@smokeminside posted:

Know I'm late but you guys seem like you're having fun.

Oldest son done playing (Amherst) but running in his second Boston Marathon on Monday. Does that count for anything? At all?

Middle son a senior CF at Swarthmore. This year the team has been in more football score games--winning and losing--than single digit games. Total Jekyll and Hyde season.

Youngest is a first year pitcher at Vassar. A lot of appearances, all in relief, all in high stress situations, all 1-2 innings long. Doing well about 60% of the time.

And just to make sure you don't leave un-entertained, there is this:

https://fb.watch/jTrwSlTRIO/

Im sure our paths crossed on the North East recruiting circuit.   The HC's for Swarthmore and Vassar are both terrific guys.  And thanks for that clip, truly funny.

Very likely.  He was at one of the Long Island HF sessions.  Wash and Lee was one of my guy's top choices. I distinctly remember watching my son walk up to one of your son's coaches during the coach meet. They exchanged a few words and my son walked away. He later told me the coach quickly and politely told him that while they liked his pitching, his academics weren't up to snuff. He (and I) REALLY appreciated how no-nonsense the coach was. Saved us a LOT of time and emotional investment.

Good luck to your son. Tough conference for sure.

@TPM posted:

Edit...There should be a 10 run rule after the 7th for every game in every conference in EVERY division.

This should be about avoiding injuries for all teams.

JMO

@smokeminside

Cavaliers are #2 in D1 RPI.

TPM, all the more surprising the Cavs would get beaten so badly by the Spiders.

Hey, lay off the Spiders!! 😂

@smokeminside posted:

TPM, all the more surprising the Cavs would get beaten so badly by the Spiders.

Spiders lost!

Wanted everyone’s thoughts. Which conference, Big East or WCC, has better baseball talent and quality of games being played?

If baseball was the only factor, which conference would you prefer to play in?

@CADad949 posted:

Wanted everyone’s thoughts. Which conference, Big East or WCC, has better baseball talent and quality of games being played?

If baseball was the only factor, which conference would you prefer to play in?

Both one bid conferences. Big East has UConn which is a top 10 team this year and generally speaking a strong program. Creighton is generally a good program. Bottom 3/4 of that conference are not very good on a year to year basis.

Baseball being the only factor - WCC is going to have significantly better weather.

Son moved into third all-time last night for career appearances for UT.  Will surely get 2nd and if he comes back next year will take the lead from his best friend by a long shot.  Is tied for 10th right now in NCAA appearances for the year with 25.

@CADad949 posted:

Wanted everyone’s thoughts. Which conference, Big East or WCC, has better baseball talent and quality of games being played?

If baseball was the only factor, which conference would you prefer to play in?

Massey ranks Strength of Schedule for WCC at 10, and Big East at 21.

Massey Ratings - College Baseball Ratings

Great info!

@PitchingFan posted:

Post your information here.  If you are willing to tell us where your child plays, that would be great.

It appears there's a chance our kids may play one another.

Yes but I'm hoping we have turned a corner and continue playing well.  Our projected RPI now is #6 but you know how projections go.  I think if we win half of our final 9 SEC games we will host.  But 6 are on the road and we have not played well on the road.

Last weekend of the season for son's team, a non-conference series.

Conference tournament didn't go as hoped, but a good season non the less for the team.

Son found the right spot with a great program, and a good group of guys to play with. Got to play and made some noise. Can't beat that.

My son ended his first year season getting swept in the quarterfinals. Luckily preparing for his class finals will keep him distracted and not thinking about the shoulda, woulda, coulda and what ifs. The team did well overall, it had Jeckyl and Hyde performances but showed some brilliance when both pitching and hitting were performing. The roster was crowded and impossible to satisfy the players. The coaches did use the pre-season and practices to determine playing time. The kid started off slowly and had an injury that fairly affected his PT. The coaches did play freshmen and they did produce nicely, really going against the coaching grain even with other HA D3 teams. They did also pull 2 D1 transfers this year, one started and the other was part time not sure if injury was involved. The kid played the last 6 games including the playoffs and hit very well and contributed runs as expected. His surgically repaired arm had no issues and he did not hesitate to let it eat on throws to 3rd or home. I think he will look back at this favorably but completely dissatisfied and it will fuel him during this off season to get even better. At the risk of being sadistic, I enjoyed his struggle because it allowed him to grow and mature to overcome it. I only provided an ear/shoulder with some counsel when asked and offered encouragement plus gave lots of $ubsidy with the $&@*ing food apps. Anyway, I am sure all this fawning over my son will quickly change when he comes back home next week. I did miss the home chaos with 2 boys but I really did appreciate the partial tranquility with having only 1 kid for 9 months.

I did miss the home chaos with 2 boys but I really did appreciate the partial tranquility with having only 1 kid for 9 months.

When my daughter went off to college I turned to my son and said, “Now we’re going to know who did it.”

