With the HUGE disparity in schedules, does anyone else think the SEC needs to rethink it's baseball scheduling format. I'm thinking something like play the teams in your division 3 times and play all of the teams in the other division twice for 32 games. Maybe schedule a 2-game mid-week series during the road team's spring break, and mix in some 4-game weekends with 2 West teams at 2 East teams (and vice versa) and some 2-game weekends. Should be able to get it done in 10-11 weekends.
SEC baseball scheduling.
- Thread starter patdog
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I want three five team divisions
and a 15 school conference. I had a long reply typed up but it got deleted somehow (the page just refreshed?) so in summary, I don't think your 4 team mini tourney weekends will work, the home team has fan and money making advantage. Something does need to be done, just not sure how. And it will only get worse when we expand to 16 and have two 8 team divisions. Three divisions and we will have a wildcard type format. Even a mini-SEC football playoff (screw what the NCAA says about that).
and a 15 school conference. I had a long reply typed up but it got deleted somehow (the page just refreshed?) so in summary, I don't think your 4 team mini tourney weekends will work, the home team has fan and money making advantage. Something does need to be done, just not sure how. And it will only get worse when we expand to 16 and have two 8 team divisions. Three divisions and we will have a wildcard type format. Even a mini-SEC football playoff (screw what the NCAA says about that).
3 divisions is unworkable for a number of reasons. Not the least of which is that screwing what the NCAA would say about an SEC playoff isn't even an option.
I don't see how the home team having the fan and money-making advantage would have any more effect for two 2-game series in the same weekend than it would for a single game or 3-game series. The issue would be travel for the 2 road teams between the Thur-Fri games and the Sat-Sun games. You could minimize that somewhat by using travel partners (i.e. MSU and UM play at Georgia and Florida for example).
I realize that my solution does have some problems. But the current format makes the SEC standings practically meaningless in some cases.
I don't see how the home team having the fan and money-making advantage would have any more effect for two 2-game series in the same weekend than it would for a single game or 3-game series. The issue would be travel for the 2 road teams between the Thur-Fri games and the Sat-Sun games. You could minimize that somewhat by using travel partners (i.e. MSU and UM play at Georgia and Florida for example).
I realize that my solution does have some problems. But the current format makes the SEC standings practically meaningless in some cases.
I made a detailed post about this back in January when I first really looked at the schedule...
The scheduling model needs to be revisited to address the imbalance that's inherent to it. It's always bothered me that we played a full round-robin minus ONE team, since that is an EASY fix by just adding one weekend and making the schedule 33 games. However, the competitive advantage/disadvantage in this was inherently pretty small. With the expanded SEC, not playing 3 teams every year makes for a HUGE scheduling discrepancy.
My proposal to "fix" it:
Play 6 single SEC games in the midweek, or approx 1 every other week during the SEC season, with this happening in back-to-back weeks once(10 week season)-- which ends up equaling a home and home against each of the 3 teams you miss on the regular weekend schedule. This takes the total SEC schedule to 36 games and balances it to a bit better degree. You can even match it up geographically to cut down on the travel. For instance, we play @ Tennessee on Wed on our way to Lexington for the weekend series. Then Tennessee plays us in Starkville on their way to Tuscaloosa, etc...
This is marginally harder on a pitching staff and team -- but it's still fair since it applies equally to everyone. You can even discuss adding back a double-header Saturday when you have an SEC game the following Tuesday... or manipulating the schedule to Thurs, Fri, Sat or Sat, Sun, Mon schedules for an additional day's rest around the SEC midweek games.
Why do I think this idea has merit beyond simply "balancing the schedule"? The coming SECnetwork. It's going to air SEC baseball constantly during the spring. Setting this up correctly allows SEC in-conference baseball to be seen 7 days a week on tv. What would you pay for this service? It would be worth $10/mo to me EASILY. I'd watch Ole Miss vs Arkansas Pine Bluff on Tuesday night as well on the channel -- but you get the point of why more quality matchups have alot of value to the channel.
The downside is it sucks for the fans that actually try to attend games(much like TV in general most of the time), and it takes a tough schedule and makes it even a bit tougher. Still, nowhere close to the grind these kids see at the next level, however.
The scheduling model needs to be revisited to address the imbalance that's inherent to it. It's always bothered me that we played a full round-robin minus ONE team, since that is an EASY fix by just adding one weekend and making the schedule 33 games. However, the competitive advantage/disadvantage in this was inherently pretty small. With the expanded SEC, not playing 3 teams every year makes for a HUGE scheduling discrepancy.
