OK, we get a fifth, sixth and maybe seventh shot at UGA.....

[thekimmer]

Four close ball games in the books. UGA in the first 3 supposedly pitched us backward and kept us off balance. Game 4 the DP did us in. What do we need to do to get over the hump? Tough row to hoe but I like where we are right now relative to our other games against them. We have a huge boost with McPherson back and UGA didn't exactly light the woods on fire in their two games against LU. Scored just 6 in both games. Only managed 7 hits against LU's 4th starter and bullpen.

I think we start TV in game 1 but then who gets the ball in game 2? If we can win game 1 I think Stone starts game 2. If we lose he might start anyway but maybe willing to throw Ryan in long relief if needed.

The biggest factor is our approach at the plate. Johnson is going to pitch us away all day long and we've got to be ready to hit the ball to opposite field. I just hope we don't get an umpire calling strikes six inches off the plate. I have not been particularly impressed with the quality of officiating across the board this past weekend.

 

[aTotal360]

Bullpen has to show up.

 

[JackShephard]

I kind of hope we try to pitch them backwards this time. Use the same rotation as the Regional. Duke, TV, Ryan M. I would have to think we would have the advantage in games 2 and 3 in that scenario. IF (big IF) Duke can replicate his last outing, we'd be in great shape. If we can get a typical TV game out of him, instead of one of these recent off-games, I feel like that's a win. So we just have to find a way in one of the other two. We just actually have to hit against them this weekend.

 

[GoToHellOleMiss.sixpack]

Bullpen has to show up.

Then we are cooked brother.

 

[She Mate Me]

Oak's going to have the rotation set before he gets there. I think it's probably TV, RM and DS in that order.

We've got to be better at the plate than we've been in the other games. I think it's that simple. We have enough pitching as evidenced by the struggles a lot of good teams have had this weekend getting outs. It's time for our offense to go out and just win us a huge 3 game series.

 

[615dawg]

I think you have to go TV in Game 1 with the suspensions that UGA have. I think we can get Game 1.

We lost 10-9 in Game 1 in Starkville but had a late inning comeback. Charlie Foster got the start and got rocked.
Game 2 is when TV pitched, we lost 3-1, but Georgia scored all of their runs in the last three innings.
Game 3 was the 8-5 loss in 10 innings. Stone pitched well, gave up 2 runs in 5 IP
We lost 5-3 in Hoover but our bullpen gave us a chance to win.

Sure we are 0-4 against them, but all four games could have gone the other way. Let's just say this - if the results were entirely reversed, I'd be nervous facing them.

 

[thekimmer]

if the results were entirely reversed, I'd be nervous facing them.

I agree.

 

[Shmuley]

Four close ball games in the books. UGA in the first 3 supposedly pitched us backward and kept us off balance. Game 4 the DP did us in. What do we need to do to get over the hump? Tough row to hoe but I like where we are right now relative to our other games against them. We have a huge boost with McPherson back and UGA didn't exactly light the woods on fire in their two games against LU. Scored just 6 in both games. Only managed 7 hits against LU's 4th starter and bullpen.

I think we start TV in game 1 but then who gets the ball in game 2? If we can win game 1 I think Stone starts game 2. If we lose he might start anyway but maybe willing to throw Ryan in long relief if needed.

The biggest factor is our approach at the plate. Johnson is going to pitch us away all day long and we've got to be ready to hit the ball to opposite field. I just hope we don't get an umpire calling strikes six inches off the plate. I have not been particularly impressed with the quality of officiating across the board this past weekend.

Perhaps we get a look at why Oak is the highest paid coach in the land.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

I see this as much more winnable than I saw Florida 2011 or LSU 2017. Those are just two SEC road supers that jump out in my mind.

 

[patdog]

Bullpen has to show up.

Feel good about starting pitching & offense. But yeah. Bullpen concerns me. A lot.

I kind of hope we try to pitch them backwards this time. Use the same rotation as the Regional. Duke, TV, Ryan M. I would have to think we would have the advantage in games 2 and 3 in that scenario. IF (big IF) Duke can replicate his last outing, we'd be in great shape. If we can get a typical TV game out of him, instead of one of these recent off-games, I feel like that's a win. So we just have to find a way in one of the other two. We just actually have to hit against them this weekend.

