Matt Deggs not satisfied with Sun Belt's move to single-elimination format

[ManAboutTown]

Ok. Just by way of explanation.

I suppose if you want to second guess, you could say we could have played two games Wednesday evening and two last night. Now, I have no idea what kind of shape the field was in after two days of rain, but maybe the outfield wasn't a quagmire. That would have put the tournament one day behind and we probably could have gotten it in.

But the decision had to be made before we found out how much rain fell on Thursday. And, as someone mentioned above, if the commitment was made to get the games in and then playing conditions didn't allow, then the top seed (or top remaining seed) would have gotten the automatic.

Two sites were considered. Troy was not an option as they've begun renovations of their main grandstand/press box. And, really, no one wanted to move the tournament an hour away. You had personnel there to run one site. Alabama State was a (not very good) option. Even if it were, that would have knocked out half of the games on TV (and if it were the Cajuns, you guys would melt down.)

I HATE the single elimination format. And, it does NOT help the Cajuns, in my opinion. Had we beaten USA once and TXST twice we would have at least been in the discussion for an at large bid if we lost in the finals. Now we must win the tournament and, GS or CCU will be a beast if we make it to Sunday.

The southeast portion of the country is in the middle of a 100 year drought. Have to think that plays into the field conditions. (Again, Hoover 90 miles away played baseball the last 3 days)

Beating Tx St and South maybe gets you in the convo for an at-large (I don’t think it gets us in) but winning the tourney gets you an auto bid. I like that route better and winning 3 games, especially with our pitching, is the more advantageous route, IMO.

[MWolf]

Ok. Just by way of explanation.

I suppose if you want to second guess, you could say we could have played two games Wednesday evening and two last night. Now, I have no idea what kind of shape the field was in after two days of rain, but maybe the outfield wasn't a quagmire. That would have put the tournament one day behind and we probably could have gotten it in.

But the decision had to be made before we found out how much rain fell on Thursday. And, as someone mentioned above, if the commitment was made to get the games in and then playing conditions didn't allow, then the top seed (or top remaining seed) would have gotten the automatic.

Two sites were considered. Troy was not an option as they've begun renovations of their main grandstand/press box. And, really, no one wanted to move the tournament an hour away. You had personnel there to run one site. Alabama State was a (not very good) option. Even if it were, that would have knocked out half of the games on TV (and if it were the Cajuns, you guys would melt down.)

I HATE the single elimination format. And, it does NOT help the Cajuns, in my opinion. Had we beaten USA once and TXST twice we would have at least been in the discussion for an at large bid if we lost in the finals. Now we must win the tournament and, GS or CCU will be a beast if we make it to Sunday.

As a matter of curiosity - would you and Brad have been able to broadcast at Alabama State?

FWIW, I think we are dead in the water in the at-large discussion, and I don't think the single elimination format materially affects the Cajuns chances of winning the tournament one way or another.

[CAJUNJUDO]

This format requires less pitching from every team and we have proven that we can’t hit dominant pitching. I don’t see how this benefits the Cajuns one bit.

Also, we all agree that we don’t have a dominant pitcher on our staff.

[MWolf]

This format requires less pitching from every team and we have proven that we can’t hit dominant pitching. I don’t see how this benefits the Cajuns one bit.

Also, we all agree that we don’t have a dominant pitcher on our staff.

The combination of max effort Talley + Bonds might equal one dominant pitcher. After that the bats will have to carry the load. Especially in a potential game 3.

[Cantstandza]

This format requires less pitching from every team and we have proven that we can’t hit dominant pitching. I don’t see how this benefits the Cajuns one bit.

Also, we all agree that we don’t have a dominant pitcher on our staff.

Then did we REALLY have a chance at winning the tournament, anyway?

[ManAboutTown]

This format requires less pitching from every team and we have proven that we can’t hit dominant pitching. I don’t see how this benefits the Cajuns one bit.

Also, we all agree that we don’t have a dominant pitcher on our staff.

You’re not wrong but wouldn’t you rather an advantage offensively than on the mound at this point? If the season has taught us anything it’s that we beat above average pitching with our bats more often than we beat above average hitting with our arms…

[LouisianaB]

Jay, was sending ULM and App home early and doing a 6 team double elim ever discussed? seems that would have been ideal when you have teams fighting for an at large.

Think I had read that historically the top 30 RPI get in the tournament almost 100 percent of the time (think it was twice that a team didn’t). Brian might be able to provide more. Getting rid of the teams with RPIs in the 100s would have helped teams vying for at large.

Just my opinion.

[KajunKrazy]

Ok. Just by way of explanation.

I suppose if you want to second guess, you could say we could have played two games Wednesday evening and two last night. Now, I have no idea what kind of shape the field was in after two days of rain, but maybe the outfield wasn't a quagmire. That would have put the tournament one day behind and we probably could have gotten it in.

But the decision had to be made before we found out how much rain fell on Thursday. And, as someone mentioned above, if the commitment was made to get the games in and then playing conditions didn't allow, then the top seed (or top remaining seed) would have gotten the automatic.

Two sites were considered. Troy was not an option as they've begun renovations of their main grandstand/press box. And, really, no one wanted to move the tournament an hour away. You had personnel there to run one site. Alabama State was a (not very good) option. Even if it were, that would have knocked out half of the games on TV (and if it were the Cajuns, you guys would melt down.)

I HATE the single elimination format. And, it does NOT help the Cajuns, in my opinion. Had we beaten USA once and TXST twice we would have at least been in the discussion for an at large bid if we lost in the finals. Now we must win the tournament and, GS or CCU will be a beast if we make it to Sunday.

I think going in the only chance we had for a bid was to win the tourney. The at large sailed with the sweep in san marcos and the lost to little rock. Now we just have to win 3 to have that chance.

[GeauxCajuns]

everyone will _____ if we lose today, but if we lost today in a double elimination format, there is no way we were coming out of the losers bracket. we pretty much had to look at it as a single elimination tourney anyway

[babysitter]

Ok. Just by way of explanation.

I suppose if you want to second guess, you could say we could have played two games Wednesday evening and two last night. Now, I have no idea what kind of shape the field was in after two days of rain, but maybe the outfield wasn't a quagmire. That would have put the tournament one day behind and we probably could have gotten it in.

But the decision had to be made before we found out how much rain fell on Thursday. And, as someone mentioned above, if the commitment was made to get the games in and then playing conditions didn't allow, then the top seed (or top remaining seed) would have gotten the automatic.

Two sites were considered. Troy was not an option as they've begun renovations of their main grandstand/press box. And, really, no one wanted to move the tournament an hour away. You had personnel there to run one site. Alabama State was a (not very good) option. Even if it were, that would have knocked out half of the games on TV (and if it were the Cajuns, you guys would melt down.)

I HATE the single elimination format. And, it does NOT help the Cajuns, in my opinion. Had we beaten USA once and TXST twice we would have at least been in the discussion for an at large bid if we lost in the finals. Now we must win the tournament and, GS or CCU will be a beast if we make it to Sunday.

JAY,

THEY HAVE BEEN PLAYING BASEBALL 90 MINUTES AWAY FROM WHERE YOU ARE FOR THE PAST TWO DAYS. This is inexcusable. Let’s stop with all the BS. Others figure it out. To this conference, baseball is an afterthought: