So who do you pitch Friday?

[patdog]

You've got to figure if it's Texas, we'll see Hansen again and if it's Virginia, we'll see their ace Abbott who shut down Tennessee. Do you bring Bednar back on 4 days rest, knowing that he won't be available until game 3 of a finals series, or take a chance on Hootie & the pen winning it to set us up for Bednar in game 1 but if you lose then you have to use him Saturday and he's probably done for the tournament. Tough choice, but I think I match up strength vs strength. It's gonna be hard to get many runs again on Friday.

 

[o_dawgnabit]

Harding. He's been very reliable and has earned that start. And then if we can't get it done Friday then you'll have Bednar and you have to feel like Bednar is going to be better than whoever Texas/VA will have at that point on Saturday. If Harding gets it done on Friday, then we will have our rotation available for the championship series

 

[Drebin]

Harding. He's been very reliable and has earned that start. And then if we can't get it done Friday then you'll have Bednar and you have to feel like Bednar is going to be better than whoever Texas/VA will have at that point on Saturday

I agree about Harding. But someone here made a good point last night that if you roll with Bednar, you can guarantee that he would be available to start in the championship series on regular rest.

I think I would still roll with Harding. Whoever we play will probably start their ace, but they're going to be a little taxed. If we can get that win, we're sitting pretty for the championship series with Bednar ready for game 1.

 

[MSUDC11]

Truthfully I am not sure our odds of winning with Harding and our odds of winning with Bednar on two days shortened rest are all that different. As great as Bednar was on Sunday, he's had some consistency issues at times too. I mean let's not forgot that Notre Dame hit him hard two starts ago.

So you might as well just go with Harding on Friday and get Bednar the extra day of rest.

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

Friday - Harding then Johnny Wholestaff …
Bednar if we lose Friday.

 

[johnson86-1]

I agree about Harding. But someone here made a good point last night that if you roll with Bednar, you can guarantee that he would be available to start in the championship series on regular rest.

I think I would still roll with Harding. Whoever we play will probably start their ace, but they're going to be a little taxed. If we can get that win, we're sitting pretty for the championship series with Bednar ready for game 1.

Options assuming we make it to the championship one way or another:

Option 1W :
- Friday - Harding (fresh)
- Monday - Bednar (fresh)
- Tuesday - McLeod (fresh)
- Wednesday - Harding - (4 days rest)

Option 1L
- Friday Harding
- Saturday (Bednar - 5 days rest)
- Monday (McLeod - 5 days rest)
- Tuesday (Harding - 3 days rest)
- Wednesday (Bednar - 3 days rest)

Option 2W
- Friday (Bednar - 4 days rest)
- Monday - (Harding - Fresh)
- Tuesday - (McLeod - fresh)
- Wednesday (Bednar - 4 days rest)

Option 2L
- Friday (Bednar - 4 days rest)
- Saturday - (Harding - Fresh)
- Monday - (McLeod - 5 days rest, but basically fresh after short outing)
- Tuesday (Bednar - 3 days rest)
- Wednesday (Harding - 3 days rest)

If you win, it doesn't seem to be a huge difference either way, but probably better to win with Hootie and start the championship with a fresh Bednar. If you lose, losing while starting bednar seems to be a little bit better, as you get Bednar in game 2 on three days rest rather in game 3 on 3 days rest. I don't think there is a no brainer but I'd lean towards starting Hootie. If you win, great, if you lose you're not much worse off than losing with Bednar. On the flip side, if you start Bednar and win, you are asking Hootie to pitch in the championship after not having pitched since the super. Not sure that matters, but I'd rather stick closer to a normal routine if possible.

 

[lanceharbor7]

Is Fristoe out?

You've got to figure if it's Texas, we'll see Hansen again and if it's Virginia, we'll see their ace Abbott who shut down Tennessee. Do you bring Bednar back on 4 days rest, knowing that he won't be available until game 3 of a finals series, or take a chance on Hootie & the pen winning it to set us up for Bednar in game 1 but if you lose then you have to use him Saturday and he's probably done for the tournament. Tough choice, but I think I match up strength vs strength. It's gonna be hard to get many runs again on Friday.

 

[wrapit]

Why in the world, do they start the championship series on Monday after finishing bracket play on Fri/Sat?

 

[8dog]

Its changing next year. Will start the CWS on Friday and start the championship on the following Saturday to avoid that

 

[patdog]

Cause the pitchers need a little rest after the bracket play. It's not a good look when your national championship series is pitched by mid-week starters & depleted bullpens.

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

i would go with Harding. Save Bednar for the elimination game or 1st champ game. Harding and staff should be fine.

 

[fishwater99]

Cause the pitchers need a little rest after the bracket play. It's not a good look when your national championship series is pitched by mid-week starters & depleted bullpens.

Agreed... ^^^^

 

[Russ Wheeler]

Cause the pitchers need a little rest after the bracket play. It's not a good look when your national championship series is pitched by mid-week starters & depleted bullpens.

Actually, no, that is what ends up happening now, unless you sweep the bracket play using 3 different pitchers. Most everybody who doesn't do that, ends up over-working pitchers.

 

[Russ Wheeler]

TV, most likely. They don't want the championship on the weekend. They want those Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday eyeballs.

When they decided to move it, I'm sure they found some data that said they could get big ratings on Sunday/Monday (for Finals Game 2/3), or they wouldn't have done it. I don't buy the "it's for the fans and student-athletes" BS.

 

[johnson86-1]

Why in the world, do they start the championship series on Monday after finishing bracket play on Fri/Sat?

I'm guessing it's a combination of maximizing TV revenue and maybe also making it possible for somebody to take a week vacation and see the entire CWS.

I think they may have figured out the latter is really irrelevant because the few people that are taking off a week in anticipation of wathing the whole thing (or have the flexibility to stay that long if their team stays) is really small and also is the type of fan that can make two different trips out there.