CLEMSON — While others may have complained about the new setup for the visitors’ bullpen at Clemson last season, Erik Bakich believes the Tigers have gotten it right.
For years, the visitors’ bullpen was off to the side of the opposing team’s dugout, where pitchers could warm up in relative peace. Ahead of last season, the area that used to be the bullpen was opened up to fans, with pitchers now having to warm up with a sea of Tiger fans right on top of them.
West Virginia head coach Steve Sabins gave a scorching review of the setup after the Mountaineers won the Clemson Regional, saying that “the bullpen thing is bogus at Clemson,” and that the setup makes “drunk frat guys” too close in proximity to the opponent’s pitchers.