(10-10-2012 08:54 PM)warhawk09 Wrote:  As a follow up to Jay's post, the baseball schedule will be a 2-year rotating one. So for example, ULM will not play FAU in 2014 and 15, and then it would change again for 16 and 17.

So no more home and home with our rival.

I assume the rivals would be exempt from the rotation ? i.e. MT vs. WKU and Cajuns vs. Warhawks would play every year.

(10-10-2012 08:57 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(10-10-2012 08:54 PM)warhawk09 Wrote:  As a follow up to Jay's post, the baseball schedule will be a 2-year rotating one. So for example, ULM will not play FAU in 2014 and 15, and then it would change again for 16 and 17.

So no more home and home with our rival.

I assume the rivals would be exempt from the rotation ? i.e. MT vs. WKU and Cajuns vs. Warhawks would play every year.

Not home-and-homes, just a three-game set. That was put in place to just keep a 30-game schedule. Pretty sure the rotation would come from the other division.

(10-10-2012 08:53 PM)warhawk09 Wrote:  

(10-10-2012 08:35 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  The tournament format change was something I expected would happen, I got to talk to a few coaches at the tourney in Bowling Green last year, and they absolutely hated the round robin format. Moving to championship to Sunday and going back to double elimination is the correct move, no matter how much Bird and FIU fans loved only having to play 4 games max all weekend.

It wasn't a one-sided voted to change back, it was a pretty close call. The coaches who didn't like it were the ones who didn't win. The round-robin tournament is not designed to help the teams in the SBC Tournament, but rather help the teams that move on.

Ahh yes, but considering most of the teams in the league have to win the tourney to move on, they should get a fair shake.

Only leagues that should do round robin are the leagues where they get 5-6 teams in the NCAA yearly anyway.

(10-10-2012 09:01 PM)warhawk09 Wrote:  

(10-10-2012 08:57 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(10-10-2012 08:54 PM)warhawk09 Wrote:  As a follow up to Jay's post, the baseball schedule will be a 2-year rotating one. So for example, ULM will not play FAU in 2014 and 15, and then it would change again for 16 and 17.

So no more home and home with our rival.

I assume the rivals would be exempt from the rotation ? i.e. MT vs. WKU and Cajuns vs. Warhawks would play every year.

Not home-and-homes, just a three-game set. That was put in place to just keep a 30-game schedule. Pretty sure the rotation would come from the other division.

It would. MTSU is guaranteed to play WKU, Troy, USA, Georgia State, and FAU every year, but is not guaranteed to play Texas State every year for example.

I think he was referring to the current format where you play 6 games against your rival yearly.

(10-10-2012 08:53 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(10-10-2012 08:51 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(10-10-2012 08:50 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(10-10-2012 08:48 PM)warhawk09 Wrote:  Don't like the double-elimination tournament, really hurts the teams that move on. Agree with the suspension rule, wish baseball would go to a 10-team tournament.

Too many. If a team isn't in the Top 8, they need to sit their sorry arses at home.

We sat 2 years ago, and rightfully so.

You nearly sat last year and ASU fans are extremely glad you didnt.

If we sat last year, Raffo would quite likely be our coach this year.

Nah, the reason Raffo stayed is because we finally paid up. My guess is that our president would've paid out regardless if we had made the finals or not. The finals appearence just made it a lot easier to prove to the boosters who will be coughing up the dough.

(10-10-2012 09:13 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(10-10-2012 09:01 PM)warhawk09 Wrote:  

(10-10-2012 08:57 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(10-10-2012 08:54 PM)warhawk09 Wrote:  As a follow up to Jay's post, the baseball schedule will be a 2-year rotating one. So for example, ULM will not play FAU in 2014 and 15, and then it would change again for 16 and 17.

So no more home and home with our rival.

I assume the rivals would be exempt from the rotation ? i.e. MT vs. WKU and Cajuns vs. Warhawks would play every year.

Not home-and-homes, just a three-game set. That was put in place to just keep a 30-game schedule. Pretty sure the rotation would come from the other division.

It would. MTSU is guaranteed to play WKU, Troy, USA, Georgia State, and FAU every year, but is not guaranteed to play Texas State every year for example.

I think he was referring to the current format where you play 6 games against your rival yearly.

