March 11, 2025 • 27 mins
Darren Headrick talks with Kentucky Baseball Coach Nick Mingione. Send in your questions on social media each week for Coach Mingione to answer.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is the Nick Vinchion Show on the UK Sports
Statworth have a question for coach s Minchion tweeted two
at UK Sports Network. Now alongside the coach, here's Doe
Hooyes of UK Baseball Darren Hendrick.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Welcome into the first edition of the Nick Minji Oones
Show for the twenty twenty five season. I'm Darren Hedrick
and coach will join us here in just a few minutes.
The Wildcats are twelve and two, fresh off a series
win over the Wafford Terriers.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
The Cats and Terriers battled.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
To a hard fought two to one final on Sunday,
the Wildcats prevailing thanks to the RBI single from Devin
Burks and the big sacrifice fly from Patrick Carrera. Kentucky
got some good pitching in that matchup. Ethan Walker shined
in five innings of one underned run baseball.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
He struck out four.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Scott Rouss also had four strikeouts in four scoreless innings
in the victory. Kentucky opens SEC play this weekend. They'll
be on the road in Athens to take on number
three Georgia.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
We'll talk about that with Coach.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
We'll also get you caught up on some of the
guys who have shined at the plate and on the
mound through the first fourteen games of the season. Kentucky
hosts NIU tomorrow night at six thirty. More on that
in a moment. It's the Nick Menjion Show here on
the UK Sports Network.
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(04:17):
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Speaker 2 (04:25):
Kentucky facing NIU tomorrow night here at Kentucky Proud Park,
as we welcome you back to the coach Men Gione Show.
It's a game against the Huskies that was picked up.
It'll be a six thirty. First pitch should be great weather,
and look forward to seeing everybody out at Kentucky Proud Park.
But as coach joins us here on the show, let's
talk a little bit about the win against Watford on
a Sunday at two to one victory. I thought it
(04:47):
was a well played game between two teams. It was
tight throughout, and your team was able to execute in
the key moments to come away with the most runs.
Speaker 10 (04:55):
Yes, Darren, but I do have to go back to
the you said to good weather Tuesday, seventy five degrees,
seventy five degrees.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Come on, babe, come on.
Speaker 10 (05:08):
Maybe seventy five degrees now we just said seventy five
degrees for a baseball game.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Please come join us.
Speaker 10 (05:15):
But yes, what a what a what a game? What
a game when you just think about everything that went
into it, And you know, Darren, baseball's funny because Saturday's game,
we didn't come out victorious and it's a four to
four game late, we have an opportunity to execute on
the offensive end and on the pitching end, and we
don't execute and it turns into a loss. Well, funny
(05:38):
that that should come back up the very next day.
We spend a ton of time Sunday morning before the
game watching video. You know, we have so many new
players this year, like first year players. We've done something
that I haven't done in years, and we just go
back and watch video before the games. Normally we do
it once a week for the last but this team,
we just have to keep teaching them how to win.
(05:59):
And our inability to get a bunt down late in
the game on Saturday really cost us a run and
maybe two and we weren't able to do that. So
we spent a ton of time on how to do that,
and would you know that that same exact play came
back up and we actually got the bunt down which
led to a run.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
No doubt about it. And Devin Burks came through. What
a moment for him. It was two outs, a three
to two count. He had the man in scoring position,
and Devon does what we've come to expect him to do,
and that's come through with a base hit.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
He sure did.
Speaker 10 (06:30):
And you know, when you just go back and you
look at that game from an offensive standpoint, you know
that run that Devin scored started with two outs and
the senior Pat her Era gets two strikes on him.
He puts a ball in play, doesn't crush it, doesn't
hit it hard, but he doesn't strike out. And he
puts the ball in play and forces the defense to
make a play and pats David first. Well, then the
(06:52):
next batter is James McCoy takes a good aggressive hack,
gets a count to three to one, draws a walk.
So all this starts with two outs and now Devon's
up with two outs and bam, he gets the head
And it was just it was awesome because it was
a senior in that moment and got the job done.
And then really, when you think about our next one,
TJ hits the double, Sean Montoya puts his face in
the air, gets the bunt down, and then pat Herrera again,
(07:15):
we go to bunt it, Goy throws a ball, then
we make the adjustment, let him hit boom, sack fly.
Next thing you know, there's our two runs. But we
manufactured him and great job all the way around, and
just for us to ability it was one of those
days where it was going to be that tight game again.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Both teams were being stingy.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Coach, I was going to ask you about Herrera's at
bat because the defensive alignment was a shift with three
on the left, but the infield was drawn into the
grass cutout and then the outfield was playing shallow. So
obviously you want to think get the ball in the
air and maybe hit it over an outfielder's head.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
But to a hitter, can that.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Sometimes be a little odd because you see all this pressure.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
It's a different look from a defense.
Speaker 10 (07:54):
Yeah, there's no doubt that the batters will notice that.