My proposal to "fix" it:
Play 6 single SEC games in the midweek, or approx 1 every other week during the SEC season, with this happening in back-to-back weeks once(10 week season)-- which ends up equaling a home and home against each of the 3 teams you miss on the regular weekend schedule. This takes the total SEC schedule to 36 games and balances it to a bit better degree. You can even match it up geographically to cut down on the travel. For instance, we play @ Tennessee on Wed on our way to Lexington for the weekend series. Then Tennessee plays us in Starkville on their way to Tuscaloosa, etc...
This is marginally harder on a pitching staff and team -- but it's still fair since it applies equally to everyone. You can even discuss adding back a double-header Saturday when you have an SEC game the following Tuesday... or manipulating the schedule to Thurs, Fri, Sat or Sat, Sun, Mon schedules for an additional day's rest around the SEC midweek games.
Why do I think this idea has merit beyond simply "balancing the schedule"? The coming SECnetwork. It's going to air SEC baseball constantly during the spring. Setting this up correctly allows SEC in-conference baseball to be seen 7 days a week on tv. What would you pay for this service? It would be worth $10/mo to me EASILY. I'd watch Ole Miss vs Arkansas Pine Bluff on Tuesday night as well on the channel -- but you get the point of why more quality matchups have alot of value to the channel.
The downside is it sucks for the fans that actually try to attend games(much like TV in general most of the time), and it takes a tough schedule and makes it even a bit tougher. Still, nowhere close to the grind these kids see at the next level, however.
I think it's something that will possibly addressed in the off season at the coaches meetings.
Because one of two things is going to happen:
1. Either Arkansas will win about 20 SEC games and not host a regional because of their RPI. (OK, they scheduled the SWAC and lost to Nebraska twice which is their fault)
OR
2. MSU is going to not host with a RPI of 10.
Because one of two things is going to happen:
1. Either Arkansas will win about 20 SEC games and not host a regional because of their RPI. (OK, they scheduled the SWAC and lost to Nebraska twice which is their fault)
OR
2. MSU is going to not host with a RPI of 10.
I think 36 games is inevitable. They could do it your way, or I could see them simply having three two game midweek series on a Tues/Weds. Of course, doing it that way, it would pretty much be we play two games in Knoxville or Starkville rather than one at Knoxville and then later one game in Starkville.
I kind of like my plan of a 38 game SEC schedule.
You play your rival 6 times- once at home and once on the road- for us, of course this would be Ole Miss. The rest would be: Bama/Auburn, Tennessee/Vanderbilt, Florida/Georgia, LSU/Texas A&M, Kentucky/South Carolina, and Arkansas/Mizzou.
You play the teams in your division once in a weekend series. 15 games (Not including the rivalry games)
You play three teams in the other division in a weekend series and then you play the other four in a two game midweek series. 17 games.
The only sticky point is Arkansas and Missouri. They would end up playing each team in their division for a total of 18 games, and then they would play two from the other division on the weekend and then the four two game midweek series. So, yes- they would end up playing teams on the opposite division more than they would their own division (20 and 18)- but I think the schedule is overall good for the SEC.
I don't think a schedule of much more than 30 games is ever going to happen. That would be an insanely tough conference schedule. No other conference plays more than 30 games and no other conference plays mid-week conference games. I like the 36-game schedule from a balance standpoint, but it'll never happen. I suspect, if anything, the SEC would do away with divisions for baseball (there's really no need for them at all), and go to a permanent opponent/rotation system similar to basketball. Maybe 1 permanent opponent and then rotate not playing 3 of the other schools once every 4 years.
Todd, I hope they bring up again the 11.7 crap at the meeting.
Polk was a little nutty, but he was right about the NCAA 11.7 limit. Since college baseball has become more popular (with the soon SECNetork addition) , has there been more talk of raising the limit, or are we stuck with the 11.7 for the forseeable future?
Polk was a little nutty, but he was right about the NCAA 11.7 limit. Since college baseball has become more popular (with the soon SECNetork addition) , has there been more talk of raising the limit, or are we stuck with the 11.7 for the forseeable future?
Right, we just don't know. It'll be a pretty interesting debate, and is why I have a hard time believing anyone who says we're more than a 50/50 chance to host right now. Assuming MSU and Ark are the options for a 4th spot, we have no idea of knowing if the comittee will punish Ark for their soft SEC schedule (which they had no control over), or if they'll reward MSU for playing a murder's row. It seems like a total coin flip, and a good case could be made either way.
