2018 College World Series Championship Series

Oregon State (53-11-1) vs. Arkansas (47-19)

TD Ameritrade Park, Omaha, 24,000

Game Times, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (if necessary) 6 PM CT

ESPN

Karl Ravech, Eduardo Perez, Kyle Peterson, Laura Rutledge

Ravech is a comedian and excellent play by play broadcaster. On Sportscenter last year, after a Miami (FL) basketball game in which Jim Larranaga, the Miami coach, was dressed in what looked like pajamas for his postgame press conference, Ravech said after the video, “Box of Cheerios and call it a night.” Great crew here.

Kyle Peterson, KP, is one of the 5 best TV analysts in sports. I’d put it in this order, 1. Jay Bilas (ESPN college basketball), 2. KP, 3. Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN-ABC college football), 4. Cris Collinsworth (NBC Sunday Night Football, Inside the NFL on Showtime), 5. Todd Blackledge (ESPN College Football). 

Oregon State

Oregon State’s best player is second baseman Nick Madrigal. He hits .395 this season and stole 15 of 16 bases. He only committed 1 error in 39 games, a .994 fielding percentage. He was hurt part of the season. But he’s the leader of the team. Catcher Adley Rutchman bats .397 with 8 homers and 80 Ribeyes. Right fielder Tarver Lanarch hits .344 with 18 homers and 75 Ribbies. Their pitching staff is led by lefty Luke Heimlich, a highly controversial guy whose story you can look up, I can’t talk about it, it’s so bad. But Heimlich has posted a good year going 16-2 with a 2.80 ERA, he’s walked 26 and struck out 154 in 125 innings. He was not drafted after last year, or this year, his senior season, as MLB didn’t want to touch this powder keg of trouble. Oregon State’s closer is Jake Mulholland who has 15 saves, a 2.25 ERA with 11 walks and 44 K’s in 44 innings. They are a pretty loaded group. Bryce Fehmel is another standout starter for the Beavers with a 10-1 record and a 2.80 ERA. He has walked 24 and K’d 63 in 111 innings. Oregon State won national championships in 2006 and 2007. 

Arkansas

The Razorbacks impressively knocked off the defending national champion Florida Gators to make it to the championship series. The Hogs defeated the Gators 5-2 last  Friday Night. They are tied for third in the country in home runs with 98. Third baseman Casey Martin is their leading hitter at .357 with 13 homers and 48 RBIs. Left fielder Heston Kjerstad is hitting .337, doing yard work 14 times and driving in 57 runs. Second baseman Carson Shaddy is hitting .335 with 13 homers and 54 Ribbies, and right fielder Eric Cole is hitting .325 with 14 homers and 51 RBIs. Tonight’s starter, Blaine Knight, who will face Heimlich, is 13-0 with a 2.88 ERA, and, in 106 innings pitched, has walked 24 and struck out 96. He’s spectacular. Another key starter for the Razorbacks is right hander Isaiah Campbell. The tall right hander has a 5-6 record with a 4.12 ERA, but he throws it 94-96 and shut down Florida Friday Night going 5.1 innings, giving up 2 hits, 2 runs with 0 walks and 8 K’s. His stuff is electric like Knight’s. Arkansas’ closer is Matt Cronin, who has 13 saves and a 3.15 ERA. Cronin has struck out 56 in 45 innings of work.

Prediction

Oregon State is a very good team, but they play in the Pac-12, which doesn’t feature near the competition that the SEC does. But they’re good; I see them taking this to 3 games. But I like Blaine Knight and the bullpen tonight and Isaiah Campbell and the pen on Wednesday to close it out for the Hogs as they claim their first national championship in program history which started up in 1897 to 1930 then came back to the modern era in 1947. Huge deal for the Razorbacks.

Arkansas in 3

Travelers Championship

TPC River HIghlands, 6,841 yards, par 70, Hartford,

Connecticut

Defending champion: Jordan Spieth

Spieth sank a 60 foot bunker shot on the first playoff hole to prevail over Daniel Berger at TPC River Highlands. Spieth reaction was spectacular as he tossed his club to the ground jumped up and did a powerful shoulder bump with his caddie Michael Greller nearly knocking Greller down. It was phenomenal. However, Spieth is 188th on the tour in strokes gained putting this year and hasn’t won since last year’s Open Championship victory at Royal Birkdale. He’ll need to putt better to be in contention with a chance to win here on Sunday and to tune up his game for the Open, which will be played at Carnoustie in Scotland this year.

TV: Thursday-Friday, 2:30-5:30 PM CT, Golf Channel; Saturday-Sunday, 12-1:45 PM CT, Golf Channel, 2-5 PM CT, CBS.

On Golf Channel in their Alternate Shot debate last night, Golf Channel analysts Geoff Shackelford and Matt Adams discussed a couple of interesting topics.

The first was which golfer is the favorite going into the Open. Adams said Dustin, and Shackelford went with Tommy Fleetwood. Those are both good choices, however Fleetwood’s 63 was terrific on Sunday at the Open, but the course was setup much easier than Saturday and it could have very easily been a 62 had he not missed a 5 footer on 18. He just misread it. He read it inside left, in the hole, but the ball was actually a ball out left to right. It was very relevant because that would have put him at +1 and Brooks Koepka , the champion who now has back to back victories at the U.S. Open, bogeyed 18 which, if Fleetwood had birdied 18, would have sent the 2 players into a 4 hole aggregate playoff, a new playoff format initiated this year by the PGA Tour after having 18 hole playoffs on Mondays in the past. Instead, Koepka, at even par, had a 2 shot lead going into 18 and made a low stress bogey to win a pretty boring Open that didn’t offer much drama on Sunday after a terrific day on Saturday. Koepka is an awesome player, but a little bit on the boring side. It was a disappointing Sunday. The Opens just haven’t been the same since FOX started broadcasting them. Chambers Bay in 2015 was exciting with the golf, but the course was so bad, with trains coming by the 17th green, that it took away from the excitement of the tournament. Last year at Erin Hills, Koepka played well again on Sunday, but there was no competition. Oakmont in 2016 was saturated with rain and played much easier. I called it Jokemont. FOX keeps getting better with their coverage, but we need a better Open. Next year the Open will be held at Pebble Beach so hopefully it will hold up to its billing as the toughest test in golf. After Saturday’s difficult day, which I loved personally because I like to see these guys sweat, the USGA listened to the criticism by the players and the media, and overcompensated on Sunday by making the course much easier with softer greens and much more accessible pin placements. So Koepka didn’t have to sweat it out on 18 which is not the mark of a classic Open. He should’ve been nervous to the core and been sweating over that tee shot on the 72nd hole. His second shot should have demanded him to pick the right club and hit the green or have a highly difficult time getting up and down for par and winning the tournament. It was too easy for him. So the USGA needs to get it together and make this Open an epic like it has been in the past. I like the players complaining, that means the golf course is winning and they’re struggling, which is what the U.S. Open is about. It should be the toughest test in golf. So they need to get this right next year or the Open is going to start losing viewers. Fleetwood’s 63 was great, but Shackelford and Adams discussed the greatest final round in major history and I’ll get to that in a minute with my own thoughts.

