very weak Omaha field

[Perd Hapley]

I know this may trigger Perd, but I think the SEC was overrated as hell this year.

Doesn’t trigger me at all. I don’t even know who’s doing the over-rating. And who was underrated if the SEC was overrated? It’s college baseball after all, there’s really not that many people talking about it in general.

End of the day, Texas and Vandy were immensely disappointing in the regionals. UGA was, too, but they never were really in that same tier with the “Big 5” in the SEC, which in my opinion was Texas, Arkansas, LSU, Vandy, and Tennessee. Next tier was Auburn, UGA, Ole Miss, Bama. But I really don’t think anything beyond Texas and Vandy not making the Supers was THAT crazy.

And as stated by the OP, SEC is only league with multiple Top 16 seeds still standing. Others are an independent, a Sun Belt team, and a B1G team. And the two highest remaining seeds are SEC teams, who happen to be pitted against each other in Omaha. There’s been a lot of chaos, but it has affected everyone. I don’t see how the SEC is “overrated” unless we’re simply arguing by what magnitude the SEC is the best league, which is all going to be very subjective, anyway.

 

[dickiedawg]

It's very simple. Murray State was the 4-seed in the Oxford Regional. Auburn was the 1-seed in the Auburn regional AND the #4 national seed. Coastal Carolina was the 1-seed in the Conway regional AND the #13 national seed. The word national distinguishes between the regional and the overall seeds. The word national doesn't mean top 8.

For 19 years, people thought national seed = top 8 seed. It's hard for people to get that out of their heads, but calling Southern Miss the #16 national seed makes complete sense because they were seeded as the 16th team in the nation.

I understand all that. And if you say #16 national seed it’s very evident what you mean.
You can also call them “a 1 seed” instead of “the one seed.”

I also know what MCWS is, but if the situation arises I will use CWS in conversation.

 

[pseudonym]

I understand all that. And if you say #16 national seed it’s very evident what you mean.
You can also call them “a 1 seed” instead of “the one seed.”

I also know what MCWS is, but if the situation arises I will use CWS in conversation.

I'm with you on the CWS. I will never call it the Men's College World Series; it is the College World Series.

 

[onewoof]

It's very simple. Murray State was the 4-seed in the Oxford Regional. Auburn was the 1-seed in the Auburn regional AND the #4 national seed. Coastal Carolina was the 1-seed in the Conway regional AND the #13 national seed. The word national distinguishes between the regional and the overall seeds. The word national doesn't mean top 8.

Since the Super Regionals started in 1999, a true national seed is now considered the top 8. The winner of the super regional goes to Omaha.

Before that, every host was a national seed and the winner of those 8 regionals went to Omaha.

So the national honor title goes to the 8 top teams. Sure, you can say 9-16 are national seeds but it comes across as weak me too

 

[Perd Hapley]

Since the Super Regionals started in 1999, a true national seed is now considered the top 8. The winner of the super regional goes to Omaha.

Before that, every host was a national seed and the winner of those 8 regionals went to Omaha.

So the national honor title goes to the 8 top teams. Sure, you can say 9-16 are national seeds but it comes across as weak me too

I am in this camp. I don’t really think it’s “weak”, it’s just confusing. Historically, “National seed” just became the easy way to say “team that will play at home until Omaha if they keep winning”. Now that’s changing to “Top 8 seed” which may be more simple over time, but right now it just feels weird.

 

[8dog]

Since the Super Regionals started in 1999, a true national seed is now considered the top 8. The winner of the super regional goes to Omaha.

Before that, every host was a national seed and the winner of those 8 regionals went to Omaha.

So the national honor title goes to the 8 top teams. Sure, you can say 9-16 are national seeds but it comes across as weak me too

Before 1999, every host was not a national seed. We hosted as a 2 seed in 1997.

 

[onewoof]

Before 1999, every host was not a national seed. We hosted as a 2 seed in 1997.

What's implied is the home site reward and advantage. Win and go to Omaha. Basically the home team is the team to beat.

Today, 9-16 are not home team advantages to get to Omaha. They are home teams that USUALLY have the advantage to win their regional and go play at a national seed as a visit for a chance at Omaha. Maybe if the top 8 national seed loses then they are now the backup national seed that hosts the Super.

