The Gators’ untimely demise at this year’s College World Series was unexpected to say the least.
However, a late move by coach Kevin O’Sullivan in Florida’s 5-4 loss to Kent State seemed less likely than UF going two and out in Omaha.
Trailing by one run in the top of the ninth, the Gators had put runners on first and second for All-American designated hitter Brian Johnson.
Johnson had struggled in Omaha up to that point with just one hit in eight at-bats to go along with a dismal performance on the mound in Saturday’s 7-3 loss to South Carolina.
After his early struggles, Johnson had a chance to redeem himself with the go-ahead run on first base.
However, O’Sullivan never gave the left-handed junior the chance to reverse his fortunes.
Instead of letting his cleanup hitter, a first-round pick in this year’s MLB Amateur Draft, hit with the season on the line in the ninth inning of an elimination game in Omaha, O’Sullivan called for a pinch hitter.
The guy picking up the bat: Cody Dent.
Here’s a quick history lesson. Dent was named to the College World Series All-Tournament Team last season after hitting at a .286 (4 for 14) clip during the Gators’ stay in Omaha.
This season, however, his charm wore off.
Dent batted just .134 during the regular season and struck out 22 times in 82 at-bats.
During Josh Tobias’ long midseason absence from the starting lineup due to a broken hamate bone in his hand, Dent often looked lost at the plate.
Going back to Monday, O’Sullivan decided to bench a guy with a .307 batting average and 41 RBI for Dent in a one-run game in the top of the ninth with runners on first and second.
Here is the most puzzling development: O’Sullivan had Dent bunt.
“I bunted [Dent] because I didn’t want to hit into a double play,” O’Sullivan said of his decision.
To be fair, I value bunting as an integral component of manufacturing runs. You may be giving away an out, but the value of a base hit skyrockets with a guy in scoring position as opposed to first base.
But when you’re three outs away from elimination in the College World Series, you cannot afford to give outs away. It is borderline reckless.
Johnson’s struggles at the plate during this season’s College World Series were clear. He had stranded eight runners on base, and his double play in the seventh inning killed arguably Florida’s best rally Monday.
However, the ninth inning of an elimination game in Omaha is a situation where track record has to count for something.
In 10 career postseason games, Johnson has hit .368 with one home run and nine RBI. Johnson has proven himself in the past and he should have been given the chance to do it again.
If I am O’Sullivan in that situation, the prospect of Brian Johnson coming to the plate with the go-ahead run on base is exciting.
Florida’s early exit from the College World Series cannot be pinned solely on O’Sullivan’s decision to have Dent bunt instead of Johnson swing away in the ninth inning of Monday’s loss. I do not believe that to be the case, and for anyone that does, go back and watch both games again.
While the play ultimately worked out the way O’Sullivan planned, it was a questionable move in Florida’s mistake-filled stay in Omaha. Ultimately, it will be forgotten.
But with a shot at a national championship on the line, benching one of the guys O’Sullivan claims “set a standard” at UF was the wrong move.
Johnson has been an integral part of the Gators’ success the last three seasons. At the very least, he deserved a chance to make something happen.
Contact Joe Morgan at joemorgan@alligator.org.
Freshman Justin Shafer walks off the field in dismay after dropping two straight games and failing to advance in the 2012 CWS. He went 2 for 5 with one RBI and stranded four runners on base in a 5-4 loss to Kent State on Monday.
