[troyc]

Interesting that Williams complained that the big lead hurt him pitching-wise.



BC

Here was Alex's entire answer on that:

Q. Can you talk to us about pitching with a big lead, what that third inning, with them scoring seven runs, how did that change your approach in the later inning?

ALEX WILLIAMS: Personally, I think I pitch best when it's a close game. I think it showed when we got a little bit of a big lead. I kind of got taken out of my competitive mentality a little bit, which ended up hurting me. So I started throwing a little slower, started being a little flatter.
Obviously, it's great to have our offense compete in the way they're doing it, helping me out. I just need to find a way to keep attacking, doing what I do when it is a big-lead game. So at the end of the day I think having a big lead hurt me pitching-wise but it helped the team out. I'm really happy with the way things worked out for us today.

Sometimes it can be tough to properly convey context within 280 characters...this may be one of those times.

Troy C

[troyc]

Interesting that Williams complained that the big lead hurt him pitching-wise.



BC

Here was Alex's entire answer on that:

Q. Can you talk to us about pitching with a big lead, what that third inning, with them scoring seven runs, how did that change your approach in the later inning?

ALEX WILLIAMS: Personally, I think I pitch best when it's a close game. I think it showed when we got a little bit of a big lead. I kind of got taken out of my competitive mentality a little bit, which ended up hurting me. So I started throwing a little slower, started being a little flatter.
Obviously, it's great to have our offense compete in the way they're doing it, helping me out. I just need to find a way to keep attacking, doing what I do when it is a big-lead game. So at the end of the day I think having a big lead hurt me pitching-wise but it helped the team out. I'm really happy with the way things worked out for us today.

Sometimes it can be tough to properly convey context within 280 characters...this may be one of those times.

Troy C

[BostonCard]

Interesting that Williams complained that the big lead hurt him pitching-wise.



BC

Here was Alex's entire answer on that:

Q. Can you talk to us about pitching with a big lead, what that third inning, with them scoring seven runs, how did that change your approach in the later inning?

ALEX WILLIAMS: Personally, I think I pitch best when it's a close game. I think it showed when we got a little bit of a big lead. I kind of got taken out of my competitive mentality a little bit, which ended up hurting me. So I started throwing a little slower, started being a little flatter.
Obviously, it's great to have our offense compete in the way they're doing it, helping me out. I just need to find a way to keep attacking, doing what I do when it is a big-lead game. So at the end of the day I think having a big lead hurt me pitching-wise but it helped the team out. I'm really happy with the way things worked out for us today.

Sometimes it can be tough to properly convey context within 280 characters...this may be one of those times.

Troy C

Thanks Troy... I think what he said came through reasonably well in the tweet, and I figured that's what he meant.  There is another school of thought that says that pitching with a big lead is easier, because as a pitcher you can relax, challenge the hitter and throw strikes, and not worry about making a mistake that could cost you the game.

All else being equal, I would prefer to have the pitcher that dials in for the close game (though he seemed pretty dialed in with a healthy lead against Texas Tech).  Although odds would be against us getting to a rubber game against NC State, as we would have to beat Vandy with a pitching outing that will be held together by duct tape and bailing wire (and then NCState, well rested), if we did get to a rubber match, I would like our chances with Williams on the mound.

BC

[BostonCard]

Interesting that Williams complained that the big lead hurt him pitching-wise.



BC

Here was Alex's entire answer on that:

Q. Can you talk to us about pitching with a big lead, what that third inning, with them scoring seven runs, how did that change your approach in the later inning?

ALEX WILLIAMS: Personally, I think I pitch best when it's a close game. I think it showed when we got a little bit of a big lead. I kind of got taken out of my competitive mentality a little bit, which ended up hurting me. So I started throwing a little slower, started being a little flatter.
Obviously, it's great to have our offense compete in the way they're doing it, helping me out. I just need to find a way to keep attacking, doing what I do when it is a big-lead game. So at the end of the day I think having a big lead hurt me pitching-wise but it helped the team out. I'm really happy with the way things worked out for us today.

Sometimes it can be tough to properly convey context within 280 characters...this may be one of those times.

Troy C

Thanks Troy... I think what he said came through reasonably well in the tweet, and I figured that's what he meant.  There is another school of thought that says that pitching with a big lead is easier, because as a pitcher you can relax, challenge the hitter and throw strikes, and not worry about making a mistake that could cost you the game.

All else being equal, I would prefer to have the pitcher that dials in for the close game (though he seemed pretty dialed in with a healthy lead against Texas Tech).  Although odds would be against us getting to a rubber game against NC State, as we would have to beat Vandy with a pitching outing that will be held together by duct tape and bailing wire (and then NCState, well rested), if we did get to a rubber match, I would like our chances with Williams on the mound.