Dustin still can falter when the pressure is on as he showed last Saturday at Shinnecock. I like Patrick Reed heading into Carnoustie. He’s one of my favorites. I like the way Daniel Berger and Tony Finau are competing. Jon Rahm is certainly in the discussion.

The second issue Geoff and Matt were asked to debate was what is the greatest final round in major championship history. Geoff went with Arnie’s 65 at Cherry Hills in Denver in the 1960 U.S. Open. The King was trailing by 7 shots heading into the final round which was 36 holes on a Saturday and gave the players 30 minutes for lunch between the 3rd and 4th rounds. Arnie asked sportswriters Bob Drum and Dan Jenkins, according to the Denver Post, how far they thought a 65 might go in the final round. That would leave him at 280. 

Doesn’t 280 always win the Open? Palmer asked.

“Yeah, when it’s Hogan who shoots it, Jenkins replied.

Drum’s response, Won’t do you a damn bit of good. 

Arnie was steamed. He hit a few practice shots on the practice tee and 4 hours later he won his 3rd major championship and first U.S. Open. An interesting part of this was on the first tee when Palmer, angered by Drum’s and Jenkins’ comments, pulled his persimmon driver out on the tee box of the 346 yard hole. Palmer lashed his balata covered ball which flew through the air into the rough, took a small hop and landed on the green. He made birdie and his greatest comeback was underway. His 65 beat out young amateur Jack Nicklaus and legend Ben Hogan. There’s a plaque today commemorating Palmer on the first tee box at Cherry Hills. Two years ago, when the PGA Tour stopped at the historic course for a tournament, pros were given a chance to duplicate Palmer’s shot using the outdated and inferior persimmon driver and balata ball, the way Palmer did back in the day. Nobody could reach the green. So the Bombers today have a lot more help with the golf ball and the equipment that is amped up to help guys like Johnson and Koepka hit it a ton. Arnie won 7 majors, the 1958, ’60, ’62 and ’64 Masters, the ’60 U.S. Open, and the ’61 and ’62 Open Championships. 

Adams picked the victory by Francis Ouimet at the 1913 U.S. Open where he beat out Harry Vardon, the number one player in the world, and Ted Ray, the number 2 player in the world. Vardon had won the 1900 U.S. Open and 5 Open Championships and Ray had just won the Open Championship in 2012. The U.S, Open was played at the Country Club in Brookline, Mass. After 72 holes of regulation the tournament ended in a 3 way tie between the 3 players, Ouimet won it  the next day in an 18 hole playoff  shooting 1 under and beating Vardon by 5 shots and Ray by 6. The great victory is depicted in the classic 2005 movie, The Greatest Game Ever Played. If you love golf and haven’t seen it, I would highly recommend watching it.

Both of those choices were excellent and I’d go with either one. Johnny Miller’s 63 at Oakmont in 1973 was one I saw and was brilliant golf. But I think I’ll choose Shackelford’s choice of Arnie. The King’s final round at the ’60 Open is the greatest of all time in my opinion also.

Key Holes at TPC River Highlands

No. 15, 296 yards, par 4

One of the exciting holes on the PGA Tour, this 296 yard, par 4 forces players to make good decisions. There is water on the left and sand on the right. Anywhere from 2 to 6 can be made on this hole.

No. 16, 171 yards, par 3

The scenic par 3 requires a well struck mid iron to clear the forced carry over water and stop the ball on a narrow green. The green has a lot of slope and pin locations can be tough.

No. 17, 420 yards, par 4

This is an intimidating hole. Players must hit their tee shots between a large lake that covers the entire right side and the difficult fairway bunkers on the left. A good drive is the first part of trying to get par on this hole. The approach shot is over water the entire way and with wind club selection is critical. Winds will be 7-10 for the 3 days and rain chances Saturday and minimal rain chances Sunday with very good weather tomorrow and Friday. Crowds will be huge at No.17  as it can be the breaking point of the tournament.

No.18, 444 yards, par 4

This is a perfect finishing hole as it allows a player to make birdie if he plays the hole well. At 444 yards, a good drive leaves the player a mid to short iron into the green. The green will be rowdy with spectators. There is a bunker on the front right side, the one Jordan Spieth blasted out of and sank his shot to win last year. 

Winner

There is a super field this week with 6 of the top 10 players in the world playing. Brooks Koepka is playing, Jordan Spieth is playing, Rory McIlory is playing, Patrick Reed is playing, Bubba Watson is playing and Jason Day is playing. But I’m going with the 25 year old from Plantation, Florida, who finished tied for 6th last week at the Open and was in a tie for the lead on the final day. He won the Fed Ex St. Jude Classic in 2016 and ’17 and shot a 67 here on the final day last year here. He’s not going to finish second this year.

Daniel Berger 

David Price and Mike Minor pitched brilliantly on Thursday and Saturday, respectively, in their team’s victories.

David started it off by going 7 stellar innings at Seattle, which was in first place at the time and is now 46-26 and a game and a half back of the Astros. Dave gave up only 5 hits, 1 earned run, with 0 walks and 7 K’s. He was spectacular. David threw 106 pitches with 73 for strikes against 33 balls, a better than 2:1 ratio of strikes to balls which is the benchmark of stellar control. David was hitting 94-95 consistently and blazed one in at 96 at one point in the game. His fastball was cookin. David threw some good off speed stuff as well. His cutter came in at 88-90 and was effective. His change up was very good at 84-86, and he threw a couple of really nice curves. If DP can mix in that off speed stuff, and have confidence in those pitches, with his fastball and cutter, he’ll always pitch well. David is on fire and is the stopper for the Bosox along with No.1 starter Chris Sale, who throws a cool 98-99. David is now 8-4 with a 3.76 ERA and his WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) is 1.20 and it keeps dropping. 1.00 is outstanding, so he’s getting closer and closer to that mark. For June, Dave’s ERA is 2.84 and his WHIP is 1.00. He has won 6 out of his last 7 starts. Dave is on a roll and he’s on a stellar team. The Sox split a 4 game set with the Mariners, winning the first 2 and dropping the final 2 games. They are even with the Yankees in the AL East. The Yankees have lost 3 less games than the Sox, but the Sox have played 73 and the Yankees 67, as the Yanks had problems with the weather in April and May. The Yanks are 46-21, .687 ball, and the Sox are 49-24, .671 ball. A lot of great drama ahead in the American League East with these 2 juggernauts. These 2 teams along with Houston and Seattle are the class of the American League and will battle it out for the pennant. 

