I would have handed the bat to a little kid in the front row and made Auburn come take it away from him.

I'm just tired of the cocky punk actions of baseball players and coaches in general, and Tennessee exemplifies it more than most all the time. They are very good though.

Lance Uppercut said:

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People make excuses for winners. It's unlikely that all of your teams are going to win at this clip going forward, and when you start losing games, it's going to look a lot more like petulance.

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Yep.

It was like that with Coach Sumlin here. During Johnny's years, everyone loved the swag persona. But then the team was getting beaten by mentally and physically tougher teams every year and people decided that old school smash mouth was the way to go and that games aren't won on swag.

I don't mind Coach V throwing the bat back in the direction of a player who tossed the bat to his dugout. I don't like bat flips. I don't mind a player shoving their fist in the air as the ball goes over the fence, just as I don't mind a pitcher fist pumping after a big strikeout. Bat is showing up the other team.

I'd take the sticker off real quick, call it an illegal bat, and go to extras.

I like him.

tjack16 said:

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I like bat flips and taunting in baseball. It's fun. I'm also okay with pitchers showing up hitters after a big K.

I just don't like when coaches and umps make it about themselves

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So where do you draw the line on bat flips? Flipping it all the way to the opponent's dugout should be routine now?

This is two different conversations. I think we should all agree that the head coach the leader and example to 18-22 year olds and representative of a university shouldn't be tossing an opponents bat into a crowd of opposing players. There is no justification for that behavior.

Should've broken the bat over his knee before throwing it

STCCaggie said:

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This is two different conversations. I think we should all agree that the head coach the leader and example to 18-22 year olds and representative of a university shouldn't be tossing an opponents bat into a crowd of opposing players. There is no justification for that behavior.

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And you only addressed one conversation

What about the player that threw the bat into the Tennessee dugout ?

Hop said:

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tjack16 said:

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I like bat flips and taunting in baseball. It's fun. I'm also okay with pitchers showing up hitters after a big K.

I just don't like when coaches and umps make it about themselves

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So where do you draw the line on bat flips? Flipping it all the way to the opponent's dugout should be routine now?

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He didn't do that though, it was not close to "all the way into the opponent's dugout".

Big bat flip, no doubt, but it landed about halfway between where he threw it and the Tennessee dugout - maybe a bit over halfway. Landed a good 12-15 feet away from their dugout, and it was a true flip - meaning spinning end over end. Maybe you think he knew how it would bounce, or maybe there is a bat flip toss length rule that was broken - I don't know. But he flipped it halfway to the dugout, and it bounced oddly and weakly up to the front of the dugout fence/wall. Wasn't like anyone was outside the dugout to get hit.

Vitello picked it up and threw it about 3 times farther than the bat flip traveled where it landed maybe 3-5 feet from a group of 4 standing Auburn players, no wall or fence there.

Tennessee, maybe fans not sure if the school, was selling Vols Bat Flip t shirt and they have a fan radio show called the Bat Flip show. Because you know, the Vols team like to flip the bat. But only in the acceptable bat flip way of course, if not acceptable Vitello is the bat flip etiquette enforcer.

"Bat Flip Etiquette " is a great fantasy baseball team name.

Complete Idiot said:

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Hop said:

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tjack16 said:

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I like bat flips and taunting in baseball. It's fun. I'm also okay with pitchers showing up hitters after a big K.

I just don't like when coaches and umps make it about themselves

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So where do you draw the line on bat flips? Flipping it all the way to the opponent's dugout should be routine now?

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He didn't do that though, it was not close to "all the way into the opponent's dugout".

Big bat flip, no doubt, but it landed about halfway between where he threw it and the Tennessee dugout - maybe a bit over halfway. Landed a good 12-15 feet away from their dugout, and it was a true flip - meaning spinning end over end. Maybe you think he knew how it would bounce, or maybe there is a bat flip toss length rule that was broken - I don't know. But he flipped it halfway to the dugout, and it bounced oddly and weakly up to the front of the dugout fence/wall. Wasn't like anyone was outside the dugout to get hit.

Vitello picked it up and threw it about 3 times farther than the bat flip traveled where it landed maybe 3-5 feet from a group of 4 standing Auburn players, no wall or fence there.

