of those, but when we're at our best,
we're doing whatever it takes. And I give coach Loan,
Coach Gouzi, and then of course the players a lot
(03:28):
of credit for executing a lot of different things this
weekend against a really good Tennessee team. And that's what
it was going to take to win a series on
the road from an offensive standpoint, no question.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
And we'll get into some individual performances coming up throughout
the show, but overall, the pitching staff to hold that
offense in that ballpark to a one eighty nine average,
you struck out thirty one, You limited the walks across
twenty seven innings, and only four home runs allowed, including
one over the last eighteen INNX just speaks to the
incredible job this group did. Yeah, you know, my heart
(03:59):
is pitching and defense, and we did both of those
at an extremely extremely high level against a really good team.
And you know, I just thought that when you just
look at the weekend, the job our starting pitching did
that set us up because Nate Harris the job that
he did, and then I thought the job that Hogan
did on the back end Friday allowed us to only
(04:21):
use three guys on Friday. Well, then on Saturday we
used to and Sunday we used to why because of
the job that Nick McKay did and Ben Cleaver.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
So the starting pitching was just phenomenal. And when you
can do that and you're not having to use guys
multiple times on a weekend, you know, that is just
it's what you want. It's setting your team up for success.
Now for our starters to do the job they did
against that offense in that ballpark under those conditions, I mean,
who tip your cap to Nate, Nick and Ben.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
No question, coach, they were magnificent. They were fun to watch.
And you mentioned Robert Hogan. How fun was it to
see him get out there and give you mo multiple
innings only allowing.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
One run and relief.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Yeah, you know, I complimented him after the game to
the team as well, because we needed that.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
We needed that.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
And when you can do that and you can rest
your bullpen and have those guys locked and loaded, we
had so many options on Saturday, Sunday and we had
some really good arms not throw, and that's a good thing.
So Hogi being able to do that and getting back
to his old self was definitely.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Something that we needed to see and happy for him.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
He was such a big part of last year's team,
and like you mentioned, seeing him get back to his
old self this weekend. And then you look at the
job that Simon Gregorson has done in his outings in
the month of April.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Those two guys, when they get to that, like we
call them their old selves.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
When they get to that point, this is the dynamic
of this bullpen completely changes for Kentucky.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
It changes it because obviously we threw Evan this weekend.
He's been so good for us and Jackson. What a
job Jackson did on Saturday. And then when now you
put in you know nov I mean, Hogi and Simo right,
how good Simo's doing I mean, And then obviously we've
had Cole Henchel still in the ball grade now Adkoch,
(06:10):
I mean, we have so many other guys and weapons
that we can use. So when those guys are good,
and not only are they good, they're good for multiple innings.
When you start having guys be able to roll out
there for an inning or two, or three or four.
That helps you know. Simon did that the weekend before
through four innings for us in relief. When they can
(06:31):
start doing that now, they're making not only themselves, they're
making everyone else better.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Let's go ahead and get to our first time out
here on the nickmnjeone Show.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
We'll talk more pitching.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
We'll also look at the offense and the way they
performed against a really tough pitching staff down there in Knoxville.
We'll also look ahead this week with Kentucky hosting Louisville
and South Carolina at Kentucky Proud Park. This is the
nickmnjione Show here on the UK Sports Network. Kentucky pitching
was just fantastic over the weekend in Knoxville. Phenomenal, spectacular,
whatever av you'd love to use, and it was a
(07:02):
symphony on the mound a few times watching Ben Cleaver
and Nick McKay work and there starts both going seven
innings or longer this weekend against Tennessee and coach from
the dugout, and I know you're in tune with what
Dan Roselle and the batteries trying to do out there
on the field. But just from your perspective, how much
did you enjoy watching the synergy of the pitch calls
(07:25):
in the way Devon was working with in conjunction with
whoever was on the mound. Yeah, I love that word synergy.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
And soon one said that synergy is one plus one
equals three, and.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
It's like, well, how's that possible? And they use a
horse example.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I said, if one horse can pull a carriage that
pulls five hundred pounds, and then another horse can pull
a carriage that pulls five hundred pounds, But then if
you put them together, you would think they pull one
thousand pounds, Well, they can pull two thousand pounds.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
How's that possible.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
It's like when they're working together in two or more
is greater than one.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
And that's what we had.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
We had not only a pitching staff, a catcher, a coach.