Mike MInor was superior in his start Saturday against the hard hitting Colorado Rockies at Globe Life Park in Arlington, TX. Mike went 7, gave up 5 hits, 2 earned runs, with 2 walks and 6 K’s. He threw 102 pitches with 62 for strikes against 40 balls. His command was excellent, and Mike hit 93-94 regularly, and hit 95 one time. His slider was awesome at 87-88, and his off speed stuff was excellent. Mike really cruised through a lineup with several .300 hitters, but faced trouble in the second and seventh. He gave up a couple of runs, but pitched out of a serious jam in the 7th. After giving up a single and a double advancing runners to 2nd and 3rd, Mike, down 2-0, got a pop up to second,  walked a batter after home plate umpire Todd Tichenor squeezed the strike zone on him, which Tichenor had been doing all game, and faced the bases loaded and 1 out. Mike got another pop out to second and then got the 3rd out on a groundout to third. It was awesome. Really proud of the way Mike pitched. He didn’t get the victory, but the Rangers came back and won 5-2. Mike is now 4-4 with a 5.35 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP, which doesn’t look great, but after pitching like he did Saturday, Minor looks like he’s ready to win a lot the rest of this season. 

Sonny again pitched courageously against the Washington Nationals, but the Yankees fell to the Nationals, 5-4, last Wednesday Night in the Bronx. Sonny went 5, gave up 7 hits, 4 runs walked 2 and struck out 1. It wasn’t his best outing, but I thought he pitched pretty decently. Sonny was hitting 93-94 and hit 95, and had a good cutter, change and curve. His stuff looked pretty good. He gave up a 3 run homer to rookie left field sensation Juan Soto in the 4th, which hurt, but it didn’t look like it was hit that well to left. The ball just kept carrying and carrying. Major League baseball has determined that the ball is more lively this year and it’s been that way for the last couple of years, and it leads to balls that should be caught by the outfielders going out of the park. Baseball should do something about it as soon as possible, and I mean right now. It’s the pitcher’s careers they’re jeopardizing and something needs to be done. I like the new clock they have in games, and the intentional walk rule where a pitcher doesn’t have to throw a pitch, the runner gets awarded 1st base, and the 6 number of mound visits in the game, but they need to make it an even playing field for the pitchers. It’s kind of outrageous really. Baseball needs to do something about this and they need to do it now. That fly ball Soto hit off Sonny should have been exactly that, a fly ball out to Yankees’ left fielder Brett Gardner. It shouldn’t have left the park. Baseball needs to address this and not waste any more time vacillating on it. Just start making the core softer or whatever they need to do make it an even matchup between the pitcher and the hitter. Some pitchers have adjusted, but ERA’s are up all over the majors. This needs to get done. Sonny 4-4 with a 4.98 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Still very much believe Sonny will get it going,. He’s had some really fine outings recently, so it’s there. He starts tonight at 6:05 CT @ the Nationals. David is on the hill Wednesday @ the Twins and Mike faces the Twins on Friday Night @ Minnesota as well. 

Walker Buehler is on the 10 day DL for the Dodgers and began his stint last Tuesday, June 12th. Walker has a microfracture in one of his ribs after taking a line drive off his rib cage 3 or 4 weeks ago. Walker’s such a great competitor that he kept pitching through it, but in his last start, he was showing some signs of being in pain and manager Dave Roberts took him out of the game. He had been pitching fantastically well, but may be on the DL for a couple more weeks as Roberts said the Dodgers will be very careful with the rib injury. Walker had become a bellcow of that Dodgers’ pitching staff, and although the Dodgers are playing well at 37-33 and have won 5 of their last 6, they don’t have Clayton Kershaw and a couple of others along with Walker, so they need some guys to get healthy. They are a game and a half behind the Arizona Dbacks. which are at 39-32 in the NL West. Very good race in that division. Walker could be back in mid July if I had to hazard a guesstimate.

Dansby Swanson has led off for the Braves the last couple of games. Dans is hitting .256 and playing solid short for the Braves, which are for real. The Braves are at 42-29 and lead the Nationals, which are 37-31, by 3 1/2 games. I think the Braves are in it for the long run this season if they can maintain pretty good health. I like where Dansby and the Braves are a lot. Ryan Flaherty played third yesterday and went 0 for 3, but he still is very much a part of the Braves’ plans going forward. Bullish on the Braves.

Tony Kemp stroked a pair of singles yesterday and is pretty much the regular left fielder for the Houston Astros. Tony is hitting .316 and playing stellar left field. Would like to see the man get on base and steal bases, which he is so proficient at doing. If they can move him up in the order from 9th, that might give him more running possibilities. Tony has world class speed, so he can give the ‘Stros a lot. The ‘Stros are stellar having won 11 in a row and lead the AL West by a game and a half over the Mariners. Like where Tony is too. 

Curt Casali recorded 2 hits yesterday for the Cincinnati Reds as they defeated the Pirates, 8-6. Curt has been playing some for the Reds after being traded to them by the Tampa Bay Rays in May. Curt is hitting .421 in some spot duty, but he’s making an awesome case to be the Reds starting catcher. Pulling for Curt. He has battled it out in the minors and has been an incredible foot soldier, dedicated to his profession. Would love to see Curt get a regular shot with the Red Legs. 

Pedro Alvarez DH’d Friday Night for the Orioles and went 0 for 3. I wish Pedro would get a regular shot with the Birds. They don’t have anything settled at first base or at third really, so why not give him a shot. Just really perplexed by this. But I’m pulling hard for our great former 3rd baseman. Corbs says he’s a phenomenal person and his backstory when he was recruited by Corbs is something else.

Pedro’s dad was a cab driver, and he and his parents lived in an apartment building where in the basement Pedro’s dad had built a hitting cage. They practiced constantly throughout Pedro’s formative years, and Corbs watched Pedro hit bomb after bomb in Yankee Stadium in a tryout for youth players. Corbs walked out of Yankee Stadium thinking he had no shot of getting that guy to come to Vanderbilt. He talked to Pedro and his parents, and Pedro was translating everything in Spanish that Corbs was saying to his parents. El Toro came to VU for its academics and having the desire to play for Corbs and he had an awesome 3 year career in Nashville. He’s really battled through minor league stints and sitting on benches in the majors. You just pull for him to get a full time shot again. He can hit for power, and he can hit for average if he’s given the opportunity. And he can play good defense. And he’s an amazingly cool young man who Corbs said couldn’t have been more helpful in training camp for our college team this season. He’s an awesome guy with a great heart and a passion for baseball. You just pull for guys like Pedro to find great success in the professional ranks. I believe he still very much can succeed in MLB.

