(#182)
From start to finish, the 2023 College World Series was the best ever.
In the championship game, there were many things that I did not expect. I didn’t think LSU could win the championship without using ace Paul Skenes in some way. The fact is, he did not throw a single pitch in the 3 game championship series against Florida.
I didn’t see Hurd pitching 6 great innings after giving up back-to-back hits in the bottom of the first inning, Florida’s 25th hit in the last nine plus innings. Those were the only hits he gave up and he also struck out six. And he had pitched out of the pen in game 1 just two days earlier.
I didn’t see Caglianone, a lefty with a 98 mph heater, being roughed up for 6 earned runs while lasting only a inning and a third or see the nation’s home run leader with 33 go 0-for-3 with 3 strikeouts.
I didn’t expect to see Florida’s three aces all be ineffective on the big stage.
I didn’t expect to see LSU put 18 runs on the board and collect a WS record 24 hits after being 20-run ruled just 26 hours before.
I didn’t expect to see Floyd go 8 innings and strike out 17 when it was needed most, especially since he has been Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde so many times this season, sometimes dominating for 6 innings and then not being able to throw strikes for some mystifying reason.
It just goes to prove that the only thing that matters is this game and this pitch and that baseball players must have a short memory. If you pull the “brain muscle”, you pull them all.
Many baseball guys use the term “flush it” (like flushing a commode) when they have a bad game. The Tigahs flushed it alright. And I don’t think the Gators saw it coming. It would be hard to. Certainly they knew that a 24-4 win in game 2 has nothing to do with game 3. But seriously, they didn’t appear as hungry in the championship game. Confuscius say: “Yesterday, yesterday. Tomorrow, tomorrow.” For LSU it was “tonight, tonight.”
It was nice to see Crews geaux out with a 4-hit night and Thompson rebound after a nightmare game on Sunday afternoon and a social media onslaught afterwards. The swarm of LSU fans that packed Charles Schwab Field made up for all that with chants of Jor-dan Thomp-son! White and Jobert also had four hits. Jobert’s home run late in the game was majestic!
It was fun watching Skenes go down to the pen around mid-game and then return to the dugout in the 8th. That worked out for all parties including his agent, MLB teams who draft early in the first round in a couple of weeks, Lloyd’s of London, the LSU coaches and especially, the Florida Gators. It was good that the Johnson boys didn’t use him, although you know that they (and Skenes) would have loved to see him finish it off in the ninth. It wasn’t necessary. That would be rubbing it in, but would be some great TV.
It was fun to see the 270 pound Cooper pitch like he was on a mission in the World Series. He was worth his weight in gold. They could not have won the series without him.
It was fun to watch Morgan play, especially after having two horrendous at bats against the lefties. He ended up with 3 hits. It is a work of art to see left-handed hitters drive the ball into left field; a lost art. And remember, it was that unbelievable, acrobatic play at the plate he made on the bunt against Wake Forest that put them in the position they now find themselves in… National champions -2023. Just like Ole Miss and their miraculous run last year and Mississippi State the year before that. Five different SEC teams have won the series since 2017. There are some really good teams around the country, but never so many as in the SEC.
Maybe LSU’s title won’t bring the same results next season like the Rebels and Bulldogs* suffered after their national championships. (* next two seasons).
I gotta say, I love college baseball, but must admit I’m a little distressed over the portal and the already out-of-control NIL stuff. I tried to not let that interfere with was such a grand performance by all 8 teams who made the trip.
LSU won the portal and NIL battle in 2023 with unmatched historic performances by Skenes and Tommy Tanks. The NIL junk affected Dakota Jordan’s brief portal appearance as he suddenly “decided” to stay at State and Tennessee’s flame-thrower Chase Burns who was being heavily lobbied, is said to have received a significant “deal” to stay in Knoxville. I’m sure there are plenty more happening as we speak.
It has changed the game.
But for now, I really enjoyed the last few weeks of college baseball. The universal rule of baseball was in effect in each game, “the team that scores the most runs wins; always,” whether the score is 4-3 in 11 innings by way of a walk-off home run, 24-4 or even 18-4.
There’s only one team that wins the last game of the season, usually an SEC team. That’s how it works.
And now, there’s nothing to watch on TV.
Diary of a Mad Baseball Coach is powered by NuWay.
Call the Coach and find out what I can do for you. rickclarke.com
Rick Clarke's Diary of a Mad Baseball Coach 