Mozeliak: "Some Changes" Coming For Cardinals, But Not A Rebuild

[Lesson]

The only program that matters at UK is in total disarray, your baseball program has still never been to the College World Series (only program in the SEC!), and the a** beating your (supposedly) good football team took at Neyland (wasn't it 45-6?) last year is a sign of things to come. We even?

It was 44-6. And I was there.

Tennessee has not won a national title in any team sport since 2008.

And if you're going to call out Kentucky baseball, please also mention how Tennessee men's basketball has only been to one Elite 8 in its entire existence and has never made the Final Four and lost both games to a mediocre Kentucky basketball team after talking [expletive] during the football game this season.

[jagtrader]

Maybe they should’ve paid Lance Lynn six years ago.

[Jedibaracuda]

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/profess ... 4bb94.html

Another article, this time with quotes from Dewitt. I won't post it since it's behind a paywall but the takeaways, since specific players were named.

Dewitt expects us to play better in the second half (thanks Dewitt lol)

Not like we could play any worse.

Can’t wait to see us trade Carlson and then watch him ball out for his new team.

[Magneto2.0]

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/profess ... 4bb94.html

Another article, this time with quotes from Dewitt. I won't post it since it's behind a paywall but the takeaways, since specific players were named.

Dewitt expects us to play better in the second half (thanks Dewitt lol)

Not like we could play any worse.

Can’t wait to see us trade Carlson and then watch him ball out for his new team.

I have no doubt that Carlson will eventually be traded and also have no doubt that he'll put up a season that'll make fans mad. And I wouldn't think it's necessarily bad development as much as it is we (not us, just fans in general) have become so impatient with young players. The players that come out the gate elite are rarities and the elite of the elite.

But the main thing is, you just hope when you trade guys, you trade them for a player that provides enough value that you don't think about it. The reason Arozarena hurts is because Liberatore has been a disappointment. If Liberatore came up and turned into Spencer Strider, we wouldn't be bemoaning the deal, regardless of what Arozarena turned into.

[MrCrowesGarden]

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/profess ... 4bb94.html

Another article, this time with quotes from Dewitt. I won't post it since it's behind a paywall but the takeaways, since specific players were named.

Dewitt expects us to play better in the second half (thanks Dewitt lol)

Not like we could play any worse.

Can’t wait to see us trade Carlson and then watch him ball out for his new team.

I have no doubt that Carlson will eventually be traded and also have no doubt that he'll put up a season that'll make fans mad. And I wouldn't think it's necessarily bad development as much as it is we (not us, just fans in general) have become so impatient with young players. The players that come out the gate elite are rarities and the elite of the elite.

But the main thing is, you just hope when you trade guys, you trade them for a player that provides enough value that you don't think about it. The reason Arozarena hurts is because Liberatore has been a disappointment. If Liberatore came up and turned into Spencer Strider, we wouldn't be bemoaning the deal, regardless of what Arozarena turned into.

I'll even give it some middle ground and say if Liberatore had become, like, 2023 Miles Mikolas, it's at least palatable if underwhelming.

I wouldn't give Noot away for nothing, but I don't think the Cardinals should put him in the same category as Jordan Walker-- move him if the right offer comes. Same for Gorman.

[ThatGuy]

It was 44-6. And I was there.

Oh damn, I'm sorry. Don't tell me you were one of the people who really really thought Kentucky was gonna win even though that basically never happens, especially at Neyland. That was a bloodbath.

Tennessee has not won a national title in any team sport since 2008.

Preaching to the choir, but at least we're fielding multiple programs that have a shot. Kentucky has one major program that can win championships, and things aren't so pretty there right now. I would be depressed if it was just a given that neither the football team nor the baseball team had a chance at competing.

And if you're going to call out Kentucky baseball, please also mention how Tennessee men's basketball has only been to one Elite 8 in its entire existence and has never made the Final Four and lost both games to a mediocre Kentucky basketball team after talking [expletive] during the football game this season.

Kentucky could have the worst team in their history and still play a competitive game against us in basketball. I don't let that bother me.

I do remember that Tennessee made it further in the NCAA tournament and didn't, ya know, lose in the first round.

[Lesson]

Oh damn, I'm sorry. Don't tell me you were one of the people who really really thought Kentucky was gonna win even though that basically never happens, especially at Neyland. That was a bloodbath.

I had optimism going into the season that was quickly drained after Levis' injury and the OL being crap.

