Epiphany at Baseball America?????

quote:

by jbb: Another sore point for us left-coasters. Look at the geographical map of regionals and super-regionals year-in and year-out. Very heavily weighted to the Southeast

I did just that ... looked at the map & was reminded that your analysis pits 3 w coast states against arguably 13 s east states - (or about 1/4 of the USA) ...
hmmm??

in fairness why not make your comparisons & critiques w/another group of 3 contiguous states -

it will look alot different

I look at it a lot differently Bee>. Maybe I am biased too? I'd like to think not...since I tend to root for teams from the East (probably jealousy over those teams that have beaten Stanford so handily). But here is the way I see it:

Regional Hosts (2007):
West - 3
Mid-Continent - 5
Southeast - 8

National Seeds (2007):
West - 2
Mid-Continent - 2
Southeast - 4 (incl. FSU - Ugh!)

Results - CWS Participants (2007):
West - 4
Mid-Continent - 1
Southeast - 2 (or 3 if you count Louisville)
East - 1 (if you count Louisville here)

My argument is NOT with you...but with the NCAA seeding process. It is biased. It should be improved. I am not a fan of numbers deciding everything either...but sometimes numbers and 60 years of history are too strong to ignore.

OSU and Fullerton barely made into the tournament and now 1 of them may win it all. Irvine had to get there via a road route. Some are surprised at Irvine's and OSU's success...no one who has seen them in the West is surprised at all.

And yes, I do believe (pretty strongly) that Vanderbilt was over-seeded and overrated...along with FSU and Arkansas and LBSU and San Diego too (most of us out here knew that about those 2 West teams too). But thats just an opinion, nothing more and probably shouldn't be argued any further by me at least.

Does the NCAA get out and watch any of these teams?

I apologize if I am coming on too strong. It just seems so obvious to me. The invitations, the seedings, the hostings should be more balanced...no advantage to the West, just balanced.

quote:

Originally posted by spizzlepop:
[by TPM- "Why don't the Big West and Pac10 have conference tourneys?"

Not sure why not. But in light of your previous point about teams getting tired after too many games played, what good would it serve to have one? As mentioned here earlier many teams in these conferences play brutal non-conference schedules to prepare for conference and beyond. I say the regular season conference champs are worthy of the prize.

I do not disagree. This year the ACC changed it's format and though some complained I liked it.
It is best 8 teams out of 12, some think it should be best 4 temas.
But it makes lots of money for the ACC and NCAA, so it ain't gonna happen.

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
The only time we know anything is when teams play on the field and even then it depends on who pitched that day. I suggest more East Coast versus West Coast matchups early in the season.

I couldn't agree more! Stanford used to play FSU home-and-home alternating every other year. It was a great series to watch...often opening the season. I got to see a lot of really great players. As best as I can tell FSU led the all-time series 9-8. FSU cancelled it about 4 years ago supposedly because "it is too far to travel." Too bad.

There was also a rumored (well, maybe more than that) 4-team round robin deal (in New Orleans) between Stanford, USC, LSU and Tulane that was supposed to kick off this past year. Cancelled before it happened. Lots of disappointment out here about that too.

Next year Stanford opens with 3 non-conference series: Fullerton, Texas and Nebraska. Doesn't get much tougher than that! Will it help them at tournament time if they go 4-5 or 5-4? Or will it hurt them? I wish I knew the answer to that.

I like the idea of a SEC/ACC/Big12/Pac10/BigWest "challenge" tournament. Could make some big bucks! Play it in an MLB stadium and get 40,000 fans...play it in the SE for all I care!

quote:

This post was mostly stream of conscious so please take that in mind

I appreciate that! Actually I was thinking that I was getting a little too fired up about this stuff. Guess thats what happens when your vacation flight gets cancelled and you have to wait a day.

quote:

by jbb: I look at it a lot differently Bee>. Maybe I am biased too? I'd like to think not

your ncaa concerns seem legit at first glance .. but - -

3 (wc states)/51 (usa states)= .06 ratio

.06 x 64 (teams)= 3.8 west coast teams that should get an invite to the dance in a "normal yr" ..

actually it seems like the wc is cleaning up w/more than their fair share ..
and, maybe should have some bids taken away to even things out

or is my math wrong?

HA! HA! HA! OK, I give...can't beat that logic. Very nice.

No matter which route you take you still have to win your games

quote:

But it makes lots of money for the ACC and NCAA, so it ain't gonna happen.

This is the bottom line for the NCAA.

When the West coast teams draw 4 to 5 thousand fans to there games the will get more consideration on hosting a regional.

