BBTF.org/m/college : Stony Brook earns first trip to College World Seties

Friday, April 26, 2013

College baseball on way to lowest scoring in 40 years, coaches call for livelier ball

(bigstory.ap.org)

posted on April 26, 2013 at 05:18 AM by Repoz to college | 27 comment(s)

Screw Lilly…we need the Jeff Ledbetter Fair Play Act of 2013!

College baseball is on pace to set a record for fewest home runs and a 40-year low for scoring and batting average. Now some coaches are calling for a livelier ball to bring the numbers back up.

The switch to toned-down metal bats in 2011 has led to an offensive decline greater than many expected.

“The game isn’t the same,” Clemson coach Jack Leggett said this week. “It’s not as exciting.”

Leggett is leading an effort to adopt ...

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1. Liver of blaspheming 'zop posted on June 11, 2012 at 07:56 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

This is the first time, I believe, that a northeastern school has made it to Omaha since the heyday of St. John's back in the early 80's.

Beating LSU at LSU is a heck of an upset.

2. Ivan Grushenko of Hong Kong posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:08 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

And not just a northeastern team.....a tiny school not known for major sports. It's a great story like Butler and Virginia Commonwealth in the Final Four.

3. hokieneer posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:15 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

And not just a northeastern team.....a tiny school not known for major sports. It's a great story like Butler and Virginia Commonwealth in the Final Four.

It's a bigger Cinderella story than those 2 teams. While never reaching the Final Four, both of those teams have played well in the tournament in recent years. A few years before the final-four run, VCU upset Duke and then the next year almost beat UCLA.

4. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:17 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

This is the first time, I believe, that a northeastern school has made it to Omaha since the heyday of St. John's back in the early 80's.

Maine in '86

5. SoSH U at work posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:18 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

This is the first time, I believe, that a northeastern school has made it to Omaha since the heyday of St. John's back in the early 80's.

Nah, the Maine Blackbears made five trips in six years after the Johnnies' last visit.

My buddy's upstate New York team, LeMoyne College, finished one run short of a visit to Omaha in 1989. That would have been as improbable as Stony Brook's.

Now, we need Kent State to make it two unlikely CWS participants.

6. Gamingboy posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:30 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

And the thing is is that Stony Brook easily could have swept. They were a dropped foul pop-up away from winning Game 1 and then had leads several times in the extras that they squandered.

Huzzah for Stony Brook. Huzzah for Northeastern baseball.

7. SoSH U at work posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:36 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Huzzah for Northeastern baseball.

Carlos Pena thanks you for your support.

8. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:40 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

It's a great feel-good story, but the good folks of Omaha are NOT pleased. LSU brings thousands of fans--they literally take over the city. Stony Brook? Maybe 100, if that

9. SoSH U at work posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:08 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

While never reaching the Final Four, both of those teams have played well in the tournament in recent years.

Actually, Butler had played in the championship game the previous year as well.

I'd say the VCU run was quite similar to Stony Brook's. They weren't just a mid-major team, but they had to win five games (they were in the play-in) just to get there.

10. MNB posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:16 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I was at all three games. The first one was incredible to be at. Alex Box Stadium is a fantastic place to take in a game. The Stony Brook lineup is a buzzsaw. They all hit and they're all disciplined. The lowest OBP was the catcher at .345. Just how good the Stony Brook centerfielder is didn't really dawn on me until I was headed home last night. He's a beast at the plate and on the bases, but what's really incredible is how much ground he covers in the outfield. It seemed like every hard hit ball the Tigers had went right to an outfielder and I think it's largely because Jankowski gets to everything.

11. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:23 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I wonder if Mike Fontenot and Ryan Theriot will go all U of Miami football alum on the current players' asses.

12. Bob Tufts posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:27 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Stony Brook is no fluke - their NCAA Division I statistical rankings - 2nd in BA, 2nd in SLG, 5th in OBP, 12th in fielding, 12th in ERA and 5th in WHIP - are incredible. And they led the NCAA D-I in fielding last year.

Now if we could only get an Ivy League team to Omaha, which I do not believe has happened since Princeton played in 1951 (led by Dave Sisler).

13. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:39 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

Now if we could only get an Ivy League team to Omaha, which I do not believe has happened since Princeton played in 1951 (led by Dave Sisler).

sorry to report (from one Princeton man to another) that Harvard made it 4 times since then, the last in 1974

14. Bob Tufts posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:48 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

JMac - they don't count! Harvard hates America and baseball is America's game.

And the Dartmouth team (with pitchers Pete Broberg and Chuck Seelbach, coached by Tony Lupien) made it in 1970.

15. billyshears posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:59 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

I grew up right by the Stony Brook campus. The predominant thought of those of us who grew up in the area was, "Besides locals, who the #### actually goes there?" This is kind of awesome.

16. boteman posted on June 11, 2012 at 12:02 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

In other news, after yesterday's pounding by Florida State, the Stanford baseball team has been disbanded.

17. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) posted on June 11, 2012 at 12:54 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

In other news, after yesterday's pounding by Florida State, the Stanford baseball team has been disbanded.

Source? I can't find any news stories on this.

If its true, the Pirates should make a public offer that they will save Stanford baseball, only if Mark Appel signs a slot deal.

18. Bob Tufts posted on June 11, 2012 at 02:29 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

What happened to the Stanford band?

19. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines posted on June 11, 2012 at 02:34 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I think #16 was a joke of some sort, but I don't get it.

20. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) posted on June 11, 2012 at 02:36 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I think it has something to do with getting pounded 17-1, then 18-7

21. BDC

posted on June 11, 2012 at 02:58 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

There have been numerous stories over the years that Stanford would cut this sport or that, given that they field so many teams and have budget and Title IX concerns. I would imagine baseball is safe for now :)

22. MNB posted on June 11, 2012 at 03:12 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Oh, also, the LSU Ground Crew's dance to "All the Single Ladies" at the end of the fifth inning was a brilliant moment for choreagraphy. "Beat It" on Friday was pretty good, but not as good as this.

23. I am Ted F'ing Williams posted on June 11, 2012 at 06:40 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

The first thing I think of when I hear "Stony Brook" is Blue Oyster Cult.

Gotta dig the red and the black uniforms.

24. Der_K posted on June 11, 2012 at 09:58 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Kent State beats Oregon, makes it two northern squads in the same year.

25. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:02 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I should have some affinity for this CWS--I'm from Akron, about 10 miles from Kent State, my wife got her Ph.D. from Stony Brook, and I live in Charleston, SC

I can't lose!!!

26. The Yankee Clapper posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:13 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I was accepted at Stony Brook (long time ago) but went to St. Lawrence. Never regretted the choice, but it's nice to see the little, non-Sun Belt school do well.

27. madvillain posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:16 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

That's pretty awesome to take a DIII school and in 20 years they are now at the highest level. I played at Kzoo College in the early to mid aughts. DIII level but we played plenty of DI level schools in scrimmages, non-league games, etc. The difference between the individual players wasn't all that great, but the sum of the talents on the rosters sure was.

Every DIII team probably has 1 or 2 guys that could play D1 on a full scholarship, but for whatever reason (usually academic or they didn't have enough exposure in HS) they don't.

My claim to fame is striking out 3 times against future 7th round Indians draft pick Jim Dieters in a league game back in '04. He had a nasty hook and threw in the low 90's, pretty great stuff for a DIII lefty. Dieters retired from baseball last year, I believe he was "stuck" in AAA as an org level guy and just had enough.

28. Bob Tufts posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:41 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Tufts University was in the 1950 CWS, the first one played in Omaha? And NYU went 2-2 in the 1969 CWS?

29. Adam M

posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:43 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Kent State beats Oregon, makes it two northern squads in the same year.

Oregon is further north than Kent State.

30. Fernigal McGunnigle has become a merry hat posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:31 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Oregon is further north than Kent State.

Eugene, OR averages 5 inches of snow a year. Kent, OH averages 60 inches of snow a year.

31. boteman posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:52 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I was in Omaha in April on business. Mighty nice new ballpark they have there. A number of events held there such as concerts and other non-baseball activities. Just a few blocks down the hill from their revitalized nightlife district. If you can make it you'll probably enjoy the trip no matter who wins.

32. SoSHially Unacceptable posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:59 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Oregon is further north than Kent State.

In the geography of college baseball, it isn't.

33. Zipperholes posted on June 12, 2012 at 03:35 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

madvillain:

That's pretty awesome to take a DIII school and in 20 years they are now at the highest level. I played at Kzoo College in the early to mid aughts. DIII level but we played plenty of DI level schools in scrimmages, non-league games, etc. The difference between the individual players wasn't all that great, but the sum of the talents on the rosters sure was.

How did you like the experience? I almost went there for baseball, in the late 90s. I ultimately decided I'd rather not play baseball at a Division 1 school than play at a Division 3 school.

34. madvillain posted on June 12, 2012 at 04:08 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

How did you like the experience? I almost went there for baseball, in the late 90s. I ultimately decided I'd rather not play baseball at a Division 1 school than play at a Division 3 school.

I had a lot of fun at times, but at other times it was a complete nuisance and I didn't play my senior year because of the time drain. The northern schools have such a short season that we were constantly playing Saturday double headers. As a 21 year old kid, the last thing you want to do on a Saturday is wake up at 8am for a 2 hour road trip, play a doubleheader until about 4 in the afternoon, and then get back around 6pm tired and having lost your whole Saturday.

Plus, at that school, it's tennis and swimming and everyone else. We constantly got the worst gym times, the worst weight room times, etc. They have upgraded the facilities a lot since I was there however, it's probably a much nicer practice environment now I'd guess.

35. Gold Star - just Gold Star posted on June 12, 2012 at 06:24 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I was in Omaha in April on business. Mighty nice new ballpark they have there. A number of events held there such as concerts and other non-baseball activities. Just a few blocks down the hill from their revitalized nightlife district. If you can make it you'll probably enjoy the trip no matter who wins.

Omaha is a very underrated city.

36. Mike Emeigh

posted on June 12, 2012 at 07:41 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Kent State has a good, very underrated program - underrated because they play outside of the power conferences and in the Midwest. But the Golden Flashes nearly took Texas out in the regionals a year ago, and they have provided a fairly steady stream of talent to the MLB draft, albeit no stars.

The Golden Flashes got a bad break in the CWS, though, being in the bracket with Arkansas, South Carolina, and Florida, arguably the three best teams there.

-- MWE

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Friday, April 26, 2013

College baseball on way to lowest scoring in 40 years, coaches call for livelier ball

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