BC

[GK3]

Interesting that Williams complained that the big lead hurt him pitching-wise.

I think we need to have our hitters in same zone they were yesterday when we play Vandy, or we need the rest of our pitchers suddenly look like Beck and Williams.  I think we have the hitting to pull our pitching through to victory which I think is the only way to win the game.  I would really love to be proven wrong, that we won because of our pitching, not our hitting.



BC

Here was Alex's entire answer on that:

Q. Can you talk to us about pitching with a big lead, what that third inning, with them scoring seven runs, how did that change your approach in the later inning?

ALEX WILLIAMS: Personally, I think I pitch best when it's a close game. I think it showed when we got a little bit of a big lead. I kind of got taken out of my competitive mentality a little bit, which ended up hurting me. So I started throwing a little slower, started being a little flatter.
Obviously, it's great to have our offense compete in the way they're doing it, helping me out. I just need to find a way to keep attacking, doing what I do when it is a big-lead game. So at the end of the day I think having a big lead hurt me pitching-wise but it helped the team out. I'm really happy with the way things worked out for us today.

Sometimes it can be tough to properly convey context within 280 characters...this may be one of those times.

Troy C

Thanks Troy... I think what he said came through reasonably well in the tweet, and I figured that's what he meant.  There is another school of thought that says that pitching with a big lead is easier, because as a pitcher you can relax, challenge the hitter and throw strikes, and not worry about making a mistake that could cost you the game.

All else being equal, I would prefer to have the pitcher that dials in for the close game (though he seemed pretty dialed in with a healthy lead against Texas Tech).  Although odds would be against us getting to a rubber game against NC State, as we would have to beat Vandy with a pitching outing that will be held together by duct tape and bailing wire (and then NCState, well rested), if we did get to a rubber match, I would like our chances with Williams on the mound.

BC

[GK3]

Interesting that Williams complained that the big lead hurt him pitching-wise.

I think we need to have our hitters in same zone they were yesterday when we play Vandy, or we need the rest of our pitchers suddenly look like Beck and Williams.  I think we have the hitting to pull our pitching through to victory which I think is the only way to win the game.  I would really love to be proven wrong, that we won because of our pitching, not our hitting.



BC

Here was Alex's entire answer on that:

Q. Can you talk to us about pitching with a big lead, what that third inning, with them scoring seven runs, how did that change your approach in the later inning?

ALEX WILLIAMS: Personally, I think I pitch best when it's a close game. I think it showed when we got a little bit of a big lead. I kind of got taken out of my competitive mentality a little bit, which ended up hurting me. So I started throwing a little slower, started being a little flatter.
Obviously, it's great to have our offense compete in the way they're doing it, helping me out. I just need to find a way to keep attacking, doing what I do when it is a big-lead game. So at the end of the day I think having a big lead hurt me pitching-wise but it helped the team out. I'm really happy with the way things worked out for us today.

Sometimes it can be tough to properly convey context within 280 characters...this may be one of those times.

Troy C

Thanks Troy... I think what he said came through reasonably well in the tweet, and I figured that's what he meant.  There is another school of thought that says that pitching with a big lead is easier, because as a pitcher you can relax, challenge the hitter and throw strikes, and not worry about making a mistake that could cost you the game.

All else being equal, I would prefer to have the pitcher that dials in for the close game (though he seemed pretty dialed in with a healthy lead against Texas Tech).  Although odds would be against us getting to a rubber game against NC State, as we would have to beat Vandy with a pitching outing that will be held together by duct tape and bailing wire (and then NCState, well rested), if we did get to a rubber match, I would like our chances with Williams on the mound.

BC

[CTcard]

I'm hoping to get Vandy in the elimination game... Figuring we'll go against their third starter. If we play NCST, and advance, we will probably face Vandy's #1 pitcher, and I don't like our chances there.

I'd rather have the wolfies' to pitchers than Vandy's.

This was roughly my thinking. Not sure which team would be tougher for a game three, but if somehow we manage to win then facing Vandy with Rocker and Leiter rested up seems tougher than NC State going back to Johnston and Highfill - despite how well those two pitched in NC State's two games so far.

I would guess that the kitchen sink staff for Wednesday's game will be Grech followed by Mathews, hoping for 6 innings between them and then the full pen. Grech and Mathews both pitched 1.1 innings on Saturday, throwing 29 and 24 pitches respectively. Mathews was quite a bit better than Grech on the day, and was the third starter for much of the year, but it is also clear that Esquer trusts Grech more.

