Interesting read and concept. Helps more than it hurts.
But it does decimate the summer leagues, but what is the need if you're playing through July?
Not much of a break for the guys if you're playing through July and school starts in August.....
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I think if you can’t get behind this then you are not paying attention to the realities of college baseball. It’s eating itself from the inside out. The summer leagues will be fine, think in terms of shifting and entire calendar not just the season. I applaud the forward thinking for once. Question is will the NCAA listen?
Many years ago, baseball season began in March. The northern schools went before the NCAA claiming that starting later was a perk for southern schools. So they moved the start date up to mid February. Many schools now have indoor facilities for practice, and most northern schools practice first then give instruction as they move indoors from the cold.
I am not familiar with how many schools actually have indoor facilities, so the D1 programs that are at a disadvantage would be the smaller programs that have no such facility are struggling as is.
It's pretty apparent from watching teams the first 2 or 3 weeks in Florida, that it's actually their first time playing on the field.
However, most teams that travel do so, not always for the win, but for the bump in RPI which can reward them later.
I am a really a strong believer in having two separate divisions for D1 baseball just like in football. Let the big dogs battle it out, without beating up on the smaller ones. Some how you have to make it more fair than it is now, but by changing the calender might not be in the best interest for every program as well as student athlete.
JMO
@TPM posted:Many years ago, baseball season began in March. The northern schools went before the NCAA claiming that starting later was a perk for southern schools. So they moved the start date up to mid February. Many schools now have indoor facilities for practice, and most northern schools practice first then give instruction as they move indoors from the cold.
I am not familiar with how many schools actually have indoor facilities, so the D1 programs that are at a disadvantage would be the smaller programs that have no such facility are struggling as is.
It's pretty apparent from watching teams the first 2 or 3 weeks in Florida, that it's actually their first time playing on the field.
However, most teams that travel do so, not always for the win, but for the bump in RPI which can reward them later.
I am a really a strong believer in having two separate divisions for D1 baseball just like in football. Let the big dogs battle it out, without beating up on the smaller ones. Some how you have to make it more fair than it is now, but by changing the calender might not be in the best interest for every program as well as student athlete.
JMO
If you look at most major college football schedules they also have Wossamottah U, Little Sisters of Mercy and Nowhere State on their schedule. They play these games at home and win by 40+ points. It’s how they go 3-6 in conference play yet go 6-6 overall to get a bowl bid to the Toilet Bowl. Then they recruit based on getting to a bowl game.
I see an opportunity to elevate more college programs and make college baseball even more popular rather than divide it into more divisions. As it is there are already three unofficial D1 levels. There are the top conference and a handful of additional ranked teams, mid majors and bottom feeders.
it wasn’t that long ago the college softball top twenty was the twelve PAC12 programs and eight additional west coast programs. ASA softball became more balanced around the country and it bled into the college ranks. Now the teams in the WCWS are from all over the country.
College baseball could use this kind of balance. It’s good for the game. I believe in the long run the sport becomes elevated rather than the talent gets more dispersed.
