College World Series: Clemson's Pitching Debate

Since this was becoming so lengthy in the Preview, I decided to make it separate.

Scott Weismann will not pitch on such short rest but Casey Harman should be able to go on 3 days rest Friday. I would run my ace out there Friday night and have him back by Tuesday of the Championship Series. If he has to pitch Saturday, he can only come back for a decisive Game 3 Wednesday and that game is not guaranteed to even happen, obviously. Its short rest either way. I would rather have him ready Friday and clinch to rest everyone. You win one game at a time here in Omaha and worry about the rest later. Casey threw 95 pitches in Game 1. You can do the same again on 3 days rest. Just because Casey isn't asked to do it during the season doesn't mean he can't, most guys can go on 3 days rest if they need to.

If you don't pitch him Friday, you almost have to Saturday. Would you want to lose here without having your ace being beaten? You force them to beat Harman either way it goes. If you choose to save him for Monday, you really need confidence in the bullpen Friday/Saturday, which I do not have.

If we win behind someone else Friday, without using too many arms, its the best-case scenario. I just could not bring myself to trust the game to the bullpen because our 3rd starter is not going to give us past 6 innings. You will be forced to have Frederick available.

This is obviously the time where the lack of good depth on the mound hurts us the most. I find it unlikely to see both Harman and Weismann out on short rest, so do not be surprised to see Leone out there. Weismann still went only 5 innings though, with 83 pitches. Coming back on 3 days rest with 83 vs 95 is not even really a debate either, it might as well be the same number.

Will Lamb did not look at all comfortable on the mound in yesterday's stint (65 pitches) and Leone did not last long (24 pitches). Lamb will definitely not pitch Friday and I do not see him starting Saturday. He looked bad against Auburn as well. I could see him out there starting in the Championship series if we get there though.

Recently:

Harman's: ASU - 6IP, 7H, 3ER, 3BB, 5K; Auburn - 9IP, 5H, 2ER, 1BB, 8K; Alabama - 8.1IP, 10H, 1ER, 0BB, 9K.

Weismann: OU - 5IP, 3H, 1ER, 2BB, 4K; Southern Miss -  7IP, 4H, 1ER, 1BB, 6K; Alabama - 6IP, 9H, 3ER, 0BB, 0K

Firth:  Auburn - 1.1IP, 4H, 2ER, 1BB, 1K

Leone:  Alabama - 5.2IP, 3H, 0ER, 1BB, 3K

Lineups: OU goes RH at the top, LH at the bottom, with a couple switch hitters. SC is balanced, but slight weighting to the LH side.

Against SC: Harman went 5IP, 8H, 3R, 2BB, 5Ks in Game 1 earlier this year. Lamb went 5.1IP, 3H, 2ER, 4BB, 1K in Game 2 at Fluor Field. Weismann went 6IP, 5H, 2 ER, 2BB, and 5Ks in Cola.

So who do you throw?