Friday Pitching - Billingsley or Small?

[MSUDC11]

Thoughts? I’m leaning toward JB right now.

 

[Xenomorph]

I'd go with either Small or Small.

 

[She Mate Me]

Thoughts? I’m leaning toward JB right now.

I sure as hell would let it be a mystery till he takes the mound.

 

[o_dawgnabit]

At first I said Small easily. But now I say go with JB so if we win you have Small for the Championship Series. Obviously if we happen to lose Friday then you have to go with Small the next game to get into the championship

 

[bulldogcountry1]

Small.

Then he would still be available for game 2 or 3 of the finals.

 

[MissState1]

Thoughts? I’m leaning toward JB right now.

Starting France is an option.

 

[philduckworth]

I would start France. But I would have had France as our Sunday guy all year. He is the 3rd best pitcher on this team, arguably the 2nd best pitcher. France was awesome in his last start which was the championship game of the FSU regional.

 

[MissState1]

I would start France. But I would have had France as our Sunday guy all year. He is the 3rd best pitcher on this team, arguably the 2nd best pitcher. France was awesome in his last start which was the championship game of the FSU regional.

Yes. France should have been the Sunday starter all year. His stuff is electric.

 

[philduckworth]

Yes. France should have been the Sunday starter all year. His stuff is electric.

France has started 2 games all year. His numbers: 10 IP, 3 hits, 0 ER.

I understand that Gary felt he needed him out of the pen on Fridays and Saturdays. But he has only pitched 1 inning in the CWS and that was Saturday night, so I would definitely be starting him Friday. If we lose, we go with Small in Game 2. But if we win, we are set up great with Small, Pilk and then France again (if necessary) in the finals.

 

[Perpetual Underachiever]

France has started 2 games all year. His numbers: 10 IP, 3 hits, 0 ER.

I understand that Gary felt he needed him out of the pen on Fridays and Saturdays. But he has only pitched 1 inning in the CWS and that was Saturday night, so I would definitely be starting him Friday. If we lose, we go with Small in Game 2. But if we win, we are set up great with Small, Pilk and then France again (if necessary) in the finals.

This gets my vote, and makes the most sense...which means I fully expect us to go a different route.

 

[blacklistedbully]

Is it silly to at least consider weather forecast as a small factor? Meaning, if there is enough rain forecast in the future, might you perhaps hedge your bet just a bit on whether that means we might have a better chance of a delay or two giving Small yet another shot at some innings beyond what he might get if there were no further delays?

My gut says no way...you don't think beyond what is scheduled at this point.

 

[GhostOfJackie]

I think you pitch Billingsley Friday, and save Small for a must win Saturday game. But that would mean that Small might not be available for the Championship series until Wednesday.

On Saturday you pitch your best arm either way.

I really with they would include more time between the bracket play and the championship series. Play the brackets Monday-Sunday, and do the championship series the next Thursday-Saturday. That way both teams will have all their arms.

 

[HumpDawgy]

I would say go with Billingsley, France, James on Friday. If you don't win, Small goes Saturday with Self, Gordon, Neff on Saturday. That way we have Small to go on Monday if we win the first game or Pilk to go if we have to play 2. Of course I want Small first game and Pilk second game of the finals.

 

[coach66]

Pitch Small and go for the win and push their resources as much as possible.

nm

 

[Requiem For A Dawg]

I'd go with either Small or Small.

This shouldn’t even be a question. Throw Small. There is not a championship series, if you don’t make it to the championship series.

 

[patdog]

I agree. Throw Small, and he's available for a Wednesday game on 4 days rest. Save him for Saturday, and he's not available for a potential championship series other than on short rest, which is always risky both from an injury standpoint and an effectiveness standpoint.

 

[philduckworth]

This shouldn’t even be a question. Throw Small. There is not a championship series, if you don’t make it to the championship series.

If you pitch Small, you will not have him for the Finals. I guess you could bring him back on 4 days rest to pitch Game 3 if there is a game 3, but that is really pushing a guy 1 year removed from TJ.

