South Carolina's sidearmer, John Taylor

From: Cole

Is there a better relief pitcher in the country for getting out of a jam than John Taylor? Yes, Matt Price is the All-American and he is fantastic. But what Taylor has accomplished in the last 2 weeks is nothing short of miraculous. Twice he entered the game with the bases loaded and the opponent threatening to claw their way back into the game. Twice he induced a 1-2-3 double play. His two pitches in the fifth broke Virgina's heart and stole any hope of a comeback from the Cavs. Vanderbilt's Navory Moore has the best fastball in the bullpen. Florida's Steven Rodriguez has the best slider. Teammate Matt Price owns the best mindset and intimidation factor, but Taylor is the guy you want to get you out of the jam. Along with Price, Taylor makes up the top 1-2 punch of any bullpen in college baseball this year. Not too bad for a guy who rarely breaks 80 on the gun.

SEC in the College World Series

From: Austin
Is there any question as to which is the most dominant conference in college baseball again this year? Yes, UVA is a good team, but the SEC goes 3-0 in the first round of the CWS. Vanderbilt showed the committee how ignorant it was in seeding UNC ahead of them. There is no doubt that 3 of the 4 best teams still standing are in the SEC East. Here is a great sign from last year's championship series against UCLA:

Beating UVA tonight will be a tall order, but the match-up and the new ballpark should work in Colby Holmes' favor. Holmes is a flyball pitcher who leaves a fat one over the middle of the plate once or twice a game. The result is reminiscent of former Gamecock pitcher Aaron Rawl and his standard bomb each game. Holmes gets hurt when he misses up, so this will be the early sign to watch for. If he is down, advantage Gamecocks. However, with the wind blowing in from center creating a paucity of home runs thus far and UVA's limited power numbers, this weakness may be neutralized. Virginia is never out of it, as they demonstrated in Game 3 of the Supers, so it will take a full effort for 27 outs to win this one.

South Carolina Texas A&M play at the plate

From: Benjamin

How does one score without touching home plate? The umpire gets shielded by the catcher. Might we suggest moving a bit to the left for a better angle? Clarys come from a long line of umpires, and one thing Buford Clary would not tolerate was being out of position. That was ingrained in us all. A blue at this level should not make that mistake. Now this was the first game behind the plate in the CWS for the ump, but the plate is the same size in every game. A correct call would have been a roaring announcement of the return of All-American Jackie Bradley Jr. But, it was not the case, and the Aggies went on to pile on the unearned runs. Good thing the defending champs rallied for the 5-4 victory. True, the blown call was not as bad as the missed home run in the Florida game. Ouch! Not a good start for the men in blue.

This team is calm, confident, and has what it takes to win. They are not caught up in the moment as the Aggie closer was in the 9th. Carolina's version, Mr. Price, was just doing his business. It was kind of like he had pitched in bigger situations before, a nice asset to possess. It starts at the top though. What was Coach Ray Tanner doing during Wingo's final at bat? Sipping a cold beverage....

Back Home in Omaha Song

From: Austin
Who sings the "Back Home in Omaha" song that ESPN plays and where can I get it? Much to the diappointment of many, not itunes. It is Todd Thibaud singing, and you can download the song from his website: http://www.toddthibaud.com/. How secure is his site? No idea.

You're not in clempson anymore UConn

From: Benjamin

That was the best sign in the stadium last night as the defending National Champs secured their return ticket to the College World Series. Feel no ill will toward the large group of Carolina fans feeling a little redeemed  after sitting humiliated and frozen in Birmingham a few years ago. The Huskies are a talented bunch. Make no mistake about it, George Springer is a legit #11 pick by the Astros. Wow, the catch he made to save the game in the 8th was the best catch I have ever seen, better than Willie Mays! Springer is a faster version of Jim Edmonds. Great jumps on the ball, good height, awesome speed, and a good stick to boot. He was the best player on the field. Baseball is a team game however, and the best team won. Coach Tanner has created a well oiled machine. Seasoned veterans and a lot of talent overcame a myriad of injuries to get to this point. If the season ended today, it would be a huge success with the hand they were dealt. Feel good Carolina fans. You knocked of the team clemmons could not. They raved about your team and facilities, saying clemmon's was decent. You are the National Champs and you played like it.

