Collegiate Baseball poll

Pretty solid rankings.

OSU deserved better, but of the western teams, only Cal St. Fullerton and ASU could argue that they deserve to join the top 10.

and...where in heck is Coastal Carolina?

I just wonder if North Carolina will be able to hang in the top 10 the whole season? Those two pitchers that they lost were sooooo... good! They will have plenty of offense but they may just have to out score opponents this year (unless a couple of pitchers really step up - which is possible) and that is always tough to depend on.

Dad - They've still got Prepster Jr!! They are truly one of my favorite teams... I do think their offense will hold it's own and support the pitcher's very well. NC is a team I just loved to watch... play with a lot of heart I thought! I think they'll stay up there or close to it.

quote:

OSU deserved better, but of the western teams, only Cal St. Fullerton and ASU could argue that they deserve to join the top 10.

Sox, Why make such a comment? It is no coincidence that a West Coast team has played in the championship game in Omaha 5 times since 2000?

quote:

Originally posted by soxnole:
and...where in heck is Coastal Carolina?

The mid-majors are never represented very well in the original pre-season polling. Where is College of Charleston?? They went to a Super Regional last year.

We'll have to see which one of the strong Southeast mid-major programs steps up this year before they will sneak into the polls.

infielddad.

My comment was based on what the teams in question bring to the 07 season.

For example, OSU lost 7 starters and virtually thier entire pitching staff.

But infielddad is correct in that West Coast teams don't get the respect they deserve for the success they have.

I don't get angry about it, but there is a SE bias in the baseball polls and tournament selections. It just is what it is.

sox, if that is the criteria, look at Stanford. They lost 3 position players(only one of whom contributed in a very meaningful way), their Friday night pitcher and one reliever.
One starter will be replaced by a player who would have been a 1-3 rounder 3 years ago but opted for Stanford. They have an All Pac 10 player returning from a RS year due to injury. Last season, they started 3-4 freshman and got better as the season went on before losing to OSU in the super regional. The team is at least 8 deep in quality arms. Michael Taylor has the ability to be the best player in the nation. If UNC is ranked in the top 10 after losing Miller and Bard, Stanford certainly has a similar claim, as does UCLA, just to name two.

infieldad.

I think that Stanford is ranked right where they should be.

soxnole, I figured the same.
As with each year, I guess we can wait until June to determine the validity of the continuing media bias.

I'd far prefer that Stanford not be ranked at all right now.

Its good to be hungry and flying under the radar.

JBB,
I totally agree!

quote:

I'd far prefer that Stanford not be ranked at all right now.

Its good to be hungry and flying under the radar.

In that case, the East/Southeast pundits are correct. Stanford can't play a lick. Those who graduated carried the team in 2006 and they are going to be slugging uphill all year.

Hey, the DIII poll is out too; unfortunately, my guys' team received no votes. Nothing like sneaking up on the pack from out of nowhere.

The D2 poll: D2 Preseason Poll

The D3 poll: D3 Preseason Poll

Too bad for your Tigers, TPM.

They are right up there to be every other teams biggest game!

The ACC should be a real war this year!

quote:

Originally posted by soxnole:
Too bad for your Tigers, TPM.

They are right up there to be every other teams biggest game!

The ACC should be a real war this year!

It is NOT always a good thing, puts too much pressure on everyone.

The ACC will have another battling year for the championship.

The polls can cut both/many ways.

Sure there is a David versus Goliath factor at play going against those listed, but there also is an intimidation factor going for those listed.

Frankly, I would rather be on the list and use the list as motivation to remain so listed. On the other hand, if I am not on the list, I use the list as motivation to improve in order to get on the list. The lists serve a valuable purpose. I assume most teams want to go to Omaha. Since conference winners are usually automatic qualifiers, it sure helps to be listed if you don't happen to win your respective tournament.

Finally, winning and losing solves all these debates. Win a lot and you will likely find your way onto the list sometime during the season. Start losing and no one will remember you were once on the pre-season list.

went to omaha a few yrs ago for a super series tournament and the cws. stayed at the same hotel as cal st fullerton and coach horton and the players were pretty cool. go titans!

Bump...
Well this seems pretty topical now that the Super Regionals are here.
From the West, we find CSU Fullerton, Arizona St, UC Irvine, UCLA, Oregon St.
3 of 4 Pac 10 teams win a Regional.
2 of 4 Big West Teams do the same.
2 of 7 from the ACC;
3 of 5 from the SEC;
2 of 6 from the Big 12.
Guess they do play some quality ball in the West side of the US; they just don't, perhaps, get early season recognition for it. As some indication, every West Coast team is in the same bracket so that two cannot play for the CWS in Omaha.
While the above summary might support some "bragging rights" in the West, congratulations are completely deserved for every team and player that made the Regional and for the success that demonstrates for their season and program.

infield dad

I dont think anyone thought otherwise

What you have is 5 out of 12 teams from your region


You have to be a DADDY of a LEFT COAST player

Then only thing right in your post is "good luck to all teams" !

