OT: Boogs in the Raleigh not men’s softball Regional

[DufnerFanBoy]

Well peeps, the NCCAT is upon us. Auburn got a decently favorable draw in the regional, although not as good as hosting would’ve been. We get a familiar opponent in the first game, Northeastern. We took 2 of 3 from them back in March. Tanner Burns will get the start tomorrow. He gave up 2 runs on 5 hits in 4.1 IP in his previous start but was bested by Northeastern’s Sean Mellen, who threw 7.2 innings of no-hit ball before giving up a late single.

Somewhat surprisingly, Auburn won’t face Mellen in game one. He’s not been exceedingly sharp his last few outings, and Northeastern will opt to start RHP Tyler Brown. Brown started the first game of a Saturday double header back in March and had a bit of a rough go against our Boogs, giving up 7 runs on 6 hits and 3 HRs. In total, Auburn hit 6 HRs in that game. But Brown has been better recently, winning 4 of his last 5 starts and getting pretty deep into all five games.

Should be a good game tomorrow. I think this is a favorable pitching matchup for our offense. Auburn’s struggles against LHP are documented. The Tigers hit close to .60 worse against LHP than RHP. So not seeing Mellen and seeing a guy we’ve had success against should be a confidence boost to the lineup. I do think we will see a little bit of a lineup change, although I’m not sure what that will entail.

The game starts at 1:00 CT and will be broadcast on watchespn.

 

[wcw3au1]

You heard any talk that Casey might not pitch until Sunday? If true, somethings up. No way you wouldn’t want him at least available Friday of the Supers right?

 

[DufnerFanBoy]

You heard any talk that Casey might not pitch until Sunday? If true, somethings up. No way you wouldn’t want him at least available Friday of the Supers right?

Butch talked about it today in his press conference. From hearing that and reading the comments from a few beat writers, it sounds like Casey is throwing against one team in this tournament, NC State. Whether that’s our second game or third game, it sounds like Casey won’t throw until we play them. On one hand, I understand the strategy, and it will probably play out like we think. On the other hand, there’s that possibility that playing with the rotation and getting cute will bite you in the ass. But to be fair to Butch, he pretty much addressed that by saying he knows he’ll get crucified if things don’t go right. But he also said he feels their plan is what they think is the best chance for us to win this regional. And he’s said since Monday he isn’t playing for second and that he’s going to do whatever he can to put us in position to win this regional. 2nd, 3rd, or 4th don’t matter.

 

[wcw3au1]

I didn’t see or hear his presser. Thanks for sharing!

 

[WDE_Tarp]

Butch talked about it today in his press conference. From hearing that and reading the comments from a few beat writers, it sounds like Casey is throwing against one team in this tournament, NC State. Whether that’s our second game or third game, it sounds like Casey won’t throw until we play them. On one hand, I understand the strategy, and it will probably play out like we think. On the other hand, there’s that possibility that playing with the rotation and getting cute will bite you in the ass. But to be fair to Butch, he pretty much addressed that by saying he knows he’ll get crucified if things don’t go right. But he also said he feels their plan is what they think is the best chance for us to win this regional. And he’s said since Monday he isn’t playing for second and that he’s going to do whatever he can to put us in position to win this regional. 2nd, 3rd, or 4th don’t matter.

I think that's the correct mindset this year honestly. Last year we wanted to make the best showing we could, but this year we have nothing to lose. We're a tough matchup in a super, even for Florida.

 

[Boytano]

You heard any talk that Casey might not pitch until Sunday? If true, somethings up. No way you wouldn’t want him at least available Friday of the Supers right?

 

[Slippin Jimmy]

My goodness we haven’t even thrown a pitch and the questionable coaching decisions have already started

 

[DufnerFanBoy]

My goodness we haven’t even thrown a pitch and the questionable coaching decisions have already started

If you’re coaching, what are you doing differently?

 

[Slippin Jimmy]

If you’re coaching, what are you doing differently?

Pretty much everything

 

[L I G E R]

If you’re coaching, what are you doing differently?

Just me, but I’m doing whatever it takes to get to 2-0, then let the chips fall where they may.

Assuming you win the first one, go balls out to stay in the winner’s bracket.

 

[Slippin Jimmy]

Just me, but I’m doing whatever it takes to get to 2-0, then let the chips fall where they may.

Assuming you win the first one, go balls out to stay in the winner’s bracket.

Yeah this reeks of getting our asses scrubbed by a directional school

 

[L I G E R]

Yeah this reeks of getting our asses scrubbed by a directional school

It’s almost as though Butch is preemptively hedging his bets on a questionable coaching decision before the first pitch is even thrown.

That way, if it works out, he looks like a genius. If it doesn’t, he gets to be all “I told you guys this could happen... we just didn’t get it done.”

Pretty alarming stuff.

 

[Boytano]

Yeah this reeks of getting our asses scrubbed by a directional school

i thought Kaylee was pitching in the first game?

 

[Slippin Jimmy]

i thought Kaylee was pitching in the first game?

We could probably use her TBH

 

[DufnerFanBoy]

Just me, but I’m doing whatever it takes to get to 2-0, then let the chips fall where they may.

Assuming you win the first one, go balls out to stay in the winner’s bracket.

That’s probably what I’d do too, and most likely that’s what we will do. I think Butch is just keeping the door open to throw Mitchell and the pen at game two if we win game one and face Army instead of NC State in the winner’s bracket, which is unlikely. If we win game one, I think the chances of seeing Mize in game two are very high.

 

[DufnerFanBoy]

In the perfect scenario, Burns beats Northeastern, Mitchell beats Army, and Mize throws in game 3 where a win puts us in the super regionals.

