Bears Eliminate Aggies: Freshmen Porter And Campbell Star
by norcalnick on Jun 21, 2011 2:32 PM PDT
in California Golden Bears Baseball
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In any long playoff run a team needs to get contributions from unexpected sources. Two freshmen have both become post-season heroes in roles that neither likely anticipated holding when Cal flew to Houston a few weeks ago. Kyle Porter was again brilliant as a starter, and were it not for a throwing error would have likely escaped with just 1 run allowed. And second baseman Derek Campbell singled twice, drove in two runs and scored another in Cal's 7-3 elimination game win.
For four innings the game seemed like a replay of Cal's Sunday afternoon loss to Virginia as Wacha cruised. Cal managed just one hit and two walks in the first four innings, and Wacha was keeping the Bears off balance with his change up. Meanwhile Adam Smith hit a two out home run in the 4th and it seemed that, with Wacha cruising, A&M was in control.
But everything changed when 3rd baseman Smith committed a throwing error to start the 5th inning. The bottom of Cal's lineup pounced on the opportunity. Back-to-back singles by Darrell Mathews and Campbell along with an outfield error allowed two runs to score, and Campbell would come in on a sac fly when Cal dared to challenge the usually dynamite arm of Aggie right fielder Tyler Naquin. Naquin air-mailed the throw and Cal had a 3-1 lead.
But Cal didn't settle with just the three runs, and Texas A&M was punished for having no confidence in a shaky bullpen. The Aggies stuck with Wacha and Cal hit him hard in the 6th, without the benefit of defensive miscues. Cal collected four hits in the inning, and another out came on a hard hit ball to close to the left fielder. Cal was all over Wacha, but the Aggies had no one else to turn to. When A&M finally escaped the Bears had added three runs for a 6-1 lead.
It wasn't going to be quite that easy - a tiring Porter and iffy defense allowed the Aggies to score two runs in the bottom of the 6th, and they threatened to score more. But Porter's biggest pitch of the night was a nasty breaking pitch that curved away from A&M's Kenny Jackson. Jackson couldn't get a swing on the ball and the home plate ump (somewhat generously, by my eye) ruled the pitch a strike that ended the inning. Cal responded with a one run inning in the 7th to add an insurance run.
Matt Flemer came into the game in the bottom of the 7th and took care of business the rest of the way, pouring strikes into the zone batter after batter. A&M managed just three singles against Cal's closer, and one of them could have easily been ruled an error. It was perhaps surprising for Flemer to extend himself in his longest outing of the season with Cal up four, but Cal wasn't going to risk the season on anybody but their best bullpen arm. And with the win the entire team has a day off to rest up for the next challenge.
Coach Esquer was interviewed after the game and didn't say who would pitch against either South Carolina or Virginia at 4:00 pacific on Thursday. He implied that it would depend on matchups, but the candidates would be right handers Dixon Anderson and Kevin Miller, or lefty Justin Jones. Obviously Cal fans would be thrilled to see a healthy Jones on the mound, but his status is still uncertain.
We'll have more thoughts and preview material on Cal's next game, but for now let's enjoy a very enjoyable win and another two nights in Omaha! Go Bears!
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We want to root for the Gamecocks to win tonight, I believe. That way we only have to play UVA once. Plus, if UVA does win and we face USC and beat them, then not only do we have to face UVA twice, but we’ll have to go through Hultzen again. If we face UVA on Thursday, he might not necessarily pitch that day since itd be on short rest.
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by TwistNHook on Jun 21, 2011 2:35 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Virginia - South Carolina delayed by rain
Haven’t heard when they plan to start. They were supposed to start at 4 pm PT.
MJB
People’s dreams are coming true!
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2 errors for Virignia
maybe the field is too wet to play?
by LEastCoastBears on Jun 21, 2011 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Those were my thoughts too.
Well, at least the first sentence. Good luck against the Cavs.
"Lattimore, as the kids can say, can ball, and sometimes does it to the extent one might say [he] is out of control in his balling." - Spencer Hall
by GwinnettGamecock on Jun 21, 2011 8:33 PM PDT up reply actions
The way that the schedule is set up
We will have to win 3 straight games in 3 straight nights to advance to the Final. It’s going to be tough and requires solid pitching effort from everyone.
The next game for Cal is Thursday night at 7 PM EST (4 PM PST).
by LEastCoastBears on Jun 21, 2011 2:44 PM PDT reply actions
Yeah, it’s a bit unfair for us – the team that survives the loser bracket on our side of the CWS has to win three games in three days, but the team from the other side of the CWS gets a day off that our side doesn’t get.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
but our side of the bracket gets to play night game…which has more exposure??? (I’m trying hard to find the silver lining)
by LEastCoastBears on Jun 21, 2011 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions
No, it's perfectly fair.
Double elimination requires teams in the Losers Bracket to play more frequently than teams in the Winners Bracket; it’s a functional requirement.
The best way to avoid this onerous requirement: don’t lose on your way to the Championship Game(s). Which is what either Virginia or South Carolina will do tonight.
I’ve seen much worse in Little League. I remember an Albany Little League team in 2006 that lost its first game to North Oakland in extra innings, won the next five games in five nights only to play North Oakland in the Championship Game, and lose (something like 8-6). Pitching depth got them to the Championship. A superior offensive team won it.
I wasn’t saying that our road is unfair compared to the USC/UVA winner – it’s unfair compared to UNC/Vandy, who will get a day off before facing Florida, whereas the team that escapes the loser’s bracket on Cal’s side will not.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
Unavoidable with one field
If the CWS had two fields, then it would be possible for both brackets to have essentially the same rest prior to the Championship Game. But because there is only 1 field, the team coming out of the Losers Bracket in Pool B (which could be Cal) will have no days rest before facing the winner of USC-Virginia. That’s because Pool B (Cal, Virginia, TexAs A&M, So. Carolina) started play a day later than Pool A (Vandy, UNC, Florida, Texas).
Now if you had two different stadia (like LLI has in Williamsport), then you can avoid that kind of stuff.
In a 4 team bracket, winning your first two is a big advantage
The team that wins its first two games in a 4-team, double-elimination bracket only needs one more win, or three wins total, to win the bracket.
Any team that loses one of its first two needs a total of four wins to win the bracket.
MJB
Which is why pitching depth is paramount in double-elimination tournaments
Pitching depth is what allows a team to advance: either by dominating its opponents on its way to a sweep, or come back from the brink of elimination to force the If Necessary game and win it all. There is a third course: moving through the Winners Bracket to the Championship and having the depth to win the If Necessary game after having lost the penultimate Championship Game.
Interesting I took a look at my fanpost from 2 years ago on Cal Baseball
http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2009/6/14/909346/cal-baseball-its-time-to-join-the
It will be interesting how Sandy handles the Esquer contract situation with the Milano events coming to light and Cal baseball now being a more attractive gig than it was a month ago…
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
I feel like there’s a new article every day that changes my perception of the program. And all this during a CWS run. Dizzying stuff!
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
there is no way
that Esquer’s success cause him to be too expensive for the team to retain him (or cause the $9 million raised to last less), right?
by LEastCoastBears on Jun 21, 2011 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions
If you asked me before this season whether Cal should renew his contract, the answer probably would have been one to make Bob Milano Sr happy. However, given the success of this year under truly insane and historic co digit
Ons, I think cal needs to renew his contract.
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Even a furdie is complimenting us in the comments to the SFGate story:
Even as a Stanford guy, I have to say congrats!!
What’s next, dogs and cats living together?
Cal Football: I loved them once and they broke my heart. Let that be a lesson to you. Never love anything.
The reason the Stanfurd fan base is rooting for us is because of they can claim one of their own leading the team.
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by berkeleyboy510 on Jun 21, 2011 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Cal coaches getting attention from rival programs:
KendallRogersPG Kendall Rogers
#Cal pitching coach Dan Hubbs is a guy the #Trojans are interested in, so #Trojans will wait for him to finish to inqure. #Pac10
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
Also more relevant:
KendallRogersPG Kendall Rogers One little note. #Cal coach Dave Esquer confirmed after the presser to me that LHP Justin Jones is done for Omaha. #NCAACWS #Pac10
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
Other guys need to step up...
Erik Johnson threw 59 pitches on Sunday. He might be the starter on Friday if the Bears win Thursday.
Dixon Anderson to start on Thursday?
MJB
The only other option would be Kevin Miller. In reality, one will probably relieve the other unless the starter is brilliant and goes deep into the game.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
Ideally, our Thursday starter will throw several innings
… because if we win Thursday, and if Johnson starts Friday, we’ll need relievers on Friday, and if we win that one, and send Porter out to start on short rest on Saturday, we’ll likely need to use a few pitchers on Saturday as well.
But, whatever happens, happens, and you use as many pitchers as you need to try and stay in each game. Hopefully the Bears’ bats will continue to be as productive as they were today.
MJB
Le sigh. Hope he heals up and comes back healthy next year as our ace. The only seniors on the team are Booker, Kevin Miller and Tanaka. Should be a great year again next year with the likes of Jones, Robertson and Porter back to lead the rotation and guys like Renda, Krist, Rodriguez, Semien and Bunting leading the offense. The question is, where do you put Derek Campbell with a healthy Renda?
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Johnson out there on three day’s rest, especially if it’s South Carolina instead of Virginia. It’s single elimination from here on out — all hands on deck.
Johnson wasn’t really all that dominant. I don’t know if he is really that much of an upgrade over Dixon Anderson.
by LEastCoastBears on Jun 21, 2011 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh come on now!
Are you really going to say that our ace and the man that beat the #1 pick is even comparable to to the guy who couldn’t even keep his rotation spot? Not to hate on Anderson or anything, but Johnson is a HUGE upgrade over Anderson.
