Monday, June 28, 2004
The other story coming out of the CWS is the move to have the CWS moved back until July. The reason for this is to give the northern schools a chance to compete at the highest level of College Baseball. Right now, the southern schools are playing games in January against other competition while the northern schools are stuck in gyms taking grounders. The new proposal has the season starting on March 1st as being the first official day for games. There is no official start date right now for college baseball. There should be a date that is also set up for the first organized practice like Basketball's Midnight Madness.
The other problem with the current system is that Northern Schools have been having to cut baseball programs due to the fact it is a lost cause. There have been 3 schools in the greater New England area who had to cut baseball programs because of Title IX. University of New Hampshire, Boston University, and the most known Providence College (Lou Merloni and John McDonald). PC cut the program before a season in which they were one game away from Omaha. PC did not charge admission to their games and neither did BU or UNH. How can you make money on a program when you don't charge admission? Then each team also would take a 2 week trip to Florida which costs money. So if we can cut out these trips to Florida maybe Northern baseball can be competitive with the Southern schools. Lets see what happens in the near future with the Boston College baseball program having to face FSU, Miami, UVA, UNC, etc....every year. There is interest if it is good baseball and BC will draw well once the move to the Big East is done.
Link to the NCAA Article
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CWS Wrap-Up
The College World Series ended on Sunday with Cal State Fullerton making a 3 run comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 3-2 lead over the coveted bullpen of Texas. Kurt Suzuki got the go ahead RBI coming out of his 2-20 slump in the College World Series. Cal State Fullerton again was lead by their starting pitcher in Game 2 Jason Windsor. Jason Windsor pitched 21 innings in the CWS and only let up 2 earned runs both in the first inning of Game 2. He was named the MOP of the CWS. In other news, Texas did not accept the Runner-up trophy at the end of the game. This is the reason why Texas is not held in a high regard in Zlax45's mind. What do you think of the situation?? Sportstoad readers??
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The College World Series ended on Sunday with Cal State Fullerton making a 3 run comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 3-2 lead over the coveted bullpen of Texas. Kurt Suzuki got the go ahead RBI coming out of his 2-20 slump in the College World Series. Cal State Fullerton again was lead by their starting pitcher in Game 2 Jason Windsor. Jason Windsor pitched 21 innings in the CWS and only let up 2 earned runs both in the first inning of Game 2. He was named the MOP of the CWS. In other news, Texas did not accept the Runner-up trophy at the end of the game. This is the reason why Texas is not held in a high regard in Zlax45's mind. What do you think of the situation?? Sportstoad readers??
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Sunday, June 27, 2004
Congrats to BrumZ and Rballer
Rballer and BrumZ both graduated from high school today and everyone should give them a round of applause for it.
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Rballer and BrumZ both graduated from high school today and everyone should give them a round of applause for it.
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CSF Wins Game 1
Zlax45 was not able to see much of the Game 1 celebration but he did see the last 3 outs of the game. He believes and also predicted before the CWS Finals that CSF would win the National Championship. I believe with Jason Windsor pitching tomorrow that Texas is in for a very tough game.
GO TITANS
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Zlax45 was not able to see much of the Game 1 celebration but he did see the last 3 outs of the game. He believes and also predicted before the CWS Finals that CSF would win the National Championship. I believe with Jason Windsor pitching tomorrow that Texas is in for a very tough game.
GO TITANS
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Monday, June 21, 2004
CWS MID WEEK PREVIEW
After Monday’s College World Series Games
Tuesday Games
Bracket 1
Arizona vs. Georgia
Arizona lost the opening game of the tournament to Georgia on Friday. Arizona came back with a solid win over Arkansas this Sunday, which sets up this rematch with Georgia in an elimination game. Georgia and Arizona have both gotten wins by the skin of their teeth. Both teams pitching has been suspect in this tournament.
Texas will face the winner of the Arizona vs. Georgia game on Wednesday. If Texas were to lose on Wednesday then the teams would replay on Thursday to see who would advance to the Championship Series. Texas has looked strong in this CWS with solid pitching and excellent hitting by Bobby Thigpen their superstar catcher leading the way and the closing of Houston Street whom might be in the majors by the end of the year.
Bracket 2
Miami vs. South Carolina
Miami lost to Cal State Fullerton on Monday night after beating LSU on Saturday night to put them into the losers’ bracket. South Carolina lost to Cal State Fullerton on Saturday afternoon getting 3 hit by the Titans. South Carolina had an offensive explosion today lead by Landon Powell their all world catcher. The loser of this game goes home the winner goes on to face Cal-State Fullerton.
