Posted by CatScratchFever on May 11, 2008 at 8:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Your baseball team is terrible. Maybe you can play for the Little League World Series.

Posted by CatScratchFever on May 11, 2008 at 8:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

^^Take that back, you would not even make it against a bunch of 7 year olds.

Posted by eaglentn2002 on May 11, 2008 at 8:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Nice comment CatScratch! Especially since you suck in basketball, football, need I go on? I guess you gotta really look for something good to look for when you come down to FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL Country! Go VolS!

Posted by General_Fritter on May 11, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hang in there Vols. Raleigh will take the last chip and make us rich on the way to the world series.

Posted by CatScratchFever on May 11, 2008 at 8:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Basketball,,,,Excuse me. We own you in Basketball too. We always have and ALWAYS WILL. Even in the best season tennessee has ever had, they could not even make the Elite 8, much less the Final Four they thought they would get.

You will NEVER get close to Kentucky in basketball....EVER. We own you...thats right, OWN you.

Posted by IPOrange on May 11, 2008 at 8:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ouch. Makes you wish there was a 10-run rule in college baseball.

Posted by TouchdownTennessee on May 11, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What the he%$ are you talking about Fritter? Do you do happy drugs or are you just fricken stupid? If this loss was any worse the team would have to be coached by fat FOOLmer.

Posted by General_Fritter on May 11, 2008 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What's wrong with Fulmer?

Posted by Ironcity on May 11, 2008 at 9:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

CatScratch I just heard Gillespie just got a commitment from one of those little league guys just yesterday. As for B Ball UK has NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! finished higher then Coach Pearl. Live for today lets try to forget about Rupps Runts!! Although I can understand why you want to remember the glory years. They were good for UK weren't they.

Posted by tigervol9802 on May 11, 2008 at 9:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ouch. Whew, ain't much to say about that.

CatScratch - Glad to see that mommy and daddy have given you internet privledges all by yourself. Are you the 8th grader Billy G took a committment from and trying to get some school spirit early on?

Posted by maholt49 on May 11, 2008 at 9:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Fire Raleigh's a$$ and Hamilton's for hiring him!!!!!

Posted by orangeblood1966 on May 11, 2008 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Some blame this mess on Rod D. I think any time a team quits, it's the fault of the current coach. Hamilton had a slam dunk with Pearl, but he struck out looking with Raleigh.

Posted by fsslagle on May 11, 2008 at 10:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

this guy is no pearl

Posted by KHVOLFAN on May 11, 2008 at 10:06 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by pdhuff on May 11, 2008 at 10:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

RIP-2008

Posted by KingsportVol on May 11, 2008 at 10:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Very well said pd.MMM Taters.

Posted by VolBallFan on May 11, 2008 at 11:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Raleigh has no one to blame but himself on this one. He's systematically dismantled this team. Benched one of the best batters and found reasons to kick other players off. His personal attacks and hateful comments to players are taking a tole on the team. He's said "I can't wait for this F____'in season to be over" at the top of his lungs from the dugout and he got his wish. He's a total disgrace to the team and the students and players deserve better. He's wasted a lot of talent and gotten away with some of the lowest, most disgusting speech towards his own team. Western Carolina has improved since he left, and Tennessee has gotten worse. Strange???
I don't think so.

Posted by FWBVol on May 11, 2008 at 11:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

catlitter, I'm a baseball fan, and all I have to say is even a blind squirell finds a nut every now and then. It's obvious you are one of those KY-nuts, just something with a hard shell and bitter because you don't have a real athletic program.

I'll give you a long-term nod in basketball, but UT winning streak over Kentucky is currently the longest in the country. The last time the mildcats beat UT on the gridiron was during Ronald Reagan's first term in office. How many football coaches have you been through since then?

For overall athletic excellence in both men and women sports there's no comparison...the Vols own the Cats in most sports.

Enjoy the win. NOT! They are few and far between. TRUE!

Posted by Musicman74 on May 11, 2008 at 11:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey' give Raleigh a break this is just his first year. Rod D didn't do well his first year either. At least give him a couple more years, before you call for his hide.

