Who do you start in Game 1?...

[thekimmer]

Sure Pilk gives us the best chance to beat USA but I think saving him for game 2 gives us the best chance to beat both USM and USA.

Ultimately though I think the key to winning this tournament is going to be our bats. We are going to have to get those RISP hits that have eluded us the past couple of weeks. We must score enough runs to take some of the pressure off of our pitching and allow us to be able to weather some rough innings.

 

[coach66]

I thought Gordon had already be named.

nm

 

[maroonmania]

Agree, the bats were extremely disappointing in Hoover. 4 straight games never scoring more than 4 runs was weak. I would definitely go with Gordon in Game 1. We HAVE to win Game 2 to have any shot in this regional. If Gordon isn't good enough for us to beat USA then we aren't going to win the thing anyway.

 

[philduckworth]

I'd go Gordon Game 1. Pilk game 2. And Plumlee Game 3.

If we lose Game 1 with Gordon, I would go McQuary Game 2, then Pilk and Plum.

Hope Riley Self eats his Wheaties and we have to bring the sticks.

 

[dawgstudent]

I'd go with Pilkington Game 1 b/c the chance of rain is pretty high. So any extra day of rest - we could maybe pitch Pilkington again. Plus, we already lost to USA. I'd rather win Game 1 as a 2 seed and then worry about Game 2.

 

[57stratdawg]

Game 1 and 2 is Gordon / Pilk, IMO. No questions. I don't want McQuery throwing in that environment especially against USM.

Both Gordon and McQuery have thrown 49 innings this year and Gordon has 22BB with McQuery at 42.

 

[philduckworth]

I'd go with Pilkington Game 1 b/c the chance of rain is pretty high. So any extra day of rest - we could maybe pitch Pilkington again. Plus, we already lost to USA. I'd rather win Game 1 as a 2 seed and then worry about Game 2.

Not trying to be a smart a$$, but this isn't 1991. No way Pilk can pitch twice in the same regional unless the rain lasts until next Thursday. We have lost USA in a meltdown, but we are 2-1 against them this year. But I'm a broken record on this topic, I would always save my ace for Game 2 in a regional.

 

[8dog]

Right or wrong pitchers do it every year. Throw friday and come back monday

 

[philduckworth]

Right or wrong pitchers do it every year. Throw friday and come back monday

I just can't see Cann doing that, but I could be wrong.

 

[aTotal360]

If we can get those girls to hug Gordon, we should go with him. Blood will be pumping.

 

[57stratdawg]

Didn't Arizona throw a guy last year for like 150 pitches in their regional?

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

Pilk game one...

 

[8dog]

Yeah i think bannister but i cant remember the details and it pains me too much to research

To Hoops, i dont think Cann will either

 

[MSUDC11]

Here's the thing about throwing Pilkington first: you're not guaranteed to win. Remember Chris Stratton versus Samford in 2012?

At least if you lose Game 1 with Gordon you still have your ace in an elimination game. Honestly though we aren't winning this Regional unless we win both of the first two games so it probably doesn't matter.

I would still go with Denver for Game 3. You can always put in Plumlee early if things go south. Denver has good stuff if he can just limit walks. We are short on options so he's going to have to start at some point. I still trust him more than Billingsley at the moment, although Billingsley was perfectly fine on Friday.

 

[maroonmania]

Best option is to play the percentages. Percentages say you still have a very good chance to beat USA in the first game with Gordon and your BEST chance to beat USM is with Pilkington. It may not work, but if we can't beat USA pitching Gordon what kind of realistic chance do we have beating USM pitching Gordon? And remember, whether you lose Game 1 or Game 2 you are still in the EXACT same position.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

I don't think it matters. Pilkington, Gordon and Billingsley all threw great last week. However, I think we need a swing/miss guy for USM i.e. Pilkington. Gordon throws strikes so I say roll with him vs USA so we can trade blows. Then Billingsley/McQuary is ready for the ship matchup with USM.

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

I'd go Gordon Game 1. Pilk game 2. And Plumlee Game 3.

If we lose Game 1 with Gordon, I would go McQuary Game 2, then Pilk and Plum.

Hope Riley Self eats his Wheaties and we have to bring the sticks.

If we go 2 and Que in a regional without throwing our ace that would be one of the dumbest coaching decisions in the history of MSU

 

[8dog]

Play to win the regional. Not to throw a certain guy

 

[Hankp22]

Start Cole

I can't blame him if he starts KP. But I would start Cole.

I think that gives us the best chance at being in the winners bracket in Sunday. We have the pitching to play four games. It's the fifth where we get very thin. And I think KP on Saturday is your best chance assuming USM wins game 1.

The post that mentioned RISP above got it correct. We have struggled to get the big hit. And our pitchers have to throw strikes.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

We have the pitching to play four games.