We had a defense that was just locked in and engage,
that made play after play and it.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Was a beautiful thing to see.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
And you know, I complimented coach Roseell in front of
the team on Sunday because of the job that he did.
I thought he just called a fantastic three games. And
you know, of course he did what he always does,
and he deflects it and he says, well, it was
a lot easier to do that because the pitchers were executing.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
I felt like we could do whatever.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
We wanted at times, and you know, so congrats to
those guys. It just it was going to take a
total team effort in that ballpark that produces a massive
amount of runs.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
I know you and I have talked about Coach Roseell
in the past and the passion that he coaches with.
And I think one of my favorite things coach is,
even though he's in the dugout working the pitch calls,
he's on the mound in spirit with his pitchers. Like
if you just watch him in the game, like every
once in a while, you can see his shoulder flinch
like he's pitching with him.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
That's what makes it so fun to see him while
with his guys.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Oh yeah, and his care and how much he cares.
I mean, he spends hours and videos hours trying to
make our guys better, like hours studying, and you know,
to have weekends like that and some of the weekends
we've had here late is just so rewarding and you
just love to see it for him because of how
(09:21):
hard he works. And you know, we've had guys like
Trevor Fitz and Logan Sale have been huge too, you know.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
So just I've done a lot of things wrong in
my career.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
And a lot of things I've done right, and I've
hired some amazing people, and Dan Roselle and Trevor and
Logan are definitely some of the ones that I've done
well with.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Well, coach, I feel like we've stalled long enough.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Let's talk about Ben Cleaver and Nick McKay specifically. Just
what did you see what was working so well for
those guys on the mound this weekend.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
The first thing I'll start with Nick is the way
he carried himself. He was a guy on a mission
and you can see it. He was a guy that
believed in every pitch that he was throwing. And when
he fell behind, he didn't panic, he wasn't rattled. He
got right back in the account, and he did it
multiple ways. He got back inn account with his fastball,
he got back in an account with his change up,
(10:11):
he got back in an account with his cutter. He
just did a lot of things and his energy, I mean,
they got the positional players were like man, Nick, that
was awesome. You looking at us like you were hyping
us up.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
And a lot of times, you know, it kind of
goes the other way.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
It's like the position players are, you know, over there,
like on defense, like they're.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Hyping those guys.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
But Nick, even in the dugout Darren, the way he
walked off the field, the way he was in between batters,
and even in a dugout, his voice, his presence, it
was a sight to see. And I just was smiling
on the outside and on the inside just watching a
guy could beat and I'm walking out and take him
out and he is not happy, and I loved it.
Let me be really clear, he did not want out
(10:51):
of that game. But he gave us everything he had
and he believes he had more and I love that.
But boy was his presence, his dominance. He was masterful
in every sense of the word.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
And then with Ben Cleever and I feel like this
was the same with Nick McKay watching from the radio
booth in the press box. A compliment to their fastball
because it looked like Tennessee had a really hard time
seeing their breaking pitches this weekend. Yeah, and you know,
because the fastball was so good that you had to
respect that that it got them off the off speed
and then when they were on the off speed, coach
(11:25):
Rozelle just called the right pitch and they executed the
next one, and then they were off the fastball and
then it was just a back and forth seesaw battle.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
But those guys, they're just whoo. Ben's competitiveness is just
something to see. And you know, just thinking back, you
know the last time we were there, you're a good buddy,
and my good buddy, Darren Williams he shut him out
in that ballpark on that Sunday game. I don't know
if you remember that, but I.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Do, because he walked like eight guys.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
But at least day, I mean at least date, it
was like they had all their chances and Dub made
the pens and then he made another pitch and man
another pitch, and we didn't walk as many guys this weekend,
but they just.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Made pitch after pitch and it just reminded me of
Darren's outing. It was just guys in the pitching staff
just making pitch after pitch and it was fun to see, let's.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Go ahead and take our final time out.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
We'll talk about the offense when we come back as
Kentucky gets ready to host Louisville tomorrow night at six
thirty here at Kentucky Proud Park. This is the nickman
Gione Show on the UK Sports Network. Well, the Wildcats
certainly got great pitching this past weekend and the series
win over Tennessee. But coach, your offense was able to
produce runs against the staff.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
That's very stingy with base runners.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
But you made the most of your chances when you
got guys in scoring opportunities.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Yeah, I just there's so many guys as you just
go around the field. I thought Devn's home run Friday
night was big. I thought the James played well at
first on Friday. And then Hudson was fantastic at first base.
