Sunday starter thoughts

heelforlife15

Senior
Aug 26, 2019
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Not sure if now is the time to pull the plug on Boaz or not but Coach Forbes is certainly thinking about it. He mentioned on the pod last week that the staff was thinking about the rotation going into GT.

I know Glauber seems like the obvious choice to replace Boaz but I think he is such a weapon out of the pen. What do you guys think about using Jackson Rose as the Sunday starter? He’s been great lately!
 

Niceun

Junior
Aug 1, 2025
130
241
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Pushing the right buttons is hard to do. Honestly, I’d be scared to change much. We held the best offense in the country to 11 runs and could have won all 3. Generally you need to score 7 on Sundays as the bullpens are spent. Just Needed a couple more timely hits.
 

TommyAshley

Heisman
Staff member
Jun 29, 2025
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Forbes has clearly been a coach that will make changes that he and his staff believe will make them better even if they are winning....see the lineup change with Hull moving up this week.....pitching rotation stuff is a little more nuanced and I always go back to a guy like Glauber and in comparison to Pence from 2024. Would you want him available multiple times a weekend as a reliever or once as a starter?

The Rose option is certainly intriguing because he's a lefty and you need a lefty in the starting rotation IMO....don't have to have it, but good switch up to have.
 

frisson

Sophomore
Aug 1, 2025
66
148
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I like Globe on Saturday and Lynch on Sunday. Rose as a bulk relief guy/4th starter.
 
Aug 2, 2025
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I like Globe on Saturday and Lynch on Sunday. Rose as a bulk relief guy/4th starter.
Let’s not get it twisted (yet). Rose has been really nice… but Globe’s stuff is on another level and has done it all year in tough situations against good teams. How many games have we won bc he came out of the pen and saved our bacon?? More than Boaz has “cost” us as the Sunday starter… I’d like Globe to stay in the pen as a Swiss Army knife. If anyone moves to replace Boaz, I’d like to see Rose. Guess we will see if Rose is starting tomorrow or not… might be a semi clue to possibly starting last game against the dookies.

Now if we’re talking a tourney 3rd start and the right situation arises, Globe definitely should start… like Lynch did for us last year.
 

TaylorMadeHeel

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Aug 1, 2025
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Pushing the right buttons is hard to do. Honestly, I’d be scared to change much. We held the best offense in the country to 11 runs and could have won all 3. Generally you need to score 7 on Sundays as the bullpens are spent. Just Needed a couple more timely hits.
I tend to agree but 4 of those 11 runs were given up by Boaz in 2.2 IP.
Do you make the change on the Sunday starter now hoping the replacement is settled in for the post season run?
 

UNC76

All-Conference
Jul 30, 2025
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I'm guessing many of you will be surprised to know our record in games started by DeCaro, Lynch and Boaz prior to the GT series. The results:

8-1 with Boaz, with the only loss against ECU, when the bullpen had a rare meltdown and allowed 7 combined runs in the 7th and 8th innings.
7-2 with DeCaro
5-3-1 with Lynch

Obviously the updated numbers have Boaz and DeCaro at 8-2, with Lynch at 6-3-1.

I point this out not to claim that Boaz has pitched well, but to emphasize how important it is to have a strong bullpen. DeCaro has only made it through 6 innings twice this year, and Lynch just 3 times. If we move Rose or Glauber to the Sunday starter role, who replaces their stellar relief innings?

We didn't lose Sunday entirely because of how Boaz pitched. We lost because Paulsen couldn't scoop a low throw that he catches 99% of the time, because Nicholson slid past 3B, because the GT CF made a spectacular diving catch, because the GT pinch hitter blooped a double down the LF line, and because the GT 1B made a great diving play to catch the line drive hit by Hull in the 9th inning. Stellar relief pitching kept us in the game, and gave us a chance to sweep the #2 team in the country, but too many other things just didn't go our way.

Having said all of that, I won't be surprised to see either Rose or Glauber moved to the rotation entering postseason play, much like we saw last year with Lynch,
 

Tarheelgrad90

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Jul 8, 2025
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I tend to agree but 4 of those 11 runs were given up by Boaz in 2.2 IP.
Do you make the change on the Sunday starter now hoping the replacement is settled in for the post season run?
True statemnet,BUT the flipside is we had chances to tie or lead later in the game. I don't think enough people understand what holding GT to 5 runs really was... That team is absolutely STACKED offensively. and we were a couple timely hits from winning. we didn't... I get that.... but I'm just not sure that Rose is ready or that Glauber needs to be removed from his current role. As TA said... having Globe available to pitch 3 times instead of one... thats a big asset.
 

unc80

All-Conference
Nov 1, 2009
1,527
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Jackson Rose has shown he could be the Sunday guy. But I'm not seeing the pitchers every day like the staff. They may feel Folger's struggles are fixable. I trust Forbes will position this team best to get to Omaha.
 

