Fisch Tank: Baseball Preview 3

Thanks for diving into the Fisch Tank:
We have some big time matchups taking place this week on the diamond. As far as last week goes, how can you not be impressed by CCU going up to Cary and jumping on the Tar Heels? Plus, you had Clemson's early entry freshmen Kyle Parker yoke 3 Home runs and 7 RBI to save the Tigers from a sweep against Wake. Think about this, he should be playing High School ball right now, that's impressive. Time to take a look at this week.

South Carolina Gamecocks:
We start with USC, for two reasons, they're the highest ranked out of the three at number five, plus they play Vanderbilt. I'm not going to get into reviewing their previous week, due to the fact they played cupcakes. Losing to Yale in the series opener is miserable but they rebounded. So let's save time and get to the real deal. The Gamecocks will take on the 2007 SEC champs in Nashville starting Friday. This should been one great weekend of baseball in the SEC. Not because South Carolina will sweep, but because these two will be more than likely battling it out in May for the conference title. If you look at the team stats their extremely similar. (USC: AVG. 312, OB% .433, SLG% 508) (Vandy: AVG. .332, OB% .415, SLG% .475) Both teams can go yard and manufacture runs, which means it will come down to pitching. And if all the pitchers play to their potential, we are going to see a great series. The first game will feature Mike Cisco (3-0, 2.79 ERA, 14 K) against Mike Minor (2-1, 1.66 ERA, 21 K). Minor is the heir apparent to David Price for the Dores. Cisco has been lights out so far. Last time out for Minor he went 9 innings and Vanderbilt lost by one. In game two we'll see WIll Atwood (0-0, 1.35 ERA, 6 K) vs. Nick Christiani (1-0, 2.55 ERA, 17 K). Atwood received a no decision last time out as a starter, and Ray Tanner is expecting great things from him. Blake Coooper will throw the pellet for USC in the finale. Coop is coming off back to back wins, after being lit up like Clark Griswold's Christmas tree in his debut. To me, this series will belong to who ever has the bullpen to back up the starters. I am going with Vandy in the first and third game, on the simple fact that Curtis Johnson can not afford to be over used. Plus the Gamecocks bullpen has not proved to me they can slam the door shut. USC will also play College of Charleston on Tuesday and USC Upstate on Wednesday. C of C could be interesting, but I have the Gamecocks trying to bounce back after a series lose in the Music City.
This week the Gamecocks will go 3-2, picking up more wins in the back end of the week.

Coastal Carolina:
Every time I generate an opinion about this team they surprise me. Not only did they beat #6 North Carolina on their home turf, but the Chanticleers came out firing. It's like they walked into the party at the National Training Complex and punched them in the mouth and ran off with their girlfriend. David Anderson picked up win number 3 on the year, which still surprises the heck out of me. The big man is hitting the low eighties on the gun, but he is getting a solid defensive effort behind him. Now if he could only get the bat working. Anderson is batting the clean up roll and has no long balls on the year. Yet, CCU is getting great production from their youngsters. The coaches son Chance Gilmore has drop some key extra base hits in the gap so far this season. Dock Doyle picked up Big South player of the Week honors, and Adam Rice is adding some solid power numbers. I like the batting order shake up, by moving David Sappelt to the two spot, it really has worked nicely for the teal and black.
This Week:
As for this week, it's another tournament, and another Ball State appearance at Watson Stadium. It's like going to the same bartender because you know he'll give you a good pour and a discount {ask T-Money}. Coastal feasted on the Cardinals last week in the Springmaid Resort tournament. So now we have the Centex Homes Invitational, and Austin Fleet will attempt to go back to back in strong outings. The Cards are coming off a sweep of Charleston Southern, and will try for a little redemption. That's not going to happen, unless Coastal went to the bartender too much and is now drunk. Then the Michigan Wolverines will square off with the Chants in game two. Bobby Gagg is going for CCU, against Zach Putnam who's 6.75 ERA is better suited as an interest rate. Gagg's is coming off a tough start against Toledo. I talked to the junior ace of the Chants and he told me, he just didn't have it that day. Expect for him to have it on Saturday. The fire baller Nick McCully will hit the mound on Sunday. He struggled for the first time this season against Ball State. After Gagg gets drafted this year, McCully will be the Chants ace. I think he also will comeback with a vengeance. There is no reason the Chants can't go 3-0 this weekend and catapult themselves up the rankings. Tuesday they head to the upstate to take on Clemson.

Clemson:
My lord they got spanked by Wake Forest. Like I mentioned earlier, a high school senior/college freshmen saved them from a sweep. Kyle Parker made a statement, but still the pitching staff has not. Then they pulled off the ninth inning comeback against UNC-Greensboro, which has to have Clemson fans scratching their heads about the bullpen.
This week:
Let's jump into the week ahead. Boston College goes to Clemson. It will be the Tigers second ACC series of the season. They need to get back to and above five hundred in the conference and their is no reason they can't. The Eagles will come into Kingsmore Stadium losers of their last three and four out of their last five. Miami teed off against B.C. and if Clemson can keep swinging the bats they should be able to do so as well. On the other hand, when it comes to pitching, it's not on par with the other two mentioned teams in this rant. The Tigers 5.45 ERA is not what Jack Leggett had in mind at this point into the season. Ryan Hinson has struggled lately as well as Matt Zoltak, and you can't have that with 2 of your 3 top starters. Coastal Carolina will go to the upstate on Tuesday, and if I wasn't headed to spring training in Florida that night, I would love to be there. It's an out of conference, so who cares right? Wrong, Clemson can't afford to lose to Coastal because of pride, then they would be the third team in the Palmetto State. I hate to break it to you, but with their rotation and pitching, they are right now. Plus, they may not be the same teams, but the Chants would love to dish out some revenge for last years NCAA Regional, and get a jump start on hosting another one. Yes Clemson has better bats than CCU, and going into the weekend they are 7-1 at Kingsmore, but I think Coastal has more heart. Still it's Clemson, and I am going with the cats at home.

I will be in Florida for Spring Training starting Tuesday, so I will turn in a little Major League action next week. Oh and by the way if your keeping count (Mook), Coastal and Clemson are killing me this year on my picks. If you have Spring Training or Clemson, Coastal and South Carolina pictures, feel free to post them.
Please use some judgement.

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