NCAA Baseball Tournament

[xubrew]

Anyone out there excited about the baseball tournament??

Anybody??

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Anybody??


Anyway, it's always fun to watch, but only if you like college baseball, I guess.

If I could make one change to college athletics, it would be wooden bats in college baseball. There's just something about a crack of the bat as opposed to a ping of the bat.

If I could make two changes, I'd start college basketball a little later, and therefore play a little later into April, but if I could only change one thing, it'd be wooden bats.

All games will be on in their entirety for the first time ever. I'm curious to see what the ratings will be. Same with softball. For whatever reason, the softball ratings during the season are actually matching regular season college basketball. Granted, there are two softball games a week versus 50+ basketball games a week on TV, but still, that's kind of surprising.

[GoMuskies]

I'm excited about the Shockers winning five straight to get to the Regionals. I'm also hoping Louisville can get through their Regional to (likely) get slaughtered by Vandy in the Supers.

I think college baseball is fine without wooden bats. They've toned down the metal bats enough to where the game is fine with aluminum. Miami (FL) hit 13 total HRs as a team this year. In the old aluminum bat era, they probably averaged 13 HRs per weekend series.

[xubrew]

At the end of the day, I just like the sound of the crack of the bat. I agree that the game itself is fine with the new bat restrictions, though.

[BandAid]

I love me some College World Series. I don't tend to follow the regionals or supers that closely except to cheer for the little guys. It's fun having Stony Brook or UC Irvine come to town.

[GoMuskies]

UC Irvine is not a little guy in college baseball.

[BandAid]

UC Irvine is not a little guy in college baseball.

Most definitely not. But in the larger scope of college athletics they are - it's just fun to cheer for the Anteaters one week out of the year (even if they may be the higher seed).

[paulxu]

You guys may be following the Cocks to Omaha again this year...but they don't have the same caliber team as the last few years.

[X-band '01]

At the end of the day, I just like the sound of the crack of the bat. I agree that the game itself is fine with the new bat restrictions, though.

But the ping of the bat is a signature for both Little League and the College World Series in general.

As for the A-10, I guess it's not a good sign when the conference champion (SLU) gets sent out as the bottom seed in South Carolina's regional.

[BandAid]

You guys may be following the Cocks to Omaha again this year...but they don't have the same caliber team as the last few years.
Having the Cocks out is always a lot of fun. They really bring the colorful people out to the park.

[XUglow]

I was going to try to get to some regional games at Miss. St. this weekend, but the tickets went on sale at 8 am on Wednesday, and they were sold out of all but standing room by 10 am. You also had to purchase a packet for every game in the Regional, and that is just way more baseball than I want to see in person. I will just watch on TV when I can. The 4-seed that MSU plays today handed them their only 2 non-conference losses this year, so I imagine that they have their hands full getting out of this regional.

South Carolina is OK this year, but it will be an upset for them to make it to Omaha. There are just too many missing pieces this year.

In my opinion, the bats are just too watered down. There were more double plays in the SEC tournament this year than there were extra base hits. The pitching is good in the SEC, but it isn't that good.

[xubrew]

Virginia may be a team to watch for as well.

Indiana's team keeps getting better and better. They actually earned a seed this year. It would be nice to see them finally do something, even if they get blasted in the Supers, at least they will have gotten there.

[GoMuskies]

Clemson couldn't handle college baseball power Liberty in their opener.

[XU '11]

A couple of good stories I noticed today. One is UConn who was the last team to qualify for the Big East tournament and proceeded to win the league's auto-bid as the #8 seed. They followed that up with a win today at Virginia Tech.

Even cooler is this: http://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/article/2013-05-30/never-give-never-surrender

Towson's baseball team was told on March 8th that the program was being dropped. They played half the season thinking it would be their last. The governor ended up saving the program because apparently the state had an extra $300k laying around, but still the fact that they have been successful this year and won their first round game today is pretty incredible.

[paulxu]

Cocks handle A10 rep St. Louis in first game.

[XUglow]

Cocks handle A10 rep St. Louis in first game.

SEC dropped 5 of 9 opening round games. Ouch! All of the hosts won. All of the road teams lost. William & Mary played more like William than Mary against Ole Miss.

Baseball isn't like other sports. One hot pitcher from a small school can completely disrail the post-season for a power team.