SEC in the 2011 Major League Draft

From: Everyone

The SEC is the best league in the nation and the Gamecocks are the 2011 champs. Here is the list of current SEC players and signees selected in the 2011 MLB draft. We will periodically update the list to note prominent signings. clemmons is included as well. Vandy's signee list is most likely inadequate because there is no web page with a list and they recruit nationwide (a local search would be pointless). Mississippi State's also seems thin, but includes all advertised.

South Carolina
Taylor Guerrieri SP commit Rd 1 pick 24
Brian Goodwin OF commit Rd 1 pick 34
Jackie Bradley Jr. OF Rd 1 pick 40
Matt Price RP Soph Rd 6 pick 184
Evan Beal P commit Rd 8 pick 246
Scott Wingo 2B Sr Rd 11 pick 344 signed
Tanner English OF commit Rd 13 pick 420
Andrew Faulkner P commit Rd 14 pick 444 signed
Joel Seddon P commit Rd 20 pick 619
Peter Mooney SS Rd 21 pick 649 signed
John Taylor RP Sr Rd 22 pick 633 signed
TJ Costen SS commit Rd 22 pick 684
Adam Matthews OF Rd 23 pick 695
Bryan Harper P Rd 30 pick 907 signed
Michael Roth SP Rd 31 pick 938
Steven Neff P Rd 41 pick 1257 signed
Joey Pankake SS commit Rd 42 pick 1284
Shon Carson OF commit Rd 44 pick 1345
Ahmed Christian OF commit Rd 46 pick 1391
Tyler Webb LHP Soph Rd 48 pick 1465
Adrian Morales 3B Sr Rd 49 pick 1476 signed

clemson
Brad Miller SS Rd 2 pick 62
Daniel Norris SP commit Rd 2 pick 74
Will Lamb OF/P Rd 2 pick 83 signed
John Hinson 3B Rd 13 pick 400 signed
Jackson Whitley 1B commit Rd 13 pick 405 signed
Jeff Schaus OF Sr Rd 16 pick 494 signed
Daniel Gossett RSP commit Rd 16 pick 502
Kevin Brady SP Rd 17 pick 518
Joseph Moorfield LHP Rd 26 pick 786
Garrett Boulware Rd 45 pick 1283-projected top 12
Chris Epps OF Sr Rd 45 pick 1360 signed
Scott Weismann RHP Rd 46 pick 1389 signed

Florida
Michael Kelly SP commit Rd 1 pick 48
Hudson Boyd SP commit Rd 1 pick 55
Daniel Vogelbach 1B commit Rd 2 pick 68
Nick Maronde P Rd 3 pick 104 signed
Kyle Smith P/Inf commit Rd 4 pick 125
Anthony DeSclafani P Rd 6 pick 199
Alex Pantaliodis SP Rd 9 pick 282 signed
Tommy Toledo SP Sr Rd 11 pick 344 signed
Josh Adams 2B Sr Rd 13 pick 403 signed
Preston Tucker 1B /OF Rd 16 pick 498
Casey Turgeon SS commit Rd 22 pick 672
Ben McMahon C Rd 23 pick 701 signed
Matt Campbell RHP Rd 24 pick 751 signed
Greg Larson RHP Rd 29 pick 885
Josh Tobias UTIL commit Rd 31 pick 937-had 2.5 mil price
Bryson Smith OF Rd 34 pick 1045 signed
John Magliozzi RHP commit Rd 35 pick 1080
Ryan Harris RHP commit Rd 37 pick 1139
Tyler Thompson OF Rd 46 pick 1387

Vandy
Sonny Gray SP Rd 1 pick 18 signed
Tyler Beede SP commit Rd 1 pick 21
Kevin Comer SP commit Rd 1 pick 57
Grayson Garvin SP Rd 1 pick 59
Jason Esposito 3B Rd 2 pick 64
Jack Armstrong Jr. P Rd 3 pick 99
Aaron Westlake 1B Sr Rd 3 pick 106 signed
Corey Williams P Rd 3 pick 117 signed
Taylor Hill SP Sr Rd 6 pick 187 signed
Mark Lamm P Sr Rd 6 pick 206 signed
Curt Casali C Sr Rd 10 pick 317 signed
Shawon Dunston Jr OF commit Rd 11 pick 339
Navory Moore RP Rd 14 pick 446
William Clinard RHP Rd 30 pick 928
Joe Loftus OF Rd 46 pick 1384

UK
Alex Meyer SP Rd 1 pick 23
Chad Wright OF Rd 9 pick 287 signed
Braden Kapteyn 1B/P Rd 15 pick 472 signed
Taylor Black SS Rd 16 pick 511 signed
Jordan Cooper RHP soph Rd 23 pick 692 signed
Max Kuhn SS commit Rd 24 pick 736
A.J. Reed 1B commit Rd 25 pick 762
Chris Garrison RHP commit Rd 28 pick 849
Michael Williams C Rd 37 pick 1137
Taylor Martin RHP commit Rd 41 pick 1248
Chandler Shepard RHP commit Rd 41 pick 1251
Jerod Grundy LHP commit Rd 42 pick 1273
Greg Fettes C commit Rd 43 pick 1307

Tenn
Mookie Betts SS commit Rd 5 pick 172
Steven Gruver SP Rd 7 pick 238 signed
Logan Moore C commit Rd 9 pick 301 signed
Matt Ramsey RHP Rd 19 pick 600
Matt Duffy 3B Rd 20 pick 610 signed
Khayyan Norfold 2B Rd 22 pick 697 signed
Sal Romano RHP commit Rd 23 pick 715
Brandon Zajac LHP commit Rd 28 pick 842
Charley Thurber OF Rd 39 pick 1182 signed

Georgia
Zach Cone OF Rd 1 pick 37 signed
Dante Bichette Jr. OF commit Rd 1 pick 51 signed
Tyler Palmer SS commit Rd 4 pick 133
Matt Taylor LHP commit Rd 5 pick 155 signed
Patrick Leonard Inf commit Rd 5 pick 156
Nick Delmonico 3B/C commit Rd 6 pick 185
Tyler Greene Inf commit Rd 11 pick 361 signed
Cecil Tanner RHP Rd 23 pick 706 signed
Jarrett Brown LHP commit Rd 23 pick 712
Michael Palazone SP Rd 24 pick 731
Jonathan Taylor OF Rd 33 pick 1014-awesome!
Tyler Maloof RP Soph Rd 34 pick 1028
Peter Verdin OF Rd 39 pick 1177
Chase Davidson OF Rd 41 pick 1240 signed
Mike Mancuso RHP commit Rd 46 pick1 401
David Sosebee RHP commit Rd 48 pick 1462
Hunter Cole OF commit Rd 49 pick 1477
Heath Holder OF/P commit Rd 50 pick 1518

LSU
Mikie Mahtook CF Rd 1 pick 31
Trevor Story SS commit Rd 1 pick 45 signed
John Eierman SS commit Rd 3 pick 119 signed-may still play football
Jake Cave OF commit Rd 6 pick 209
Tyler Jones RHP Rd 11 pick 358 signed
Matty Ott RP Rd 13 pick 412 signed
Cody Glenn LHP commit Rd 15 pick 469
Benjamin Alsup RHP Rd 17 pick 558 signed
Aaron Nola RHP commit Rd 22 pick 679-both brothers picked by Tor
Nick Goody RHP commit Rd 22 pick 689
Arby Fields OF commit Rd 27 pick 833
Austin Nola SS Rd 31 pick 949
Raph Rhymes Inf  Rd 40 pick 1202
Tyler Hanover Rd 40 pick 1229
Carson Baranik RHP commit Rd 41 pick 1255

Arkansas
Michael Fulmer SP commit Rd 1 pick 44 signed
Dillon Howard RHP commit Rd 2 pick 67
James McCann C Rd 2 pick 76
Greg Byrd 1B/C Rd 5 pick 179
Joe Serrano Inf commit Rd 12 pick 385
Conor Costello RHP commit Rd 16 pick 505
Colin Kuhn OF Rd 17 pick 531 signed
Brian Anderson Inf/P commit Rd 20 pick 628
Trent Daniel LHP Rd 23 pick 707
Christopher Oliver RHP commit Rd 27 pick 815
Kyle Robinson 1B Sr Rd 28 pick 861 signed
Jarrod McKinney OF Rd 31 pick 940 signed
Geoffrey Davenport LHP Rd 43 pick 1298
Nevin Wilson LHP commit Rd 44 pick 1351
Mark Reyes LHP commit Rd 46 pick 1385
Drake Roberts Inf commit Rd 49 pick 1498
David Masters Inf commit Rd 50 pick 1504