Son's season is over, the team underperformed compared to pre-season expectations.  Well, that's baseball, I guess, you can only control what you can control.  I enjoyed the livestreams, anyway.  On to summer ball!

Watching a little college baseball on Mother’s Day. Penn State is playing at Nebraska. Absolutely can’t stand Penn State’s road jerseys. They say “We Are” on the front & “Penn State” on the back. Just a terrible look.

Senior Night tomorrow night.  Son should come back for another year unless God decides to bless him again with a call on draft day.  Been a great journey so far.  He will leave as #2 Career Appearances leader, top 5 single season appearances, and top 10 in career era.  If he comes back, he will be #1 in appearances and have a chance to move up in other 2.  Played in CWS and was on SEC season and tournament champion teams. We say this all the time but it goes by so fast.  If your son is young, enjoy the ride.  it is a short one.  And probably was not supposed to play SEC level ball with no more velo than he has and only 5'10".

That last post came across as bragging but that was not my intention.  It was supposed to be an encouragement to those who maybe are not the biggest, strongest or fastest.  Son's gift is the ability to throw 5 pitches for strikes in any count and hit his spots.  He was recruited early but not for his velocity but success.  His final goal is to get one at bat in college, plus maybe win a CWS

Amazing comeback yesterday by Vandy, anybody see that!?  Their CF had a great HR rob in the 9th too

I love the postseason in college Baseball!

I Iove it also (not particularly in this case of Vandy winning)  but too many programs have players that are hurt and Vandy is one of them.

JMO

@TPM congrats to the Gators!

@PTWood posted:

@TPM congrats to the Gators!

@TPM Heading to Hoover as the #1 seed in the SEC tourney. Congrats!! I Think that was @PitchingFan's honor last season.

I got to watch my son at Hoover in 2017, Arkansas was a 4 seed and lost to LSU in the championship game. I hated LSU that season, they just seemed to have the Razorbacks number (Their fans travel in mass).  

The last push toward the CWS journey, good luck to all still playing!

@PTWood posted:

@TPM congrats to the Gators!

Thank you!

Gators share regular season Co-Champions with the Razorbacks and #1 seed in Hoover due to total wins.

We are so grateful Dave was given the opportunity to be a Gator coach. Great staff, great group of kids that work very hard and manage to stay healthy. I know lots of folks blame coaches when things go south, but players have just as much responsibility when shaping their  destiny.

Wyatt Langford, as mentioned several times, is the best example. Four games as a freshman, possibly #1 on draft day?  He had a freak accident and required immediate surgery (reminder to your boys, wear a cup). He was back at it 2 weeks later and now full speed ahead!

Lots of freshman/RSfreshman and sophmores made significant contributions. They weren't promised anything but their hardwork obviously paid off. And when someone went down they stepped up. Thankfully pitchers stayed healthy, a few offensive guys had weird stuff happen but everyone is healthy.

Thank you to all who have sent pms.

BTW, for the comments made about  Jac Caglianone. He IS a bona fide 2 way player. Remember that!

Go Gators!

@JucoDad

Gators played against UT for the championship last season.

Next is regionals, then super regionals.  Pretty sure UF will be a super sight.

The Road to Omaha is a tough gig! I have tons of respect to the smaller programs who have less resources that make it to Omaha.

Sure the SEC is the "belle of the ball" (is there no one prettier?!), but there are other conferences out there.   I've been doing a periodic check, and this season has some surprises.  A quick glance:

• It looks like Clemson & Virginia are peaking about now.  12 and 9 straight wins respectively.  Looking forward to the ACC tourney
• West Virginia, Texas and Ok State are all tied and sitting at the top of the Big 12 for the regular season
• Maryland has got a slim lead in the Big 10 for the regular season
• Stanford has sizeable lead in PAC-12
• UNCW and ECU has it going on.   ECU is always going to the post season it seems.
• Dallas Baptist running away with Conf USA
• Wright State and Kent State have sizeable leads in the Horizon and Mid-American conferences respectively
• Indiana State running away with Missouri Valley conference
• Coastal Carolina has a slim lead in the regular season, and a 7 game winning streak in the 14-team Sun Belt
• Penn (6 game winning streak) won the Ivy regular season, and is positioned well to win the conference tourney against Harvard for a regional bid

@fenwaysouth

I could go on about lots of teams that are doing well and  lots of teams not doing well and why.

But that wasn't my reason for posting.

All of the teams you mentioned are successful and where they are because of the hard work and not placing blame on losses. You never blame the other team. You just work hard at being better!

Remember, ex ACC and CUSA parent here and still and always be a fan.