Mrtarheel1

Freshman
Aug 3, 2025
45
80
17
If we are going to make a change, I think that Rose should be the Sunday starter. Leave Globe where he is because he is too valuable there.
 

goheels1117

All-American
Jul 29, 2025
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I posted it in the Sunday game thread, but a regional is all about setting everything up to start 2-0, so going into the weekend with the plan not to use Glauber until game 3 doesn’t make any sense to me. If we win the first two of any series or regional 10-0 and he doesn’t throw, then sure start him in game 3.
 

HeelYeah2012

All-Conference
Jul 25, 2025
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Top bullpen arm is more valuable than #3 starter on a college staff. Winning a regional is all about starting 2-0 as @goheels1117 has been saying. There’s almost no chance we go into the postseason with DeCaro, Lynch and Glauber as the starting rotation because it would be too risky to try to go 2-0 without using all 3 of those arms.

The #3 starter role is perfect for Boaz if you view it through the proper lens of the #3 starter being like the 5th most valuable arm on a college staff. I can see a debate between he and Rose for that title.
 

uncbornbred

Senior
Jul 27, 2025
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Pushing the right buttons is hard to do. Honestly, I’d be scared to change much. We held the best offense in the country to 11 runs and could have won all 3. Generally you need to score 7 on Sundays as the bullpens are spent. Just Needed a couple more timely hits.
100%

i trust this staff

GO HEELS
 

uncbornbred

Senior
Jul 27, 2025
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"8-1 with Boaz, with the only loss against ECU, when the bullpen had a rare meltdown and allowed 7 combined runs in the 7th and 8th innings.
7-2 with DeCaro
5-3-1 with Lynch

Obviously the updated numbers have Boaz and DeCaro at 8-2, with Lynch at 6-3-1."

"Having said all of that, I won't be surprised to see either Rose or Glauber moved to the rotation entering postseason play, much like we saw last year with Lynch,"

hard for me to question staff's approach thus far, with this #s

i'm in this camp ...

GO HEELS
 

premn

All-Conference
Aug 1, 2025
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What’s the longest Rose has gone in a game this season? Unless you know he could stretch to 6-7 innings in a good outing I don’t think you make a move.
 

uncbornbred

Senior
Jul 27, 2025
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Jackson Rose has shown he could be the Sunday guy. But I'm not seeing the pitchers every day like the staff. They may feel Folger's struggles are fixable. I trust Forbes will position this team best to get to Omaha.
100%

GO HEELS
 

Mrtarheel1

Freshman
Aug 3, 2025
45
80
17
Boaz appears to have good stuff. He just needs to quit walking people, but we are approaching the end of the regular season and the problem is still there.
 

UNC76

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What’s the longest Rose has gone in a game this season? Unless you know he could stretch to 6-7 innings in a good outing I don’t think you make a move.
He gave us 6 very important innings in the 14 inning win vs Campbell. He also threw 5 solid innings vs UNCW last week.
 
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OldLeaguer

Sophomore
Feb 24, 2026
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I would not change a thing at this point. If you wanted to keep Folger on a short leash, no problem. I also wouldn't take too much from Folger's outing against GT. It was not a good matchup for him. Their most dangerous hitters were Burress, Lackey, Zuckerman, Hernandez, and Kerce. All right handed and threats to leave the park or drive something in a gap. Folger pitched like he trying to be extra careful. Where Jason and Ryan attacked the strike zone instead trying to be too fine and work corners and off the plate, FB did the exact opposite. He wasn't sharp enough and walked 4 in 2.2 innings. They did him in. On the flip side, as well as Rose has pitched up to this point, he was actually very fortunate against GT. They squared the ball up consistently; the balls fortunately were caught, but several were scorched, just right at someone. I'd be willing to bet that if we had access to the Trackman data, we would find hitters off Rose had higher EV's and Boaz. Right now, I'd leave Jackson right where he is. Let Folger try to go 4, 5 if possible, and turn it over to the pen.
 
Aug 19, 2025
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If you’ve followed the Diamond Heels for the last 20 years, you’ve seen this play out. I expect Boaz to stay the Sunday starter through the end of the regular season. If we find ourselves in a big game in the ACC Tourney with DeCaro and Lynch spent, then I think Glauber 100% gets that start. Same in the Regionals or in the Supers. Boaz won’t be the starter in any postseason game. Forbes will start Glauber. I’d bet my life on it. But making the change now just isn’t what we’ve done historically. We will ride consistency through the end of the regular season.
 

Top Water

Senior
Aug 25, 2025
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Pushing the right buttons is hard to do. Honestly, I’d be scared to change much. We held the best offense in the country to 11 runs and could have won all 3. Generally you need to score 7 on Sundays as the bullpens are spent. Just Needed a couple more timely hits.
Australia If It Aint Broke GIF by MasterChefAU
 

premn

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I forgot about that Campbell game. I still think you give him extended starts midweek and then maybe move to him in the regional or acc tournament like we did with Lynch.
 
