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As you are probably aware, the Super Regionals are going on right now in college baseball. I don’t follow the college game too closely, but my understanding is these are eight best of three playoffs that determine the teams that go to what is actually called the College World Series. I’ve always mistakenly called the whole postseason the College World Series, and if you were right there with me, now you know.
Anyway, I counted ten players who were drafted by the Tigers who are still playing. It should be pointed out these players are by no means locks to sign with the Tigers. However, this is probably the last chance you’ll get to see most of these players on television for a long time, regardless. So, if you want to see Chance Ruffin, Drew Smyly or Corey Jones first hand before they disappear into the Tiger farm for the next two or three years, now is your chance.
To help you get that chance, I thought I’d lay out the schedule this weekend for the teams with potential Tigers playing.
Texas
Chance Ruffin (RHRP, 1st supp), Cole Green (RHSP, 4th)
Friday, lost 3-1
Saturday at 1 pm, ESPN
Sunday at 4 pm (if necessary), ESPN
Chance Ruffin is the closer, and since the Longhorns lost Friday, he didn’t get into the game. If you happen across ESPN (in HD!) and notice the Texas game is in the later innings, you might want to hang around and see if Ruffin gets in. Don’t expect to see Green pitch unless the Longhorns advance. He took the loss in Game 1, going 5.2 innings, giving up five hits, three runs and three walks while striking out four. A game like that, I think he just saved the Tigers a few hundred K. Just kidding.
TCU
Bryan Holaday (C, 6th)
TCU, won 3-1
Saturday at 1pm, ESPN
Sunday at 4 pm(if necessary), ESPN
Holaday was on the winning team in the TCU v. Texas matchup. He was part of the battery as the Horned Frogs’ Matt Purke (Rangers’ 1st round pick last year) was dominant. I didn’t get to see Holaday hit, but he was 1 for 3 with a single, a walk and a run. Defensively, he gave up a couple of steals but showed off a good arm on a bunt play that required him to pounce on the ball and make a perfect throw to first. I was watching long enough to hear the announcer say somebody (didn’t catch a name) told him Holaday was the best defensive college catcher they had ever seen. That sounds promising, right?
Cal State Fullerton
Corey Jones (2b, 7th), Carlos Lopez (DH/1b, 37th)
Friday at 10:30, ESPN2 (as I type)
Saturday at 7 pm, ESPN 2
Sunday at 10 pm (if necessary), ESPN2
As I said above, Fullerton is playing as I type and Jones is batting third and playing second while Lopez is the designated hitter. They’re going to have a tough time most likely, because UCLA is throwing another first round pick in 2009, Gerrit Cole.
Arkansas
Drew Smyly (LHSP, 2nd), Collin Kuhn (OF, 15th), Jordan Pratt (RHRP, 16th)
Saturday at 9 pm, ESPNU
Sunday at 10 pm, ESPN2
Monday at 7 pm (if necessary), ESPN2
The Tigers took more Razorbacks than anything, but Arkansas has a tough draw as Arizona State is the national number one seed. I’m fairly certain Smyly will be starting one of the first two games and Kuhn led the team in games, so you’ll get to see him as well if you tune in. Pratt, however, is a relief pitcher and not the closer so you may have to get lucky to catch him throwing an inning or two.
Alabama
Tyler White (RHRP, 20th), Clay Jones (1b, 32nd)
Saturday at 6pm, ESPNU
Sunday at 7pm, ESPN2
Monday at 1 or 7 pm (if necessary), ESPN2
Jones played and started every game as the team’s first baseman and best power hitter, so it’s a safe bet you can see him hit if you take the time to watch the Crimson Tide take on the Clemson Tigers. Oh, the irony. White is one of the team’s relievers and he was hittable so while us Detroit Tiger fans would like to see him pitch, his being in the game may not be a good sign for the Tide.
Conclusion: So there you go. If you find yourself sitting around this weekend and realize you wouldn't mind watching some baseball (other than the Tigers), go ahead and do some amateur scouting on some of these guys. Just remember before you get too excited about these guys' skills, the bats are aluminum and the hitters can lack both selectivity and the skillset of pro hitters. If you do take time away from the World Cup and the Tigers in order to watch some college ball, feel free to use this post's comments to report what there was to see. Now, if you'll excuse me I'm going to go watch Cal State Fullerton. Have a good weekend.
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