Maybe more nuetral site pre conf. season and post conf. season
tournaments will allow the selection committee a better idea of who deserves to be invited to the regionals.
Maybe a tournament for the bubble teams at the end of the year.
EH
EH

quote:

by jbb: HA! HA! HA! Very nice.

lol .. gotta luv ya wc folks ...
we have a half day o' work in before you even wake up & still ya want it all

We don't work on the left coast.
We stroll the beach in are sandles and shorts all day, drinking wine and frolicing at are beach house.LOL

quote:

by eh: We don't work on the left coast.
We stroll the beach in are sandles and shorts all day, drinking wine and frolicing at are beach house.LOL

ah haaa, therein lies the difference ...

we work till ya'all awake,
THEN we throw some beer, bait, & snacks into the cooler then head out to the shoals to catch tomorow's supper & get some some r & r.

hmmm, the snacks & bait sometimes get mixed up

"we have a half day o' work in before you even wake up & still ya want it all"
Yeah, and when you Easterners are tucked snug into your plaid flannel sheets for the night you can count sheep and wonder how many more hours the West Coast will stay up partying with those beautiful bikini clad beach babes.

quote:

byspzpp: Yeah, and when you Easterners are tucked snug into your plaid flannel sheets for the night you can count sheep and wonder how many more hours the West Coast will stay up partying with those beautiful bikini clad beach babes.

hmmm,
is someone again spreading the rumor that we sleep

not til November

"bikini clad beach babes"?? can they cook & bait a line?

please send a pic ..... (of their boat)

The shores of Lake Erie just ain't the same - eh?

(Don't worry, I grew up near the banks of the Ohio River. It might help explain the extra toes and fingers. Or maybe that was the Skyline Chili? ).

quote:

(Don't worry, I grew up next to the shores of the Ohio River. It might explain the extra toes and fingers. ).

EXTRA?? ....
now I'm suspicious as that ol' river is known for critters that have "finger lickin' good" appetites



I knew a guy that caught them for markets & hotels, they called him lefty for good reason

Now thats a turtle, But can he catch or hit

Bee-
This is your classic West Coast fishin right here. All the guys are probably back in the beach house with the babes sippin on margaritas.

Baseball honey, can you bring me another drink.
I want to watch the sunset off my seaside deck.
and of course finish watching the ASU/UCI game thats tied in the 9th.
EH

quote:

...and of course finish watching the ASU/UCI game thats tied in the 9th.

What a game - huh?

As I watch UCI, I am thinking of a couple of other coaches/programs. John Savage (UCLA) recruited many of the players for the Anteaters...only to leave for the "big time" at UCLA. And Dave Serrano (now the UCI coach) left a perennial national contender at Fullerton (as pitching coach)...only to knock them out of the CWS.

Irvine is a strong academic school...many good HS students turned away each year, but it is sort of a 'secondary' dream school for a lot of California baseball-playing kids. It is near the beach, but not often a 1st choice for a lot of big time players.

I wonder it that will change?

Most certainly will change a few mind's about UCI's program.
UCI remind's me of OSU a couple of years ago. Hungary.

OK only kidding about the seaside ocean view home.
But I hope this game finishes before I have to go to work.
What a barn burner.
Bottom of the 10th.

What a game.
Way to go UCI.
Anteaters. ZOT, ZOT, ZOT.

ZOT! ZOT! ZOT!

WOW!

Im gonna pray for rain tomorrow though.

Now OSU can't be the underdog in this one.
Playball.

quote:

Im gonna pray for rain tomorrow though.

Not too hard please. I wanna get to Boston tomrorrow.

You may pass, but the Eaters could use a day of rest.

I just took the time and read through all these posts....great stuff and some good questions brought up also. I found it interesting with regard to the number of games played by the teams to reach the CWS. Another point to go along with the number of games 60 vs 66 is over how long a period of time were these games played? Many of the West Coast seasons begin in mid-January while the Southeast/Mid West/Northeast don't begin until the end of February. The West Coast teams should look more rested at this point.

With the NCAA changes looming for 2008 (uniform start date) it will be interesting to see how it plays out. I have not checked schedules but just how many mid-week games are played out west? 2008 will change that.

Just some thoughts here..

What a game, and thank you eaters for knocking out ASU! I did feel for the ASU pitcher though he had a tough job to hold them off but unfortunetly when you serve them up over the plate they are going to get EATEN up!

My prediction, though, for championship contenders UNC, Rice or the Beavers!

BTW, I enjoy the wind probability factor. Wind can be blowing in and two minutes later blowing out, strange place, it has to be factored into the game.

In the end, all teams in Omaha are winners!

quote:

Originally posted by justbaseball:
I wonder it that will change?

It appears that their method is working just fine now...no change is needed and no change should be wanted. EH is right...UCI is hungry...and that makes for excellent baseball! I hope Coach Casey hasn't fed his Beavers!

Sincere congratulations to the Anteaters, but I must always say...

GO BEAVS!

quote:

Originally posted by Coach Merc:
I just took the time and read through all these posts....great stuff and some good questions brought up also. I found it interesting with regard to the number of games played by the teams to reach the CWS. Another point to go along with the number of games 60 vs 66 is over how long a period of time were these games played? Many of the West Coast seasons begin in mid-January while the Southeast/Mid West/Northeast don't begin until the end of February. The West Coast teams should look more rested at this point.

Coach Merc,
You may have a point about the Mid-West and Northeast teams starting little bit later, but not the SE. Of the two non-Western schools remaining, NC started in mid Feb. and Rice started in early Feb.
I think TPM's point about the post season tourneys is a much bigger factor, and may get even bigger next year. With the uniform start date, those conference tourneys will pile on innings to staffs that must survive the brutal 5 game per week schedule.
I think schools from the two western conferences (Pac-10 and Big West) that don't have conference tourneys AND play tough non-conference schedules (without having to travel cross country) will retain the advantage.
In the end, college baseball is a lot like real estate...location, location, location.