W said:
yep, yep, yep
pitching off is reserved for 1-seeds -- not 2's and 3's
Depends on roster construction and matchups. You're playing to win a regional, not just 1 or 2 games.I think you always want to give yourself the best chance to go 2-0, because it is so much harder to get through the loser's bracket, especially with a thin pitching staff.
As a 2 or 3 seed, you are already more likely to lose given your start the regional playing a better team, but you're already starting the regional off with a sub-30% (maybe even sub-20%) chance of winning it (1 seeds are typically 50-80%).
I think USC was dumb for pitching off because they have 2 good pitchers and they threw the slightly worse guy with a propensity to give up long balls vs a team that primarily scores via HR. If they advanced to play us, we are cobbling together a pitching staff.
I think it makes more sense for a team like UCSB to throw off. While you increase your chance of losing game 1, you increase your chance of going 2-0. Hell, if I am coaching them now, I probably throw my number 3 guy in hopes he can beat holy cross and save my ace for the loser of Texans/sips.
