Congrats to Rice!

[tucker342]

Great win against Stanford, 14-2!

Did you guys like it that it was a three game series instead of just one game?

(I'm talking about college baseball by the way)

[kcchief19]

Man, what an ass kicking. I'm not surprised. After I saw Rice handle my SMS Bears, I though they were the team to beat.

I like the new format for the CWS. The one-game championship format was horrible. Under the old format, the championship was a winner-take-all between the champion of the winner's bracket and the winner of the losers bracket, which favored the losers bracket team. Back when it was true double elimination, it was much more fair. I don't think that it was fair that a team could (and did on occassion) win its way through the winner's bracket and not get the luxury of a second chance that every other team got.

I think the three-game series format is good for what they are trying to achieve. They thought creating one super championship game would help elevate the CWS. It didn't I think the 3-game format is fair and gets the tournament more exposure,

[JeeberD]

Go WAC!!!!! :)

[pjstp20]

I don't know about you all but it seems to me that the talent in college baseball has become extremly watered down. I remember in the early to mid 90's when players like Varitek, Nevin, Garciaparra, Todd Walker, and J.D. Drew were playing and they'd have .400 averages, 30 homers and 100 RBIs. And pitchers like Paul Wilson, Chris Benson and Billy Wagner would throw in the high 90's. This year I saw none of that. I heard that they were going to make regulations to calm down the offense, but I'm not sure if they did or not.

I know the pros usually pick off the best pitchers but at least a few would slip through the cracks, and there were always good hitters, but I guess the pros are getting them too. Just an observation don't know if anyone else noticed.

[RPI-Fan]

There have been regulations that really did regulate the offense.

And on pitchers - guys were fine.

Nieman of Rice didn't throw HIGH 90's, but he has big league stuff. 17-0 says everything you need to know about his ability.

I don't see any problem with the talent in college baseball.

[INDalltheway]

Originally posted by pjstp20
I don't know about you all but it seems to me that the talent in college baseball has become extremly watered down. I remember in the early to mid 90's when players like Varitek, Nevin, Garciaparra, Todd Walker, and J.D. Drew were playing and they'd have .400 averages, 30 homers and 100 RBIs. And pitchers like Paul Wilson, Chris Benson and Billy Wagner would throw in the high 90's. This year I saw none of that. I heard that they were going to make regulations to calm down the offense, but I'm not sure if they did or not.

I know the pros usually pick off the best pitchers but at least a few would slip through the cracks, and there were always good hitters, but I guess the pros are getting them too. Just an observation don't know if anyone else noticed.
What about Mark Prior? There are still good players playing at the collegiate level.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I haven't really followed individual players in college baseball, but I must say that although I LIKE the three-game series format, I wish it would go back to the old double-elimination structure.

Technically, a team could lose THREE times before getting knocked out. In fact, that's exactly what happened to Stanford this year. This is far better than the one-game championship (I'd rather see the runner-up lose three games instead of just one), but in my mind, this thing should've been over on Saturday when Rice beat Stanford the first time.

[sterlingice]

I'm guessing Lance Berkman was partying a little tonight. Well, up until the Astros lost tonight. He was the perfect homegrown guy for the 'stros- went to Rice and drafted by Houston.

SI

[IMetTrentGreen]

rice's pitching staff, top to bottom, may be an all-time great. their thrid guy, aside from some control issues, made texas look like a little league team

and i think college baseball is making its way towards beign a money sport. thanks to pro teams that are actaully starting to use brains (oakland, boston, toronto) there will be less and less high school talent drafted. more talent will head to college, instead of low A ball. plus, its a game for the purists, where sac bunts and the running game still win ballgames, and the best teams are built around pitching and defense. the more the mlb alienates fans, the more you'd think they'd run to the college game

[pjstp20]

Originally posted by IMetTrentGreen
plus, its a game for the purists, where sac bunts and the running game still win ballgames, and the best teams are built around pitching and defense.

Are you talking about college baseball here? I admittedly watch a lot less college baseball than I used to, but if this is true, it is a completely different game than when I did watch it.

[Easy Mac]

Too bad the greatest Rice alum cant be here to celebrate.

Rest in Peace hornsmaniac:rolleyes:

[WSUCougar]

Originally posted by Easy Mac
Too bad the greatest Rice alum cant be here to celebrate.

Rest in Peace hornsmaniac:rolleyes:
Owlsmaniac?

[Easy Mac]

That sounds kind of sexual in a scary, farm animal kind of way.

[MylesKnight]

CONGRATS RICE!!!

Always wonderful to see a "Bowl Cartel" affiliated school get knocked off by a non-member of the BCS, in any sport..

Congrats to Rice on their 1st National Title of any kind!!

[tucker342]

It does seem like less and less High School players are being drafted.

I thought it was going to be Cal State Fullerton and Rice, I thought Rice was going to win it all though.

Nieman is one hell of a pitcher

[SunDancer]

I think College baseball needs to go to the roots of baseball, go with wooden bats.

[thealmighty]

too expensive.