The advantage we have earned allows us the luxury of trying to get the win with France/Bill. Then of course you would have to pitch Small in Game 2 if we lose, but I think it's worth the gamble in Game 1.

 

[johnson86-1]

If you pitch Small, you will not have him for the Finals. I guess you could bring him back on 4 days rest to pitch Game 3 if there is a game 3, but that is really pushing a guy 1 year removed from TJ.

The advantage we have earned allows us the luxury of trying to get the win with France/Bill. Then of course you would have to pitch Small in Game 2 if we lose, but I think it's worth the gamble in Game 1.

Well, Small is about 21 months removed from TJ surgery I think. But yes, if you think you can't pitch him on 4 days rest, then you save him and hope you win Friday. But if you think you can safely pitch him on 4 days rest, I think you pitch him on Friday.

But the alternative argument is that saving him may give you the best chance of assuring a trip to the finals. You match France/Billingsly up against presumably the #1 pitcher of UNC or OSU on Friday, which is not great, but then you get Small against what would presumably be their #4 starter. So you have a puncher's chance on Friday and a big advantage on Saturday, compared to matching up Ace to Ace and then France/Billingsly against their #4.

 

[Go Budaw]

Thoughts? I’m leaning toward JB right now.

Billingsley. Hold Small for the elimination game or Game 1 of the Finals. Either is more important than Friday’s game.

 

[patdog]

4 days isn't short rest. It's a normal rotation for pitchers. The ONLY reason colleges don't use it is because they want their best 3 starters to always pitch the conference games.

 

[Go Budaw]

Small.

Then he would still be available for game 2 or 3 of the finals.

I don’t think he’d be available for Game 2, and even if he was I don’t know how sharp he would be or how long he would last. 3 days rest would be a little irresponsible for a dude not too far removed from Tommy John. Game 3, maybe, but if we go 0-2 in the Finals without pitching our best guy because we threw him in a game where we could afford a loss, I think that would be less than ideal.

 

[philduckworth]

4 days isn't short rest. It's a normal rotation for pitchers. The ONLY reason colleges don't use it is because they want their best 3 starters to always pitch the conference games.

I wouldn't call it normal when Small has pitched on 6 days rest all year.

 

[patdog]

Again, that's ONLY because we don't want to lose him for a weekend by pitching him on Wednesday. Trust me, it's no big deal for him to start Friday and then again on Wednesday. But if we try to save him for a Monday game, we might not have him available at all for a championship series.

 

[philduckworth]

Again, that's ONLY because we don't want to lose him for a weekend by pitching him on Wednesday. Trust me, it's no big deal for him to start Friday and then again on Wednesday. But if we try to save him for a Monday game, we might not have him available at all for a championship series.

I have a lot of confidence in France. That's the main reason I would start him Friday.

 

[patdog]

I do too. But I want Small to be the pitcher we have available for both this weekend and next week.

 

[CEO2044]

I’m good with Hendo’s choice.

 

[Lou3000]

Depends, do you just want to stay alive, or do you want to win the thing? I think you have to take Small and Pilkington, fully rested, to game 1 and 2 of the finals.

If you lose on Friday, then you go into "stay alive" mode and you pitch Small to make it to the finals.

 

[patdog]

In 2013, Cohen came back with Graveman for the Friday game. We did lose the championship series, but scoring only 1 run in 2 games, I don't think you can blame the pitching too much.

 

[MSUDawgFan86]

Thoughts? I’m leaning toward JB right now.

Not sure if this is a serious question. Def Small or JP France. JB isn’t very dependable or good. He has a meltdown inning almost every time out. His ERA is north of 5. I don’t want that trying to pitch me into a CWS Final.

 

[MSUDawgFan86]

If you pitch Small, you will not have him for the Finals. I guess you could bring him back on 4 days rest to pitch Game 3 if there is a game 3, but that is really pushing a guy 1 year removed from TJ.