Slow down, scooter. We have the pitching to win 3. 4 gets dicey.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

That 's the way it looks to me

Win in 3 or go home.(most likely) #4 would be tough for us.

These other teams got there because they could win, Also.

 

[Hankp22]

Slow down, scooter. We have the pitching to win 3. 4 gets dicey.

I used the word play and you used the word win.

Depending on terminology, we arrive at a similar destination.

Our win % probability decreases a fair amount after game three. It plummets after game four.

And that's why I start Cole on Friday and hope KP pitches Saturday to go to the winners bracket. I feel we have to be at 2-0 to win the regional.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

Well, seeing how it's win or go home, I guess I inferred that.

But yeah, we agree.....Cole Gordon time.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

I think they did it twice.

 

[gymdawg.sixpack]

I know ill get roasted for this but id start billingsley in gm1. Gordon isnt any different in relief than as a starter. If jacob gets in any trouble put in cole. Buuuut if jb gives us 5 and we have a 3run lead we might finish and win gm 1 easily setting us up pretty for any outcome or losers bracket run.

 

[Hoover Dawg]

Depends on USA. I like Billingsley's spin against USM, hopefully a repeat of the second Arkansas game at Hoover, before it broke apart.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Play to win the regional. Not to throw a certain guy

^^^THIS^^^

Which pitcher matches best against each team?

 

[HaleStater]

Was talking about this today with a colleague. Definitely go Gordon game 1 and save Pilk for game 2. We are here to win the whole damn thing. If you can't beat South Alabama in a regional without your ace then we have no business being there.

 

[Dawgcap]

i would have argued Pilk in game 1 until Gordon's performance against Florida. I just have to believe he is ready to throw now. His confidence has to be sky high. Pilk's confidence will be the same in game 1 or 2. Bet he's cool waiting. Throw the guy whose coming off a great game and with something to prove in game1

 

[patdog]

0-2 is no worse than 2-2 in a regional. If you want to play to win game 1, throw your ace then. If you want to win the regional, save him until the first time you face the #1 seed.

 

[jdbulldog]

I would wait and see if USM wins and who they pick ch before I name my starter.

 

[thekimmer]

Ding Ding Ding

Was talking about this today with a colleague. Definitely go Gordon game 1 and save Pilk for game 2. We are here to win the whole damn thing. If you can't beat South Alabama in a regional without your ace then we have no business being there.

This!

 

[thekimmer]

I do not think you are obligated to start a pitcher you have named in the press. With that said. If UIC somehow managed to beat USM I would switch pitchers in a heartbeat. Well maybe two heartbeats. I'd waste one beat contemplating saving pilk till sunday but that would be getting too greedy.

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

0-2 is no worse than 2-2 in a regional. If you want to play to win game 1, throw your ace then. If you want to win the regional, save him until the first time you face the #1 seed.

Lets go 0-2 with Pilkingtin on the bench. Ill be back for the nuclear meltdown on the board then. Until then it is all fun and nice to talk about cool intersting pitching strategies. Sure it would be ideal if we can pull it off but if you are playing to win the regional you have to give Pilkington a guaranteed start and not save him for a game that may not happen.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Hasn't Bianca done this?

 

[patdog]

If we lose game 1 without him, I'd be more pissed if we pitched him against the #4 seed in the losers bracket and go 1-2 than I would be if we held him out and went 0-2. A regional is a situation where Ricky Bobby really was right, if you ain't first, you're last.

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

If we lose game 1 without him, I'd be more pissed if we pitched him against the #4 seed in the losers bracket and go 1-2 than I would be if we held him out and went 0-2. A regional is a situation where Ricky Bobby really was right, if you ain't first, you're last.

I get the logic of playing to win but I guess we have different ideas of how to make that happen. I do everything in my power to stay in the winners bracket because we have enough pitching to compete in 3 games and number 4 is shakey. If we do fall into the losers bracket then game 2 is the most important game of the year and is the literal definition of must win. Win there and then worry about game 3

 

[patdog]

You really don't get the logic of playing to win the regional. You're still in the mindset of I HAVE to win today, even if it costs me tomorrow's game. That mindset is suited to finishing second in a regional more than it is to win a regional.

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

If you are in the losers bracket you HAVE to win today. You can say that winning game 2 doesnt matter if you lose game 3 but we have a better shot of winning game 3 with McQuary than we do if our team is back in Starkville having the end of the year family picnic.

 

[patdog]

If you're in the losers bracket after game 1 you have to win today, twice tomorrow and again the next day. Winning today and the expense of tomorrow does nothing. You have to play to win all 4 games. We have a better shot of doing that if McQuary pitches against the #4 seed and Pilkington goes against the #1 seed.