Cal-State Fullerton is lead by one of the deepest starting pitching staffs in the country led by Jason Windsor who pitched a complete game shutout against South Carolina on Saturday and had a solid pitching performance Monday. This team was my pick before the CWS started and my pick has not changed because CSF pitching staff will be set up perfectly for the Championship series if they reach it.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES STARTS SATURDAY ON ESPN THROUGH MONDAY IN A BEST OF 3 FORMAT.
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After Monday’s College World Series Games
Tuesday Games
Bracket 1
Arizona vs. Georgia
Arizona lost the opening game of the tournament to Georgia on Friday. Arizona came back with a solid win over Arkansas this Sunday, which sets up this rematch with Georgia in an elimination game. Georgia and Arizona have both gotten wins by the skin of their teeth. Both teams pitching has been suspect in this tournament.
Texas will face the winner of the Arizona vs. Georgia game on Wednesday. If Texas were to lose on Wednesday then the teams would replay on Thursday to see who would advance to the Championship Series. Texas has looked strong in this CWS with solid pitching and excellent hitting by Bobby Thigpen their superstar catcher leading the way and the closing of Houston Street whom might be in the majors by the end of the year.
Bracket 2
Miami vs. South Carolina
Miami lost to Cal State Fullerton on Monday night after beating LSU on Saturday night to put them into the losers’ bracket. South Carolina lost to Cal State Fullerton on Saturday afternoon getting 3 hit by the Titans. South Carolina had an offensive explosion today lead by Landon Powell their all world catcher. The loser of this game goes home the winner goes on to face Cal-State Fullerton.
Cal-State Fullerton is lead by one of the deepest starting pitching staffs in the country led by Jason Windsor who pitched a complete game shutout against South Carolina on Saturday and had a solid pitching performance Monday. This team was my pick before the CWS started and my pick has not changed because CSF pitching staff will be set up perfectly for the Championship series if they reach it.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES STARTS SATURDAY ON ESPN THROUGH MONDAY IN A BEST OF 3 FORMAT.
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Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Nomar to be Traded??
In an article on the Boston Globe site, Eric Wilbur brings up an interesting trade proposal to have Nomar traded to the LA Dodgers for Odalis Perez.
Wilbur's Proposal
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In an article on the Boston Globe site, Eric Wilbur brings up an interesting trade proposal to have Nomar traded to the LA Dodgers for Odalis Perez.
Wilbur's Proposal
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CWS Preview
Bracket 1 of the CWS
Arizona, Georgia, Texas and Arkansas
Arizona is the worst team in the final 8. They come in headed up by Andy Lopez the former coach of Pepperdine during their run in the early 90’s. Arizona is a scrappy bunch of players who fought back from a 5-1 deficit against LBSU and Jered Weaver and won the game. The series was also at LBSU.
Georgia went to Atlanta GA and beat their archrivals two straight games to gain entry into the CWS. They are lead by a fiery head coach who got ejected from the Regional final and his team came back and won the game with two homeruns immediately after that.
Arkansas is lead by no one. They have a solid pitching staff and solid hitting which is an excellent combination to have.
Texas is heads and shoulders above anyone else in this side of the bracket. They have the best pitching staff in this side of the bracket and they have the best hitting team in the country. They are lead by superstar closer Huston Street who might be making an appearance in the Majors by the end of the year. He is that good.
My prediction is that Texas wins this bracket.
Bracket 2 of the CWS
LSU, Miami, South Carolina, and Cal State Fullerton
This bracket is just JACKED!!!!!
LSU is lead by a good hitting team with decent pitching. Lane Mestaphy pitched a complete game shutout in the Super-Regional clinching game over Texas A & M. They also have two brothers Clay and Will Harris which play first base and third base respectively. The weakness for LSU is the manager, Smoke Laval. The guy has not won a national championship before and does not have the experience of the other coaches.
Miami is lead by a solid hitting team and Cesar Carillo who went 11-0 this season and won the Super Regional championship in a 3-1 victory over University of Florida. The biggest advantage Miami has does not even play. His name is Jim Morris and he knows how to get it down by knowing when to start runners and when to change pitchers.
South Carolina is not going anywhere; they never do...No review of them.
Cal-State Fullerton is lead by a great catcher with excellent feet named Kurt Suzuki. This kid is one of the fastest catchers I have ever seen on the basepaths. CSF received a great pitching performance on Saturday night by Jason Windsor. This kid pitched eight innings and only allowed five hits in his win over Tulane 5-0. He had a game this year against Jered Weaver of LBSU when he pitched 10 innings in beating the future MLB player.
I think this kid Windsor carries CSF to the NCAA Title.