@fenwaysouth posted:

Sure the SEC is the "belle of the ball" (is there no one prettier?!), but there are other conferences out there.   I've been doing a periodic check, and this season has some surprises.  A quick glance:

• Indiana State running away with Missouri Valley conference

DI baseball is the only poll that doesn't have us ranked I believe. Looking ahead to our series with Missouri State they seemed to think they were going to give us problems. 11-4/9-5/14-4 with the last game played mostly by backups. The only game that was close was the second one. Our right fielder had to go up over the fence to rob a grand slam that would have made it an 8-9 game them. And this was with our center fielder (one of our best hitters and defenders) out with a hand injury. At this point I believe the only reason it matters if we win our tournament is to make a case to host a regional.

Shameless plug. This one went over the sign in left and out of the stadium.

https://twitter.com/IndStBaseb.../1659985007623143430

@fenwaysouth posted:

• Penn (6 game winning streak) won the Ivy regular season, and is positioned well to win the conference tourney against Harvard for a regional bid

Harvard vs Princeton in the elimination game starting in about 10 minutes. Winner plays undefeated Penn for championship tomorrow.

@MidAtlanticDad thanks for the picture.   The new artificial turf field looks significantly  better than the old grass field used to.   I assume it is still hard to find the field off the unmarked, meandering Philly roads between the water treatment plant (not where you want to be on a hot day) and the train tracks down the short left field line. 

I saw the 16-3 score in Penn's favor.  https://ivyleague.com/scoreboard/   Not a viewing game worthy of a championship, but I'm sure the Quakers will take it and run with it to the NCAA regionals.  4 of those Penn runs were BB RBIs, so Princeton had absolutely no pitching left..  It was 16-0 in the 5th before Princeton scored a run.   Yikes.

@fenwaysouth posted:

@MidAtlanticDad thanks for the picture.   The new artificial turf field looks significantly  better than the old grass field used to.   I assume it is still hard to find the field off the unmarked, meandering Philly roads between the water treatment plant (not where you want to be on a hot day) and the train tracks down the short left field line.

I saw the 16-3 score in Penn's favor.  https://ivyleague.com/scoreboard/   Not a viewing game worthy of a championship, but I'm sure the Quakers will take it and run with it to the NCAA regionals.  4 of those Penn runs were BB RBIs, so Princeton had absolutely no pitching left..  It was 16-0 in the 5th before Princeton scored a run.   Yikes.

Yup. No pitching left. A really fun weekend and season, though.

Tigers improved by 17 wins this year - most in D1.

@OskiSD,

As you know, improving by 17 games is not unheard of in the Ivy.  Princeton had a good run.   There are many last place one year to first place the following year stories since I've been following Ivy baseball.  Its not the first time doing that for Princeton.   The Ivys are so reliant on refreshing their recruiting blood with freshmen every year....the Ivy freshmen recruiting class matters a lot.

Looking forward to the NCAA regionals, and I'll find myself (reluctantly ) rooting for Penn.   They gave South Carolina a run for their money back in late February which was their first series.   Typically, in the NCAA regionals an Ivy team's lack of depth is exposed in their batting lineup (ie 7-9 hitters)  and starting pitchers.   Let's see if Penn and the Ivy League can get over the regional "hump".   

@fenwaysouth posted:

@OskiSD,

As you know, improving by 17 games is not unheard of in the Ivy.  Princeton had a good run.   There are many last place one year to first place the following year stories since I've been following Ivy baseball.  Its not the first time doing that for Princeton.   The Ivys are so reliant on refreshing their recruiting blood with freshmen every year....the Ivy freshmen recruiting class matters a lot.

Looking forward to the NCAA regionals, and I'll find myself (reluctantly ) rooting for Penn.   They gave South Carolina a run for their money back in late February which was their first series.   Typically, in the NCAA regionals an Ivy team's lack of depth is exposed in their batting lineup (ie 7-9 hitters)  and starting pitchers.   Let's see if Penn and the Ivy League can get over the regional "hump".   

I'll bite my tongue and do the same. Penn's a very good club with unusual pitching depth for the conference.

What has happened to LSU?  Weren't they the school that NILed its way to supposed success?

@anotherparent posted:

What has happened to LSU?  Weren't they the school that NILed its way to supposed success?

SEC has looked pretty darn tough.  I’ve watched nearly all of the tourney.  I don’t think LSU was too concerned about winning.  I think they were trying to get action for some pitchers to shore things up for regionals.  Don’t even think they went to their ace(s) when they could have.  I’m not an LSU fan.  They still looked really good.  

@anotherparent posted:

What has happened to LSU?  Weren't they the school that NILed its way to supposed success?

I’m also not an LSU fan. But their pitching staff has dealt with a lot of injuries. Of the guys that stayed healthy only Paul Skenes has pitched to his potential. And @TexasLefty is correct that they weren’t really playing for anything in the SEC tournament. I wouldn’t want to run into them in a Regional.

I don’t get not going to ace. Their ace got beat.  And their #2 guy.  They played all their studs and got beat twice.  I don’t think anyone goes to Hoover and not give it their all.  

