Duke baseball -- 2024 season

[ConorONeill]

Any thoughts or concerns on Beilenson longevity? He’s pitching a ton

The staff tried to slow down his usage and that's when his effectiveness suffered, about a month ago. The only runs he's given up all year came in a span during which he pitched three times in two weeks.

Everything about him is counterintuitive to what you think/hear about pitchers' arm health. That was the discussion I had with Pollard after the Saturday win against Miami a couple of weekends ago. Since last year, they've told us Beilenson recovers from pitching better than anyone they've seen.

 

[ConorONeill]

Updated to include tonight's 11th inning loss.

 

[ioliva]

The staff tried to slow down his usage and that's when his effectiveness suffered, about a month ago. The only runs he's given up all year came in a span during which he pitched three times in two weeks.

Everything about him is counterintuitive to what you think/hear about pitchers' arm health. That was the discussion I had with Pollard after the Saturday win against Miami a couple of weekends ago. Since last year, they've told us Beilenson recovers from pitching better than anyone they've seen.

Great to hear dude is a workhorse! Just want him to be healthy come tourney time

 

[ConorONeill]

Great to hear dude is a workhorse! Just want him to be healthy come tourney time

That would be my concern, too. But at this point they're committed to riding him as much as possible.

 

[ioliva]

Any idea why nard replaced the other guy ( didn’t get his name) very strange. Got pulled 13 pitches in but nard totally blew this game if VT lead stands

What a COMEBACK! this team is TOUGH!

 

[ConorONeill]

Not sure on Nard, @ioliva.

Weekend recap is complete.

 

[jeffrey236]

Miller needs to break out of his slump. Average down to .456, only one HR today.

 

[Willcampbell]

Up to #6. Knocked Va Tech out of top 25.
OFC

 

[Willcampbell]

Also projected as #1 seed in Durham Regional. But it's very early.
OFC

 

[ConorONeill]

Also projected as #1 seed in Durham Regional. But it's very early.
OFC

At this point, Duke is going to be in line for a top-8 seed as long as the Blue Devils don't lose two of the last three ACC series, I would say.

That's not exactly a walk in the park. FSU at home this weekend, exam week, and then at GT (which is climbing ACC standings) and home against UNC to end the regular season.

Winning all three series would probably lock in a top-8 seed; winning two of three still might do it. Duke's RPI is only 21st, sixth in the ACC, so that's going to ding them a bit. It's also going to improve with those games plus a non-con game against ECU (May 7).

 

[ConorONeill]

 

[ConorONeill]

In lieu of writing a full story on tonight's game, just going to hit the important parts here:

- Duke lost to Campbell 18-4. It was kind of worse than that indicates, as it was 12-0 after 3 innings. It only went 7 innings.

- Chris Pollard's quote from the release: “We came in a little thin on the mound and Campbell swung it really well. We have been pushing hard and have been on the road seven of the last eight games, so we are going to push like crazy this weekend and then reset next week.”

- Duke's runs came on two sac flies and two wild pitches.

- Ben Miller extended his hitting streak to 18 games by going 1-for-2.

- Duke used 6 pitchers and 5 of them gave up multiple runs. David Boisvert had a scoreless 5th inning. Nobody got absolutely bombed ... just a lot of ineffectiveness.

- Campbell is 26-13, beat N.C. State last week, beat ECU back in February, and took 2 of 3 from UC Santa Barbara (No. 12 in RPI) in the opening weekend. They've become a powerhouse of a mid-major over the last few years. Duke beat Campbell 11-1 earlier this season.

- Duke is home against FSU starting Friday night in what are 3 much more important games than a mid-week one against a mid-major trying to play its way into hosting a regional.

 

[jeffrey236]

Our pitching seems to be wearing down, even with Charley “Every Day” Beilinson absorbing a lot of innings. 13 pitchers on Sunday, and 6 on Tuesday? They’re going to need to resod the path from the bullpen to the mound. This has to be putting undue pressure on our offense, knowing they have to score a boatload of runs to win. I’m actually a little surprised Coach Pollard used so many pitchers on Tuesday, once it became obvious we weren’t going to win.

 

[ConorONeill]

Our pitching seems to be wearing down, even with Charley “Every Day” Beilinson absorbing a lot of innings. 13 pitchers on Sunday, and 6 on Tuesday? They’re going to need to respond the path from the bullpen to the mound. This has to be putting undue pressure on our offense, knowing they have to score a boatload of runs to win. I’m actually a little surprised Coach Pollard used so many pitchers on Tuesday, once it became obvious we weren’t going to win.

It's a valid concern and it's why Pollard went into the season saying they weren't going to do things the same way they did last year, when every single game was a bullpen-by-committee effort.

But it's just kind of played out similarly. Jonathan Santucci has fantastic stuff, to the point that he's going to be a top-50 pick, but he's not pitch efficient. His high strikeout/walk rate runs his pitch count up into the 90s by the middle innings. Kyle Johnson had the knee setback that limited him a month ago and he's getting his length back. Aidan Weaver struggling and Andrew Healy getting hurt (missed this, but he hasn't pitched in 3 1/2 weeks) limited their starting depth even more. And trying to stretch out James Tallon and Fran Oschell III in the preseason seemed to not just not work in turning them into starters, it put them behind in preparation.

I should've noted about last night: The pitchers used were Noone, Emus, Conte, Hart, Boisvert, Allen. Those aren't exactly the high-leverage weekend guys.

It's a weird place to be. Duke's bullpen depth would be the envy of at least 90% of all of college baseball. It's a low bar, but Santucci and Johnson mean there's more starting depth than last year. Their bullpen honestly might be a bit deeper than last year, especially if Tallon and Oschell keep regaining footing.

 

[ioliva]

Yeah the pitching seems to be getting worse as the weeks go by. Other teams can get 70-80 pitches out of guys and we seem to get 20-30 out of some guys. Charlie b and sant have been good but when other guys are pitching it’ll vary greatly. Get one or two good innings followed by 7 straight balls. It’s weird and we need to get it figured out or no Omaha

 

[ConorONeill]

Story off of tonight's series-opening loss.