Omaha Preview

Getting 5 out of 8 isn't half bad, huh? Well, I don't know about most of you but I have been thoroughly impressed with the College World Series so far. Besides the umpiring, the games have been good and all the best teams this season (for the most part) have made it to Omaha to find out who will finish as National Champions for the 2009 season. What I am going to do today is make a case for every team that is in the College World Series, on why they could and should win it all. Expect random posts throughout the World Series and predictions later on Friday. Enjoy!

TEXAS

The overall #1 national seed got through Texas State, Boston College, and Army in the Regional round, then got by TCU in 3 games in the Supers to advance. The Longhorns have a good line up that gets the bulk of their wins on your mistakes. Getting runners at the top of the order will fuel the positional game which means lots of sac bunt and moving runners to get an extra base. They can be contained, but not likely. With 5 upper classmen in the starting line up expect no mistakes on the field with timely hits on offense. They have one of the deeper pitching staffs in Omaha, which starts with ace Chance Ruffin (10-2) and ends with Austin Wood (15 Saves). Wood got a ton of hype after pitching 13 innings of no-hit ball in the Regionals against BC. If their pitchers can throw strikes and make their defense make plays for them, the Longhorns will be victorious in Omaha.

SOUTHERN MISS

The lowest seeded team left in the field. The Regional #3 seeded Golden Eagles got through Georgia Tech, Elon, and Georgia State then got by a stunned the #8 national seed Florida Gators in the Supers in 2 games. Head coach Corky Palmer has got his team to their first ever CWS and this team has a lot of grit to them. Especially when they plugged their way to the deciding victory of the Gators in game 2 after being down 5 runs. This feisty club is going to bother a lot of teams in Omaha, especially with their hard-to-strikeout line up that has a lot of pop with senior, Bo Davis leading the way (.371/14/53). Todd McInnis (9-4) and JR Ballinger (6-3) have been tough throughout the tournament and if they stay hot watch out Omaha we might have another Cinderella lurking around.

ARIZONA STATE

The national #5 seed has gotten through Oral Roberts, Cal Poly, and Kent State in the Regionals then took care of business quickly against Clemson in 2 games. One of the more impressive teams all season long has been the SunDevils. Loaded with a ton of pitching, after their first game we will get a great sense of how this team will fare. The best pitcher statistically, and in my own opinion left in the tournament is junior Mike Leake. The kid is just impressive! 15-1 with 150 Ks and an ERA of 1.36 does the kid only some justice on paper. He might be better than what his stats show. His sidekick Josh Spence isn't half bad either and will throw the occasional "efface" pitch to his opponents. Their line up is very good for a PAC -10 team with a lot of power coming from stud catcher Carlos Ramirez and centerfielder Jason Kipnis. Oh by the way be on the lookout for a celeb in their line up, Johnny Ruettiger is the nephew of...you guessed it, Rudy from the movie.

NORTH CAROLINA

The national #4 seed was able to breeze through Coastal Carolina, Kansas and Dartmouth in the 1st round regional then got through East Carolina with ease in 2 games in the Supers. We haven't seen much of CT's own Matt Harvey during the tournament but expect him now. Along with upper classmen Alex White and Adam Warren the Tarheels are set for pitching and are ready to make another run at a NCAA title. But, we all know about how good their pitching is, crap...they have been good for 4 straight seasons. The offense is really going to be key in Omaha. The recently drafted 2nd overall pick of the MLB Draft, Dustin Ackley is an absolute star, but he can't do it alone. Freshman 2B Levi Michael cannot play like a freshman in Omaha or the Tarheel will be leaving early. Michael (.298/13/56), Ackley (.412/22/70), and catcher Mark Fleury (.315/12/59) will have to do what they did all year driving home their teammates at the right time.

CAL STATE FULLERTON

The national #2 seed has gotten through the tournament so far with much ease, defeating GA Southern, Gonzaga, and Utah in the Regional round then embarrassing Louisville in 2 games in the Supers. Another loaded pitching staff totally under the radar before the tournament began, but only because of their age. Led by their super soph Dan Renken (11-2) who everybody already knows about, but he is only a third of the story. Making a run at another CWS title will rely on how freshmen studs Noe Ramirez (9-1) and Tyler Pill (11-2) will be the key to success. They all have live arms that will keep batter off balanced throughout the game. Their starting line up has 6 batters that batted over .330 this season. They all can steal a base at any time and beat opposing pitchers up if they fall behind in counts and have to throw fastballs right down the cock, which Khris Davis (16 HRs) and Jared Clark (12 HRs) love.

ARKANSAS

The Regional seeded #2 Razorbacks got through the likes of national #7 Oklahoma, Washington State and Witchita State, then took care of business against a highly talented Florida State team in 2 games. There is really nothing special about Arkansas and that is why they are so fun to watch. Because all they do is just win! Unfortunately for them they had a week off to cool down because coach Dave Van Horn has got them playing baseball the right way at the right time. Their line up runs around SS Ben Tschepikow. He does everything right at the plate. If their starting pitchers get 5-6 good inning, their bullpen will shut you down. Led by closer, Stephen Richards, the Razorbacks victories over the Seminoles was key from the success of the bullpen getting the job done when need be.

VIRGINIA

The Regional #2 seeded Cavs got through the toughest Regional bracket with UC Irvine, San Diego State, and Fresno State, then got by an Ole Miss team that took them to the brink of elimination twice in the Super Regionals best series. The ACC Champs just want to keep playing, because they just keep on winning. Defying all odds Virginia is hot and staying hot and probably are wishing the World Series started on Monday. Freshman Danny Hultzen is tough with a 9-1 record this season, it'll be fun to see how he throws against LSU in the 1st round. With a starting line up consisting of only 2 juniors, 3 sophomores, and 4 freshmen the Cavs have been very, very loose and I can only imagine what this team could do if they stay hot. No team in the field wants to play this team right now and I can't say that I blame them.

LSU

The national #2 seeded Tigers took care of business with ease in the Regionals against Minnesota, Baylor and Southern U., then got by a good Rice team in 2 games in the Supers. Along with Cal State, LSU has been the most impressive team in the tournament so far. A starting line up that consists of no seniors, is certainly acting like they have done this before. When you get a chance to watch this team play you won't find a better outfield than what the Tigers send out there in Ryan Schimpf, Mikie Mahtook, and Jared Mitchell. The thing is though, everyone in their line up can get it done with power, which not only makes them dangerous but hard to pitch to. If you get to their bullpen you might have a shot, but it is a very narrow one. Their starting eat up inning like it's a home cooked meal, especially Louis Coleman (13-2).