But at the same time, coach Sloan and coach Becuzy
do such a good job with the guys on the
offensive end, and as matter of fact, we hit off
breaking balls every day and one of the things we
do is we always start out with the infield in
to prepare for that situation. So it's one of those
(08:16):
things where there's six components the offense. Situational hitting is
one of them, and that was a drill and it's
a situation that we actually prepare for. But to the eye,
it was so awkward looking right, So you're like, man,
look at all these people and your body could be
and your bike can tell you, well, let's focus on
that instead of doing what.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
You need to and get at the outfield. It was
a great adbat.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Before we take a break, I wanted to ask you overall, offensively,
averaging nearly nine runs a game, you're getting stolen based
production obviously sixteen home runs, the extra bases are there. Overall,
staff really pleased with where this team is offensively right now.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Yeah, we just keep growing.
Speaker 10 (08:49):
You know, we have a lot of really good offensive players,
and we just keep giving guys tons and tons of opportunities.
And you know, there's been some guys that have really
stood out. I mean, the job that Cole Hag just
done and offensively has been fantastic.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
He's done it on all ends.
Speaker 10 (09:03):
From his power to his base stealing, to his strike
zone discipline. The job that we've Patterreira has done offensively,
I mean it's been very impressive. His ability just to
get on base and his ability to steal base as well.
Then Tyler Bell, I mean he's just been so consistent.
Same thing with his power, with his speed, his strike zone,
(09:23):
his ability to just impact the game in so many ways.
And you know, offensively, you know, we believe in there
are six components to it. And what really hasn't gotten
going a ton is our bunny. But the base stealing
the base running, the actual art of hitting.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
We're getting better.
Speaker 10 (09:39):
The guys are starting to put together better at bat
situational hitting.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
For the most part, this.
Speaker 10 (09:43):
Whole year has been exceptionally well, so we continue to grow.
We're scoring runs, which I love and obviously that's a
good thing too, especially with so many pitchers being here
for the first time, so.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
We'll continue to grow.
Speaker 10 (09:57):
I think our swings are getting locked in, you know,
continue to get better and looking forward to facing some
really good competition as SEC play starts continue with the
nickname Jones show in just a moment, this is the
UK Sports Network.
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Speaker 2 (12:14):
Welcome back into the Nick Mansiones Show here on the
UK Sports Network. It's our first of the season as
the Wildcats get ready for SEC play this weekend, a
trip down to Georgia to take on the Bulldogs and
the SEC opener. Auburn will be in Lexington next week
for the SEC home opener. For the Wildcats coach, it's
hard to believe that SEC play is already here. Just
(12:35):
looking back over the first month and a half or so,
these first four or five weeks of the season, where
do you feel like this team has taken some of
the biggest strides as you get into league play.
Speaker 10 (12:45):
Well, I just did job that are in the mile
age we've got in for my pitching staff. I mean
when you just look up and down the stats, I
think we've thrown nineteen different guys, and you know, and
our starters. You know Nick McKay, I mean, he's had
four starts and I think two of them he would
tell you he was really pleased with and two maybe
not so much, but he's continued to find.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Ways to put up zeros.
Speaker 10 (13:07):
I think the mileage we've got out of Ben Cleever,
he's gotten four starts already, he's thrown over twenty innings,
and his ability to attack the strike zone, and then
on Sundays Ethan Walker coming off his best outing, and
behind him Scott Rouss has just been fantastic. Then you
just think about the bullpen. You know, the job that
we've gotten. Evan Byers has just been phenomenal. He has
already thrown in five games, Jackson Novy's thrown in four.
(13:29):
Those guys have been super consistent, and then Nate Harris
just him in the midweek that he's just been very,
very consistent for US so and then obviously there's lots
of other guys that have gotten in there, but.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
From the pitching standpoint, I've just.
Speaker 10 (13:43):
Been super pleased with their ability to attack and pound
the strike zone, an ability to minimize I think anytime
this is college baseball, there's luminum bats, right, but their
ability to do that. And then defensively, we have gone
on some stretches daring where we've made some really really
good plays. We've gone on some stretches where we've left
some plays on the field, but we have proven that
we have had the ability to make the routine play
(14:05):
but also make the special play. So you know, just
you know me, my heart is on that pitching and
defense and we continue to get better there well.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
And Ethan Walker on Sunday against Watford coach I thought
looked phenomenal. He was able to land his pitches where
he needed to, He got out of some jams for
the most part, limiting damage to one under and run.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
And what did you see from him? Yeah, it started
with his fastball.
Speaker 10 (14:27):
And when Ethan can start and establishes fastball down in
his own in and out and then up, yeah, he
becomes a real challenge. When Ethan just tries to start
up it doesn't go so well for him, but for
him to establish his fastball down, move it around in
and out, and then go up, it's been really good.