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Bracket 1 of the CWS
Arizona, Georgia, Texas and Arkansas
Arizona is the worst team in the final 8. They come in headed up by Andy Lopez the former coach of Pepperdine during their run in the early 90’s. Arizona is a scrappy bunch of players who fought back from a 5-1 deficit against LBSU and Jered Weaver and won the game. The series was also at LBSU.
Georgia went to Atlanta GA and beat their archrivals two straight games to gain entry into the CWS. They are lead by a fiery head coach who got ejected from the Regional final and his team came back and won the game with two homeruns immediately after that.
Arkansas is lead by no one. They have a solid pitching staff and solid hitting which is an excellent combination to have.
Texas is heads and shoulders above anyone else in this side of the bracket. They have the best pitching staff in this side of the bracket and they have the best hitting team in the country. They are lead by superstar closer Huston Street who might be making an appearance in the Majors by the end of the year. He is that good.
My prediction is that Texas wins this bracket.
Bracket 2 of the CWS
LSU, Miami, South Carolina, and Cal State Fullerton
This bracket is just JACKED!!!!!
LSU is lead by a good hitting team with decent pitching. Lane Mestaphy pitched a complete game shutout in the Super-Regional clinching game over Texas A & M. They also have two brothers Clay and Will Harris which play first base and third base respectively. The weakness for LSU is the manager, Smoke Laval. The guy has not won a national championship before and does not have the experience of the other coaches.
Miami is lead by a solid hitting team and Cesar Carillo who went 11-0 this season and won the Super Regional championship in a 3-1 victory over University of Florida. The biggest advantage Miami has does not even play. His name is Jim Morris and he knows how to get it down by knowing when to start runners and when to change pitchers.
South Carolina is not going anywhere; they never do...No review of them.
Cal-State Fullerton is lead by a great catcher with excellent feet named Kurt Suzuki. This kid is one of the fastest catchers I have ever seen on the basepaths. CSF received a great pitching performance on Saturday night by Jason Windsor. This kid pitched eight innings and only allowed five hits in his win over Tulane 5-0. He had a game this year against Jered Weaver of LBSU when he pitched 10 innings in beating the future MLB player.
I think this kid Windsor carries CSF to the NCAA Title.
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Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Lopez and Anthony Wed and Zlax45 weeps
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony exchanged vows this past weekend without Zlax45 invited to the ceremonies. He can't believe the mailman would steal his invitation. (Newman!!).
In other related news, J-Lo is pregnant with Marc Anthony's kid!!! Took him less then 3 days to knock her up...Come on. Link to story
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Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony exchanged vows this past weekend without Zlax45 invited to the ceremonies. He can't believe the mailman would steal his invitation. (Newman!!).
In other related news, J-Lo is pregnant with Marc Anthony's kid!!! Took him less then 3 days to knock her up...Come on. Link to story
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NCAA Super Regionals
Friday-Sunday Matchups
Vanderbilt goes to Texas
Vanderbilt won the Charlottesville regional over a partisan crowd of Wahoos. Vandy is making their first appearance in the Super Regionals. Right hand pitcher Matt Buschmann who pitched 6.2 innings and let up zero earned runs leads them.
Huston Street, a backup infielder and one of the best closers in college baseball lead Texas. They knocked off Oral Roberts in the regional final 7-3. Head Coach, Rob Walton of Oral Roberts says about Texas’ pitching staff “"Texas has the best pitching staff by a long shot, that I have seen. They have the deepest staff in the country by far; by about five guys. They are literally 12 guys deep, and I don't know of any other team that is even in the neighborhood. Every guy that comes in is just as good as the guy he is replacing on the mound."
Zlax45 prediction 2 games to 1 Texas goes back to the College World Series.
Florida State at Arkansas
Florida State has not been to the CWS since 2000. They have been to the super regional every year they have existed. Stephen Drew (yes, JD Drew’s brother) who hit 3 homeruns in the regional final over Central Florida, in a game leads them, which had a heated confrontation in the 9th inning between the two teams.
Arkansas lost to Wichita State in the first game of Sunday but came back to win the second game 4-3 to host the Seminoles on Friday night. Arkansas got a gutsy performance by Charley Boyce who pitched the final 7.2 innings after pitching the day before.
Zlax45 prediction FSU sweeps 2-0.
Arizona at Long Beach State
Arizona was a gutsy bunch by drawing a top 5 team in the country in Notre Dame in the first round of the tournament. Arizona is a young team led by Head Coach Andy Lopez and they are making their first ever appearance in a Super Regional.
Long Beach State is led by Jered Weaver who would have been a top 2 pick in the draft but was not because of his agent Scott Boras’ history of signing of draft picks.
