Well Canes fans, we’ve reached “that point”. It’s do or die time for your Miami Hurricanes. Miami had a chance to seal a Super Regional appearance with a win over Texas A&M today. However, A&M wanted it more after their come from behind win against Dartmouth earlier in the day. Maybe Miami thought after Saturday’s shlacking of the Aggies, the team from College Station would just throw up the white flag. Not so much.
I seem to remember telling you guys Friday night that the baseball postseason was about pitching. I really thought David Gutierrez would have his day today. That didn’t happen. Davi’s troubles continued after a poor outing in Greensboro in the ACC Tourney. After the game Gutierrez said,”Early on in the game, I was doing a really good job of keeping the ball down and working my off-speed for strikes. [In The} Fourth inning, I left the ball up, and gave up a double and a home run. But I just had to make an adjustment and I didn’t.”
Yasmani Grandal, the undisputed leader of this bunch, had another non-Yasmani day. The switchitting catcher was only 1-for-5 on the day. The one hit came on a play when Grandal had to slide head first into first to beat the throw. Yasmani is 3-for-12 over the course of the regional. He was 0-3 with runners in scoring postion today. One could make the assesment that Yasmani’s head is elsewhere considering that the MLB draft is Monday and he’s expected to be drafted in the first few picks. On a side note, most reports have Yasmani going to the Royals with the fourth pick.
So you’re thinking to yourself, “who’s going to pitch for the Canes tomorrow?” This is a valid question. Coach Morris wouldn’t tip his cap in the post game presser. “Charlie Wholestaff’s pitching tomorrow,” Morris said. “ Whoever we need that’s who’s going to pitch. Put it together and make it happen. Anybody that’s available can pitch tomorrow. [I] haven’t even decided who’s starting tomorrow; haven’t even talked about it.”
I suspect Eric Whaley gets the start for the Canes. Whaley threw only 44 pitches over four innings on Friday. After Whaley, well, your guess is as good as mine. Could we see Chris Hernandez again? Well, after throwing 96 pitches the other night, he probably couldn’t give you more than an inning, but that would be in desperation mode. This is why it’s all about pitching in the postseason. If Davi gets further today, maybe Santana starts tomorrow, saving Whaley for a relief situation. Ahhh..the fun of handling the pitching rotation in the post season.
As the game was starting today I looked over at my former broadcast partner Joe Zagacki and mouthed, ”where is everybody?” He looked at me with the same expression I had. There were less than 3,000 fans at the game today.
I know we’ve been through this a million times. The heat… the time… the day… the windspeed… blah blah blah. I’m sick of excuses. There is no excuse for you, Mr. or Mrs. Canesfan that lives in South Florida to not be at the game tomorrow night.
Coach Morris implored you to be there after tonight’s game. I leave you with his decree that you be there tomorrow night. “Number one we need a crowd here tomorrow night,” Morris said. ”It’s seven o’clock; that’s why we come here; that’s why players play here; that’s why I coach here; that’s why we come to this program – is because of fan support. We need a packed house tomorrow night. If you’re a Hurricanes fan you ought to be here tomorrow night. Real Hurricanes fans will be here tomorrow night. We need the support of the Hurricanes fans tomorrow night. We need a home-field advantage tomorrow night. That’s what it’s all about; that’s why we come here; that’s why people support this program is for big games.Tomorrow is a huge game.”
Morris went on, “I can’t help the fact that the NCAA – and ESPN, make us play at noon and 4 p.m., when it’s 102 degrees. It feels like more than that on the field. I know it hurts the fans. Tomorrow is a night game. Everybody can be here, it’s a night game. We need the little supporters; the loyal supporters; the baseball supporters; the fans to be here tomorrow night. There’s no reason not to be here. They’re not working tomorrow night. The fans need to be here, and we’ve got great fans. It’s not the fan’s fault it’s 100 degrees. Tomorrow night it won’t be.”
And with that Canes fans, I’ll call it a night. I’ll be there tomorrow night and YOU NEED TO BE THERE TOO! If you aren’t able to make it, or live outside the area, follow my coverage on Twitter @beastshow.