Baseball - Preseason (too early?)

[FredJacket]

Is it too early to talk 2017 GT Baseball? For fun, I'd like to post some random thoughts. These come with minimal research or deep thought. Simply supplied to elicit response from anyone interested in doing so:

Schedule is out. 56 games (31 at home). http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-basebl/sched/geot-m-basebl-sched.html

Something that will be worth tracking is whether CDH will reach 1000 wins at Ga Tech before the final out of the season. He needs 39 wins to get to 1000 at Tech. Here are the win totals over the last 10 years (going backwards): 38, 32, 37, 37, 38, 42, 47, 38, 41, 32. That's averaging just north of 38 per season. All Tech must do is best that average by 1 game...and he's there. I like stuff like this. It's a long season (obviously); but this scenario means he will likely hit 1000 during the post-season (or early next year...boo). It would be great if this happens in 2017...would mean a very productive baseball season for the team.

Again for fun.... can we objectively (or subjectively) see/determine if the baseball team can claim the "best" season when compared to football and basketball. I'll go on a limb and dismiss the basketball comparison. God Bless Pastner and the team in what I hope is the beginning of the significant improvement over the next few years. But... it is possible the baseball team will surpass the basketball team in conference wins while in Miami for their 1st ACC series. As for the football comparison... that one is more interesting since the FB team has come on strong here late. Hopefully, the baseball team can do better than .500 in the conference. However, that's not something they've managed to do since they were 15-15 in 2013. We'll have to see where FB team ends up in the final rankings after the bowl game. Sagarin has football at #40 right now...if that means anything.

Looking way ahead to ACC Baseball Tournament, I LOVE the new format. 12 teams (only 2 miss cut). No play-in games. 4 pools of 3 teams each. All 12 team get 2 games guaranteed during pool play (Tues-Fri). 4 pool winners go to semis (Sat). Sunday Championship. As I guy who attends this event... this will be great. More teams to watch. Nearly all games will definitely matter and weekend (Sat/Sun) action guaranteed to matter.

Will this be the season we get back to the top/elite status in the conference? If so, will we manage to be in position to host a regional (CDH's 1000th win at home)?

It's already been discussed in other threads... but it appears the offense should be fine. We're back to where we seem to always be entering a season... pitchers need to stay healthy and we need to establish some depth with reliable arms should we experience the injury bug with some key guys.

I'm optimistic..and obviously impatient to get started. Go Jackets!

 

[GTNavyNuke]

Yeah, I'm impatient too.

Hall's 1000th win this year. Regular season. We are going to kick ***.

Of course baseball is our best major men's varsity sport, on average. Here are our end of season RPI's --- remember there are 300 or so baseball teams and only 128 or so D1 football teams. Even so, the football team can't come close http://www.boydsworld.com/baseball/rpi/
2016 23rd
2015 29th
2014 10th
2013 19th
2102 10th.

While I like the ACC tourney format since we are almost guaranteed to get in, there is less benefit for doing well in regular season, except to finish in the top 4. Also, Louisville Kentucky is too far ......

 

[FredJacket]

Hall's 1000th win this year. Regular season. We are going to kick ***.

Wow... I like that optimism. 39 regular season wins (minimum) would be excellent!

While I like the ACC tourney format since we are almost guaranteed to get in, there is less benefit for doing well in regular season, except to finish in the top 4. Also, Louisville Kentucky is too far ......

Can you elaborate on this thought? I assume you mean the 'conference' regular season as it relates to ACC Tournament only? The regular season (entire schedule...with emphasis on ACC record) is still quite important for NCAA tournament. I have wondered if this new format in some strange way would negatively (or positively) impact NCAA tournament seeding for the middle to bottom of conference teams... where Tech has fallen in recent past. It seems to me in recent years the top 1-4 ACC teams can do poorly in ACC tourney and still maintain their favorable spot in NCAA's (top 16 seed).