I thought his change up was great. His breaking ball
(14:50):
is to continue work in progress. It gets it's gotten better,
but it's poise, I thought. And then Darren, the way
he feel his position, he made multiple plays like that
was just phenomenal. Whether it's fielding a bunch, whether it's
feeling the high chopper and taking the bag. What about
the ball that was right down the line that he
was able to attack and get it to James who
made a great play on it. But it was just
(15:12):
so those things were really big and led to his
really having his best outing in the Kentucky uniform.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
We have seen pictures more and more. I think it
kind of started in pro ball a couple of years ago.
Now we're seeing it trickle all to all levels, but
that upper part of the strike zone. We're seeing pictures
hunt that high strike more and more, and we're seeing
it get called. Have you seen it kind of change
how hitters have to approach things Now it just looks.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
So juicy, like you're.
Speaker 10 (15:39):
Just sitting right up there and you're like, I'm gonna
crush it until you're not, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
And when he has metrically his fastball is good.
Speaker 10 (15:46):
You know, some guys you throw it up there and
it usually ends up over the fence and the catcher's
reaching his hand back.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
To get another ball from the umpire.
Speaker 10 (15:54):
So there's some risk in words for reward in it,
you know. But he's got that fastball that has that
ride and.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
He could get that.
Speaker 10 (16:01):
But it does start with him establishing down, down, down
to get the hitter's eyes to go down, down, down,
and boom, you pop them up and you get them
that way.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
But man, it just looks so juicy.
Speaker 10 (16:10):
But he was able to execute some of those as well.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
That was good to see, and Scott Rouse followed behind
him and ended up taking home the victory. He's three
and zero in the season now, but I was really
impressed with the ride some of his pitches had on
him in the movement that he gets out of his arsenal.
Speaker 10 (16:26):
Yeah, he's so different really than all three. It's one
thing that I love about this pitching staff, and I
continue to remind our team of this is that we're
all so different. All of them are so different. When
you think about Ewalk and where he's throwing from the
left side and his arm angle, and then Scott Rouse
where he's coming from, it's the total opposite spectrum right right.
(16:49):
And then the way Scott's fastball is just moving. I
mean there's times where it's you know, seventeen eighteen, nineteen
twenty inches of horizonal movement compared to you know, Ewalk's
eighteen of vertical break. It's just But then Scott's ability
to just throw so many different pitches for a strike,
I mean, with his change up and his slider, I mean,
(17:10):
just an unbelievable performance by him to stay poised. I
thought the double play got in the eighth was crucial,
worked around a walk, you know, a single throughout his
outing here or there, but in just complete control and
didn't let anything bother him, in total poise, totally poised.
And obviously the week before Ethan went four and Scott
went five and then he just flopped, you know, one
(17:31):
went five, the other one one four. So they've been
a good team and definitely complimented each other.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Well, you were.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Talking about different arm angles and the way pitches move.
I kind of feel like Evan Byers is like a
rubber bandman the way he can change arm angles and
change velocities and all the different pitches he throws.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
He's just really versatile.
Speaker 10 (17:49):
Yeah, he's been so good on so many levels. Even
his leadership off the field and on the field has
been phenomenal. But yeah, like you know we spoke about yesterday,
I almost feel like Evan has six pitches because he
has the ones over the top, then he has the
ones you know when he drops down to the side.
It's just that is the beauty of this staff. And
we still got some guys that we got to get going.
(18:09):
They're not like just absolutely going yet. And to think
about what we've done and we don't have everybody clicking
on all cylinders is definitely a huge compliment to Coach
Rozel and the staff and how hard the players have worked.
Just super happy for him, and obviously you got to
keep it going. You got four big games this week.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Take our final time out here and one more segment
with Coach on this week's edition of the Nick Min's
You Own Show.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
This is the UK Sports Network.
Speaker 14 (18:32):
BBN Game Day.
Speaker 15 (18:33):
It's your weekly look inside UK Athletics Senturdays at nine
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BBN Game Day.
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Speaker 3 (21:02):
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Speaker 15 (21:18):
BBN Game Day it's your weekly look inside UK Athletics
Senturdays at nine am on l e X eighteen and
stations across the state. Check Ukathletics dot com Slash UK
Sports Network for stations and times in your area.
Speaker 14 (21:31):
BBN Game Day.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
It's the Nick Nsion Show here on the UK Sports Network.
As the Wildcats get ready for Northern Illinois tomorrow night
at six thirty from Kentucky Proud Park, and then they'll
head to Georgia. They'll head down to Athens to take
on the Bulldogs in their SEC opener. And Coach, you
added the NIU game because weather's played havoc early in
this season, as sometimes will happen in February. What's the
(21:56):
challenge though, of trying to put together a schedule that
both benefit It's Kentucky and also challenges the team and
also gets through.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Some weather related issues.
Speaker 10 (22:06):
Yeah, the weather is the hardest part.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
As you know.
