2012 College Baseball- Road to Omaha

Did I see this correctly - Florida State made it to Omaha?

 

You know, my thought was that was the call from an umpire who had been out there all day in an afternoon game in June in Florida that started more than six hours before. Yeah, it was probably a ball, but it was close enough that if you're the batter in that situation, you'd better be swinging.

 

Arkansas has been eating its Lucky Charms for breakfast this series. Runners on the corners and nobody out, and Fant gets a strikeout, a foulout and another strikeout after walking the bases loaded to keep it scoreless in Waco.

 

I know I'm late to the party, but that N.C. State dude's reaction was great. I'm glad the coach and others got in between him and the ump, but that was awesome.

 

Make that two straight bases-loaded opportunities that Baylor failed to capitalize on. Still 0-0 after five with some big weather potentially moving in from the west later.

 

That wasn't the call which caused them to lose the game. Obviously, it shouldn't come down to that.

The problem was the Florida catcher framed it, exacerbated by the fact that the umpire hesitated before ringing up Diaz. The ump has the right to a moment or two, sure, but the impression was that either the framing influenced the call and/or that hesitation allowed the Gators' fans and such to sell the call.

It was a borderline call which could go either way. Obviously, Diaz didn't like it. Lucky for him, Elliott Avent roared out of the dugout to help restrain him. Diaz has sent out an apology which the officials have accepted.

 

Kent State to the CWS with a 3-2 win, scoring a run in the 9th. And for what it's worth, players from both teams lined up and shook hands like it was the Stanley Cup playoffs. Refreshing.

 

First Stony Brook, now Kent State too. Good to have two Cinderellas in the field.

Arkansas and Baylor head to the 10th, still 0-0.

 

Borderline or not, aren't baseball players taught to swing at anything close -- or at the very least, don't go down looking? That's what I was taught growing up, that you swing at anything close. Diaz should've done something to keep that at-bat -- and the game -- alive.

 

I know the NCAA will point to RPI, etc, etc., when seeding Kent State third, but didn't anybody connected to the Selection Committee even watch them? That is a quality baseball team. I expect Stony Brook is too. Computers are great and I understand the MAC and the Northeast Conference aren't top caliber, but sometimes you just have to trust your eyes, and teams should not be seeded until the entire regular season is completed.

It should make for a very interesting CWS. A couple underdogs to root for.

And the pitch Diaz got rung up on looked to be at least four inches outside. That's not borderline.

 

Arkansas gets a run in the top of the 10th and makes it hold up to round out the CWS field. That makes three SEC teams in this year's CWS.

 

FYI, Stony Brook is in the America East Conference. But your point is correct. Anybody who's been paying attention should know these are a couple of quality teams.

BTW, PigSooey scratches a run across in the top 10th and hangs on to win. I believe that about does it for the Big 12 this year.