That's what I was saying. As far as the tournament goes, I think it is the opposite. Look at FIU the last time this thing was a double-elimination tournament. They had nothing for Regionals.

(10-10-2012 09:15 PM)warhawk09 Wrote:  

(10-10-2012 09:13 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(10-10-2012 09:01 PM)warhawk09 Wrote:  

(10-10-2012 08:57 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(10-10-2012 08:54 PM)warhawk09 Wrote:  As a follow up to Jay's post, the baseball schedule will be a 2-year rotating one. So for example, ULM will not play FAU in 2014 and 15, and then it would change again for 16 and 17.

So no more home and home with our rival.

I assume the rivals would be exempt from the rotation ? i.e. MT vs. WKU and Cajuns vs. Warhawks would play every year.

Not home-and-homes, just a three-game set. That was put in place to just keep a 30-game schedule. Pretty sure the rotation would come from the other division.

It would. MTSU is guaranteed to play WKU, Troy, USA, Georgia State, and FAU every year, but is not guaranteed to play Texas State every year for example.

I think he was referring to the current format where you play 6 games against your rival yearly.

That's what I was saying. As far as the tournament goes, I think it is the opposite. Look at FIU the last time this thing was a double-elimination tournament. They had nothing for Regionals.

Yes, but FIU also mismanaged that tournament horribly. If I remember the year correctly, they were pretty much already guaranteed an NCAA berth, and chose to overuse their starters to try and win the SBC tourney, rather then throwing weaker pitchers and worrying about NCAA's.

If a team has to win the SBC tourney to make the NCAA's, then if they have to use every pitcher, its no ones fault but their own. Teams who are already qualified for the tourney, need to treat it like SEC teams do, a glorified exhibition, with a chance to get some big games in for young players.

(10-10-2012 09:25 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  If a team has to win the SBC tourney to make the NCAA's, then if they have to use every pitcher, its no ones fault but their own. Teams who are already qualified for the tourney, need to treat it like SEC teams do, a glorified exhibition, with a chance to get some big games in for young players.

No problems with that at all, then why not do that in a round-robin format? I'd much rather watch a weekend rotation start for each team, a weekend bullpen pitch the tournament and No. 1's come back for the title game. Not going to happen with double-elimination.

(10-10-2012 09:31 PM)warhawk09 Wrote:  

(10-10-2012 09:25 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  If a team has to win the SBC tourney to make the NCAA's, then if they have to use every pitcher, its no ones fault but their own. Teams who are already qualified for the tourney, need to treat it like SEC teams do, a glorified exhibition, with a chance to get some big games in for young players.

No problems with that at all, then why not do that in a round-robin format? I'd much rather watch a weekend rotation start for each team, a weekend bullpen pitch the tournament and No. 1's come back for the title game. Not going to happen with double-elimination.

Takes away some of the thrill. The games between FAU and USA, and ULM and WKU last year that meant nothing were pointless. Neither team was trying hard at all, ULM used a bunch of guys who I had never heard of to rest for Sunday. FIU looked listless in their game against ASU Saturday after they were already eliminated. MTSU fans needed FIU to beat us to make the title game, and they got to watch a team who didnt care at all play.

There was one true baseball game in that tourney, FAU and ULM on the Friday, when the winner was virtually guaranteed a Title game spot, and the loser eliminated. The game went 13 innings and each team used their closer for several innings. Thats how real baseball is played. Watching ULM throw Larry Moe and Curly on Saturday against WKU Saturday night is not baseball...

Neither is watching 15-13 games because teams are so deep into their bullpens

(10-10-2012 09:44 PM)warhawk09 Wrote:  Neither is watching 15-13 games because teams are so deep into their bullpens

ASU played one of those against Troy a couple years back in the tourney that was perhaps the most memorable game in ASU baseball history.

Both teams came back from deficits in their final at bats to keep the game alive and force extra innings. Both teams were using starting pitchers at the end, but they were playing for their lives. It may not be a pure game for a baseball person, but its also one where seasons are on the line.

and it goes back to what you value the tournament for. You are in it for the teams that are in the SBC Tournament, I'm in it for the team(s) good enough to move on from it.

(10-10-2012 09:51 PM)warhawk09 Wrote:  and it goes back to what you value the tournament for. You are in it for the teams that are in the SBC Tournament, I'm in it for the team(s) good enough to move on from it.