Speaker 10 (22:09):
I mean that's really quite frankly, one of the hardest
parts about, you know, coaching in this part of the
country is the weather. And it's why I love that
we have the turf field because just the amount of
rain and snow and sleet and ice and everything else.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
So, you know, our whole.
Speaker 10 (22:25):
Deal is based off of the RPI. In the last
two years, we've been pretty fortunate to have really top
four RPI in the whole country, there's over three hundred,
and it's why we've been in position to host regionals
and a.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
Super you know. So with that, you got to put
together a good schedule.
Speaker 10 (22:43):
And this Wafford team average over I think Matt said
thirty six or thirty seven wins over the last handful
of years.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
They won over forty something games.
Speaker 10 (22:51):
And Belmont over the last five years, and Lipscomb they've
won a lot of games.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
And so it's.
Speaker 10 (22:57):
This fine balance of do you want to challenge your
team and you want to have them face good teams,
but you also you want to win, right, you got
to win, but you want to push your teams. And
you know, I told our team, like I don't get
any thrill in playing teams that we just beat up on. So,
like I've told them, I'm super excited about this schedule
because I told them that every team on that schedule
(23:18):
can beat us, every single team. Now, we could beat
every team on our schedule as well, but every team
is that good that they could beat us on any
given day. So therefore you got to bring it, and
you have to focus, and you have to compete at
a super high level. But make no question about it,
there's this fine balance of getting the right opponents and
then also guessing who do you think is going to
be good win because some of these games and series
(23:41):
is are scheduled one to two in three years in advance,
so I mean with the transfer portal now, like who knows? So,
but I do love playing good teams, and we played
a really good Whaffer team, and I'm going to tell
you I feel good about looking up that they're going
to win at least thirty five games and if they
want over forty, I don't think anybody's going to be surprised.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
We're talking about weather.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Last Tuesday, you played in Richmond against KU thirty forty
mile an hour win.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
Gus.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
We thought it would play havoc there were moments in
the game where it did affect the game, but just
crazy some of the win that this team has played in.
Speaker 10 (24:15):
Oh yeah, I give Trevor Fits a lot of credit.
He's been working at pitching Machine for pop ups, making
those guys better.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
I mean, yeah, So, you.
Speaker 10 (24:23):
Know, we added in IU because last Wednesday, the feels
like temperature was sixteen to nineteen degrees and we looked
up and Tuesday was going to be seventy.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
So it's gone up to seventy five so.
Speaker 10 (24:33):
Since then, So just add another game was super important,
especially with us losing one opening weekend, and continue to
have the guys get at bats and log innings. I mean,
we have a lot of really good players that need
opportunities to play. So thankful to do that against a
team that I believe is a really good NIU team.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
That depth.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
You and I have talked about the depth of talent
across the board, but one aspect I haven't really asked
you about is when you're filling out a lineup, how
does that depth help you mix and match right handed
versus left handed hitters to go against the opposing pitcher.
Speaker 10 (25:03):
You know, I had a former player years ago he
and I had a really good conversation after he left
and he was in professional baseball, and.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
We talked about that. Now, when you have really.
Speaker 10 (25:13):
Good players and so many of them, you kind of
try to find a role for each guy. So having
a left hand lineup and a right handed lineup, it
sounds good and it could definitely help, But also I
think it's really hard on the players sometimes when they
only play once a week or they barely get to play,
you know what I mean, It's just like hard to
keep them consistent. So we fight that balance all the
(25:36):
time of who do we get and how do we
continue to get guys more at bats? And you know this,
like our game, the more they typically play, the more
comfortable to get.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
The better they they're at bats get.
Speaker 10 (25:47):
But sometimes when you're playing once a week or every
other couple of weeks, I understand and recognize that's really
difficult on the players. So this team, we do have
a really nice balance of left handed and right handed,
and some guys that are quite frankly are better from
one side compared to the other. So we've spent and
we had intentional effort trying to improve those guys from
(26:09):
whatever side of the plate they might be a little
weaker on while still building the side. So that's the
nice thing about this team offensively is we feel like
we got sixteen guys that we can use and put
in any situation and kind of just kind of go
whatever we need to for that day. But I do
go back to saying it is nice for the guys
to know that, like, hey, I'm gonna play, and we've
(26:30):
had some guys who earn that spot and earning those
opportunities and some other spots We're still open and trying
to get guys in there.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Coach.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Always fun to catch up with you, enjoy the show.
It's amazing how fast the time goes when you and
I get to sit and talk baseball. But we look
forward to seeing you tomorrow night against Northern Illinois.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
Thank you BBN.
Speaker 10 (26:45):
Come out and see us seventy five and Sunny come on,
go Cats.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
See everybody at Kentucky Proud Park.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
This has been the nicknainsee Own show on the UK
Sports Network
This is the Nick Vinchion Show on the UK Sports
Statworth have a question for coach s Minchion tweeted two
at UK Sports Network. Now alongside the coach, here's Doe
Hooyes of UK Baseball Darren Hendrick.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Welcome into the first edition of the Nick Minji Oones
Show for the twenty twenty five season. I'm Darren Hedrick
and coach will join us here in just a few minutes.
