2021 College World Series

[donut]

Before typing a long post, anyone following the CWS this year?

[mikegarrison]

You?

I don't know, the thing about WCWS or NCAA volleyball is that it's pretty much the highest level of play in the US (minus some minor professional action). With college baseball? Not so much. It's a little better than in previous decades, though, where pretty much every top player went straight to the pros. These days, many (but not all) top young players are going to college rather than the minor leagues.

[donut]

Yes, I think by creating this thread, you can assume I’m following it. I’ll be clearer next time.

[donut]

I understand that — do you only watch sports that are at the top of their game then? No NCAA basketball or football?

My alma mater is very good at baseball, so that’s one of the reasons I watch the CWS every year. I like the format of the tournament as well.

[Deleted]

I was planning to go.. but then life.

TDA is such a nice park.

Omaha is really underrated (unless its sweltering and humid. then hard pass lol)

[trojansc]

Jun 20, 2021 13:36:25 GMT -5 donut said:

Before typing a long post, anyone following the CWS this year?

Yes. NC State over Arkansas was epic. Reading all the Twitter rants was very entertaining and frightening.

But those poor fans. They were 1 out away from a national championship a couple years back and couldn’t catch a fly ball that they overran. Oregon State took advantage, won that game, and the if necessary.

They were the #1 overall seed this year and beat NC State 21-2 in the first game before losing twice back to back at home. NC State started 1-8 in the ACC.

[trojansc]

Jun 20, 2021 14:44:31 GMT -5 donut said:

I understand that — do you only watch sports that are at the top of their game then? No NCAA basketball or football?

My alma mater is very good at baseball, so that’s one of the reasons I watch the CWS every year. I like the format of the tournament as well.

Were you one of those #VandyBoys? 😏

[mikegarrison]

Jun 20, 2021 14:44:31 GMT -5 donut said:

I understand that — do you only watch sports that are at the top of their game then?

It's not that simple. Most sports are better when played "at the top of their game", but sometimes the elite game is not as fun as some of the other levels. Baseball is actually kind of neutral to level, really, as long as the pitchers and batters are at the same level as each other. (Although MLB defense is outstanding to watch.)

And all sports tend to be better if you have (or can manufacture) a rooting interest.

[donut]

Jun 20, 2021 15:38:11 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Jun 20, 2021 13:36:25 GMT -5 donut said:

Before typing a long post, anyone following the CWS this year?

Yes. NC State over Arkansas was epic. Reading all the Twitter rants was very entertaining and frightening.

But those poor fans. They were 1 out away from a national championship a couple years back and couldn’t catch a fly ball that they overran. Oregon State took advantage, won that game, and the if necessary.

They were the #1 overall seed this year and beat NC State 21-2 in the first game before losing twice back to back at home. NC State started 1-8 in the ACC.

Must make Arkansas feel better that NC State whooped Stanford yesterday.  Both unseeded teams won their first game in convincing style.

Vandy-UA and UT-MSST were both phenomenal games though.

[donut]

Jun 20, 2021 15:40:06 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Jun 20, 2021 14:44:31 GMT -5 donut said:

I understand that — do you only watch sports that are at the top of their game then? No NCAA basketball or football?

My alma mater is very good at baseball, so that’s one of the reasons I watch the CWS every year. I like the format of the tournament as well.

Were you one of those #VandyBoys? 😏

I am Dansby Swanson.  

[n00b]

Jun 20, 2021 13:45:24 GMT -5 mikegarrison said:

You?

I don't know, the thing about WCWS or NCAA volleyball is that it's pretty much the highest level of play in the US (minus some minor professional action). With college baseball? Not so much. It's a little better than in previous decades, though, where pretty much every top player went straight to the pros. These days, many (but not all) top young players are going to college rather than the minor leagues.

I prefer both college basketball and football to their professional counterparts. I could never quite get into college baseball though. I definitely agree with donut that the format makes it fun though.

Maybe the problem is that it comes right after softball, which is a lot more fun. Faster games, more games every day, fewer off days.

[donut]

Jun 21, 2021 12:41:13 GMT -5 n00b said:

Jun 20, 2021 13:45:24 GMT -5 mikegarrison said:

You?

I don't know, the thing about WCWS or NCAA volleyball is that it's pretty much the highest level of play in the US (minus some minor professional action). With college baseball? Not so much. It's a little better than in previous decades, though, where pretty much every top player went straight to the pros. These days, many (but not all) top young players are going to college rather than the minor leagues.

I prefer both college basketball and football to their professional counterparts. I could never quite get into college baseball though. I definitely agree with donut that the format makes it fun though.

Maybe the problem is that it comes right after softball, which is a lot more fun. Faster games, more games every day, fewer off days.

I've never been able to get into softball, which is bizarre, because I tend to enjoy women's sports more than men's sports.  Perhaps it's because my dad forced me to play baseball for 9 years, so enjoying it now is Stockholm syndrome-esque.  

[donut]

Jun 20, 2021 14:56:11 GMT -5 @avid said:

I was planning to go.. but then life.

TDA is such a nice park.

Omaha is really underrated (unless its sweltering and humid. then hard pass lol)

Going to Omaha for the CWS is on my bucket list.  

I'm a bit surprised to hear Omaha gets humid, but I've also never been to Nebraska.

[bbg95]

Jun 21, 2021 13:19:24 GMT -5 donut said:

Jun 20, 2021 14:56:11 GMT -5 @avid said:

I was planning to go.. but then life.

TDA is such a nice park.

Omaha is really underrated (unless its sweltering and humid. then hard pass lol)

Going to Omaha for the CWS is on my bucket list.  

I'm a bit surprised to hear Omaha gets humid, but I've also never been to Nebraska.

I lived in Nebraska for five years. It's quite humid there (at least in Lincoln), which makes both the winters and the summers pretty miserable.

[donut]

Arizona-Stanford playing right now in an all-PAC elimination game.

I went to Tucson for the first time last weekend. I think for that reason alone I'm cheering for Stanford.