Alabama
Adam Morgan SP Rd 3 pick 120 signed
Taylor Dugas OF Rd 8 pick 249
Ian Gardeck P commit Rd 8 pick 261
William Kamplain RHP commit Rd 22 pick 261
Nathan Kilcrease SP Rd 30 pick 916 signed
Brock Bennett C Sr Rd 33 pick 1017
Taylor Guilbeau LHP commit Rd 39 pick 1199

Auburn
Daniel Gamache 3B Rd 6 pick 182 signed
Clay Holmes SP commit Rd 9 pick 272-has hit 95 mph
Casey McElroy SS Rd 11 pick 353 signed
Kevin Varnadoe SP Rd 17 pick 523
Brad Hendrix RHP Sr Rd 22 pick 690
Tony Caldwell C Sr Rd 24 pick 733 signed
Kevin Patterson 1B sr Rd 30 pick 919 signed
Ryan Tella OF commit Rd 34 pick 1048
Rocky McCord RHP commit Rd 39 pick 1198
Colton Davis OF commit Rd 50 pick 1510

Ole Miss
Michael Reed OF commit Rd 5 pick 161 signed
David Goforth SP Sr Rd 7 pick 221 signed
Senquez Golson commit Rd 8 pick 262 football as well
Austin Wright LHP Rd 8 pick 271 signed
Jake Overybay SS commit Rd 10 pick 331
Miles Hamblin C Rd 12 pick 370 signed
Hawtin Buchanan RHP commit Rd 19 pick 577
Sikes Orvis 1B commit Rd 19 pick 592
Josh Laxar RHP commit Rd 20 pick 607
Matt Crouse SP Rd 24 pick 737 signed
Matt Tracy P/DH Sr Rd 24 pick 749 signed
Ryan Hornback C commit Rd 27 pick 812 signed
Dylan Chavez LHP commit Rd 32 pick 988
Matt Snyder 1B Rd 44 pick 1327
Will Jamison OF commit Rd 45 pick 1358
Chris Ellis RHP commit Rd 50 pick 1514

Miss St
Brandon Woodruff RHP commit Rd 5 pick 174
Devin Jones RHP Rd 9 pick 275 signed
Jacob Lindgren LHP commit Rd 12 pick 369
Nick Vickerson SS Rd 20 pick 624 signed
Jarrod Parks 3B Rd 24 pick 735 signed
Jarron Shepard OF Sr Rd 33 pick 1008 signed

What happened to clemson?

From: Elliott

Regional Game 7 at home. Final game to determine if you get a shot at redemption. Your bitter rival beat you twice last season on the game's biggest stage to crush your spirit and end your shot at a National Championship. Not only that, they went on to claim the very title you set your eyes on. This season, they beat you 2 of 3 in emotion packed contests. But the tides recently turned. You are now one of, if not the hottest hitting team in college baseball. You have the chance to march in Columbia and take back some of your lost pride. With this as a scene setter, how can you fail so miserably? Make no doubt about it, clemson is more talented than UConn. Yes, three Huskies were selected in the first few rounds of the draft, but top to bottom the tigers are better. clemson's pitching is its major weakness, no surprise to anyone who watched them this year. But to get beat 14-1 at Doug Kingsmore is shocking!

For starters, how was this game not a sellout? Come on tiger nation! This is a great baseball program and you should've supported this team better. Less noise equals less home field advantage. Didn't you want that shot at the Gamecocks? Were you salivating at the chance or resigned to defeat at the hands of Tanner and company again? Did South Carolina beat you without even playing the game because you were fearfully looking ahead instead of at the Huskies?