Expect we'll see Vandy's third starter, which lately has been Patrick Reilly, 4-2, 4.89, 7 starts.
In the SEC tournament, they held back Rocker and Leiter for games 2 and 3 (both losses), and started with Christian Little 3-1, 5.02, 9 starts. Little seems to have mostly been their mid-week starter.
They have one other guy who has started several games, Thomas Schultz (4-2, 4.19, 9 starts) but he seems to have been moved to the bullpen lately.

Overall, Vandy seems to have somewhat better offensive numbers than NC State, but NC State has been on more of a roll.
Vandy - BA=0.294, SLG=0.496, OPS=0.881
NC St  - BA=0.287, SLG=0.498, OPS=0.866

[CTcard]

I'm hoping to get Vandy in the elimination game... Figuring we'll go against their third starter. If we play NCST, and advance, we will probably face Vandy's #1 pitcher, and I don't like our chances there.

I'd rather have the wolfies' to pitchers than Vandy's.

This was roughly my thinking. Not sure which team would be tougher for a game three, but if somehow we manage to win then facing Vandy with Rocker and Leiter rested up seems tougher than NC State going back to Johnston and Highfill - despite how well those two pitched in NC State's two games so far.

I would guess that the kitchen sink staff for Wednesday's game will be Grech followed by Mathews, hoping for 6 innings between them and then the full pen. Grech and Mathews both pitched 1.1 innings on Saturday, throwing 29 and 24 pitches respectively. Mathews was quite a bit better than Grech on the day, and was the third starter for much of the year, but it is also clear that Esquer trusts Grech more.

Expect we'll see Vandy's third starter, which lately has been Patrick Reilly, 4-2, 4.89, 7 starts.
In the SEC tournament, they held back Rocker and Leiter for games 2 and 3 (both losses), and started with Christian Little 3-1, 5.02, 9 starts. Little seems to have mostly been their mid-week starter.
They have one other guy who has started several games, Thomas Schultz (4-2, 4.19, 9 starts) but he seems to have been moved to the bullpen lately.

Overall, Vandy seems to have somewhat better offensive numbers than NC State, but NC State has been on more of a roll.
Vandy - BA=0.294, SLG=0.496, OPS=0.881
NC St  - BA=0.287, SLG=0.498, OPS=0.866

[teejers1]

Vandy lost both starts from Rocker and Leiter.  

Wait . . . we play Vandy tomorrow.

[teejers1]

Vandy lost both starts from Rocker and Leiter.  

Wait . . . we play Vandy tomorrow.

[magnus]

Vandy lost both starts from Rocker and Leiter.  

Wait . . . we play Vandy tomorrow.

Yeah, Vandy only lost the start by Leiter...but if Rocker starts tomorrow, I hope the above is true. =)

[magnus]

Vandy lost both starts from Rocker and Leiter.  

Wait . . . we play Vandy tomorrow.

Yeah, Vandy only lost the start by Leiter...but if Rocker starts tomorrow, I hope the above is true. =)

[Phogge]

I hate that pitching coaches call the pitches. Slows the game when the pitcher has to look at his cheat sheet. Let them play.

Paul Brown started all this crap with his messenger guards.

[Phogge]

I hate that pitching coaches call the pitches. Slows the game when the pitcher has to look at his cheat sheet. Let them play.

Paul Brown started all this crap with his messenger guards.

[Ballbuster]

Vandy lost both starts from Rocker and Leiter.  

Wait . . . we play Vandy tomorrow.

Yeah, Vandy only lost the start by Leiter...but if Rocker starts tomorrow, I hope the above is true. =)

Vandy is going to look past Stanford and they will start their Sunday starter and work from there. They will need their top 2 since they think they will rematch against NCST.

[Ballbuster]

Vandy lost both starts from Rocker and Leiter.  

Wait . . . we play Vandy tomorrow.

Yeah, Vandy only lost the start by Leiter...but if Rocker starts tomorrow, I hope the above is true. =)

Vandy is going to look past Stanford and they will start their Sunday starter and work from there. They will need their top 2 since they think they will rematch against NCST.

[BostonCard]

Hard to fault them, because that's our strategy as well, and logically the best strategy.  There's no point to using up your #1 starter on decreased rest if it only delays when you have to use your third starter (or cobbled together pitching staff), the latter against a well-rested NCState staff.

BC

[BostonCard]

Hard to fault them, because that's our strategy as well, and logically the best strategy.  There's no point to using up your #1 starter on decreased rest if it only delays when you have to use your third starter (or cobbled together pitching staff), the latter against a well-rested NCState staff.

BC

[OutsiderFan]

Vandy lost both starts from Rocker and Leiter.  

Wait . . . we play Vandy tomorrow.