I mean he had RBIs, he had doubles. He I mean,
he was great. Thought Luke Lawrence was super competitive and
he was sick, you know yesterday and not feeling well
(13:00):
and just competing his heart out. And then how about
the job Tyler Bell just putting him, inserting him at
the lead off spot.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
I thought paid huge devidence.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Pat Herrera just phenomenal again on both sides of the ball.
I mean just continues to have quality at Bad after
quality at Bad.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
And then man, let's go around the outfield. You know,
when you think about Caius, how about Caius? Yeah, I
mean let him.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Play the outfield and he made his plays and random ball,
Carson Hansen gave us good at bats, got us a
huge got a huge inning going yesterday. And then let's
talk about Ryan Schwartz. I mean, how about that guy?
You know, I was so happy for him. You know,
anytime you wait your turn and you just stay ready,
and it's one thing to prepare and then it's another
(13:45):
thing to get your opportunity, and then it's a whole
other thing to take advantage of it.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
And he did that, you know.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
And Trevor fitz and I were talking today and he's like, Coach,
when's the first time, like you put a guy in
and get his first SEC hit like six weeks in
And I go.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Well, hold on, what about Hunter?
Speaker 3 (14:00):
So we looked it up there and the last time
that I can remember was twenty eleven. Hunter renfro our
future first round draft pick, did it in May Wow
at Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
We went back to the archives.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
It was like, that's the last time I can remember
Ryan Schwartz. Maybe he's onto something here who came in
and as a catcher, is playing some outfield and you
know Ryan. I give Ryan a lot of credit because
he'll do whatever he can help the team. And he
stayed ready and boy was it fun to see. And
another cool thing I just said, Man, I was so
happy for he goes coach. This was the one road
series my parents were able to make and they saw
(14:36):
every game, which is another cool thing.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
So proud of those guys. That's incredible.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
And staying on the topic of Ryan Schwartz, we had
him on the pregame and he kind of talked to
us a little bit about his journey to Lexington. It
had some twists and turns to it, some commitments and
d commitments. But I just wanted to bring that up
to you because it underscores the importance when you guys
are out there recruiting and all the relationship building. Because
Ryan ended up coming back to Lexington and he's excited
(15:01):
to be here.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Yeah, and I thought coach Cousey did such a good
job recruiting him, you know the first time, and then
he committed to a school and then there was a
coaching change. So a lot of times when that happens,
players de commit and the relationship building was crucial in him.
And so when it opened back up, it was like
we were able to get back in there, and that
was good to see.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
And you know, another guy I thought.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
That gave us great at bats was Dylan Coons, you know,
just gave us a bat.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
After at bat.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
I mean he I think he had four quality at
bats on Saturday, laid down a great bun on Sunday,
was competitive and that was good to see. And then
you know what about Griff coming in off the bench
and making plays defensively, had a huge hit yesterday. Montoya
played a role coming off the bench. I mean, so
it was good to see that we used a lot
of different guys and they took advantage of the opportunities
(15:47):
that they had.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Stolen bases run Cat's run would have been a great
phrase this weekend. Sixteen stolen bases on eighteen of TIMS.
You guys were just out there creating all kinds of havoc.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
Yeah. I told coach Sloan last night and I was like, man,
and we didn't wait around like he did his homework
first pitch.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
It didn't matter the different counts. We knew when we
wanted to run, and he.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Did his homework and we guessed right a lot of times.
And give the players credit. They were able to execute it.
And we knew that going in. We knew that going
in and that was going to be a huge piece.
