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D1Baseball Weekly Chat: April 5
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James
1:55
Chances of Alabama making a regional?
Kendall Rogers
1:55
James -- Probably not great at the moment, but let's see what happens when Connor Prielipp comes back, which should be in a week or two. Unlike A&M, Bama does not have an RPI problem -- it's sitting at 20 right now.
JFK
1:57
Any chance a Big 10 team or teams host a regional this year?
Kendall Rogers
1:57
JFK -- With the new criteria for hosting, I think the Big Ten is going to the exception to the rule on 'earning' a host site from an RPI standpoint. For instance, Michigan IS a Top 25 caliber club, but thanks to playing no non-conference games, it's RPI sits around 60 right now. I think a team like Michigan hosts at season's end regardless of its RPI.
Dean
1:58
How good are the Vols really?  They've jumped up to #6 in your poll, but haven't really played much of anybody yet.  We'll know a lot more over the next two weekends when Florida and Vandy come to Knoxville.  Thoughts on if they can compete with those teams?
Aaron Fitt
1:58
You're right that Tennessee hasn't faced the elite SEC teams yet, but I also don't think Georgia, LSU and Alabama are pushovers -- those are all nice series wins. But you're right, the Florida and Vandy series will be the real measuring sticks, and it works out nicely that the Vols get both of those teams at home in back to back weekends. I don't see them winning that Vandy series considering how incredibly hard it is to beat Rocker and Leiter (and plus Vandy appears to be a very balanced team with a legit lineup as well), but maybe they can handle the Gators at home. Florida is clearly still trying to figure some things out, as this weekend's fairly radical pitching experiment attests. Not a bad time to catch the Gators. Long term, I still believe Florida and Vandy have more upside -- I still believe both of them are national title contenders, and I'm not convinced Tennessee is in that class.
Doug
2:00
Can LSU climb out of the hole they're in or is it too deep at this point?  They're currently 1-8 in conference with some tough opponents still on the schedule.  It looks bleak.
Kendall Rogers
2:00
Doug -- I get it that Jaden Hill wasn't great so far this year, but losing a talent like that does hurt. And Hill is out for the year after being injured the other night. LSU really needs someone like Blake Money to be able to step in the weekend role and flourish. I did like him the other night -- up to 94 w/ the FB with a nice slider. I think I would be pleasantly surprised if LSU turned some magical corner at this point.
Harry
2:00
Is there a reason that TCU hasn't jumped more than just to No. 10? After being the only Big 12 team to walk away with a W in Arlington, their schedule went into a lull, but since Big 12 has started they have thoroughly dominated in conference play. Cruised to 6-0 against the opponents my Longhorns went 4-2 against.
Aaron Fitt
2:00
Basically, TCU fell farther in the rankings because it had two losing weekends early on (that home series loss to Gonzaga caused the Frogs to drop farther than Texas, which hasn't had a losing weekend since Arlington in Week One). The Frogs have played well since then, but there isn't really anywhere else for them to go, because the nine teams in front of them have all pretty much taken care of business. I do think TCU is a legitimate top 10 team when it's all said and done, though. I'm planning to be in Lubbock this weekend, can't wait to get a live look at both of those teams.
AgBall
2:01
Rob Childress is in the last year of his contract. In all likely hood A&M will be looking for a coach this off season. Any names you could see being interested?
Kendall Rogers
2:01
I never comment on someone's job status in the middle of a season, but if, hypothetically, A&M was looking for a new coach, its search should start out in West Texas.
BFlow
2:03
Do you think ECU has a shot at a national seed based on the new hosting format?
Kendall Rogers
2:03
BFlow -- I think East Carolina is in terrific shape to host at the moment. Outstanding RPI, great standing in the American. ECU checks ALL the boxes you want out of a host. It also helps that there's no one else host-worthy in the State of North Carolina.
Joe Greenberg
2:03
Confused on how Arizona stayed static after winning two big series in a row (Oregon and ASU) along with having a top 10 RPI. It really seems like the rankings are top heavy with east coast teams, while west coast teams are neglected (Stanford and ASU).
Aaron Fitt
2:03
The problem is just about all those teams ahead of Arizona in the rankings won their weekends, and UCLA won a series from Arizona just last weekend so it didn't quite feel right to move Arizona ahead of UCLA -- both of those teams have had ups and downs this year. ASU just lost a series to Arizona, so obviously they didn't need to come into the rankings. Stanford has a solid case but really hasn't played anybody that will be a viable at-large contender in my opinion, so the jury is still out on just how good the Cardinal is.
