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Orange Blooded [2099]
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Unpopular but
3
May 24, 2023, 11:04 AM
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I absolutely love pool play in the ACC Tournament.
1) We know at most we'll play 4 games. Given we are the higher seed this week, we knew that one of the games was going to be a wash, so we get to set our rotation for the other 3 games while giving some other guys (see tonight's starter Joe Allen) some very meaningful time on the mound.
**Added bonus is that BC won so our meaningful games are Fri and potentially Sat/Sun, which means our weekend rotation is in tact on full rest.
2) Seeds 1-4 in the SEC tournament will play at minimum 4 games, and potentially 5. They have to set their rotation to win today. If they lose a game early, then in order to get to Sunday they will have to play/pitch to win each game from there on out knowing they still have 3-4 games to go.
It's even worse for any seed 5-12. To get to Championship Sunday, those teams will have to play a minimum of 5 games, potentially 6 (due to the double-elimination format in the early rounds). Six games in six days with Regionals up next week? No thanks.
3) This weekend is meaningless anyway - well at least from a national standpoint. You might be a huge college baseball fan and maybe you remember all the tournament champions (maybe only from the ACC, maybe others). But let me ask you, who won the Big 12 tournament last year? Who won the Big Ten? What about the ACC tournament 3 years ago? Exactly. WHO CARES???
You know what people do remember? The National Champions. The winners in Omaha. Not Hoover. Not Durham. So for all the people that cry, "Waah! Today's game is meaningless!" Sit down because they all are. Next weekend is when it counts.
Honestly, I think most folks who whine about this tournament format are just looking for something to be upset about. Just sayin' what had to be said.
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Orange Blooded [3826]
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Re: Unpopular but
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May 24, 2023, 11:26 AM
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You make fair points. I still don’t like playing the meaningless game situation. But you’re correct the format is predictable and limits the max number of games played. It’s like a normal regular season week for us - Wed, Fri, Sat and Sun (hopefully).
Why does the 1 seed not play until Thursday? Seems like a disadvantage for Wake to need to play 4 days consecutively to win a title when their possible opponent in the championship game will have a rest day. Same holds true for the 2 seed UVA.
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Orange Blooded [2099]
TigerPulse: 93%
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Re: Unpopular but
1
May 24, 2023, 11:31 AM
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My understanding is the No. 1 seed gets to choose whether they want to play Weds or Thurs (possibly same with No. 2 seed). Advantage is you get all your pitching staff pretty much on full rest since last week's games were Thurs-Sat. Since they also would know which game is the "meaningless" game, they can set their 3-man rotation for Thurs, Sat, Sun, or Fri, Sat, Sun (like us).
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Orange Blooded [2099]
TigerPulse: 93%
Posts: 2248
Joined: 8/16/05
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To add to that
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May 24, 2023, 11:34 AM
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The advantage of playing Thursday is you don't have to be there early and sit around a bunch. Looks like we went up and had a practice at NC State on Tuesday. Play tonight in the game that is "meaningless." Sit around tomorrow, then play again Friday. If you're just playing Thurs/Fri, you get to show up Weds, then play straight through the weekend. Less sitting around days.
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Orange Blooded [3826]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: To add to that
May 24, 2023, 12:00 PM
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Good answers. Given that exams are long since over and they’re not missing school, I imagine a coach may like having the team “on the road” and in a hotel for a few days extra to help limit distractions and have a captive audience. Good chance to reset and focus on fundamentals and clear the mind before hosting a regional next weekend.
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All-TigerNet [13899]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 11/30/98
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should just switch to a top 8 and have a single elimination
May 24, 2023, 12:08 PM
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tourney. You can still save pitchers and each game is meaningful. This pod play allows 'no value add' games (see today's game against VT) and possible injury for such a meaningless game.
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