Zlax45 prediction Long Beach State wins 2-1.
Battle of Georgia...Georgia at Georgia Tech
Georgia fought back after blowing a 7 run lead in the first game of the day for a dramatic victory in the 10th inning over Clemson. Down 2 runs in the top of the ninth head coach of Georgia David Perno came out and argued balls and strikes and promptly ejected from the game. Mr. Perno threw a bag of balls onto the field like Milton Bradley. Georgia came back with 2 home runs with the next two batters and hit a home run in the 10th to win the game.
Andrew Kohn who pitched 7 innings and let up only 1 run leads Georgia Tech. They are a solid team with no major superstar.
Georgia Tech wins 2-1.
East Carolina at No. 2 South Carolina (48-15)
East Carolina made the Super Regional by beating Tennesee in a Monday game. Greg Bunn pitched 8 shutout innings to win the regional over Tennessee 7-0. He only allowed 2 hits and struck out 11 batters.
South Carolina is advancing to their 5th straight Super Regional. USC struggled to put the UNC Tar Heels away in the ninth but were able to fend them off.
Zlax45 prediction I hope the Pirates win but the COCKS win in 2 games.
Tulane (41-19) at Cal St. Fullerton (40-21)
Tulane is lead by J.R Crowel who pitched a tossing a four-hitter to lead the third-seeded Green Wave past No. 4 seed Western Kentucky 7-0 on Saturday at the regional in Oxford. Tulane on Sunday beat Washington to advance to the next round of the CWS.
Cal State Fullerton is a solid team who demolished Pepperdine on Sunday by scores of 15-1 and 16-3. Pepperdine had beaten the Titans earlier in the tournament by a score of 7-6 in ten innings but Pepperdine’s pitching faltered.
Cal State wins 2-0.
Texas A&M (42-20) at LSU (44-17)
Texas A & M knocked off defending national champs Rice in their regional. Rice was lead by at least 2 first round draft picks but the pitching did not succeed in this series. Texas A&M hit a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth to take a 7-5 lead in the deciding game. Justin Ruggiano hit the homerun.
LSU keeps chugging along. Skip Bertman is gone, and they still win. Nothing much to say about LSU as they only needed 3 games to get out of their regional.
LSU wins 2-0
Florida (43-20) at No. 3 Miami (Fla.) (47-11)
The battle of Florida reins on
Florida is lead by Tommy Boss allowed who only allowed four hits in Florida's 11-0 win over UCLA to win the regional. He only faced 3 batters over the minimum and struck out 6 batters. Florida also went through the regional undefeated.
Jim Morris their manager and Ryan Braun who had an outstanding CWS last year in Omaha lead Miami. They also have Jim Burt, I believe a relative of a Burt who played Professional football.
Anyway, Miami is Miami and will be in Omaha
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Friday-Sunday Matchups
Vanderbilt goes to Texas
Vanderbilt won the Charlottesville regional over a partisan crowd of Wahoos. Vandy is making their first appearance in the Super Regionals. Right hand pitcher Matt Buschmann who pitched 6.2 innings and let up zero earned runs leads them.
Huston Street, a backup infielder and one of the best closers in college baseball lead Texas. They knocked off Oral Roberts in the regional final 7-3. Head Coach, Rob Walton of Oral Roberts says about Texas’ pitching staff “"Texas has the best pitching staff by a long shot, that I have seen. They have the deepest staff in the country by far; by about five guys. They are literally 12 guys deep, and I don't know of any other team that is even in the neighborhood. Every guy that comes in is just as good as the guy he is replacing on the mound."
Zlax45 prediction 2 games to 1 Texas goes back to the College World Series.
Florida State at Arkansas
Florida State has not been to the CWS since 2000. They have been to the super regional every year they have existed. Stephen Drew (yes, JD Drew’s brother) who hit 3 homeruns in the regional final over Central Florida, in a game leads them, which had a heated confrontation in the 9th inning between the two teams.
Arkansas lost to Wichita State in the first game of Sunday but came back to win the second game 4-3 to host the Seminoles on Friday night. Arkansas got a gutsy performance by Charley Boyce who pitched the final 7.2 innings after pitching the day before.
Zlax45 prediction FSU sweeps 2-0.
Arizona at Long Beach State
Arizona was a gutsy bunch by drawing a top 5 team in the country in Notre Dame in the first round of the tournament. Arizona is a young team led by Head Coach Andy Lopez and they are making their first ever appearance in a Super Regional.
Long Beach State is led by Jered Weaver who would have been a top 2 pick in the draft but was not because of his agent Scott Boras’ history of signing of draft picks.
Zlax45 prediction Long Beach State wins 2-1.
