Calling it now - we're going to Omaha

[Quaoarsking]

Say what you will about Lemonis, but this team seems to have the intangible "it factor" for a deep tournament run. One of the top national seeds is going to be pissed to draw us as their 2 seed, and even more pissed when Khal & Loo win the first 2 games and we just figure out how to win the Regional from there. Then those 2 win us the Super in 2 games.

If real life were a tv show, I would say this has been foreshadowed, maybe too much, by the writers.

[msstate7]

Q may be the only poster here more bi-polar than me haha.

If they get to Omaha, Q, let's go there and have a beer

[Commercecomet24]

Man I really like this team and the way they play and I hope you're right. And maybe just
maybe we're starting to figure things out. Omaha is a little premature but heck someone has to get there might as be us.

[DownwardDawg]

Puff puff pass.

Haha!! Joking. Man I hope we make a run. That would be so much fun to watch.

[CaptainObvious]

Bwahahahahahaha!

State just beat a team that is now 2-16 in conference and just cost the beloved Head Coach his job! Let's check the exuberance just a bit! Maybe Butch ends up as pitching coach at Ole Miss.

[The Federalist Engineer]

I just want better base running, a hitting DH, Long on Medication, Stevens in middle relief, and a decent Sunday starter. Then see what happens.

This week, we got 2 of those things that I am sure of.

Auger as 3 is not bad, I thought Davis, but a move that worked well enough to compete. Parker adjusted well from Sunday in Oxford.

A winning record at this point without an Ace is an achievement

[Commercecomet24]

I just want better base running, a hitting DH, Long on Medication, Stevens in middle relief, and a decent Sunday starter. Then see what happens.

This week, we 2 things that I am sure of.

Auger as 3 is not bad, I thought Davis, but a move that worked well enough to compete. Parker adjusted well from Sunday in Oxford.

A winning record at this point without an Ace is an achievement

Khal is as good a number 1 as there is around. We have an ace.

[Coach34]

We 100% have an Ace who is one of the SEC’s best.

If we are a 2 in a Regional that host is going to pissed.

[Commercecomet24]

We 100% have an Ace who is one of the SEC’s best.

If we are a 2 in a Regional that host is going to pissed.

Yeah I could see us ruining someone's regional. Khal is big time.

[Todd4State]

I just want better base running, a hitting DH, Long on Medication, Stevens in middle relief, and a decent Sunday starter. Then see what happens.

This week, we 2 things that I am sure of.

Auger as 3 is not bad, I thought Davis, but a move that worked well enough to compete. Parker adjusted well from Sunday in Oxford.

A winning record at this point without an Ace is an achievement

I'm hoping Pico takes the 3 Sunday spot eventually.

The biggest thing that hurt us against Ole Miss was Loo hurting his back and having to come out earlier than usual. Followed very closely but refusing to pitch Tyson Hardin two days in a row.

[Commercecomet24]

I'm hoping Pico takes the 3 Sunday spot eventually.

The biggest thing that hurt us against Ole Miss was Loo hurting his back and having to come out earlier than usual. Followed very closely but refusing to pitch Tyson Hardin two days in a row.

Yeah Lo only going 3 hurt us but if we'd used Hardin any of the 3 times Saturday night we could've closed the game out we win. Don't understand the lack of use for Hardin there.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Khal is as good a number 1 as there is around. We have an ace.

Trying not to talk about Khal, we already jinxed Nolan Stevens a bit. I am referring to losing Dohm as the "Ace". Yes Khal has been great. Imagine having two "Aces"

Nolan in mid-relief is right. I also insist he is DH versus RHP when not pitching

[Todd4State]

This team has had opportunities to put themselves in a really good position. I want to see us come out focused against Memphis on Tuesday. Stop showing up to midweek games and acting like wearing MSU uniforms is going to intimidate the other team and just expecting something good to happen.

Khal gives us a chance every Friday. That's huge because Vandy and Arkansas have legit aces too. The weird games seem to happen when Loo pitches- Morris Hodges game, Georgia Johnny Long incident, Ole Miss game two. We need the weirdness that goes against to us to either balance out or stop like it did today. Short term- we will probably be facing Vandy's number five or a bullpen opener on Sunday. I think by the time we are done with the Governor's Cup and thus also midweek unless we decide to inexplicably play North Alabama we will probably figure out our Sunday situation one way or the other.

