Look, this is a high-pressure, big-stage moment this weekend. But it’s pretty simple. Two wins against Mississippi State, and Georgia plays in the College World Series for the first time since the cursed era of the Nike bats in 2008.
Larry Munson was not known to have broadcast UGA baseball (as far as we know), but I’m sure he’d be giving us all sorts of reasons if he were around to feel like poor little old Georgia is trying to beat the 1927 Yankees this weekend.
All that aside, however, there are
reasons to feel really good going into this Super Regional.
1. The Silver Lining of Tre Phelps’ Suspension
Was it unjust to boot Tre Phelps for Saturday’s first game of the Super Regional? Yes. Can anything be done to rectify it? Sadly, no. A pedestrian view is that the Diamond Dawgs are at a disadvantage for Saturday’s first game. But it could be just what is needed. If you hear a crunching noise just before Saturday’s first pitch, it’ll be the huge chip on this team’s shoulder from hearing doubters surmise that Georgia can’t get the job done without a Tre Phelps. You don’t need motivation for a Super Regional to start with, but this team should be even more locked in to prove pundits wrong.
2. Is The Earlier Start Actually A Good Thing?
In a word, yes.
Sure, it’d of made Foley Field, as Munson would say, “worse than bonkers.” for a primetime first pitch on Saturday night. But without a full day to sit around and wait, it allows Georgia to have a chance to lock in, take care of business, and hopefully be ready to go for a two-game sweep on Sunday. It’ll also amp up the crowd, too.
Let’s pivot to football briefly – remember the 2021 game against Arkansas when fans were challenged to make Sanford Stadium an Arkansas nightmare? That day was honestly a moment where you knew this team was special, and it was because fans took it as a challenge to overcome an early start time to be that extra advantage.
Yes, the 11 am Saturday start is earlier, but I’m pretty sure fans will be ready to go…and that many a Blackstone or similar items will be rolling heavy with the breakfast items for everyone heading to Foley Field.
3. History Is On Georgia’s Side
Yes, I know. it’s hard to beat a team five or six times in a season. But it can be done. In fact…the last time Georgia had to topple an SEC team that it had swept in the regular season and in the SEC Tournament, it did just that in 2006, beating South Carolina 2-1 in the Super Regional to advance to Omaha. Clearly, no players from this team were around the program then, but it’s a reminder that beating a team two more times with Omaha at stake can be done.
4. Bullpen Versatility
If you have a one-route bullpen plan, the postseason can be dicey. What if your setup or closer, for example, has a bad day. That’s no problem for Georgia, and that showed itself last weekend against Liberty. On Saturday, Matt Scott and Justin Byrd were absolutely rock solid, giving up a combined no runs and one hit in 7.2 innings of combined work. A night later, Zach Brown closed things down with three innings to wrap things up, giving up no runs and one hit. Wes Johnson will have plenty of late-inning options this weekend, and that will be a very good thing.
Go Dawgs!
