Comments on: Texas Forces Decisive Game With 5-1 Win

By: Nik

Nik — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:29:22 +0000

I’m not understanding why you are taking so much offense to that guy’s opinion. For somebody that is giving another person so much flack for stating apparent “excuses”, you sure do feel like you have to make a well-formulated defense for LSU. We all know how good they are. You don’t have to tell us. And to claim that “the stars aligned for Texas last night” is just sad. Chalking up Jungmann’s performance to pure chance is a complete shame.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:59:45 +0000

“The momentum now shifts to Texas.”

That’s just ridiculous. How can you say “momentum shifts”, and then think that momentum means anything? It shifted once, it can shift again.

Aren’t you the same guy that said, before the championship series began, that Texas had the advantage over LSU because LSU hadn’t faced any “pressure” in the tournament, and Texas had? I guess after game 1 proved you wrong on the “pressure” thing, you had to come up with ANOTHER reason to maintain hope that your horns can somehow beat LSU twice. And I guess, after LSU scores 8 runs in the first two innings tonight, permanently taking back the “momentum”, you’ll default to that lame “Texas is the team of destiny” false hope.

Me, I don’t have to cling to false hopes. LSU has won more games than any team in the country. They have two excellent starting pitchers (neither of which was on the mound last night) and the best offensive team in the nation. Last night was a fluke. A rare bad pitching performance combined with an even rarer bad hitting performance. If either of those hadn’t occurred, LSU sweeps UT in 2 games. But the stars aligned for Texas last night, and they lived to die another day. Because tonight, you’re not going to get both of those in your favor. Maybe one (like Monday night’s bad hitting performance, or last Saturday’s bad pitching performance against UVA). But not both.

Another thing: LSU has lost back to back games only once all season. The Tigers are 15-1 in games immediately following a loss, including 8-1 against the team that beat them the previous day. Looks like LSU doesn’t much care about momentum, huh?

By: Christian

Christian — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:44:13 +0000

Jim, LSU lacked speed to make hits? What game were you watching? Did you see Mitchell & Landry? There were 3 hits that shouldve been outs if wasnt for those 2.

By: Nik

Nik — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:59:56 +0000

I think Mainieri did what any coach would do in his situation. He had the choice of pitching Ranaudo on just three days rest (something he hasn’t done all season if I am correct) or give him a full day more and see if Ross and the Tiger bullpen could hold Texas to a relatively low run count and that the offense would put them in a position to win. Cain and Bradshaw kept LSU within striking distance, but with Jungmann’s performance five runs were more than enough. He most definitely made the right pitching decision to give the Tigers their best shot at winning the championship. Texas has been outstanding in the hitter friendly confines of Rosenblatt, and they will have to stay hot if they look to beat Ranaudo. They have been great against high profile pitchers so far at the CWS, getting to McInnis of So.Miss, eighth pick Leake of ASU (not just once but twice), and All-American Louis Coleman. Hopefully they can keep it up. I think Cole Green is a nice counter-part against Ranaudo, but LSU’s offense is just so explosive and talented. Green will really have to be on his game and mix his pitches well; especially against the lefties. I’m really hoping this game will be one for the ages. Both teams deserve to win. Good luck to each!

By: David

David — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:32:09 +0000

I’ve seen Green a few times and I’ll bet he gives up 3 in 6-7 innings. He seems pretty steady and consistent with that line. A good lefty would probably give Texas a little more trouble – I see them pulling maybe one homer and a lot of small ball and running the bases. It should be a tight game.

By: jm

jm — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:10:45 +0000

Not so fast Jim, I think LSU knew they were throwing their 3 or lower pitcher and Jungmann was really on tonight. To say the matchup will be a bit more even if not lean LSU is fair. Renaudo will have to live to his billing in this one for LSU but whoever Texas pitches will fit the mold of someone who LSU has done well against all year.

By: Noah Hunter

Noah Hunter — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:10:25 +0000

Texas faced an elimination game in Game 3 of the Super Regionals. Texas should have wrapped it up today. Using Jungmann yesterday was a terrible, terrible move. You can’t expect a freshman to pitch well in relief knowing he has to start the next day. I honestly have no idea what Auggie was thinking…maybe he’s back on the sauce…

There is no such thing as momentum and LSU will have the slightly better pitcher on the mound tomorrow though if Texas keeps hitting like they have been in this series it will be tough to stop them. Plus, LSU’s bullpen is pretty strained. They need a long, good outing by their starter tomorrow or else the are in trouble. That said, they may well get that long, good outting.

By: jm

jm — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:06:23 +0000

Hell of a game, even when LSU made contact on ground balls they lacked the speed to make them hits. Good job saving Renaudo, but I would have like a rested Bradshaw for Wednesday.

By: Jim Fletcher

Jim Fletcher — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:03:39 +0000

That was LSU’s first loss in a month. The momentum now shifts to Texas. It’ll be nice to have the calmest of all the Longhorns on the mound tomorrow night. Hook ‘em Horns to a 7th baseball national championship!
Jim Fletcher, 1997 UT-Austin alumnus