Texas Tech baseball needs these players to come up big in Omaha

RHP Taylor Floyd

Another member of the Red Raider pen that has to rebound from an uninspiring effort in the Supers is Taylor Floyd.  The junior from Frisco has been Tadlock’s most trusted reliever this year and he will play a huge role for Tech in Omaha.

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For the year, he’s thrown 51.1 innings, the most of any reliever on the roster, compiling a 2.81 ERA and a 5-3 record.  He’s stuck out 79 while walking just 23.

But against the Cowboys, he struggled, especially with his command.  Appearing in the Friday and Saturday games, he tossed only one inning combined but he gave up three walks and threw a stunning three wild pitches in his 0.1 innings of work in game two.  That equaled the number of wild pitches he had thrown all season.

Maybe the awkward landing on his follow through in which he appeared to twist an ankle in game one was partially to blame. But whatever was bothering Floyd, the Red Raiders need him to have put it behind him.

When he is right, he is one of the best relief pitchers in the game.  His unorthodox sidearm delivery makes him hell on right handers and his ability to come at hitters with an assortment of looping off-speed offerings is a perfect compliment to the 100-mph fastball of Tech’s other primary righty reliever, John McMillon.

This year’s Red Raider bullpen has been one of the better pens in the Tim Tadlock era.  If Floyd (and Haveman) can get right in Omaha, the Red Raiders could have enough arms to finally make a run towards something special at the College World Series.