Graveman announced as Friday starter
- Thread starter Predestined
- Start date
Because if you're the #1 seed you hold your best pitcher for the winners bracket game on Saturday. That's what virtually all of the teams that routinely make it to Omaha do as the #1 seed. This isn't anywhere near as stupid as in 2003, because the difference between Graveman & Pollo isn't anywhere near as much as the difference between Maholm & whoever lost the UNC game was and the difference between UCA and USA/Mercer isn't as much as the difference between East Middle Tennessee Tech and UNC was. But it still drops our chances of winning the regional.
I agree
with that; however I don't think there's a whole lot of difference from our 2 and 1. Hell I don't even think we have a 1. Weve got two 3's and a bunch of midweek guys, it seems. At least compared to other hosts' SP.
with that; however I don't think there's a whole lot of difference from our 2 and 1. Hell I don't even think we have a 1. Weve got two 3's and a bunch of midweek guys, it seems. At least compared to other hosts' SP.
I agree with Rambis on this and I agree with you to an extent. There is virtually no difference between our 1 and 2 or even 3 if you are looking at Kendall, Pollo and Lindgren (who has been very shaky of late). We do not have a clear number 1, in my opinion, so I think you go with the most favorable match up.
is there a ncaa regional rule...
To where you have to name your starter a day or two in advance? Because if there isn't, I wouldn't be announcing which starter I'm going with, due to prepping & film study before game. Has UCA name.theirs yet or will they keep it undisclosed, if possible.
To where you have to name your starter a day or two in advance? Because if there isn't, I wouldn't be announcing which starter I'm going with, due to prepping & film study before game. Has UCA name.theirs yet or will they keep it undisclosed, if possible.
That's what Cohen said in his interview on Monday. Our team is unique in that our strength is in our relief. Pitching Pollo or Graveman isn't a big deal. Plus - it's not like Central Arkansas is a slouch. We lost 2 out of 3 to them.
Very true. And I like that Cohen has made the decision to leave him in the bullpen. Also, good point by dawgstudent that we're basically a pitch by committee team and for the most part the starters are just the first middle reliever in the game. Graveman is the one true starting pitcher we have though, and we would be best served to use him against the best team we will face and not the worst. Not a huge difference, but still a mistake.
Certainly a decision that will be debated but there could be some sound logic to it. The decision in '03 to throw Maholm against MTSU cannot be defended by any stretch. But like somebody mentioned, we really don't have a a true ace starting pitcher. Our "ace" is whatever day we bullpen swarm the opponent with Ross Mitchell (4 IP), Bracewell (2 IP) and Holder (2 IP). So if you know there will be a day you go deep into the pen, it makes sense to try to make sure one of your starters can go 8 or 9 innings somewhere along the way to relieve that. Graveman against UCA might be the best opportunity for that result. So if you can get that, you can bullpen swarm the winner's bracket game Saturday night, and bullpen swarm aGAIN on Monday night if it came down to a final deciding game.
But it's a dice-roll for sure. The pressure is on to win Game 1. Graveman's gotta deliver. If he gets chased after 5 IP and we have to use our top guys from the pen in what turns into a loss, the regional gets away real quick. If he can give you 8+ in a comfortable win, we are sitting in a very good spot.
But it's a dice-roll for sure. The pressure is on to win Game 1. Graveman's gotta deliver. If he gets chased after 5 IP and we have to use our top guys from the pen in what turns into a loss, the regional gets away real quick. If he can give you 8+ in a comfortable win, we are sitting in a very good spot.
Graveman has been the ONLY starter this year to show he can go deep into games. He had a stretch mid season where he pitched 2 or 3 consecutive complete games. Pollo and Lindgren are doing good just to get through 5 in most of their starts. I just haven't seen them show the ability to go deep into games this year.
And I don't want to play around with USA/Mercer. It's not a coincidence that the coaches who take teams to Omaha most consistently almost always start their #2 (or even sometimes #3) starter in the first game of a regional. They understand that the goal isn't to in the Friday game, but to win the tournament.
Another thing to think about, too, is graveman gives you the best chance to save the bullpen for later in the tournament. Not having to use 3-4 pitchers in the first game helps extend the pen, thus leaving us far more depth down the stretch. Pollo's best outing is 5.1 innings, graveman has thrown 2 CG's.
ETA: sorry BFB practically said the same thing, although I retain my point about the pen.
ETA: sorry BFB practically said the same thing, although I retain my point about the pen.
Last edited:
I don't think it matters who Cohen picks..........
as the starting pitcher, someone is gonna complain. What matters is winning that first game regardless, Graveman I think is the best option mainly because he has a chance to go than Pollo which saves our bullpen.
as the starting pitcher, someone is gonna complain. What matters is winning that first game regardless, Graveman I think is the best option mainly because he has a chance to go than Pollo which saves our bullpen.
I agree with all of this. We do not have a Maholm/Stratton starter on this team,, and also unlike 2003 there is not a huge dropoff between the #2 and #4 seed. I have no problem with this plan, since it gives us the best chance to win the Friday game and also save our top pitchers for the Saturday game.