I think because of Vandy's pitching situation we may have a chance to steal that series on the road. Certainly could go either way with this group. Alabama we probably should win that series at home but they are solid team that could certainly upset us especially if our baserunning doesn't get better and we do stupid things. Arkansas is just better than almost everyone and that for whatever reason hate our ass. If we get one game there I'll be OK with it. Then Mizzou is a team we should sweep but at the same time they have been playing better and they have a history of giving Lemonis problems so I wouldn't exactly consider it a cake walk.

If everything goes right I could see us having an absolute ceiling of 18 SEC wins. The floor is probably something like 13 wins if I had to guess.

RPI wise we're at 45 as I type this. So Memphis and the Governor's Cup are actually pretty big games for us. Losing to Memphis could cause us to have to win another SEC game to get in, to get a host bid, etc. Winning the Governor's Cup could help out our RPI too and could help offset Central Arkansas. As long as our RPI is in the top 40 I think we should be Ok as far as getting in- which is probably going to mean that at least 13 wins gets us in as long as they aren't all against Mizzou. To host we're probably going to have to at least get into the top 20 RPI which if I had to guess probably means that we have to win all OOC and get 17 SEC wins. Maybe 18 if we don't sweep Mizzou.

[Todd4State]

Yeah Lo only going 3 hurt us but if we'd used Hardin any of the 3 times Saturday night we could've closed the game out we win. Don't understand the lack of use for Hardin there.

That is true. We had a big lead and the bullpen blew it and the management was just gross.

If Pico can't be the Sunday guy- I think I would go ahead and let Nolan Stevens start. It would be a good experience for him.

[Commercecomet24]

Trying not to talk about Khal, we already jinxed Nolan Stevens a bit. I am referring to losing Dohm as the "Ace". Yes Khal has been great. Imagine having two "Aces"

Nolan in mid-relief is right. I also insist he is DH versus RHP when not pitching

Yeah if we would have had khal, Dohm and Lo going all season that would've been a heckuva rotation.

[Todd4State]

Yeah if we would have had khal, Dohm and Lo going all season that would've been a heckuva rotation.

It would be very MSU if Dohm comes back and contributes later. I would think that if he is still throwing and playing catch with the team that there is still a possibility that he comes back even if it's out of the bullpen.

[Commercecomet24]

It would be very MSU if Dohm comes back and contributes later. I would think that if he is still throwing and playing catch with the team that there is still a possibility that he comes back even if it's out of the bullpen.

Would be nice to have him out there even if he can only go an inning or 2.

[The Federalist Engineer]

I'm hoping Pico takes the 3 Sunday spot eventually.

The biggest thing that hurt us against Ole Miss was Loo hurting his back and having to come out earlier than usual. Followed very closely but refusing to pitch Tyson Hardin two days in a row.

Let's see Pico vs Memphis this week. It would be great to have a fully recovered Pico back on weekend work, regardless of role.

[basedog]

Vandy is a different team playing at home versus the road. But I think there isn't a lot of difference in us and Vandy, big difference is playing them in Nashville.

[DawgFromOxford]

How about we just qualify for a regional first. Still a lot of work left to do

[basedog]

How about we just qualify for a regional first. Still a lot of work left to do

Yep, we gotta take it one game at a time, we aren't consistent enough yet to look ahead, but "we" fans can* LOL. Gonna be a tough series this weekend, but first Memphis Tuesday.

[Saltydog]

Say what you will about Lemonis, but this team seems to have the intangible "it factor" for a deep tournament run. One of the top national seeds is going to be pissed to draw us as their 2 seed, and even more pissed when Khal & Loo win the first 2 games and we just figure out how to win the Regional from there. Then those 2 win us the Super in 2 games.

If real life were a tv show, I would say this has been foreshadowed, maybe too much, by the writers.

Let's see if you're back after next weekends series at Vandy saying the same thing.

[Santiago]

Auburn is a really bad team, as far as lacking the pitchers, and a few hitters they typically have.
Glad we got the sweep.
Really need at least 1 win v. vandy this weekend

[AlSwearengen]

We have 2 starting pitchers. After that, not much. We won two close games against a terrible auburn team. C'mon guys.

[Bubb Rubb]

Say what you will about Lemonis, but this team seems to have the intangible "it factor" for a deep tournament run. One of the top national seeds is going to be pissed to draw us as their 2 seed, and even more pissed when Khal & Loo win the first 2 games and we just figure out how to win the Regional from there. Then those 2 win us the Super in 2 games.