[XU '11]

All of the hosts won. All of the road teams lost.

#4 UConn won at #1 Virginia Tech

[paulxu]

He was probably referring to the 4 SEC teams who are hosting regionals. They all won on their home fields.

[XUglow]

Yes, I was discussing the SEC teams only. Home field advantage is huge in baseball. It is hard to imagine, but there was a time when basketball teams got to host opening round games in the NCAA basketball tourney. Baseball has a long way to go before they consider neutral sites, but it is getting bigger every year. Omaha is 8 teams. Maybe they could make it work by having eight 8-team regionals at neutral sites at minor league facilities with the winners going to Omaha.

[xubrew]

SEC dropped 5 of 9 opening round games. Ouch! All of the hosts won. All of the road teams lost. William & Mary played more like William than Mary against Ole Miss.

Baseball isn't like other sports. One hot pitcher from a small school can completely disrail the post-season for a power team.

Yes, but you can't use one hot pitcher every day.


Yes, I was discussing the SEC teams only. Home field advantage is huge in baseball. It is hard to imagine, but there was a time when basketball teams got to host opening round games in the NCAA basketball tourney. Baseball has a long way to go before they consider neutral sites, but it is getting bigger every year. Omaha is 8 teams. Maybe they could make it work by having eight 8-team regionals at neutral sites at minor league facilities with the winners going to Omaha.

Basketball is one of the few, if not the only, sport that plays the entire tournament at neutral sites. I'm in the extreme minority on this, but I wouldn't mind seeing the earlier rounds at campus sites. You play a thirty game season. If a team goes 28-2 against the toughest schedule in the country, they deserve to play at home. I think in baseball, soccer, football (FCS), softball, or whatever, earning the home field adds something to the season and makes it more exciting and meaningful. Basketball will never go to that, and a lot of people would be upset if they did, but I don't think of it as being unfair. If anything, the team that had the better season should have an advantage. They earned it.

[XUglow]

There are 16 regionals. Through Sunday, 12 of the hosts won their regional. Only one lost (VaTech). 3 more are to be decided today. North Carolina, Vandy, and Miss St. all have 1 loss entering the final game. There is potential for 15 of 16 hosts to win their regional.

The problem with your basketball scenario is that the 28-2 team would be one from a small conference that would have to go play a road game at UNC, Duke, OSU, Indiana, UK, etc. That's not much of a reward for a great season.

[GoMuskies]

Would love to see FAU or Central Arkansas pull off a shocker today. Georgia Tech winning would be great for Louisville, but there's not quite the ring to that upset.

Can't believe Clemson lost to Liberty twice and did not even get a shot at the Cocks this weekend.

[paulxu]

The Gamecocks have won 27 straight regional games they have hosted in the last few years.
Very tough to beat at home.

[xubrew]

There are 16 regionals. Through Sunday, 12 of the hosts won their regional. Only one lost (VaTech). 3 more are to be decided today. North Carolina, Vandy, and Miss St. all have 1 loss entering the final game. There is potential for 15 of 16 hosts to win their regional.

The problem with your basketball scenario is that the 28-2 team would be one from a small conference that would have to go play a road game at UNC, Duke, OSU, Indiana, UK, etc. That's not much of a reward for a great season.

If a team goes 28-2 against the toughest schedule in the country, they would be playing at home regardless of what conference they were from. If Duke, Kentucky or Indiana go 28-2, then they should get to play at home. The teams that get the #1 and #2 seeds didn't get them by just having the seeds fall out of the sky. They earned them. In other sports, a better seed means a little more than simply getting to wear white in front of a crowd where many will be pulling for an upset.

I don't think the NFL, or college football, or college baseball, or college soccer, or college softball playoffs are unfair because they award the better team by letting them play at home. Basketball doesn't do that, and I get why they don't do it, but I think it would definitely add more meaning to the season if they did.

[GoMuskies]

I think it would take more away from the Tournament than it would add to the regular season.

[xubrew]

I think it would take more away from the Tournament than it would add to the regular season.

Maybe, but the other tournaments do just fine. Granted, none of them are quite the same as the basketball tournament, but still.