So give our players credit. You know, a lot of
a lot of this year. You've heard me speak about executing,
and we did that at an extremely, extremely high level.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
You got a lot of plus speed in this slanteup.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
But Patrick Carrera was four for five on stolen base attempts.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Patty was on. I mean, I was like Patty, he
kept coming about that. How was awesome?
Speaker 3 (16:37):
That was great, Joe, good job, he's you know, he
just kept going and happy to see him.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
And you know, I think when you think about.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Pat Herrera and his game and how far it's come,
he has just made himself into an above average player
on a defensive side with his glove work, his arm strength. Offensively,
the at bats now there stolen bases, he can really bunt.
He's just done a lot of things and it's been
fun to watch his improvement over the years.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
We have talked about his play defensively and at the plate.
But what about the leadership that he has provided on
the team this year, kind of becoming one of those
vocal guys for the team.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Yeah, he's been great and it's what you would want
from your seniors, you know. And he's a guy that
the players can respect because of how hard he works.
He has an unbelievable sense of humor, Darren, like he
had I mean Saturday night after right before curfew, he
had Kristin and I just I mean, I's been overlaughing.
(17:34):
I mean his sense of humor. He has comedic timing.
And you know, I also want to compliment Ethan Hindle.
You know, there's a guy who gets unfortunate news, you know,
won't be playing.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
The rest of the year.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
And he just inserted himself in that dugout and made
his presence felt. And Trevor fitz is the greatest dugout
guy that I've ever been around. He can rally and
generate troops, and he gave those guys some ideas and
the dugout took it and ran with it.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
And I just loved Will Marcy.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
You know, we talk to the guys all the time
that they're responsible for two things. How they play and
how they helped the team outside of how and when
they're playing, and Hindel and Marcy were unbelievable and even
the guys that came out of the game off the bench,
James McCoy was a phenomenal teammate all weekend long. We
had so many guys that were Hayden Smith and I
don't want to get in and mentioning too many names
(18:26):
because I'll forget people, but man, unbelievable teammates that wanted
to do whatever they could to can help Kentucky win.
And it starts with the leadership that Pad and Devin
and some of these Novy and buyers have displayed over
the years.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Coach, a big week coming up for this team, a
chance to grab some victories at home, starting with Louisville
tomorrow night. We're looking forward to it and thanks as always,
it's fun to do these shows with you, and we'll
talk to you next week.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Come out and see us this week, gokats, It's Kentucky
and Louisville tomorrow night, six point thirty at Kentucky Proud Park.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
Will be on the air at six fifteen. Hope to
see everybody at KPP. This this has been the nickmme
Geon Show in the UK Sports network
Hello everybody, and welcome into the Nick Menjeones Show here
on the UK Sports Network. I'm Darren Hedrick with you,
and over the next half hour we'll chat with the
head coach about an exciting week for Kentucky baseball.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The team went three to one with.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
That walk off victory over the Miami RedHawks out of
the MAC on Tuesday night, and then they got that
series win against Tennessee down in Knoxville. And whether you
look at one poll that says Tennessee was number two
or another that says they were number four, the Cats
collected their first top five series win on the road
since twenty fifteen, when they took two to three against
(00:35):
the Florida Gators. Meanwhile, the Wildcats also got their first
series win in Knoxville since two and sixteen. Pitching was
the story this weekend. Ben Cleaver nick McKay both outstanding
in their starts, going seven innings each. The bullpen was
lights out, Kentucky only needed to use seven pitchers. Meanwhile,
(00:56):
the Wildcats stole bases left and right on the Tennessee defense,
going sixteen for eighteen in Pilford bags. We'll talk about
all of that with head coach Nick Minjeon coming up.
This is the Nick Minjeon Show here on the UK
Sports Network. Welcome back into the Nickmnjeon Show here on
the UK Sports Network as the Coach slides in alongside
us and coming off a three to one week that
(01:17):
included a series win in Knoxville over a number two
or number four Tennessee team depending on what poll you
look at, but still a top five series win on
the road for the Wildcats this weekend and Coach, the
week started. The tone was set with a walk off
against Miami of Ohio and your team rolled to three victories.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Yeah, that was a fun game, and quite frankly, it
seems like two weeks ago. You know, I think the
older I get and being in the league for nineteen years,
these weekends they start to take some stuff out of you,
but still have a lot of energy and still excited.