Tennessee, maybe fans not sure if the school, was selling Vols Bat Flip t shirt and they have a fan radio show called the Bat Flip show. Because you know, the Vols team like to flip the bat. But only in the acceptable bat flip way of course, if not acceptable Vitello is the bat flip etiquette enforcer.

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You are bending the facts to fit your narrative. It wasn't a bat flip in the traditional since. A bat flip usually lands a few feet away from the plate. The Auburn player launched it on a line drive which is why it rolled into the opposing dugout railing.

If an opposing player did that at Olsen, A&M fans would be very upset.

Can you imagine what the conversation would be if the bat took a weird bounce and hit an Auburn player in the face?

Were we watching the same thing? kid threw the bat down flipping it kinda, but it mostly bounced...sure, slightly ******y? yes... but apples and oranges to a *coach* launching a bat towards a bunch of opposing players in retaliation.

I'm shocked that this is somehow an argument. I don't care if the kid stuck his tongue out and claimed he had relations with Vitello's mom that night, a coach is not supposed to be the one retaliating or instigating stuff.

Thank you. It's not too much to ask the COACH to act differently than the PLAYERS.

Hop said:

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tjack16 said:

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I like bat flips and taunting in baseball. It's fun. I'm also okay with pitchers showing up hitters after a big K.

I just don't like when coaches and umps make it about themselves

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So where do you draw the line on bat flips? Flipping it all the way to the opponent's dugout should be routine now?

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It looked to me like he didn't flip it all the way there. Granted it did bounce and roll there. My point is it's not a coach's place to throw it back. That seems childish. He's the leader of the group. He can take exception to it, but don't fight fire with fire and throw it back the other way into the auburn players.

Vitello's throwing of the bat actually was closer to hitting a player than the Auburn guy was

Hop said:

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Complete Idiot said:

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Hop said:

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tjack16 said:

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I like bat flips and taunting in baseball. It's fun. I'm also okay with pitchers showing up hitters after a big K.

I just don't like when coaches and umps make it about themselves

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So where do you draw the line on bat flips? Flipping it all the way to the opponent's dugout should be routine now?

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He didn't do that though, it was not close to "all the way into the opponent's dugout".

Big bat flip, no doubt, but it landed about halfway between where he threw it and the Tennessee dugout - maybe a bit over halfway. Landed a good 12-15 feet away from their dugout, and it was a true flip - meaning spinning end over end. Maybe you think he knew how it would bounce, or maybe there is a bat flip toss length rule that was broken - I don't know. But he flipped it halfway to the dugout, and it bounced oddly and weakly up to the front of the dugout fence/wall. Wasn't like anyone was outside the dugout to get hit.

Vitello picked it up and threw it about 3 times farther than the bat flip traveled where it landed maybe 3-5 feet from a group of 4 standing Auburn players, no wall or fence there.

Tennessee, maybe fans not sure if the school, was selling Vols Bat Flip t shirt and they have a fan radio show called the Bat Flip show. Because you know, the Vols team like to flip the bat. But only in the acceptable bat flip way of course, if not acceptable Vitello is the bat flip etiquette enforcer.

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You are bending the facts to fit your narrative. It wasn't a bat flip in the traditional since. A bat flip usually lands a few feet away from the plate. The Auburn player launched it on a line drive which is why it rolled into the opposing dugout railing.

If an opposing player did that at Olsen, A&M fans would be very upset.

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Stop changing things, first it was flipped all the way to their dugout and now it's launched on a line drive. I mean, there's video we aren't arguing our recollection of what we each saw - you can watch a video of it.

We aren't arguing if fans would be upset - I'm not a bat flip guy in any way. It's all I can do to accept a small bat flip on your home field after a walk off grand slam. I'm more of a pump fist and yell at your own team type. But I realize not everyone agrees on this stuff. But you are saying fans would be upset while we are arguing Vitello's actions. Not just lowering himself to one up a bat toss aggressiveness, but I also think Tennessee's history of bat flips played a part in the auburn players behavior. Auburn player didn't even look at the Tennessee dugout when he did it so I still don't think intent was to "line drive" it with a "flip to the other team's dugout".

94chem said:

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I would have handed the bat to a little kid in the front row and made Auburn come take it away from him.

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He should've been warned by the umpire and dressed down by his coach.