The Wildcats are twelve and two, fresh off a series
win over the Wafford Terriers.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
The Cats and Terriers battled.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
To a hard fought two to one final on Sunday,
the Wildcats prevailing thanks to the RBI single from Devin
Burks and the big sacrifice fly from Patrick Carrera. Kentucky
got some good pitching in that matchup. Ethan Walker shined
in five innings of one underned run baseball.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
He struck out four.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Scott Rouss also had four strikeouts in four scoreless innings
in the victory. Kentucky opens SEC play this weekend. They'll
be on the road in Athens to take on number
three Georgia.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
We'll talk about that with Coach.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
We'll also get you caught up on some of the
guys who have shined at the plate and on the
mound through the first fourteen games of the season. Kentucky
hosts NIU tomorrow night at six thirty. More on that
in a moment. It's the Nick Menjion Show here on
the UK Sports Network.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
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Where's your gas line? And where's your wallet? Could you
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(04:17):
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Speaker 2 (04:25):
Kentucky facing NIU tomorrow night here at Kentucky Proud Park,
as we welcome you back to the coach Men Gione Show.
It's a game against the Huskies that was picked up.
It'll be a six thirty. First pitch should be great weather,
and look forward to seeing everybody out at Kentucky Proud Park.
But as coach joins us here on the show, let's
talk a little bit about the win against Watford on
a Sunday at two to one victory. I thought it
(04:47):
was a well played game between two teams. It was
tight throughout, and your team was able to execute in
the key moments to come away with the most runs.
Speaker 10 (04:55):
Yes, Darren, but I do have to go back to
the you said to good weather Tuesday, seventy five degrees,
seventy five degrees.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Come on, babe, come on.
Speaker 10 (05:08):
Maybe seventy five degrees now we just said seventy five
degrees for a baseball game.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Please come join us.
Speaker 10 (05:15):
But yes, what a what a what a game? What
a game when you just think about everything that went
into it, And you know, Darren, baseball's funny because Saturday's game,
we didn't come out victorious and it's a four to
four game late, we have an opportunity to execute on
the offensive end and on the pitching end, and we
don't execute and it turns into a loss. Well, funny
(05:38):
that that should come back up the very next day.
We spend a ton of time Sunday morning before the
game watching video. You know, we have so many new
players this year, like first year players. We've done something
that I haven't done in years, and we just go
back and watch video before the games. Normally we do
it once a week for the last but this team,
we just have to keep teaching them how to win.
(05:59):
And our inability to get a bunt down late in
the game on Saturday really cost us a run and
maybe two and we weren't able to do that. So
we spent a ton of time on how to do that,
and would you know that that same exact play came
back up and we actually got the bunt down which
led to a run.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
No doubt about it. And Devin Burks came through. What
a moment for him. It was two outs, a three
to two count. He had the man in scoring position,
and Devon does what we've come to expect him to do,
and that's come through with a base hit.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
He sure did.
Speaker 10 (06:30):
And you know, when you just go back and you
look at that game from an offensive standpoint, you know
that run that Devin scored started with two outs and
the senior Pat her Era gets two strikes on him.
He puts a ball in play, doesn't crush it, doesn't
hit it hard, but he doesn't strike out. And he
puts the ball in play and forces the defense to
make a play and pats David first. Well, then the
(06:52):
next batter is James McCoy takes a good aggressive hack,
gets a count to three to one, draws a walk.
So all this starts with two outs and now Devon's
up with two outs and bam, he gets the head
And it was just it was awesome because it was
a senior in that moment and got the job done.
And then really, when you think about our next one,
TJ hits the double, Sean Montoya puts his face in
the air, gets the bunt down, and then pat Herrera again,
(07:15):
we go to bunt it, Goy throws a ball, then
we make the adjustment, let him hit boom, sack fly.
Next thing you know, there's our two runs. But we
manufactured him and great job all the way around, and
just for us to ability it was one of those
days where it was going to be that tight game again.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Both teams were being stingy.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Coach, I was going to ask you about Herrera's at
bat because the defensive alignment was a shift with three
on the left, but the infield was drawn into the
grass cutout and then the outfield was playing shallow. So
obviously you want to think get the ball in the
air and maybe hit it over an outfielder's head.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
But to a hitter, can that.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Sometimes be a little odd because you see all this pressure.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
It's a different look from a defense.
Speaker 10 (07:54):
Yeah, there's no doubt that the batters will notice that.
