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D1Baseball Weekly Chat: March 17
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Needs New Plot
2:14
I don’t like the plot twist. It was supposed to be avenging a good ‘ol boy move with CDC in black hat sitting and Tweeting outside a cemetery while the unsuspecting boys in white hats flew home with their snakeskin coach. Boys got their guy back and their teammates stayed together. Longhorns were supposed to falter and flail about and most certainly NOT do what they are doing now. New plot better be brewing with a comeback for the ages ….fix it Aggies cuz we can’t have you rolling into Austin like this.
Joe Healy
2:14
Ahhh, here's the full message for the one I said got me to chuckle earlier.
Scott in Memphis
2:14
what do you make of Mississippi State’s season so far? In Stats’s losses, the winning or tying run was in position in the last out. Does State lack the clutch gene? Or the law of averages will even out later this season ?
Kendall Rogers
2:14
Scott - I think I said this after Houston a couple of weeks ago, but I'm still trying to formulate a final opinion on MSU. I feel like the offensive lineup is solid -- but not great. I also feel like the pitching is pretty solid -- but again, not great. I know he gave up that big home run, but I was encouraged by the sheer stuff from Nate Williams, who struck out five in two innings of work. That breaking ball from Williams is a filthy, filthy pitch.
Kevin R
2:16
What SEC series next week intrigues you more: TN @Bama or LSU @Texas?
Kendall Rogers
2:16
I lean LSU at Texas, but Alabama and Tennessee is a great series, too. My key to the weekend is just how Alabama's bullpen matches up with the Volunteers. I liked Alabama's bullpen -- I didn't love it. Rob will have the Tide ready this weekend.
Raider
2:19
Houston isn’t some juggernaut, but how surprising was it that Tech went in and swept?
Kendall Rogers
2:19
That was pretty surprising. Obviously great news for Tadlock's Red Raiders. Maybe that FINALLY is the weekend that gets them going? For Houston, this was definitely a series the Cougars needed to win if they have aspirations of making the NCAA tournament. That's not to say they can't turn it around, but an 0-3 hole in a league that is incredibly balanced is tough.
Fred
2:20
Thoughts on the UNC’s offense? I raised an eyebrow when Forbes was loading up on D3 and JUCO transfers. Carolina has had plenty of JUCO players have success but the recent D3 transfer trend is concerning. Thus far, Bass, Angelo, and Kellis haven't produced. The only transfer who's been a positive on offense is Kane Kepley and he came from D1. Getting shut out two straight Sunday’s is…concerning.
Joe Healy
2:20
It is concerning, I would agree, but I'd stop short of saying that the types of transfers are the problem in and of itself. Oklahoma, for example, is loaded up on JC transfers as much as any team in the country and it's inside the top 10. And sure, maybe the D3 transfers weren't the right guys for the job, but I don't think Forbes and Co. went that route because there was something specific about D3 baseball that drew them in or that they couldn't get anyone from other D-I programs. They thought they could play at this level and help the team. Maybe they're right, maybe they're wrong, that's the nature of coaching, but your larger point is well taken. UNC will have to swing the bats better moving forward.
Guest
2:20
Besides Oregon State, what are some other storylines to watch out West?
Kendall Rogers
2:20
I really like Oregon's lineup, UCLA is surging forward and had a great weekend against Nebraska, Hawaii made a statement against UCSB and, though, it's early, is sitting in the Top 10 in the RPI. Stanford is another big story line for me. The Cardinal has been excellent the past couple of weeks, and my man Rintaro Sasaki has three homers in the last two games.
SmartMuffin
2:21
Besides Mizzou, anyone in the SEC you definitely counting out for the post-season?  South Carolina, Miss St, and Kentucky all look to have some fight in them.
Kendall Rogers
2:21
I'm not counting anyone out on March 17. That's just asking to be featured on #FreezingColdTakes
Nate F
2:21
Any realistic chance DBU hosts this year? If not, where do you see them going?
Joe Healy
2:21
Hard to say at this stage where they would go if they don't host, but there is a path there to hosting, I think. Like all non-power conference teams, it's a narrow path, but it's there and it mainly revolves around winning CUSA emphatically and racking up midweek wins like it already has against Oklahoma State and Oklahoma.
Hawks
2:23
What else does Kansas need to do be ranked ?
Joe Healy
2:23
Just keep winning. I think we're all impressed by what that coaching staff has built, but the Jayhawks aren't in right now because the resume is just light. Its best wins so far are the two vs. Baylor, a team we don't see as a postseason team, and one against a Minnesota team that has an artificially inflated RPI. But the opportunities come fast now, with Arizona in the midweek and Arizona State this weekend.
