Not an esp popular topic here but since both Texas and Notre Dame are having excellent seasons so far I thought I'd start one anyway. Just looking at the Baseball America Top 25, like in football, the SEC is very dominant. 5 of the current top 10 are SEC teams, with the Top 3 of #1 Arkansas, #2 Miss State and #3 Vanderbilt, Tenn and South Carolina are also in the top 10. Irish are at #6 and Longhorns at #5 SEC has 7 teams in top 25 Big 10 has 1 team in the top 25 ACC has 6 teams in the top 25 Pac 12 has 4 teams in the top 25 Big 12 has 3 teams in the top 25 Mid Majors have the remaining 4 spots. I didn't know it till I caught the ESPNU baseball show one night and they said the Big 10 has limited their teams to conference only games. They said they thought it has hurt their teams in terms of being ranked. Also said though that they thought that Big 10 schools are taking baseball seriously now and that they expect an uptick in the quality of play in the Big 10 going forward. I guess most of the Big 10 schools have invested more money in their baseball facilities, Big 10 Network money comes into play since it's the richest payout I think of all the college networks.
I'm a very fair weather fan of college baseball. When the Aggies are good I'm all in it... and when we're not (like this season) I just cringe and cant bear to watch. Hopefully this might finally get some movement on Rob Childress' future. The guy is a good pitching coach, and once in a blue moon he'll assemble just enough talent to make the big show, only to hit the door in 2 games. It's been obvious to a lot of us for a while he can't get the brass ring. Hard to believe the BIG didn't learn a lesson from football. I'm sure it IS hurting them... no way to compare them to anyone else.
Scott with the job that new Irish coach, Link Jarrett, is doing he's going to be a target unless ND does something to up their game in terms of support for the baseball program. I won't be shocked if somebody in College Station notices and in a few years makes him big time offer.
It's getting close to the end of the regular season. Irish close it out on the road to Va.Tech and then the ACC Championships May 25th - May 30th. SEC is definitely the dominant player in college baseball right now with 4 of the top 5 in Baseball America's top 25 and 5 of the top 10 and 7 of the top 25. They'll be hosting a lot of Regionals. Big 12 has 3 top 10 teams in TCU.Texas and Texas Tech but that's all. Big 10 has only IU in the top 25.
Story in today's Houston Chronicle says Texas A&M is not likely to retain Rob Childress as the baseball coach.
Conference Tournaments are on this week! Some like Arkansas are locked in as #1 seeds and hosting, but more than a few need a good run in their conference tournament to lock up National Seeds and Hosting.
Scott, who are the Aggies looking at for their next baseball coach. I hope he doesn't currently reside in South Bend!
On ESPNU they were talking about the seeding, who is going to host, National Seeds, etc. One of the hosts said that if they used RPI as part of the determination that Fairfield has the #2 RPI and is 35-1 and deserves a National Seed if they are going by RPI. But that he doesn't expect them to get any respect and will not get a National Seed.
Everybody is throwing around names, but other than the AD I don't think anyone has a serious clue. RE: seeds... If Fairfield has the facilities to host a super, they'll get consideration. If they have a small facility that can't put up a good bid they have no chance. I just took a look at their new place. Seating of 350 isn't going to get them a seed. If they can get a bigger program nearby to let them use their field they'd have a chance, but not in that cozy little house.
Just so you know... Jarrett's name is getting kicked around. No smoke yet, but folks are aware of the job he's done.
Looks like A*M's top targets are the TCU coach and the Texas Tech coach. I hope you guys get one of them!
Yeah, we've heard that floated, but both of those guys like where they are... and the Tech coach is an alum so doubt he's looking around. I also heard some folks are talking about the Michigan coach, but don't know if that has any legs.
Rice fired their baseball coach. He failed to live up to the old man's record and expectations, Wayne Graham. Lance Berkman a Rice Alum and former Houston Astro might be their next coach. He wanted the job when they hired Matt Bragga from Tenn Tech.
Doesn't matter. Her last ground position before she went into the air to make the catch was inbounds. She wasn't out of bounds until she hit the ground. Similar to a player leaping into the stands to catch a foul ball and coming down out of bounds with the ball in his/her glove.
Whoa! For a second I thought those were T-posts holding the little fence and she was about to die. Nice catch!