But at the same time, coach Sloan and coach Becuzy
do such a good job with the guys on the
offensive end, and as matter of fact, we hit off
breaking balls every day and one of the things we
do is we always start out with the infield in
to prepare for that situation. So it's one of those
(08:16):
things where there's six components the offense. Situational hitting is
one of them, and that was a drill and it's
a situation that we actually prepare for. But to the eye,
it was so awkward looking right, So you're like, man,
look at all these people and your body could be
and your bike can tell you, well, let's focus on
that instead of doing what.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
You need to and get at the outfield. It was
a great adbat.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Before we take a break, I wanted to ask you overall, offensively,
averaging nearly nine runs a game, you're getting stolen based
production obviously sixteen home runs, the extra bases are there. Overall,
staff really pleased with where this team is offensively right now.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Yeah, we just keep growing.
Speaker 10 (08:49):
You know, we have a lot of really good offensive players,
and we just keep giving guys tons and tons of opportunities.
And you know, there's been some guys that have really
stood out. I mean, the job that Cole Hag just
done and offensively has been fantastic.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
He's done it on all ends.
Speaker 10 (09:03):
From his power to his base stealing, to his strike
zone discipline. The job that we've Patterreira has done offensively,
I mean it's been very impressive. His ability just to
get on base and his ability to steal base as well.
Then Tyler Bell, I mean he's just been so consistent.
Same thing with his power, with his speed, his strike zone,
(09:23):
his ability to just impact the game in so many ways.
And you know, offensively, you know, we believe in there
are six components to it. And what really hasn't gotten
going a ton is our bunny. But the base stealing
the base running, the actual art of hitting.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
We're getting better.
Speaker 10 (09:39):
The guys are starting to put together better at bat
situational hitting.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
For the most part, this.
Speaker 10 (09:43):
Whole year has been exceptionally well, so we continue to grow.
We're scoring runs, which I love and obviously that's a
good thing too, especially with so many pitchers being here
for the first time, so.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
We'll continue to grow.
Speaker 10 (09:57):
I think our swings are getting locked in, you know,
continue to get better and looking forward to facing some
really good competition as SEC play starts continue with the
nickname Jones show in just a moment, this is the
UK Sports Network.
Speaker 11 (10:11):
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Speaker 2 (12:14):
Welcome back into the Nick Mansiones Show here on the
UK Sports Network. It's our first of the season as
the Wildcats get ready for SEC play this weekend, a
trip down to Georgia to take on the Bulldogs and
the SEC opener. Auburn will be in Lexington next week
for the SEC home opener. For the Wildcats coach, it's
hard to believe that SEC play is already here. Just
(12:35):
looking back over the first month and a half or so,
these first four or five weeks of the season, where
do you feel like this team has taken some of
the biggest strides as you get into league play.
Speaker 10 (12:45):
Well, I just did job that are in the mile
age we've got in for my pitching staff. I mean
when you just look up and down the stats, I
think we've thrown nineteen different guys, and you know, and
our starters. You know Nick McKay, I mean, he's had
four starts and I think two of them he would
tell you he was really pleased with and two maybe
not so much, but he's continued to find.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Ways to put up zeros.
Speaker 10 (13:07):
I think the mileage we've got out of Ben Cleever,
he's gotten four starts already, he's thrown over twenty innings,
and his ability to attack the strike zone, and then
on Sundays Ethan Walker coming off his best outing, and
behind him Scott Rouss has just been fantastic. Then you
just think about the bullpen. You know, the job that
we've gotten. Evan Byers has just been phenomenal. He has
already thrown in five games, Jackson Novy's thrown in four.
(13:29):
Those guys have been super consistent, and then Nate Harris
just him in the midweek that he's just been very,
very consistent for US so and then obviously there's lots
of other guys that have gotten in there, but.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
From the pitching standpoint, I've just.
Speaker 10 (13:43):
Been super pleased with their ability to attack and pound
the strike zone, an ability to minimize I think anytime
this is college baseball, there's luminum bats, right, but their
ability to do that. And then defensively, we have gone
on some stretches daring where we've made some really really
good plays. We've gone on some stretches where we've left
some plays on the field, but we have proven that
we have had the ability to make the routine play
(14:05):
but also make the special play. So you know, just
you know me, my heart is on that pitching and
defense and we continue to get better there well.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
And Ethan Walker on Sunday against Watford coach I thought
looked phenomenal. He was able to land his pitches where
he needed to, He got out of some jams for
the most part, limiting damage to one under and run.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
And what did you see from him? Yeah, it started
with his fastball.
Speaker 10 (14:27):
And when Ethan can start and establishes fastball down in
his own in and out and then up, yeah, he
becomes a real challenge. When Ethan just tries to start
up it doesn't go so well for him, but for
him to establish his fastball down, move it around in
and out, and then go up, it's been really good.
I thought his change up was great. His breaking ball
(14:50):
is to continue work in progress. It gets it's gotten better,
but it's poise, I thought. And then Darren, the way
he feel his position, he made multiple plays like that
was just phenomenal. Whether it's fielding a bunch, whether it's
feeling the high chopper and taking the bag. What about
the ball that was right down the line that he
was able to attack and get it to James who
made a great play on it. But it was just
(15:12):
so those things were really big and led to his
really having his best outing in the Kentucky uniform.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
We have seen pictures more and more. I think it
kind of started in pro ball a couple of years ago.
