Perception is Reality for Short Rest Pitching

Monday night in Chapel Hill was one of the most exciting, storyline-filled games in recent memory. North Carolina and Florida Atlantic see-sawed for 13 innings of thrills before the Tar Heels advanced with a 12-11 victory.

The game captured the college baseball world since it was televised Nationally and was one of a few games played Monday evening. The game had momentum swings, an underdog story, several thrilling comebacks, questionable calls and more.

But its lasting legacy for some will focus on North Carolina and their pitching strategy.

All season North Carolina has excelled on the mound. They have a 2.69 team ERA and eleven pitchers with double-digit appearances. Yet despite their regular season pitching depth and success, in the Regional final head coach Mike Fox opted to bring back prior game starters in relief.

Ace Kent Emanuel (11-3/2.70) threw 120 pitches Saturday but returned to throw another 51 in 1 2/3 inning innings Monday evening. Friday game starter Benton Moss came in to face two batters and even Sunday game starter Hobbs Johnson got the ball for a hitter.

The move shocked much of the twitter-sphere - exasperated that a star college pitcher like Emanuel would be brought back early and then left in the game to give up five runs in less than two innings. The surprise turned to criticism as bullpen arms were bypassed as Moss and Johnson both made appearances.

Like most of us, I'm not qualified to judge Fox or Tar Heel pitching coach Scott Forbes on how short rest affects their pitchers. They obviously know their pitchers better than us. Regardless of how things may have appeared Monday evening, North Carolina has successfully groomed pitchers for pro baseball and (up to last night) had impeccable credentials.

"We feel like we owe it to our team to put the best guys out there to try to win the most important game of our season, to try to advance," said Fox in the postgame press conference. "And all these guys come to us, obviously, and say, 'I've got an inning.' Or, 'I've got a batter.' And that's what some of them got. So they're competitors. They want to go out.

"I'll stand by our reputation. I don't think we put any of them at risk."

Odds are the pitchers will be fine but they will certainly be under the microscope this weekend as the Tar Heels face South Carolina in a series that begins Friday.

The part that may bother college baseball protectors more than the effect on a couple of young, strong pitchers is the perception last night gives to the general public.

College baseball has clawed and scratched for additional publicity and the additional resources that provides. The tradeoff is more scrutiny and the opportunity to exaggerate any potential negative.

Monday night added to the perception that some college coaches will do whatever it takes to win. Whether that was true or not isn't the message here. But that was the portrayal. And for the casual fan now exposed to college baseball, this is what many took away from Monday.

With four major league debuts from pitchers who were in college last season, our sport has demonstrated the ability to prepare its stars for professional baseball. A price of our increased exposure could be a growing awareness of Regional short rest scenarios.

North Carolina was certainly not alone Monday as many of the teams playing their fourth or fifth game in four days brought back earlier game starters. The Tar Heels were singled out because of their marquee setting and that they used all three previous starters.

The proposal to adopt an extra round of postseason with two best-of-three series taking the place of the four-team Regionals has been evaluated. It likely gained some steam after this weekend.

College baseball took a nice step in 1999 evolving from the pitcher-taxing six team Regionals. With increased scrutiny, it may be time to move past the Regional format altogether.