Tennessee blasted by Notre Dame to extend the Super Regionals and there was nothing that the umpires could do about it.
The orange-clad, rag-tag group with much more talent than humility hammered the Fighting Irish 12-4 on Saturday to even up the series at 1-1. Game Three will be played on Sunday at 1 p.m. Drew Beam or Chase Burns will likely be on the mound.
Pitching certainly wasn’t an issue for the Vols on Saturday as Chase Dollander threw for seven innings with five strike outs while allowing just two runs. The game was really never in doubt, especially after the fifth inning when Tennessee hit four home runs, including two by first baseman Luc Lipsius. In Tennessee, that’s called “daddy hat” time.
The “daddy hat” and various other instances of chicanery throughout the season are probably why the Vols never had a chance in Game One. Sure, Tennessee was down 8-2 in the fifth inning on Friday when mayhem ensued, but are the Vols really ever completely out of a game? History would indicate that Tennessee still had a chance despite the lopsided score. Instead, they were sidetracked by themselves and an officiating crew that seemed intent on putting Tennessee in its place. That resulted in centerfielder Drew Gilbert being tossed and, subsequently, being held out of Game Two.
Notre Dame fans won’t like to hear this but the NCAA wants Tennessee in the College World Series. They are an incredible story whether you love them or hate them. They want guys like Gilbert playing in the postseason as long as he can mind his manners. The officiating crew didn’t seem to get that memo.
The officiating can’t be as bad on Sunday as it has been throughout this series. There’s too much on the line. The winner advances to the College World Series. The loser’s season is over.
Let’s be clear. Gilbert shouldn’t have stared any umpire in the eye and used the ultimate expletive. However, the lead up to the dismissal is a key indicator that the umpiring crew overseeing this series had an agenda. Following Game One, the officials said they warned Gilbert about arguing pitches in the top of the second inning. Yes, Gilbert wasn’t arguing against pitches while he at the plate. He was supposedly arguing from centerfield while Notre Dame was at the plate. If that’s the case, there’s no need for any of the umpires presiding over this series to have their ears checked anytime soon. They’re able to hear a player that is almost a full baseball field away. That’s impressive.
In the interest of fairness, there shouldn’t be any overly aggressive umpires in an elimination game. That just seems like common sense. That should have been the case in Game One. That same common sense and the spotlight of the college baseball world watching should improve Tennessee’s chances to get a fair shake on Sunday. There’s a greater likelihood that the Vols will be treated just like another team instead of, well, the team they’ve been for much of the season.
Tennessee has a reputation and it cost them on Friday. They’ve overcome that and barring any other expletives, the Vols should be treated with a clean slate each and every game moving forward. There shouldn’t be agendas or carryover from previous games. Of course, that’s easier said than done, but it should be the goal of any official. The problem is officials are human and usually old fashioned. That means they do have some biases and probably don’t really like the way Tennessee plays, which is understandable.
Now, some of the blame falls on Tennessee. They were on their best behavior on Saturday. They had best act the same way on Sunday. I’m not suggesting that the Vols completely alter their DNA and become alter boys. However, some simple, old-fashioned good manners could only help Tennessee. That’s not too much to ask.
Tennessee’s 2022 baseball team will be remembered in one of two ways after this season is over. They’ll either be remembered as a team that flamed out because they’re always seemingly running in the red or they’ll be remembered as national champions. There is no in between.
Officials can only discipline players if they truly did something wrong. However, officials can also dole out some early warnings to make it easier to toss a player later in the game. That seems to be the case in Game One.
The Vols are one win away from the College World Series where they flamed out last season. The Vols don’t want to lose on Sunday and certainly don’t want to travel to Omaha to lose their first two games and be eliminated like they did last year.
If the Vols mind their manners and play like they can, they’ll be in the College World Series and there will be nothing that any umpire in the world can do to stop it.