If real life were a tv show, I would say this has been foreshadowed, maybe too much, by the writers.

Congrats on your ticket purchase to the CWS. How much were they?

It's a shame you won't get to see State playing there.

[Coach34]

We have 2 starting pitchers. After that, not much. We won two close games against a terrible auburn team. C'mon guys.

Auburn has now lost seven 1 run games in SEC play. They arent getting curbstomped every game out

We did what we were supposed to do- swept a struggling team- something UPig and Tennessee couldnt do against them

[BrunswickDawg]

Crazier things have happened. In 2022, Ole Miss was 22-17/6-12 (SEC) at this point in the season coming off losing a series to us in Oxford. They then lost 2 of 3 to Arkansas and entered May 7-14 in SEC play.
Then they somehow worked their way in as the last seed in and won a Natty. The gods of baseball have a weird sense of humor.

[Coursesuper]

Whoa there big boy! I really like the toughness of this team but they have a bunch of holes in them.

[viverlibre]

Positivity is not welcome here. We may have be the only fanbase in America that openly roots for failure by our sports teams.

[StarkVegasSteve]

We just need to take this thing one game at a time. We still have glaring issues, i.e. 3rd starter and closer, and we make FAR too many baserunning mistakes for a team with Omaha aspirations. Nice to see us win a couple of close games this weekend. Hopefully Hardin is starting to solidify himself in the closer role

[Bubb Rubb]

Crazier things have happened. In 2022, Ole Miss was 22-17/6-12 (SEC) at this point in the season coming off losing a series to us in Oxford. They then lost 2 of 3 to Arkansas and entered May 7-14 in SEC play.
Then they somehow worked their way in as the last seed in and won a Natty. The gods of baseball have a weird sense of humor.

Their RPI was also in the 30s.

[Tbonewannabe]

We actually have a good team for a 3 game series. We get into a Regional and we just need to stay in the winners bracket and we will have a chance.

[Jacknut]

You just pissed off the dead indians. Quick, someone sacrifice a goat or something!

[TNDawg35]

You just pissed off the dead indians. Quick, someone sacrifice a goat or something!

I just sacrificed a (KFC) chicken…. The whole bucket…

[The Federalist Engineer]

We have 2 starting pitchers. After that, not much. We won two close games against a terrible auburn team. C'mon guys.

Let people enjoy, dude. Let them soar.

"I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar"

https://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luk1h7xNEy1qdqz7wo1_500.gif

[Turfdawg67]

We are improving that's for sure. Which are we? The team that swept a putrid AU squad or the one that lost 2 of 3 from a lousy OM team? We've been impressive in a bunch of wins and totally listless in many, many losses. No DH, crappy bullpen, 3-4 ok hitters and clueless little leaguers running the bases. Our SP and D seem to be pretty dang good though. Who knows, and I hope you're right... but I'm missing the IT factor.

[TaleofTwoDogs]

Say what you will about Lemonis, but this team seems to have the intangible "it factor" for a deep tournament run. One of the top national seeds is going to be pissed to draw us as their 2 seed, and even more pissed when Khal & Loo win the first 2 games and we just figure out how to win the Regional from there. Then those 2 win us the Super in 2 games.

If real life were a tv show, I would say this has been foreshadowed, maybe too much, by the writers.

My friend, please call this number 800-555-1111, Substance Abuse Hotline. You will thank me later. **

[Lord McBuckethead]

What, like as a guest or something?

[Cooterpoot]

Auburn has now lost seven 1 run games in SEC play. They arent getting curbstomped every game out

We did what we were supposed to do- swept a struggling team- something UPig and Tennessee couldnt do against them

And had we played two 9 inning games it might be different too. Sometimes you need a break and we got it. I'll keep saying this is a regional team but I don't see anything beyond that unless we catch fire. The hitting has been disappointing, the pitching hasn't been other than no closer.

[Todd4State]

And had we played two 9 inning games it might be different too. Sometimes you need a break and we got it. I'll keep saying this is a regional team but I don't see anything beyond that unless we catch fire. The hitting has been disappointing, the pitching hasn't been other than no closer.

I think we may have found the closer. As we saw in 2021 you can go deep in the postseason with two starters especially if one is a true ace and a legit closer.

I'm not saying we are going to Omaha. But if we play really well against Vandy and win the series or sweep all of a sudden we're in good shape to be a 2 seed and maybe even steal a host bid with a strong finish and no hiccups along the way.

