2021 CWS discussion thread

[81usaf92]

NC St eliminated due to COVID concerns. I really hope Vandy loses in the finals even if it is to Texas. Because they didnt deserve it.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Too bad NC State couldn't get a Big Ten rules change right before the big game.

I'm hoping now for an all -SEC final not so much because the SEC, but because I live in Texas and don't want to have to hear it for the next 47 years. Plus, I used to live close to MSU so while it would be a stretch to call me any sort of MSU baseball fan, I have a bunch of friends who are, and it's far easier with baseball than football to pull for the Dawgs.

One Bulldog WS team (1985) had Will Clark, Rafael Palmeiro, Bobby Thigpen, and Jeff Brantley, all that had highly successful major league careers on it. Palmeiro was HOF-level and Clark (who was better) would have been but he couldn't stay healthy. Thigpen was the first guy to top 50 saves in a season. How did that team lose? Well, I'm old enough to recall exactly how - in the bottom of the 9th of the semi-final game, Bobby Thigpen gave up a 2-run homer to Miami that eliminated the Dawgs, 6-5.

 

[edwd58]

I'm neither a Vandy fan nor apologist but I'd have to disagree about the Vandy not deserving it comment above. NC State not being able to answer the bell is none of Vandy's fault. The Dore's were ready every time the ump said play ball. Would they have won today, could they beat NC State with all their players available? We'll never know but that's on the Wolfpack. Should Vandy go on to win the championship series, it's hard to say they don't deserve it as both Texas and Miss. State are formidable and worthy opponents.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

I'm neither a Vandy fan nor apologist but I'd have to disagree about the Vandy not deserving it comment above. NC State not being able to answer the bell is none of Vandy's fault. The Dore's were ready every time the ump said play ball. Would they have won today, could they beat NC State with all their players available? We'll never know but that's on the Wolfpack. Should Vandy go on to win the championship series, it's hard to say they don't deserve it as both Texas and Miss. State are formidable and worthy opponents.

Yeah, we can't blame Vandy for the agreed upon rules.
We can blame the idiots making the rules that make no sense whatsoever but not Vandy.

 

[edwd58]

In other news... in another late night/early morning ending, Texas beat Miss. State 8-5 in another good game. They will meet again tonight at 6:00 with the winner getting the chance to play Vandy for the title starting Monday.

 

[81usaf92]

I'm neither a Vandy fan nor apologist but I'd have to disagree about the Vandy not deserving it comment above. NC State not being able to answer the bell is none of Vandy's fault. The Dore's were ready every time the ump said play ball. Would they have won today, could they beat NC State with all their players available? We'll never know but that's on the Wolfpack. Should Vandy go on to win the championship series, it's hard to say they don't deserve it as both Texas and Miss. State are formidable and worthy opponents.

I don’t blame Vandy, but you can’t tell me that Vandy has played particularly like a national championship team up until this point, and really earned the right to rest their starters. Heck they even said had NC St won yesterday then the national championship would be today’s game between Texas and MSU.

 

[CrimsonTheory]

NC St eliminated due to COVID concerns. I really hope Vandy loses in the finals even if it is to Texas. Because they didnt deserve it.

I had to google what was going on and man what a garbage decision by trash organization. And to make that decision so late in the night/early in the morning, they knew this decision would make people mad, so they did it because they did not want to have to answer questions about their stupidity.

I am beyond ready to put the NCAA out to pasture. Incompetent bozos.

 

[edwd58]

I don’t blame Vandy, but you can’t tell me that Vandy has played particularly like a national championship team up until this point, and really earned the right to rest their starters. Heck they even said had NC St won yesterday then the national championship would be today’s game between Texas and MSU.

You don't have to play like a national champion to win a championship, that happens quite often, the only requirement is to win the game on that day. I'm fairly certain the Vandy players wouldn't care if you call them undeserving, fortunate, or even illegitimate champions, they'd still be the champions. The "right" to rest their starters is a direct result of NC State's inability to play today. No doubt that is an advantage Vandy didn't earn but teams catch breaks all the time in regards to injuries, suspensions, and other such things - it's all a part of the game.

 

[edwd58]

I had to google what was going on and man what a garbage decision by trash organization. And to make that decision so late in the night/early in the morning, they knew this decision would make people mad, so they did it because they did not want to have to answer questions about their stupidity.

I am beyond ready to put the NCAA out to pasture. Incompetent bozos.

I, too, would much rather have seen the two teams play today and settle the issue on the field, as it should be done. NC State could have avoided this if all of their players had been vaccinated, then they would not have been going through daily testing protocols - which put them at risk of this very thing happening. Once their players were ruled out for Friday, there was no surprise to me that they would be out for Saturday and beyond as the incubation period for those guys would have extended past the end of the CWS.

