This season marks the third time in nine years Clemson will come to Omaha for the College World Series. In 2002, the Tigers had to face Nebraska in front of 20,000-plus fans rooting for the Big Red. They responded by winning a slugfest 11-10, followed by a 9-7 win against Georgia Tech. Heading into the semifinals it seemed the Tigers had an advantage over rival South Carolina, but the Gamecocks stunned the Clemson faithful with 12-4 and 10-2 wins, ending the Tigers’ season.
In 2006, Jack Leggett brought the national #1 seeded Tigers back to Omaha, where once again Clemson posted a win in its first game (8-4 over GT). But heartbreakers against North Carolina (2-0) and Cal State-Fullerton (7-6) dashed any Tigers fans’ hopes of celebrating a national championship.
Only Florida State has more CWS appearances without a title than Clemson. WBR caught up with Ed McGranahan, who covers Clemson for the Greenville News, to ask him how the Tigers could turn their fortunes around in the 2010 College World Series.
White & Blue Review: College World Series fans are no doubt familiar with Clemson, being as the Tigers are making their 12th visit to the CWS. But seeing as some fans of the Series don’t follow the teams intently during the season, how would you explain Clemson’s season if a casual CWS fan asked for some info about the boys in purple and orange?
Ed McGranahan: The ongoing storyline has been an undependable bullpen. After a 17-2 start, Clemson struggled to hold leads and went 7-15 including 11 consecutive losses of two runs or fewer. They also ran into a bit of decent pitching, but this team can score runs in bunches as evidence in both the regional and super regional rounds of the NCAA Tournament. For example, Clemson led 8-1 with two out in the ninth of the deciding game with Alabama but the Crimson Tide rallied and put the game-winning run at the plate.
WBR: Looking back at Clemson’s schedule, the Tigers suffered a significant setback in Atlanta in mid-April. How did this team bounce back from three-game sweep suffered against a top 10 Georgia Tech team to sweep fellow CWS participant Florida State one month later?
EM: Several players emerged late in the season offensively and overall the pitching has been better.
Left-hander Casey Harman has been the bell cow at the front of the weekend rotation, although Leggett has played matchups when necessary. Freshman right-hander Dominic Leone gave his best performance in the third game with Alabama. And sophomore left-hander Will Lamb, who started the year in the weekend rotation, pitched well against Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament.
Freshman first baseman Richie Shaffer missed a bunch of games midseason after sustaining a hamstring injury stretching for a throw, but he’s hit well all season and his power numbers have picked up.
Lamb struggled trying to pitch and play first when Shaffer was out but he has led off as the DH and got the final out to get Clemson to Omaha. He’s a potential starter in Omaha if Clemson hangs around.
A fifth-year senior Wilson Boyd was a member of the team during Clemson’s last visit but didn’t play. He’s a tough little guy with a bit of pop, a lot of heart and plenty of savvy, and he’s pushed his average over .300.
Finally, freshman catcher Spencer Kieboom played well in the GT game at the ACC Tournament and has started every game since. Kieboom has a cannon arm and his bat is emerging.
WBR: Kyle Parker seems to be the quintessential Big Man On Campus at Clemson. The starting quarterback for the Tigers is also the team’s best offensive player, and the Colorado Rockies just made him a first round pick in the MLB Draft. He’s a two-time first-team All-ACC honoree. Can he carry this Clemson team offensively during the CWS? Who is the best bet to support the star outfielder in the lineup?
EM: While not as prolific a home run team as the 2002 group, this may be a deeper lineup, so
Parker has never had to “carry” the team though sitting there in the middle of the lineup he must be respected.Long, lean Lamb atop the order is perhaps the best athlete with a nice left-handed stroke and great wheels.
Senior second baseman Mike Freeman might be the team MVP. He’s been consistent and dependable, developed a bit more power to go with a solid average, and turns a nifty double play.
Junior left fielder Jeff Schaus can be dangerous. He’s among the nation’s leaders in RBI hitting ahead of Parker.
Behind Parker have been sophomore shortstop Brad Miller and redshirt sophomore third baseman John Hinson. While Miller’s fielding has created occasional havoc despite his tremendous range and arm, he’s not let it hurt him offensively. Another left-handed bat with pop, Miller is also quick.
Hinson missed last season with a back injury and didn’t start the season at third because of his defensive holes. After a lot of work Leggett couldn’t keep Hinson’s precocious bat out of the lineup. Hinson now has 17 homers to go with a solid batting average, plus he leads the team with more than 20 stolen bases. His arm is unquestioned but he’s a novice with the glove, but the kid can play. And, as mentioned earlier, Boyd and Kieboom.
WBR: Pitching tends to win titles. Since 2000, only three teams have won the national championship with a team ERA outside the nation’s top 25 teams in that category: LSU (2000), Miami (2001), Fresno State (2008). Entering the Super Regional, the Tigers were 52nd in the nation in team ERA. Do the Tigers have enough pitching to win the College World Series? If they do, who will be the arms that can help Clemson advance?
EM: This is another area where this team resembles the ’02 team. I spoke of the starters earlier, but the best work out of the bullpen of late has come from Alex Frederick, Scott Firth, David Haselden, and Kevin Brady – though Brady nearly cost them the Super Regional. Tomas Cruz has been used frequently and leads the teams with saves but he’s not a prototypical closer.
WBR: Clemson’s advanced to the CWS in each of the seasons when the Tigers hosted a Super Regional. The crowd support at Doug Kingsmore Stadium is obviously great (one of the best attendance figures in the nation proves that). How well will Tiger fans travel to this year’s championship?
EM: You probably know better than I that Clemson has a loyal following, but I imagine most of them are players’ families, administrators, and such. The economy hit us as hard as it did everybody else, but I don’t think you’ll wonder where the Clemson fans are if the team gets through the first week.
WBR: What has to happen for Clemson to treat all those fans traveling to Omaha and the thousands more watching at home to a national championship celebration in late June?
EM: If Clemson continues to hit this team should be dangerous. Frankly, the key may well be Parker. He hasn’t hit for much power for awhile, but if he suddenly warms to his final games in a Clemson uniform this team could be unbeatable – if the bullpen doesn’t give it away.