Posted by justisiscumin on May 11, 2008 at 11:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

CSF....in my lifetime, watching since 1965, you have never owned UT in any sport! When you won national championships, you lost in KNoxville! The year you had 5 parade AA's in the 70's we beat you twice the same year! You lost 12 in a row at Stokely Center when Joe B Hall was there, so before you get too over zealous about history, in the last 40 years it ain't been so...and since Pearl has been here...check the record! Also, don't forget the best football team you;ve had in decades was last year and you couldn't beat us in Lexington! LOL, also...the best football you have ever had in my lifetime was in the mid 70's, Derrick Ramsey was QB, that year we had the worst team UT has had in 50 years and you beat us 7-0, barely! You are delusional! and laughable!

Posted by VolBallFan on May 11, 2008 at 11:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I won't give any Coach a chance that is hateful and demoralizing to his team. 3 years of insults and hate speech won't improve any team's record or instill the kind of values we want in UT players. Raleigh has already worn out his welcome, and several years of this absolutely disgraceful behavior will destroy UT baseball. He took a great lineup full of SEC leaders and All-Americans and berated them into the ground.

Raleigh is a cancer to UT Athletics and should be removed before he destroys another promising season.

Posted by liveinloudon on May 11, 2008 at 11:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

wow....could not happen to a better coach....

what a disgrace.i hear that the story about Simunic having academic issues is not true i heard that he is not only eligible by SEC standards but by the NCAA as well..What is the True Story? Heard that the commentators on the TV game Saturday stated that he was academically ineligible and that he personally called them and they recanted during the broadcast...

Posted by VolBallFan on May 12, 2008 at 12:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

All of Raleigh's ridiculous behavior has gotten him nowhere but in last place. This guy has sabotaged his team and himself. Don't expect for anything to change, just get rid of this guy before he insults more players, alienates more fans and destroys more seasons.
LOSER
LOSER
LOSER

Posted by VolBallFan on May 12, 2008 at 1:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Not only is Raleigh bringing down his team, but his stooges, LeCroy and Corral are following suit. C'mon guys. Just because Raleigh's career is a joke and he lack integrity in everything he says and does doesn't mean you have to do the same. Have a backbone.

Posted by Goodvol on May 12, 2008 at 7:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

With all the pitching injuries, what exactly do you expect? At full strength, this team performed well. Through a long season, your weaknesses get exposed and unfortunately it happened. Raleigh will do just fine. All the other teams need to take advantage while they can. I believe he will put a good team on the field next year and we will be just fine.

Posted by jdcvols on May 12, 2008 at 8:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

One word: bust! Hamilton missed the mark on tnis one. What I don't like is that this team got WORSE as the season went on, not better. He has LITTLE leadership ability. Let's cut our losses now and look for another coach.

Posted by BigOrangeJeff on May 12, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow, VBF, are you one of those players that Raleigh benched or kicked off the team? As for the "3 years of insult and hate speech" comment, wasn't this his first season?

Give the man a chance. No one - not one of you - slammed this hire when it was announced. He was hailed as another Pearl. Funny how the haters have 20/20 hindsight.

BOJ

Posted by VolBallFan on May 12, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Not a player, just seen a lot of games. Hindsight? This guy has been a menace all year long and I'm not the only one to say so. I've heard it sitting in the stands coming from the dugout, read his insults in interviews, and seen him disparage players and send them out of the dugout for making an error. It's embarrassing to be associated with TR. One year is enough, and it won't improve.

Posted by BigOrangeJeff on May 12, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Like I said, hindsight. And where did the 3 years comment come from?

Posted by liveinloudon on May 12, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Who was raving about Raleigh . when he was hired I remembered reading Who is this Guy and now we know. He is a loser coach. A demoralizing Coach. A coach that most players Do Not Want To Play For.

We were winning at the beginning of the season because the team had not spent much time with him. The longer the team spent with him and his coaching the worse the team got.

I say to the potential players out there As long as Raleigh is at UT go somewhere else!!! He will Ruin You.

Posted by liveinloudon on May 12, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Who was raving about Raleigh . when he was hired I remembered reading Who is this Guy and now we know. He is a loser coach. A demoralizing Coach. A coach that most players Do Not Want To Play For.

We were winning at the beginning of the season because the team had not spent much time with him. The longer the team spent with him and his coaching the worse the team got.