I will say if the season ended right now the two biggest games out of MSU and Ark's schedule combined is probably them dropping two at Nebraska. That seems to be the largest outlier on either team's resume.
Arkansas had full control over scheduling 13 games against terrible teams and losing two of them in the nonconference. That is what they will have to point their finger at that prevents them from hosting. Their terrible RPI has very little to do with the SEC schedule -- when Arky's schedule inside the conference is no easier than many of the other western division teams. They had to play @ SC and @ UK.
Nebraska the largest outlier? That was two top 50 RPI losses on the road. Hardly what is holding them back.
Resumes as of today:
Arkansas - 29-15(13-7), rpi 55, 10-11 vs rpi top 50, 11-2 vs rpi sub 200, 6-2 vs rpi 51-100.
MSU - 33-13(10-11), rpi 11, 8-10 vs rpi top 50, 3-0 vs rpi sub 200, 7-3 vs rpi 51-100.
Our 3 "sub 50" losses are to #55 Arky, who will finish in the top 50 -- and Auburn, who will as well -- meaning we've got one remaining opportunity for a "bad" loss on the entire season with Oral Roberts.
Cross-division for SEC west:
MSU - Florida, South Carolina, @Vandy, @UK - zero layups
OM - @Florida, Vandy, @Tennessee, UK - one layup
Arky - @South Carolina, @Georgia, @UK, Tennessee - two layups
LSU - @Mizzou, UK, South Carolina, Florida - one layup
aTm - @South Carolina, Mizzou, @Tennessee, Georgia - three layups
Auburn - Georgia, @Mizzou, @Florida, Vandy - two layups
Bama - Tennessee, @Georgia, Missouri, @Vandy - three layups
Per Boyd's, Arky needs to go 8-2 in their final 10 just to get into the RPI top 32. No SEC team in the modern era has hosted with an RPI worse than #23 -- a number that is mathematically already impossible for them to reach.
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True
But there also aren't very many conferences with 14 teams in it. In my opinion, the SEC is too big as far as number of teams for all sports- but it is what it is.
They may do what you are saying, but that really wouldn't solve anything. Someone is going to get a schedule like ours and someone is going to get away with playing mostly easier opponents.
But there also aren't very many conferences with 14 teams in it. In my opinion, the SEC is too big as far as number of teams for all sports- but it is what it is.
They may do what you are saying, but that really wouldn't solve anything. Someone is going to get a schedule like ours and someone is going to get away with playing mostly easier opponents.
That's a NCAA/Federal regulation
Believe me, the SEC would have done away with that if they could back in the 80's if not sooner.
We're stuck with 11.7 for the forseeable future unless Mississippi develops some sort of a lottery like Georgia and Louisiana. There was some talk about MLB possibly funding more scholarships for baseball and softball- but at this it's a pipe dream.
Believe me, the SEC would have done away with that if they could back in the 80's if not sooner.
We're stuck with 11.7 for the forseeable future unless Mississippi develops some sort of a lottery like Georgia and Louisiana. There was some talk about MLB possibly funding more scholarships for baseball and softball- but at this it's a pipe dream.
What really needs to happen is a football exception to title IX -- since women will never, ever compete in a comparable sport at the collegiate level. That would fix a whole heck of alot of the problems -- and would allow us to field additional men's sports which could become popular anyway, such as soccer and fully fund baseball scholarships.
Title IX oversteps the hell out of it's bounds nowadays -- with practically zero federal dollars(the govt's trump card) going toward actually funding these sports at the big schools -- which are, instead, paid for by football and basketball.
Title IX oversteps the hell out of it's bounds nowadays -- with practically zero federal dollars(the govt's trump card) going toward actually funding these sports at the big schools -- which are, instead, paid for by football and basketball.
Through 7 SEC weekends, our league opponents have a combined SEC record of 72-52 against other teams (easily the toughest in the league). Meanwhile, Vanderbilt's SEC opponents have a combined SEC record of 55-70 against other teams (the easiest so far). We have comparable schedules remaining, from an opponent W-L standpoint. That's a ridiculous disparity.
I don't have an answer to SEC scheduling, but I do think conference records should not even be considered when it comes to regionals. It's like comparing apples to zucchini. Only head to head and common opponent results should be considered for tiebreakers.