Recently, in the episode of The D1Baseball Podcast: Weekend 12 Preview, analyst Joe Healy spoke at length about the continuing troubles of the Alabama Crimson Tide related to head coach Rob Vaughn and pitcher Riley Quick’s inconsistencies.
Alabama’s Pitching Woes Under Rob Vaughn
Healy observed that defensive pitching emerged as one of Alabama’s more significant concerns this season. Though pitchers such as Riley Quick and Zane Adams have shown flashes of being good, their inconsistency has frustrated them.
Quick, for example, had his moments, but he was not able to sustain it throughout the season. Consequently, this inconsistent pitching has made it difficult for Alabama to create a steady rotation. It has continued to place greater pressure on that bullpen while needing assistance from the offense.
For the Crimson Tide, the already arduous task of pitching was soured by the starters’ lack of deep appearances. Problems arise with the burden being heaped on the relievers, as the workload may stretch into unsustainable territory during the long haul of a season. Healy’s observations indicate that if the Alabama pitching staff is not stabilized, the teams could face woes in the chase for success in an already tough SEC.
Vanderbilt’s Pitching Strengths Highlight Alabama’s Deficiencies
Contrary to that, Healy noted how Vanderbilt’s strong pitching lineup of JD Thompson, Cody Bowker, and Connor Fennell contrasts with Alabama’s struggling lot. In particular, he pointed towards Fennell as a central figure in the assembly.
“He’s got a 58 per cent whiff rate on his change-up, whiff rate of 53 per cent on his slider,” Healy said of Fennell, pretending he might have some stock in it. These numbers reflect, in an impressive way, the depth and consistency of Vanderbilt’s rotation as they set a standard to which Alabama now falls short of reaching.
Offensive Problems Further Deepen Alabama’s Burden
Alabama’s offense has had its share of issues, with Kade Snell and Richie Bonamo offering some notable contributions in the lineup. In contrast, Justin Lebron underperformed during the SEC play. His batting average recently dropped below 250, with four home runs in conference games. Certainly, this slump has made it much harder for Alabama to balance out its mountainous pitching deficiencies.
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Looking forward
During this season, Alabama also faces the challenge of working on its pitching inconsistencies and infusing life into its offensive game. According to Healy’s analysis, the Crimson Tide may have difficulty finding its feet in the SEC if real changes don’t occur. The series against Vanderbilt will serve as the team’s first real test of how to adjust and increase its level of play.
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