Do you think the conferences that play the tournaments at campus sites and reward the regular season champions are any less exciting?? Personally, I do not. I think it makes the regular season better. I love how the Horizon League structures their tournament. If anything, I think the tournament is more exciting. It definitely guarantees a good atmosphere. I don't see the NCAA Tournament losing a whole lot, but that's just my opinion. I also know that the NCAA will never go to campus sites for the rounds of 64 and 32, so it's a moot point.

[GoMuskies]

I think conference tournaments and the NCAA Tournament are apples and oranges.

[XUglow]

FAU with 6 runs in the top of the 9th. UNC comes back. Super Regional berth on the line. Baseball drama... fantastic.

[GoMuskies]

Mike Fox should be flogged for what he did to Kent Emmanuel.

[GoMuskies]

College baseball is so silly. They work their pitchers to death. UNC and FAU both guilty of it tonight. FAU probably going to manage to blow this AGAIN.

[GoMuskies]

Mike Fox should be flogged for what he did to Kent Emmanuel.

Another flogging for what he required of Hobbs Johnson.

[GoMuskies]

Great game, though. Heatbreak city for the Owls.

[XUglow]

Super Regional weekend. I am hoping all 8 series go 3 games. Love the game 3 drama.

[GoMuskies]

The news of the week here in Wichita is that Gene Stephenson was unceremoniously shit-canned by the Shockers after 36 years. He's the second winningest college baseball coach of all time and took the Shockers to 28 NCAA Tournaments (only 1 in the last 4 years), 7 College World Series (last in 1996) and a national title (1989).

[paulxu]

Cocks headed to Chapel Hill to play #1 seeded UNC.
I would suspect first game will be rained out.

[XUglow]

The news of the week here in Wichita is that Gene Stephenson was unceremoniously shit-canned by the Shockers after 36 years. He's the second winningest college baseball coach of all time and took the Shockers to 28 NCAA Tournaments (only 1 in the last 4 years), 7 College World Series (last in 1996) and a national title (1989).

Not sure that I understand that move at all unless Gene is just getting lazy in his old age. I have seen that happen with a lot of older baseball coaches.

[XUglow]

Cocks headed to Chapel Hill to play #1 seeded UNC.
I would suspect first game will be rained out.

MSU at UVA might get affected as well. The UNC/USC series is the most interesting one to me. If USC gets past UNC, your HC will have done one helluva job this year. He had to replace a lot of pieces.

[GoMuskies]

Not sure that I understand that move at all unless Gene is just getting lazy in his old age. I have seen that happen with a lot of older baseball coaches.

I understand it. They're pretty lousy right now with no signs of life. They've got this huge (by college baseball standards), nice stadium, and my boys and I probably accounted for about 10% of their attendance this year. The program got away from him, and I think they're (rightfully) concerned about becoming the Dayton of college baseball.

[paulxu]

MSU at UVA might get affected as well. The UNC/USC series is the most interesting one to me. If USC gets past UNC, your HC will have done one helluva job this year. He had to replace a lot of pieces.

This actually should be (I hope) some great baseball. Holbrook in his first year had some really big shoes to fill (Tanner took them to 3 Championship games in a row the last 3 years, and won 2 of them). That's a lot of pressure. Sort of like Xavier assistants taking over the reins at Cintas.

UNC has been freaking unbelievable this year, and should advance. But the Cocks will make it hard. (insert whatever)

[XUglow]

UNC has been freaking unbelievable this year, and should advance. But the Cocks will make it hard. (insert whatever)

I am betting UNC has some sore arms right now. USC had a much easier time of it. That could be the equalizer.

[GoMuskies]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if the kid who pitches for UNC tomorrow is never the same after what his coach did to him last weekend. 124 pitches on Saturday and then back for 51 pitches on Monday. Insane.

[paulxu]

Heels take first in bottom of the 9th.
This is not shaping up to be a good weekend for my baseball teams.

[XUglow]

Heels take first in bottom of the 9th.
This is not shaping up to be a good weekend for my baseball teams.

Good start for USC in game 2.

[paulxu]

Cocks get it done. Rubber game tomorrow.
UNC hasn't lost back-to-back all year.
This was first time they were shutout in 90 some games.
Should be a good one.

[GoMuskies]

Barring something unforseen happening, my son and I will be hitting the road next weekend to catch Louisville and Indiana in Omaha. Can't wait!

[X-band '01]

It's great when a mid-major like Indiana makes the College World Series.

[XUglow]

It's great when a mid-major like Indiana makes the College World Series.