Now we're seeing it trickle all to all levels, but
that upper part of the strike zone. We're seeing pictures
hunt that high strike more and more, and we're seeing
it get called. Have you seen it kind of change
how hitters have to approach things Now it just looks.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
So juicy, like you're.
Speaker 10 (15:39):
Just sitting right up there and you're like, I'm gonna
crush it until you're not, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
And when he has metrically his fastball is good.
Speaker 10 (15:46):
You know, some guys you throw it up there and
it usually ends up over the fence and the catcher's
reaching his hand back.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
To get another ball from the umpire.
Speaker 10 (15:54):
So there's some risk in words for reward in it,
you know. But he's got that fastball that has that
ride and.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
He could get that.
Speaker 10 (16:01):
But it does start with him establishing down, down, down
to get the hitter's eyes to go down, down, down,
and boom, you pop them up and you get them
that way.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
But man, it just looks so juicy.
Speaker 10 (16:10):
But he was able to execute some of those as well.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
That was good to see, and Scott Rouse followed behind
him and ended up taking home the victory. He's three
and zero in the season now, but I was really
impressed with the ride some of his pitches had on
him in the movement that he gets out of his arsenal.
Speaker 10 (16:26):
Yeah, he's so different really than all three. It's one
thing that I love about this pitching staff, and I
continue to remind our team of this is that we're
all so different. All of them are so different. When
you think about Ewalk and where he's throwing from the
left side and his arm angle, and then Scott Rouse
where he's coming from, it's the total opposite spectrum right right.
(16:49):
And then the way Scott's fastball is just moving. I
mean there's times where it's you know, seventeen eighteen, nineteen
twenty inches of horizonal movement compared to you know, Ewalk's
eighteen of vertical break. It's just But then Scott's ability
to just throw so many different pitches for a strike,
I mean, with his change up and his slider, I mean,
(17:10):
just an unbelievable performance by him to stay poised. I
thought the double play got in the eighth was crucial,
worked around a walk, you know, a single throughout his
outing here or there, but in just complete control and
didn't let anything bother him, in total poise, totally poised.
And obviously the week before Ethan went four and Scott
went five and then he just flopped, you know, one
(17:31):
went five, the other one one four. So they've been
a good team and definitely complimented each other.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Well, you were.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Talking about different arm angles and the way pitches move.
I kind of feel like Evan Byers is like a
rubber bandman the way he can change arm angles and
change velocities and all the different pitches he throws.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
He's just really versatile.
Speaker 10 (17:49):
Yeah, he's been so good on so many levels. Even
his leadership off the field and on the field has
been phenomenal. But yeah, like you know we spoke about yesterday,
I almost feel like Evan has six pitches because he
has the ones over the top, then he has the
ones you know when he drops down to the side.
It's just that is the beauty of this staff. And
we still got some guys that we got to get going.
(18:09):
They're not like just absolutely going yet. And to think
about what we've done and we don't have everybody clicking
on all cylinders is definitely a huge compliment to Coach
Rozel and the staff and how hard the players have worked.
Just super happy for him, and obviously you got to
keep it going. You got four big games this week.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Take our final time out here and one more segment
with Coach on this week's edition of the Nick Min's
You Own Show.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
This is the UK Sports Network.
Speaker 14 (18:32):
BBN Game Day.
Speaker 15 (18:33):
It's your weekly look inside UK Athletics Senturdays at nine
am on l e X eighteen and stations across the state.
Check Ukathletics dot com Slash UK Sports Network for stations
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Speaker 14 (18:46):
BBN Game Day.
Speaker 9 (18:50):
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(19:11):
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Baseline tips or UK Athletics would like to bank our
official cornerstone partners, Central Bank, the official bank of UK Athletics,
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official healthcare partner of Big Blue Nation.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
Still Kentucky Cool.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Okay, take the morning track walk in time ed Kentucky
go some seven to two.
Speaker 17 (21:10):
Once again, thank you to our official cornerstone partners who
play a vital role in the sixtas of the University
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Speaker 15 (21:18):
BBN Game Day it's your weekly look inside UK Athletics
Senturdays at nine am on l e X eighteen and
stations across the state. Check Ukathletics dot com Slash UK
Sports Network for stations and times in your area.
Speaker 14 (21:31):
BBN Game Day.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
It's the Nick Nsion Show here on the UK Sports Network.
As the Wildcats get ready for Northern Illinois tomorrow night
at six thirty from Kentucky Proud Park, and then they'll
head to Georgia. They'll head down to Athens to take
on the Bulldogs in their SEC opener. And Coach, you
added the NIU game because weather's played havoc early in
this season, as sometimes will happen in February. What's the
(21:56):
challenge though, of trying to put together a schedule that
both benefit It's Kentucky and also challenges the team and
also gets through.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Some weather related issues.