In spite of all that, the absolute most unbelievable event was that clemson quit. Yes, they quit! In the sixth inning they gave up, waived the white flag. Down 8-1 at home, they quit. No let's get 2 or 3 back and see what we can do. Nope, the game was over. We had a good friend at the game who knows baseball and had no dog in that fight. He called in the top of the 6th and said they quit. How can you be so sure you say. Well, clemson is a team that wears their heart on their sleeve. Between Leggett's jumping and jiving in huddle before the first pitch to the sprinting and high fiving as they take the field each inning, clemson is a high energy team. When they go from that to quietly walking out to their position, it clearly demonstates that they quit. And that is embarassing.

Wild Storm at the South Carolina Regional

From: Matthew
Yes yes yes, the Gamecocks are putting a beat down on Stetson and should clinch the series today. The real excitement of the day came during the weather delay in the parking lot. 4 adults and I were waiting the rain out in my car when all of the sudden the rain become super intense. Hail began to pelt the car and the winds rocked it back and forth. That's pretty strong gusts to move a SUV with 5 adults inside. Something large slammed into the front of the car to startle us, but in 3 minutes or so it was over. Much to my surprise, a garage door panel size piece of metal was thrown off of a roof approximately 30 yards away and was twisted around my car and the next one. 4 spots down another had busted out the rear window of a passengerless car. Should the piece have hit my windshield just 5 feet up, there would be 2 major injuries for sure. Iron fences are flattened and wood beams are splintered and scattered throughout the parking lot. The winds were so strong that they blew a John Deere mower across the infield. Wow! How blessed are we to be alive!

Michael Roth to start vs Georgia Southern

From: Austin

Coach Tanner announced yesterday that he is going to give the ball to his ace for Game 1 of the Columbia Regional tomorrow. Is this the right call? The coach has forgotten more about baseball than we'll ever know and pushed all the right buttons in post season throughout last year's title run. Many of us questioned his call to throw Roth against clemmons. How'd that work out? Dyson should be held back for UCLA! Nope, he beats clemmons to send them packing. So, one feels sort of stupid to go against Tanner, but should Roth be held out for the winner's bracket game?

Arguments to throw Roth
1) Tanner always throws his ace Game 1
2) Puts Roth back on his usual rest for Game 1 of the Super Regionals
3) Virtually eliminates any chance of a lackluster loss
4) Ga Southern has a potent offense with the nation's home run leader

Arguments to throw anyone else
1) If you cannot beat Ga Southern with Koumas or Holmes then you don't deserve to win
2) Keep your ace back to beat the best team you will face. You don't want to becomes Ole Miss 2010 who threw Drew Pomeranz in Game 1 to a resounding victory and then lost the Regional.
3) OK, Ga Southern is potent offensively, but come on. You are the National Champs! The Eagles will have to play on your field, in front of 8,000 fans, and under the 2010 National Championship banner. They will be intimidated. Much in the way that LSU doesn't lose a regional at Alex Box stadium because they have that aura of invincibility, the 2011 Gamecocks will win close games because of the name on the front of the jersey.
4) It is a good time to get freshman Forrest Koumas's feet wet in post season play.
5) The Eagles are not throwing their ace. OK, a southern conference team's second pitcher requires our ace? The thought is understandable if they have one stud pitcher and you want to ensure a victory, but not in this case.

The arguments against make more sense, but Coach Tanner is the man and always makes the right call. Maybe the early struggles against Bucknell last year are lingering in his mind.

NCAA National Seeds

From: Cole
Most of the "in the know" college baseball experts accurately predicted 7 or all 8 of the National Seeds in this years tournament. What most missed is where each team is slotted. No one can argue with Virginia and Florida as the two top seeds. One could say that #4 seed South Carolina should be seeded higher than Florida due to an identical number of wins and the Gamecocks winning the head to head at Florida. But with the Gators winning the SEC tourney, the committee got it right. What is hard to believe is North Carolina seeded third. Ok ok, they are #1 in the RPI. How can you finish 4th in your conference and be the #3 overall seed? That makes no sense. No way they should be above Vanderbilt. Yes, the Commodores have never reached Omaha, but they are without a doubt one of the top 4 teams this year. We talked yesterday about the importance geography plays in the bracket make up. This is why we had Fullerton hosting over Rice. It would have eliminated cross country travel for at least two teams. But what do we know? Geography matters a great deal in some instances and not at all in others.