When John Pawlowski tells a pitcher he’s been delegated to bullpen duty, he doesn’t consider it a demotion.

“You see a lot of clubs’ guys are resentful in the fact that they have to go to the bullpen,” Pawlowski said. “I look at it as a positive to know that you can help our club more than one time in the course of the week.”

Pawlowski, as the Tigers hope to clinch a berth in the SEC Tournament for the first time since 2003 this weekend against Tennessee, said he’s fortunate to have an entire bullpen that has embraced its role this season.

It’s hard not to in the hitting-dominant SEC, where bullpens have had to be armed and ready all season from the first pitch on Fridays to the final outs on Sundays.

Take for instance this past weekend in conference play, where, because of the graces of some nice weather, all 18 games were completed. A total of 286 runs were plated over three days, which breaks down to roughly 16 per game.

In Auburn, the Tigers and Mississippi State combined for 64 runs and each team went to the bullpen with almost a frustrating amount of frequency. Auburn went to the bullpen 12 times and used seven different relievers, while the Bulldogs, despite getting a gutsy complete game
from Tyler Whitney on Friday, went to the pen nine times and used eight different relievers.

There’s a reason why Auburn, despite allowing 28 runs over three games, swept the Bulldogs. When there was an absolute need for clutch pitching, Auburn had it and Mississippi State, which carries an 8.67 earned run average against SEC opponents, didn’t.

“If we can get deep into the game, we have a chance to win the last three innings of the ballgame,” Pawlowski said. “We’ve put a lot of emphasis on that.”

Pawlowski said his 2010 bullpen is the biggest difference between this year’s team, which is one win and an Alabama loss away from clinching a spot in the SEC Tournament, and last year’s club, which swung the bats with just as much power, but finished 11-19 in the SEC.

The Tigers still have closer Austin Hubbard, who has been even more effective than he was last year on his way to seven saves and a team-best 2.41 ERA. His extended appearances have sometimes hearkened back the memories of Major League Hall of Famer Goose Gossage, who became famous for his trademark three-inning saves.

“He’s certainly capable of doing that,” Pawlowski said. “He used to be a starter, so he knows how to extend himself out a little bit.”

The biggest difference, though, centers on the rest of the set-up men. Each pitcher brings a different tweak to the mound, which Pawlowski said isn’t by accident.

Hubbard’s specialty is his down-in-the-dirt slider, which Pawlowski said is one of the best out-pitches in the league. Left-hander Sean Ray (2-1, 2.45 ERA) throws a 12-to-6 curveball, which has been key in lefty-on-lefty matchups. Right-hander Michael Hurst (2-1, 4.63 ERA) provides all sorts of problems for right-handed hitters with his submarine throwing style. Bradley Hendrix (2-2, 5.73 ERA) has struggled at times, but had his
sinker working Friday, when he tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Stephen Kohlscheen (1-0, 6.38) has also labored, but throws faster than anyone
on Auburn’s roster.

“One of the things that you try to create in the bullpen is one that’s got a lot of looks,” Pawlowski said. “I think when you look at our bullpen, we can play a matchup game out of the bullpen. I think they’ve done a really good job.”

Former starter Cole Nelson could also be in the mix this weekend after his impressive relief debut in Sunday’s 11-8 victory.

“Not only as a starter, but as a reliever, we need him,” Pawlowski said. “Down the home stretch we’ve got to find a way for him to help us like he did last weekend.”

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