And we are a regional host.

https://twitter.com/MVCsports/.../1662981109934637057

@SomeBaseballDad posted:

And we are a regional host.

https://twitter.com/MVCsports/.../1662981109934637057

Heads up to anybody here affiliated with Wright State, North Carolina, or Iowa. If you plan on coming do not hesitate to get a hotel room and tickets to the games. Unless you wouldn't mind staying in a crappy hotel room and sitting in the stadium parking lot watching the games on your phone.

There should be a reasonable amount of decent hotels and seating to be allowed to host.  Several of the teams that are hosting this year fit into the category you mentioned.

@PitchingFan posted:

There should be a reasonable amount of decent hotels and seating to be allowed to host.  Several of the teams that are hosting this year fit into the category you mentioned.

Thinking about it, it comes down to a couple of things. Mostly how many casual fans the three other teams bring with them. If it's mostly parents/close relatives things will be fine. Now if they bring a sizable fan base that's another story. As for the stadium, the field and facilities are fine, but it is on the small side. That said during the season the area along the left field line is reserved for alumni. If they kick them out and install temporary seating there, bring in a food truck or two and portable restrooms, then I don't think there should be too many issues.

I understand that is one of the main reasons they decided not to send several of the larger fan bases there.

@PitchingFan posted:

I understand that is one of the main reasons they decided not to send several of the larger fan bases there.

Yeah doesn't it just suck when a small school has a good team.

That’s questionable.  RPI saved them.  Lost to every P5 they played except a midweek to Vandy.  I say you should get no credit for losing rather at home or on the road.  No way you win by losing.  Don’t think I’m saying UT should be there because we played too up and down this year.  I just don’t see how ISU, coastal, Kentucky, Auburn or USC and probably a couple others.  RPI gives you points for losing    That is everyone gets a trophy mentality.

@PitchingFan posted:

That’s questionable.  RPI saved them.  Lost to every P5 they played except a midweek to Vandy.  I say you should get no credit for losing rather at home or on the road.  No way you win by losing.  Don’t think I’m saying UT should be there because we played too up and down this year.  I just don’t see how ISU, coastal, Kentucky, Auburn or USC and probably a couple others.  RPI gives you points for losing    That is everyone gets a trophy mentality.

Thing is no one pays attention to us mid-majors. Like when we have a very productive player go down and miss the first three weeks of the season, when we played all those P5 teams.  Also, we were trying to figure out pitching. That said I guess we'll see. What is the saying, "the rubber meets the road".

@PitchingFan posted:

  I just don’t see how ISU, coastal, Kentucky, Auburn or USC and probably a couple others.  RPI gives you points for losing    That is everyone gets a trophy mentality.

Convinced USC missed because they played us opening weekend and it brought their RPI down. I'm also 100% ok with this because their fans were....less than cordial. Yes all fan bases are tough.

@SomeBaseballDad posted:

Yeah doesn't it just suck when a small school has a good team.

I actually love it when a small school has a good team.

@SomeBaseballDad posted:

Thing is no one pays attention to us mid-majors.

I think a lot of people were paying attention to the Sycamores' success.

A mid D1, does not have to meet the same criteria to make the 64 team field, as a P5 does.

ISU had an outstanding season this year and won their conference championship!

Enjoy the moment and have fun!

I'm all for the smaller teams getting a shot, BUT they should have to play by the same rules.  You can't look at ISU or Coastal's record and who they beat and lost to and tell me that if they were an SEC team they would get to host.  The system is flawed and I believe it is intentional to push the agenda of making sure there are a couple of mid-majors in Omaha.  The Cinderella story.  But when you change the system for that to happen, something is wrong.  We live in a culture where certain agendas are pushed and when that happens the rules are changed.  The RPI is greatly flawed.  A win is a win and a loss is a loss.  If you lose on the road, you should not get credit higher than a win at home.  A lot of P5 schools schedule smaller state schools to give them money for their program and that is a good thing.  Don't punish them when they do it.  If they lose, light them up.  But if a mid-major loses to a P5 on the road they should not be rewarded.  There are several schools that played the game this year and were rewarded even with bad losses.  They played up on the road and lost and still got rewarded.  If that is not "everybody gets a trophy" then something is wrong.  But it also applied to P5's like Kentucky.  They were a trainwreck at the end and still got rewarded for going on the road and losing.  Now they get rewarded by giving them a host when they cannot even put the other three teams up in hotels.  They are making them stay in dorms, and not the good dorms.  The NCAA selection committee has become a joke.  Auburn got to host because their man is the chairman.

BTW, the USC was South Carolina.  I forgot not everyone is from this area.  Southern Cal is the Other USC and rarely referred to in baseball.  Just like UT is Tennessee not Texas.

Here UT is Texas.  It always  confuses me when Tennessee is referred to as UT🤣.

I hate Texas but they aren’t a small name.  And to me USC is California. All depends on where you live.

