Tuesday, May 20th Nebraska vs. Michigan State (Huskers win 5-4)
- Thread starter RobsterMobster
- Start date
I was thinking Walsh. If I remember correctly, he pitched 2 innings on Friday though
For this situation, I would strongly disagree with the move by MSU's coaching staff.
If it were a single elimination, I'm good with it. But in this case, you are playing two games no matter what, throw your best guy against the best team.
The issue is that stupid “highest seed moves on in a tie” rule. The team that loses today is done. So in a sense this is an elimination game. I would have been a bigger fan of runs allowed or something similar as the next tie breaker.
The Big Ten is idiotic as that makes it really hard to create a bid stealer.
I still disagree because you have to win two, saving him gives you your best shot. But that's me.
I think we're doing that throwing Horn first BTW
Let’s make it academic and knock out MSU’s ace in the 4th with seven runs allowed.
I don't concur on the premise that in this tournament format where a three-way tie yields the top seed advancing, the 2v3 game in every pool is an elimination game. For whichever team loses tonight's game, their second game is meaningless in that the best they can do is finish 1-1 in the pool, and either the other teams go 2-0 / 0-2 or there is a three-way tie at 1-1.
Effectively the tournament format is single elimination for any team which isn't a Top-4 seed. And for the Top 4 seeds, advancement to the semifinals is only dependent on defeating the winner of the game between the other teams in the pool, and the Top 4 seeds' game against the loser of the pool 2v3 game is of zero consequence for any involved team in the 1v(L2v3) game in who advances to the semifinal.
Because there wil be one game of zero consequence to crowning a tournament champion, they might as well have made this a single-elimination tournament with the Top 4 seeds receiving a bye. I get they want to make sure every team has two games to make the trip worth it, but this really hurts the top-end of the conference by forcing the Top 4 seeds to play an unnecessary game, particularly those who can't afford to tank to protect a high seed in the NCAA tournament.
Looking at Oregon possibly as a Top 8 national seed (regional and super regional host if they advance) and UCLA as a possible Top 16 national seed (regional host). Do they try to win their game inconsequential to the conference tournament to not have a low-RPI loss drag them down at the expense of not having as many arms available for the semifinals?
The more I've evaluated this format, the more mind-bogglingly stupid it becomes.
I'd be tempted to give him the start on Friday, he's pitched two complete games in this tournament in his career. But they'll probably go Timmerman or Brockett or something :|
I fear the dreary weather (and possibly fluid start time) are going to put a lid on tonight’s attendance.
I kinda do. Making mistakes a junior high team of special ed students wouldn't make is still not good :[
Three things:
1. All Nebraska arms are available Friday, right? I don’t think anyone threw more than 50 pitches tonight.
2. Oregon’s game Thursday with MSU isn’t meaningless. The Ducks are fighting to host a regional and perhaps even get a top 8 national seed. Losing to the Spartans (RPI 142) would be a late season ding on their resume. That said, I expect they will save their best starter to face Nebraska.
3. Tell everyone you know to get to The Chuck on Friday night!!!
1. All Nebraska arms are available Friday, right? I don’t think anyone threw more than 50 pitches tonight.
2. Oregon’s game Thursday with MSU isn’t meaningless. The Ducks are fighting to host a regional and perhaps even get a top 8 national seed. Losing to the Spartans (RPI 142) would be a late season ding on their resume. That said, I expect they will save their best starter to face Nebraska.
3. Tell everyone you know to get to The Chuck on Friday night!!!
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1. I would assume Broderick no. Tucker probably not.
2. The ducks are a lock for national seed, the game is meaningless especially since they go to the semis no matter what with a win Friday
3. I'll be there 😁
For #2, it's a contrived meaningful game. The result of Thursday night's game holds no bearing on the objective of the tournament and can only serve to either directly and/or indirectly hurt Oregon's NCAA tournament seed by either losing to Michigan State and/or burning arms which could result in a loss later in the tournament.
If the game didn't happen, Oregon would be better off for pitching availability the next three days and/or not having their RPI dragged down by a game which doesn't serve to support the tournament's objective.
But what I'm saying is that if they're in the semi final for the tournament the game won't matter at all for NCAA seeding
Good thing MSU has Bill Buckner in right field. I'm kinda disappointed (not really) that Nebraska won, because Bolt keeping his job is not what's best for this program.
Even if he loses he is fine. The AD won’t care about baseball until football and basketball are humming. No matter who we get as coach they will probably struggle as we aren’t even top 10 in the Big Ten as far as baseball investment.
We play the winner of today’s Penn State-USC game in Saturday’s semifinals. Who do we want? I say USC.
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