Yeah, Vandy only lost the start by Leiter...but if Rocker starts tomorrow, I hope the above is true. =)

Ya, duh. I sort of subconsciously counted Vandy needing 12 innings to beat Arizona as a L ;)

[OutsiderFan]

Vandy lost both starts from Rocker and Leiter.  

Wait . . . we play Vandy tomorrow.

Yeah, Vandy only lost the start by Leiter...but if Rocker starts tomorrow, I hope the above is true. =)

Ya, duh. I sort of subconsciously counted Vandy needing 12 innings to beat Arizona as a L ;)

[oman]

Go Team!

[oman]

Go Team!

[CTcard]

Vandy is going to look past Stanford and they will start their Sunday starter and work from there. They will need their top 2 since they think they will rematch against NCST.

Hard to fault them, because that's our strategy as well, and logically the best strategy.  There's no point to using up your #1 starter on decreased rest if it only delays when you have to use your third starter (or cobbled together pitching staff), the latter against a well-rested NCState staff.

Vandy isn't looking past Stanford, and Stanford isn't looking past Vandy.
Both are primarily trying to win the game in front of them, with a small nod towards what might be needed for the next game.

If either don't use their #1 starter (and I don't think Stanford will - don't know Vandy as well), it's primarily because they don't think it's best for the team or the player under the amount of rest available. It's a little bit about using them again in the future.
College starters typically pitch once a week, 6 days rest. This would be going on 3 days rest. If they hold back their #1 starter, whomever wins would have that guy going on 5 days rest on Friday.
Of course if they do go tonight, it becomes a little easier to bring the guy back for a game in the championship series should a team make it there.

I don't expect to see Beck. I don't think we'll see Rocker either. Will find out soon.

[CTcard]

Vandy is going to look past Stanford and they will start their Sunday starter and work from there. They will need their top 2 since they think they will rematch against NCST.

Hard to fault them, because that's our strategy as well, and logically the best strategy.  There's no point to using up your #1 starter on decreased rest if it only delays when you have to use your third starter (or cobbled together pitching staff), the latter against a well-rested NCState staff.

Vandy isn't looking past Stanford, and Stanford isn't looking past Vandy.
Both are primarily trying to win the game in front of them, with a small nod towards what might be needed for the next game.

If either don't use their #1 starter (and I don't think Stanford will - don't know Vandy as well), it's primarily because they don't think it's best for the team or the player under the amount of rest available. It's a little bit about using them again in the future.
College starters typically pitch once a week, 6 days rest. This would be going on 3 days rest. If they hold back their #1 starter, whomever wins would have that guy going on 5 days rest on Friday.
Of course if they do go tonight, it becomes a little easier to bring the guy back for a game in the championship series should a team make it there.

I don't expect to see Beck. I don't think we'll see Rocker either. Will find out soon.

[BobK]

Matthews is the starter

[BobK]

Matthews is the starter

[Canalejas]

There's so much to play for, with a bonus today of maybe sending that Vandy whistler home.  

Go Cardinal!

[Canalejas]

There's so much to play for, with a bonus today of maybe sending that Vandy whistler home.  

Go Cardinal!

[martyup]

Let's beat 'em with bats!

[martyup]

Let's beat 'em with bats!

[martyup]

First 2 batters on base for the Card!

---

2 errors by Vandy and we're up 1-0!

[martyup]

First 2 batters on base for the Card!

---

2 errors by Vandy and we're up 1-0!

[martyup]

Dang.  Stranded 2 runners.  Great catch by the Vandy left fielder.

---

Mathews is looking good after two innings.  Time for bats to heat up!  GO CARD!

---

Jones with a HR in the 3rd!  2-0 good guys.

[martyup]

Dang.  Stranded 2 runners.  Great catch by the Vandy left fielder.

---

Mathews is looking good after two innings.  Time for bats to heat up!  GO CARD!

---

Jones with a HR in the 3rd!  2-0 good guys.

[BostonCard]

Matthews with three scoreless innings so far.  Lots of baseball still left, but I would rather be up 2-0 in the top of the fourth than down 2-0.

BC

[BostonCard]

Matthews with three scoreless innings so far.  Lots of baseball still left, but I would rather be up 2-0 in the top of the fourth than down 2-0.

BC

[Sam Leopold]

commodorEEEs

[Sam Leopold]

commodorEEEs

[BostonCard]

Two walks and another error plate Brueser, and the bases are loaded for Tawa.

BC

---

4-0, and the bases are still loaded with 2 outs.

BC

[BostonCard]

Two walks and another error plate Brueser, and the bases are loaded for Tawa.

BC

---

4-0, and the bases are still loaded with 2 outs.

BC