MSU is Michigan State.

Bob

@baseballhs posted:

Here UT is Texas.  It always  confuses me when Tennessee is referred to as UT🤣.

I hate Texas but they aren’t a small name.  And to me USC is California. All depends on where you live.

Must not be an SEC guy.  I will also say that school in Ohio never starts with the word The.

@baseballhs posted:

Here UT is Texas.  It always  confuses me when Tennessee is referred to as UT🤣.

I hate Texas but they aren’t a small name.  And to me USC is California. All depends on where you live.

This is 100% correct. And I am an SEC guy. I hate the University of Texas as much as anyone but you can’t deny their relevance in college baseball. Over the history of their program they have far exceeded what Tennessee has done. It’s not even close. The exact same argument can be made for the University of Southern California over South Carolina, who has only been a prominent program for the past 15 years or so. There is no doubt that the SEC is king of the mountain today, and has been for at least the past decade plus. But it hasn’t always been that way.

And in 2 years, the SEC will have 2 UTs. Both with fans who think they own it….

I'm actually a UGA football fan and we always referred to UT as Tennessee and Texas was just Texas.  Southern Cal is very rarely spoken of anyway and South Carolina is normally usc with no capitalization.  I still use it when referring to it with my Carolina friends just to mess with them.  I'm sure in 2 years there will be 2 schools saying we are the real UT in the SEC.

@baseballhs posted:

And it 2 years, the SEC will have 2 UTs. Both with fans who think they own it….

Yeah, that’s something to look forward to

UT is Texas

USC is Southern Cal

OSU is Ohio State

MSU is Michigan State

In the big picture these schools have has a bigger histories in college sports. Plus, while this is a baseball board most people think in terms of football and basketball in terms of these acronyms.

UConn had the best solution. No one confuses them with other universities beginning with C.

College Baseball Mulls RPI Reform In Wake Of NCAA Tournament Selections

https://www.baseballamerica.co...urnament-selections/

@TPM posted:

Enjoy the moment and have fun!

I have as this kids' dad been very thankful for ISU taking my kid in and giving him a chance to play these last few years. The kid got caught up in the facilities at Nebraska and we his parents got caught up in the scholarship offer. If I had only had a crystal ball. That said this is it. He has received some indy ball offers. On the other hand he has this really down to earth girlfriend, so my advice has been it's time to start a life. So, some trepidation going into the weekend.

The whole RPI argument. They list us as having only one batter hitting 300. That's not true. We have two, it's just one of them doesn't meet the plate appearance requirements because he was hurt. So they want to condemn RPI as being flawed, while putting out flawed information about teams.

@adbono posted:

I actually love it when a small school has a good team.

So I am officially adopting Indiana State to root for as a dark horse to shock the college baseball world. There is still a lot of parity in the top 50 D1 programs. In spite of big name players gravitating to big name programs (to get paid or to play on better teams) there are still plenty of really good players at mid-majors. Enough to get hot and win any tournament. Syc ‘em!? (apologies to Baylor fans)

I'm not anti-mid major.  My middle son went to The Citadel who has been to the CWS.  My problem is the RPI is manipulating a system with strange numbers to present an agenda that is not needed. A win is a win and a loss is a loss.  You should not be rewarded more for a loss on the road than a win at home.  If you lose, you lose points.  If you win, you get points.  If you schedule bad teams all the time, it will ultimately come back to haunt you.  If you want to use a system then use a system that a normal human being can comprehend but when no coach or AD can give you the formula for what do I get points for and what do I lose points for something is wrong.  When the chairman of the committee cannot determine why a team is in and why a team is out and put it in an understandable sentence something is wrong.  Now they are talking about giving double points if you play a team more than 400 miles from your campus.  That is crazy.  Their reasoning is teams in the west and northeast need incentive to play teams in the southeast.  But if you don't beat the teams in the southeast you should not get rewarded for just playing them.  When you look at several regional hosts seeds losses compared to teams in the SEC and ACC losses, they are not close. I also got tickled at the ones they gave credit for being hot early and others for being hot late.  Make up your mind.  Is it better to be hot early or late or be consistent.

BTW.  The host sites should have requirements.  ie. Kentucky not having motels available and a couple of teams choosing to stay 1 1/2 hours away and drive back and forth rather than stay in dorms and eat cafeteria food.  Schools that cannot sit enough people for the visiting teams to have plenty of seats.  Schools that cannot play in their own stadiums and go somewhere else.  Put a minimum number of permanent seats requirement on it and available hotel rooms within a reasonable distance.  I'm not pushing for UT to get a regional.  We did not deserve it the way we have played but neither did some of the others with their records, wins/losses, motels, stadiums, or the fact that your AD is the chairman of the committee.

In Kentucky's defense, it is not that there are not enough hotel rooms in Lexington.  It's that there is a major country music festival, plus HS state finals in several sports, the same weekend.  Should UK be penalized for those factors beyond its control?