I don’t like it. I think from a strictly mathematical chance is a wash anyway. What you increase you odds of winning game 2 & 3 by is at least offset by sacrificing any chance of winning game 1. Plus it sends the wrong message to your team that their coach doesn’t believe in them. And it puts you in a must win situation for games 2 & 3. I’d rather go out with TV in game 1, hopefully get the win, and let Georgia feel some pressure in game 2.

 

[thatsbaseball]

Got my maroon colored glasses all cleaned up this morning. I have faith that O'Connor is the the guy that can get this done. If we lose, we lose but I think we show up and compete well.

 

[Perd Hapley]

I kind of hope we try to pitch them backwards this time. Use the same rotation as the Regional. Duke, TV, Ryan M. I would have to think we would have the advantage in games 2 and 3 in that scenario. IF (big IF) Duke can replicate his last outing, we'd be in great shape. If we can get a typical TV game out of him, instead of one of these recent off-games, I feel like that's a win. So we just have to find a way in one of the other two. We just actually have to hit against them this weekend.

I don’t think we can lead with Duke. They literally just saw him in Hoover. TV, RM, DS should be the rotation. I’m also not opposed to using Duke out of the pen on Saturday in a critical spot. Critical spot meaning we win Fri and have a narrow lead we’re trying to protect Saturday when RM runs of gas in 5th or 6th, or, the complete opposite scenario.

 

[JackShephard]

Feel good about starting pitching & offense. But yeah. Bullpen concerns me. A lot.

I don’t like it. I think from a strictly mathematical chance is a wash anyway. What you increase you odds of winning game 2 & 3 by is at least offset by sacrificing any chance of winning game 1. Plus it sends the wrong message to your team that their coach doesn’t believe in them. And it puts you in a must win situation for games 2 & 3. I’d rather go out with TV in game 1, hopefully get the win, and let Georgia feel some pressure in game 2.

I'm ok with that too. Regardless, we have to hit this go around. I just think if Stone could replicate his last start and we get game 1 with TV and Ryan still left, that's the best you could ever hope for. But, I'm sure we'll get VT out there first. No issue with that.

 

[PBRME]

We have got to clean the bases. In our biggest games we had too many lob. Especially if we’re concerned with the bull pen.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Perhaps we get a look at why Oak is the highest paid coach in the land.

Might not be popular but I don't know that ole OC is the best in-game decision maker in the land. I think his value is more in the accumulation of players and letting them play.

 

[aTotal360]

Feel good about starting pitching & offense. But yeah. Bullpen concerns me. A lot.

I don’t like it. I think from a strictly mathematical chance is a wash anyway. What you increase you odds of winning game 2 & 3 by is at least offset by sacrificing any chance of winning game 1. Plus it sends the wrong message to your team that their coach doesn’t believe in them. And it puts you in a must win situation for games 2 & 3. I’d rather go out with TV in game 1, hopefully get the win, and let Georgia feel some pressure in game 2.

If we can't win 3-2 ball games, we don't deserve to be in the natty discussion. At this moment, I don't have a lot of confidence in us having that ability. We seem to lose a lot more 1-2 run games against good opponents than we win.

 

[thatsbaseball]

Might not be popular but I don't know that ole OC is the best in-game decision maker in the land. I think his value is more in the accumulation of players and letting them play.

Also he's in his first year with these players and this program. He knows his players and they know him a lot better than earlier in the season . I think that makes a big difference .

 

[patdog]

If we can't win 3-2 ball games, we don't deserve to be in the natty discussion. At this moment, I don't have a lot of confidence in us having that ability. We seem to lose a lot more 1-2 run games against good opponents than we win.

And a lot of that comes down to our bullpen. It’s our Achilles heel. In every other way this is easily a CWS team that could contend for a championship.

 

[She Mate Me]

If we can't win 3-2 ball games, we don't deserve to be in the natty discussion. At this moment, I don't have a lot of confidence in us having that ability. We seem to lose a lot more 1-2 run games against good opponents than we win.

Absolutely true, our record in 1 and 2 run games hasn't been good. But UCLA was really good in those games, until they weren't.

Luck can be a big factor, and it comes and goes.