I have actually experienced a Kentucky win over Tennessee in person in football during my lifetime, but those aren't common.

Tennessee has not won a national title in any team sport since 2008.

Preaching to the choir, but at least we're fielding multiple programs that have a shot. Kentucky has one major program that can win championships, and things aren't so pretty there right now. I would be depressed if it was just a given that neither the football team nor the baseball team had a chance at competing.[/quote]

False, Kentucky's won 3 titles since 2021 in sports that aren't basketball, one of which being women's volleyball (and being the only SEC team to win a title too!).

Basketball had the highest-rated recruiting class in the internet era so I feel great. Baseball is whatever. It's hard to recruit due to where KY is located geographically.

Kentucky could have the worst team in their history and still play a competitive game against us in basketball. I don't let that bother me.

I do remember that Tennessee made it further in the NCAA tournament and didn't, ya know, lose in the first round.

Kentucky didn't lose in the first round this year. They did lose one round before TN did. However, the difference between the two programs is one doesn't hang a banner for tournament appearances or Elite 8 appearances while the other one does.

[ThatGuy]

The playoffs are a crapshoot. The 100+ wins of 2004, 2005, and 2015 didn’t win a title. 2 of 3 didn’t make the World Series.

The crappy 2006 and 2011 teams won it all.

2012 team wouldn’t have made the playoffs in 2011. They survived a bad infield fly call in our favor, won a road game 5 despite being down to their last strike, and almost made the World Series.

A 1-9 stretch sucks, but anything can happen in a 10 game sample. It’s not indicative of a crappy GM, that’s for sure.

Sorry man, but you just don't have a leg to stand on anymore. You really don't. I appreciate optimism, but that's not what you're displaying anymore—you're just sticking your head in the sand and trying to lecture everybody else when your own field of vision is severely impaired. The current failure is a sign of prolonged systemic dysfunction.

Mo is certainly constrained in what he can do by DeWitt, but nobody is suggesting that throwing money at the problem is the only way to fix it. He's fallen short in a number of ways.

[dmarx114]

The playoffs are a crapshoot. The 100+ wins of 2004, 2005, and 2015 didn’t win a title. 2 of 3 didn’t make the World Series.

The crappy 2006 and 2011 teams won it all.

2012 team wouldn’t have made the playoffs in 2011. They survived a bad infield fly call in our favor, won a road game 5 despite being down to their last strike, and almost made the World Series.

A 1-9 stretch sucks, but anything can happen in a 10 game sample. It’s not indicative of a crappy GM, that’s for sure.

Sorry man, but you just don't have a leg to stand on anymore. You really don't. I appreciate optimism, but that's not what you're displaying anymore—you're just sticking your head in the sand and trying to lecture everybody else when your own field of vision is severely impaired. The current failure is a sign of prolonged systemic dysfunction.

Mo is certainly constrained in what he can do by DeWitt, but nobody is suggesting that throwing money at the problem is the only way to fix it. He's fallen short in a number of ways.

I have acknowledged Mo's mistakes a few times in this thread.

But I don't agree that we have been on this downward trajectory for a while. Certainly not after 3 straight 90 win seasons.

And I really don't agree that the recent 1-9 playoff record should be used as a way to point out a deficiency with the front office.

[ThatGuy]

I had optimism going into the season that was quickly drained after Levis' injury and the OL being crap.

I have actually experienced a Kentucky win over Tennessee in person in football during my lifetime, but those aren't common.

Is there any optimism this year? Haven't paid as much attention to Kentucky this offseason.

False, Kentucky's won 3 titles since 2021 in sports that aren't basketball, one of which being women's volleyball (and being the only SEC team to win a title too!).

Basketball had the highest-rated recruiting class in the internet era so I feel great. Baseball is whatever. It's hard to recruit due to where KY is located geographically.

How did you celebrate the women's volleyball title?

And what do you mean by geographic challenges? Isn't Lexington like 180 miles from Knoxville? Seems a bit like a cop out. And hell, our current stadium is even pretty awful (though it's getting a huge upgrade). If Vitello can recruit to that, surely Kentucky can do better.

Kentucky didn't lose in the first round this year. They did lose one round before TN did. However, the difference between the two programs is one doesn't hang a banner for tournament appearances or Elite 8 appearances while the other one does.

Oh I'm under no delusion that Tennessee's basketball program is elite. But Kentucky's whole brand is so centered around basketball that I have to think Calipari's downward trend (in terms of performance, not recruiting) feels concerning.