Speaker 10 (22:06):
Yeah, the weather is the hardest part.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
As you know.
Speaker 10 (22:09):
I mean that's really quite frankly, one of the hardest
parts about, you know, coaching in this part of the
country is the weather. And it's why I love that
we have the turf field because just the amount of
rain and snow and sleet and ice and everything else.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
So, you know, our whole.
Speaker 10 (22:25):
Deal is based off of the RPI. In the last
two years, we've been pretty fortunate to have really top
four RPI in the whole country, there's over three hundred,
and it's why we've been in position to host regionals
and a.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
Super you know. So with that, you got to put
together a good schedule.
Speaker 10 (22:43):
And this Wafford team average over I think Matt said
thirty six or thirty seven wins over the last handful
of years.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
They won over forty something games.
Speaker 10 (22:51):
And Belmont over the last five years, and Lipscomb they've
won a lot of games.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
And so it's.
Speaker 10 (22:57):
This fine balance of do you want to challenge your
team and you want to have them face good teams,
but you also you want to win, right, you got
to win, but you want to push your teams. And
you know, I told our team, like I don't get
any thrill in playing teams that we just beat up on. So,
like I've told them, I'm super excited about this schedule
because I told them that every team on that schedule
(23:18):
can beat us, every single team. Now, we could beat
every team on our schedule as well, but every team
is that good that they could beat us on any
given day. So therefore you got to bring it, and
you have to focus, and you have to compete at
a super high level. But make no question about it,
there's this fine balance of getting the right opponents and
then also guessing who do you think is going to
be good win because some of these games and series
(23:41):
is are scheduled one to two in three years in advance,
so I mean with the transfer portal now, like who knows? So,
but I do love playing good teams, and we played
a really good Whaffer team, and I'm going to tell
you I feel good about looking up that they're going
to win at least thirty five games and if they
want over forty, I don't think anybody's going to be surprised.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
We're talking about weather.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Last Tuesday, you played in Richmond against KU thirty forty
mile an hour win.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
Gus.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
We thought it would play havoc there were moments in
the game where it did affect the game, but just
crazy some of the win that this team has played in.
Speaker 10 (24:15):
Oh yeah, I give Trevor Fits a lot of credit.
He's been working at pitching Machine for pop ups, making
those guys better.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
I mean, yeah, So, you.
Speaker 10 (24:23):
Know, we added in IU because last Wednesday, the feels
like temperature was sixteen to nineteen degrees and we looked
up and Tuesday was going to be seventy.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
So it's gone up to seventy five so.
Speaker 10 (24:33):
Since then, So just add another game was super important,
especially with us losing one opening weekend, and continue to
have the guys get at bats and log innings. I mean,
we have a lot of really good players that need
opportunities to play. So thankful to do that against a
team that I believe is a really good NIU team.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
That depth.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
You and I have talked about the depth of talent
across the board, but one aspect I haven't really asked
you about is when you're filling out a lineup, how
does that depth help you mix and match right handed
versus left handed hitters to go against the opposing pitcher.
Speaker 10 (25:03):
You know, I had a former player years ago he
and I had a really good conversation after he left
and he was in professional baseball, and.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
We talked about that. Now, when you have really.
Speaker 10 (25:13):
Good players and so many of them, you kind of
try to find a role for each guy. So having
a left hand lineup and a right handed lineup, it
sounds good and it could definitely help, But also I
think it's really hard on the players sometimes when they
only play once a week or they barely get to play,
you know what I mean, It's just like hard to
keep them consistent. So we fight that balance all the
(25:36):
time of who do we get and how do we
continue to get guys more at bats? And you know this,
like our game, the more they typically play, the more
comfortable to get.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
The better they they're at bats get.
Speaker 10 (25:47):
But sometimes when you're playing once a week or every
other couple of weeks, I understand and recognize that's really
difficult on the players. So this team, we do have
a really nice balance of left handed and right handed,
and some guys that are quite frankly are better from
one side compared to the other. So we've spent and
we had intentional effort trying to improve those guys from
(26:09):
whatever side of the plate they might be a little
weaker on while still building the side. So that's the
nice thing about this team offensively is we feel like
we got sixteen guys that we can use and put
in any situation and kind of just kind of go
whatever we need to for that day. But I do
go back to saying it is nice for the guys
to know that, like, hey, I'm gonna play, and we've
(26:30):
had some guys who earn that spot and earning those
opportunities and some other spots We're still open and trying
to get guys in there.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Coach.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Always fun to catch up with you, enjoy the show.
It's amazing how fast the time goes when you and
I get to sit and talk baseball. But we look
forward to seeing you tomorrow night against Northern Illinois.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
Thank you BBN.
Speaker 10 (26:45):
Come out and see us seventy five and Sunny come on,
go Cats.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
See everybody at Kentucky Proud Park.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
This has been the nicknainsee Own show on the UK
Sports Network
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