Im in it for both. I just see a way that is fair for both sides. The truth is, with it pushed back to a 5 day tourney this year, it will limit some of the stress on the pitching staff. Wednesday's starters could now come back on Sunday on short rest.

My handful of thoughts.

The coaches wanted the new system, got what they wanted and didn't want any more (at least not a majority). That's put to bed and doubt we hear anyone calling for it to come back any time soon. It had the potential to be fan-friendly but who marketed it to their fans and emphasized the ability to be assured of no early exit? Would it matter given the size of the baseball fan base?

Schedule. I didn't expect it to happen but had sort of hoped it would be 30 games all intra-division with home/home series. That's as fair as it gets and its the cheapest but it also conflicts with my long-held belief that if you aren't playing each other why are you in a conference together.

Students behind the bench? Surprised its an issue given most schools want that prime real estate for people with larger wallets.

Mixed feelings on auto-suspension, but at the end of the day, I'd rather it be the call of a person accountable to the 12 presidents looking at film and written reports despite the inevitable cries of bias that will follow, than an official who might or might not be seasoned and is in the middle of the heat of the moment and might well be wrapped up in it.

We've always played double elimination and you had to win the tournament to get an NCAA bid because, most years (there were exceptions) the SLC was a 1 team (bid) conference.

If not for the DE we would not have advanced to the NCAAs in 2011. We lost our first game, after taking the conference (by storm), and had to then win 5 in a row to make it. We ended up using our closer to start the final/championship game and he threw a 9 inning shut-out. It was spectacular (he also ended up being drafted). Kid hadn't started a game since he was a soph in HS.

If you are deep enough it can be done.
Our problem is we ALWAYS get sent to the UT Regional.
Our teams have a big brain freeze playing there. We also usually get f**kd over by one anomolous play or call when we go there. UT refuses to travel to San Marcos (a whole 28 mile trip down the interstate) so every year both games are in Austin.

We also just lost our Asst Coach to WVU. We'll see how this year goes with a new member on staff.


I also don't see why there isn't a full slate of games. The SLC had 12 teams for baseball. We played everyone, 3 game series, and had 20-25 OOC games. Why are they splitting it up?

(10-10-2012 11:45 PM)CatMom Wrote:  We've always played double elimination and you had to win the tournament to get an NCAA bid because, most years (there were exceptions) the SLC was a 1 team (bid) conference.

If not for the DE we would not have advanced to the NCAAs in 2011. We lost our first game, after taking the conference (by storm), and had to then win 5 in a row to make it. We ended up using our closer to start the final/championship game and he threw a 9 inning shut-out. It was spectacular (he also ended up being drafted). Kid hadn't started a game since he was a soph in HS.

If you are deep enough it can be done.
Our problem is we ALWAYS get sent to the UT Regional.
Our teams have a big brain freeze playing there. We also usually get f**kd over by one anomolous play or call when we go there. UT refuses to travel to San Marcos (a whole 28 mile trip down the interstate) so every year both games are in Austin.

We also just lost our Asst Coach to WVU. We'll see how this year goes with a new member on staff.


I also don't see why there isn't a full slate of games. The SLC had 12 teams for baseball. We played everyone, 3 game series, and had 20-25 OOC games. Why are they splitting it up?

I imagine scheduling is part of it. We've been playing 30 league games for quite a while, and my guess is that our coaches have enjoyed having 4 nonconference weekends, it allows our few Northern teams to get a home series in when it isnt perhaps 30 degrees outside.

If I was Texas State, I would take advantage of the weather you guys get early in the year and grab an extra nonconference home series...SBC teams are all capable of earning at large bids, so you guys could use it to build your NCAA tourney resume.

(10-11-2012 12:47 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(10-10-2012 11:45 PM)CatMom Wrote:  We've always played double elimination and you had to win the tournament to get an NCAA bid because, most years (there were exceptions) the SLC was a 1 team (bid) conference.

If not for the DE we would not have advanced to the NCAAs in 2011. We lost our first game, after taking the conference (by storm), and had to then win 5 in a row to make it. We ended up using our closer to start the final/championship game and he threw a 9 inning shut-out. It was spectacular (he also ended up being drafted). Kid hadn't started a game since he was a soph in HS.