This... X1000. The first Big Ten team since the 14th century or something like that. Louisville appears to have some serious pitching. Vandy was very good this year, but they pulled their usual year-end disappearing act. If you get a chance to see Miss. St. finish against UVA today, you may see something that looks familiar.

http://musicmule.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/eastbound-down.jpghttp://binaryapi.ap.org/50029184f5874781b120ab72a3a1d635/320x.jpg

[XUglow]

Bullies through to Omaha. Only 1 national seed has made it thus far. UNC and Oregon St are both trying to survive a game 3. I like USC and OSU in the night caps.

[X-band '01]

If the Mississippi State fans were still visiting our board, we'd be hearing the "cream theory" right about now.

[XUglow]

I guess I missed that. What is the "cream theory"?

They used to trash talk about basketball, but they have learned not to give me any grief over the last few years. It was a slow process, but the lessons finally were learned.

[GoMuskies]

Other Carolina is blowing it against Real Carolina right now.

[GoMuskies]

UNC completes the field for Omaha. Can't wait to experience the CWS for the first time Saturday night!

[XUglow]

UNC completes the field for Omaha. Can't wait to experience the CWS for the first time Saturday night!

Good luck to the Cards. To me, their side of the bracket looks favorable.

[paulxu]

Apparently you can date our women, AND lick our Cocks. Who knew.

[X-band '01]

I guess I missed that. What is the "cream theory"?

They used to trash talk about basketball, but they have learned not to give me any grief over the last few years. It was a slow process, but the lessons finally were learned.

Pretty much means that they (MSU) always shit the bed whenever their teams are on the national stage.

Let's not forget that they were a 2 seed in Xavier's regional in 2004; they "creamed" themselves in that game, for lack of a better word.

[bobbiemcgee]

Wonder how little ol' XU Baseball will like playing the Bluejays in their home park:

http://www.omahameca.com/HomePageImage.ashx?hpid=2

[XUglow]

Pretty much means that they (MSU) always shit the bed whenever their teams are on the national stage.

Let's not forget that they were a 2 seed in Xavier's regional in 2004; they "creamed" themselves in that game, for lack of a better word.

Two things: 1) We could have beaten anyone that day. 2) Lawrence Roberts was about 40%.

With him lame, we stood a better than average chance of winning that game anyway. The fact that we were scalding hot meant that they had no chance. I am not going to let anyone down here get away with saying they shit the bed. That sounds like they blew it. They didn't. We just crushed them.

[X-band '01]

I'd love to see if Louisville wears their Astro-like jerseys during the College World Series.

(and for the record GoMuskies, those drape-like jerseys are awesome)

[GoMuskies]

Disappointing first trip to Omaha. The venue was great, the atmosphere surrounding he event was very good, but the game was basically unwatchable. 3:45 for a 2-0 game in which Louisville essentially never threatened to score? Awful.

[XUglow]

Disappointing first trip to Omaha. The venue was great, the atmosphere surrounding he event was very good, but the game was basically unwatchable. 3:45 for a 2-0 game in which Louisville essentially never threatened to score? Awful.

That's about 1 hit per hour for the Cards.

[GoMuskies]

Cards picking up right where they left off. 9 outs, 2 hits, no runs so far today. Down 1-0 with Oregon State threatening to tack on.

[GoMuskies]

Louisville finally scored! Only down 10-0 in an elimination game before the scored their first run, but it's progress nonetheless.

[xubrew]

And so ends the greatest athletic year in Louisville history. Maybe in any history.

Football won the sugar bowl, men's soccer made the Elite Eight, men's basketball won the national title, women's basketball was national runner up, and baseball made the College World Series. Not a bad year. I believe Jurich will keep his job.

[XUglow]

I think we are seeing the end of the dead bat and dead ball era. UCLA is batting less that 0.170 as a team, and they are 2-0. Things are going to change. No one knows what they are going to do yet, but they will change. My guess is they will try a ball with lower seams next year.

Mississippi State has been to the semi-finals before, but they have never made it to the final game. It's exciting for people down here. My back office staff is all MSU with one UT fan, and he has maroon on today. My front staff is divided between LSU and MSU fans, but the LSU fans are behind MSU now. I am guessing that I won't get a lot of work out of anyone from 2 pm Central on. I am headed to a funeral this afternoon, so I won't be around to crack a whip.

