College Baseball Forum

by David OhNo on Jun 10, 2007 8:17 PM MDT

These are typically fun...

I have nothing really to say other than to leave this as a venue for everyone to discuss all things NCAA Baseball, from regionals to draft, etc.

-The Pokes won, so my real school gets a temporary boost before they run into the buzzsaw we call the Razorbacks.

-My real rooting interest, ORU, was upended by knepster's Cats. If you read this knepster, I want to make a friendly wager for game two (we know you'll lose to WSU and we'll top UNO) so long as ORU saves Hefner for game three. Maybe a sig entry type wager...

-In random draft news, I'm watching Duke Walker of Arkansas for the third time now, and am crossing my fingers we'll have a shot at him in round three. He needs to sharpen the curveball, but he just reached back and blew 95 MPH past a hitter in a RISP situation. 6'7, throws downhill, plus fastball...

-Lastly, my bracket has North Carolina over...Arizona State. Sorry RFTN, I just couldn't pull the trigger on Vandy...

Eat. Drink. Be Merry. But the above FanPost does not necessarily reflect the attitudes, opinions, or views of Purple Row's staff (unless, of course, it's written by the staff [and even then, it still might not]).

Tweet Comment 26 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I was able to

watch the Minnesota-Cal Fullerton match-up while I played poker with some old friends I hadn't seen in years. Wes Roemer looked good, but I think he threw way too many balls than usual. If I'm a team in the late first or the sandwich round and I wanted a college right hander, it would either be Simmons or Roemer. Neither is going to blow you away, but they're both advanced enough that they should move quickly.

"Vae victis!" - Brennus the Gaul

by Russ Oates on Jun 1, 2007 9:51 PM MDT reply actions

Wager

Sounds good to me. What did you have in mind?

by Knepster on Jun 2, 2007 9:48 PM MDT reply actions

Although

that game might not happen. ORU is out, and WSU plays NO again tomorrow. If NO wins that game, then WSU is out. We play the winner of that game. If we lose that game, then the same two teams play again. I'll be rooting for WSU tomorrow in the first game so we can play them.

by Knepster on Jun 2, 2007 9:54 PM MDT up reply actions

Wager would have been nice

but ORU couldn't take care of bid'ness and having to face Wichita State for the third time didn't help matters.

The only other wager will come if my real school (Okie State) meets up with your school, but I don't think that is possible until the CWS Final.

The way State is currently dismantling Arkansas (and Jess Todd) I'd put them up against anybody, including RFTN's Vandy (as long as Price isn't pitching, he'd neutralize Brown and Mangini from the left side, and has too much burn for righty sluggers Reidling and Mach).

This is shaping up to be a wild NCAA baseball post-season. Good luck to your Cats the rest of the way!

by David OhNo on Jun 2, 2007 10:18 PM MDT up reply actions

Well

that sucked. After winning the first two games we dropped two straight to WSU.

by Knepster on Jun 6, 2007 8:40 PM MDT up reply actions

But good luck

to your Cowboys.

by Knepster on Jun 6, 2007 8:44 PM MDT up reply actions

Thanks

I was hoping that the regional would come to Stillwater so I could get out to the games, but Louisville won the bid on the strength of their hotel space, since based on merit and on field achievements OSU beats them hands down.

They really should have gotten with OKC and the Bricktown Ballpark, home of the Big XII tournament, to sweeten their hosting bid.

by David OhNo on Jun 6, 2007 9:55 PM MDT up reply actions

Vandy

Yeah, they're struggling right now. Needed extra innings to beat Austin Peay (this is the same Austin Peay team that they beat 8-0 earlier in the season, but Kelley wasn't pitching that night) and now they're down 4-3 in the ninth against Michigan. If Vandy doesn't get out of this regional, God, I hope Michigan doesn't either. Nothing personal against Michigan, but I'd rather see Austin Peay advance if Vandy doesn't.

The Coors Effect... thinking about changing the name to The Humidor Effect.

by Rox Fan in TN on Jun 2, 2007 11:53 PM MDT reply actions

I was bummed

LSU wasn't in the tourney this year.

I spent about 7 years in the Lincoln/Omaha area in the mid 90's, and have in laws there. I've been to about 4 College World Series, and they are a blast.

The LSU fans come in droves when their team makes it to Omaha and in general are some of the nicest folks around. Granted, most all the fans for any school are great, but I had a wonderful time one year with the LSU folks ans sort of adopted them as my team.

Texas always comes with a good crowd, and the Cal schools too.

The CWS is probably the ONLY thing I miss about Nebraska.

by comedian on Jun 3, 2007 10:47 AM MDT reply actions

The LSU fans

come in droves when their team is playing Vanderbilt in Nashville. I found that out a couple of weeks ago.

The Coors Effect... thinking about changing the name to The Humidor Effect.

by Rox Fan in TN on Jun 3, 2007 2:51 PM MDT up reply actions

LSU fans

show up in droves no matter who or where they are playing. When we played them in football in Tucson a few years ago, I think thousands showed up. LSU RVs were everywhere. It was pretty impressive.

by Knepster on Jun 3, 2007 5:19 PM MDT up reply actions

My point exactly

If they're going to travel that big to a baseball game at Vandy, they're sure as heck gonna follow their team to Omaha. My question is this... do these people have jobs?