The advantage we have earned allows us the luxury of trying to get the win with France/Bill. Then of course you would have to pitch Small in Game 2 if we lose, but I think it's worth the gamble in Game 1.

4 days rest is plenty. Major Leaguers do it all season. He’s 20 years old so he heals faster in between. He can do it once for a national title.

 

[57stratdawg]

My thoughts as well..

 

[She Mate Me]

This, all day long. Internet coaches bore me.

 

[messageboardsuperhero]

I’d start Billingsley and let him get through the order 1-2 times, then hand the ball to France. You’d have Small for the if necessary game on Saturday or starting game one of the championship series.

 

[Tall Dawg]

If you pitch Small, you will not have him for the Finals. I guess you could bring him back on 4 days rest to pitch Game 3 if there is a game 3, but that is really pushing a guy 1 year removed from TJ.

The advantage we have earned allows us the luxury of trying to get the win with France/Bill. Then of course you would have to pitch Small in Game 2 if we lose, but I think it's worth the gamble in Game 1.

Incorrect.
We need to pitch Small Friday and it is a no brainer. If Small pitches Friday(and he should
as he has been 100% $ lately) and if we win Friday, we will be guaranteed to have Small
avalible to start game #2 of championship series on Tuesday.

IF we waited to pitch him Saturday(assuming we lost on Friday) Small
would not be available to pitch until Game #3 on Wednesday...ASSUMING we do not get
beat in games 1 and 2. By Small pitching Friday (EVEN IF WE LOST FRIDAY and came
back and won Saturday) Small would be available to pitch on Tuesday on 4 DAYS REST WHICH
IS PLENTY REST.

Would be a total shame if Small was not available to pitch game 2 because we waited
until Saturday to throw him.
Throw ur hottest pitcher Friday and finish off our side of bracket.
Hail State!!

 

[Go Budaw]

I really with they would include more time between the bracket play and the championship series. Play the brackets Monday-Sunday, and do the championship series the next Thursday-Saturday. That way both teams will have all their arms.

Totally agree. Not only is this the most fair for the players, but its better for the fans who want to attend the championship series as well. Taking what essentially amounts to an entire week off of work on zero days notice is very difficult for 90% of the population. And a lot of the 10% that can have a spouse that can’t or a kid with summer activities that can’t be rescheduled. With a Thurs - Sat series, you can cut out after a half day on Thursday (or take whole day if you can), catch a flight to Omaha, get there in time to drop things at hotel and get to the ballpark, then stay for all 3 games and have Sunday to travel home. 1.5 - 2 weekdays off. No sweat.

 

[Apoplectic_Objurgator]

We’re going to get the beaver #1 but I think you still go with our #3. If we lose we go with out #1 against their #2 the next day

 

[whosyourdawgy]

Billingsley has pitched well as of late. We’ve got our entire bullpen ready to throw. Even Cole could come in spot situations. Roll with that and when we win Friday, we will be in the catbird seat with our 1 and 2 on full rest, ready to get our first National Championship in baseball!

 

[Bulldogg31]

Does it matter what the team you're facing has gone through to get there?

I'd say if the other team has burned up a bunch of arms to get there you could definitely roll the dice and save Small.

 

[Go Budaw]

Not sure if this is a serious question. Def Small or JP France. JB isn’t very dependable or good. He has a meltdown inning almost every time out. His ERA is north of 5. I don’t want that trying to pitch me into a CWS Final.

He had a productive outing against Vandy that was cut short by terrible mistakes in the field that extended innings. Not his fault. He also pitched well against Samford if I recall correctly in Tallahassee. Everybody on this staff has stepped up when their number has been called since the 20-10 debacle. I say give him the ball and try to get Pilk / Small to the Finals fresh as a daisy.

 

[Bucky Dog]

You have to go with Small. You don’t play for the next game or the series, you go with who gives you the best chance to win the game today! No question. If we win then Small is available for Tuesday or Wednesday. It’s a gamble to hold him Friday because if we lose then he must throw Saturday and would only maybe be available for spot duty Wednesday.