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.
