So which pitcher do we start today? Save Mazz for LSU and start Bree?
20 Replies
2
2hhoop3
2mo
opinions and arguments can be made and have been made for different scenarios in this thread. The only thing I would add in a tourney scenario is the old adage "you do what you can to win TODAY and worry about tomorrow when it comes.".
(In response to this post by HokieAvalanche)
2mo
Further build up her confidence and save Mazz + Bre (if available) for LSU.
With any luck, VT wins in 5 innings but I won’t count on that. Feels like a 4-1 type of game to me given how good their pitcher is.
Assuming we beat the Jags, that Game 1 vs. LSU obviously becomes enormous.
We need to think about what happens if Bree is unavailable or not effective due to injury. Who is our #3 pitcher in that case after Mazz and Avery? Is it Sophie? Seems like it based on her getting some action at Syracuse. We haven’t seen Fisher or Grizzard in months but they are at least dressing out for every game.
(In response to this post by HokieAvalanche)
B
BEST2VT
2mo
limit Bree’s innings but have her when needed.
(In response to this post by HokieAvalanche)
2mo
I don't mean coach-speak and player-speak smoke screens ... do we know for a *fact* that Bree is healthy?
(In response to this post by HokieAvalanche)
2mo
Her family wasn’t panicking so I’m not going to either.
(In response to this post by Will Stewart)
2mo
. . . type of overuse syndrome that is episodic. Probably somewhat unpredictable but related to total workload on the arm. She's almost certainly had a greater workload this season than any time since travel ball. What the coaches know (and her parents) is whether this had flared up during her time at VT and how it has been managed.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
. . . went to coach D1 and has taught privately for 15 years I can say that I was very concerned about Bree leaving the Duke game in tears. I know it's reported she had forearm tightness. Tightness producing tears suggests a situation that likely chronic as opposed to acute. She may be fine altogether of fine for limited innings. Either way, there's likely some overuse situation that's not likely to subside completely in the course of few days.
(In response to this post by Will Stewart)
2mo
Or a little of both.
(In response to this post by MidloHokie)
2mo
. . . know unless Bree has a 7-inning outing this weekend. That said, our NEVER knowing would be the best outcome indicating the issue was acute and not chronic.
(In response to this post by TomTurkey)
2mo
(In response to this post by MidloHokie)
2mo
and let Avery finish up if we have a decent lead. Then Mazz can start tomorrow with Bree available for relief work if needed.
(In response to this post by HokieAvalanche)
2mo
giving Bree an extra day of rest for her arm/hand
(In response to this post by HokieAvalanche)
2mo
. . . LSU twice in the next three days. We saw what happened last week with Mazz on her third consecutive day in the circle. You can't, with confidence, know how many innings you're going to get from Bree (see injury discussion above). S. Alabama is a decent team with a competent pitcher but the best chance of advancing is to get at least 5 innings from Layton today.
(In response to this post by Chesapeake_Hokie)
V
vt49701
2mo
Layton is certainly very talented, was lights out against FSU, and has a very bright future here at VT.
However because today is essentially a must win game to (hopefully) enter the winners bracket, there’s definitely a rationale to go with the top of the rotation, which is either Mazz or Bree.
In baseball there have been numerous examples of teams trying to “save pitching” against a “lesser opponent” and then suddenly finding themselves in a dogfight. That’s kinda how Liberty went … we were kinda off from the beginning as if we took our foot off the gas.
Bottom line - it feels like we’ll need everyone in the circle at some point this weekend, but gotta make sure you get into the winners bracket. And to me who a coach sends into the circle has the biggest impact on the game.
Go Hokies!
(In response to this post by MidloHokie)
2mo
(In response to this post by Chesapeake_Hokie)
2mo
he said she'd be "fine" with a little rest. I didn't press for details
(In response to this post by Atlee Hokie)
2mo
Right beside the bullpen. She tried warming up a couple times. Once she left bullpen to dugout, came back and was visibly upset, sat there a while then tried again to throw a few. She wasn’t needed then it turns out (more offense was) but she couldn’t go on Saturday
(In response to this post by Atlee Hokie)
2mo
2 reasons
1) need to minimize walks
2) see early how she feels so Pete knows how much he can use her/change strategy as needed
The way Avery was throwing I expect we see her for at least one trip thru order
Hopefully Bree gives us a complete game 5 IP though I seriously doubt we can score 8 on S Alabama pitcher
(In response to this post by HokieAvalanche)