I'm 100% behind the decision that Casey and Nate make.
But here are the pros and cons in my mind....
Jake would be on short rest and then what would his role be in the final 3 game series? (yes, it is time to start setting up the pitching for the Championship round!). I'd rather see Jake rest or pitch only an inning or two to set him up for the Game 1 starter on Monday.
Razz - Great option but I'm kind of liking him lurking as the closer or ready for 4-5 innings of solid relief.
I'd prefer to get a lefty SP in the mix... and I'd go with Eisart or get this.... Mulholand
Whoever goes on Friday probably won't pitch at all till Tuesday or Wednesday in relief.
Just my $0.02 but I walk with Casey, all the confidence in the world he will figure it out!
If Jake throws Saturday, he would be on five days' rest. That is not short rest. That is full rest. Thompson threw against Ohio State, Ball State, Washington, and Oregon on five days' rest.
Ohio State. Thompson threw 90 pitches on Monday against Indiana. The following Sunday, Thompson threw 8 innings of two-hit ball (97 pitches) with one earned run, a 5-1 win (game 2 of 23 straight wins).
Ball State. Thompson threw 78 pitches on Sunday against UC Davis. The following Saturday, Thompson threw 7 1/3 innings of one-hit ball (95 pitches) with one earned run, an 8-4 win to secure the sweep (game 10 of 23 straight wins).
Washington. Thompson threw 123 pitches on Sunday against Utah. The following Saturday, Thompson threw 7 2/3 innings of six-hit ball (108 pitches) with no earned runs, a 3-0 win in the rubber game.
Oregon. Thompson threw 103 pitches on Sunday against California. The following Saturday, Thompson threw 6 2/3 of three-hit ball with no earned runs, a 1-0 win to secure the season sweep (game 8 of 23 straight wins).
Stutes threw on five days' rest in 2007 in the Championship Series. Buck threw on five days' rest in the 2006 Championship Series. Nickerson threw on two and three days' rest in the 2006 College World Series.
If Oregon State wins on Friday, the starter would have four days' rest to pitch in game 3 of the Championship Series. That would be "short" rest for Thompson in the NCAA ranks, but four days' rest is standard "full" rest in MLB.
Eisert has never started at Oregon State and has been averaging 2 1/3 innings per outing. Mulholland has never started at Oregon State and has been averaging two innings per outing. Getting a quality start out of either of them would be........something. I know that Mulholland could give you about four, maybe five, solid innings. Eisert could give you three, maybe four, solid innings.
To me, the Johnny Wholestaff "strategy" sounds like a good way to see the team return to Corvallis on Saturday. Finish off FSU/LSU, then worry about the Championship Series!
