Readers agree with me. No need for Tony Vitello to change and 'no mercy' baseball | Adams

My literary contributors and I agree on a couple of things this week: No mercy and no need for Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello to change.

Wade writes: Thank you for pointing out that the 1997 LSU single-season home run record was accomplished with supercharged aluminum bats. You couldn’t be more correct. Today’s BBCOR bats would be considered “dead” by any hitter that used one of each type and compared them.

However, in addition to that valid point, my son Reece made an even more compelling case as to why the 2024 National Champion Vols truly are the greatest home run hitting team in college baseball history. There was no mercy rule shortening games in 1997.

LSU played every inning that season. If I recall his count correctly, the 2024 Vols had 22 games shortened by one or more inning due to the mercy rule.  It is beyond safe to deduce that if you gave this roster an additional 30+ innings they would have hit 5 more bombs.  

My response: I share your no-mercy approach to baseball.

Thank goodness there was no mercy rule in my softball league in Manhattan, Kansas, when I was in the Army. A mercy rule would have deprived my Crawfish team of a one-run rally in our last at-bat of a 36-2 loss to Ken's Den (a team loaded with Kansas State football players).

Donna writes: I listened to the broadcast on the Tony Basilio Show you referenced − twice. Your heartfelt follow-up article beautifully captured the essence of Vitello's authenticity and his impact on college baseball.

I've simply been blown away by Coach Vitello's transformation of our baseball program. What an incredible ride this has been for the Vols faithful. It seems we've waited our whole lives for a coach like this.

My response: Vitello says what he thinks and celebrates success uninhibitedly. That sometimes will spark criticism, especially among the fun police.

But that’s why the program has become so popular with Tennessee fans. It’s also why so many good players want to become Vols.

Don writes: I really liked your story on the strangers who became friends on a strange trip to Omaha.  Reminded me of John Candy in “Home Alone,” you know where the Mom is stuck in the airport and gets rescued by John Candy and the polka band and they drive her to Chicago in the back of a truck just in time for Christmas.

My response: John Candy and I go way back. We both attended the 1989 Super Bowl at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami.

Super-cool quarterback Joe Montana noticed Candy in the stands and pointed that out to his teammates in the huddle. He then led the 49ers on a game-winning drive in the final minutes to beat the Cincinnati Bengals.

Montana didn’t notice me.

Duke writes: That was a great travel story, John. It's also so typical of American Airlines.

My wife and I have agreed to never fly them again, even if they are the cheapest route.

My response: Thanks for the travel tip. In my experience, you can have a nightmare flight on any airline.

David writes: Thanks for a great piece about Tony Vitello.  Agree with every word and kudos to you for writing them.

Too many sports writers, even local ones in Knoxville and Tennessee, think they have to come up with a negative spin, often contorted, on Tony, Josh, Barnes, our outstanding administration (Plowman, White and Boyd) even our latest addition, Ms. Caldwell.

My response: Thanks for the positive email. But I also have been accused of being too negative. One such critic was so incensed over a column that he wished I would be sucked from my car by an F4 tornado.

I’ve dodged a few tornadoes on my many trips West but never have been sucked from my car by one. But that email underscored the importance of wearing my seat belt.

ADAMS:Tennessee football games looking like NASCAR races with corporate logos? Vols fans say no thanks

Terry writes: Great piece on Coach Majors and the CFHOF.  I agree completely with you on this.  Had Coach not been hit with the Big Orange Screw of '92, orchestrated by Greedy Phil, he likely would have surpassed his .572 career winning percentage.

My response: The .600 winning-percentage requirement for hall of fame membership is too restrictive because it doesn’t account for coaches who took over awful programs and improved them significantly as Majors did at Iowa State and Pittsburgh.

Majors is in the hall of fame as a player but also should be inducted as a coach. Former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer made the hall of fame as a coach.  

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 orjohn.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.