Big Boy Decision for Lemonis

[Bulldog from Birth]

Lemonis has a tough one on setting the starting pitching order. I think you roll the dice to set yourself up to win it all. And I think that means throwing Ginn in Game 2. That lets him come back on near full rest for the Finals. If you run the first quadrant at 3-0, whoever throws that 3rd game has to come back on 4 days rest to throw Game 3 of the Finals. I think Peyton is best equipped for that task. Will be interesting to see how Lemonis plays it.

 

[snoopdog]

Any chance...

Small held to game 2?

 

[Bulldog from Birth]

No. It gives you a chance to pitch him 2.5 to 3 times if you throw him in game 1.

 

[stateu1]

Small, Plum, Ginn. Easy decision.

 

[Dawgtini]

Small held to game 2?

Reading is hard

 

[DawgB0ne]

Nope. Lemonis said today on Finebaum “the only thing that’s certain going into Omaha is Ethan Small starting game 1”

Small held to game 2?

 

[snoopdog]

Reading is hard in what way?

Asking a question on his opinion about pitching.

 

[Go Budaw]

Again, Ginn is the #3 at this point. Small and Plumlee are the ones that need to throw multiple times if they can. People need to stop looking at where Ginn was drafted and the beginning of the year, and start looking at the player he is right now. No way in hell should we throw him out there unless its either the lowest pressure possible (G3 after starting 2-0), or after we have already burned through Small and Plumlee. He’s simply too big of a risk after how he’s looked in the past 2 months. Especially considering the fact that he’s a freshmen in Omaha that hasn’t really thrown any meaningful innings in the entire tournament.

 

[Rockydawg]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[LovemesomeCroom]

Ginn is gonna pitch again. In the championship series.

This is all.

 

[Bulldog from Birth]

I don’t think it’s that easy at all. If you pitch Ginn in the 3rd game, you are guaranteeing that you only get one appearance from him in 2 weeks. I think you have to plan for at least 6 games. If so, then you get Small twice, Plumlee twice, Ginn once, and .......???? Unless you run through it at 5-0, then it gets interesting on how to piece it together.

 

[MSU Fan.sixpack]

Your premise seems to be that Ginn can't return on four days rest. I would think four days is enough, especially considering his short outing in the regional and that he didn't pitch in the Super. Why do you think that's too short?

 

[archdog]

Because of his arm tightness during the season. This is by far the most innings this kid has pitched in a season in his entire life. I say go Small, Plumlee, and Ginn. Bullpen management with and for Ginn's game is going to be key.

 

[Go Budaw]

I don’t think it’s that easy at all. If you pitch Ginn in the 3rd game, you are guaranteeing that you only get one appearance from him in 2 weeks. I think you have to plan for at least 6 games. If so, then you get Small twice, Plumlee twice, Ginn once, and .......???? Unless you run through it at 5-0, then it gets interesting on how to piece it together.

No you are not. If he pitches in Game 3 he can come back on 4 days rest in Game 2 of Finals or on 5 days rest in Game 3. And once more, for posterity, he is the LEAST likely to go deep into the ballgame anyway, which also makes him the least likely to get a high pitch count in his first game and therefore the most likely to be able to pitch on shorter rest (as if he hasn’t already had plenty of that).

The obsession with the freshmen phenom needs to end. As of right now, Ginn is the weekend starter we want to use the absolute least in Omaha if we can avoid it. He’s probably not gonna be the guy he was early in the year until next season. But if he goes out and throws a gem for us in a low pressure situation after we already have 2 wins in our pocket OR he extends the season a game if we fall into the loser’s bracket, then good for us. We can’t and shouldn’t count on anything from him beyond that. I still think it wouldn’t be terrible to move Ginn to the pen and make Brandon Smith the 3rd starter. That way we can more easily manage his workload and get max effort innings out of him when we know we need them (kind of like the 2013 Girodo role). But we’ll see what Lemonis does.

 

[Bulldog from Birth]

If Ginn throws the 3rd game on Friday, then Game 2 of the finals would be on 3 day’s rest and Game 3 would be on 4 days rest. Given Ginn’s issues, I don’t think he throws on even 4 day’s rest. If you want 2 appearances from Ginn, he has to throw in Game 1 or Game 2 or in a losers bracket game on Thursday.

