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D1Baseball Weekly Chat: April 29
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Al
1:40
How do y’all feel about NC States hosting chances at this point in the season? It’s crazy that two years in a row the Wolfpack have started out hot and kind of dropped down the stretch
Aaron Fitt
1:40
Not feeling great about their chances right now. And hey, injuries have played into this swoon -- Will Wilson is one of the best players in America, and not having him is a huge blow. Plus Patrick Bailey is playing at far below 100 percent, and Feeney and Klyman just haven't been right either, which has really hurt the staff. Certainly they could still host if they finish strong vs. Clemson and at UNC -- let's say they win both of those to get to 18-12 in the ACC, that would probably help get that RPI back up and reverse their negative momentum, and would likely get them into hosting position. But right now, I don't really expect that to happen, because they're really struggling. Of course, so is Clemson... so maybe it all comes down to that final weekend in Chapel Hill.
Wes Johnson’s Nephew
1:40
Is DBU now the best team in DFW? TCU is out of the tournament two years in a row and DBU has taken 3 of 4 from TCU.
Kendall Rogers
1:40
There's zero doubt DBU is better than TCU. DBU is a really solid club and actually as in the discussion to be in our Top 25 this week. The resume is still a little light, but this team looks really good. TCU will need win the Big 12 tournament to make the field of 64 in all likelihood.
owlzowlzowlz
1:42
If Rice can get in the top 60 RPI (would probably require a 11-1 run down the stretch but we do have 5 games vs. top 50 (all at home) and then some winnable away games), could they be in contention for an at-large? Obviously 11-1 is a big ask but they've played well recently.... Just dreaming. Would give Rice somewhere around 8-11 Top 50 wins (depending on how LA Tech plays down the stretch).
Kendall Rogers
1:42
Owl -- I was encouraged by Rice's play over the weekend. Evan Kravetz pitches really well every time I see him and some pro team is going to get a really nice senior sigh in the talented lefty. Canterino is obviously a stud, so this team could be dangerous if they can just find a way in. WTS -- I think they have to win the conference tourney to get in no matter what. A C-USA team with an RPI in the 60s isn't making the field as an at-large.
Mitch Riddle
1:42
Can Texas Tech get to Omaha for the 4th time in 6 years and do they have enough to win a National championship
Aaron Fitt
1:42
They certainly can -- there's a reason that was a consensus top-five team in the preseason, it's a very talented bunch, and right now they're playing like the team we expected them to be. For me TTU is a legitimate title contender, though I wouldn't say they're one of the front-runners right now.
Travis
1:44
How impressed are you with the job Steve Rodriguez has done at Baylor this year without Cody Bradford? What do they have to do to become a host?
Kendall Rogers
1:44
Travis -- To say I am impressed would be an understatement. Those guys have done a great job, and Jon Strauss deserves credit for the job he's done with the pitchers, too. The fact Baylor blew out TCU twice without Davis Wendzel was encouraging, too. BU is going to be a dangerous team in the postseason with all of its veteran leadership. Right now, I have BU as a top 16 host -- but we will see how things line up Tuesday night.
Aaron Fitt
1:45
Yeah, I think Steve Rodriguez has to be one of the leaders in the national coach of the year discussion, to this point. He's done an amazing job, agree with KR 100 percent.
PDXer
1:46
With Oregon State having another excellent season, is there any new word on who will be the head coach long-term?
Kendall Rogers
1:46
PDXer -- No word from Corvallis just yet. I think Bailey and his staff have done a wonderful job. I think if someone was forcing me to bet on a scenario, though, I would have Pat Casey returning for the 2020 campaign. We'll see what happens.
cool 1
Cole
1:48
Do the SHSU Bearkats have a chance to get an at-large or do they likely need to win the Southland Conference Tourney?
Kendall Rogers
1:48
Cole -- Sam Houston is one of those teams I could see shocking someone and winning a regional just like they did in Lubbock a while back. With that said, no Southland team is making the field is an at-large with an RPI in the 50s or 60s.
Bart
1:48
Is Duke in the discussion these days? A quick comparison of their resume with Florida State's makes me think they must be. Duke is higher in the RPI, and FSU has one more conference win. Both teams took 2/3 this weekend vs. mid-range ACC teams, but Duke was away and FSU at home. I know Duke has a chance to prove itself after the exam break vs. two tough ACC teams, but curious what the conversation has been thus far, especially after the sweep at Clemson.
Aaron Fitt
1:48
Duke was indeed in the Top 25 discussion this week, I like that they've won four straight ACC series -- just a completely different team since Joey Loperfido's return, everything has just clicked into place. But the resumé is a little light for the Top 25 still -- just one series win (sweep at Clemson) against a potential regionals team, and Clemson is trending the wrong way. FSU's isn't much better, and the Clemson sweep (at home) is the highlight of its resumé too, but at least it also has a series win now over a Wake Forest team that is in the at-large discussion — and a team that won a series at Duke. So that's the difference right now, and the fact that FSU has preseason top 10 pedigree still plays a factor -- there's a lot of talent on that roster. I like Duke's club too, but ultimately I still think FSU has a better shot to make a deeper postseason run than Duke.