And the coaches that take teams to Omaha most consistently rarely, if ever have to open their regional against an opponent as tough as Central Arkansas. If we were opening against Jackson State or the like, we probably wouldn't start Graveman. But that's not the draw we got.
And I don't want to play around with USA/Mercer either. Which is why in that game, I'm going all out with Pollo/Ross Mitchell/Bracewell/Holder. I like my odds of that group beating them than the combination of Graveman and whatever bullpen arms I didn't use on Friday night. But if we start Pollo in Game 1, i think there's a pretty good likelihood that the game is still in the balance when he comes out in the 4th or 5th innings. And if so, you've got no choice but to burn some of your better arms from the pen.
I think the coaches assessment is that the bullpen is by far the strength of this team. And if we can have a game somewhere this weekend where a starter can go the full 8 or 9 innings, we are going to be in prime position to have maximum flexibility with how we are able to use that strength. It just minimizes the chances of, a "Gee I'd really love to bring in Ross or Bracewell right here, but I've already used them 2 straight days for 2+ IP" moment. And if you look at our starters, Graveman is the ONLY guy we are confident in to go 8+. And so then you ask the question, "Who is he most likely to be able to go the distance against?" And I think that answer is clearly UCA.
Most teams are rolling the dice to save their ace for Saturday winner's bracket game. I think we're rolling the dice that Graveman can go 8+ Friday night and we can save our ace (Ross Michell) for the same game. Because I think if we start Pollo or Lindgren, there's a decent chance Ross is throwing significant innings in Game 1 and not available for much action on Saturday.
I think the coaches assessment is that the bullpen is by far the strength of this team. And if we can have a game somewhere this weekend where a starter can go the full 8 or 9 innings, we are going to be in prime position to have maximum flexibility with how we are able to use that strength. It just minimizes the chances of, a "Gee I'd really love to bring in Ross or Bracewell right here, but I've already used them 2 straight days for 2+ IP" moment. And if you look at our starters, Graveman is the ONLY guy we are confident in to go 8+. And so then you ask the question, "Who is he most likely to be able to go the distance against?" And I think that answer is clearly UCA.
Most teams are rolling the dice to save their ace for Saturday winner's bracket game. I think we're rolling the dice that Graveman can go 8+ Friday night and we can save our ace (Ross Michell) for the same game. Because I think if we start Pollo or Lindgren, there's a decent chance Ross is throwing significant innings in Game 1 and not available for much action on Saturday.
I have informed you thusly!! Despite my previous logic, this is totally the WRONG move and will blow up in our faces. I have informed you thusly!!!! I'll take the shot, too.
For this reason, I hope we get a quality start from Graveman plus a few innings from Gentry to close it out (if needed).
If I remember correctly, Gentry pitched well against UCA earlier in the year. Plus, if their lineup is RH-heavy, it sets up well for Gentry. It was absolutely huge that he had that great outing at Hoover - having him contribute only helps our strength (bullpen). Graveman/Gentry would allow us to have basically a full pen (and all LHPs) for Saturday's game.
If I remember correctly, Gentry pitched well against UCA earlier in the year. Plus, if their lineup is RH-heavy, it sets up well for Gentry. It was absolutely huge that he had that great outing at Hoover - having him contribute only helps our strength (bullpen). Graveman/Gentry would allow us to have basically a full pen (and all LHPs) for Saturday's game.
I just
don't think you can say 100%, without a doubt, it's the wrong decision. For one, it isn't anywhere similar to 2003. We do not, repeat "do not", have an ace on this squad. Over the past month, there just seems to be not that big of a difference between any of our starters.
don't think you can say 100%, without a doubt, it's the wrong decision. For one, it isn't anywhere similar to 2003. We do not, repeat "do not", have an ace on this squad. Over the past month, there just seems to be not that big of a difference between any of our starters.
Well, I'm only going by recent history ...
Thought we beat Mercer 2 of 3 last time we played; We beat USA this year @ Mobile and we lost 2 of 3 to Central Ark on our home field.
<TBODY>
</TBODY><COLGROUP><COL><COL><COL><COL span=2><COL><COL><COL><COL><COL><COL span=4></COLGROUP>
Thought we beat Mercer 2 of 3 last time we played; We beat USA this year @ Mobile and we lost 2 of 3 to Central Ark on our home field.
| 9-Mar</SPAN> | Sat</SPAN> | 2:00 p.m. </SPAN> | Central Arkansas </SPAN> | Starkville </SPAN> | L</SPAN> | 5-7</SPAN> | |||||||
| 10-Mar</SPAN> | Sun</SPAN> | 1:30 p.m. </SPAN> | Central Arkansas </SPAN> | Starkville </SPAN> | L</SPAN> | 3-7</SPAN> | |||||||
| 2-Apr</SPAN> | Tue</SPAN> | 6:30 p.m. </SPAN> | South Alabama </SPAN> | Mobile, AL </SPAN> | W</SPAN> | 6-4</SPAN> |
<TBODY>
</TBODY><COLGROUP><COL><COL><COL><COL span=2><COL><COL><COL><COL><COL><COL span=4></COLGROUP>