Is This the Best Baseball Team in UNC History?

Jun 18, 2013; Omaha, NE, USA; North Carolina Tarheels players congratulate each other after defeating the LSU Tigers during the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. North Carolina won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

Ace of Pitching staff
Kent Emanuel vs. Andrew Miller: to me, it’s not even close. No disrespect to Emanuel, but he is no Andrew Miller. Miller had a 13-2 record in 2006, and a 2.48 ERA. In 123 innings pitched, he had 133 strikeouts. Miller was also picked 6th overall, meanwhile Emanuel was picked in the 3rd round.
Advantage:  Andrew Miller

Rest of pitching staff:
2006: Daniel Bard, Robert Woodward, and Andrew Carnigan
2013: Trent Thornton, Benton Moss, and….Trent Thornton?

Now, I realize Thornton is listed twice, there is a reason for that. In that particular order, player by player, who is better? To me this was closer than I thought it was going to be, but I’m going with 2006 staff all day long. Daniel Bard is superior to Trent Thornton. But lets keep in mind Thornton is only a Freshman, so the fact we are even having this discussion speaks volumes of Trent. Now, Robert Woodward or Benton Moss? For the first time in this article, the 2013 has an advantage, I take Benton Moss over Woodward. Moss is also very young, he is currently in his Sophomore year. Now for the guy that has to get the hardest 3 outs of the game, the Closer. The 2013 team never really had a established closer like the 2006 team did. Which gives the automatic win to 2006. Andrew Carnigan had some shaky moments as a closer, but he led the team with 18 saves.
Advantage: 2006

Hitting:
Now lets cut to the chase, when it comes to power hitting, the 2006 team has the 2013 team beat there. Why? Chad Flack. If any of you remember Chad Flack. You know what I’m talking about. Like I mentioned earlier, if it wasnt for Flack, the Tar Heels don’t even make it to the CWS. Tim Federowicz was also another power hitter on the team.
Power advantage: 2006

But, to save some time on the rest of the hitting, lets say you were down by 1 run going to the bottom of the ninth inning in an elimination game, and you can only choose 3 hitters to hit. Who would you pick? Lets start with 2013. I am no Mike Fox, but Colin Moran is an obvious choice. But who else? Cody Stubbs, and freshman Skye Bolt are the other 2 I would pick. Bolt has shown off his ability to hit in the clutch. Bolt had the walk off single against the Gamecocks in Game 1 of the Super Regionals.

Now, for 2006. If you watched some of their games, or remember anything about them. You know how clutch Chad Flack was. He is definitely hitting for me in this situation. Tim Federowicz also comes to mind. Both of them have power, but you need someone who has a great batting average. Someone you can depend on to get on base to start the inning. Josh Horton is that. Horton batted .395 that year.

So, who would you choose, which 3 would you pick? Skye Bolt, Cody Stubbs, and Colin Moran? Or Josh Horton, Tim Federowicz, and Chad Flack. If I could only pick one, I would choose the 2006 lineup. Chad Flack is someone you could depend on to hit a clutch home run.
Advantage: 2006

Now, who had the coaching advantage? 2006 Mike Fox or 2013 Mike Fox? OK, jokes over….I hope you didn’t think I was being serious.

So in conclusion, I believe the 2006 team was the best UNC baseball team ever. Not 2013. But they are a close second. Disagree? Good, that’s the whole point. But, if this years Tar Heel team goes on to win the CWS, this could change.