I say to the potential players out there As long as Raleigh is at UT go somewhere else!!! He will Ruin You.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 12, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yeah, Western Carolina is 27-24 this year. They won about 43 games last year. That's what I call improvement. Oh and WCU has 1 freshman starting for them this year. How many do we have? Polk, Liles, Davis? Crknkovich was being counted on as #1 starter. You know the one that transferred from the baseball powerhouse known as Illinois-Chicago. I'm sure having only 10.2 out of 11.7 scholarhips available doesn't help matters much either thanks to Delmonico's APR blunders.

Posted by VolBallFan on May 12, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

BOJ, 3 years is a response to people who say we need to give him a couple more years. It will only go from bad to worse. Vols have been in a tailspin for months and it's not just pitching. Raleigh has taken the will to play out of his best offensive threats.
WLH, did you conveniently forget freshmen Davis and Morgado???

Posted by rpoll1095 on May 12, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, its official. This baseball team has accomplished something I really did not think possible here at Tennessee.....they just quit. That is the only explanation. As for the tournament, they really have not played their way into deserving a spot. This club needs an attitude and commitment overhaul. We will see what Raleigh can do between now and next season....it's far too early to tell about him. But no one is happy about this season and, on that point, I doubt that anyone can much disagree.

Posted by dvols on May 12, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

college baseball? aluminum bats? any real talent here at this level? good ball players go to the minor league! (very few exceptions)

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 12, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Volball, I included Davis and Morgado is a redshirt freshman. I was mainly talking about position players though. Alot of Delmonico's teams quit on him. Delmonico's the last 10 years:

Finished with a winning record in the SEC two whole times out of last 10 years

Was 130-162 in SEC games the last 10 years

Made the SEC tournament 4 times, winning 2 games in Hoover the whole last decade.

Made an NCAA regional 4 out of 10 years

Posted by TommyJack on May 12, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm too far away to see games in person or TV. Did the team really lay down, or are they just bad. The first year Coach should get a chance if they're just bad....laying down..well that's another story.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 12, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

dvols, gets the moron post of the day. Good one.

Posted by TommyJack on May 12, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What Workin said.

Posted by sdye16 on May 12, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Would you all rather have a coach that takes his team by the hand and say "It's ok that you gave up 20 runs to a team that only scored 5 in each of the previous two games. It's ok that you don't get tougher when things aren't going perfectly for you. It's ok that you guys take 3 straight strikes when you're the tying run to end the game (reference to game 1 against UK)" etc. I'd rather have a coach not make excuses about what's happening and attempt to put some fire into his players.

Posted by VolBallFan on May 12, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

At this point I almost hope he stays just to prove how bad he really is. The only shame is fans, players, students, and the Athletic Dept. will look worse for it. The news is already out about what a disaster TR really is, but some people need more convincing.

Posted by Redvol on May 12, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Big Orange fan here, but have to admit, haven't followed baseball as closely as football or basketball. So help me out, is Raleigh the Kevin O'Neil of baseball? I did see my alma mater ETSU kick UT's tail in Johnson City & then again in Knoxville. With everything else on the way up at UT, baseball needs to get its act together!! Go Vols!!

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 12, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

VolBall, that's fine but who are the ones that are complaining about Raleigh? It's not the afformentioned freshmen who don't have any problems with Raleigh. Liles teammate from USJ could have gone to LSU, Miss State, Memphis, ets. but chose to come to Tennessee on November 29th when the fall semester was pretty much over and after Liles had a chance to go through fall practice and see what Raleigh is like. Guess what, Clayton Gant comitted to Tennessee as did a number of other players that are coming here. If the older guys don't like Raleigh's style (which I am sure they don't like having to go to class, workout, be acountable and preferred the country club style that Rod had) aren't being coachable than that's their problem and they will be replaced.

Posted by sdye16 on May 12, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with you WLH. It's just a shame that it seems like the older guys could not buy into Raleigh's system like the basketball team did when Pearl first got here. Hopefully all the in-coming players will do what they're supposed to and help turn this program around.

Posted by VolsorCat on May 12, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

CatScratch: Great job of proving what a lot of people say about Kentucky fans. Have you gone to any of the UK games this Spring (I have season tickets)? UK isn't that great so getting on here bashing UT is classless.

