Scott, They certainly did not have any trouble dismissing North Carolina. Fans have to love the underdogs in this series! Don
Win or lose, Fresno State has proven that they belong. Corey was right when he questioned the selection process for the tournament. It's clear to me that Corey knows baseball inside and out, especially at the college level. Who knows? Maybe someday the NCAA will get it right. Doubtful, but we can hope. In any event, it's cool to see the underdog triumph. I think they are overmatched vs. UGA, primarily in the pitching dept., but as they say, That's why they play the game.
Thanks Sid <t>I question the 'big gasser' vs the west coast team being used more than once. Stanford hit the piss outta that kid the 2nd time they saw him. I have a feeling Fresno will do the same... maybe not, but generally fast ball guys aren't the best thing to throw at the western teams.<br/> <br/> As for the selection process, its a joke but its spilled milk. Damage done.<br/> <br/> The ACC got 3 in the CWS and none win (again).. They received too many teams in the tournament (again)... The SEC got 9 teams in only to have their champion playing for the title. (no surprise).<br/> <br/> The bottom line is if those teams that finished 4th thru 10th/12th played in the Pac10, Big West, WAC or Mountain West.. They wouldn't make the NCAA playoffs.</t>
Corey, I dont' think it's just the West coast teams... The Aggies detonated fastball pitching this year as well. Unfortunately, as soon as we came against anyone that could throw a decent bender, we were in trouble. We had very impatient free-swingers up and down the lineup. Not as bad as last year (We're working on it!), but still enough to keep us from being able to get past Rice... What's the tip!!! (I haven't seen much of Georgia) :shock:
Hey! I just found out it's best of 3. I guess I'm way behind on the format. I thought it was still one and done for the final game. Duh! I also heard something that astounded me.....that an ACC team has never won the CWS. Is that true? Hard to believe.
I'm not sure on that Sid, but consider how bitter UNC must be... They've been to the last three CWS!!!
hey scott <t>I'd agree with you, at this level it really depends on the club and how its made up. I was speaking more from my unique position. Starting at about 24 or 25, I helped build the following in order to regional or national powers: A little league, a high school, an American Legion program and a college program. Of my many flaws, one thing I do not lack is perspective. I notice unique trends, flaws and patterns in almost everything.<br/> <br/> I studied a lot of opponents, on a lot of different levels. One thing I have noticed is those CA kids either have a batting cage in their backyard or someone within 5 front doors does. There are no exceptions to this rule. In the wealthy neighborhoods, to the barrio to the hood. There's a pitching machine, a cage and a dad with a 12 pack of beer sitting on top of a bucket of balls with big league dreams for his little boy and the tikes in the neighborhood. <br/> <br/> I would say this is something that is spreading across the country, but its always been in those parts. I've seen a lot of amateur tournaments and various levels... from 12 year olds to 24 year olds.. And I have noticed that its almost always a big mistake to put the tall gasser on the bump against those CA teams.<br/> <br/> Much like your Texas A&M squad, they are usually doomed by the little hispanic kid with 31 flavors of curveball. Remember, one of the most prolific closers in the 90s was a knuckleballer from USC. He had zero velocity, but he could actually throw that thing for a strike..<br/> <br/> Sid,<br/> <br/> I believe Wake Forest may have won a CWS back in the 50s..but its been a long time for sure.<br/> <br/> Boy, I sure am glad that we try to help the northern and midwestern teams out by handing out the goodies to the likes of the ACC... *yawn*</t>
That would definitely be a plus to hitting the gas! I knew a couple of guys with pitching machines, but it certainly wasn't prevalent like you've seen. Can't wait to see what happens. I have nothing against the SEC, but I'd like to see FSU win it...
First time I've seen the UGA closer. If UGA is leading going into the 9th, forget it. Turn out the lights, the party's over. Fresno is suffering the inevitable effects of coming through the losers' bracket and playing two in a row to get to the finals. Their pitching is cooked. What a bunch of scrappers, though. I hope they can pull it off, but I'm not betting on it.
he is pretty nails <t>I've watched Georgia play maybe 15 or more games this year. Their closer has two problems that he needs to address. <br/> <br/> 1. He tips his pitches<br/> 2. He doesn't have a lot of control.<br/> <br/> He's gotten himself into trouble with walks but like a lot of closers, comes back to get the K when he needs it.<br/> <br/> Stanford hit him awfully hard in his last appearance against them. That little leadoff hitter from Fresno wasn't fooled by him at all. He saw the ball very well. The pitch he got him out on was a mid 90s fastball that the kid turned on, smoking a warning track linedrive right at the RF.<br/> <br/> Still, at this level he is absolutely dominant. He is the key to their team. He struggled last year and likewise, so did their team. This year he is on top of his game and they are one win away from the CWS title.</t>
That was some slugfest game last night with 29 runs being scored. Fresno State is still alive and kicking. Don
Wow! Never count them down and out. Unbelievable barrage. It sets the stage for the winner-take-all game tonight. Great stuff!