But at the same time, you know, that game I
thought was one where we just grinded it out and
it was going to take a walk off.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Bunt to get it done.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
And you know, we talk all the time about doing
whatever it takes to win and give the guys credit.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
You know, that carried right over.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Into the weekend, and you know, although Friday night we
didn't get the result we wanted. I just thought I
explained to the team how we are three plays away
from that game going in our favor, and there's times
where you lose games and that's not the case.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
So let's just be really clear. And this is not
coach min Gione looking at things through these.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
You know, goggles eyes, you know, but literally it was
three plays away from us winning on Friday.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
But I thought the job that Nick.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
McKay did, I mean, he just magnificent outing where he
inserted his dominance.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
No question, and real quick.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Circling back to the walkoff bun against Miami, it's the
second time you've won a game on a walk off
bunt Texas in the fifteen innings when they threw it
down the line and you were able to score. But
that just goes back to when you play that aggressive style,
it's get the ball and play.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Something good's going to happen.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah, you know, I think if you even look at
what our padding average is when we put the ball
in play, especially with two strikes, you'd be amazed.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
It's pretty amazing.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
And when we're at our best, we have guys that
step in that box and they just compete at the
highest level and they refuse to just strike out with
just like week at bats, right, and we're going to
have some of those, but when we're at our best,
we're doing whatever it takes. And I give coach Loan,
Coach Gouzi, and then of course the players a lot
(03:28):
of credit for executing a lot of different things this
weekend against a really good Tennessee team. And that's what
it was going to take to win a series on
the road from an offensive standpoint, no question.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
And we'll get into some individual performances coming up throughout
the show, but overall, the pitching staff to hold that
offense in that ballpark to a one eighty nine average,
you struck out thirty one, You limited the walks across
twenty seven innings, and only four home runs allowed, including
one over the last eighteen INNX just speaks to the
incredible job this group did. Yeah, you know, my heart
(03:59):
is pitching and defense, and we did both of those
at an extremely extremely high level against a really good team.
And you know, I just thought that when you just
look at the weekend, the job our starting pitching did
that set us up because Nate Harris the job that
he did, and then I thought the job that Hogan
did on the back end Friday allowed us to only
(04:21):
use three guys on Friday. Well, then on Saturday we
used to and Sunday we used to why because of
the job that Nick McKay did and Ben Cleaver.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
So the starting pitching was just phenomenal. And when you
can do that and you're not having to use guys
multiple times on a weekend, you know, that is just
it's what you want. It's setting your team up for success.
Now for our starters to do the job they did
against that offense in that ballpark under those conditions, I mean,
who tip your cap to Nate, Nick and Ben.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
No question, coach, they were magnificent. They were fun to watch.
And you mentioned Robert Hogan. How fun was it to
see him get out there and give you mo multiple
innings only allowing.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
One run and relief.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Yeah, you know, I complimented him after the game to
the team as well, because we needed that.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
We needed that.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
And when you can do that and you can rest
your bullpen and have those guys locked and loaded, we
had so many options on Saturday, Sunday and we had
some really good arms not throw, and that's a good thing.
So Hogi being able to do that and getting back
to his old self was definitely.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Something that we needed to see and happy for him.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
He was such a big part of last year's team,
and like you mentioned, seeing him get back to his
old self this weekend. And then you look at the
job that Simon Gregorson has done in his outings in
the month of April.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Those two guys, when they get to that, like we
call them their old selves.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
When they get to that point, this is the dynamic
of this bullpen completely changes for Kentucky.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
It changes it because obviously we threw Evan this weekend.
He's been so good for us and Jackson. What a
job Jackson did on Saturday. And then when now you
put in you know nov I mean, Hogi and Simo right,
how good Simo's doing I mean, And then obviously we've
had Cole Henchel still in the ball grade now Adkoch,
(06:10):
I mean, we have so many other guys and weapons
that we can use. So when those guys are good,
and not only are they good, they're good for multiple innings.
