[Papa John]

I agree, BobK, although Esquer went with Williams first in the Stanford regional, I'm guessing because he presumed that game 2 vs the winner of #2 UCI/#3 Nevada (and it was very likely going to be UCI) posed more of a threat than #4 NDSU. If Stanford beat NDSU--which it did--then Beck the ace faces UCI--which he did and won. If Stanford had lost to NDSU, then Esquer would have Beck starting in an elimination game.

He may feel the same way here. Stanford's second game in the CWS will be versus either Arizona or Vanderbilt, and he might want Beck versus either opponent.

Not what I would choose to do, as my strategy is to do everything you can to win the game that you are playing today and worry about tomorrow when it comes. But then again, I'm a scorekeeper, not a manager.

[Papa John]

I agree, BobK, although Esquer went with Williams first in the Stanford regional, I'm guessing because he presumed that game 2 vs the winner of #2 UCI/#3 Nevada (and it was very likely going to be UCI) posed more of a threat than #4 NDSU. If Stanford beat NDSU--which it did--then Beck the ace faces UCI--which he did and won. If Stanford had lost to NDSU, then Esquer would have Beck starting in an elimination game.

He may feel the same way here. Stanford's second game in the CWS will be versus either Arizona or Vanderbilt, and he might want Beck versus either opponent.

Not what I would choose to do, as my strategy is to do everything you can to win the game that you are playing today and worry about tomorrow when it comes. But then again, I'm a scorekeeper, not a manager.