 

[buzz_wiser©]

Never too early to talk Beesball..
Especially during lame duck sessions and post season FB ;-)

 

[GTNavyNuke]

Can you elaborate on this thought? I assume you mean the 'conference' regular season as it relates to ACC Tournament only? The regular season (entire schedule...with emphasis on ACC record) is still quite important for NCAA tournament. I have wondered if this new format in some strange way would negatively (or positively) impact NCAA tournament seeding for the middle to bottom of conference teams... where Tech has fallen in recent past. It seems to me in recent years the top 1-4 ACC teams can do poorly in ACC tourney and still maintain their favorable spot in NCAA's (top 16 seed).

Solely from the ACC tourney point of view is what I was thinking. The ACC tourney is basically going to be like hockey to determine the few teams who are eliminated.

Then getting to the tourney if there are no byes for the 1 seed, there is little advantage for the one seed. Louisville will (unfairly) have a home field advantage regardless of their record. The ACC needs to rotate the location of the tourney around ----- unless it is permanently ATL of course.

For the rest of the teams, it will be a small incentive to be the #1 seed so you don't have as tough a road to the final four of the ACC tourney. But once you get down to the four teams, it really doesn't matter.

What I hadn't thought about was the implications for the NCAA. I would guess that this ACC format devalues the NCAA in deciding whether a team makes the cut or not to get into the NCAA tourney. The RPI and key head to head series should be the controlling factor, which is pretty much the way it is today. I remember the D1 pod cast people joking about how the SEC tourney was a participation event; now the ACC is too.

 

[GTNavyNuke]

I wish there was some new news about Beesball ..... I've been checking out the D1 projections for other ACC teams. Everyone, including us, are golden right now. No one knows till the rosters are sorted and injuries surfaced. But with frost on the ground, Febrrrrrrruary baseball can't be far away.

 

[FredJacket]

Somewhere in neighborhood of 67 days until BYU and Opening Day. I do feel for these guys playing meaningful baseball games in February. On the other hand...as a fan, I'll be itching to see the season get going by then for sure.

RE: ACC Tournament.

Format - There are no byes (for high seeds) and no play-in (for low seeds). There are 4 pools of 3 teams each. The 4 winners from each pool advance to Saturday semi-finals. All 12 teams are guaranteed 2 games of "pool play". The possible outcomes of the 3 teams in each pool are: 1) 2-0; 1-1; 0-2 OR 2) 1-1; 1-1; 1-1. My assumption is the pool winner in the 2nd scenario is the team with the highest seed in the pool. Therefore, there is a significant advantage to finish in the top 4 in the regular season...meaning you'll be the top seed in your pool.

Location - I'd like to know the process of selection on this once the ACC decided to pull out of NC. If minor league schedules were already in place requiring the minor league clubs to re-do their schedules to free up a full week in May, that could have really limited the number of bids. I agree that Louisville will have a huge advantage. Of significance, it will be a pretty "bad deal" for the 2 teams that end up in Louisville's pool... something you cannot control; but Louisville will get the late (primetime) slot for both of their pool play games and the place will fill up... I'm guessing. I know UNC & NCST would draw quite large crowds in Durham on those evening games which for obvious reasons the league scheduled that way. Not that it matters... but GT (Atlanta) is 3rd closest to Louisville among the 13 conference teams (not Louisville)... behind Notre Dame and Virginia Tech. Clemson and Pitt are essentially the same as GT; but GT does have the edge.

 

[GTNavyNuke]

.....All 12 teams are guaranteed 2 games of "pool play". The possible outcomes of the 3 teams in each pool are: 1) 2-0; 1-1; 0-2 OR 2) 1-1; 1-1; 1-1. My assumption is the pool winner in the 2nd scenario is the team with the highest seed in the pool. Therefore, there is a significant advantage to finish in the top 4 in the regular season...meaning you'll be the top seed in your pool......