Posted by SouthernMom on May 12, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The team appeared totally demoralized, for whatever reason. A sorry way for our seniors to go out. Simunic was not ineligible; he was basically told by CTR "I don't like you and you don't like me. You're gone." He was not allowed to remain in the dugout, even out of uniform. Very sad state of affairs; I think our AD has missed the mark on this one.

Posted by tigervol9802 on May 12, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Why, when there is a coach/player dispute, do we always blame the coach?

Posted by SouthernMom on May 12, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't think that we "always" blame the coach. There certainly are two sides to every story. But I don't believe this coach helps his cause -- or at least the public's perception of him -- by frequently using vulgar language and publicly berating his team and players. Respect is a two-way street, even when dealing with young people. Bobby Knight was a great coach, but his methods don't really work any more. Perhaps things will improve; I hope so.

Posted by FlushTheJohn on May 12, 2008 at 3 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Have any of you ever played sports before? Coaches always yell and cuss at players. If you are not strong enough mentally to take it, then you are not strong enough mentally to play!!

The problem with this team is that, with the exception of a few freshman, there is no talent at all!! Where is this "best hitter" he supposedly benched? We only have one decent hitter on the entire team and I've seen Kentrail Davis play just about every game! Who did he kick off the team? Are we talking about Andy Siminuc? He is as lousy a player as I've seen play college ball!!

And didn't Andy get the can at the end of last year for academics or whatever? Sounds like the problem is with the player here, not the coach!

Posted by JohnAdamsIsTrash on May 12, 2008 at 3:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

First of all, this is the first baseball story that has gotten more than 5 comments all season, So I know you people don't really care!

Second of all, why all the crying about coach being hard on his players. After their performance the last month or so, they are lucky to have scholorships at all. If I were the coach I would have trouble not running the entire team off and starting over!!!

Thanks for leaving the cupboard bare Coach D!

Posted by fmkhbeach on May 12, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

FlushtheJohn, the best hitter being referred to is Shawn Griffin, named SEC Player of the Week after the FL series. He has swung a hot bat all season. I heard he was benched for throwing a bat. Which is fine for a few games, but then he stayed there only to be thrown in as a pinch hitter in the 9th inning when no one in the line-up could hit the broad side of a barn. I've heard too many comments from multiple sources this season about the head games Raleigh played with this team and comments he made about not caring if they ever play baseball again to not be bothered by them. I was no RD fan, and I want to give Raleigh a chance, but the stuff I've heard is disturbing. And again, I've heard it from A LOT of different people, not just the parents of the players benched.

And I love your comment, JohnAdamsIsTrash, about people not really caring. Where were all these people all season? Definitely not at the games.

Posted by TommyJack on May 12, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Anyone on here PERSONALLY seen this team lay down?

Posted by BigOrangeHustler on May 12, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Even if this team had major league talent Todd Raliegh's redneck self would find a way to screw it up.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 12, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Raleigh is from Vermont. Can he really be considered a redneck?

Posted by VolBallFan on May 12, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I just hope these pro-Raleigh posters remember their comments when details come out and the record gets worse. Raleigh has shown his true, classless colors and it's time to find someone with a little substance.
FTJ, Simunic is lousy? Led the SEC in steals and the team in batting avg. last year. If that's your idea of lousy then we'll just have to agree to disagree.
Also, I've never tried vulgar insults or public humiliation to motivate and get the best out of people, so maybe I should try that before I criticize TR.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 12, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm not necessarily a pro-Raleigh supporter other than I think we should see where we are next year at this time. IF we have improved in the midweek games and not tanked at the end of the season like we have this year than I'd say that we are on the right track. IF we get a repeat of it though and get the same types of "stories", players are still transferring, APR is down again, recruiting is hurting, then it would be fair to start questioning him at the end of year 2. What players are complaining or are going to transfer? We keep hearing they are but no one will say who it is.

Posted by liveinloudon on May 12, 2008 at 6:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

flushthejohn for your info simunic was not benched last year or thrown off the team..... not sure where you get your info.

Posted by BigOrangeJeff on May 12, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh my gosh... Has there been a rip in the spacial fabric? A glitch at the nexus of the universe? A third full moon in a single month?