According to Boyd's World, 25 out of the 30 strongest schedules in the land belong to West Coast teams.

We just beat each other up before the tournament.

Is that Florida State guy still on the selection committee?

Go Anteaters!

C'mon TR...give infielddad credit...have you ever seen a better bump on this site? It was a great bump. A perfectly executed bump.

Is Boyds World the end all be all ?? great stuff to discuss but ------------------

The game is played on the field and you now see the results---computers and there print outs do not win championships

Gotwood

Cmon now


We are talking baseball not "bumps" and "cartoons"

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
What you have is 5 out of 12 teams from your region...You have to be a DADDY of a LEFT COAST player

The point is, percentage-wise its pretty darn good considering the selected field to begin with. The West Coast deserves better, but I've given up hoping that will be realized any time soon.

Strength-of-schedule (Boyd's World):
60. Florida State (yet a top-16 seed...every years...and an early exit again too)
71. Virginia (yet a top-16 seed)
73. North Carolina (yet a top-8 seed)
etc..., etc...
154. Ohio State

Notice a pattern here?

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
Is Boyds World the end all be all ?? great stuff to discuss but ------------------

Nope, but neither is the RPI. Right?

quote:

You have to be a DADDY of a LEFT COAST player

TR, my son played his college ball in Texas and is currently in an AL East organization. Was that an East Coast bias in your assumptions?

It's on my Christmas list TR.

infield dad or shall I address you as SIR?

I know nothing about your son and his ability


If you are going to make posts do your math---my son played in New Mexico so -please don't get into left/right coast bias here


And more comic relief from got wood


This site needs to get more serious

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
infield dad or shall I address you as SIR?

I know nothing about your son and his ability


If you are going to make posts do your math---my son played in New Mexico so -please don't get into left/right coast bias here

Chill out TR! Geez, he didn't address you in his first post to begin with. Just opened some discussion. WOW! You came back at him with the "DADDY" comment. infielddad is a long-time, well-respected poster here. Take a deep breath.

This might help answer some questions...

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Of course it may still remain a...

If I'm looking at it right, guess I don’t see the problem with the way the brackets are made out.

In the World Series we will see the following take place in the first round

Winner of Michigan (Big 10) and Oregon State (Pac 10)
Vs
Winner of UCLA (PAC 10) and Cal State Fullerton (Big West)

Winner of Arizona State (PAC 10) and Ole Miss (SEC)
Vs
Winner of Wichita State (Missouri Valley) and UC Irvine (Big West)

Winner of Rice (Conference USA)) and Texas A&M (Big 12)
Vs
Winner of Louisville (Big East) and Oklahoma State (Big 12)

Winner of Mississippi State (SEC) and Clemson (ACC)
Vs
Winner of South Carolina (SEC) and North Carolina (ACC)

So you have one bracket that has a Big 10, a Big West and 2 Pac 10 teams

Another bracket that has a Pac 10, an SEC, a Missouri Valley and a Big West team

Another with a Conference USA, a Big East and 2 Big 12 teams

And the other one has 2 ACC and 2 SEC teams

The most obvious stranger is Ole Miss.

Seems like they set it up so it’s not likely to have any two from the same conference or same state get to the final. But it is still possible because of the good old losers bracket! Except for Ole Miss!

PG,
What I mentioned in my post was based on the original bracketing, which is attached. Every West Coast team was seeded in the left bracket whereas every other region and conference has teams in each bracket.
Some commentators immediately mentioned this type of seeding precluded two West Coast teams from being the final two in Omaha. Probably some paranoia, until you read the BA chat today where they speculate about Clemson being passed over for hosting the Super Regional despite being better from a baseball perspective.

http://www.ncaasports.com/baseball/mens/brackets/viewable/special64/2007/DI

Interesting that Wichita State was the only non-West Coast team to win a regional that included a West Coast team.

Think I'll wait to see what happens in the super regionals before sticking my foot too deeply in my mouth though.

justbaseball


I am always chilled out and then some

If they moved some left coast teams to the Right side bracket.
There would be less East coast, SE teams left.
EH

got...

One of your funniest yet!!!

Just some inside info.

The brackets were set up so that ACC teams and SEC would eliminate each other (ex. Clemson would have played against Florida State if FL state would have won).
It was supposedly done this way because the committe got a lot of heat for so many ACC meeting in Omaha last year.
Clemson lost the super regional bid because the almighty dollar speaks higher than RPI, record, if you are not a national seed, 6 thousand seats vs. 14 thousand seats. Not to mention teh Bulldogs AD is committee chair.