Have to beat Memphis first though.

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

Auburn has now lost seven 1 run games in SEC play. They arent getting curbstomped every game out

We did what we were supposed to do- swept a struggling team- something UPig and Tennessee couldn't do against them

It is true that sweeping anyone isn't easy. It is also true that Auburn -close games they may have had- were 2-13 coming into the weekend, and we played them at the Dude. We did what we needed too and now we're 1 step closer to the final record we need to make the tourney.

Vandy is vulnerable we have a chance to outright win the series, need 1 for sure. God I wish we had Dohm that would do so much to cover up for our weaknesses in the pen

[The Federalist Engineer]

I think we may have found the closer. As we saw in 2021 you can go deep in the postseason with two starters especially if one is a true ace and a legit closer.

I'm not saying we are going to Omaha. But if we play really well against Vandy and win the series or sweep all of a sudden we're in good shape to be a 2 seed and maybe even steal a host bid with a strong finish and no hiccups along the way.

Have to beat Memphis first though.

We've had super regional teams with less talent.

(1) Simce MSU plays in a premier park, MSU can't be intimidated by any visitor venue that is not actually Yankee Stadium. Especially some garbage ACC school. Even at Texas A&M all you see is sad dorks, doing sad dork stuff. Even LSU is 50% wine drunk, lonely moms.

Also, the MSU players are all showcase recruits. They have seen all the dudes they play against before. MSU has no "Rudy's".

(3) if Texas A&M is #1, then MSU basically played toe-to-toe with them. A&M was gift wrapped a shitty Ump in game-3. In game-1 started a dude that is not even Jackson State- Safe, and still made it a ball game.

[Cooterpoot]

I think we may have found the closer. As we saw in 2021 you can go deep in the postseason with two starters especially if one is a true ace and a legit closer.

I'm not saying we are going to Omaha. But if we play really well against Vandy and win the series or sweep all of a sudden we're in good shape to be a 2 seed and maybe even steal a host bid with a strong finish and no hiccups along the way.

Have to beat Memphis first though.

The bats aren't good enough without catching fire. The pitching depth is suspect unless Pico or someone can step up. The power outage by this team is the huge issue. We also don't have a catcher that can throw or hit. No real leadoff either. Just lots of problems. Again, we're a regional team, so we aren't terrible but we are limited right now. Could that change? Absolutely it could. Will it? That's the question. My big thing from the weekend was Kohler getting the big hit. That can change his arch hopefully. Also, Larry had a big hit. Maybe he can find it again.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Just looked it up, the Texas A&M shitty Sunday lefty has only one Decent outing in the SEC and it was vs MSU.

MSU could play and beat the #1 National Seed and beat them at their place.

One adjustment CJ just walk Montgomery, seems that CJ is raw meat to Montgomery.

[Coach34]

Just looked it up, the Texas A&M shitty Sunday lefty has only one Decent outing in the SEC and it was vs MSU.

MSU could play and beat the #1 National Seed and beat them at their place.

One adjustment CJ just walk Montgomery, seems that CJ is raw meat to Montgomery.

We struggle with LHP’s. That’s what kept Auburn in the series

[The Federalist Engineer]

We struggle with LHP’s. That’s what kept Auburn in the series

When it comes to RH Hitters, I expected Jordan, Larry, Hujsak, Chance and Switch Mershon to be shitty-lefty proof. I don't have player by player splits this year.

I expected Larry to be hitting 50 points higher. Seems that a 250 second baseman can't be a DH. But maybe he can be platoon with Kohler at 3B. I share the Terry Pendleton theory that corner Infielders must hit, Kohler's early injury maybe spoiled his production this year. Ethan Pulliam should play until he stops hitting.

[maroonmania]

Q, I hope your family has a really nice trip. ***

[StarkVegasSteve]

We've had super regional teams with less talent.

(1) Simce MSU plays in a premier park, MSU can't be intimidated by any visitor venue that is not actually Yankee Stadium. Especially some garbage ACC school. Even at Texas A&M all you see is sad dorks, doing sad dork stuff. Even LSU is 50% wine drunk, lonely moms.

Also, the MSU players are all showcase recruits. They have seen all the dudes they play against before. MSU has no "Rudy's".

(3) if Texas A&M is #1, then MSU basically played toe-to-toe with them. A&M was gift wrapped a shitty Ump in game-3. In game-1 started a dude that is not even Jackson State- Safe, and still made it a ball game.

