One of the things in sports is a matchup on paper is always too good to be true. This happened on Saturday when Ole Miss LHP Drew Pomeranz took on LSU’s Anthony Ranaudo. We had Pomeranz in our Preseason Top 100 players as the fifth best while we had Ranaudo as the number 1 player in the country. Ranaudo lasted only 1.2 innings while allowing nine hits and nine earned runs to pick up his first loss of the year. Pomeranz wasn’t much better than Ranaudo, but lasted three innings while giving up only one hit but gave up five runs (four earned) on nine walks. Sometimes, things are just too good to come true.
What we learned from today is that Ole Miss DH Matt Snyder has Anthony Ranauado figured out. In the two times they have faced each other, the Sophomore from Centerville, VA, is 4 for 5 with 4 Home Runs and 10 RBI, including 2 in the first two innings in Saturday’s contest, one of which was a grand slam in the second inning to put the Rebels up 8-2. Pretty impressive considering Ranaudo is picked by many to go right after Bryce Harper in the June MLB draft.
The UConn Huskies completed a weekend sweep of fellow Big East conference leader Rutgers on Saturday. The Huskies ended up outscoring teh Scarlet Knights in the series by a combined score of 21-12. The question coming into the season for the Huskies was whether they had enough quality starting pitchers to challenge for the top of the Big East conference. They have proved through the first 40 games that they do as the three weekend starters are now a combined 16-5. Scott Oberg has been an excellent set up guy out of the pen as he has made 19 appearances accumulating a 4-0 record with a 1.95 ERA. Closer Kevin Vance has also been solid at the backend of the games as he is 1-0 including six saves with a 1.98 ERA. The odd part of the UConn offense is the lack of production from George Springer who was the 2009 Big East Rookie of the Year. This season he is hitting only .265 but has two homers and 37 RBI.
The Miami bullpen had some major issues today as they gave up five runs in the eighth and ninth inning combined as they lost to Florida State 8-7. If Miami is going to have a chance for Omaha, then they need to overhaul this bullpen right now as it is not getting better.
