If you’re not interested in either Tennessee or LSU, you might still be interested in their three-game baseball series, which begins Thursday night in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
“They could have the first three picks on the field in the next MLB draft,” ESPN baseball analyst Chris Burke told Knox News.
Burke, a former Tennessee baseball star, referenced UT pitcher Chase Dollander, LSU pitcher Paul Skenes, and LSU outfielder Dylan Crews.
Crews’ batting average suggests he plays slow-pitch softball. He started the week with nine home runs and hit .531.
Some of the compliments he’s received stand out more than his stats.
“Dylan Crews is the best baseball player I’ve ever seen,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “Not just the best college player — the best baseball player.”
Just calling him “the greatest LSU baseball player of all time” would be a compliment. Some longtime supporters of the program think he is just that.
When ESPN picked its all-time collegiate baseball team a few years ago, it chose three LSU players — pitcher Ben McDonald and infielder Todd Walker, as well as Alex Bregman, who currently plays for the defending champion Houston Astros.
Based on Crews’ college career, he is in the same elite class.
“What I love about Dylan Crews is that every year he gets better in every area,” Burke said. “He has become extremely strong and has increased his athleticism.”
Skenes is known for his versatility and talent. He hit 24 home runs in two seasons in the Air Force, where he both caught and fielded. He still has to beat at LSU, but served sensationally.
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“His average fastball speed is 98[mph],” Burke said. “He peaked at 102. He hits with a whole different level of swagger. He knows he’s the biggest, baddest guy on the pitch.”
As stunning as the 6-foot-6, 245-pound skenes were, Burke still believes Tennessee has a slight pitching advantage in the SEC series.
The story goes on
“I think if you did a story on the tape, you would give Tennessee an edge in pitching because of their top-to-bottom talent,” Burke said. “Chase Burns looks fantastic. His stuff is electric. He could be the first drafted player (in the 2024 class).
Burns has batted 59 batters in 34.2 innings. Dollander has batted 53 in 34.1 innings. But as their earned averages would attest, they struggled at times. Burnes has an ERA of 4.15 and Dollander has an ERA of 3.93.
Dollander wasn’t that sharp in the early innings either. In a matchup with Skenes, he needs to be at his best right away.
“You can’t give up two in the first and hope your team takes a fifth place[against Skenes],” Burke said. “Dollander has to keep the ball out of the middle of the plate. I don’t think his stuff is the problem. And it’s not a control issue. It’s a command issue.”
Defense could also be a factor in the series. The Vols have committed 10 errors in their first six SEC games.
Balancing offense and defense could be a challenge for Tennessee coach Tony Vitello this series. He has repeatedly juggled his outfield in search of that balance.
For example, against Texas A&M on Sunday, he used the light-hitting Christian Scott in right field. The move was worth it. Scott once again proved his defensive skills by making a dive catch to save two runs.
Outfield defense could be paramount at Alex Box Stadium, where the fences are deeper than Lindsey Nelson Stadium. However, Vitello also needs to put together a lineup that can keep up with the high-scoring Tigers.
Whether on offense or defense, UT’s room for error will be small.
“To win the series, Tennessee has to hit the clutch and play an elite-level defense,” Burke said. “It can’t give LSU any extra outs.”
John Adams is a senior columnist. He can be reached at 865-342-6284 or [email protected] Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: ESPN analyst Chris Burke previews the Tennessee vs. LSU baseball series
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