I'm ready for us to get a little old fashioned good fortune next weekend. We didn't use any up this weekend. Didn't need it.

 

[BoDawg.sixpack]

Got to concentrate on winning game one.. After you win that first game anything can happen. I think at this point the biggest thing is to prove to ourselves we can beat georgia. I think the confidence will come if we get that first win.

 

[thekimmer]

I kind of hope we try to pitch them backwards this time. Use the same rotation as the Regional. Duke, TV, Ryan M. I would have to think we would have the advantage in games 2 and 3 in that scenario. IF (big IF) Duke can replicate his last outing, we'd be in great shape. If we can get a typical TV game out of him, instead of one of these recent off-games, I feel like that's a win. So we just have to find a way in one of the other two. We just actually have to hit against them this weekend.

Interesting take. It is a high risk, high reward proposition . If we pitched Stone and won we'd have a HUGE advantage. But they have already faced Stone twice. First outing he lasted 4 innings and gave up 2 runs on 5 hits. 3 BB and 10 Ks. Second start he lasted 3.1 and gave up 4 runs on 6 hits. 1 BB and 4 Ks. For UGA we have faced Volchiko twice. First outing he went 5 innings gave up 2 runs on 8 hits 1 walk 3 Ks. Second he went 5, gave up 2 runs on 7 hits, 1 BB and 1 K. I like the approach and maybe we need to gamble a bit given the scenario we are in. Another would be to pitch McPherson who they have not seen but that is impossible given that he pitched yesterday.

 

[ronpolk]

Four close ball games in the books. UGA in the first 3 supposedly pitched us backward and kept us off balance. Game 4 the DP did us in. What do we need to do to get over the hump? Tough row to hoe but I like where we are right now relative to our other games against them. We have a huge boost with McPherson back and UGA didn't exactly light the woods on fire in their two games against LU. Scored just 6 in both games. Only managed 7 hits against LU's 4th starter and bullpen.

I think we start TV in game 1 but then who gets the ball in game 2? If we can win game 1 I think Stone starts game 2. If we lose he might start anyway but maybe willing to throw Ryan in long relief if needed.

The biggest factor is our approach at the plate. Johnson is going to pitch us away all day long and we've got to be ready to hit the ball to opposite field. I just hope we don't get an umpire calling strikes six inches off the plate. I have not been particularly impressed with the quality of officiating across the board this past weekend.

You guys overthink the pitching every weekend of the postseason. Ill be shocked if the rotation is anything other than TV game 1, McPherson game 2 and stone game 3

 

[patdog]

Got to concentrate on winning game one.. After you win that first game anything can happen. I think at this point the biggest thing is to prove to ourselves we can beat georgia. I think the confidence will come if we get that first win.

And I feel pretty good with TV on the mound vs anyone.

 

[golferdog]

Then we are cooked brother.

Bullpen is our biggest weakness, especially against a good hitting team. We'll need 7+ runs in every game to have a chance. Our bullpen is unreliable and puts a lot of pressure on our offense and defense when they can't throw strikes or hold a lead.

 

[thekimmer]

You guys overthink the pitching every weekend of the postseason.

This is a message board. Fan overthinking is what they are for.

 

[Called3rdstrikedawg]

Perhaps we get a look at why Oak is the highest paid coach in the land.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[She Mate Me]

The focus on the bullpen is interesting when we've scored 1,3 and 5 runs in 3 of the 4 games and the pitching had us close in all those games.

If I had a menu, I'm ordering up some timely hitting.

 

[Bulldog from Birth]

Feel good about starting pitching & offense. But yeah. Bullpen concerns me. A lot.

The pen is the biggest concern. I think the right way to play this, especially with UGA’s suspension, is to go all-in on Games 1 and 2.

TV, Bauer (if needed), and Davis to try and get Game 1.

Duke Stone for 4-5 innings, Ryan McPherson assuming we’ve won Game 1 and the 2nd game is close for another 4-5 innings, and Davis again if you get in a late spot we need him.

I am absolutely building a pitching plan around emptying the tank to win the first 2. I think it gets ugly for us if we are counting on anybody on the rest of the staff to keep Georgia’s bats in check.

