Who would FSU baseball send to the mound against Oregon State in game one of the Super Regionals was a question most FSU fans pondered before Friday's game.
Link Jarrett is one of the most detailed head coaches in the game, analyzing things we'd never think about, and decided to start Joey Volini instead of Jamie Arnold.
Some fans might question the move, but I think it's 100 percent the right move and calculated risk. Here's why:
- Volini is the freshest starting pitcher who was the most consistent this year. Oregon State will likely try to work pitch counts, hoping to get into the FSU bullpen as early as possible. Volini gives you a chance to win the game and save your bullpen.
- If FSU wins game one, they'll have Jamie Arnold on his normal amount of rest with the chance to put Oregon State away in two games. In that scenario, the FSU bullpen will likely have only used two arms, which will be key because Oregon State will try to push his pitch count up as well.
- If FSU loses game one, they still have Jamie Arnold going in game two to potentially extend it to a third game where FSU will have arguably the best third-day starter going in Wes Mendes. Oregon State doesn't have that type of quality third-day starter. All three FSU starters would be going on their normal amount of rest.
Volini hasn't been his best down the stretch, but he hasn't pitched terribly. He has thrown more innings than Arnold or Mendes this year, usually is in the strike zone, and has the fewest walks (25) and hit by pitch (8) among the starting pitchers. He pitches to contact a little more than Jamie Arnold, but FSU has a solid defense behind him. If the FSU offense shows up, FSU will have an excellent shot to take game one on the road, putting Jamie Arnold in a position to close it out in two.