THIS should be the basis of the decision

[Bulldog from Birth]

Let's assume you are completely confident you can beat the #4 seed and their #2 pitcher if you lose Game 1. If you have ANY doubt about that, you are wasting your time analyzing pitching strategy for the regional anyway. The question is this:

Am I more likely to beat Samford's #1 pitcher with my #2 guy? Or am I more likely to beat Florida State's ace with my #2? To me the question is a no-brainer. Unless I clearly evaluate Samford's ace to be a lot tougher matchup for the team, you've got to save Stratton.

BFB

 

[dawgnautique]

you match up...To me, it is an easy decision....Graveman, Pollo or Woodruff against Samford

 

[lutedog]

You absolutely have to play the matchups that give you the best chance of winning Games 1 & 2. There is essentially no difference in losing Game 1 vs. winning Game 1 & losing Game 2.

 

[smootness]

I would throw Graveman or Woodruff against Samford, but I think our staff as a whole is good enough that it's really not a huge deal. Stratton is clearly our best pitcher, but just about anybody we throw out there right now is extremely tough to hit.<div>
</div><div>To me, losing the 1st game is almost the exact same thing as winning the 1st and losing the 2nd because once you beat the 4 seed in the first scenario, you're in the same spot. So I'm with you. But Woodruff or Graveman is also certainly good enough to beat FSU's #1 or 2. So I save Stratton but don't think it's a big deal if we don't.</div>

 

[Bulldog from Birth]

If FSU throws their ace against UAB, then the question simply changes. Then it's the our #2 vs. Samford's #1 or our #2 vs. FSU's #2 argument. So that certainly gives a little more credence to Stratton in Game 1. But that is STILL the question that the decision should be based on alone. "We can't lose the first game" is a completely nonsensible argument and the kind of decision Ron Polk made in starting Maholm against Middle Tennessee. We didn't win the regional, but by George, we didn't lose the first game of it. We smoked MTSU!

BFB

 

[smootness]

FSU doesn't really have an ace. They have two freshmen with almost identical numbers. They are their clear top 2 pitchers, but you could either call both an ace or neither. It doesn't really matter who they throw in the first game, we're basically facing their best pitcher in game 2 regardless.