Bullpen ready for regional play

by Eric Jones (Photo by Jimmy Jones)

Okay, maybe there isn't too much bright side from the SEC Tournament this year. Two losses in three games tends to put a damper on most fans' perspective and maybe comments to this post will tend towards the cynical. Still, the Commodore bullpen answered the call and appears ready to continue to be this team's major strength.

Five different Commodore relievers (Goodenow, Reid, Garvin, Clinard and Hayes) saw action over the three games; the results - two runs allowed (one earned) in 11 innings. That's a 0.82 ERA with nine strikeouts and just one walk allowed. Out of 41 total batters faced out of the bullpen, just 10 reached base and no inherited runners scored over the three games. Richie Goodenow was the only reliever to work in more than one game, keeping the Florida hitters in check for 3.2 innings of scoreless relief tonight after inducing an inning-ending double-play to get the hold in the Dores 2-0 shutout of Arkansas on opening night.

Look for the coaching staff to continue to use match-ups depending on the situation throughout the post-season. The logic is simple - if it's working, no need to change.