Our VU baseball team finished strong just coming up short in the Super Regionals to Mississippi State. But it was a good season with a young team that started 4 freshman and more sometimes. We’ve got a terrific team coming back. No reason to look back. Just pulling for Connor Kaiser, Chandler Day, Reid Schaller and our other guys who got drafted, including our incoming freshmen who signed contracts, to do well in the professional ranks and for our team to really lock in on what could be a tremendous 2019 campaign with these great freshmen becoming sophomores, our stellar sophomores becoming juniors, and our 3 or 4 rising seniors, Patrick Raby, Stephen Scott, huge to get Scottie back, and Julian Infante, to be our leaders. Ethan Paul hasn’t made up his mind yet on what he wants to do, but we would heartedly welcome back Ethan if he decides to return. Pretty exciting possibilities for 2019. Our young pitchers need to develop this offseason when they are playing in the Cape leagues in the Northeast and really develop this fall for us to be a spectacular team next season. But we’ve got a real shot if our pitching can develop. 

Football

Football has 2 commits for 2019 right now in 6’5″, 220 pound tight end Joel DeCoursey from Zionsville, Indiana, and 6’4″, 230 pound tight end Jeffrey Blake from Norcross, GA. Joel is an 85, 3 star according to 247 sports and a 5.6 3 star by Rivals. Jeffrey is an 83 and 5.5. Watched both players on tape and both looked outstanding. Good receivers, exceptional blockers, very physical, skilled players. We had our Friday Night Lights event over the weekend and there are rumors that we will be getting multiple commits coming up. Will keep you posted. 

As far as 2018 goes, I like our team very much. With Kyle Shurmur returning at quarterback, a great running back corps led by Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Khari Blasingame, a maybe not as experienced but talented receiving corps led by potential All-SEC wide out Kalija Lipscomb, an offensive line that looks physical and deep led by stellar senior left tackle Justin Skule, (6’6″, 320), and outstanding senior center Bruno Reagan (6’3″, 315) and stellar tight ends Jared Pinkney and Sam Dobbs, along with some excellent incoming freshmen at wide receiver and tight end, I like what we have on offense. Something else, backup quarterback is stellar with awesome redshirt sophomore Deuce Wallace available if Kyle has any injury issues. We’ve got freshman Allan Wallace, a stud from New Jersey, coming in and he’ll be our third QB. Very hopeful that Kyle can stay healthy though because he could have a phenomenal year for us. Defense lost some guys but I like what the Odeyinbo brothers, Dare and Dayo, Charles Wright and some young guys can do up front. I like what Jordan Griffin, Josh Smith, Caleb Peart and a talented group of youngsters can do at linebacker, and I’m excited to see the awesome Joejuan Williams at corner and LaDarius Wiley at safety lead a young, highly talented secondary. We have a punter coming in from Columbia University who can boom it, and kicker is coming along. The return game could be stellar with potentially electric punt return man Donaven Tennyson, who will also be a good receiver for us too, and potentially explosive Jamauri Wakefield along with some others returning kicks. Jamauri is going to be a good running back for us as well as a sophomore. His future is bright.

Another factor that Coach Mason will elaborate on in our conversation coming up this week is the new coaches we have in. Jason Tarver will be running the defense after spending many years in the NFL and serving with Coach Mason at Stanford as co defensive coordinators. Jason brings a lot of passion and energy to the defense. I also spoke with Coach Tarver this spring and will give you his thoughts on his 2018 defense coming up this week. Jason and Coach Mason will work very well together and give Coach Mason a better chance to concentrate on his entire team, which he has wanted to do, but hadn’t found the right guy the last 3 years for his defensive coordinator, so he’s had to do it himself. This is a big deal having Tarver for the defense. Coach Mason and Coach Tarver think alike and our defense should excel now and in the future under Mason’s and Tarver’s leadership. And we have some good young coaches and some really talented veteran coaches leading the team. I’ll give you more about them this week in my piece with Coach Mason. Should have it out Wednesday or Thursday. Tarver on Saturday or next Monday. 

Great stuff going on with our professional players in MLB, and excited about what our football, basketball, baseball, tennis and golf teams can do next year. And you can’t discount the bowling team. National championships can never be discounted. Our women’s soccer team under the highly capable leadership of Coach Darren Ambrose reached the second round of the NCAA’s and have an excellent team returning. So a lot to be excited about on the West End. Can’t wait to get 2018-19 started. Will have Coaches Mason and Tarver coming up and more baseball and try to get some Bryce, bball stuff cookin. We’re going to have what should be a spectacular team this coming season.  

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Southhampton, New York, 7,440 yards, Par 70.

Defending champion: Brooks Koepka, Erin Hills, -16.

The last time the Open was held at Shinnecock in 2004, Retief Goosen putted lights out at a controversial Open, where, on Sunday, the 7th hole putted like a bathtub and caused much player consternation. But Retief was the best putter that day and captured his second Open with his first coming at Southern Hills in Tulsa, OK.  in 2001. 

This will be  the 5th time the Open has been played at Shinnecock.

Key tee times, all times Central

6:40 AM- Bubba Watson, Jason Day, Brooks Koepka. Day and Koepka with good chances. Bubba possibly. 

6:51 AM-Zach Johnson, Charl Schwartzel, Patrick Reed. Reed won the Masters and handles pressure well. Johnson and Schwartzel are also Masters champions, Johnson in 2007 and Schwartzel in 2011.

7:02 AM-Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson. Spieth with 3 majors, the 2015 Masters, the 2015 U.S, Open (Chambers Bay) and the 2017 Open Championship, at Royal Birkdale. McIlroy looking for his 5th major, after winning the 2011 U.S, at Congressional Country Club, the 2012 PGA at Kiawah Island, S.C., the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool and the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla. But he hasn’t captured a major since 2014. Phil has 5 majors, the 2004, 2006 and 2010 Masters’, the 2005 PGA Championship at Baltusrol, and the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield. He has 6 runner-up finishes at the U.S., the most ever, and clearly wants to put this on his resume before he retires from the PGA Tour, whenever that will be. May be a while. He’s still playing at a high level. Phil turns 48 on Saturday.

7:13 AM: Bryson DeChambeau, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Matt Kuchar- DeChambeau is trending well after capturing the Memorial 2 weeks ago. Not sure if Fitzpatrick will be in the hunt, but possibly, and Kuchar is close a lot. He really would like a major on his resume’.

