Who should we pitch tomorrow?
- Thread starter MSDawg34
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Mainly because I think game 1 is so important for confidence and momentum...not to mention we are playing a pretty good hitting team. If not Stratton, I would rather see us pitch Woodruff than Graveman. I feel confident that we can beat FSU's Ace with Graveman or Woodruff.
If youfeel that way, they whydo youthink we have to use Stratton against UAB's #2 starter? Do youfeel more confident we can beatFSU's #1 with Gravement or Woodruff than you do that we could beat FSU's ace with them? Because that's really the only reason you should useStratton in the 1st game. Cohen is making a big mistake here. I just hope it doesn't cost us theregional, and with our pitching depth it may not.CadaverDawg said:
We have been known to play down to the level of our competition at times (Central Ark, MS Val St, etc), so I think it is super important to make sure we get game 1. You don't want to be pitching Stratton in an elimination game against UAB with zero momentum and zero confidence after losing to a team you should beat with their #2 on the mound. Win game 1 and then do like we did in the SEC tourney and pitch Woodruff or Graveman against FSU...like I said, I have confidence that they can beat FSU. I have more confidence in Stratton, of course, but I really think game 1 is a must win from a confidence and momentum standpoint. FSU's Ace is a Freshman that is 6-2 (I think)...there's no doubt in my mind that we have 2-3 guys on our staff that are as good as he is. Meanwhile Samford has a 12 game winning Senior Ace and an experienced #2, combined with a powerful lineup...so I don't know about you, but I don't like the idea of running a Freshman or injured pitcher against an experienced underdog in game 1.
Would I be okay if we held Stratton? Yes...but I would start him in a close decision
ETA: I'm not saying anybody is wrong. I have confidence in most of our pitchers, even against FSU...I'm just saying that I would probably lean towards Stratton but because I place a ton of importance on game 1 as a #2 seed. I know we'd be in the same spot after two games likely, but the mind set would be very different losing to Samford first vs losing to FSU first. There really is no right or wrong answer...and until the Regional ends we can't really be sure if anything I a good decision or not.
Would I be okay if we held Stratton? Yes...but I would start him in a close decision
ETA: I'm not saying anybody is wrong. I have confidence in most of our pitchers, even against FSU...I'm just saying that I would probably lean towards Stratton but because I place a ton of importance on game 1 as a #2 seed. I know we'd be in the same spot after two games likely, but the mind set would be very different losing to Samford first vs losing to FSU first. There really is no right or wrong answer...and until the Regional ends we can't really be sure if anything I a good decision or not.
What you don't get is Game 2 is exactly equal to Game 1. You put your best against the best. If you are confident in Graveman or Woodruff vs FSU then you should want them playing the lesser competition Samford.
Remember: If we don't win Game 2 vs FSU we will have to beat them two more times without Stratton, Graveman, and Woodruff
Remember: If we don't win Game 2 vs FSU we will have to beat them two more times without Stratton, Graveman, and Woodruff
mentality into consideration. If we lose to Samford....we're done. Not many 2's have ever come back to win a Regional after losing to a #3. But several have bounced back to win a Regional after losing game 2 to the #1.
Once again, not saying you're wrong necessarily. But, you act like we don't have a deep pitching staff and that FSU is a great hitting team. Like someone else said above, on paper Samford appears to be a better hitting team than FSU. Now we know that may not be true due to competition, but we are not the type of team that can fall behind by 3 runs early and come back to win. Plus, if we start Woodruff or Graveman, how long have they lasted in their outings this year? You could risk using 4 guys on the first night and losing to the #3 seed...we would be done. But if Stratton goes out and throws a complete game, we have our entire staff prepared to go after FSU for 3 games if needed.
I trust the coaches, and they see something that makes them think Stratton needs to pitch Friday...so I'm taking their word for it. We just proved we can beat great teams with other pitchers than Stratton. And this weekend is no different than what we faced last week...maybe worse. We'll see.
Once again, not saying you're wrong necessarily. But, you act like we don't have a deep pitching staff and that FSU is a great hitting team. Like someone else said above, on paper Samford appears to be a better hitting team than FSU. Now we know that may not be true due to competition, but we are not the type of team that can fall behind by 3 runs early and come back to win. Plus, if we start Woodruff or Graveman, how long have they lasted in their outings this year? You could risk using 4 guys on the first night and losing to the #3 seed...we would be done. But if Stratton goes out and throws a complete game, we have our entire staff prepared to go after FSU for 3 games if needed.
I trust the coaches, and they see something that makes them think Stratton needs to pitch Friday...so I'm taking their word for it. We just proved we can beat great teams with other pitchers than Stratton. And this weekend is no different than what we faced last week...maybe worse. We'll see.