@PitchingFan posted:

I'm not anti-mid major.  My middle son went to The Citadel who has been to the CWS.  My problem is the RPI is manipulating a system with strange numbers to present an agenda that is not needed. A win is a win and a loss is a loss.  You should not be rewarded more for a loss on the road than a win at home.  If you lose, you lose points.  If you win, you get points.  If you schedule bad teams all the time, it will ultimately come back to haunt you.  If you want to use a system then use a system that a normal human being can comprehend but when no coach or AD can give you the formula for what do I get points for and what do I lose points for something is wrong.  When the chairman of the committee cannot determine why a team is in and why a team is out and put it in an understandable sentence something is wrong.  Now they are talking about giving double points if you play a team more than 400 miles from your campus.  That is crazy.  Their reasoning is teams in the west and northeast need incentive to play teams in the southeast.  But if you don't beat the teams in the southeast you should not get rewarded for just playing them.  When you look at several regional hosts seeds losses compared to teams in the SEC and ACC losses, they are not close. I also got tickled at the ones they gave credit for being hot early and others for being hot late.  Make up your mind.  Is it better to be hot early or late or be consistent.

BTW.  The host sites should have requirements.  ie. Kentucky not having motels available and a couple of teams choosing to stay 1 1/2 hours away and drive back and forth rather than stay in dorms and eat cafeteria food.  Schools that cannot sit enough people for the visiting teams to have plenty of seats.  Schools that cannot play in their own stadiums and go somewhere else.  Put a minimum number of permanent seats requirement on it and available hotel rooms within a reasonable distance.  I'm not pushing for UT to get a regional.  We did not deserve it the way we have played but neither did some of the others with their records, wins/losses, motels, stadiums, or the fact that your AD is the chairman of the committee.

What an awesome rant. I don’t disagree with any of it. War Damn Eagle?!?!

@anotherparent posted:

In Kentucky's defense, it is not that there are not enough hotel rooms in Lexington.  It's that there is a major country music festival, plus HS state finals in several sports, the same weekend.  Should UK be penalized for those factors beyond its control?

Yes.  Why would you turn in a request to host knowing that you do not have rooms for everyone?  You know it had to be intentional.  No way someone in the UK baseball department did not do the research to know the largest event of their town was this weekend AND the campus was the host for state championships.  There has to be some penalty.  They should not be allowed to host for a couple of years or something.  I think when it came out Monday they should have had to give up the host and it go to someone else.  So, yes they should be penalized because it was intentional advantage to make the other teams' players and fans have to be put out.  Their kids get to stay in their own beds and eat their own food.  The other teams have to stay 1 1/2 hours away or stay in bad dorms, and according to several tweets from each team, no air and bad accommodations.

In order to be a host site, you have to be approved by meeting certain criteria.

As far as I know, that includes room and board.

So whose fault is it?

According to NCAA, they said they had X amount of motel rooms available when they sent in the host request.  Their media answer is we did not know the largest country music festival in the state and the state HS championships were there this weekend.  Come on.

Pitching Fan;

When I operated the Area Code games and Goodwill Series, organization of the housing for the 300 players, 120 College Coaches, 300 Pro Scouts & Parents was never easy and required a system. I noticed the U of Kentucky has a Hotel School for Graduates.

The UK school should use this for training. It is important that the Baseball Dept works with the Administration. It is NOT that difficult.

Bob

@PitchingFan

Visiting teams in every region have a choice of lessor expensive accommodations or dorms so it was the other team's choice to travel that distance. No 5 star hotels until you get to Omaha.

I don't  know who pays the bill, but many teams are deciding on dorms.

To state that it was done on purpose and be penalized and blame KY is crazy.

I don't blame Kentucky, what college wouldn't try to host? I mean a sports team trying to gain an advantage.....that never happens ;-).  If you want to blame someone blame the NCAA for allowing it.

https://www.outkick.com/kentuc...-dorm-housing-hotel/

Here is the story. Article says all 3 visiting teams were offered the dorms. There is blame to pass around but saying it was done on purpose isn't fair to the players.

Who would put their kids in dorms when many of them did not have working air conditioners?   You and I both know it is not realistic that somebody in that athletic department did not realize they would not have motels for players or fans.  And we both know that neither Vitello or Sully would  put their guys in dorms.   I cannot blame NCAA because Kentucky is a reputable university and for them to say we have adequate facilities was just wrong. There has to be some penalty.   They did it to gain the regional host, knowing they could not meet the need or should have known they could not make the need.  I can live with the fact if they would just own it and say our bad, we did it on purpose    Penalize us.  