7:13 AM: No. 10-Hideki Matsuyama, Mark Leishman, Rickie Fowler. Rickie on the cusp of winning a major, but it’s time for him to win one. He needs to fairly soon or the pressure might build a little more. HIdeki hasn’t done a lot this year, but finished 2nd last year to Koepka and is highly capable. Leishman is a good player. Not sure he can win, but he can contend.

12:14 PM-Sergio Garcia, Jon Rahm, Rafa Cabrera Bello. Rahm and Sergio are possibilities. I see Rahm winning a major soon, quite possibly this year. This could be the one. Sergio plays with a lot more confidence now after winning at Augusta National in 2017, so if he’s in contention, he can close it out. 

12:25 PM- Lucas Glover, Webb Simpson, Graeme McDowell- All 3 are past Open winners, Glover at Bethpage Black in 2009, McDowell in 2010 at Pebble Beach, and Simpson in 2012 at Olympic. 

12:36 PM- No.10, Ernie Els, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk. Ernie is a 2 time U.S. Open winner in 1994 and ’97, and a 4 time major winner having captured the Open Championship in 2002, and 2012. Stricker’s a great putter, but has fallen short in majors. Furyk is the 2003 U.S. Open winner at Olympia Fields. All 3 are elder statesmen, Els at 48, Furyk is 48 and Stricker is 51.

12:47 PM-Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Tiger Woods. Thomas and Johnson have very good shots. Woods is a possibility. Not convinced he’s there yet, at least as far as winning majors goes. 14 major victories, but the last one came in 2008 at Torrey Pines, so a long drought for Eldrick. No doubt, JT and DJ will be right there. DJ coming off a classic, victorious performance at Memphis last week, in which he sank his second shot on 18, a 171 yard shot from the fairway. It was a masterpiece, no doubt. Justin is always one of the favorites in majors now.

12:47, No.10- Henrik Stenson, Adam Scott, Martin Kaymer. All 3 are major winners, Henrik at the 2016 Open Championship with a historic final round 63 at Royal Troon which tied Johnny Miller for the lowest Sunday round in major championship history. He’s certainly capable at 42. Scott is still competitive and he was a Masters winner in 2013. Kaymer hasn’t been heard from much lately, but does have 2 majors to his credit, the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in a controversial finish in which DJ was penalized 2 strokes on the 18th hole for grounding his club in what was considered a sand trap, but was impossible to tell as the crowd had trampled through it. Johnson ultimately lost by a shot, and Kaymer defeated Bubba in a playoff. Kaymer also was victorious at the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst. 

Weather, fantastic. Thursday, 77 Sunny, wind 14 MPH out of the west. Friday, Partly sunny, 69, wind, NW 11. Saturday, Sunny, 74, wind W 10. Sunday, partly sunny, 73, wind SW 10. Very minimal chances for rain. The wind does play a factor at Shinnecock though, so it will greatly challenge players’ club selections.

TV: All times CT:

Thursday, 8:30 AM-3 PM Fox Sports 1, 3-6:30 PM FOX.

Friday, 9 AM-3 PM, Fox Sports 1, 3-6:30 PM, FOX.

Saturday, 10 AM-6:30 PM, FOX.

 Sunday, 9 AM-6:30 PM FOX.

Should be a spectacular Father’s Day Sunday like it usually is with the U.S, Open’s drama filled finishes.

Key holes:

No. 16, 616 yards, par 5

The hole has been lengthened 74 yards since 2004 with a prevailing wind into the player and from his right. Likely to be a 3 shot hole. Many of the competitors will play their second shots short of the bunker on the right. Players who attempt to go for it, or are left with a long approach after finding trouble, will be tested by the narrow, well protected green that is surrounded by 4 bunkers towards the front and 4 more of those a little bit further up the fairway. Quite a challenge for the bombers who want to take their chances. There is so much run off on these greens, that a good putt can be penalized by rolling off the green if the player gets too aggressive. And shots short or long make for troublesome up and downs.

No.17, 175 yards, par 3

A precise shot is required on this large green, which there are a lot of at Shinnecock, 2 bunkers on the left and a huge one on the right. This hole will really test a players’ mettle.

No.18, 485 yards, par 4

The hole features a new tee that adds 35 yards and creates more of a blind tee shot. The prevailing breeze is from right to left off the tee, with more of a helping wind on the second shot. The preferred tee shot is to the right side of the fairway, for a better look at the green and a better angle of approach, although a player is likely only able to see part of the flagstick. The green slopes from back to front with 2 bunkers on the left and 1 on the right. Pretty classic finishing hole for what hopefully will be a real test this year on a serious Open course after last year’s not too swift Erin Hills course and the 2015 disaster at Chambers Bay, though that finish was stellar with Spieth defeating DJ by a shot.

After some questionable venues for the Open in recent years, the next several years the Open will be played at the classics. This year at Shinnecock, 2019 at Pebble Beach, 2020 at Winged Foot, 2021 at Torrey Pines, 2022 the Country Club in Brookline, Mass. site of the “Battle of Brookline” in which the United States finally won the Ryder Cup back from the Europeans, will host. Justin Leonard’s memorable 45 foot birdie conversion was memorable and secured the match 14 1/2-13 1/2, after the U.S. had been down 10-6 going into the final day. The 2023 Open will be at the Los Angeles Country Club, the 2024 edition will be at Torrey Pines, the 2025 Open will be at Oakmont Country Club, in 2026 the Open is back at Shinnecock, and in 2027 Pebble Beach will once again host. 

Winner

Going with the 25 year old from Louisville, Kentucky by way of the University of Alabama. He lost his world No.1 ranking last week to Dustin, and took it well, when he told the media yesterday, “somebody wrote on social media, that the last time I was No.1 in the world, Ovechkin was a Stanley Cup champion and Rickie got engaged.” Those things happened last week, so he’s still, outside of DJ, the best player in the world. This young guy captures his second major in a year after winning the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.

Justin Thomas

Sleeper: Graeme McDowell

The Washington Capitals started playing hockey in D.C, in 1974. They won 8 games in their initial season. By the mid 2000’s, they were a force in the regular season as the great Alexander Ovechkin led them to greater heights. 

But there was constant frustration in the playoffs in recent years. The Caps always were loaded with talent, but couldn’t make it past the second round. The Pittsburgh Penguins were usually their Achilles Heel.

This year it was different. In the 44th year of the franchise, the Capitals came together, particularly in the postseason, and captured their first Stanley Cup title in franchise history defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in 5 games with the Stanley Cup clinching victory last night in Vegas, 4-3.

It was spectacular for a starving fan base that had waited 26 years since their last championship, when the Redskins won the  Super Bowl in 1992. Years of frustration for the Great 8, Ovechkin, were taking their toll on the franchise and the city..

