Pat Dooley’s Back Nine: O’Sullivan’s Masterclass in Dealing with Pitching Personnel
[Caption: Shane O’Sullivan of the Georgia Bulldogs. Photo courtesy of Georgia Athletics.] By Pat Dooley Shane O’Sullivan may have just put himself in line to become the closer for the Georgia baseball team. While the Bulldogs ran their season-opening winning streak to five games with a 4-2 victory over Presbyterian College on Tuesday night at Foley Field, it was on the mound where the most important developments of the evening occurred. O’Sullivan, a sophomore right-hander who was a midweek starter last year, came on in the seventh inning of a 2-2 game and threw three shutout innings to collect the save. He allowed only one hit while striking out four of the nine batters he faced. “He was phenomenal,” said Georgia coach Scott Stricklin. “He came up huge for us. It did a lot for our confidence. Obviously, if he can pitch like that all the time, he will be a very valuable guy for us.” When it comes to dealing with pitching personnel, managing a college baseball team is like trying to solve a riddle. The NCAA has severely restricted the workload of pitchers with new rules this year, limiting pitchers to a maximum of 50 pitches per game and 150 pitches per week. That means that a team’s closer can no longer be used for multiple innings. “It really makes it difficult,” Stricklin said. “We have to have somebody that we feel really good about coming out of the bullpen in the seventh or eighth inning and getting us those key outs. Shane showed tonight that he can handle that role.” O’Sullivan said that he has always been prepared to come out of the bullpen. “I’m just trying to do whatever the team needs me to do to help us win,” he said. “I like pitching in any situation.” O’Sullivan was not the only pitcher who impressed on Tuesday night. Senior Aaron Schmalz, who has never been a starter, got the start for Georgia and allowed only one run on two hits in three innings of work. Freshman Will Campbell, who started the first four games of the season, came on in the fourth inning and threw three innings of relief. He allowed one unearned run on two hits while striking out three batters. “All three of those guys threw the ball very well,” Stricklin said. “We’re still figuring out who our roles are going to be in the bullpen, but I like what I’m seeing so far.” The Bulldogs will be back in action on Wednesday night when they host Kennesaw State at Foley Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Pat Dooley’s Back Nine: O’Sullivan’s Masterclass in Dealing with Pitching Personnel
By Pat Dooley | The Gainesville Sun | December 7, 2023
In the aftermath of Florida’s season-opening series sweep of Liberty, head coach Kevin O’Sullivan praised his pitching staff for its dominance. But it was his masterful handling of that staff that truly impressed. O’Sullivan masterfully navigated through the weekend, using a variety of pitchers in different roles and situations. He started ace Hunter Barco in the series opener, but didn’t hesitate to pull him after just 3 2/3 innings. Barco had struggled with his command, walking four batters, and O’Sullivan recognized that it was time to make a change. Instead of going to his bullpen, O’Sullivan opted to bring in freshman Nick Pogue to face the top of the Liberty lineup. Pogue, who had not pitched since the fall, responded with a strikeout and then induced a double-play ground ball to end the inning. O’Sullivan continued to mix and match his pitchers throughout the weekend. Against a potent Liberty offense, he used four different starters and eight different relievers. Each pitcher filled their role admirably, holding the Flames to just three runs in 27 innings of work. The key to O’Sullivan’s success was his ability to adapt to the situation. He recognized that Barco was not sharp and made a quick adjustment. He also showed confidence in his young pitchers, giving them an opportunity to prove themselves on the big stage. “We have a lot of depth in our pitching staff,” O’Sullivan said. “I’m not afraid to use anyone in any situation. I have confidence in all of our guys.” The Gators’ pitching staff looks like one of the best in the country, and O’Sullivan’s handling of them is a big reason why. He has shown that he is not afraid to make bold moves, and his players have responded with impressive performances. As the season progresses, O’Sullivan will be faced with even more challenging decisions. But if he continues to manage his pitching staff with the same skill and confidence, the Gators have a good chance of making a deep run into the postseason.
