Closer leads relief corps looking to pick up where it left off
Going into 2010, one of the biggest questions surrounding South Carolina baseball was whether or not it would be able to develop a suitable closer.
A year later, it’s safe to say that’s been answered.
Finishing with a 2.26 ERA and 10 saves, pitcher Matt Price undoubtedly separated himself from the rest of the candidates during the Gamecocks’ postseason run, culminated by a lights-out showing in the final game of the College World Series.
Seven months later, the preseason All-American will look to provide similar results as he enters opening weekend as the centerpiece of the bullpen.
Although it didn’t show, Price admits last year’s heroics in Omaha, Neb., took their toll. After his one-hit, three-strikeout performance in extra innings that helped clinch the national championship, Price focused his offseason on “resting up.”
“Omaha was pretty impressive, and I was just a little fatigued and tired,” Price said. “[Coach Ray Tanner] wanted me to take the whole fall off, work out, [rehabilitate] and stuff like that. I didn’t really do too much. Just relaxed and went home, back to Sumter, and enjoyed what we accomplished last year.”
The sophomore is expected to man the closer job for Carolina again in 2011, but if the need arises, Tanner can see the possibility of Price playing a different part.
“Right now we’ve got him in the bullpen,” Tanner said. “We think that if we can get to him, he’s about as good as you get in college baseball. But if you don’t get to him and you don’t give him enough opportunities, then you’re wasting a good arm sitting out there in the bullpen. That could be adjusted as we go.”
Tanner’s main hope, however, is to get the sophomore into as many games as possible and plans on using him in a way that makes that happen.
“We’d like to help him decide more than one game a week,” Tanner said. “If he’s a starter, he’s probably out there once. If he’s in the bullpen, [he’s out there] probably twice and maybe a third time, possibly.”
Like outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., Price enters the season considered one of the best at his position and has already been thrown into the Major League Baseball draft conversation. Also like Bradley, however, the Sumter native is set on keeping his sights on the task at hand.
“I heard about it from a couple of the guys, and it’s an honor,” Price said. “But I’ve tried to accomplish more than that and be better than I was projected [to be]. I don’t really think about it once I get between the white lines. I just go out there and try to do my job and get us in a situation to win.”
Supporting Price in the relief role will be what many consider to be one of the best bullpens in program history. Besides returning the majority of its group from last year, Carolina enters 2011 with what it expects to be important additions.
Among the returnees are seniors Jose Mata and John Taylor, both of whom played significant parts in 2010’s championship run. Posting a 2.40 ERA and a 7-1 record for the season, Mata shined in USC’s title-sealer when he pitched two innings of relief and allowed one hit and no runs. Expected to provide the same middle-inning support this year, Mata enters opening weekend in position to have another memorable season.
In similar fashion, Taylor’s spotlight moment came in Omaha as well. Finishing the year 3-2 with an ERA of 3.38, the Florence native gave Carolina a perfect inning of relief in last June’s final. As one of two seniors returning to the bullpen, Taylor’s experience should play a key part in the others’ development.
A noteworthy addition to USC’s group of relievers is junior Spencer Jordan. After two years at Florence-Darlington Technical College, Jordan joins the Gamecocks fresh off a 2010 campaign that included 38 strikeouts, a 4-3 record and a 3.96 ERA. Particularly after the offseason dismissal of right-hander Ethan Carter, the hard-throwing Jordan could play an important part for Carolina’s bullpen.
Although the support should fare well, the group’s success will likely live or die on the shoulders of Price. Whether he enters games in middle-relief, the setup role or closer, the sophomore’s performance should play a significant part in Carolina’s attempt to remain at the top. Regardless of what is asked of him, however, Price is set on doing what’s needed to make that happen.
“As of right now, I’m in the bullpen, closing again,” Price said. “If that’s what coach Tanner wants me to do, then that’s what I’m going to have to do.”