But Ovechkin and a fabulous cast around him changed all that in 2018.

In the playoffs, the Caps were in major wars every series. They fell behind the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round, 2-0, losing the first 2 at home, only to roar back and capture the next 4 games to move on to the second round.

Then it was a rematch with the 2 time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, which had frustrated the Caps time and again in the playoffs. Sydney Crosby and the Pens just seemed to have the Caps’ number. After losing game 1 at home, it was like here we go again. But the Caps won game 2 and won game 3 in Pittsburgh as the Great 8 scored the game winning goal with a minute left. The Caps went on to defeat the Penguins, 4-2 to advance to the conference finals, and they looked like they were cookin.

In the third round they took a 2-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning only to lose the next 3 and were on the ropes in game 6 at home. Then the Caps, in the words of awesome wing Devante Smith-Pelly, played the perfect game and defeated the Lightning at home to send it to a game 7 in Tampa, where the Caps dominated the Lightning 4-0.

Then they lost the opener to Vegas, only to take the next 4 games and capture the Stanley Cup.

Ovechkin was selected as the Conn Smythe Trophy winner for the Most Valuable Player in the playoffs, and he was spectacular. But so were goalie Braden Holtby, who made stop after stop, center Evgeny Kuznetov, who scored big goal after big goal, and the great wing T.J. Oshie, who made clutch play after clutch play. The enforcer, Tom Wilson, brought it with a physical toughness that permeated throughout his team, and he’s one heckuva hockey player as well. Smith-Pelly was superb, and scored one of the most athletic goals you’ll ever want to see last night to put the Caps up 4-3 in the third period, the eventual winning score for the Caps. Smith-Pelly was phenomenally clutch.

All in all a spectacular team, and a passionate fan base that has been waiting for this moment seemingly forever.

Oshie in the postgame interview with NBC Sports’ superb NHL reporter Pierre McGuire, was asked by Pierre what it meant to win it for his family. His mother and father were in Vegas for the game. His father is suffering from Alzheimer’s. An emotional, but composed Oshie responded.

“My dad,” Oshie paused, “He doesn’t remember much. But he’ll remember this. He’ll remember this forever.”

T.J. expressed the feeling of this remarkable team. The wait is over. The Caps are the best hockey team in the world. And there was no doubt about it. 

Justify runs for the 13th Triple Crown in history with the last coming in 2015 by American Pharoah. Before that it had been 37 years. Affirmed won it in 1978 after Seattle Slew had won it all in 1977. Justify goes off at 4:5 odds.

Post time: 5:37 PM CT, NBC.

Bob Baffert goes for Triple Crown winning race number 15, which would break a tie with D. Wayne Lukas for most triple crown race victories.

While Justify looks like the appealing pick here, and it might be a wet track as there is a chance of rain and a t storm which would favor the horse, the thoroughbred has the No.1 post position, a tough spot to start on the inside of 9 other horses, and trying to get out fast with the other jockeys trying to pin in Mike Smith and the horse will be challenging. And this race is a mile and a half, the longest of the 3 Triple Crown races. I just don’t see this horse as good enough to capture it all. It’s raced 6 times since February and I don’t think it’ll have enough left in the tank to capture “The Test of the Champion.” 

I’m going with the trainer I still trust the most. He won the 2017 Derby and the 2017 Belmont with Always Dreaming and Tapwrit, respectively. He’s got a super jockey on the mount in John Valzsquez, who’s won 4 triple crown races, including the Derby last year on Always Dreaming. Going to take 50 year old Todd Pletcher, who has won 3 Derby’s and 3 Belmonts. I like Pletcher, whom I think is the best trainer in horse racing right now, Velazquez, and their horse which stands at 8:1 odds. I like his post position at 8th out of 10 thoroughbreds. Just don’t think Justify is as good a horse as Pharoah was, and the grueling 3rd leg of the Triple Crown is the hardest at a mile and a half. Justify’s post position is a real factor to me and I see the horse as a little tired right now. 

Vino Rosso

The Vanderbilt baseball team (34-25) blasted 9 home runs, pounded out 20 hits, and put on a clinic in capturing the Clemson regional with a victory over the Clemson Tigers, 19-6. Shortstop Connor Kaiser was phenomenal hitting 3 out of the yard at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Connor hit a 3 run shot to left in the 3rd, a grand slam in the 6th to right, and a 2 run shot to deep central in the top of the 7th and added an RBI single in the 8th. All in all, Connor was 5-for-7 with 3 homers and 10 Ribeyes, which tied an NCAA record for a regional game. It was a spectacular performance by our star shortstop. Amazingly, Connor committed his second error all season, but it’s all good, Connor should be an All-American, in my opinion. Stephen Scott and Philip Clark added 2 long balls apiece, and Julian Infante and Harrison Ray got into the act, with solo shots in the 8th. What a performance by our team. Scott was 2-for-4 with 4 runs scored and 2 Ribeyes. Clarke was 3-for-6 with 2 Ribbies. Infante was 2-fo-4 with an RBI, and our great center fielder and leadoff hitter, Austin Martin, was 2-for-5, with an RBI and 3 runs scored. Great to see Julian get that bat going. That could be a tremendous lift down the stretch, because despite the fact that Julian has had his struggles this season, he’s got an unbelievable bat and his defense is beyond stellar. Would love to see the Big Fella keep this up.

So now it’s Mississippi State. I watched some of their regional championship game with Oklahoma yesterday and they were dominant in an 8-1 victory. They have both good pitching and hitting. We’re at home, though, and that’s a big asset. First game Friday is 7 PM CT on ESPN2. I’m sure Corbs will throw Drake Fellows. Saturday’s game is at 8:30 PM CT on ESPN. Maybe Raby. Sunday’s game is at 5 PM on the Deuce. Would love to see Tyler Brown get a shot, but we’ll see what Corbs and Coach Brownie think about that. Tyler pitched the final 2 innings of the Clemson game and got them 6 up, 6 down, and he was exceptional in our SEC tourney game vs A&M, though we took a 3-1 loss. In retrospect, losing that first game may have been the best thing that could have happened to us, though of course we want to win every game.

