Boone: Louisville "absolutely" in the mix at CWS

OMAHA -- Here's the deal, and this is important: Do not tell my dad, a die-hard, life-long Red Sox fan, that I just talked to Aaron Boone. Just don't. I don't think my Pops is still in "throw-the-remote-and-vow-to-never-watch-the-Red-Sox-again" mode, like he was in 2003 when Boone hit a walk-off homer in Game 7 of the ALCS to help the Yankees beat the Sox, but I do still like going home and visiting family. I may not be invited home again if he finds out.

That said, Boone, now an analyst for ESPN and a part of Allstate's "Good Hands in the Stands" program*, took a few minutes Friday morning to chat Louisville baseball. The Cards are among the favorites in the eight-team double-elimination College World Series that'll play out here in Omaha over the next two weeks.

(* - look up Good Hands in the Stands. It actually sounds pretty cool.)

Louisville (50-15) is one of five No. 1 seeds in the field, and it's the only team that was here last year. Boone likes that experience, and the need for small ball, good pitching and efficient defense at the expansive TD Ameritrade Park plays to Louisville's chances, too.

More: Louisville's Anthony Kidston will have a better view at this CWS

Here's my conversation with Boone:

We're a day away from the first games of the CWS. Have you pegged your favorites?

Boone: I view it as a wide-open field. Louisville is absolutely one of the teams in the mix. This is a team to be reckoned with. What I love about this team is athleticism. Louisville's a team that can do a lot of things with their legs ... What Dan McDonnell has done with this program has been impressive to watch. He's built them into an annual winner.

What does it take to win a CWS?

Boone: You've gotta pitch well. Having an elite closer like Nick Burdi at the back end helps. The ability to catch the ball. Each and every team in the CWS this year pitches well. It's gonna come down to some low-scoring, close games.

Does that play into Louisville's favor or hurt them?

Boone: Of course you can always have the outlier game with a ton of runs scored, but playing at TD Ameritrade here, it's a pitcher's park. It's going to be taking advantage of your opportunities. Most of these teams are adept at small ball. Louisville is great on the bases and plays good defense.

Is there anything to a team winning the first five games of the NCAA tournament before they get to Omaha? Does that matter at all?

Boone: History will tell you that the last few winners here have run the table from regionals. You come in without a blemish and feeling pretty good about yourselves. All these teams are here because they're playing at a high level. Everyone feels like they have a real opportunity.

Louisville is the only team returning from last year's field. What are the advantages of that experience, if there are any?

Boone: Familiarity from just being here. This is the pinnacle of their sport. The familiarity is certainly nice and an advantage, but in a lot of ways, it's very much a new team. They lost a ton of key guys. The fact that they were able to be here. It takes a little bit of that newness off, the wide-eyed stuff. It's a small advantage but it's still an advantage.

Follow Louisville beat writer Jeff Greer on Twitter (@jeffgreer_cj) for more Cards updates from Omaha.