When you start having guys be able to roll out
there for an inning or two, or three or four.
That helps you know. Simon did that the weekend before
through four innings for us in relief. When they can
(06:31):
start doing that now, they're making not only themselves, they're
making everyone else better.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Let's go ahead and get to our first time out
here on the nickmnjeone Show.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
We'll talk more pitching.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
We'll also look at the offense and the way they
performed against a really tough pitching staff down there in Knoxville.
We'll also look ahead this week with Kentucky hosting Louisville
and South Carolina at Kentucky Proud Park. This is the
nickmnjione Show here on the UK Sports Network. Kentucky pitching
was just fantastic over the weekend in Knoxville. Phenomenal, spectacular,
whatever av you'd love to use, and it was a
(07:02):
symphony on the mound a few times watching Ben Cleaver
and Nick McKay work and there starts both going seven
innings or longer this weekend against Tennessee and coach from
the dugout, and I know you're in tune with what
Dan Roselle and the batteries trying to do out there
on the field. But just from your perspective, how much
did you enjoy watching the synergy of the pitch calls
(07:25):
in the way Devon was working with in conjunction with
whoever was on the mound. Yeah, I love that word synergy.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
And soon one said that synergy is one plus one
equals three, and.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
It's like, well, how's that possible? And they use a
horse example.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I said, if one horse can pull a carriage that
pulls five hundred pounds, and then another horse can pull
a carriage that pulls five hundred pounds, But then if
you put them together, you would think they pull one
thousand pounds, Well, they can pull two thousand pounds.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
How's that possible.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
It's like when they're working together in two or more
is greater than one.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
And that's what we had.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
We had not only a pitching staff, a catcher, a coach.
We had a defense that was just locked in and engage,
that made play after play and it.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Was a beautiful thing to see.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
And you know, I complimented coach Roseell in front of
the team on Sunday because of the job that he did.
I thought he just called a fantastic three games. And
you know, of course he did what he always does,
and he deflects it and he says, well, it was
a lot easier to do that because the pitchers were executing.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
I felt like we could do whatever.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
We wanted at times, and you know, so congrats to
those guys. It just it was going to take a
total team effort in that ballpark that produces a massive
amount of runs.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
I know you and I have talked about Coach Roseell
in the past and the passion that he coaches with.
And I think one of my favorite things coach is,
even though he's in the dugout working the pitch calls,
he's on the mound in spirit with his pitchers. Like
if you just watch him in the game, like every
once in a while, you can see his shoulder flinch
like he's pitching with him.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
That's what makes it so fun to see him while
with his guys.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Oh yeah, and his care and how much he cares.
I mean, he spends hours and videos hours trying to
make our guys better, like hours studying, and you know,
to have weekends like that and some of the weekends
we've had here late is just so rewarding and you
just love to see it for him because of how
(09:21):
hard he works. And you know, we've had guys like
Trevor Fitz and Logan Sale have been huge too, you know.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
So just I've done a lot of things wrong in
my career.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
And a lot of things I've done right, and I've
hired some amazing people, and Dan Roselle and Trevor and
Logan are definitely some of the ones that I've done
well with.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Well, coach, I feel like we've stalled long enough.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Let's talk about Ben Cleaver and Nick McKay specifically. Just
what did you see what was working so well for
those guys on the mound this weekend.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
The first thing I'll start with Nick is the way
he carried himself. He was a guy on a mission
and you can see it. He was a guy that
believed in every pitch that he was throwing. And when
he fell behind, he didn't panic, he wasn't rattled. He
got right back in the account, and he did it
multiple ways. He got back inn account with his fastball,
he got back in an account with his change up,
(10:11):
he got back in an account with his cutter. He
just did a lot of things and his energy, I mean,
they got the positional players were like man, Nick, that
was awesome. You looking at us like you were hyping
us up.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
And a lot of times, you know, it kind of
goes the other way.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
It's like the position players are, you know, over there,
like on defense, like they're.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Hyping those guys.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
But Nick, even in the dugout Darren, the way he
walked off the field, the way he was in between batters,
and even in a dugout, his voice, his presence, it
was a sight to see. And I just was smiling
on the outside and on the inside just watching a
guy could beat and I'm walking out and take him
out and he is not happy, and I loved it.
