Big Werm: Batting .210 on the season, delivered big time today
by going 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Awesome first game in Omaha!
A few thoughts:
- Danny Hultzen battled through six scoreless innings, throwing 113 pitches. He might be available to pitch again Thursday, will probably be available to pitch Friday or Saturday if we're still playing then.
- Interesting move by Brian O'Connor ("BOC" from now on) to bring Tyler Wilson in for middle relief. He went two good innings, throwing 39 pitches. He probably won't start on Tuesday, but it looks like BOC wants to deal Wilson out of the pen. Makes sense, he was a relief pitcher the first three years of his UVA career, and a damn good one at that.
- I liked the move to allow Branden Kline to come in for the save. Maybe this appearance helps the young man regain some lost confidence.
- We have to get more from John Hicks and Steven Proscia, or we won't last long in the CWS. Each guy had an RBI today, but both looked... uncomfortable. Bad time for a mini-slump for our two best hitters.
- John Barr and Keith Werman were studs today. And this is indicative of how our lineup shapes up --- we can get production from anyone, 1-thru-9.
- Good game, solid win. It's nice to knock the media darling into the loser's bracket. Mike Patrick was really freaking annoying with the Cal love today.
- Now we need to hope this Texas A&M / South Carolina game goes 25 innings with those teams burning through their pitching.
- First time a Virginia team has played in the winner's bracket at the College World Series. LOVE THAT!
GO HOOS!
One quick thought, K. I think it's a little quick to label Hicks and Proscia in slumps. This was just one game, against Cal's best pitcher, and our lineup has the ability to grind out really good at-bats from top to bottom. I think so long as Hicks doesn't try to hack his way out of this pseudo-slump, the way he did with his last bit of adversity, we'll be fine no matter who we play. Even if we don't have a power threat outside of Hicks and Proscia, this team can HIT in any situation and give you practically any result you would like.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good point, and the choice of the term "mini-slump" was probably too strong... but in watching Florida, Vandy, and South Carolina, I think we're going to need these two to generate extra base hits in order to produce enough offense to win a national championship.
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