UConn v. Coastal Carolina @ the Conway SC Regional on 6/3 @ Noon on ESPN3 | The Boneyard

UConn v. Coastal Carolina @ the Conway SC Regional on 6/3 @ Noon on ESPN3

I was a bit shocked to see Poulin starting, but then I started thinking about it. Coastal Carolina has already seen Kersten once, and they hit him pretty good. Who knows what they would do with Kersten a second time. So if you don't start Kersten against him, who do you go with? Colby Dunlop, a freshmen? Not against a club that can hit like Coastal Carolina. By starting Poulin, you assure that your best remaining pitcher actually gets to pitch when the game still matters. It certainly is an interesting gamble, but it is one that I can understand.

If UConn gets by Coastal Carolina, I would think Kersten starts against Washington. That is, unless he pitches in the Coastal Carolina game.
 
Isn't there an MLB team flirting with the same concept? Cleveland? Start your best reliever and let him face the meat of the opposing lineup once or twice to start the game. No different than ending the game.
 
Bezzz said:
Isn't there an MLB team flirting with the same concept? Cleveland? Start your best reliever and let him face the meat of the opposing lineup once or twice to start the game. No different than ending the game.
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Tampa Bay is doing it with Sergio Romo, and the results have actually been pretty good. I'd hope PJ can go at least 3, but who knows. It's certainly a bold move.
 
Bezzz said:
Isn't there an MLB team flirting with the same concept? Cleveland? Start your best reliever and let him face the meat of the opposing lineup once or twice to start the game. No different than ending the game.
Expand ...
Tampa Bay has been doing this with Sergio Romo. Logic is you have the RP face the top of the order and you avoid the SP having to face the best hitters in the lineup a 3rd time in later innings
 
Dom Amore‏ @AmoreCourant 52m 52 minutes ago
Jim Penders made the decision over breakfast to start his closer, P.J. Poulin. A few thoughts: Poulin hasn't pitched in more than a week. ... He started five games in 2017. ... He's a lefty, tough on LH hitters and Coastal Carolina starts six lefty hitters. (more)

Dom Amore‏ @AmoreCourant 50m 50 minutes ago
Pender's other option, Jeff Kersten, gave up five runs in 3 1/3 in start at Coastal on March 10. ... Downside: Once Poulin is out of the game, figuring out the last few innnings will be tricky, and if Huskies win, he'd likely be unavailable rest of Regional.

Dom Amore‏ @AmoreCourant 49m 49 minutes ago
But the bottom line, UConn facing elimination, has to cover 27 innings to survive here. Time to be unconventional.

Dom Amore‏ @AmoreCourant 48m 48 minutes ago
P.J. Poulin is 6-3, 3.30 ERA in 30 games, 43 2/3 IP. 39 hits, 17 walks, 54 K's, school-record 16 saves.
 
If he can give you 5 innings, it's a good move. If he can only give you 3 1/3 and is then unavailable for the rest of the tourney, not so much.
 
businesslawyer said:
If he can give you 5 innings, it's a good move. If he can only give you 3 1/3 and is then unavailable for the rest of the tourney, not so much.
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If Poulin only goes 3 innings, there may not be a rest of a tourney for UConn.
 
businesslawyer said:
If he can give you 5 innings, it's a good move. If he can only give you 3 1/3 and is then unavailable for the rest of the tourney, not so much.
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If he pitches 3 innings, whether it's the first 3 or last 3, he's likely not available the rest of the tourney anyway. Might as well guarantee your best pitcher is pitching when it matters, and give the bats a chance to jump out ahead
 
...damn, and Prato gets gunned down at 3rd after Susi extends his reached base streak to 48.
 
I'm guessing that by avoiding the possible big deficit early will keep the hitters honest and not try to hit a 5 run HR every AB.
 

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