Protect your home turf and go to Omaha. That's what is rewarded to the top 8 today.

 

[8dog]

What's implied is the home site reward and advantage. Win and go to Omaha. Basically the home team is the team to beat.

Today, 9-16 are not home team advantages to get to Omaha. They are home teams that USUALLY have the advantage to win their regional and go play at a national seed as a visit for a chance at Omaha. Maybe if the top 8 national seed loses then they are now the backup national seed that hosts the Super.

Protect your home turf and go to Omaha. That's what is rewarded to the top 8 today.

It was really the opposite of a national seed. Teams got hosts based on bid and ability to host.

 

[pseudonym]

Since the Super Regionals started in 1999, a true national seed is now considered the top 8.

You've made up the idea of a true national seed. Officially, national seed (coined in 1999) has always meant the overall seeding nationally. It just so happened that from 1999 to 2017, there were only eight national seeds. In 2018, they started seeding teams nationally, 1-16.

Before that, every host was a national seed and the winner of those 8 regionals went to Omaha.

As far as I know, national seeds weren't a thing prior to 1999. They had eight regionals seeded 1-6 (or however many teams were included). I recall that in 1998, we won a regional championship as a lower seed, and then Omaha was reseeded 1-8 to ensure our first game was against the best team remaining.

So the national honor title goes to the 8 top teams. Sure, you can say 9-16 are national seeds but it comes across as weak me too

Again, you're making up the idea that national seed is a title that refers to the top 8 teams. You wouldn't have made up that convention if they had seeded 1-16 starting in 1999.

 

[pseudonym]

Before 1999, every host was not a national seed. We hosted as a 2 seed in 1997.

Someone might correct me, but there was no such thing as a national seed before 1999. There were just eight regionals that were seeded 1-n. The eight Omaha teams were reseeded 1-8 (not based on a pre-tournament bracket).

 

[8dog]

Someone might correct me, but there was no such thing as a national seed before 1999. There were just eight regionals that were seeded 1-n. The eight Omaha teams were reseeded 1-8 (not based on a pre-tournament bracket).

Correct

 

[FreshAsHail]

1. Vanderbilt
2. Texas
3. Arkansas
4. Auburn
5. North Carolina
6. LSU
7. Georgia
8. Oregon State
9. Florida State
10. Ole Miss
11. Clemson
12. Oregon
13. Coastal Carolina
14. Tennessee
15. UCLA
16. Southern Miss

This is the weakest field since 2022. If Arkansas doesn't win this year, they may never win.

I hate that mentality. How’s it weak if these teams are beating the so called “strong teams”

 

[onewoof]

Clearly the advantage exists to the top 8 due to the home field for regional and super. It's the reward we got in 2021 and got us past Notre Dame.

So to designate the top 8 from the next 8, the term national seed has been used by many as that designation. Write letters to ESPN to correct them.

 

[pseudonym]

I hate that mentality. How’s it weak if these teams are beating the so called “strong teams”

I’m only referring to the objective fact that since 1999, national seeds (1999-2017: 1-8; 2018-present: 1-16) have been less represented in Omaha only twice: 2014 and 2022.

I’m not even saying it’s a bad thing. I’m just saying teams like Arkansas probably aren’t mad about it.

 

[Perd Hapley]

Before 1999, every host was not a national seed. We hosted as a 2 seed in 1997.

…..and were sent to Columbus, Ohio as the 1-seed for them to host as a 2, in the current format, in the early 2000’s. That was a mind17 that didn’t get the proper amount of criticism largely due to lack of social media. And because Genespage was the only MSU site with any traffic at that time.

 

[onewoof]

T T

(pair a t's)

 

[Jacknut]

The host sites used to be bid on. We hosted a lot due to the fact we were a cash cow...and we were pretty good, too.

 

[patdog]

who had an easier path to Omaha than the Cajuns?

I'll hang up and listen.

So like every other year then.

 

[onewoof]

So like every other year then.

Omaha wants that travel ball team up there. Wild that little old Starkville out draws them with the population of baton rouge. But they sure love leaving town and I guess that makes sense tbh

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

An Arkansas Vs. OSU rematch would be amazing.

I'll be watching. Hoping both coastal and Murray state make a run this year. Something good about low budget small schools making it deep into tournament. Especially if we aren't playing.