Let me be really clear, he did not want out
(10:51):
of that game. But he gave us everything he had
and he believes he had more and I love that.
But boy was his presence, his dominance. He was masterful
in every sense of the word.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
And then with Ben Cleever and I feel like this
was the same with Nick McKay watching from the radio
booth in the press box. A compliment to their fastball
because it looked like Tennessee had a really hard time
seeing their breaking pitches this weekend. Yeah, and you know,
because the fastball was so good that you had to
respect that that it got them off the off speed
and then when they were on the off speed, coach
(11:25):
Rozelle just called the right pitch and they executed the
next one, and then they were off the fastball and
then it was just a back and forth seesaw battle.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
But those guys, they're just whoo. Ben's competitiveness is just
something to see. And you know, just thinking back, you
know the last time we were there, you're a good buddy,
and my good buddy, Darren Williams he shut him out
in that ballpark on that Sunday game. I don't know
if you remember that, but I.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Do, because he walked like eight guys.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
But at least day, I mean at least date, it
was like they had all their chances and Dub made
the pens and then he made another pitch and man
another pitch, and we didn't walk as many guys this weekend,
but they just.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Made pitch after pitch and it just reminded me of
Darren's outing. It was just guys in the pitching staff
just making pitch after pitch and it was fun to see, let's.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Go ahead and take our final time out.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
We'll talk about the offense when we come back as
Kentucky gets ready to host Louisville tomorrow night at six
thirty here at Kentucky Proud Park. This is the nickman
Gione Show on the UK Sports Network. Well, the Wildcats
certainly got great pitching this past weekend and the series
win over Tennessee. But coach, your offense was able to
produce runs against the staff.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
That's very stingy with base runners.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
But you made the most of your chances when you
got guys in scoring opportunities.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Yeah, I just there's so many guys as you just
go around the field. I thought Devn's home run Friday
night was big. I thought the James played well at
first on Friday. And then Hudson was fantastic at first base.
I mean he had RBIs, he had doubles. He I mean,
he was great. Thought Luke Lawrence was super competitive and
he was sick, you know yesterday and not feeling well
(13:00):
and just competing his heart out. And then how about
the job Tyler Bell just putting him, inserting him at
the lead off spot.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
I thought paid huge devidence.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Pat Herrera just phenomenal again on both sides of the ball.
I mean just continues to have quality at Bad after
quality at Bad.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
And then man, let's go around the outfield. You know,
when you think about Caius, how about Caius? Yeah, I
mean let him.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Play the outfield and he made his plays and random ball,
Carson Hansen gave us good at bats, got us a
huge got a huge inning going yesterday. And then let's
talk about Ryan Schwartz. I mean, how about that guy?
You know, I was so happy for him. You know,
anytime you wait your turn and you just stay ready,
and it's one thing to prepare and then it's another
(13:45):
thing to get your opportunity, and then it's a whole
other thing to take advantage of it.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
And he did that, you know.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
And Trevor fitz and I were talking today and he's like, Coach,
when's the first time, like you put a guy in
and get his first SEC hit like six weeks in
And I go.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Well, hold on, what about Hunter?
Speaker 3 (14:00):
So we looked it up there and the last time
that I can remember was twenty eleven. Hunter renfro our
future first round draft pick, did it in May Wow
at Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
We went back to the archives.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
It was like, that's the last time I can remember
Ryan Schwartz. Maybe he's onto something here who came in
and as a catcher, is playing some outfield and you
know Ryan. I give Ryan a lot of credit because
he'll do whatever he can help the team. And he
stayed ready and boy was it fun to see. And
another cool thing I just said, Man, I was so
happy for he goes coach. This was the one road
series my parents were able to make and they saw
(14:36):
every game, which is another cool thing.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
So proud of those guys. That's incredible.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
And staying on the topic of Ryan Schwartz, we had
him on the pregame and he kind of talked to
us a little bit about his journey to Lexington. It
had some twists and turns to it, some commitments and
d commitments. But I just wanted to bring that up
to you because it underscores the importance when you guys
are out there recruiting and all the relationship building. Because
Ryan ended up coming back to Lexington and he's excited
(15:01):
to be here.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Yeah, and I thought coach Cousey did such a good
job recruiting him, you know the first time, and then
he committed to a school and then there was a
coaching change. So a lot of times when that happens,
players de commit and the relationship building was crucial in him.
