College World Series

[ugadevil]

The College World Series begins in Omaha this weekend and I'll definitely be tuning in. I love the excitement of college baseball and the the unpredictability of when an offense is going to EXPLODE. So far, it looks to be a VERY strong field, with most of the top national seeds advancing. The ACC looks to have a good chance at bringing home the championship with Miami, FSU, and UNC all advancing to the CWS. There's still a couple open spots with LSU/UC Irvine and Fresno State/Arizona State tonight. I REALLY wish I was going to Omaha this year but my schedule won't allow it. Anyone have any predictions on who is going to win it all?

[dkbaseball]

The College World Series begins in Omaha this weekend and I'll definitely be tuning in. I love the excitement of college baseball and the the unpredictability of when an offense is going to EXPLODE. So far, it looks to be a VERY strong field, with most of the top national seeds advancing. The ACC looks to have a good chance at bringing home the championship with Miami, FSU, and UNC all advancing to the CWS. There's still a couple open spots with LSU/UC Irvine and Fresno State/Arizona State tonight. I REALLY wish I was going to Omaha this year but my schedule won't allow it. Anyone have any predictions on who is going to win it all?

I've seen LSU, Arizona State, Rice, UC Irvine, as well as two other teams in the super-regionals -- Arizona and CSU Fullerton -- play in person this year. I was most impressed by Rice, though ASU probably has been overall the best team in the country for the past two years (I'm surprised to learn here that they lost that game to Fresno last night). The Rice hitters really turn good fastballs around, and are solid everywhere. But that's been the case the last two years, and they didn't compete that well in Omaha. LSU regards itself as a team of destiny, having won 23 straight at the end of the year against SEC competition. It is indeed shaping up as a strong field -- seven of eight top eight seeds if LSU and ASU win, with Stanford, a traditional power and number one seed in their regional, being the other.

On a sad note, it may be time to acknowledge Carolina as now one of the top half dozen or so programs in the country. Third straight trip to Omaha. Presumably they'll take along their mascot, Roy W., again.

[ugadevil]

LSU is rolling against UC-Irvine. Similar to UGA yesterday, LSU came out hot in the first inning and might have put the game away right from the beginning. Last I saw, Fresno State had an early lead on Arizona State. A big lead is really good to have in these games because the excitement of trying to close it out when you know what's on the line is not an easy thing to deal with.

I haven't followed many of the teams in the CWS, other than my own. Honestly, I'm surprised that Georgia has made it this far. It appeared that they peaked in the middle of the season, and that their pitching wasn't going to be strong enough down the stretch. With their 0-2 performance in the SEC Tournament and losing their first game to Lipscomb in their regional, many thought it would be a quick end to the season for the Bulldogs. However, they've rallied and their bats appear to be hot again headed into Omaha. Again, pitching will still be a huge question mark against the quality lineups they will have to face. I don't know about the other clubs, but for Georgia, right now their 1-5 hitters are all on a tear.

[devildeac]

The College World Series begins in Omaha this weekend and I'll definitely be tuning in. I love the excitement of college baseball and the the unpredictability of when an offense is going to EXPLODE. So far, it looks to be a VERY strong field, with most of the top national seeds advancing. The ACC looks to have a good chance at bringing home the championship with Miami, FSU, and UNC all advancing to the CWS. There's still a couple open spots with LSU/UC Irvine and Fresno State/Arizona State tonight. I REALLY wish I was going to Omaha this year but my schedule won't allow it. Anyone have any predictions on who is going to win it all?

ABC, folks, ABC:D

[devildeac]

I've seen LSU, Arizona State, Rice, UC Irvine, as well as two other teams in the super-regionals -- Arizona and CSU Fullerton -- play in person this year. I was most impressed by Rice, though ASU probably has been overall the best team in the country for the past two years (I'm surprised to learn here that they lost that game to Fresno last night). The Rice hitters really turn good fastballs around, and are solid everywhere. But that's been the case the last two years, and they didn't compete that well in Omaha. LSU regards itself as a team of destiny, having won 23 straight at the end of the year against SEC competition. It is indeed shaping up as a strong field -- seven of eight top eight seeds if LSU and ASU win, with Stanford, a traditional power and number one seed in their regional, being the other.