Something is up. I just agreed with all of WLH’s posts that I’ve read on this subject. Next thing you know, McCain and Hillary will team up for the general election.

Seriously, thanks for the reasonable, lucid, well-researched contributions. This “Fire the Coach” mentality gets a little nuts. Surely we can give the guy more than a single season before calling for his head.

BOJ

Posted by DeeBee on May 12, 2008 at 6:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Say what you want about his first year, but losing to the likes of ETSU, Belmont, David Lipscomb, and a few others that size and then getting drilled in the clutch the last two weekends, it doesn't seem he's too good of a coach at all

Posted by VolBallFan on May 12, 2008 at 7:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

When you have a disease like cancer, you don't wait for it to get better, you remove it. And that's exactly what TR is. Maybe you'll get to see how he fares another season, but the only record he's setting this year is a losing streak.

Posted by TouchdownTennessee on May 12, 2008 at 7:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ah come on. Give Raleigh a talented team and he will take Tennessee to the World Series just like Foolmer did in football with Major's talent. Have you seen FOOLmer's record against the big boys since 2002? 6 years of doldrums. Loser denial boys. Loser denial. Just work like heck and it will turn around soon.

Posted by TouchdownTennessee on May 12, 2008 at 7:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm printing T-Shirts - all ideas welcome.

"Throw Raleigh off the Hill
And while you're at it
Take Fat Phil!"

Posted by VolBallFan on May 12, 2008 at 7:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You'll be able to retire early with that kind of material.

Posted by VolBallFan on May 12, 2008 at 7:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You'll be able to retire early with that kind of material.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 12, 2008 at 7:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I can't believe that one of the most respected college baseball pitching coaches in the country, Fred Corral, risked his future and repuation to join Todd Raleigh's coaching staff and LeCroy who was an assistant with him at Western Carolina moved with him to Tennessee. Are they leaving? I don't know one way or the other, but my guess is NOPEE! Maybe that's what Coach Raliegh is doing, removing the cancer(s) from the team. Time will tell.

Posted by vols72 on May 12, 2008 at 8:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yawn...who really cares bout this!!!

Posted by Tbaseballfan on May 12, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TR had better be going around campus to get his ball players for next season, because it seems there will not be very many left!!! Maybe the girls will come play for the jerk, lets see if he could be postive with them. UT's AD should put his head in the sand, thats where he belongs!!

Posted by WD40plusVol on May 13, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Microwaves, cable news, highspeed internet...instant gratification. If it takes more than five minutes to get what you want, it must be trash. Not every coach is a Bruce Pearl or Urban Meyer.

Funny, all these instant gratification demands on the sport that is the slowest to provide action.

Posted by VolBallFan on May 13, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Nice try with the armchair sociology. In the future try this progression. First, make sense, Then (and only then) post a comment. TR is a horrible coach and a horrible person, not the kind of guy that should represent UT Sports.

Posted by liveinloudon on May 13, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This whole season is the Very reason a player should TRANSFER when a new coach comes in if at all posssible. When you go through the recruiting process you get a feel for the kind of guy you will be dealing with...not completly but somewhat so you sign on. When a new guy comes in and you elect to stay you are stuck... I bet if you talk to the players Gomes, Griffin, Simunic, Lockwood and Lima just to name a few they will say they wish they had left and at that point they would not have had to sit out now they are stuck.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 13, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

They still can transfer. Sure they'd have to sit out a year but if it's so bad, than why would they stay? Either get with the program of the coach that is not going to be let go this year, next year, or probably the next year or transfer.

Posted by tigervol9802 on May 13, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm with you workin', I don't know why players would stay if it's so bad. Not like this team has a ton of players waiting to go pro after their junior year.

I just have a feeling he could do whatever he wants if they had played .500 or better ball the last couple of weeks.

liveinlouden only shows up when things are bad. If this team could somehow back it's way into the tournament, he'd probably not be heard from until the season was over.

Posted by TommyJack on May 13, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let's fire the guy and tell all new applicants they have half a season to produce big results.
Some of you mopes are clueless. Sorry.

Posted by pdhuff on May 15, 2008 at 8:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TJ, you think Phil would have time to come over and do an expert family analysis on the B Ball situation?

Or is he opting for more saddle time during the doldrums?