And so when it opened back up, it was like
we were able to get back in there, and that
was good to see.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
And you know, another guy I thought.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
That gave us great at bats was Dylan Coons, you know,
just gave us a bat.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
After at bat.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
I mean he I think he had four quality at
bats on Saturday, laid down a great bun on Sunday,
was competitive and that was good to see. And then
you know what about Griff coming in off the bench
and making plays defensively, had a huge hit yesterday. Montoya
played a role coming off the bench. I mean, so
it was good to see that we used a lot
of different guys and they took advantage of the opportunities
(15:47):
that they had.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Stolen bases run Cat's run would have been a great
phrase this weekend. Sixteen stolen bases on eighteen of TIMS.
You guys were just out there creating all kinds of havoc.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
Yeah. I told coach Sloan last night and I was like, man,
and we didn't wait around like he did his homework
first pitch.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
It didn't matter the different counts. We knew when we
wanted to run, and he.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Did his homework and we guessed right a lot of times.
And give the players credit. They were able to execute it.
And we knew that going in. We knew that going
in and that was going to be a huge piece.
So give our players credit. You know, a lot of
a lot of this year. You've heard me speak about executing,
and we did that at an extremely, extremely high level.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
You got a lot of plus speed in this slanteup.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
But Patrick Carrera was four for five on stolen base attempts.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Patty was on. I mean, I was like Patty, he
kept coming about that. How was awesome?
Speaker 3 (16:37):
That was great, Joe, good job, he's you know, he
just kept going and happy to see him.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
And you know, I think when you think about.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Pat Herrera and his game and how far it's come,
he has just made himself into an above average player
on a defensive side with his glove work, his arm strength. Offensively,
the at bats now there stolen bases, he can really bunt.
He's just done a lot of things and it's been
fun to watch his improvement over the years.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
We have talked about his play defensively and at the plate.
But what about the leadership that he has provided on
the team this year, kind of becoming one of those
vocal guys for the team.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Yeah, he's been great and it's what you would want
from your seniors, you know. And he's a guy that
the players can respect because of how hard he works.
He has an unbelievable sense of humor, Darren, like he
had I mean Saturday night after right before curfew, he
had Kristin and I just I mean, I's been overlaughing.
(17:34):
I mean his sense of humor. He has comedic timing.
And you know, I also want to compliment Ethan Hindle.
You know, there's a guy who gets unfortunate news, you know,
won't be playing.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
The rest of the year.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
And he just inserted himself in that dugout and made
his presence felt. And Trevor fitz is the greatest dugout
guy that I've ever been around. He can rally and
generate troops, and he gave those guys some ideas and
the dugout took it and ran with it.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
And I just loved Will Marcy.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
You know, we talk to the guys all the time
that they're responsible for two things. How they play and
how they helped the team outside of how and when
they're playing, and Hindel and Marcy were unbelievable and even
the guys that came out of the game off the bench,
James McCoy was a phenomenal teammate all weekend long. We
had so many guys that were Hayden Smith and I
don't want to get in and mentioning too many names
(18:26):
because I'll forget people, but man, unbelievable teammates that wanted
to do whatever they could to can help Kentucky win.
And it starts with the leadership that Pad and Devin
and some of these Novy and buyers have displayed over
the years.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Coach, a big week coming up for this team, a
chance to grab some victories at home, starting with Louisville
tomorrow night. We're looking forward to it and thanks as always,
it's fun to do these shows with you, and we'll
talk to you next week.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Come out and see us this week, gokats, It's Kentucky
and Louisville tomorrow night, six point thirty at Kentucky Proud Park.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
Will be on the air at six fifteen. Hope to
see everybody at KPP. This this has been the nickmme
Geon Show in the UK Sports network
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