 

[thekimmer]

Bullpen is our biggest weakness, especially against a good hitting team. We'll need 7+ runs in every game to have a chance. Our bullpen is unreliable and puts a lot of pressure on our offense and defense when they can't throw strikes or hold a lead.

Bullpen has been an adventure but they did lock UGA down in the SECT. 1 run on 2 hits in the last 5 innings.

 

[She Mate Me]

The pen is the biggest concern. I think the right way to play this, especially with UGA’s suspension, is to go all-in on Games 1 and 2.

TV, Bauer (if needed), and Davis to try and get Game 1.

Duke Stone for 4-5 innings, Ryan McPherson assuming we’ve won Game 1 and the 2nd game is close for another 4-5 innings, and Davis again if you get in a late spot we need him.ehurv

I am absolutely building a pitching plan around emptying the tank to win the first 2. I think it gets ugly for us if we are counting on anybody on the rest of the staff to keep Georgia’s bats in check.

We're not going to pitch any of our three starters in relief anywhere unless something goes wrong with their start in Game 1 or 2 and they don't throw many pitches.

 

[onewoof]

I think we will be fine as long as Georgia does not continue to steal pitches

 

[golferdog]

The focus on the bullpen is interesting when we've scored 1,3 and 5 runs in 3 of the 4 games and the pitching had us close in all those games.

If I had a menu, I'm ordering up some timely hitting.

It's mainly because the bullpen has struggled the last 3-4 weeks. The offense is playing better now.
However, you are correct in that if the bats don't travel we're also cooked.

 

[thekimmer]

I think we will be fine as long as Georgia does not continue to steal pitches

With the arm bands how are they doing this.

 

[She Mate Me]

It's mainly because the bullpen has struggled the last 3-4 weeks. The offense is playing better now.
However, you are correct in that if the bats don't travel we're also cooked.

Yeah, but the offense is not playing better when we play quality SEC teams. It's been an issue more often than not.

We gotta figure out their pitching early and often this weekend. It's not like this Georgia pitching staff jumps off the page at you, but they've paired well with that offense to win a lot of contested games.

 

[Called3rdstrikedawg]

They scored 10, 3, 5 in regulation 9, and 5 in Hoover against State. They scored 6 twice against Liberty. If State can’t score more than 6 in any of these games, State ain’t winning.

 

[Bulldog from Birth]

We're not going to pitch any of our three starters in relief anywhere unless something goes wrong with their start in Game 1 or 2 and they don't throw many pitches.

It’s not uncommon for teams to use their scheduled Game 3 starter in Game 2. Teams that fall way behind do it if they lost Game 1 and are in a desperate fight to survive. And teams that won Game 1 and are up a few runs in the late innings of Game 2 do it when they see an opportunity to finish off the series, and the 3rd starter is the best available arm.

I’m suggesting our best chance to advance is to push that further. And if we won Game 1 and are in a tie game in the 5th of Game 2, I’m sending in McPherson to try and get the win there. I doubt we would do it either. But I think we perhaps should.

 

[She Mate Me]

It’s not uncommon for teams to use their scheduled Game 3 starter in Game 2. Teams that fall way behind do it if they lost Game 1 and are in a desperate fight to survive. And teams that won Game 1 and are up a few runs in the late innings of Game 2 do it when they see an opportunity to finish off the series, and the 3rd starter is the best available arm.

I’m suggesting our best chance to advance is to push that further. And if we won Game 1 and are in a tie game in the 5th of Game 2, I’m sending in McPherson to try and get the win there. I doubt we would do it either. But I think we perhaps should.

I just don't think there's any way you'll see our Game 3 starter used anywhere before a Game 3, especially if we win Game 1. Could be wrong.

 

[thekimmer]

They scored 10, 3, 5 in regulation 9, and 5 in Hoover against State. They scored 6 twice against Liberty. If State can’t score more than 6 in any of these games, State ain’t winning.

TV held them to 3 runs in game 2 of the reg season. Unfortunately we only scored 1.

 

[basedawg]

We got to hit to win, yes pitching is somewhat a question mark for Georgia in relieve depth also. Georgia is a launching pad, whoever stays away with big inning give aways will win this series. Game one is huge for a visiting team especially!

 

[Wesson Bulldog]

Bunt more.