Aug 2, 2025
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It also might have to do with Boaz and his ability to pitch out of the pen. He might not be able/ comfortable enough to be effective coming in with guys on late in games. Some guys aren’t cut out for pen work per their makeup. You don’t want to move Rose and just completely lose Boaz. Forbes might be keeping him there as a net positive for the team. Boaz continues to start knowing rose can come in for him quickly, or hopefully after 4-5 innings.
 

HeelYeah2012

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If you’ve followed the Diamond Heels for the last 20 years, you’ve seen this play out. I expect Boaz to stay the Sunday starter through the end of the regular season. If we find ourselves in a big game in the ACC Tourney with DeCaro and Lynch spent, then I think Glauber 100% gets that start. Same in the Regionals or in the Supers. Boaz won’t be the starter in any postseason game. Forbes will start Glauber. I’d bet my life on it. But making the change now just isn’t what we’ve done historically. We will ride consistency through the end of the regular season.
I agree with one caveat.

If we have to use (or even extend) Glauber out of the pen in order to win one of the first two games of a regional, we will do it. And then Boaz will start game 3.

If we smoke two teams in the first two games of the regional and don’t use Glauber in either game, then yes, he will start the third game most likely.
 

nutz4Dheels

Redshirt
Nov 7, 2006
94
24
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Forbes has clearly been a coach that will make changes that he and his staff believe will make them better even if they are winning....see the lineup change with Hull moving up this week.....pitching rotation stuff is a little more nuanced and I always go back to a guy like Glauber and in comparison to Pence from 2024. Would you want him available multiple times a weekend as a reliever or once as a starter?

The Rose option is certainly intriguing because he's a lefty and you need a lefty in the starting rotation IMO....don't have to have it, but good switch up to have.
True. See Ryan Lynch last year.

Here's the tough part...Globe and Rose are both pitching well out of the pen. How would they handle starting, and how would Boaz handle being relegated to midweek or the pen? And for those suggesting Rose starting over Globe, would Globe feel like he's being passed over? He is leading the team in ERA and certainly has a strong case to be the guy if it isn't Boaz.

I'm not saying I disagree with any of you, because the question is valid. Right now, though, we're winning games at an extremely high rate (> 80% in our last 25 games), so don't mess with a good thing. If changes come, it may be in the postseason similar to last year.
 

BigJulius94

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Jul 31, 2025
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True. See Ryan Lynch last year.

Here's the tough part...Globe and Rose are both pitching well out of the pen. How would they handle starting, and how would Boaz handle being relegated to midweek or the pen? And for those suggesting Rose starting over Globe, would Globe feel like he's being passed over? He is leading the team in ERA and certainly has a strong case to be the guy if it isn't Boaz.

I'm not saying I disagree with any of you, because the question is valid. Right now, though, we're winning games at an extremely high rate (> 80% in our last 25 games), so don't mess with a good thing. If changes come, it may be in the postseason similar to last year.
I feel like Forbes would make it very clear that he feels he is most valueble to the team to pitch in two games (or second starter in a game) then to just waste him one day if he were to make the move to Rose. But i see where you are coming from and never thought of it from that point of view.
 
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TaylorMadeHeel

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Aug 1, 2025
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True statemnet,BUT the flipside is we had chances to tie or lead later in the game. I don't think enough people understand what holding GT to 5 runs really was... That team is absolutely STACKED offensively. and we were a couple timely hits from winning. we didn't... I get that.... but I'm just not sure that Rose is ready or that Glauber needs to be removed from his current role. As TA said... having Globe available to pitch 3 times instead of one... thats a big asset.
Agree. Looking their stats coming into the game, I was waiting for an explosion that never came. Which is speaks to how good the staff and defense was/is. I was just pointing out our most shaky starter gave up more than 33% of the total runs for the weekend in 2.2 IP. And I really was and am hoping Folger develops into next year’s Friday starter. At this point , hoping he’s very solid weekend guy thru next year
 
Last edited:
Aug 15, 2025
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Dook has a ton of right handed hitters so i wonder if that's having something to do with the TBA on Saturday? If lynch can work into the 7 th inning and McDuffy can finish it without using Glob i think from a pure matchup standpoint he starts Saturday. How many left handed hitters does coastal have in the starting lineup? Would Boaz pitch Tuesday night with a better matchup?
 

HeelYeah2012

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Reading the tea leaves, it definitely seems like Plan A may be to get Glauber a start in game 3 of the Duke series. Which I agree with doing, since it seems clear they want Glauber prepared to start games in the postseason as needed.

That being said, I’m sure we will use Glauber in relief tonight if that’s what it takes to win game 2 and clinch the series.
 
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HeelYeah2012

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Unless the Tar Heels score a lot of runs tonight or lynch pitches deep into the game I really don't see a way around using Glob tonight remember winning the series is goal number one.
Agree, but in your post you named 2 different ways we can avoid using Glob tonight! So let's score some runs and have Lynch get deep!
 

HeelYeah2012

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Yeah, any of game 3 this weekend, Coastal on Tuesday, or Duke next Sunday are opportunities for Glauber to get a start under his belt. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t start any of those 3.