On a sad note, it may be time to acknowledge Carolina as now one of the top half dozen or so programs in the country. Third straight trip to Omaha. Presumably they'll take along their mascot, Roy W., again.

But he'll be rooting for Kansas:rolleyes:;)

[dkbaseball]

LSU is rolling against UC-Irvine. Similar to UGA yesterday, LSU came out hot in the first inning and might have put the game away right from the beginning. Last I saw, Fresno State had an early lead on Arizona State. A big lead is really good to have in these games because the excitement of trying to close it out when you know what's on the line is not an easy thing to deal with.

I haven't followed many of the teams in the CWS, other than my own. Honestly, I'm surprised that Georgia has made it this far. It appeared that they peaked in the middle of the season, and that their pitching wasn't going to be strong enough down the stretch. With their 0-2 performance in the SEC Tournament and losing their first game to Lipscomb in their regional, many thought it would be a quick end to the season for the Bulldogs. However, they've rallied and their bats appear to be hot again headed into Omaha. Again, pitching will still be a huge question mark against the quality lineups they will have to face. I don't know about the other clubs, but for Georgia, right now their 1-5 hitters are all on a tear.

FWIW, the LSU coach said three weeks ago that Georgia had the best pitching they have seen this year.

LSU just closed out the 70 year run of the most fan-enthusiastic venue in college baseball -- the old Alex Box Stadium (to be replaced next year by the new) -- with a 21 run revisitation of the "gorrilla ball" of the late '90s. No fan base descends on Omaha like theirs, and they are definitely thinking two national championships in the same school year. Last done in football and baseball, I believe, by USC in '72-'73. (Though Texas did it recently in the same calendar year -- 2005).

[BlueDevilJay]

Im def watching as I watch as many baseball games as I can during the season, and now especially after my Canes have made the CWS again. If I'm not mistaken, don't we play Georgia? If so, let the battle lines be drawn! Lets go Canes!!!!

[ugadevil]

Im def watching as I watch as many baseball games as I can during the season, and now especially after my Canes have made the CWS again. If I'm not mistaken, don't we play Georgia? If so, let the battle lines be drawn! Lets go Canes!!!!

Miami does play Georgia. That game will be at 7:00pm on Saturday night. I was pulling hard for Arizona in that Super Regional. I don't have dislike towards Miami, but it was more a hope of not wanting to play them. Miami is very tough and Georgia will have to be at their best to beat them. Getting off to a quick start is going to be key for both teams.

DKBaseball- At one point in the year, UGA's pitching did look very strong. The combination of Holder and Dodson carried the Dawgs through SEC play. However, Holder has been inconsistent lately and Dodson has been sent to the bullpen. In Omaha, UGA is going with Holder and Nick Montgomery. I hope they can prove the LSU coach right. FWIW, the Dawgs were the last team to beat LSU before they went on that ridiculous run.

[Bluedawg]

Someone please explain to me how and why UNC once again got the easiest route to the CWS? The NCAA gave them a cupcake route in basketball and again in baseball.

I mean no insult to Coastal Carolina, but come on. State had to play UGA while UNC got Coastal Carolina. Now, they may be a fine team, but we all know they are not in the same league as UGA.

[BlueDevilJay]

Miami does play Georgia. That game will be at 7:00pm on Saturday night. I was pulling hard for Arizona in that Super Regional. I don't have dislike towards Miami, but it was more a hope of not wanting to play them. Miami is very tough and Georgia will have to be at their best to beat them. Getting off to a quick start is going to be key for both teams.

DKBaseball- At one point in the year, UGA's pitching did look very strong. The combination of Holder and Dodson carried the Dawgs through SEC play. However, Holder has been inconsistent lately and Dodson has been sent to the bullpen. In Omaha, UGA is going with Holder and Nick Montgomery. I hope they can prove the LSU coach right. FWIW, the Dawgs were the last team to beat LSU before they went on that ridiculous run.

