Just noticed that Carolina beat UConn in the Supers en route to the Ch'ip last year......
After all, .500 SEC finishes have become rare for the last few years. However, our Friday night/opening game of a series thus far on the season has been a brilliant, white-hot bright spot. Though I'm not sure I agree with what we're doing, Cohen has decided to start Bracewell for the series openers so far, keep him on a strict pitch count, then bring in Stratton.
Bracewell has soreness in his elbow, so who knows how that will turn out. If you're referring to his health, I suppose you might have an argument. However, the performance of Bracewell and Stratton (and 2/3 of an inning by Holder), in the 27 innings pitched by MSU in the opening games of the 3 series thus far is as follows . . .
27 Innings (vs. Washington State, Kansas, and UConn)
15 hits
30 Ks
9 BBs
6 runs
4 earned runs
1.34 ERA
In other words, the pitching for these particular games that you have cited would have to be considered great. Again, I fear that other aspects of the game may keep us under .500 in the SEC, but "Friday night" pitching, based on results thus far, is going very well. I could only hope that the performance so far is a harbinger of things to come.