RPI, hosting, blah, blah, blah. At 11/12 the kid suffered a serious back injury and was told by three different spine specialist that he might be able to play but give up any hope of a scholarship or being drafted. Was offered to be drafted out of HS (36-40 round, an easy no) and did receive a scholarship. Mistake, transferred, covid, TJ, and here we are. Has been offered to play indy ball, which I gave a thumbs down to. Told him today, still think this year is it, get on with your life, but now, facing tomorrow and the start of the tournament, it's stressful. Not ready for this year to end. 

RPI has nothing to do with batting averages or individual players.  My distaste for RPI has nothing to do with players or any particular school but just the mentality of NCAA currently.  They have agendas on lots of levels but I will stop there before this thread gets shut down.  

@PitchingFan posted:

Who would put their kids in dorms when many of them did not have working air conditioners?   You and I both know it is not realistic that somebody in that athletic department did not realize they would not have motels for players or fans.  And we both know that neither Vitello or Sully would  put their guys in dorms.   I cannot blame NCAA because Kentucky is a reputable university and for them to say we have adequate facilities was just wrong. There has to be some penalty.   They did it to gain the regional host, knowing they could not meet the need or should have known they could not make the need.  I can live with the fact if they would just own it and say our bad, we did it on purpose    Penalize us.  

If KY lied about dorm accommodations that is not right. But if the NCAA didn't do any research (you could literally google "what is there to do in Lex KY this weekend") it's on them. They are the governing body and ultimately responsible.

Where is Tennessee staying at Clemson?

@nycdad posted:

If KY lied about dorm accommodations that is not right. But if the NCAA didn't do any research (you could literally google "what is there to do in Lex KY this weekend") it's on them. They are the governing body and ultimately responsible.

Not really.....

I listened to a podcast where it was mentioned and seemed to me that they thought the dorms were fine.

@TPM posted:

Not really.....

I listened to a podcast where it was mentioned and seemed to me that they thought the dorms were fine.

But that's the thing right? You listened to a podcast, and this person heard this, and another person heard that and a blogger wrote an article....Lot of he said/she said.....That's why it's ultimately the NCAA's responsibility.

Look, I'm not saying KY should host. I am saying  I don't blame them for trying. If the NCAA had come in after selections and said...nope, so be it.

@nycdad

I am going with the guys on the podcast.

I am not a KY fan. But I have heard that it has a really nice campus and facility, a good RPI,  and they had a tough schedule and deserved a regional.

To be fair to all, maybe they should have made the KY team members stay in the same dorms.

@anotherparent posted:

To be fair to all, maybe they should have made the KY team members stay in the same dorms.

I somehow read this as a joke.  Too much mention of ‘KY’ put me back into my teenager joke mind.  I think it works as a joke 🤣

If KY was smarter, they’d make the dorms plush with big screens, game consoles, mini fridges, and complimentary tiny bottles of alcohol (for the 21+ rooms).  

@TexasLefty

LOL. That's how I feel about this topic.

Somehow it just doesn't seem appropriate for someone involved with one program to rag on different programs.

JMO

Reminder for anyone who forgot or doesn’t know …

ESPN+ has Squeeze Play. It’s Red Zone for the regionals. They show up to four games at a time or zone in on big moments.

As a parent, I prefer blowouts to the shit ISU pulled today.

@SomeBaseballDad posted:

As a parent, I prefer blowouts to the shit ISU pulled today.

Don’t ever complain about a win in postseason play!

What I have not heard mention in the KY hosting discussion are the families and fans.  I don't think it's fair that the options for players are to stay in dorms or hotels 1.5 hrs away.   All things being equal, a hotel is going to be nicer and more comfortable than a dorm.  However, there are schools with really nice and fancy dorms that are nicer than hotels.  From what I've read, KY's dorms are not like these (as someone said, the AC isn't even working in some).

But how about the families and fans?  Is it not unfair that the families and fans of these other schools will have a hard time finding accommodations?  Their choice is to stay far away or just stay home.  How many fans that would have gone to support their team ended up just staying home bec of difficulty finding accommodations?  Does this not give unfair advantage to KY?

Love the music they play in Conway (Coastal Carolina) when someone hits a homer. They play the chorus from Gone by Montgomery Gentry …

Gone like a freight train
Gone like yesterday
Gone like a soldier in the Civil War
Bang Bang!
Gone like a '59 Cadillac
Like all the good things, that ain't never comin' back.

@atlnon posted:

What I have not heard mention in the KY hosting discussion are the families and fans.  I don't think it's fair that the options for players are to stay in dorms or hotels 1.5 hrs away.   All things being equal, a hotel is going to be nicer and more comfortable than a dorm.  However, there are schools with really nice and fancy dorms that are nicer than hotels.  From what I've read, KY's dorms are not like these (as someone said, the AC isn't even working in some).

But how about the families and fans?  Is it not unfair that the families and fans of these other schools will have a hard time finding accommodations?  Their choice is to stay far away or just stay home.  How many fans that would have gone to support their team ended up just staying home bec of difficulty finding accommodations?  Does this not give unfair advantage to KY?

