College World Series
Bracket One Semifinals
Friday, 6/25 -- 2 p.m.
Saturday, 6/26 -- 2 p.m. (if necessary)
Vanderbilt
Odds are strong that Vanderbilt will be able to start Kumar Rocker on Friday, 6/25.
He threw 100 pitches on Saturday, 6/19 so would be going on five days rest.
One note is that this would match his shortest turnaround of the season between starts. Only one other time all season long has Rocker pitched on five days rest. All other times he has thrown on six, seven, or even more days between starts.
It should also be noted that Vanderbilt's No. 4 starter, Patrick Reilly (who pitched against Georgia Tech in the Regionals), is fresh and available -- the team chose not to use him at any point against Stanford on Wednesday. This is only mentioned on the off chance that the Vandy coach does NOT feel comfortable starting Rocker on five days rest.
Scouting Rocker
He has a fastball that sits in the 93-96 range and can reach 99, but location/control is sometimes an issue, as can be "flatness" to the pitch.
His best offering is a mid/high-80s slider. In last year's CWS no-hitter against Duke, all 19 of his strikeouts in that game came via the slider.
He also features a low-80s curveball.
When the slider is on, he's tough to hit. If it's not breaking right and hangs, then he's vulnerable.
On the season:
18 GS, 111.2 IP, 64 H, 36 BB, 8 HR
Poor starts:
vs. Georgia -- 5 IP, 6 ER, 3 HR
vs. Alabama -- 5 IP, 6 ER
at Arkansas -- 3.1 IP, 5 ER
vs. Arizona -- 5.2 IP, 3 ER
Bottom line:
Rocker can be overpowering when his mechanics are 100% and his breaking pitches are on.
But he becomes vulnerable if there are any control/location issues at all.
Jack Leiter was the SEC Pitcher of the Year -- not Rocker.
Starting for State
It remains to see which direction coach Avent will go.
He could choose to start Reid Johnston on five days rest -- or he could go with M. Willadsen, who last threw on 6/13 against Arkansas.
Advantages
A primary advantage that State has heading into Friday's game is a fresh bullpen.
Vanderbilt heavily used two of their better relief arms on Wednesday:
Maldonado -- 51 pitches
McElvain -- 30 pitches
Also, their closer, Murphy, threw 17 pitches.
State has also had all week to scout, watch video, and prepare for the pitchers they will likely face.
Finally, this team has defeated Kopps, Beck, and Leiter over the past two weeks. They won't cower from, or be intiminated by, any pitcher at this point in the season.
Bracket One Semifinals
Friday, 6/25 -- 2 p.m.
Saturday, 6/26 -- 2 p.m. (if necessary)
Vanderbilt
Odds are strong that Vanderbilt will be able to start Kumar Rocker on Friday, 6/25.
He threw 100 pitches on Saturday, 6/19 so would be going on five days rest.
One note is that this would match his shortest turnaround of the season between starts. Only one other time all season long has Rocker pitched on five days rest. All other times he has thrown on six, seven, or even more days between starts.
It should also be noted that Vanderbilt's No. 4 starter, Patrick Reilly (who pitched against Georgia Tech in the Regionals), is fresh and available -- the team chose not to use him at any point against Stanford on Wednesday. This is only mentioned on the off chance that the Vandy coach does NOT feel comfortable starting Rocker on five days rest.
Scouting Rocker
He has a fastball that sits in the 93-96 range and can reach 99, but location/control is sometimes an issue, as can be "flatness" to the pitch.
His best offering is a mid/high-80s slider. In last year's CWS no-hitter against Duke, all 19 of his strikeouts in that game came via the slider.
He also features a low-80s curveball.
When the slider is on, he's tough to hit. If it's not breaking right and hangs, then he's vulnerable.
On the season:
18 GS, 111.2 IP, 64 H, 36 BB, 8 HR
Poor starts:
vs. Georgia -- 5 IP, 6 ER, 3 HR
vs. Alabama -- 5 IP, 6 ER
at Arkansas -- 3.1 IP, 5 ER
vs. Arizona -- 5.2 IP, 3 ER
Bottom line:
Rocker can be overpowering when his mechanics are 100% and his breaking pitches are on.
But he becomes vulnerable if there are any control/location issues at all.
Jack Leiter was the SEC Pitcher of the Year -- not Rocker.
Starting for State
It remains to see which direction coach Avent will go.
He could choose to start Reid Johnston on five days rest -- or he could go with M. Willadsen, who last threw on 6/13 against Arkansas.
Advantages
A primary advantage that State has heading into Friday's game is a fresh bullpen.
Vanderbilt heavily used two of their better relief arms on Wednesday:
Maldonado -- 51 pitches
McElvain -- 30 pitches
Also, their closer, Murphy, threw 17 pitches.
State has also had all week to scout, watch video, and prepare for the pitchers they will likely face.
Finally, this team has defeated Kopps, Beck, and Leiter over the past two weeks. They won't cower from, or be intiminated by, any pitcher at this point in the season.