well <r>I don't know what will happen, but I am calling it right now that the Bulldogs will win the title <E></E><br/> <br/> That being said, Fresno faced elimination in both the regional and super regional only to move on. They have worked themselves back into their starting rotation... But since they've played so much, who knows if that's a good thing? <E></E><br/> <br/> For a real gas, check out Fresno's road to Omaha. They beat Arizona State (again, still so funny they are gone) and that was most certainly a CWS worthy team....but in the regionals, they played:<br/> <QUOTE><s> </e></QUOTE> There's 3 teams in that region that were CWS worthy... and they were all stuck playing in the first round?? Ugh..someone doing the seeding needs to be fired.<br/> <br/> I am sure the NCAA will remedy this by giving the ACC another regional host bid to better Northern baseball.</r>
I've forgotten to record the darned games, and have missed them all due to work. I'm trying to follow on game tracker, but that's very irritating. I can't help but notice that through 4.5 innings, Georgia has left 11 base runners hanging! KILLER! :shock:
Looks like Corey was on the money for the Bulldogs winning the CWS. Quite a performance by Detwiler, four for four and all 6 RBIs That has to be one happy group of young men! Don
What is it.....the 7th or 8th team in a row west of thwe Mississippi to with the CWS? Each year I think the CWS can't get any better, but this year tops them all. I've watched almost every minute of the three final games. I did not think FS could pull it off, but their pitching came through big time tonight. That pitching coach did a helluva job with his overworked (putting it mildly) staff. I go back to Corey's case of deserving west coast teams getting overlooked and the west coast teams getting stacked against each other in the western regionals. At least one SEC team was left standing at the end.......but 9 teams from one conference? That really, really sucks. Georgia deserves immense credit to come from a losing record last year to almost taking it all. That SS - 28 HRs which ties for most in NCAA and 8th overall draft pick by the CWS - is a heckuva player. And the closer....We will be seeing him in the bigs someday soon. How about FS's freshman SS? Three errors in the biggest game of his young life, then in the bottom of the 9th he makes a nice play on a ground ball and turns it into a double play. Great, great tournament. Now what do I do for entertainment?
I got home in time to see the 9th. I know Corey was smiling as the announcers discussed the ACC's futility, and as Sid mentioned the Western dominance at the CWS. I think I'm going to try to make it to Omaha next year... at least for the opening rounds.
first off <t>hats off to both teams, but especially the Fresno State squad. As Sid mentioned, this was a great world series with plenty of twists and turns to keep the fans coming back for more.<br/> <br/> Now, onto my dead horse topic... at least one last time..<br/> <br/> Is it any surprise that the NCAA VP that handles football is also the one who does baseball as well?<br/> <br/> 64 teams made the regionals. 15 of them were from either the ACC or the SEC. That's almost 1 in 4 participants were from 2 conferences. While the SEC plays great, great baseball... much of their 'power' ranking comes on the back of the LSU dynasty. The 90s kicked off Alabama, Georgia etc having great clubs as well but that slowly faded until LSU was the big dog. The ACC hasn't produced a damned thing in my father's lifetime.<br/> <br/> Back to the rant, of those 15 teams... 6 (SIX) were given regional hosts.<br/> <br/> Now, maybe my west coast bias is showing here but in the heck does that help Midwestern or Northern baseball?!?!? This whole crap about 'regionalization' has done nothing but eliminate western teams early on while pushing thru ACC and SEC teams into the next round. They tossed Ann Arbor a regional host and rewarded them by sticking them with Arizona as the #1 seed. I'm sure Bobda Inc. would just love to thank them for that.. Why not put NC State on the road?<br/> <br/> This is another NCAA sham, ala the BCS agreement, that just doesn't wash while getting worse each year.<br/> <br/> I really believe for College baseball to take off to the next level we're going to need a strong Big12 North, Big10, and at least ONE decent Northeastern conference.. The Big East isn't far away, but they aren't there yet..<br/> <br/> What the NCAA is handing us is an old boy network that is seriously slanted to help the few regional sweethearts, while helping those that need it in name only.<br/> <br/> Thank God these lads play the game with such heart.. Only effort like that can keep the cloak over what's really going on.<br/> <br/> ok /rant. what is it... 60 days to football?</t>
ps <t>This year Georgia played western foes such as:<br/> <br/> -Oregon State <br/> -Arizona State<br/> -Fresno State<br/> -Stanford<br/> <br/> Their record was 5-6 with 2 of those wins coming vs Stanford. Fresno, ASU and Oregon State each took 2 of 3 from UGa.<br/> <br/> Their showing is quite respectable... But it gets back to my point of... what do you do when teams like that are everywhere? Miami, UNC, FSU etc would be lucky to win 40 games.</t>