Most likely scenario is Burns throws game one and Mize throws game two.

 

[WDE_Tarp]

In the perfect scenario, Burns beats Northeastern, Mitchell beats Army, and Mize throws in game 3 where a win puts us in the super regionals.

... ugh... anyone watching the other game in our regional?

 

[ALLTIGER85]

... ugh... anyone watching the other game in our regional?

I’m not watching but saw the score flash. Really hope we don’t throw Mize at Army if they hang on.

Edit: Army won

 

[Gran_Polla]

The Galloway gang doesn't know shit about baseball. Jesus!

 

[DufnerFanBoy]

Mize is starting tomorrow. I like that. Win tomorrow and you likely have everyone on the pitching staff available for Sunday besides Burns and Mize. I like our chances there.

 

[Slippin Jimmy]

Mize is starting tomorrow. I like that. Win tomorrow and you likely have everyone on the pitching staff available for Sunday besides Burns and Mize. I like our chances there.

No no no. If you have to use up your ace to beat ARMY you don’t deserve to be here in the first place.

 

[charlie5]

Mize is starting tomorrow. I like that. Win tomorrow and you likely have everyone on the pitching staff available for Sunday besides Burns and Mize. I like our chances there.

Looks like we are going with our handsome genius boog with the jawline of Zeus - Mize today with the start

Gonna boog all over these Black Knights and cruise into the championship game where we let young child Boog Davis Daniel throw 97 mph flames as long as his boog heart can take it and then stroll down to Gainesville to sleigh the GAYtors

 

[Harvey Specter]

We on WatchESPN tonight? Can’t find a TWEET to confirm

 

[wcw3au1]

Mize is starting tomorrow. I like that. Win tomorrow and you likely have everyone on the pitching staff available for Sunday besides Burns and Mize. I like our chances there.

I’m still a little weirded out that anything different was ever a consideration, but I’m glad it’s going down this way.

 

[Harvey Specter]

Found it. WatchESPN it is. Have we ever commented on how impressive Casey Mize’s butt chin is?

 

[ALLTIGER85]

Found it. WatchESPN it is. Have we ever commented on how impressive Casey Mize’s butt chin is?

View embedded media

Thought he was pulling a Ricky Bobby with his right hand. Then I saw the ball.

Butt chin is part of the reason he’s going #1 IYAM.

 

[DufnerFanBoy]

I’m still a little weirded out that anything different was ever a consideration, but I’m glad it’s going down this way.

I understand the idea of thinking about it. If Army has looked bad but somehow lucked up and beat N.C. State last night, it might make sense to throw Mitchell because Army wasn’t that good. But they played well last night. I think you have to respect that.

 

[MomentInTheSun]

What’s the schedule look like? I’ll try to watch the last game

 

[Harvey Specter]

What’s the schedule look like? I’ll try to watch the last game

We win tonight then we’ll play winner of Army and NCState/NEastern sometime tomorrow night, and they have to beat us twice, with Monday being the if necessary game

 

[Slippin Jimmy]

I understand the idea of thinking about it. If Army has looked bad but somehow lucked up and beat N.C. State last night, it might make sense to throw Mitchell because Army wasn’t that good. But they played well last night. I think you have to respect that.

Isn’t this pretty much the exact same scenario as last year? We burned Keegan and Casey against lesser opponents and then had nothing but scrubs left to throw at FSU?

 

[wcw3au1]

Isn’t this pretty much the exact same scenario as last year? We burned Keegan and Casey against lesser opponents and then had nothing but scrubs left to throw at FSU?

When a team can beat a #1 seed at their place, they can beat our #3 pitcher too. It's more important to get to 2-0 and take our chances against somebody else's #3 pitcher on Sunday.

 

[Slippin Jimmy]

When a team can beat a #1 seed at their place, they can beat our #3 pitcher too. It's more important to get to 2-0 and take our chances against somebody else's #3 pitcher on Sunday.

Worked out well last year

 

[wcw3au1]

Worked out well last year

And you'd bitch and moan and make idiotic statements if we saved Mize for tomorrow and lost tonight. You'd do the same next weekend if we made it and ended up losing Friday because Mize wasn't avalable. We can win our last game of the season and you're going to bitch and still not have a clue about the sport and our program.

 

[DufnerFanBoy]

Isn’t this pretty much the exact same scenario as last year? We burned Keegan and Casey against lesser opponents and then had nothing but scrubs left to throw at FSU?

Very similar, yes. I do think we’ve added a couple more quality arms to the mix to help in that game 3/4 situation than we had last year.

I think you can second guess these decisions all day long. Playing the percentages seems like the best decision here. The stats say if you win today you have a better than 80% chance of advancing. If we could win today without throwing Mize, that number probably increases. But if we lose, that number dramatically decreases. And with the way Army played last night and how they thrive on free passes and small ball, I like the idea of having the guy least likely to give those out on the mound.

 

[ALLTIGER85]

UNCW has 14 hits to OSU’s 4 hits. 2-2 in extra innings. Lulz

 

[cookedw]

UNCW has 14 hits to OSU’s 4 hits. 2-2 in extra innings. Lulz

17 hits to 5 hearing to Bottom of 13th. But if they had replay, game would have been over in the 11th. The kid was safe at home for UNCW

 

[WDE_Tarp]

Did Mellen not throw for Northeastern today?

 

[cookedw]

Did Mellen not throw for Northeastern today?

No. Apparently having back issues

 

[4Panic]

No. Apparently having back issues

Anybody know why the game is delayed?

 

[Slippin Jimmy]

Oh god this guy has a lazy curve could be a long night