Glad someone brought that up. Can we please stop doing the ball 5, 6, etc chant and for the love of god STOP BRINGING BUBBLE MACHINES. It looks like we're playing 8U coach pitch with that crap. Let them do the weird stuff and let Ole Miss throw beer. We need to do our own thing.

[PGHBulldogBG]

Does baseball RPI factor in road and neutral field games the way basketball does or does that not play a part in RPI and SOS?

[Quaoarsking]

Does baseball RPI factor in road and neutral field games the way basketball does or does that not play a part in RPI and SOS?

Yes, the same 1.4 for road, 0.6 for home that basketball used to do.

[cujo]

I mean it. Ole Miss' title in 2022 proved it can be done. You don't have to be one of the 2 or 3 best teams in the nation or even a national seed.
Our main missing ingredient is a closer. If someone emerges, or even a closer by committee, we could do it.

[Quaoarsking]

Do you believe yet? This team has the "it factor."

[DownwardDawg]

Do you believe yet? This team has the "it factor."

This weekend proved we can certainly win a regional title and a super regional.

[maroonmania]

I mean it. Ole Miss' title in 2022 proved it can be done. You don't have to be one of the 2 or 3 best teams in the nation or even a national seed.
Our main missing ingredient is a closer. If someone emerges, or even a closer by committee, we could do it.

Ole Miss proved in 2022 that ANYONE that can sustain a post-season pitching streak of giving up 3 runs or less in every game played can win a title. I don't see us doing that though.

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

We struggle with LHP’s. That’s what kept Auburn in the series

Apparently, Hines does NOT struggle with lefties anymore lol

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

This weekend proved we can certainly win a regional title and a super regional.

And OM and Florida showed we can be bounced from a regional too. Team is capable of playing like a top 10ish team OR like #35. We should be in a regional for sure now, only question is which State team will show up to it. Last 2 weekends they've been locked in maybe they learned some lessons from OM

[Todd4State]

Ole Miss proved in 2022 that ANYONE that can sustain a post-season pitching streak of giving up 3 runs or less in every game played can win a title. I don't see us doing that though.

The way the postseason is set up now as long as you stay in the winners bracket you don't have to use as much pitching depth as you would a normal SEC weekend.

[Turfdawg67]

Say what you will about Lemonis, but this team seems to have the intangible "it factor" for a deep tournament run. One of the top national seeds is going to be pissed to draw us as their 2 seed, and even more pissed when Khal & Loo win the first 2 games and we just figure out how to win the Regional from there. Then those 2 win us the Super in 2 games.

If real life were a tv show, I would say this has been foreshadowed, maybe too much, by the writers.

This could be the greatest post in the history of ED posts!! Hope you are right!

[Quaoarsking]

At this point, I was probably TOO PESSIMISTIC in the OP, not optimistic at all!

[Commercecomet24]

At this point, I was probably TOO PESSIMISTIC in the OP, not optimistic at all!

I'm right there with ya. I predicted this team would be good, 35-36 wins and about 14-15
Sec wins but this team may turn out to be way ahead of that mark if they continue playing this way.

[CaptainObvious]

I expect nothing less than a NC! Or FIRE LEMONIS!

[Quaoarsking]

I still believe in the team. The original post in this thread said we'll wreck another team's Regional, and that's exactly what we're going to do next week!

[Coach34]

I still believe in the team. The original post in this thread said we'll wreck another team's Regional, and that's exactly what we're going to do next week!

Hopefully we get matched with Kentucky’s Regional for a Super. Beating the Clown Show would be fun

[Commercecomet24]

I still believe in the team. The original post in this thread said we'll wreck another team's Regional, and that's exactly what we're going to do next week!

I concur.

[DownwardDawg]

Hopefully we get matched with Kentucky’s Regional for a Super. Beating the Clown Show would be fun

This is what I want also.

[Cooterpoot]

We aren't playing good ball outside of pitching. I don't think we even make a super unless we get a great draw.

[Quaoarsking]

If we get sent to East Carolina (#15?), paired with Kentucky (#2?), I think basically everyone is going to pick us to go to Omaha.

Especially if Indiana State gets sent to Kentucky's regional as the 2, we might be hosting them in Starkville in the Supers.

