re: UCLA wins 2013 CWS (Unsticky Please)

Perfect Game College World Series Overview

Perfect Game College World Series Preview:

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TOP FIVE HITTERS

2. OF Hunter Renfroe, Mississippi State -- As much as his bat, it's what he can do once on base that terrifies opposing teams the most. Renfroe has a great frame and bat, along with elite speed. Renfroe enters the CWS hitting .362 with 15 doubles, three triples, 15 homers and 61 RBIs. He also has struck out 39 times as opposed to 34 walks. Renfroe has nine stolen bases and a .448 OBP.

4. SS Alex Bregman, LSU -- It's not everyday you see a freshman in this category in the College World Series so high up the list, but Bregman is such a pure hitter. Bregman has far exceeded expectations placed on him before the season, entering Omaha hitting .380 with 18 doubles, seven triples, six homers and 52 RBIs. He also has walked and struck out 23 times each, while he carries a .423 OBP into the opening weekend of action.

5. 1B Mason Katz, LSU -- It was a tough choice between Katz or N.C. State's Trea Turner for this final spot, but we're giving the edge to Katz because of power potential. Katz has been a mainstay in the LSU lineup for a couple of season, and has been most consistent this spring. Katz is hitting .366 with 14 doubles, two triples, 15 homers and 68 RBIs. He also has a .454 OBP and .630 slugging.

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TOP STARTING PITCHERS

1. RHP Aaron Nola, LSU -- Nola is a treat to watch even when he works into some trouble. Nola is a Cool Hand Luke type of guy on the mound for the Tigers, never getting rattled. Nola can get up to 93 with his fastball, but typically pitches lower than that with near impeccable command. Nola has a 1.68 ERA in 118 innings, along with 117 strikeouts and 17 walks, and a .187 opponent batting average.

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TOP FIVE RELIEVERS

3. LHP Chris Cotton, LSU -- When Cotton enters the game, he does so with his trademark fast trot to the mound. He shows ultimate authority out there, and the Tigers just seem to feed off that. Cotton has been phenomenal this spring, appeared in 36 games with a 1.23 ERA in 44 innings of work. He also has struck out 45 and walked 3, while teams are hitting him at a .158 clip.

4. RHP Jonathan Holder, Mississippi State -- Speaking of imposing forces, how about Holder? Holder has a husky frame and nasty attitude, and it shows with his impressive numbers. Holder has a fastball up to 93-94 with a plus curveball at times. Holder has appeared in 29 games this season and has a 1.17 ERA in 46 innings. He also has struck out 81 and walked 14, while teams are hitting him at a .149 clip.

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BEST OFFENSE

LSU

Indiana and North Carolina, among others, enter the College World Series with good offensive lineups, while Mississippi State has been on a tear as of late. However, in terms of sheer balance and consistency, the Tigers get the starting nod over everyone else. The Tigers enter the CWS hitting .308 as a club, but it's their ability to get on base 1-9 that makes them so dangerous. For instance, catcher Ty Ross, who's only .215 with three homers and 32 RBIs, has gotten some key hits in the postseason, while Tyler Moore and Andrew Stevenson also have been clutch despite not having great batting averages, with Stevenson showing off elite speed. Then, of course, the Tigers have plenty of big-time bats with Alex Bregman leading the way with a .380 average, six homers and 52 RBIs, while Mason Katz is hitting .366 with 15 homers and 68 RBIs, Raph Rhymes is hitting .343 with four homers and 46 RBIs, Sean McMullen is hitting .317 with two homers and 30 RBIs, Christian Ibarra is hitting .315 with six homers and 39 RBIs, Mark Laird is hitting .297 with 18 RBIs, and last but certainly not least, second baseman JaCoby Jones has been fantastic lately, and is hitting .299 with six homers. At this point in the season, there's not a true weak spot in this LSU lineup.

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BEST BULLPEN

Mississippi State

There are plenty of impressive bullpens in this College World Series field, but no one presents the pure depth of the Bulldogs. MSU pitching coach Butch Thompson has done a magnificent job of putting this pitching staff together this season, and the Bulldogs have enough high quality arms to be able to trot relievers out there in the fourth and fifth innings if need be -- and get the job done in the process. The bullpen obviously is led by hard-throwing right-handed pitcher Jonathan Holder, who has 18 saves and a 1.31 ERA in 48 innings of work, while there are many others to watch. For instance, Ross Mitchell has appeared in 31 games and has a 1.35 ERA, Chad Girodo has been terrific in the postseason and has a 1.38 ERA in 45 2/3 innings, Ben Bracewell has appeared in 20 games and has a 1.48 ERA in 30 1/3 innings, Trevor Fitts has a 2.42 ERA (and has started some) and Myles Gentry has shined in some big situations with a 3.69 ERA in 31 2/3 innings of work. Absolutely no one mixes and matches like the Bulldogs, and that's something that takes much pressure off starting pitchers.

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THE FAVORITE

LSU

Being the favorite going into Omaha isn't always a great thing. As a matter of fact, more often than not the favorite doesn't win the national title. With that said, perhaps the LSU Tigers are the exception to that rule. The Tigers have the most balanced offensive lineup in this field, and can put a lot of pressure on opposing defenses with speedsters such as JaCoby Jones, Mark Laird and Andrew Stevenson leading the charge. Meanwhile, the Tigers have plenty of power with Katz and Bregman in charge, while the starting rotation is in good shape with Aaron Nola, Ryan Eades and Cody Glenn leading the way. Meanwhile, left-handed closer Chris Cotton is one of the best in the business. The Tigers played very well against Oklahoma and enter the CWS with a full head of steam.

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No.

My predictions, since everyone cares.

Bracket 1:

Game 1:

MSU over OSU. MSU advances to Game 6, OSU falls to Game 5.

Game 2:

IU over UL. IU advances to Game 6, UL falls to Game 5.

Game 5:

UL over OSU. UL advances to Game 9, OSU eliminated.

Game 6:

MSU over IU. MSU advances to Game 11, IU falls to Game 9.

Game 9:

IU over UL. IU advances to Game 11, UL eliminated.

Game 11/13:

Think IU could take one, but MSU eliminates them and advances to the championship series.


Bracket 2:

Game 3:

UNC over NC State. UNC advances to Game 8, NC State falls to Game 7.

Game 4:

LSU over UCLA. LSU advances to Game 8, UCLA falls to Game 7.

Game 7:

NC State over UCLA. NC State advances to Game 10, UCLA eliminated.

Game 8:

LSU over UNC. LSU advances to Game 12, UNC falls to Game 11.

Game 11:

NC State over UNC. NC State advances to Game 12, UNC eliminated.

Game 12:

LSU eliminates NC State and advances to the championship series. Will only need one game to do so.


Championship Series:

LSU wins in three games. SEC remains dominant in every sport that doesn't involve a ball bouncing.


Sidenote: frick UNC, what a bitch arse overrated team. Rooting for the SEC teams and IU but wouldn't be pissed if any other team that wasn't UNC won. Although it would be fun to see them go to the losers bracket then make the championship series and have it go three games just to see Mike Fox start Kent Emanuel eight times.

You'd expect him to pick it the other way?

We have 8 batters over .300.

fricking WOW

Mighty fine job!

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I'm not understanding how they have Cotton ranked above Holder...

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i'm not understanding how cotton isn't ranked #1

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Is it Saturday yet?

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We have been in a time warp of anticipation this week. Friday will move like mud.

Someone on the TR just posted these odds from the Billagio

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LSU 2-1
UNC 5-2
OSU 3-1
UL 6-1
UCLA 8-1
MSU 8-1
NC State 10-1
Indiana 10-1

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