Some will say I need to remove my crimson colored glasses, but I can hardly believe the second-guessing of Gasso for batting Lauren and Shelby in the 1-2 spots. First – and foremost – it typically will give our top two hitters an extra at-bat in most games. And when your first two batters more often than not reach base (or hit homeruns), it makes it a helluva lot more likely that Miller, Self, Georgia and the other bangers will have someone to drive home when they come to bat.
Sure, Lauren and Shelby would drive in those runs, maybe even more often than the others. But the problem is, it wouldn't happen as often because those other hitters wouldn't be on base as often as Ruth and Gehrig. It makes perfect sense to me, and I'd argue that the results speak for themselves.
By the way, syb: who's the No. 9 team on that list? In any case, I say it's a near certainty the Sooners host a regional and super regional barring a total collapse in the last two weeks.