[schddog72]

Say what you will about Lemonis, but this team seems to have the intangible "it factor" for a deep tournament run. One of the top national seeds is going to be pissed to draw us as their 2 seed, and even more pissed when Khal & Loo win the first 2 games and we just figure out how to win the Regional from there. Then those 2 win us the Super in 2 games.

If real life were a tv show, I would say this has been foreshadowed, maybe too much, by the writers.

Man, you sure know how to stir the pot . . . . . this is about as far from reality as we are from Mars.

[Cooterpoot]

If we get sent to East Carolina (#15?), paired with Kentucky (#2?), I think basically everyone is going to pick us to go to Omaha.

Especially if Indiana State gets sent to Kentucky's regional as the 2, we might be hosting them in Starkville in the Supers.

Why do you think we'd be picked over a top seed? Especially when we aren't playing well.

[Quaoarsking]

Why do you think we'd be picked over a top seed? Especially when we aren't playing well.
How do you figure we "aren't playing well" ? We won 4 of our last 5 series, with the 5th being against a top 5 team on the road, and even that one slipped through our fingers. We just played well at the SEC Tournament too.

[Cooterpoot]

How do you figure we "aren't playing well" ? We won 4 of our last 5 series, with the 5th being against a top 5 team on the road, and even that one slipped through our fingers. We just played well at the SEC Tournament too.

We didn't win a series against any of the top 4 teams in the SEC (only played two). Our bats are terrible and our pen isn't great either. We rely on two starting pitchers and a couple hitters basically.

[Quaoarsking]

We didn't win a series against any of the top 4 teams in the SEC (only played two). Our bats are terrible and our pen isn't great either.

And yet we're widely perceived to be a top 15 team by the "experts" even with our bad losses, we just screwed up our schedule and kneecapped ourselves into a worse RPI than our general perception.

Nonetheless we can get to Omaha anyway by paying the iron price, and I like our chances.

[Cooterpoot]

And yet we're widely perceived to be a top 15 team by the "experts" even with our bad losses, we just screwed up our schedule and kneecapped ourselves into a worse RPI than our general perception.

Nonetheless we can get to Omaha anyway by paying the iron price, and I like our chances.

Our RPI wasn't top 15 and we didn't play like a top 15 team. Experts were pretty split on us. I repeatedly told people it was an up hill battle to host. Two tourney wins put us on the bubble. Our overall sos was 10th out of 14 teams in the league. Our non conference rpi was 3rd worst in the top 30.

[cheewgumm]

Why do people even mention non conference RPI?

Total RPI is all that matters.

Non Conf RPI is invented nonsense for teams from crappy conferences.

Why pretend that is something? Makes no sense.

[Cooterpoot]

Why do people even mention non conference RPI?

Total RPI is all that matters.

Non Conf RPI is invented nonsense for teams from crappy conferences.

Why pretend that is something? Makes no sense.

It shows you the effects of playing those low level teams and losing. Our total RPI was killed by those teams/losses. Our RPI was 25 instead of being in the teens. What? Only 4 SEC teams had a lower RPI and we lost series to two of those.

[BrunswickDawg]

It shows you the effects of playing those low level teams and losing. Our total RPI was killed by those teams/losses. Our RPI was 25 instead of being in the teens. What? Only 4 SEC teams had a lower RPI and we lost series to two of those.

Which doesn't matter anyway because the committee showed that balancing out conferences and location was more important than RPI once you got past top 8. This year they also seemed to put some weight on conference tourney performance as well.

Say what you want about Q4 loses - yes they hurt, but they did not really matter - as the committee showed they really didn't care about strength of schedule either. We played 30 Q1 games. Only Bama, SC, and UK played more (so not a weak sec schedule as some want to claim). We won more Q1 games than a number of hosts even played. Arizona played 12 and went 3-9; UCSB played 10 and went 3-7; EC played 7 and went 5-2; UNC played 17 and went 8-9; Clemson played 18 and went 10-8; FSU played 16 and went 8-8. The committee basically said "we don't want the SEC to dominate again, so spread the hosts out.

[Cooterpoot]

Which doesn't matter anyway because the committee showed that balancing out conferences and location was more important than RPI once you got past top 8. This year they also seemed to put some weight on conference tourney performance as well.

