Adoring Commodores
Ex-Vandy ace gets Game 3 forLA
Vanderbilt baseball coach Tim Corbin has a rooting interest on both sides of the World Series between the Red Sox and the Dodgers.
Former Commodores lefty ace David Price, who set a single season school record with 155 strikeouts in 2006, started for the Red Sox in Game 2 last night at Fenway.
When the series shifts to Dodger Stadium for Game 3 tomorrow night, rookie right-hander Walker Buehler — the staff ace of the Commodores 2014 College World Series championship squad — will get the ball.
Price went to Vanderbilt on an academic scholarship and played three seasons before jumping to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008. Buehler, the Dodgers first-round pick in 2015, played two seasons in Nashville before turning pro.
“I remember (Price) used to FaceTime us after (College World Series) games and stuff like that,” Buehler said during the Dodgers’ media gathering Monday at Fenway Park. “I’ve gotten to pick his brain by texting and talking with him and he’s a good dude.”
Unlike the veteran Price, Buehler is a postseason novice. Buehler made his first postseason start in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the Braves in Atlanta. Despite giving up five runs in five innings, Buehler did not factor in the decision.
Buehler took his first postseason loss by allowing four runs on five hits over seven innings in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series against the Brewers. He started Game 7 last Saturday in Milwaukee, contributing a solid 4⅔ innings without a decision. Buehler scattered six hits and allowed one run (a solo homer) with seven strikeouts and a walk.
Buehler finished his first big league season 8-5 in 24 games (23 starts) with a 2.62 ERA over 137⅓ innings. He struck out 151 batters with 37 walks, and his opponents’ batting average was .193
Buehler has no history against the Red Sox but did make four interleague starts and was 2-0 and with a 3.10 ERA over 21 innings. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes Buehler has enough pitches at his disposal to be an antidote to the Red Sox’ formidable lineup.
“He’s got a lot of tools,” Roberts said. “He’s got a plus fastball with good command, he can change eye levels (and) he can pitch in and out.
“He’s got a slider, cutter. He’s got a breaking ball with a little more depth and he’s got a changeup. He’s got the weapons to attack a particular hitter’s weakness and also go to his strengths. But the No. 1 thing with Walker is that when he is good, he’s got good fastball command.”
Buehler anticipated Roberts would call his number against the Red Sox after his successful outing in the elimination game against the Brewers.
“The Red Sox are fast and they are strong and they are athletic and they have guys that can take you anywhere on the field at any point,” Buehler said. “They are definitely guys you have to be careful but we are going to try and attack as we always do.”