I voted Woodruff. Remember in last year's AL Divisional Series when Tampa Bay pitched rookie Matt Moore against the Texas Rangers? I thought that was a great decision (though it didn't pan out for TB in the long run). Surely they were winning the "head game" at that point right? I mean, a rookie in Game 1 beat the Texas Rangers? Here's the box score of how it turned out for TB:
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Texas_vs._Tampa_Bay">Texas vs. Tampa Bay</span></h2><h3> <span class="mw-headline" id="Game_1.2C_September_30">Game 1, September 30</span></h3>
5:07 p.m. (EDT) at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas</p><table class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"><tbody><tr><th style="border-right-width:2px; width:170px">Team</th><th width="25">1</th><th width="25">2</th><th width="25">3</th><th width="25">4</th><th width="25">5</th><th width="25">6</th><th width="25">7</th><th width="25">8</th><th width="25">9</th><th style="border-left-width:2px; width:25px;">R</th><th width="25">H</th><th width="25">E</th></tr><tr><td style="border-right-width:2px; text-align:left;">Tampa Bay</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td style="border-left-width:2px;">9</td><td>11</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td style="border-right-width:2px; text-align:left;">Texas</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td style="border-left-width:2px;">0</td><td>2</td><td>1</td></tr><tr style="font-size:90%;"><td colspan="24" align="left">WP: Matt Moore (1–0) LP: C. J. Wilson (0–1)
Home runs:
TB: Johnny Damon (1), Kelly Shoppach 2 (2)
TEX: None</td></tr></tbody></table>
Rookie Matt Moore
started Game1 for the Rays, his second Major League start and fourth
appearance since his September 12 promotion from Triple-A.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span> Moore gave the Rays seven strong innings—allowing two hits and two walks while striking out six. Johnny Damon's two-run homer in the second inning and Kelly Shoppach's two homers gave Moore enough support while the Rangers' offense was shut down by the Rays' pitching.</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Texas_vs._Tampa_Bay">Texas vs. Tampa Bay</span></h2><h3> <span class="mw-headline" id="Game_1.2C_September_30">Game 1, September 30</span></h3>
5:07 p.m. (EDT) at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas</p><table class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"><tbody><tr><th style="border-right-width:2px; width:170px">Team</th><th width="25">1</th><th width="25">2</th><th width="25">3</th><th width="25">4</th><th width="25">5</th><th width="25">6</th><th width="25">7</th><th width="25">8</th><th width="25">9</th><th style="border-left-width:2px; width:25px;">R</th><th width="25">H</th><th width="25">E</th></tr><tr><td style="border-right-width:2px; text-align:left;">Tampa Bay</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td style="border-left-width:2px;">9</td><td>11</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td style="border-right-width:2px; text-align:left;">Texas</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td style="border-left-width:2px;">0</td><td>2</td><td>1</td></tr><tr style="font-size:90%;"><td colspan="24" align="left">WP: Matt Moore (1–0) LP: C. J. Wilson (0–1)
Home runs:
TB: Johnny Damon (1), Kelly Shoppach 2 (2)
TEX: None</td></tr></tbody></table>
Rookie Matt Moore
started Game1 for the Rays, his second Major League start and fourth
appearance since his September 12 promotion from Triple-A.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span> Moore gave the Rays seven strong innings—allowing two hits and two walks while striking out six. Johnny Damon's two-run homer in the second inning and Kelly Shoppach's two homers gave Moore enough support while the Rangers' offense was shut down by the Rays' pitching.</p>
I realize the Regionals are nothing like MLB Divisional Play. I mainly wanted to talk about how you can get in a team's head by pitching a rookie to open a series if he wins (it's a HUGE gamble, but it works).
I'm replying to my own post, because I realize how the Matt Moore start last year against Texas is in no way relevant to this situation. Still, that was a good move by Tampa Bay.
GO DAWGS!
I'm replying to my own post, because I realize how the Matt Moore start last year against Texas is in no way relevant to this situation. Still, that was a good move by Tampa Bay.
GO DAWGS!
We all would feel great about our Freshman starter going in game 1 of a Regional....that says a lot about our staff. My greatest concern about not having Stratton for FSU is that they are very selective and draw a lot of walks. Stratton is great at having command of all his pitches and throwing them all for strikes. KG and BW aren't as good and are more likely to put Noles on base, leading to RBI opportunities. I bet this was a tough decision, I could see it going either way and working out good/bad. Glad I'm not the one making the Pitching rotation.
The game is on Friday. It's a chess match for the the managers, but the players gotta just play ball.
To compare a meaningless midweek game against Central Arkansas to a regional game against Samford is ridicoulous. I can guarantee you we won't have any problem being up for the Samford game no matter who pitches. I ask you again, who do you have more confidence in Woodruff/Graveman beating, FSU's ace or Samford's #2 pitcher? Because that's the team you need to pitch them against.
This is why I like Stratton. If he gives us a complete game or close to it, we have all hands on deck for the rest of the regional. Plus, if we do win game one, Woodruff or Graveman can pitch loose without as much pressure. You never know, what if UAB beats FSU tomorrow. That happened last year right? Didn't GA tech lose game one against a 4?CadaverDawg said:
First off UAB aint beating Florida State.
Secondly, it doesn't do anything to take the pressure off. Games 1 and 2 are of equal importance. You would actually be putting MORE pressure on them having to play FSU in their home environment at night on ESPN2 rather than using them against Samford
Secondly, it doesn't do anything to take the pressure off. Games 1 and 2 are of equal importance. You would actually be putting MORE pressure on them having to play FSU in their home environment at night on ESPN2 rather than using them against Samford
a first game with no immediate threat of the end of your season is equal to a 2nd with bye bye on the line? just wondering because it says a whole bunch about your knowledge of the realities of team play.