No Relief Is in Sight for Virginia's Bullpen

OMAHA, June 16 -- When Virginia relievers Matt Packer and Tyler Wilson returned from Rosenblatt Stadium following the Cavaliers' College World Series win on Monday, they independently ventured to the workout room at the team hotel.

Packer ran 12 minutes on the treadmill, alternating between 30 seconds of full-blown sprinting and 30 seconds of light jogging. Wilson's regimen included between 1 and 1 1/2 miles on the treadmill at a steady pace. Both participated in Tuesday's practice at Creighton University, although neither pitched -- part of their efforts to preserve their arms.

The Cavaliers face their second consecutive elimination game on Wednesday against Arkansas. After using two starters to help overcome Cal State Fullerton on Monday, Coach Brian O'Connor will likely need to turn to his bullpen early again on Wednesday. The top two relief options are Packer and Wilson, the only players to pitch in both College World Series games.

"This time of the year, you gut it out, and they've continued to gut it out," O'Connor said. "They feel great. They tell me they feel great. This is what you do it for. You got to gut it for one more week."

Although he does not have a well-rested top-three starter, O'Connor plans to operate without much regard for any game besides Wednesday's. However, even O'Connor acknowledged that it would be helpful if Virginia can survive without calling upon Danny Hultzen and Robert Morey -- the starters in the first two games.

"This is the big ballgame to get through," O'Connor said. "And then I think a lot of things would open up on Friday and Saturday."

Before Tuesday's practice, O'Connor had not settled on a starting pitcher. He waited to gather more information on Arkansas and determine how his pitchers were feeling.

O'Connor mentioned senior Robert Poutier and Packer as possibilities, although the game will likely mirror the third game of Virginia's NCAA super regional contest against Mississippi. Poutier started against the Rebels, but was taken out in the third inning. Wilson pitched 3 1/3 innings and Packer pitched two innings before closer Kevin Arico came in for the ninth.

Packer appeared in a team-high 31 games for the Cavaliers. He has a 4.18 ERA in 60 1/3 innings. Wilson appeared in 30 games this season, with a 3.02 ERA in 65 2/3 innings. Packer is the team's primary left-handed reliever; Wilson is the top right-handed reliever.

The workload has been gruesome in the postseason. Packer pitched in Virginia's last five games, while Wilson pitched in four of the last five. Both want -- and expect -- to pitch on Wednesday.

"In the postseason, it's come down to a handful of us trying to get us as far as we can go," Wilson said. "But I think somebody that hasn't had their number called in the past is going to have to step up, whether it be somebody that we haven't seen in Omaha yet."

The Cavaliers have been aided by the off day between games. In the regional and super regional, O'Connor needed to manage his pitchers during back-to-back-to-back games. The day off allows the relievers to work on conditioning while not needing to use their arms.

O'Connor remains strict about a pitch count for his starters, but he is not as adamant for the bullpen. O'Connor instead measures his relievers with his eyes. He watches how the pitches are coming in and how they are holding their throwing arm.

"At this point, the limit is kind of out the window," Packer said. "It's whatever you need, that's what we're there for."

Elected ignorance is the route both Packer and Wilson preached. Wilson said any pitcher's velocity is down come June and the arm is not as fresh as the beginning of the year. But facing elimination, arm condition becomes secondary.

"I'll worry about how it feels over the next three or four weeks," Packer said. "The games are just so important that how your arm feels is the last thing on your mind."

Cavaliers Note: O'Connor said he will likely not use outfielder Jarrett Parker at leadoff for the second consecutive game. Parker was Virginia's top offensive player during the regular season, but he is on an 0-for-15 skid. Shortstop Tyler Cannon will likely remain in the top spot of the batting order, although the rest of the order could shuffle again if Arkansas starts left-handed pitcher Drew Smyly.