Tigers to Host BC in Weekend Series

Boston College (6-8, 0-3 ACC) vs. Clemson Tigers (6-8, 0-3 ACC)

After a 6-2 start that included huge wins over Virginia, Costal Carolina and UCF, the Eagles have now lost seven straight to fall to 6-8. BC always has to start their season on the road, and it is apparently taking its toll on them. They do not head north until next weekend.

The Tigers basically stink on defense and in relief, and killed themselves in two games of the UNC sweep last year. We think that this team can win with the lineup, but the lack of focus on fundamentals is sickening. Frankly I'm pretty damn tired of watching us blow games on defense or with bad baserunning and spoiling pitching performances good enough to get plenty of W's. Now, the Pepsicola experiment continues with the pitching staff and I see none in the pen who I'm really confident in. I'm not saying that Bunn would've been better at all, but we need some changes throughout this coaching staff and a refocus on fundamentals. It feels like I could write the same things about them as last year. Unfortunately, none of it will happen.

Clemson AD Series Preview -- BC AD series preview

Clemson and Boston College have met 18 times with the Tigers holding a 12-6 lead in the series dating back to the 2006 season, the Eagles' first year in the ACC. Clemson has won each of the last four games and seven of the last eight contests in the series. We swept them in Chestnut Hill last year, two of them in a doubleheader. That series took place after Clemson got hot last year and finished with a stellar 2nd half record.

All three games will be available live via webcast on TigerCast.

Last Week:

Clemson got railed by UNC at home, losing all 3, then lost to Western Carolina 8-4.

BC got swept by Miami at Coral Gables by scores of 4-1,7-3, and 5-3. They did not have a midweek game.

Weekend Starters:

Friday, 6:30:

Saturday, 6:30:

Sunday, Noon:

Hitting Comparison

Tom Bourdon leads the team with a .359 batting average, three homers, five doubles, one triple, and nine RBIs. Anthony Melchionda, who has been there forever, is batting .310 with a team-high seven doubles and 10 RBIs. Matt McGovern has 10 RBIs and a team-high three stolen bases as well.

Richie Shaffer cooled a little last weekend, dropping his average to a meager .412. Richie is still slugging .824 to go with 15 walks so far, so I don't see BC taking risks with him at the plate. He'll need protection in the lineup. Pohl went stone cold last week, striking out in game 1 to end the 4-3 game with 2 runners on, and dropping his average to .340. Steve Wilkerson did a good job leading off and getting on base with his bat, but doesn't quite work the count well enough to be a permanent leadoff guy (2 walks). Aside from Stolz, no one is hitting over .300 otherwise.

Team Pitching

Senior righthander Matt Brazis has three of the team's five saves and eight strikeouts against no walks in 5.0 innings pitched over five relief appearances, but a 5.40 ERA. Nate Bayuk has a 3.24 ERA in 7 appearances and Geoff Murphy has a 2.45 ERA in 3 2/3 innings, but thats about it out there. This team has generally had more good starting pitching than relief, and it bears true this year as well.

Our relief was pretty much hot steaming shit last week. The defense behind them didnt help matters. Firth and Campbell have both been good, but otherwise I could shoot the rest.

Prediction

I see us as needing a sweep very bad here. This is a team with much less talent and we're at home. Less than a 2-1 win is a horrid result. I think we get that much done.