[GoMuskies]

I agree that something will change. This World Series has been painfully boring because of the compbination of this stadium and these bats.

[xubrew]

I like baseball. But, I don't like it to the point to where I feel that there cannot be too much of a good thing.

The games take forever, and there are sixty of them. At times, when it's 8-3 in the 7th inning, you just want to see outs so you can get the game over with and go home. The dead bats do move the game along a little quicker, but I guess it can still create boredom.

I'm for wooden bats. The MLB offered to supply wooden bats to all NCAA teams, and they passed. A decision that still blows my mind. It's a better game with a wooden bat.

I know baseball purists will kill me for wanting this, but what I can I say?? I guess you love the game more than me. I'm for a mercy rule. If you're up five runs after seven innings, the game is over. Hell, maybe even six innings. There is no need to play for nearly another hour when the game has virtually been decided. Again, I like baseball, but there is a point when it's the third game in two days, and you're up or down by six, and no one is making any outs, where you just want to look up at the sky and scream "GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!"

[GoMuskies]

There is a mercy rule. 10 runs after 7 innings. Not applicable in the NCAA Tournament, though.

[xubrew]

There is a mercy rule. 10 runs after 7 innings. Not applicable in the NCAA Tournament, though.

I know. It needs to be five. And I thought that was only for conference games. To be honest I don't really know the rules. I thought that was just something the conference did.

[XUglow]

College baseball games during the regular season just fly by. They have strict rules for pitch times and between innings. All of that seems to be tossed out the window for the CWS. We are seeing 2 hr games turn into 3.5 hr games for no good reason.

This park changes things a lot. UCLA is actually pitching up in the zone on purpose. Let them hit it and let the D and the park do all of the work. That blows me away.

I did see one funny thing. Oregon St advanced from the Super Regionals to Omaha and put out a poster entitled "Next Stop... Omaha!". It featured Danny Hayles rounding 3rd. In game one vs MSU, Hayles pounded a long out to right field, and some Oregon guys photoshopped the poster to read, "Next stop... the weight room!"

[xubrew]

My experience is that they typically take at least three hours to play. They don't always seem to fly by to me.

[GoMuskies]

I went to six Wichita State games this year. Average game length was definitely less than 2 and a half hours. Maybe UAB just sucks. :)

BTW, the WSJ did an article on pace of play in college baseball a couple of years ago. This is a bit dated, but it has some good info. This is before the new bats, too, so I have to think the average game length has shrunk a bit more since '11.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703559604576174813158261654.html

[xubrew]

I think you might be on to something.

[xu95]

I think we are seeing the end of the dead bat and dead ball era. UCLA is batting less that 0.170 as a team, and they are 2-0. Things are going to change. No one knows what they are going to do yet, but they will change. My guess is they will try a ball with lower seams next year.

Mississippi State has been to the semi-finals before, but they have never made it to the final game. It's exciting for people down here. My back office staff is all MSU with one UT fan, and he has maroon on today. My front staff is divided between LSU and MSU fans, but the LSU fans are behind MSU now. I am guessing that I won't get a lot of work out of anyone from 2 pm Central on. I am headed to a funeral this afternoon, so I won't be around to crack a whip.

I'm surprised your UT employee is at work today. Doesn't he typically have to do his community service on Fridays?

[X-band '01]

College baseball games during the regular season just fly by. They have strict rules for pitch times and between innings. All of that seems to be tossed out the window for the CWS. We are seeing 2 hr games turn into 3.5 hr games for no good reason.



That reason is the Mothership advertising itself.

That and prolonged SEC football previews, I would imagine.

[paulxu]

All the people in Glow's office are currently partying like mad.

[XUglow]

I'm surprised your UT employee is at work today. Doesn't he typically have to do his community service on Fridays?

Randy is actually a good guy, but he does need to get out more. He has left the state of MS 1 time. He went to Memphis a few years ago and didn't like it, and for him it confirmed that leaving home for anything is over-rated. His parents are hill country folks from TN. His parents wanted to move out of the winter snow in the mountains, but they didn't want to go some place where people had messed things up, so they ended up in some holler out from Guntown. (Is holler even a word? We didn't have hollers in CA, so I am not sure if that is the word he used.)

[xu95]

Holler is definitely a word in the south and it doesn't mean to yell.