Most missed my time as a baseball player. They didn’t miss much. I couldn’t hit a curve. Or a fastball.
After I conceded, gave away my gear and sort of retired, I became an expert, a Southeastern Conference umpire. I was much better at umpiring than playing. It is easier to see a ball or strike than hit one.
Here are two memories from long ago, one for fun, one for a purpose.
On an otherwise beautiful April afternoon, I called Kentucky’s leadoff batter out on two strikes – a most unusual way to begin a game. I lived to share a laugh about the blunder with the coach of the Wildcats. Harry Lancaster said I wasn’t too bad after I learned to count.
On another day, when there was no SEC game, I moved down a league but up a notch in intensity, Maryville College at Carson-Newman. From my perspective, money was money. Bob Baird pitched a no-hitter for the Eagles.
Somehow the Los Angeles Dodgers learned I had been the umpire behind the plate. They sent a letter asking if I would answer a questionnaire.
It was basic baseball, three pages, how hard did Bob throw, what variety of pitches, same or different stuff against left and right-handed batters, how sharp was his control, what is his disposition?
I took it seriously. The Dodgers said thank you and sent $500. I called to ask if that was an error. I was told it was the payoff on a small gamble that I would help when asked and cost less than sending a scout from wherever he was in the world to Jefferson City.
There was a bonus compliment. They had been assured I would know what I was talking about.
So many years later, that line serves a purpose. It reinforces what I am about to say: Tennessee has one heck of a baseball team.
It is 27-1 and has stunned the SEC brotherhood with consecutive 3-0 sweeps of South Carolina, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. It has raised the school record to 19 wins in a row. Five different polls say the Vols are No. 1 in the country.
There is a tiger at the controls. The best thing John Currie did in his brief fling as athletics director was bring in Tony Vitello to run the show. He had been hiding as an assistant coach at Arkansas.
In 2017, Tony made a strategic move, hiring Frank Anderson as pitching coach. What he has done exclaims he is one of the best in the country.
Texas A&M wanted to buy Vitello. Tennessee raised his pay to $1.5 million. Vitello wanted playground improvements. UT president Randy Boyd is seeking front money, $56.8 million, for Lindsey Nelson Stadium expansion and upgrades.
Drew Beam
As their contribution, Vitello, Anderson, Josh Elander and others have recruited an outstanding roster. The young pitching staff may be brilliant. Freshman Drew Beam delivered a two-hitter Sunday in a 5-0 complete-game victory in Nashville. For the season, he is 6-0 with an earned run average near 1.00.
Freshman Chase Burns, Friday night winning pitcher, is 6-0 with 1.15 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 39 innings.
Third baseman Trey Lipscomb is the big bopper so far – 11 home runs, 48 RBI. The Vols lead the country in home runs and may be out front in in-your-face fun.
Example: The Vol who hits a home run gets to wear a mink coat in the dugout celebration.
Vitello is more than a match who lit the fire. He is a flamethrower. The team plays with a flair, a devilish edge. It enjoys winning enough to irritate the opposition.
“We embrace it,” said centerfielder Drew Gilbert (home run and two-run double on Sunday). “Whether you like us or not, we don’t really care.”
Beam said this Tennessee team has confidence beyond most foes.
“We love being the team that everyone just despises. It leaves something for us to prove every week. When people try to bring us down, it just fuels us even more, makes that flame even bigger.”
Fans have bought in to the Vols’ attitude. Expect a full house on Tuesday night for the Lipscomb game. Expect a good show.
Marvin West welcomes reader comments or questions. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com