Aaron Fitt
2:03
Guys I have to bail early today -- Kendall will take it the rest of the way. I'll catch you all next week.
Guest
2:04
Thoughts on Miss State going forward? Weekend rotation looked as advertised and Bullpen was as strong as ever. Most years, seems like State always gets the bats going when it matters.
Kendall Rogers
2:04
Guest -- I think you hit the nail on the head. I feel very good about the pitching -- rotation and bullpen combined -- but the offense definitely has some lulls at times. I do think Gautreau will have that lineup clicking when it matters the most.
Mobley Nole
2:05
How much will RPI play a roll in the selections this year given that sites are predetermined? Does it put more or less weight on that metric?
Kendall Rogers
2:05
Mobley -- I think RPI will be hugely important. For instance, if you are Top 16-20 and are in a good location, I think your chances of hosting a regional are probably very, very good.
Guest
2:06
Big series in Oxford this weekend what does Arkansas have to do to win the series and how big would a sweep be for either team.
Kendall Rogers
2:06
Guest -- It should be a terrific series. It's hard to go against Ole Miss at home, but hell, Arkansas always seems to play better away from home than it does at home, so who knows. I think the weekend will boil down to Arkansas' weekend rotation. I do not see a repeat of the Starkville weekend.
RZBB04
2:08
Arkansas did not look like there typical offensive self this weekend.  Was it just a good pitching staff from Auburn, or was it signs of struggling from the Arkansas hitters? And also who are you taking this weekend at Ole Miss?
Kendall Rogers
2:08
RZ -- Arkansas certainly didn't have a great offensive weekend, but I'll say this, Cody Greenhill just continues to get it done for Auburn. He might only top out around 90, but he's got decent stuff with some solid spin rates on his offerings.
Lincoln
2:08
Who do you have winning the big Beavs and Ducks series this weekend? Do you think the winner of this series may end up winning the Pac?
Kendall Rogers
2:08
Lincoln, I think I'll go with the Ducks in this one, but it's a tossup as usual. And frankly, the Pac 12 race has never ever been this wide open. I could see any of those top four teams win the regular season title.
EagzBy90
2:10
I know they have been on the cusp of breaking into the rankings for a few weeks now. After a conference series sweep on the road, where do you guys have Southern Miss at this week?
Kendall Rogers
2:10
Southern Miss was definitely in the mix this week, but there also was no team to take out with Pittsburg and Notre Dame not doing their series finale until today. WTS, if the Irish hold on, it opens the door for someone to replace Pitt. USM is squarely in the mix, though.
Eric Simmons
2:11
When will your guy's Predicted Field of 64 be released?
Kendall Rogers
2:11
Wednesday... can't wait!
Craig
2:12
Once selection sites are announced, what will the committee do to a fringe regional host that has been approved, but then goes on a skid. Will they be placed as a 2 seed at their host site, or will they be moved elsewhere to not give them an advantage?
Kendall Rogers
2:12
Craig -- I would say they will be a No. 2 seed at their own building. I don't see why you'd give someone a host, then they go on a skid -- and you send them packing. That would not make a ton of sense to me, IMO, especially with capacity limits.
Alex
2:13
Do you think that the criteria for selecting super regionals will be more location/logistics based than the regionals? Right now you have Vandy, Ark, OM and MS all on track to host a super (via merit) but would the committee really chose to have 4/8 supers located so close together?
Kendall Rogers
2:13
The super regional sites will come from the regional sites. So, whomever is paired as seeds -- the super regional will definitely occur from one of those two sites the next weekend.
jdljag
2:18
Is Mannari's seat in Red Stick red hot? Who would be on the short list to replace him?
Kendall Rogers
2:18
JDL -- Impossible to say if a change is coming at LSU, but I do know this -- The Tigers need to finish strong or some changes within the program are likely expected. The biggest concern I have about LSU is that it continues to recruit at a high level. Yet, the pitching staff has continued to struggle. Either guys don't get better, or guys get hurt. That is an issue. There isn't a 'talent' problem in Baton Rouge, IMO.
Nick
2:19
Think the B1G will be a multiple bid league? Seems like Michigan and Nebraska would be in at this point, with Indiana being right there as well.
Kendall Rogers
2:19
At season's end, I'm going to go with 3 to 4 bids out of the Big Ten. That's about right, too. I think the league has about four postseason caliber clubs.
Tommy
2:20
What are you hearing about when the recruiting "pause" - will that be lifted sometime soon?
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