If you are deep enough it can be done.
Our problem is we ALWAYS get sent to the UT Regional.
Our teams have a big brain freeze playing there. We also usually get f**kd over by one anomolous play or call when we go there. UT refuses to travel to San Marcos (a whole 28 mile trip down the interstate) so every year both games are in Austin.

We also just lost our Asst Coach to WVU. We'll see how this year goes with a new member on staff.


I also don't see why there isn't a full slate of games. The SLC had 12 teams for baseball. We played everyone, 3 game series, and had 20-25 OOC games. Why are they splitting it up?

I imagine scheduling is part of it. We've been playing 30 league games for quite a while, and my guess is that our coaches have enjoyed having 4 nonconference weekends, it allows our few Northern teams to get a home series in when it isnt perhaps 30 degrees outside.

If I was Texas State, I would take advantage of the weather you guys get early in the year and grab an extra nonconference home series...SBC teams are all capable of earning at large bids, so you guys could use it to build your NCAA tourney resume.

I'm sure coach Fikac (former Bobcat and MLB pitcher) will do just that. We have had some good weekenders the past several years (along with our own tournament). We had OU for 2013 but they backed out a few weeks ago (wusses).

We did lose a lot to graduation and the draft, so I think this will be a "rebuilding year"; though I don't think we'll fall off too far if the summer league results are any indication. Pitching is the biggest question mark; we lost 3/4 starters and our 2 best relief guys.

Maybe we'll be back up to snuff when we hit the SBC in 2014.

A PS on the torunaments. While they are what they are, I've never been a fan. Too many times a team (like TXST) has blazed through a season and let down the last series or so only to not be the "hot team" for the tourney.

So you have one of the "lesser" teams get hot and rep the conference when they haven't really earned it throughout the 56 game regular season. You win 42 games and can't get an at-large (because the conf RPI sucks) because you lost your torunament. That just bothers the hell out of me.

This happened to TXST in 2010 (lost the championship game) and we were the last team out of the NCAAs. The team that won the tourney got blown out in their 1st regional game. In the end this makes them not consider 2 bids the next year.


:off soapbox:

Being in the Southland was part of that.

We were a one bid league last year. First time in 20 years. I think it'll be 20 more before it happens again.

(10-11-2012 01:56 AM)CatMom Wrote:  

(10-11-2012 12:47 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(10-10-2012 11:45 PM)CatMom Wrote:  We've always played double elimination and you had to win the tournament to get an NCAA bid because, most years (there were exceptions) the SLC was a 1 team (bid) conference.

If not for the DE we would not have advanced to the NCAAs in 2011. We lost our first game, after taking the conference (by storm), and had to then win 5 in a row to make it. We ended up using our closer to start the final/championship game and he threw a 9 inning shut-out. It was spectacular (he also ended up being drafted). Kid hadn't started a game since he was a soph in HS.

If you are deep enough it can be done.
Our problem is we ALWAYS get sent to the UT Regional.
Our teams have a big brain freeze playing there. We also usually get f**kd over by one anomolous play or call when we go there. UT refuses to travel to San Marcos (a whole 28 mile trip down the interstate) so every year both games are in Austin.

We also just lost our Asst Coach to WVU. We'll see how this year goes with a new member on staff.


I also don't see why there isn't a full slate of games. The SLC had 12 teams for baseball. We played everyone, 3 game series, and had 20-25 OOC games. Why are they splitting it up?

I imagine scheduling is part of it. We've been playing 30 league games for quite a while, and my guess is that our coaches have enjoyed having 4 nonconference weekends, it allows our few Northern teams to get a home series in when it isnt perhaps 30 degrees outside.

If I was Texas State, I would take advantage of the weather you guys get early in the year and grab an extra nonconference home series...SBC teams are all capable of earning at large bids, so you guys could use it to build your NCAA tourney resume.

I'm sure coach Fikac (former Bobcat and MLB pitcher) will do just that. We have had some good weekenders the past several years (along with our own tournament). We had OU for 2013 but they backed out a few weeks ago (wusses).

We did lose a lot to graduation and the draft, so I think this will be a "rebuilding year"; though I don't think we'll fall off too far if the summer league results are any indication. Pitching is the biggest question mark; we lost 3/4 starters and our 2 best relief guys.

Maybe we'll be back up to snuff when we hit the SBC in 2014.

Have to say I froze my rear off at the Bobcat tournament last year.