The Coors Effect... thinking about changing the name to The Humidor Effect.

by Rox Fan in TN on Jun 3, 2007 9:45 PM MDT up reply actions

That's what

we all wondered. How do they have the money and the time to travel around the country following the teams? Don't get me wrong, I would love to be able to do that, but I don't see how they do it.

by Knepster on Jun 3, 2007 10:01 PM MDT up reply actions

Yep.

Usually a person who has no job is lacking the money to undertake such a thing, and a person who has a job is lacking the time to do such a thing. It's perfectly understandable for college football, where the games are on Saturdays when most people are off work and they're only once a week, and the road trips (at least in conference season) tend to be relatively short. Most of the SEC football teams only play four road games a year, and those are conference games. Baseball, with all the midweek games, seems like less of a possibility. But I guess it's conceivable that somebody could take off work early on a Friday and be back by Monday morning for a weekend series.

The Coors Effect... thinking about changing the name to The Humidor Effect.

by Rox Fan in TN on Jun 4, 2007 12:37 AM MDT up reply actions

True

We were so amazed because even though the game was on a Sat night, the drive from Baton Rouge to Tucson isn't exactly an afternoon cruise.

by Knepster on Jun 4, 2007 12:38 PM MDT up reply actions

a good portion of them seemed to be

retired or at least old enough to afford being able to take time off here and there. Of course there were groups of parents as well, most of whom I imagine take time off from work to see Jr. play.

Maybe another component is that they (LSU fans/grads) don't stay in Louisiana? That's how Nebraska is. One reason they travel so well is really not travel related at at all(Californians for Nebraska, Coloradoans for Nebraska)- it's that unless you get the Agri-business degree and go back home to the family farm, you move away from Nebraska. Out of the dozens of guys I knew in college like 2 or 3 are still in Lincoln. Out of the top 25 cities in the nation size wise, I think I know someone from college in like half of them.

Just think about how many Husker fans are in Denver!

I sure wouldn't mind being able to up and follow some baseball and no longer worry about money.

by comedian on Jun 4, 2007 9:17 AM MDT reply actions

Yep

That happens a lot with Vandy, in fact. Most SEC schools have a lot of alumni living in Nashville, so the Vandy game tends to be a convenient opportunity for fans of other SEC teams to see their team play. It doesn't hurt that Vandy generally doesn't draw well on its own, in football anyway (and to a lesser extent basketball.)

The Coors Effect... thinking about changing the name to The Humidor Effect.

by Rox Fan in TN on Jun 4, 2007 1:47 PM MDT up reply actions

Oklahoma State dodges big bullet

with Missouri dropping two to Louisville. Not to take anything away from the Cardinals, but now the Pokes not only have a shot to host the Super, but they will avoid the psychological disadvantage of playing a team that has beaten them four of four times this season.

Also, Texas, find some pitchers, real pitchers. I just don't understand why they are always deep in legit MLB talent in the field, but in their rotation they always seem a tad short on dominance.

by David OhNo on Jun 4, 2007 3:33 PM MDT reply actions

Somewhat OT

But I remember when I went to CU there was talk of bringing back D1 baseball. My understanding is that the program was a title IX casualty back in the 70s or 80s. But it seems like the rest of the Big XII is really into baseball. CU should really try to restart the program. Boulder is missing out...

by moomacher on Jun 4, 2007 10:11 PM MDT reply actions

I'd love it to happen

but what I have heard is that it's such an minute posibility that it ever will.

If baseball can do well in Lincoln, there is no reason it can't do well here.

Well, OK, the Husker's benefited from building the stadium they did for the Salt Dogs (the unaffiliated minor league team), but I can't see why Colorado couldn't compete for the same guys Nebraska does were it to bring the sport back.

I suppose we can dream....

by comedian on Jun 5, 2007 10:26 AM MDT up reply actions

Rocky Mountain News

had a piece a few weeks ago about the dearth of D1 college baseball in Colorado. Basically it said CSU had no plans at all in bringing baseball back, and that CU would like to bring it back at some point.

by Knepster on Jun 5, 2007 1:18 PM MDT up reply actions

Well, I for one hope they do

But I won't hold my breath.

by comedian on Jun 6, 2007 1:58 PM MDT reply actions

Congrats

To the UofA softball team on another national championship. Back to back and 8th title since 1991.

by Knepster on Jun 6, 2007 8:43 PM MDT reply actions

Louisville destroyed

Oklahoma State 20-2, and advanced to the CWS. Still, I was a bit more impressed by Zach Putnam's performance today for the Wolverines. Putnam had a no-hitter going through 8 2/3 innings before allowing a hit--a hit that scored the only run of the game. Tough loss, but the Wolverines can win the next two to advance to Omaha.

"Vae victis!" - Brennus the Gaul

by Russ Oates on Jun 10, 2007 8:20 PM MDT reply actions

The Rockies could be

drooling over Putnam's performance, getting 16 groundouts in what I thought was the best performance of the post season to date. He was 90-94 with his fastball, and his change up is a major league punchout pitch. I'd put him on the Rockies' 2008 Draft Watch List.

by David OhNo on Jun 10, 2007 8:38 PM MDT up reply actions

He was my

"The Rockies Should Take This Guy Near The End of the Draft" choice in 2005. After watching his performance today, I'll say he started his 2008 draft campaign with that performance.

"Vae victis!" - Brennus the Gaul

by Russ Oates on Jun 10, 2007 8:56 PM MDT up reply actions