The pool play is on a "round robin" format. But there are four games in each pool play http://raycomsports.com/sports_labs...dium=post&utm_campaign=base&utm_content=champ

So I don't know the tiebreaker. It seems that 6 games are needed (2*3 or (n/2)*(n-1)) for a pure round robin ....... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round-robin_tournament

What they may do is play two games (1v4 and 2v3). Then have the winner of 1v4 play the loser of 2v3. That way if 1v4 wins, it's clear. Otherwise ........

Something is wrong in what I have written above ......

 

[FredJacket]

@GTNavyNuke
Using Pool A as an example, the pool play will look like this:
#1 v #5
#1 v #12
#5 v #12
Only 3 games per pool.

With 4 pools, that gets you games 1-12 Tues-Fri. At that point, only the pool "winners" advance to what becomes a single elimination 4 team tournament. Semi's on Sat. Championship on Sun.

 

[GTNavyNuke]

Well, that is hosed. With four brackets, it is likely at least one will have each team of three winning one game.

Again, I don't think all the facts I posted are right. It's not what you don't know that gets you in trouble, it's what you think you know that isn't so.......

Looking at this, the 12 games in three rows don't match up with the four pools http://raycomsports.com/sports_labs...dium=post&utm_campaign=base&utm_content=champ

 

[FredJacket]

Looking at this, the 12 games in three rows don't match up with the four pools http://raycomsports.com/sports_labs...dium=post&utm_campaign=base&utm_content=champ

Correct.

And I am quite curious what does determine the pool winner when all 3 teams are 1-1. I have to believe it's the high seed.

 

[GTNavyNuke]

Interesting that GT isn't in the top 30 recruiters (by this survey) even though we bring in the talent. https://d1baseball.com/features/survey-results-top-30-recruiters/

Just a beauty contest where the largest fan base wins .......

Any comments on our recruiting?

 

[FredJacket]

I am NOT a recruiting analyst/guru... just a fan. I have nothing to add regarding how "good" we are at recruiting compared to others. I will observe that CDH (and staff) are clearly focused on the state of GA. Notice the list does not include any school in Georgia. The way the survey was conducted by asking coaches and getting responses from those willing to participate, I'd say its anecdotal info...at best. Makes me wonder if Tech's recruiting footprint simply does not overlap enough with others such that it would be noticed much by those taking such a survey.

I noted UVA's coach was #3 on the list and top of ACC. I'm also a 'fan' of UVA baseball... if you get an opportunity to see them play, you cannot help but notice the kids seem to be a very tight group...every year. They are clearly coached on small details in how they prepare, warm up, take the field, etc...they exude "team". I know most college baseball teams show similar characteristics... including Ga Tech. However, my limited observations is that UVA seems to be in a class by itself in that regard.

 

[Stinger90]