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I’m not saying that I don’t have faith in Erik Johnson. He was able to get out of some top jams (with the help of the defense) and that is something. I’m just saying that it’s not like he is such a clear cut ace and so much better than everyone else that we would rather have 75% of Erik Johnson than 100% of Dixon Anderson.
by LEastCoastBears on Jun 21, 2011 7:27 PM PDT up reply actions
I still have to disagree
look at the stats in conference (as in the most recent). Johnson was 3-2 but had a 2.37 ERA. Anderson had a 5.82 ERA and a 1-2 record, and that doesn’t even include the game where he gave up like 5 runs in 2 innings but it didn’t count because of a rainout. I’m not saying it’s a clear-cut decision, but with my season on the line I want Erik Johnson pitching for me.
Adopted Giant: Ryan Verdugo. The next Javier Lopez.
goldenbearlair.com
Johnson on Friday sounds right to me
For the Bears to make it to the championship round, they need to win three games: vs. Virginia on Thursday, then vs. South Carolina on Friday and Saturday.
Johnson can only start one of those games. No reason to make that one game Thursday, on three days rest.
MJB
5-0 now
in the 4th…I’m still hoping for rain so that the game wouldn’t end until tomorrow. Time to do the rain dance.
by LEastCoastBears on Jun 21, 2011 6:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Go cocks! 6 1 USC in the 4th.
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by TwistNHook on Jun 21, 2011 6:34 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
South Carolina is very good
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Go!
Cal Football: I loved them once and they broke my heart. Let that be a lesson to you. Never love anything.
There are some better images out there
These were our cheerleaders’ pants til we hired an Outlander President with no sense of humor:
And I am a fan of this unidentified lass at a recent home football game:
"Lattimore, as the kids can say, can ball, and sometimes does it to the extent one might say [he] is out of control in his balling." - Spencer Hall
by GwinnettGamecock on Jun 21, 2011 8:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Nice. I like you guys.
Cal Football: I loved them once and they broke my heart. Let that be a lesson to you. Never love anything.
by CalBandGreat on Jun 21, 2011 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions
LOLGIANTS
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oh but it’s real bad. 8-8 to start the game is insane
by Josie Becker on Jun 21, 2011 7:45 PM PDT up reply actions
We’re not even playing and ESPN is talking Cal and showing Cal suppoters in the crowd. And they said it has been announced we are the home team Thursday night.
nice, that’s a slight edge for us being the home team
by LEastCoastBears on Jun 21, 2011 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Not a baseball fan: what was the deal with the bounce pitching by South Carolina? That was just weird.
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It was fantastic."
-Toyama Koichi, US Presidential candidate from Japan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGZqOkeYbB0
I honestly think the KALX announcer is better than the ESPN announcers on this SCAR-Virginia game right now.
I'm actually a fan of Jon "Boog" Sciambi
I think he was the one doing the South Carolina – Virignia game (I only tuned in for parts of it). Boog is one of the few announcer to actually embrace the sabremetric movements.
by LEastCoastBears on Jun 21, 2011 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Of course, YMMV. I only listened to the last couple innings, but the announcers sounded so bored.
by WhatsAMataHari on Jun 21, 2011 8:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Any updates on who Virginny is going to throw out there on Thursday?
Also… what if we want Hultzen (because our hitters have seen him)?
I can also see them sending out Tyler Wilson
who is their number 2 guy and he only threw 39 pitches against us on Sunday. We did score that one run against Wilson on Sunday, however.
by LEastCoastBears on Jun 21, 2011 8:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Am I the only one who finds it slightly odd that Cal is the only team in the CWS that is not from the south? (I dunno, maybe this is typical, as I have not followed the CWS previously)
West used to be pretty strong in CWS
Pac-10 used to be pretty strong (UCLA, U$C, Arizona, Stanfurd, and Oregon State recently) and then you throw in teams like Cal State Fullerton, Fresno State (the biggest underdog to win in the current format), etc.
South Carolina beat UCLA in the championship series last year and then before that 4 out of 6 winners came from the West (Oregon State twice, Cal State Fullerton, and the previously mentioned Fresno State)
by LEastCoastBears on Jun 21, 2011 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions
SD St, UC Irvine, Long Beach St, and Pepperdine have made recent CWS appearances. Even SJSU and USF field some extremely talented teams from time to time. Baseball in CA is the best, with Texas & Florida extremely competitive.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
That's not typical, but home teams usually win in the tournament...
… and this year, none of the “national” seeds (the 8 top-seeded teams, guaranteed to play the first two weekends at home) were from the west. All of the top 8 seeds were from the south (if you include Texas in the south) this year.
Home field is usually a big advantage in the tournament. Six of the eight “national” seeds made it to Omaha. The other two CWS teams (Cal and Texas A&M) still got to play one of the first two weekends at home (A&M hosted its regional; Cal hosted its super regional). Rarely does a team make it to Omaha by playing both of the first two weekends on the road. UC-Irvine did it a few years ago, but it doesn’t happen often.
MJB
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