My best guess at the NCAA Baseball Tournament Regional Sites ...

[GoneGolfin]

#2 seed plays #3 seed first game so it really doesn't matter.

Yes it does matter. It matters because the selection committee attempts to balance the regionals while also taking geography into account.

It also matters in that it is nice to bat last in the opener (#2 seed is the home team).

Brian

[JMV JustMyView]

Yes it does matter. It matters because the selection committee attempts to balance the regionals while also taking geography into account.

It also matters in that it is nice to bat last in the opener (#2 seed is the home team).

Brian

I meant if we get in as a #2 or #3 seed in BR we still would play each other...

[GoneGolfin]

Now there is one possible scenario where I see the Cajuns in Starkville ...

Rice goes to Baton Rouge as the #2 seed (the only site where Rice can go that is within 400 miles). Louisiana goes to Starkville as the #2 seed. South Alabama goes to Tallahassee as the #2 seed. Troy goes to Nashville or Columbia as a #3 seed. All of these would be within the 400 mile preferred radius (all bus trips). Certainly possible.

Nobody is predicting this scenario (has not even been discussed) on the college baseball websites. Everyone has Rice on a plane.

Brian

[CajunRed]

I meant if we get in as a #2 or #3 seed in BR we still would play each other...

But that assumes that the other team there would have been there anyway. That is not necessarily the case.

[RedBug58]

#2 seed plays #3 seed first game so it really doesn't matter.

Another reason why "it does matter" is that as a "2" we might be able to play a weaker "3" so that we could pitch our #2 or #3 pitcher and save Robicheaux for "you know who" in the second game. We have to stay in the winners bracket as we seem to fall off quickly after our top 3 pitchers.

[GoneGolfin]

I meant if we get in as a #2 or #3 seed in BR we still would play each other...

Sure ... but your reply was in response to someone asking if UL might get disrespected by sending the Cajuns to BR as a #3 seed with Rice as the #2 seed. I think that the only way this happens is if UL is actually considered a #3 seed by the NCAA. If the NCAA feels UL is worthy of a #2 seed, they will not send them to BR with Rice as a #2 seed (making UL a #3 seed) ... because it does matter. The Cajuns would be getting a tougher opponent than they deserve in the opening round (again, assuming that the NCAA does not view UL as a #3 seed). That is, the selection committee attempts to balance the regional.

It also matters in that the #2 seed is the home team in the opening #2/#3 matchup.

Brian

[JMV JustMyView]

Another reason why "it does matter" is that as a "2" we might be able to play a weaker "3" so that we could pitch our #2 or #3 pitcher and save Robicheaux for "you know who" in the second game. We have to stay in the winners bracket as we seem to fall off quickly after our top 3 pitchers.

I have been coaching a long time and when playoff baseball starts you can get burned by saving a pitcher, must win game one before thinking about game two...

[RedBug58]

I have been coaching a long time and when playoff baseball starts you can get burned by saving a pitcher, must win game one before thinking about game two...

If we play a Jackson State or Sam Houston as projected by Baseball America, my money is on Tony throwing Boutte in game one. I think that is why he didn't use him at all yesterday, while FAU used their starter from Thursday.

[GoneGolfin]

I have been coaching a long time and when playoff baseball starts you can get burned by saving a pitcher, must win game one before thinking about game two...

Actually, I disagree with this thinking in the context of the four-team NCAA regional.

In the current regional format, there is absolutely no difference in losing Game #1 vs. Game #2. What you must do to win the regional championship is the same. So what you do is set yourself up with the best possible chance to win both games. That may involve holding your ace back ... it may involve selecting a pitcher based on matchup ... there are several variables involved here.

Sometimes you must take a risk to bring home the trophy. And that may mean going with your #2 (or some other pitcher that matches up better ... other than your #1) in the opener, using your #1 in the next game. Of course, your #2 may match up better against the #1 seed ... thus you go ahead and pitch your #1 in the opener.

There is not a single correct answer here. It depends on the match-ups and the situation.

Brian

[moorecajun]

If we play a Jackson State or Sam Houston as projected by Baseball America, my money is on Tony throwing Boutte in game one. I think that is why he didn't use him at all yesterday, while FAU used their starter from Thursday.

While you could be right that Boutte will pitch our first game, I don't think he pitched any yesterday because he just pitched 7 innings the day before.