I think back to our 2007 team with David Price, Pedro Alvarez, Ryan Flaherty and a slew of stellar players that won the SEC Tournament and were the Number 1 seed in the entire NCAA Tournament. We were a phenomenal team. I was at our Saturday Night game against Ole Miss at the Hoover Met in which we fell behind 9-6 in the top of the 10th. I was upset and ready to leave, but my wife talked me into staying. We made an amazing comeback and won 10-9 and then defeated Arkansas in the championship game the next day. It was a thrill seeing this team win it all in person.  We were so exhausted after getting through the rigors of an SEC regular season and the amazing run in the tournament that we were worn out in the regional at our place and lost to Michigan in the regional championship game. It was deflating because I knew we had the best team in the country that year. But after seeing Ole Miss capture the SEC Tournament championship and then losing in their regional at home when they looked like a serious Omaha team with a chance to win it all, I can see what happened to our team in 2007. That was still an awesome team and a superb season winning the SEC Tournament. That’s a huge accomplishment and should never be devalued. But we may have been spent and Ole Miss could very well have been as well.

So I like where we are right now. We’re a hot team and playing exceptional baseball right now. Excited for what’s ahead. Corbs is thinking he just wants a good practice today though. That’s how our great coach operates and it’s the exact right way to handle the postseason and the entire season. It’s a good lesson for life. Ready to compete again though. VU Sports Confidential will be on top of our baseball team all weekend.

David, Walker, Dansby have terrific weekends

David Price pitched against Justin Verlander and the extremely talented defending world champion Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park in Houston. It was a daunting challenge, but DP was up for it. David battled throughout the contest and ended up going 6, giving up 5 hits, 3 runs, with one walk and 7 K’s. Like those high strikeout numbers for David. When the man is on, he’s striking out hitters at a high rate. And the Houston hitters are hard to strike out. When you have Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, George Springer Alex Bregman and the bevy of Houston hitters in their lineup, that’s difficult to navigate. But David hung in through a Bregman 2 run homer and led his team to a 5-4 victory. David moved to 6-4 with a 4.04 ERA, and while the ERA isn’t up to normal Price standards, his last 4 starts have been sensational. Beating the Astros is spectacular, particularly at their place. David threw a 109 pitches with 63 for strikes against 46 balls. David was hitting 93 to 95. His fastball was cookin, and his cutter and change up were solid. Liked what I saw out of Dave. The Red Sox and Astros split a 4 game series and the BoSox are now 41-19, .683 ball, and 1 game ahead of the Sonny and the Yankees in the AL East.

Walker Buehler pitched in highly hitter friendly Colorado and didn’t get the victory, but pitched pretty well in that difficult pitching stadium in Denver with the mile high altitude where balls travel fast and long. Walker went 5, gave up 8 hits, 4 earned with 2 walks and 2 K’s. He was hitting 95-97 and hit 98 a couple of times. Still thought he was effective and the Dodgers were victorious, 12-4, as the swept then division leading Rockies in a 3 game weekend set. Walker is now 3-1 with a 2.74 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning), which is a very good number. Anything right at 1 is outstanding, and below 1 is spectacular. Walker is right there. The Dodgers are now 29-30,  2 games back of the 31-28 Dbacks. The Rockies are in second at 30-29, and the Giants are a game and a half back in third at 30-30. With Clayton Kershaw back from injury for the Dodgers and Madison Bumgarner back from injury for the Giants, this should get very interesting in the NL West.

Dansby Swanson was terrific once again for the Braves in their 4-2 walk off victory over the Washington Nationals Sunday. Dansby hit his 5th homer and 22nd Ribeye in the bottom of the seventh, and with the game tied in the bottom of the 9th, Dans ripped a double to left to leadoff the inning and scored right ahead of Charlie Culberson’s 2 run shot for another Braves walk off. It was tremendous. Dans is playing superb baseball. Though the Braves did fall to the Padres last night at San Diego, 11-4, they are  35-25 and have a 1 game lead over the Nationals (33-25) in the NL West. The Braves are at San Diego and the Dodgers this week. Walker pitches against Dans and the Braves on Friday Night.

David will pitch again Saturday versus the White Sox, Sonny Gray pitches Wednesday at the Blue Jays, and Mike Minor pitches Saturday versus the Astros at home. So awesome stuff going on this week. Carson Fulmer is at Charlotte and doing well for the White Sox triple A club. He pitches tonight I’m pretty sure, and he could work his way back up to the big club soon. Tyler Beede is  pitching well for the Sacramento River Cats and could find his way back to SF in the future, hopefully soon. Drew VerHagen got the start for the Tigers yesterday and was hit pretty hard by the Yankees, but Drew has good stuff and hopefully he can bounce back. Those Bronx Bombers are a tough assignment for anybody, David Price, Chris Sale, and Justin Verlander, the three best in the American League have their work cut out for them against the Yankees. They crush it. Drew had been pitching extremely well at triple A Toledo, so hopeful the Tigers will give him another start. Pedro Alvarez and Ryan Flaherty are not getting a ton of playing time with the Orioles and Braves respectively, but keeping the faith that both will get more opportunities, because if they do, then can excel. Same for Tony Kemp in Houston. Great to see Tony with the Astros. Very hopeful he can stay there. If T Kemp gets a shot, he’ll produce. 

Connor Kaiser 1 on 1

Connor Kaiser put on a hitting spectacle Sunday Night in Clemson, going 5-for-7 with 3 home runs and 10 RBI’s. Connor can do it all and should be a first team All American. Connor was the Most Valuable Player of the Regional hitting .500, 7-for-15. His average is now .298 with 6 home runs and a team leading 45 RBIs. Our entire team is really hitting it well. Right fielder JJ Bleday leads the team at .367. Center fielder Austin Martin is hitting .335, designated hitter Philip Clarke has been awesome, as he is hitting .307 with 6 homers and 36 Ribbies, and catcher Stephen Scott, though his average isn’t off the charts, has been crushing the ball, and he now has 14 home runs and 38 RBI’s. Ethan Paul is hitting the ball better at .240 and is highly productive with 9 homers and 41 RBIs and plays superb second base. It’s looking like Julian Infante is getting it together with the bat, and that would be terrific for this team. Julian is a leader. I’d like to see Harrison Ray get another shot at 3rd. Harry can really help us.

I spoke with Connor Kaiser, while his team was on the bus returning from Clemson. Here’s what our great shortstop had to say. 

DW: Last night going for 3 home runs, 10 RBIs, tying an NCAA record for RBI’s, what do you attribute that production to?

CK: I think overall our approach to the game was really good. The way we got in the cages and prepared, we were really focused. We were just ready to play, ready to battle.

DW; You guys hit 9 home runs and could do no wrong. After the Auburn series it looked a little bleak after getting swept. What has changed with this team?

CK: I don’t think much has changed. We’ve kind of stayed in the middle. We haven’t gotten too high or too low during the season. You’re going to go through ups and downs during the season and a lot of it is how you react to things. We stayed together and we know we’re capable of going far in this thing. We’ve just stayed positive through all of it.