Say what you want about Q4 loses - yes they hurt, but they did not really matter - as the committee showed they really didn't care about strength of schedule either. We played 30 Q1 games. Only Bama, SC, and UK played more (so not a weak sec schedule as some want to claim). We won more Q1 games than a number of hosts even played. Arizona played 12 and went 3-9; UCSB played 10 and went 3-7; EC played 7 and went 5-2; UNC played 17 and went 8-9; Clemson played 18 and went 10-8; FSU played 16 and went 8-8. The committee basically said "we don't want the SEC to dominate again, so spread the hosts out.

If we have an RPi in the teens, we're hosting. After missing regionals every year since winning a natty, year three isn't hosting. That's pretty damn unacceptable if our program is the great program so many here believe it is. People keep wanting to blame someone when the real reason is in our dugout.

[BrunswickDawg]

If we have an RPi in the teens, we're hosting. After missing regionals every year since winning a natty, year three isn't hosting. That's pretty damn unacceptable if our program is the great program so many here believe it is. People keep wanting to blame someone when the real reason is in our dugout.

Well - ultimately it just all comes down to wins. Regardless of schedule the more you win the less room for error on these things. I don't disagree with that at all.

At the same time I think the committee threw a lot of that out in their final 3-4 host selections and it became about "balance" and not "who has the best resume."

[Quaoarsking]

Except in typical committee fashion, "balancing geography" mattered sometimes, but they still didn't let the only Northern candidate, a conference champion with a top 10 RPI, host.

Maybe the selectors don't know geography that well and think of Kentucky as a Northern state?

[BrunswickDawg]

Except in typical committee fashion, "balancing geography" mattered sometimes, but they still didn't let the only Northern candidate, a conference champion with a top 10 RPI, host.

Maybe the selectors don't know geography that well and think of Kentucky as a Northern state?

I honestly think "balance" this year meant things like "let's pitch one to the PAC12 for old times sake" and "hey, ECU's been close and their guy is on the committee- that's a good way to keep another SEC team out".

[Quaoarsking]

Nothing about our draw is scary. Omaha here we come!

[Todd4State]

Well - ultimately it just all comes down to wins. Regardless of schedule the more you win the less room for error on these things. I don't disagree with that at all.

At the same time I think the committee threw a lot of that out in their final 3-4 host selections and it became about "balance" and not "who has the best resume."


I honestly think "balance" this year meant things like "let's pitch one to the PAC12 for old times sake" and "hey, ECU's been close and their guy is on the committee- that's a good way to keep another SEC team out".

You're nailing this.

And it's a great example of why I don't base MSU's baseball "standard" on hosting regionals because it's in the hands of a committee.

My standard is for us to make a SR though so we'll see how it goes this weekend.

[Todd4State]

Nothing about our draw is scary. Omaha here we come!

Virginia is pretty good.

[TaleofTwoDogs]

Say what you will about Lemonis, but this team seems to have the intangible "it factor" for a deep tournament run. One of the top national seeds is going to be pissed to draw us as their 2 seed, and even more pissed when Khal & Loo win the first 2 games and we just figure out how to win the Regional from there. Then those 2 win us the Super in 2 games.

If real life were a tv show, I would say this has been foreshadowed, maybe too much, by the writers.

Thanks a bunch for jinxing the hell out of our chances. Now we will probably be 2 and done at Charlottesville. I have prayed to the injun spirits to forgive your impertinence. Hope it's enough.

[DownwardDawg]

You're nailing this.

And it's a great example of why I don't base MSU's baseball "standard" on hosting regionals because it's in the hands of a committee.

My standard is for us to make a SR though so we'll see how it goes this weekend.

Me too. Making SR's is what I expect. If we make a SR this year, Lemonis will have made 3 SR's, 2 CWS appearances, 1 National Championship, all in 5 years. Can't count 2020 since it was cancelled.

[Commercecomet24]

I honestly think "balance" this year meant things like "let's pitch one to the PAC12 for old times sake" and "hey, ECU's been close and their guy is on the committee- that's a good way to keep another SEC team out".

Nailed it! The committee chairman threw out a bunch of bs nonsense about how they made their final decision. And to me it's not as bad ecu getting in ahead of us, but the fact that they chose arizona as a host when they really don't have any sort of resume to be chosen as a host other than it's a "so long it's been good to know you" to the pac12. 100% though ecu ad being on the committee tipped the scales in their favor as well, Kendall Rogers tweeted as much. We just have to win now and make people see why we should've hosted.

[Quaoarsking]

Just like a writer would have put in a script!


If real life were a tv show, I would say this has been foreshadowed, maybe too much, by the writers.