 

[missouridawg]

Plumlee has been better than Ginn since late April. The Governors cup to be exact.

I’d go Small, Plumlee, Ginn with a very quick hook for Ginn in hope that he can maybe throw a few innings of relief in the championship series.

You also have the slim possibility of getting a few innings out of Small on Friday, assuming we go 2-0 to start. Allowing you to pitch Small in the opener Sunday, in relief on Friday (late with a lead only and only 30-40 pitches), and then in the championship series either game 1 or 2.

Brandon Smith and Cerantola looked good enough in the SECT that I’m cautiously optimistic we can get a few innings out of them in relief of a short Ginn outing if necessary to help ease the load on the typical Liebelt, White, Gordon pen rotation that we go with.

I was texting a friend today how much I hate the CWS format cause it makes it really difficult to pitch your ace in the championship series if you need the “if necessary” game to get there.

 

[Go Budaw]

If Ginn throws the 3rd game on Friday, then Game 2 of the finals would be on 3 day’s rest and Game 3 would be on 4 days rest. Given Ginn’s issues, I don’t think he throws on even 4 day’s rest. If you want 2 appearances from Ginn, he has to throw in Game 1 or Game 2 or in a losers bracket game on Thursday.

Except there is no guarantee we make it to that Friday game 2-0. If we lose either of the first two, the 3rd game is on Thursday. And yes, if he’s healthy enough to pitch one of the first 3 games in Omaha, he damn well better be ready to go on 4 days rest ONE time with a natty on the line after barely pitching at all for past month. If he’s not healthy enough to do that, then he’s really not healthy enough to start at all with any degree of reliability.

So, in either case, it’s completely false to say we are absolutely guaranteeing him just one outing if we wait until Game 3 to start him. And all that is mostly irrelevant anyways, because you don’t plan your pitching schedule around the least reliable guy in your rotation, which is exactly what Ginn is right now.

 

[coach66]

Ginn could certainly be the key to a championship if he can right his ship and

Plumlee and Small stay consistent.

 

[thekimmer]

Plumlee and Small stay consistent.

I agree because as it stands right now you cannot say Ginn is a reliable option as he has not gone beyond 3 innings in either of his last two starts. If he can get back to giving us 5 or 6 good innings that would be solid gold.

He also has to develop a little more toughness and not let circumstances rattle him but that will come with age.

 

[Cat Duck]

Here is the thing. Plumlee has a rubber arm. Small has a surgically repaired arm. I might consider starting Plumlee Sunday, Small Tuesday. If you win, throw Ginn on Friday, then Plumlee again on Saturday if necessary. Small starts the Finals Game 1 on Monday, then come up with something on Tuesday (Smith most likely), then Plumlee on Wednesday on 3 days rest.

Plumlee is the only one who can come back on short rest.

 

[Go Budaw]

Small’s surgery was like 3 years ago and he is 2 full seasons back from it. There’s no evidence at all that he can’t come back on short rest. There’s also no evidence that Plumlee can....he’s only pitched on less than 5 days rest once (and after throwing only 4 innings in the Governor’s Cup) and never on less than 4 days.

That scenario above, where 2 of our 3 starters in the finals would be a true freshmen in his first start of the tourney and another dude on 3 days rest after just throwing on 4 days rest, sounds absolutely terrible. But, everyone should be able to go on 4 days at least once at this point in the year if they are needed....including Small and Ginn.

 

[Cat Duck]

Small’s surgery was like 3 years ago and he is 2 full seasons back from it. There’s no evidence at all that he can’t come back on short rest. There’s also no evidence that Plumlee can....he’s only pitched on less than 5 days rest once (and after throwing only 4 innings in the Governor’s Cup) and never on less than 4 days.

That scenario above, where 2 of our 3 starters in the finals would be a true freshmen in his first start of the tourney and another dude on 3 days rest after just throwing on 4 days rest, sounds absolutely terrible. But, everyone should be able to go on 4 days at least once at this point in the year if they are needed....including Small and Ginn.

Bro, I sometimes wonder if you watch our games at all.

 

[Go Budaw]

Bro, I sometimes wonder if you watch our games at all.

Sick burn. Do you also wonder the same thing about Lemonis? Because he’s already said Small is going Game 1 as basically everyone except you knew would be the case, thus rendering your entire drivel pointless.