Here’s the view from the dorms on the 24th floor at Boston University. The suites are four single bedrooms, two baths attached to a living room or two double bedrooms, two baths attached to a living room.

@RJM posted:

Here’s the view from the dorms on the 24th floor at Boston University. The suites are four single bedrooms, two baths attached to a living room or two double bedrooms, two baths attached to a living room.

Yup, that qualifies for "nicer than hotel rooms"...  Wow!  First thing that came to my mind is "glad I'm not paying for one of my kids to study and live there..."  I can't imagine how expensive that is.

@atlnon posted:

Yup, that qualifies for "nicer than hotel rooms"...  Wow!  First thing that came to my mind is "glad I'm not paying for one of my kids to study and live there..."  I can't imagine how expensive that is.

https://www.bu.edu/housing/und...ing/stuvi/33agganis/

                                     housing       meals       total

Most big schools (certainly big state schools) have nice dorms and crappy dorms.  They charge more for the nice dorms.  So you can choose to spend less and then you might not get AC and 24th-floor views.

UK does have a bunch of nice new dorms, but they are not that close to the field.

As for parents and fans, yes, they have to stay an hour away.  On the other hand, it's not crucial to the team's success whether the fans get a good night's sleep, are tired from driving, or don't get to eat on schedule.  Unless you think it affects their cheering?

@anotherparent posted:

Most big schools (certainly big state schools) have nice dorms and crappy dorms.  They charge more for the nice dorms.  So you can choose to spend less and then you might not get AC and 24th-floor views.

UK does have a bunch of nice new dorms, but they are not that close to the field.

As for parents and fans, yes, they have to stay an hour away.  On the other hand, it's not crucial to the team's success whether the fans get a good night's sleep, are tired from driving, or don't get to eat on schedule.  Unless you think it affects their cheering?

Regarding KY dorm - yes, most big schools has nice dorms and crappy dorms.  Was the nice dorm given as an option to the other teams?  I imagine proximity to the field is not that big a deal bec it will be no different from staying at a hotel (they have team bus that can take them to the field, they don't need to walk there).

Regarding fan accommodations, copying and pasting from my post above.

Their choice is to stay far away or just stay home.  How many fans that would have gone to support their team ended up just staying home bec of difficulty finding accommodations?  Does this not give unfair advantage to KY?

@TPM posted:

@nycdad

I am going with the guys on the podcast.

I am not a KY fan. But I have heard that it has a really nice campus and facility, a good RPI,  and they had a tough schedule and deserved a regional.

For anyone watching today's game, the broadcasters said when KY bid on hosting, they told the NCAA everything....concerts, HS sports, etc.

If that's the case, then it sounds like KY was transparent, and it's up to the NCAA on what to do, or rather what they did. I realize this is beating a dead horse at this point.

When Ivies beat bigger programs in sports they have a reputation of chanting … You may be beating us now. But you will be working for us later.

Tonight Penn can chant …. We beat you and you will be working for us later.

The amazing thing is Penn got their three runs in the last inning on three safety squeezes that all went for hits.

Coastal/Rider ….  In extra innings… foul tip 3rd strike while runner was stealing.  Ump calls dead ball and put the runner back to first.  Isn’t that still a live ball and they could’ve doubled them up by throwing to first?  And then the announcer on replay said the backswing hit the catchers glove causing ‘catcher’s interference’.  Anyone see that play?

Diving catch by Rider centerfielder up one run with bases loaded ends game over Coastal.

@RJM posted:

Diving catch by Rider centerfielder up one run with bases loaded ends game over Coastal.

As marginal as the OF play was on both teams I thought he was going to miss that diving catch and coastal wound win.  It was a nice catch though!

@TexasLefty posted:

Coastal/Rider ….  In extra innings… foul tip 3rd strike while runner was stealing.  Ump calls dead ball and put the runner back to first.  Isn’t that still a live ball and they could’ve doubled them up by throwing to first?  And then the announcer on replay said the backswing hit the catchers glove causing ‘catcher’s interference’.  Anyone see that play?

A caught foul tip in any count is a live ball. It is treated as a pitch though and not a caught fly ball or line drive. So they could have thrown the runner out stealing. I’ve never seen catchers interference called on a backswing, but I have seen batters interference called. In this case, the batter is already out on strike 3 so the runner is sent back to his original base.  

@atlnon posted:

Regarding KY dorm - yes, most big schools has nice dorms and crappy dorms.  Was the nice dorm given as an option to the other teams?  I imagine proximity to the field is not that big a deal bec it will be no different from staying at a hotel (they have team bus that can take them to the field, they don't need to walk there).

Regarding fan accommodations, copying and pasting from my post above.

Their choice is to stay far away or just stay home.  How many fans that would have gone to support their team ended up just staying home bec of difficulty finding accommodations?  Does this not give unfair advantage to KY?

It’s regionals. Most fans who were going to go are still going.