Eric Simmons
2:24
Will the winner of the Arizona-West Virginia series be in the Top 25 next Monday?
Kendall Rogers
2:24
That is my expectation -- yep.
Allan
2:24
Are you a believer in Oklahoma? Their RPI is decent but look at their Q1-4 record. 13-0 vs. Quad 4. Alarming?
Joe Healy
2:24
I do believe in Oklahoma generally speaking, but the number of Q4 games does suggest that Oklahoma's margin for error to have a good enough RPI to host or be a top-eight is very, very thin.
Max
2:26
Apologies if already asked, if aggies miss tourney could earley be a one and done?
Kendall Rogers
2:26
you know me -- I know all of these coaches well so I absolutely hate talking coaching changes in the middle of March. It just seems foolish. With that said, I think if you're A&M and the season continues down the same path it is right now, I think you'd need to take a hard, hard look at the direction of your program. I honestly would still be surprised if the Aggies keep playing like this ... but at some point, if it quacks like a duck, it's likely a duck.
Brenton
2:27
Not that it really matters given the regional breakdown, but is there a problem with over/under seeding teams for the NCAA Baseball Tournament like there is in basketball? Baseball the problem is moreso who gets to host and who doesn't rather than "that team should be a 3 seed and they got a 2 seed in an easier regional." Am I wrong here?
Joe Healy
2:27
If I understand your point correctly, I think you're right in that baseball doesn't really have to contend with this. Yes, you'd rather be a two seed than a three seed because ostensibly because a two seed will be matched with a lesser team as a three seed, but that margin is a lot thinner and matters quite a bit less than, say, Louisville in the NCAAM Tournament being very under seeded, which hurts them and hurts the top overall seed in Auburn because those two teams shouldn't have to hypothetically meet as soon as they will.
Eric Simmons
2:27
I think the Big Ten might come down to Oregon or UCLA what do you think?
Joe Healy
2:27
I think that's correct and I wouldn't be surprised if Oregon wins the league going away.
Gus
2:29
What is the concern level for the Gators after getting swept this weekend?
Joe Healy
2:29
Minimal from the standpoint of Tennessee just looking like a juggernaut right now. I'm not sure anyone could have gone into LNS over the weekend and avoided being swept. But I am a little concerned about the way some of the injuries have created issues. For example, Aidan King was great in Saturday's game, but as soon as he left, Florida got run-ruled in part because it had one less piece in the bullpen.
Seth
2:30
Fun grand slam and comeback win for Auburn yesterday.  They seem to have put last year behind them and have had a great start.  It's early, but what do you see as their ceiling?
Joe Healy
2:30
I could definitely see Auburn hosting a being a trendy Omaha pick. The offense has exceeded my expectations, and while Ike Irish being out isn't ideal, it's not like he was off to a super hot start. The key will be getting its pitching sorted behind Sam Dutton, who has been great.
johnnie walker
2:33
Early thoughts on how the Big 12 is shaping up? Who are threats to win the league? The two AZ schools and WVU seem most likely as of now - UCF , Kansas are interesting
Joe Healy
2:33
The Big 12 may end up being the most compelling race in the power leagues because there's no obvious frontrunner. Rather, there is a group of at least 6-8 teams I could see finishing in the top couple of spots. Arizona and WVU are tops for me on paper, but ASU, KU, KSU, UCF, Oklahoma State and TCU have all shown flashes already, and that doesn't include Cincinnati, which we had ranked in the preseason, and Baylor, which looks better right now than it has in several years.
Eric Simmons
2:33
What will it take for Georgia Tech to be ranked?
Joe Healy
2:33
It's another team that just needs to keep winning, but the Yellow Jackets are definitely on our radar.
SmartMuffin
2:33
Clemson and Wake Forest both seem to be flying under the radar a bit... consistent but not flashy.  Like either for Omaha?
Kendall Rogers
2:33
I could most definitely see path in Omaha. Wake Forest has my attention right now. I thought its stars played really well over the weekend -- Marek Houston is meeting expectations and Ethan Conrad, our summer breakout player, also is having a strong season. But the big key as well has been the rise of Logan Lunceford and the pitching staff. They are flat out delivering this spring.
Daniel
2:34
How many wins total do you think it will take for USC to make the post season this year?
Joe Healy
2:34
If you mean the USC Trojans, it's probably going to have to finish somewhere in the top 3-4 in the Big Ten and pick up some key midweek wins to be in the mix. If you mean the USC Gamecocks, like all SEC teams, it's all about getting to 13 or 14 wins in conference play.
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