Minnesota

[coolonetoo]

If the Gophers sweep Purdue...

1. They will finish the season having played series against the bottom six teams in the conference, against which they racked up a record of 15-2.

2. They will have played only two teams in the top half of the league, going 2-4.

3. The fifth best team in the conference will win a title.

4. The Big Ten champion will not make the NCAA tournament (unless they also win the conference tournament).

5. I will be quite disgusted.

 

[RobsterMobster]

Purdue will win at least one. I agree Minny stinks but how many games did we lose because of coaching errors? Leaving a pitcher in too long? Batting Raburn 2nd? last weekend Meyers was hurt which is bad luck but overall this year we had many chances to win it outright and quite honestly found a way to keep it close at the end.

Do I think we are better than Minny? Of course! But if they happen to win 5 games in 5 days (which I don't think they will) then they deserve it. We had our chance to lock it down completely and anytime we had the opportunity to seal it we lost a game to keep it close.

I do think we are the most talented team in the league (Maryland and Michigan a close 2a 2b) but we slept walked enough times that if Minny somehow wins 5 of 5 it's on us.

At the end of the day I think they lose one at least and we sweep PSU. If we don't sweep we honestly don't deserve it anyways.

 

[coolonetoo]

I'm an equal opportunity hater so I'll also point out Michigan's almost identical schedule. The only difference is the Wolverines played Maryland instead of Nebraska. And they are 2-4 against the top half and 12-3 against the bottom.

 

[coolonetoo]

Purdue will win at least one. I agree Minny stinks but how many games did we lose because of coaching errors? Leaving a pitcher in too long? Batting Raburn 2nd? last weekend Meyers was hurt which is bad luck but overall this year we had many chances to win it outright and quite honestly found a way to keep it close at the end.

Do I think we are better than Minny? Of course! But if they happen to win 5 games in 5 days (which I don't think they will) then they deserve it. We had our chance to lock it down completely and anytime we had the opportunity to seal it we lost a game to keep it close.

I do think we are the most talented team in the league (Maryland and Michigan a close 2a 2b) but we slept walked enough times that if Minny somehow wins 5 of 5 it's on us.

At the end of the day I think they lose one at least and we sweep PSU. If we don't sweep we honestly don't deserve it anyways.

I'm not really even thinking from Nebraska perspective. If we TCB against Penn State and have a pulse in Bloomington we will make a regional even if we finish second. I really want to win the league but for me it will always take a back seat to an NCAA tournament berth.

 

[RobsterMobster]

I'm not really even thinking from Nebraska perspective. If we TCB against Penn State and have a pulse in Bloomington we will make a regional even if we finish second. I really want to win the league but for me it will always take a back seat to an NCAA tournament berth.

I get that 100%. Although I do think this team and staff need to win a league title. Something about being the best sets that mind frame going forward. They've been to the regional and blew chunks so simply making it again may not get them to the next step. We need a league title or at minimum, a regional championship game. I'm not not picky! I'll take both

 

[coolonetoo]

I'll reframe that and say this athletic department needs a title.

 

[RobsterMobster]

I'll reframe that and say this athletic department needs a title.

That is the truest statement one could make

 

[k9_r]

I get that 100%. Although I do think this team and staff need to win a league title. Something about being the best sets that mind frame going forward. They've been to the regional and blew chunks so simply making it again may not get them to the next step. We need a league title or at minimum, a regional championship game. I'm not not picky! I'll take both

The Big Ten baseball title is trash, it carries no prestige at all. Would I take it? Sure. I'd put the trophy in the case but I wouldn't salute it.

The league isn't trash, it's respectable enough but the title is worthless.

The problem is we play just 24 games which give rise to these horribly out of balance schedules. We need to get to 30 games and put an end to this crap.

Sure, it would be nice to get 20+ wins but the Schwarbers and the Tyler Jays are hard to come by. Just balance the stupid schedules. This is crap.

 

[RobsterMobster]

The Big Ten baseball title is trash, it carries no prestige at all. Would I take it? Sure. I'd put the trophy in the case but I wouldn't salute it.

The league isn't trash, it's respectable enough but the title is worthless.

The problem is we play just 24 games which give rise to these horribly out of balance schedules. We need to get to 30 games and put an end to this crap.

Sure, it would be nice to get 20+ wins but the Schwarbers and the Tyler Jays are hard to come by. Just balance the stupid schedules. This is crap.

I don't necessarily agree with winning a conference title being trash though. It is the reality of the current roster we have and none have any experience within another conference with the exception of Raburn. I do feel it becoming a norm will be what sends us in the right direction mentally. Trust me, if we finish 2nd and then make a Super it is irrelevant, but we aren't, and not winning this average league somewhat points to why.

You'll see a big celebration from our team if we win the title, as they should, its getting a monkey off your back, but the ultimate goal would be to win the regular season title, shake hands like we just closed the first deal of a huge contract, and focus in on winning regionals and supers.

In 1999 our team dogpiled after winning the conference tourney, by 2001 they were just shaking hands. That's essentially what I'm getting at. It just builds that mentality of winning and expectation for a program is all. The rest of the conference may be ok with being good every now and then, letting their coach ride off to ASU, and then becoming just another above average team again, but we won't I'd hope.

Now I will say finishing 1st or 2nd is a realistic mentality we seem to be setting and I'm fine with that. You are correct that the regionals are the true test of a team.

 

[coolonetoo]

The Big Ten baseball title is trash, it carries no prestige at all. Would I take it? Sure. I'd put the trophy in the case but I wouldn't salute it.

The league isn't trash, it's respectable enough but the title is worthless.