DW: Connor, you’ve always had a great glove and looked like you’ve always had a good bat, and now you’re hitting .298 with 6 homers and 45 RBIs, what do you attribute your good hitting to now?

CK: I think going from the summer from the coaching staff in the Cape (Cape Cod League) really helped me out, and getting back on campus with Coach (Mike, hitting) Baxter, Coach (David) Macias, Corbs, just kind of working with them and seeing ways we can improve and get better. 

DW: I know you and Ethan are quite a combination up the middle at short and second. Talk about your chemistry, how you guys work together?

CK: Yeah, Ethan’s been my roommate since I’ve been at Vanderbilt and he’s a phenomenal person and player. We get along great, and that kind of transfers onto the baseball field.

DW: Julian (Infante) got himself going last night, and his defense has been outstanding. Talk to me about how Julian’s been playing lately.

CK: Julian’s been doing really well. Another great dude. He wants to win and it kind of rubs off on everyone else. He’s been doing well lately and we definitely need him.

DW: Connor, who’s taking the leadership roles on this team?

CK: It’s a group effort. We have a ton of different personalties and guys who have stepped up. That’s what’s cool about this team, it’s not just one guy, it’s a group of guys moving in one direction.

DW: Your (junior) class was ranked number 1 in the country and the freshmen class was ranked number 1 in the country (both by Perfect Game.com). Tell me about the freshmen what do you think about those guys.

CK: There’s a ton of talent on this team. The freshmen have done a great job blending in with the rest of the team. You really don’t know what to expect coming in as a freshman, but you learn through the course of the year and they’ve responded really well. 

DW: How has Coach Corbin kept you guys so even and in the middle and positive through the ups and downs of the season?

CK: I think it just goes back to his personality. He’s super consistent on a daily basis. You know what you’re going to get. Win or lose, he’s going to be the same guy, and we’re super lucky to have him.

DW: You were quite a basketball player in high school . How does that translate to baseball? 

CK: I think certain lateral movements are helpful in the infield. It’s kind of hard to say. I think just playing other sports in general, you learn to compete in different ways. Just playing multiple sports is helpful.

DW: I read that you admired Derek Jeter as a player. Tell me about what you liked about Derek Jeter.

CK: I just like how he carried himself on and off the field. Obviously, he was an incredible player, won a ton of World Series (5 time champion). He was super consistent and made his teammates better.

DW: Connor, I know the MLB draft has started. What is your thinking about the draft if you were to be drafted early? (Third round starts today)

CK: Not too sure. You can’t really control it. It’s hard to say. Whatever happens, we’ll try to make a decision, but not too sure.

DW: I know you’re locked in on the season, so tell me how locked in you and your teammates are right now. 

CK: We’re super excited for the next opportunity. It’s been fun. We’ve been relaxed and loose. We’re going in the right direction right now.

DW: What would it mean to play at the Hawk this weekend for the Super (which is happening)?

CK: I hope we get that opportunity. It would be awesome to play at home. But same mindset anywhere. We’ll prepare the same way and be ready to play.

DW: You guys are playing so well right now. How does the team feel emotionally right now? 

CK: It’s been fun. We haven’t really talked about expectations, we just want to make the most of it. 

DW: You enjoying this team right now?

CK: Yes, we’re having a lot of fun. 

Our tremendous shortstop deserves All American accolades, first team. A fabulous shortstop, a terrific leader and an extremely fine young man. 

Breaking

Connor was just selected as the 86th pick in the 3rd round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Congratulations to a more than deserving young man.

Our No.2 seeded Vanderbilt baseball team will play No.1 seed Clemson tonight in the Clemson Regional at 6 on the SEC Network. 

Clemson is likely to throw sophomore left hander Jake Higginbotham, who comes into our game with a 6-1 record and a 3.27 ERA. Higginbotham has walked 30 and struck out 62. We have 4 left handed bats in our lineup, so J.J. Bleday, Philip Clarke, Ethan Paul and Stephen Scott need to be locked in at the plate. I’m sure those hard workers will be. Corbs is looking at 2 options that I know of right now for a starter tonight, though neither coach has announced. Patrick Raby is our Saturday Night guy and is 4-5 with a 3.47 ERA, 28 walks and 52 K’s. The other option is freshman right hander Mason Hickman who carries a 7-2 record with a 4.96 ERA. Mason has struggled as of late, but his stuff is very good. Raby seems to be coming along now after a stellar year last year. 

Clemson’s leading hitter is catcher Kyke Wilke who hits .319 with 4 homers and 36 RBIs. Right fielder Seth Beer brings some serious lumber. He hits .313 and has pounded out 21 homers and knocked in 53. Shortstop Logan Davidson hits .293 with 15 homers and 45 RBIs. First baseman Chris Williams is hitting .276 with 17 homers and 66 RBIs. They’re only hitting .262 as a team, but they obviously make those hits count. Second baseman Jordan Greene, who hits .256 with 5 hrs 21 RBis, stroked the game winning single last night in the bottom of the 10th in a Tigers 4-3 victory over a scrappy Morehead State team. 

The Tigers head into our game at 46-14. We are now 32-25.

So we’ll need to pitch. Hoping to have pitching matchups later this afternoon. 

I think we also need to hit better. We’ve struggled recently with the bats with runners in scoring position. We’ll need to improve there, our pitchers need to keep the ball in the ballpark, and our defense needs to be stellar. We committed 2 errors yesterday, so we don’t need that. Philip Clarke continues to hit well as he had an RBI double in the first inning yesterday to get us on the scoreboard and finished 2 for 3. Philip is hitting .306 for us. 

MLB guys excelling once again

Sonny Gray

Sonny had an awesome night on the hill last night going 6, giving up 1 run on 4 hits, with 0 walks and 6 K’s. When Sonny has his control going he is an exceptional pitcher. And he did last night. Sonny threw 90 pitches with 55 for strikes against 35 balls. But he made his strikes count. His fastball hit 94 several times and stayed at 93 and his curve and changeup were tough. Super outing by the man, as the Yankees defeated the Orioles, 4-1. Sonny moved to 4-4 and now has a 5.50 ERA. Really awesome effort by Sonny. He pitches again Wednesday at Toronto.

Tony Kemp

Tony was called up to the Astros on May 16th to play left field mostly, and he’s reached base in 14 of 16 games that he’s played in and has also played stellar defense. Maybe Tony has finally gotten the shot he’s so richly deserved. The Astros sent down one of their outfielders, who was struggling, and Tony, who was hitting .335 with a 20 game hitting streak part of it at Triple A Fresno, earned his shot. He had a base hit last night into right field when he came in as a replacement late. I really want the Astros to give Tony every opportunity to start for them. They will be happy they did. Here’s a play that Tony made from center field a week and a half ago.