Maybe the video is being viewed through different lenses but Tony v is out of the dug out before it finishes landing. Also don't have fake grass and the bat flip dies 3/4 of the way there.

The Bo Pelini of baseball coaches.

This ends poorly.

But good for him having a good team right now.

Can't wait til hear more from Arky bout how they're gonna "steal" him.

I haven't read the thread beyond watching the initial video, but this is par for the course with Vitello. He's got a lot of growing up to do, and I'm really glad we didn't hire him, regardless of UT's win/loss record

swimmerbabe11 said:

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Were we watching the same thing? kid threw the bat down flipping it kinda, but it mostly bounced...sure, slightly ******y? yes... but apples and oranges to a *coach* launching a bat towards a bunch of opposing players in retaliation.

I'm shocked that this is somehow an argument. I don't care if the kid stuck his tongue out and claimed he had relations with Vitello's mom that night, a coach is not supposed to be the one retaliating or instigating stuff.

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That one went a long way the other way and in a hurry.

Well done Swimmer!

20ag07 said:

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The Bo Pelini of baseball coaches.

This ends poorly.

But good for him having a good team right now.

Can't wait til hear more from Arky bout how they're gonna "steal" him.

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Lol the Bo Pellini of baseball…

tjack16 said:

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Hop said:

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tjack16 said:

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I like bat flips and taunting in baseball. It's fun. I'm also okay with pitchers showing up hitters after a big K.

I just don't like when coaches and umps make it about themselves

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So where do you draw the line on bat flips? Flipping it all the way to the opponent's dugout should be routine now?

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It looked to me like he didn't flip it all the way there. Granted it did bounce and roll there. My point is it's not a coach's place to throw it back. That seems childish. He's the leader of the group. He can take exception to it, but don't fight fire with fire and throw it back the other way into the auburn players.

Vitello's throwing of the bat actually was closer to hitting a player than the Auburn guy was

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I've never argued that Vitello's actions were justified. He's a buffoon. I'm focused on the fact that none of the umpires even acknowledged what the Auburn player did. The fact that a bat flip has gone from one quick flip near the plate to a bat thrown with such force that it reached the opposing dugout shows this has gotten ridiculous.

If the umpires down rein in this behavior, it will only get worse.

I don't think the auburn kids bat flips like that in a game versus Kentucky. Vitello and Tennessee being who and what they are brings this out. It's cause and effect.

STCCaggie said:

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I don't think the auburn kids bat flips like that in a game versus Kentucky. Vitello and Tennessee being who and what they are brings this out. It's cause and effect.

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Chirpers are always subject to being chirped back at.

swimmerbabe11 said:

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Were we watching the same thing? kid threw the bat down flipping it kinda, but it mostly bounced...sure, slightly ******y? yes... but apples and oranges to a *coach* launching a bat towards a bunch of opposing players in retaliation.

I'm shocked that this is somehow an argument. I don't care if the kid stuck his tongue out and claimed he had relations with Vitello's mom that night, a coach is not supposed to be the one retaliating or instigating stuff.

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That's Hop for ya.. swinging at air.

Vitello appears to fancy himself a badass with a ton of swagger and aggression. I don't think his behavior will serve himself or UT well over time.

Edit for spelling.

Keep the bat - call it even - in the meantime, if the Ags were first place in baseball - the would excuse throwing the bat back…

Knoxville_Ag_08 said:

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Keep the bat - call it even - in the meantime, if the Ags were first place in baseball - the would excuse throwing the bat back…

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Don't put words into other people's mouths

I've been told by someone who knows every Big12 and SEC coach that Vitello is "the biggest dchbg in college baseball next to David Pierce."

Absolutely not.

STCCaggie said:

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I don't think the auburn kids bat flips like that in a game versus Kentucky. Vitello and Tennessee being who and what they are brings this out. It's cause and effect.

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Bingo.

Honestly I'm getting a little tired of the whole bat flip "look at me" act. A little toss is fine. But they're getting more aggressive and pre planned, And of course, that's going to bring a reaction in kind when it starts getting over the top and you better not whine when it happens. Vitello has been asking for it.

Dude is a great coach. Frankly he was my first choice when Rob was let go. But the more I've seen of his act this season, the more convinced I am that we got the right guy

It's not like these tough guys are catching a pass across the middle of a zone defense. The tough guy act in baseball is just that, an act.