Dabo
1:51
Obviously, Clemson has played less than stellar, as of late, but has some good wins to their credit with ball left to be played. Do you see them in the field of 64?
Kendall Rogers
1:51
Dabo -- I would probably have Clemson in as of today, but BARELY in. The Tigers clearly need to finish the season in strong fashion to make the field of 64. It's been a bizarre past few weeks for Clemson, that's for sure.
wrecked
1:51
Moving into the final 3 weeks of the regular season and with a robust record against the top 25 how confident are you guys that Georgia Tech can continue its pace of series wins and host as a national seed?
Aaron Fitt
1:51
Very confident. They're already sitting at 15-9 in the ACC, and I think 19 or 20 conference wins would be enough. With a sweepable home series against Pitt, and a tricky but potentially manageable series at Duke, I think they'll get there. Could even wind up as a top eight at 18-12 in the league.
Jay B
1:52
No question for me, just wanted to let you guys know that Heston Kjerstad's 2nd homer on Saturday night just landed about 30 minutes ago. WOO PIG!
Aaron Fitt
1:52
Oh yeah, I saw it land actually, right outside the John Wayne Airport here in Orange County. Pretty good poke.
Kendall Rogers
1:53
BTW -- a lot of questions about UCLA's Zach Pettway. Hearing he's having an MRI today ...... we'll know something soon.
Luke
1:54
Kendall, with Ole Miss 13-8 in the league and the rpi at 21 do the Rebs have to win the last 3 weekend series against LSU, State, and TN to host a regional? Or will 2 out of 3 series be enough?
Kendall Rogers
1:54
Luke -- I think Ole Miss is a definite Top 16 team if it wins 2/3 of the last SEC series, and plays relatively well in Hoover.
Zeb
1:56
Randy Hood just named head coach at UNCW.  Seemingly an assistant in high demand that was actually promoted as the coach in waiting as anticipated.  Good move from your perspective?
Kendall Rogers
1:56
Zeb -- I like the hire for UNCW. Randy was always going to be the hire, but it's not some token assistant hire. Randy has been at UNCW for 15+ years is very well respected in that league and part of the country and certainly knows the right formula for winning at UNCW. I like the hire.
Aaron Fitt
1:58
Yeah this was as much of a no-brainer as any hire could ever be. Randy Hood is a really good coach, and this ensures a seamless transition.
SoonerinAustin
1:57
Top 9, Your team is up 1, you can have any closer in the NCAA. Who do you choose?
Aaron Fitt
1:57
You know, I think I'd probably take Jake Mulholland. He's been a shutdown guy for three years, he's been in Omaha twice already and been part of a national title team. And he's been really good again this year. If Eisert wasn't in the rotation now, I'd be hard-pressed to pick between those two guys...
TV
1:58
Tech was finally able to sweep a team in Big 12 play. Will it end up hurting tech more that they were unable to sweep Kansas and KSU or losing 2 of 3 to a Texas team that looks to be dead in the water.
Kendall Rogers
1:58
TVU -- I don't think so. I think Tech will probably win its final couple of series, and if it plays well in the Big 12 tournament, it's not out of the realm of possibility to be a Top 8 seed. Lots to play for these final few weeks for the red-hot Red Raiders.
Matt
2:02
What does Florida have to do in the remaining 3 series (@ UGA, Tennessee, @ Mizzou) to make the NCAA tourney?
Kendall Rogers
2:02
Florida will need to win 2/3 of its final series and win some games in Hoover. If the Gators win 2/3, that puts them at 14-16 going into Hoover. I would not want to lose that first game in Hoover. Lose that and UF probably misses the field no matter what its RPI is .... weird times in Gainesville.
Max G.
2:04
Why does the Pac 12 not do a conference tournament?
Aaron Fitt
2:04
The West is just weird like that -- no conference tourney in the Big West either, and the WCC didn't have one for years. They like a true champion to be crowned over the course of the regular season, when everybody plays everybody -- and I see the validity to that, but I really like having a conference tournament because it helps give the teams lower down the standings with poor RPIs some reason to hope. If they can just get into the conference tournament and have a hot weekend, they still have a chance to play in the postseason. Right now, if you're Arizona with a 7-14 record and an RPI in the 70s, your season is basically over -- you're almost certainly not going to make a regional, and that's that. I think that's dumb.
Chris
2:05
What do you think it would take down the stretch for Tulane to put themselves in position for an at large bid?
Kendall Rogers
2:05
Chris -- Tulane will probably need to win its final three series and probably play well in the league tourney. Tulane needs to get inside the Top 50 and have a strong American finish to be an at-large team.
Conference USA Fan
2:06
Has Matt Wallner done enough to be a high draft pick this year or should he stay at Southern Miss for his senior year to improve his stock?
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