The problem is we play just 24 games which give rise to these horribly out of balance schedules. We need to get to 30 games and put an end to this crap.

Sure, it would be nice to get 20+ wins but the Schwarbers and the Tyler Jays are hard to come by. Just balance the stupid schedules. This is crap.

That's really the point I was trying to make. But don't expect it to happen anytime soon. The bye week is a requirement since there are an odd number of teams. So that would mean starting league play around the 10th of March. Nope. Unless getting rid of the conference tournament is part of the conversation. I will never support that.

I would be a fan of breaking into divisions and leaving the last weekend open for "championship series" matching seeds from each division against each other. But that doesn't work with 13 teams. And it makes the conference tournament less intriguing. So never mind.

 

[Truehuskerfan]

The Big Ten baseball title is trash, it carries no prestige at all. Would I take it? Sure. I'd put the trophy in the case but I wouldn't salute it.

The league isn't trash, it's respectable enough but the title is worthless.

The problem is we play just 24 games which give rise to these horribly out of balance schedules. We need to get to 30 games and put an end to this crap.

Sure, it would be nice to get 20+ wins but the Schwarbers and the Tyler Jays are hard to come by. Just balance the stupid schedules. This is crap.

Totally disagree that winning a conference title is trash. Is doing well in the NCAA tournament more important? Of course. Is it as big as winning the Big 12? No. But even recognizing those things as true, calling the conference title "trash" is ridiculous exaggeration in my opinion, especially for a team that hasn't won one in 12 years. I'd like to see us get to the point to where winning the conference title is no big deal, but it will never be trash.

 

[k9_r]

That's really the point I was trying to make. But don't expect it to happen anytime soon. The bye week is a requirement since there are an odd number of teams. So that would mean starting league play around the 10th of March. Nope. Unless getting rid of the conference tournament is part of the conversation. I will never support that.

I would be a fan of breaking into divisions and leaving the last weekend open for "championship series" matching seeds from each division against each other. But that doesn't work with 13 teams. And it makes the conference tournament less intriguing. So never mind.

Right. I totally agree with your OP and just wanted to add my thoughts. It's disgusting.

As to the rest, The Pac 12 plays 30 games and doesn't have a conference tournament. They play everyone and then crown a non-controversial champion. They have a round robin schedule and the most wins gets the title. No one can point fingers and argue the result. I like that.

And we won't need to start Mar 10th either. We can start just one week earlier on March 23rd and replace the conference tourney with a final week of regular season. The Pac 12 has no issue with that and neither do I. The Big West (think Cal St Fullerton) has no conference tournament either.

We would still miss two opponents but that's a lot better than missing four. And more fair too.

 

[k9_r]

Totally disagree that winning a conference title is trash. Is doing well in the NCAA tournament more important? Of course. Is it as big as winning the Big 12? No. But even recognizing those things as true, calling the conference title "trash" is ridiculous exaggeration in my opinion, especially for a team that hasn't won one in 12 years. I'd like to see us get to the point to where winning the conference title is no big deal, but it will never be trash.

How valuable is a title which can be won by a team that played just two of the top five teams (not including themselves) and actually lost both series? A team which built their winning record by going 12-3 against all five of the worst teams.

They can get the title and we can get shutout after playing four of the top five (not including us) and winning three of those four.

'Trash' is not too strong for me but, if it helps, I'll just say - that is a badly tarnished title.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming Minnesota, everyone plays the schedule dealt to them. If the roles were reversed, we would get the trophy and it goes in our trophy case forever but I would know that Minnesota got screwed and that we came in the back door.

Having said all that, if Minnesota wins five games in five days that would be a nice compliment to their program. Not worth a title though.

 

[Truehuskerfan]

How valuable is a title which can be won by a team that played just two of the top five teams (not including themselves) and actually lost both series? A team which built their winning record by going 12-3 against all five of the worst teams.

They can get the title and we can get shutout after playing four of the top five (not including us) and winning three of those four.

'Trash' is not too strong for me but, if it helps, I'll just say - that is a badly tarnished title.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming Minnesota, everyone plays the schedule dealt to them. If the roles were reversed, we would get the trophy and it goes in our trophy case forever but I would know that Minnesota got screwed and that we came in the back door.

Having said all that, if Minnesota wins five games in five days that would be a nice compliment to their program. Not worth a title though.

I'm a little confused as to what your argument is. Above, you said that the Big Ten baseball title is trash, period. Here, you are making the argument for why the title would be tarnished for Minnesota because they played a relatively easy schedule. I can see that argument-but why would that tarnish the title for us if we won it? We played a much more difficult schedule than they did.

 

[k9_r]

I'm a little confused as to what your argument is. Above, you said that the Big Ten baseball title is trash, period. Here, you are making the argument for why the title would be tarnished for Minnesota because they played a relatively easy schedule. I can see that argument-but why would that tarnish the title for us if we won it? We played a much more difficult schedule than they did.

I said if the roles were reversed. If we would win the title on Minnesota's schedule and results. That would tarnish it for us as well. Now if we win the title on our schedule and results then, no, it wouldn't be tarnished.

I called it trash and lacking prestige because it can be won in this manner. Wacko, out of balanced schedules can and sometimes do result in a tarnished championship. That's not good.

When a conference likely gets four teams invited to the dance and their champion is not included, something is wacko. And it's easy to see exactly where the problem is. It's the official arrangement which can fail to produce a proper champion at fault here. That is a trashy system in my way of thinking.

No one is going to do anything about it but it's hard to have any respect for the title. As the OP said, arguably, the fifth best team in is line for this championship. And they just might win it.

 

[saluno22]

Boiler Up! Hammer Down! Go Big Red!