Bullpen has reason to be restless with muscle in starting rotation

<p>There's an easy way to get Connor Falkenbach to crack a smile these days. Simply ask Florida's senior reliever if he's ever going to get to pitch again.<br/></p><p> Falkenbach laughs at the question because he and the rest of Florida's bullpen have been relegated to the bench for most of this postseason. The reason is the dominance of Florida's starting rotation.<br/></p><p> Starters Tommy Boss, Alan Horne and Bryan Ball have pitched 40 of the 45 innings for Florida so far in the NCAA Baseball Tournament, leaving members of the Gators bullpen wondering if or when they will be asked to take the mound.<br/></p><p> The situation is especially strange for Falkenbach, who made 13 consecutive relief appearances at one point this season and appeared in 46 of Florida's 55 regular season games.<br/></p><p> "Our starting pitching is a big part of our success right now," Falkenbach said. "They're working late into games and giving our bullpen a rest."<br/></p><p> Florida's relievers are very well rested heading into the College World Series, which begins Friday when the Gators play Tennessee at 2 p.m.<br/></p><p> Falkenbach has appeared in just two of Florida's five NCAA Tournament games this season. Junior Darren O'Day and senior Mike Pete appeared in just one. Freshmen Stephen Locke, Michael Branham and Tommy Wynn along with sophomore Stephen Porter have yet to appear.<br/></p><p> "They know they're anchors of this staff too," Horne said. "They'll be out there. There's no way we'd be at this point without those guys."<br/></p><p> But it is clearly the Gators starters who are leading the team right now. Florida's starters went 5-0 with a 2.70 ERA in Regional and Super Regional play, giving up just 30 hits in 40 innings.<br/></p><p> "It's been unbelievable," Horne said. "Every time we're going deep into games and keeping our bullpen well rested. That's huge this time of year."<br/></p><p> The personas of Florida's starters are as similar as their performances. Ball, Horne and Boss are quiet and soft spoken off the field. But they each transform into intense competitors on the mound.<br/></p><p> This was evidenced in the Super Regionals when Boss fired his fist into the air and hopped off the mound when he finished his complete-game victory and again the next night when Horne let out a thunderous roar after striking out Ryne Jernigan with the bases loaded to end the third inning.<br/></p><p> "They're bulldogs," Florida catcher Brian Jeroloman said. "They're not afraid to throw any pitch to any guy. From a catcher's standpoint that's what you want. We don't have any puppies walking out to the mound."<br/></p><p> Boss said part of the reason of the starters' longevity during the postseason is strategy. Florida's coaches have allowed their starters to go longer during the NCAAs in order to save their bullpen, Boss said.<br/></p><p> This was evidenced Saturday when Horne threw 148 pitches in Florida's 8-5 win over Florida State.<br/></p><p> "It's understandable during the season (to pull the starters earlier) because we want to give the bullpen work," Boss said. "But now they're trying to save those guys when we need them."<br/></p><p> Gators coach Pat McMahon is expected to announce today who will start Friday's College World Series opener against Luke Hochevar and Tennessee. It seems like it would be hard to go wrong with any of them at this point.<br/></p><p> "Those guys have pitched themselves into that position," McMahon said. "We have three quality guys who we have confidence in."<br/></p><p> You can reach Brandon Zimmerman by calling 374-5051 or by e-mail at zimmerb@gvillesun.com.<br/></p><p> Florida's relievers are very well rested heading into the College World Series, which begins Friday when the Gators play Tennessee at 2 p.m.<br/></p>