Honestly, Miami may have the best team in the country this year, but their pitching has not been on as of late, showed by the loss in game 1 to Arizona and giving up 12 runs in Game 2, although our juggernaut offense was enough to carry us through to Omaha. Georgia is tough, and I honestly think its a crapshoot when all the teams arrive for the CWS. Good luck vs my boys, but obviously I'm hoping Miami can add "One for the Thumb" this year to go along with the 5 in Football. (For anyone who is interested, I was recruited and offered a scholarship to play baseball for Miami my junior year in HS, hence my love for their football and baseball teams. Dad raised me on Duke basketball from the time of being able to walk, so my loyalty lies with Duke, but I had no college football team that I followed, and was hooked into Miami after my recruiting visit to Coral Gables.)

[ugadevil]

Honestly, Miami may have the best team in the country this year, but their pitching has not been on as of late, showed by the loss in game 1 to Arizona and giving up 12 runs in Game 2, although our juggernaut offense was enough to carry us through to Omaha. Georgia is tough, and I honestly think its a crapshoot when all the teams arrive for the CWS. Good luck vs my boys, but obviously I'm hoping Miami can add "One for the Thumb" this year to go along with the 5 in Football. (For anyone who is interested, I was recruited and offered a scholarship to play baseball for Miami my junior year in HS, hence my love for their football and baseball teams. Dad raised me on Duke basketball from the time of being able to walk, so my loyalty lies with Duke, but I had no college football team that I followed, and was hooked into Miami after my recruiting visit to Coral Gables.)

With both teams struggling to get outs, sounds like it might be a race to 100 runs. So did you accept the scholarship and go to Miami?

[BlueDevilJay]

With both teams struggling to get outs, sounds like it might be a race to 100 runs. So did you accept the scholarship and go to Miami?

I actually DID accept the scholarship, but due to a pretty much career ending knee injury in basketball the next year (torn ACL and MCL), I basically let them out of the 'contract' and went to App State. I didn't feel right keeping an athletic scholarship when I wouldn't be able to perform up to the level I had been previously. To their credit, they did not rescind it, I volunteered it back. I'm sure I could have probably redshirted, but I ended up deciding I didn't want to leave the state either. I do regret it now though as I would have been on the squad for a National Championship. I'd have been one of the small white boys at the end of the bench sprinting onto the field as soon as the last out was made :)

[ugadevil]

Someone please explain to me how and why UNC once again got the easiest route to the CWS? The NCAA gave them a cupcake route in basketball and again in baseball.

I mean no insult to Coastal Carolina, but come on. State had to play UGA while UNC got Coastal Carolina. Now, they may be a fine team, but we all know they are not in the same league as UGA.

It depends on which UGA team we'll see. I hope to see the one that obliterated Ga. Tech and N.C. State in games to move on to the next round. However, I'm worried about the chance of seeing the team that lost their first two games in the SEC Tournament and then fell to Lipscomb in the opening round of the NCAA's.

It appears that Fresno State has had the toughest road so far, coming out of the Long Beach Regional and defeating Arizona State on the road. I'd say UNC was average for their level of difficulty. I would have given the easiest route title to LSU. Their regional was a JOKE.

[dkbaseball]

I would have given the easiest route title to LSU. Their regional was a JOKE.

Not really. The third seed, UNO, had beaten LSU twice, and nearly did a third time (it went 15 innings). Statistically, they were one of the best offensive teams in the country, and had basically the same squad that beat Wichita State last year in the regional at Wichita. The second seed, Southern Mississippi, turned out to be even better than UNO. Granted, LSU opened with a gimme -- Texas Southern at 16-32. In the super-regional LSU had to go through an Irvine team that was essentially the same squad that went to the CWS last year, winning in Austin and Wichita. They had some of the best pitching in the country.

[devildeac]

unc can still GTH. Go 'dawgs. Go 'canes. You get the idea.