Collegiate Baseball Pre-Season NCAA Div. I Poll
(As of Dec. 20, 2016)​

Rank

Team (2016 Record)​

Points

1.​

Texas Christian (49-18)​

496

2.​

Louisiana St. (45-21)​

494

3.​

Florida (52-16)​

491

4.​

South Carolina (46-18)​

489

5.​

Oregon St. (35-19)​

485

6.​

Vanderbilt (43-19)​

482

7.​

Arizona (49-24)​

480

8.​

Miami, Fla. (50-14)​

478

9.​

Florida St. (41-22)​

475

10.​

Cal. St. Fullerton (36-23)​

472

11.​

Louisville (50-14)​

470

12.​

Clemson (44-20)​

469

13.​

East Carolina (38-23-1)​

465

14.​

Louisiana-Lafayette (43-21)​

463

15.​

North Carolina (34-21)​

460

16.​

Virginia (38-22)​

458

17.​

Long Beach St. (38-22)​

456

18.​

U.C. Santa Barbara (43-20-1)​

454

19.​

Coastal Carolina (55-18)​

450

20.​

Texas A&M (49-16)​

448

21.​

Washington (33-23)​

445

22.​

Mississippi (43-19)​

443

23.​

Sam Houston St. (42-22)​

440

24.​

Stanford (31-23)​

438

25.​

Arizona St. (36-23)​

435

26.​

Dallas Baptist (44-19)​

432

27.​

Rice (38-24)​

429

28.​

Oklahoma St. (43-22)​

426

29.​

Texas Tech. (47-20)​

424

30.​

Texas (25-32)​

420

31.​

N.C. State (38-22)​

417

32.​

Michigan (36-21)​

415

33.​

Nebraska (37-22)​

412

34.​

Tulane (41-21)​

410

35.​

Houston (36-23)​

407

36.​

Southeastern La. (40-21)​

404

37.​

Gonzaga (36-21)​

401

38.​

Georgia Tech. (38-25)​

398

39.​

Kent St. (44-14)​

394

40.​

Florida Atlantic (39-19)​

390

 

[GTNavyNuke]

Collegiate Baseball Pre-Season NCAA Div. I Poll
(As of Dec. 20, 2016)​

Rank

Team (2016 Record)​

Points

1.
Texas Christian (49-18)​

496

2.
Louisiana St. (45-21)​

494

3.
Florida (52-16)​

491

4.
South Carolina (46-18)​

489

5.
Oregon St. (35-19)​

485

6.
Vanderbilt (43-19)​

482

7.
Arizona (49-24)​

480

8.
Miami, Fla. (50-14)​

478

9.
Florida St. (41-22)​

475

10.
Cal. St. Fullerton (36-23)​

472

11.
Louisville (50-14)​

470

12.
Clemson (44-20)​

469

13.
East Carolina (38-23-1)​

465

14.
Louisiana-Lafayette (43-21)​

463

15.
North Carolina (34-21)​

460

16.
Virginia (38-22)​

458

17.
Long Beach St. (38-22)​

456

18.
U.C. Santa Barbara (43-20-1)​

454

19.
Coastal Carolina (55-18)​

450

20.
Texas A&M (49-16)​

448

21.
Washington (33-23)​

445

22.
Mississippi (43-19)​

443

23.
Sam Houston St. (42-22)​

440

24.
Stanford (31-23)​

438

25.
Arizona St. (36-23)​

435

26.
Dallas Baptist (44-19)​

432

27.
Rice (38-24)​

429

28.
Oklahoma St. (43-22)​

426

29.
Texas Tech. (47-20)​

424

30.
Texas (25-32)​

420

31.
N.C. State (38-22)​

417

32.
Michigan (36-21)​

415

33.
Nebraska (37-22)​

412

34.
Tulane (41-21)​

410

35.
Houston (36-23)​

407

36.
Southeastern La. (40-21)​

404

37.
Gonzaga (36-21)​

401

38.
Georgia Tech. (38-25)​

398

39.
Kent St. (44-14)​

394

40.
Florida Atlantic (39-19)​

390

Time to f them all. This is largely based on a last few year average. Where we end up is what counts.

End of rant.

But thanks for the info.

 

[FredJacket]

If I scanned those rankings properly:
Top 8 in ACC:
Miami*
FSU
Louisville
Clemson
UNC*
UVA*
NCST
Ga Tech*
*Coastal
We don't play FSU or NCST.

Agree with @GTNavyNuke, this may be interesting; but means very little. It is your typical suspects.

Days are getting longer, gents! Another small sign. Baseball will be here soon.

 

[GTNavyNuke]

The more I watch GT basketball, the more I can't wait for THE season to start.

 

[65Jacket]

Amen to that!

 

[awbuzz]

If I scanned those rankings properly:
Top 8 in ACC:
Miami*
FSU
Louisville
Clemson
UNC*
UVA*
NCST
Ga Tech*
*Coastal
We don't play FSU or NCST.

Agree with @GTNavyNuke, this may be interesting; but means very little. It is your typical suspects.

Days are getting longer, gents! Another small sign. Baseball will be here soon.

Re: Days getting longer... Very nice technical touch [emoji106]

 

[GTNavyNuke]

I'm ready ........