Baseball Limps to Tally

The baseball team's strategy this year was going to reliant on strong pitching and manufacturing runs without the power bats we've enjoyed the last few years.  So far, that strategy has been working ... against Stetson and Presbyterian.  Against teams that you've heard of, the strategy isn't going as well.  The Dawgs have lost to Baylor, Duke and got popped by Bama Wednesday night, 13-2.  The road gets no smoother this weekend against No. 6 Florida State in Tallahassee.  Sunday's game is on Sun Sports, if you get that channel.

A major contributor to the uneven play has been injuries.  The infield lineup that we'll likely feature in SEC play hasn't even played together yet because of injuries and suspensions.  From georgiadogs.com:

"Georgia’s starting lineup consists of three freshmen and six sophomores, and the infield has yet to feature all four projected starters. Currently, the Bulldogs are without freshmen starting shortstop Kyle Farmer (out 3-6 weeks due to a broken hamate bone in left wrist) and sophomore second baseman Levi Hyams (sore back). Farmer, who is the team’s second leading hitter at .458, has missed the past three games while Hyams has yet to see action this season. Since Farmer’s injury, third baseman Colby May has moved to shortstop while redshirt freshman Kevin Ruiz and sophomore catcher Christian Glisson have split time at third base. Glisson had never played third base in his career while Ruiz saw some time there in the fall. Meanwhile at second base, freshman Todd Hankins has started all nine games this year. Ruiz along with freshman Robert Shipman filled in the first five games at first base while sophomore Chase Davidson was out with an elbow injury. Davidson has returned to first base the past three games. Hyams might see action in the field during the FSU series and could be back full-time by next week."

The young season does have a few sterling performances.  Zach Cone hit for the cycle in the season's second game.  He became the first Dawg to pull that off since Josh Smith in 2004.  Justin Grimm has pitched like the high draft pick he is expected to be.  He's got a 1.69 ERA in two games so far.  It's a small sample size, but Grimm's looked good.  Alex McRee has three saves in four appearances and eleven Ks, but he still walks too many batters.  Peter Verdin has at least one hit in every game this year.  

The team has some palpable talent, but the injuries will hamper us in the early going.  

Quinton

SEC Bat Speed Too Much for Ohio State

Georgia destroyed the Big 10 Champs 24-8 to win Game 1 of the Tallahassee Regional. Georgia batters went 23 of 45 on the day with 7 HRs against only six strikeouts. Highlights include:

• Rich Poythress went 4 of 4 with three homers (including a grand slam), a double and seven RBI.
  
• Matt Cerione hit 5 of 6 with two home runs (including his own grand slam) and five RBI.
  
• Joey Lewis went 4 of 6 with two home runs and four RBI.

Perno used a batting order in this game I wasn't familiar with. He went with:

1. Cone - OF
2. Verdin - OF
3. Cerione - OF (typically hits 2nd or 3rd)
4. Poythress - 1B (typically hits 3rd)
5. Massanari - DH (typically hits 4th)
6. May - 3B (typically hits 3rd, 6th or 7th)
7. Lewis - C (typically hits 5th or 6th)
8. Hyams - SS
9. Demperio - 2B

Georgia has been getting nothing out of the bottom of the order for weeks. Shuffling the top of the line up around for speed so that we could push some power further down worked well. Due to lefty vs. righty match-ups we won't use this card every night, but I loved it.

Assuming the Noles take care of The Marist Fighting Mrs. Niles Crane's tonight, we'll face the FSU Clown College at 4:00 pm on ESPNU.


Go Dawgs. Not sure how much posting I'll be doing over the next few days. Quinton is without Internet due to logistical issues, and I'll be in Tally for the game tomorrow.

See Also:
-- FSU Circus School - FSU.edu

PWD

SEC Bat Speed Too Much for Ohio State

Georgia destroyed the Big 10 Champs 24-8 to win Game 1 of the Tallahassee Regional. Georgia batters went 23 of 45 on the day with 7 HRs against only six strikeouts. Highlights include:

• Rich Poythress went 4 of 4 with three homers (including a grand slam), a double and seven RBI.
  
• Matt Cerione hit 5 of 6 with two home runs (including his own grand slam) and five RBI.
  
• Joey Lewis went 4 of 6 with two home runs and four RBI.

Perno used a batting order in this game I wasn't familiar with. He went with:

1. Cone - OF
2. Verdin - OF
3. Cerione - OF (typically hits 2nd or 3rd)
4. Poythress - 1B (typically hits 3rd)
5. Massanari - DH (typically hits 4th)
6. May - 3B (typically hits 3rd, 6th or 7th)
7. Lewis - C (typically hits 5th or 6th)
8. Hyams - SS
9. Demperio - 2B

Georgia has been getting nothing out of the bottom of the order for weeks. Shuffling the top of the line up around for speed so that we could push some power further down worked well. Due to lefty vs. righty match-ups we won't use this card every night, but I loved it.

Assuming the Noles take care of The Marist Fighting Mrs. Niles Crane's tonight, we'll face the FSU Clown College at 4:00 pm on ESPNU.


Go Dawgs. Not sure how much posting I'll be doing over the next few days. Quinton is without Internet due to logistical issues, and I'll be in Tally for the game tomorrow.

See Also:
-- FSU Circus School - FSU.edu

PWD

Dance Off

From the 2009 Big East Tourney it's USF vs. UConn. This is the byproduct of a five hour rain delay and the inherent comedy of college baseball.



Speaking of College Baseball...here are some articles about UGA's Regional:

-- Ohio State feels "slapped" by #3 seed - Columbus Dispatch
-- FSU disappointed about not getting national seed - Tally Democrat
-- Dawgs sticking with new pitching rotation - ABH
-- Ohio State a tough foe - ABH
-- Buckeyes vs. UGA - UWeekly
-- FSU's rotation in the regional - Tally Democrat

PWD

Dance Off

From the 2009 Big East Tourney it's USF vs. UConn. This is the byproduct of a five hour rain delay and the inherent comedy of college baseball.



Speaking of College Baseball...here are some articles about UGA's Regional:

-- Ohio State feels "slapped" by #3 seed - Columbus Dispatch
-- FSU disappointed about not getting national seed - Tally Democrat
-- Dawgs sticking with new pitching rotation - ABH
-- Ohio State a tough foe - ABH
-- Buckeyes vs. UGA - UWeekly
-- FSU's rotation in the regional - Tally Democrat

PWD

UGA placed in the Tallahassee Regional as 2 seed

This will be tough to recreate given the schedule.
The NCAA just announced the bracket for the 2009 NCAA Baseball Tournament (as of 1:00 pm the bracket had typos affecting the right side of the page). Georgia has been shipped off to the Tallahassee regional. The teams slotted in our region include:

1. Florida State
2. Georgia
3. Ohio State
4. Marist

The Tallahassee Regional is bracketed with Oklahoma for the Super Regional. UGA vs. Ohio State airs at 12:00 pm on Friday on ESPNU.

By comparison, the Georgia Tech regional includes:

1. Georgia Tech
2. Elon
3. Southern Miss
4. Georgia State

They are bracketed against the Gainesville Regional for the Supers. UGA lands in the second toughest regional behind the UC-Irvine bloodbath, and Tech gets a pillow fight. On the bright side, Tech won't advance far. That's just how Coach Danny Hall rolls.

PWD

UGA placed in the Tallahassee Regional as 2 seed

This will be tough to recreate given the schedule.
The NCAA just announced the bracket for the 2009 NCAA Baseball Tournament (as of 1:00 pm the bracket had typos affecting the right side of the page). Georgia has been shipped off to the Tallahassee regional. The teams slotted in our region include:

1. Florida State
2. Georgia
3. Ohio State
4. Marist

The Tallahassee Regional is bracketed with Oklahoma for the Super Regional. UGA vs. Ohio State airs at 12:00 pm on Friday on ESPNU.

By comparison, the Georgia Tech regional includes:

1. Georgia Tech
2. Elon
3. Southern Miss
4. Georgia State

They are bracketed against the Gainesville Regional for the Supers. UGA lands in the second toughest regional behind the UC-Irvine bloodbath, and Tech gets a pillow fight. On the bright side, Tech won't advance far. That's just how Coach Danny Hall rolls.

PWD