Battle of Georgia...Georgia at Georgia Tech
Georgia fought back after blowing a 7 run lead in the first game of the day for a dramatic victory in the 10th inning over Clemson. Down 2 runs in the top of the ninth head coach of Georgia David Perno came out and argued balls and strikes and promptly ejected from the game. Mr. Perno threw a bag of balls onto the field like Milton Bradley. Georgia came back with 2 home runs with the next two batters and hit a home run in the 10th to win the game.
Andrew Kohn who pitched 7 innings and let up only 1 run leads Georgia Tech. They are a solid team with no major superstar.
Georgia Tech wins 2-1.
East Carolina at No. 2 South Carolina (48-15)
East Carolina made the Super Regional by beating Tennesee in a Monday game. Greg Bunn pitched 8 shutout innings to win the regional over Tennessee 7-0. He only allowed 2 hits and struck out 11 batters.
South Carolina is advancing to their 5th straight Super Regional. USC struggled to put the UNC Tar Heels away in the ninth but were able to fend them off.
Zlax45 prediction I hope the Pirates win but the COCKS win in 2 games.
Tulane (41-19) at Cal St. Fullerton (40-21)
Tulane is lead by J.R Crowel who pitched a tossing a four-hitter to lead the third-seeded Green Wave past No. 4 seed Western Kentucky 7-0 on Saturday at the regional in Oxford. Tulane on Sunday beat Washington to advance to the next round of the CWS.
Cal State Fullerton is a solid team who demolished Pepperdine on Sunday by scores of 15-1 and 16-3. Pepperdine had beaten the Titans earlier in the tournament by a score of 7-6 in ten innings but Pepperdine’s pitching faltered.
Cal State wins 2-0.
Texas A&M (42-20) at LSU (44-17)
Texas A & M knocked off defending national champs Rice in their regional. Rice was lead by at least 2 first round draft picks but the pitching did not succeed in this series. Texas A&M hit a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth to take a 7-5 lead in the deciding game. Justin Ruggiano hit the homerun.
LSU keeps chugging along. Skip Bertman is gone, and they still win. Nothing much to say about LSU as they only needed 3 games to get out of their regional.
LSU wins 2-0
Florida (43-20) at No. 3 Miami (Fla.) (47-11)
The battle of Florida reins on
Florida is lead by Tommy Boss allowed who only allowed four hits in Florida's 11-0 win over UCLA to win the regional. He only faced 3 batters over the minimum and struck out 6 batters. Florida also went through the regional undefeated.
Jim Morris their manager and Ryan Braun who had an outstanding CWS last year in Omaha lead Miami. They also have Jim Burt, I believe a relative of a Burt who played Professional football.
Anyway, Miami is Miami and will be in Omaha
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Monday, June 07, 2004
THERE WILL BE A NEW CHAMPION!!!
The Defending Champs Rice were knocked off by Texas A & M
The regionals of the NCAA Baseball tournament ended this weekend with the following matchups for the Super Regionals which are the best 2 out of 3 series.
Friday-Sunday Matchups
Vanderbilt goes to Texas
Florida State at Arkansas
Arizona at Long Beach State
Battle of Georgia...Georgia at Georgia Tech
Saturday-Monday Matchups
East Carolina OR Tennessee at No. 2 South Carolina (48-15)
Tulane (41-19) at Cal St. Fullerton (40-21)
Texas A&M (42-20) at LSU (44-17)
Florida (43-20) at No. 3 Miami (Fla.) (47-11)
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The Defending Champs Rice were knocked off by Texas A & M
The regionals of the NCAA Baseball tournament ended this weekend with the following matchups for the Super Regionals which are the best 2 out of 3 series.
Friday-Sunday Matchups
Vanderbilt goes to Texas
Florida State at Arkansas
Arizona at Long Beach State
Battle of Georgia...Georgia at Georgia Tech
Saturday-Monday Matchups
East Carolina OR Tennessee at No. 2 South Carolina (48-15)
Tulane (41-19) at Cal St. Fullerton (40-21)
Texas A&M (42-20) at LSU (44-17)
Florida (43-20) at No. 3 Miami (Fla.) (47-11)
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Thursday, June 03, 2004
CAN YOU SPELL P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E!!
A NORMAL KID WON THIS YEAR FOR A CHANGE!!!! OK SEMI-NORMAL, MORE NORMAL THEN PAST WINNERS!!
A kid also fainted in the competition.
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A NORMAL KID WON THIS YEAR FOR A CHANGE!!!! OK SEMI-NORMAL, MORE NORMAL THEN PAST WINNERS!!
A kid also fainted in the competition.
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