[CTcard]

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.

For those who've followed Stanford baseball closely over the years, it was a surprise that Stanford started Williams over Beck in game 1 of the regionals. Generally, Stanford has been simply straight forward in their tournament pitching, sticking to the season rotation order.
For that matter, it was a surprise to Beck. He was interviewed during the broadcast of game 2 of the series versus OSU. He was asked if Esquer might hold him back for the second game of the regionals. He replied that while he'd do whatever Esquer asked of him, he expected to be game 1 starter because holding back the ace has never been Stanford's way.

I suspect that at this point, where all the opponents are very good, Stanford will return to its normal rotation. That also fits with the super regional order, keeping Beck's and William's rest the usual 6 days. [EDIT - actually 7 days as the super regional started on a Friday, the CWS on Saturday.]

As others have noted, if one can win the first two games, you can go back to starter #1 for the first semifinal game. But the lack of rest before the championship series means that would eliminate your ace for at least the start of that series.

I suspect that the approach next week will be to do whatever possible to win the game at hand, and pray the bats win any game once the pitching gets in trouble.

One other facet of the CWS. The new stadium in Omaha is far more pitcher friendly than Rosenblatt was. I think 2019 was the most homeruns since the new stadium debuted in 2011. There were 22 homeruns in 15 games, or a little under 1.5 per game. By contrast, Stanford all alone hit 7 homeruns in 2 games in Lubbock. The two teams averaged 4.5 per game.

[CTcard]

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.

For those who've followed Stanford baseball closely over the years, it was a surprise that Stanford started Williams over Beck in game 1 of the regionals. Generally, Stanford has been simply straight forward in their tournament pitching, sticking to the season rotation order.
For that matter, it was a surprise to Beck. He was interviewed during the broadcast of game 2 of the series versus OSU. He was asked if Esquer might hold him back for the second game of the regionals. He replied that while he'd do whatever Esquer asked of him, he expected to be game 1 starter because holding back the ace has never been Stanford's way.

I suspect that at this point, where all the opponents are very good, Stanford will return to its normal rotation. That also fits with the super regional order, keeping Beck's and William's rest the usual 6 days. [EDIT - actually 7 days as the super regional started on a Friday, the CWS on Saturday.]

As others have noted, if one can win the first two games, you can go back to starter #1 for the first semifinal game. But the lack of rest before the championship series means that would eliminate your ace for at least the start of that series.

I suspect that the approach next week will be to do whatever possible to win the game at hand, and pray the bats win any game once the pitching gets in trouble.

One other facet of the CWS. The new stadium in Omaha is far more pitcher friendly than Rosenblatt was. I think 2019 was the most homeruns since the new stadium debuted in 2011. There were 22 homeruns in 15 games, or a little under 1.5 per game. By contrast, Stanford all alone hit 7 homeruns in 2 games in Lubbock. The two teams averaged 4.5 per game.