 

[CrimsonTheory]

I, too, would much rather have seen the two teams play today and settle the issue on the field, as it should be done. NC State could have avoided this if all of their players had been vaccinated, then they would not have been going through daily testing protocols - which put them at risk of this very thing happening. Once their players were ruled out for Friday, there was no surprise to me that they would be out for Saturday and beyond as the incubation period for those guys would have extended past the end of the CWS.

Maybe but you don't punish the whole team for the decision of the few. NCAA can go to Tartarus.

Imagine if the NCAA tried to pull this stunt in last years CFB playoff? Imagine OSU/Clemson was declared a "no contest" and Auburn with a lake was allowed to go to the finals without having to earn it?

I don't blame Vandy, but NCAA is really an idiot organization.

 

[Tide Rev]

Just a question, if Bama was in Vandy’s position and gotten into the final that way, would there be any complaint on Tide Fans?

 

[CB4]

Too bad NC State couldn't get a Big Ten rules change right before the big game.

I'm hoping now for an all -SEC final not so much because the SEC, but because I live in Texas and don't want to have to hear it for the next 47 years. Plus, I used to live close to MSU so while it would be a stretch to call me any sort of MSU baseball fan, I have a bunch of friends who are, and it's far easier with baseball than football to pull for the Dawgs.

One Bulldog WS team (1985) had Will Clark, Rafael Palmeiro, Bobby Thigpen, and Jeff Brantley, all that had highly successful major league careers on it. Palmeiro was HOF-level and Clark (who was better) would have been but he couldn't stay healthy. Thigpen was the first guy to top 50 saves in a season. How did that team lose? Well, I'm old enough to recall exactly how - in the bottom of the 9th of the semi-final game, Bobby Thigpen gave up a 2-run homer to Miami that eliminated the Dawgs, 6-5.

Brantley played at W.A. Berry in Birmingham which was the predecessor to Hoover High. Berry was one of our big rivals when I was I high school.

 

[edwd58]

State gets a run in the bottom of the 9th to beat Texas 4-3. An all-SEC final begins Monday night.

 

[Bazza]

NICE WIN - Hail State!

 

[81usaf92]

Just a question, if Bama was in Vandy’s position and gotten into the final that way, would there be any complaint on Tide Fans?

No, but its because there are only like 10 people on Tidefans who actually post on the Baseball board. With Alabama' last decade and a half in mediocrity I think most would take a national championship appearance anyway possible. I would still complain about how the NCAA has handled it regardless, but less mad about it.

But its really not the same question as the reality of the circumstance. The NCAA basically forced NC St to compete yesterday or suffer a 1 game forfeit. They werent looking out for safety they were looking out for their own interest. Had NC St won yesterday then MSU is celebrating a NC right now. The whole point was to ensure that they had a national championship series because they knew that there was no way NC St could continue, but they had to create a scenario in which Vanderbilt was a viable participant.

My whole point is this, the Friday game should have never been played with 13 players, and if you are going to go through that nonsense then you dont make a 2 am call on the Saturday game. The NCAA knew the reality of the situation, and chose money over health and fairness. Either give Vandy the pass Monday morning or have Game 2 Saturday. Dont create a worse situation. But it is what it is, and the NCAA is just as incompetent as ever.

 

[81usaf92]

Maybe but you don't punish the whole team for the decision of the few. NCAA can go to Tartarus.

Imagine if the NCAA tried to pull this stunt in last years CFB playoff? Imagine OSU/Clemson was declared a "no contest" and Auburn with a lake was allowed to go to the finals without having to earn it?

I don't blame Vandy, but NCAA is really an idiot organization.

Thats more my point. Had they just awarded Vandy the spot before the first pitch yesterday, or postponed it for 24 hrs, then its an entirely different situation in my opinion. But they wanted to create a situation in which Vandy "earned" the spot and then in the middle of the night cite "health and safety". I mean we had a pitcher that was forced to play 1st base for crying out loud. Where were these "health and safety" concerns 24hrs ago?

 

[TexasBama]

Just a question, if Bama was in Vandy’s position and gotten into the final that way, would there be any complaint on Tide Fans?

 

[AUDub]

State gets a run in the bottom of the 9th to beat Texas 4-3. An all-SEC final begins Monday night.

That decision to steal was awesome and Leggett's single was clutch as hell.

Kind of surprised UT didn't go back to the pen. Quintanilla only gave up 2 hits in 3 innings of work when all was said and done, but MSU was getting good contact in the 7th and 8th innings. When he beaned what ended up being the winning run aboard, I'd have hooked him then.

Pulling hard for State. They're past due for a national championship in something.

 

[Bazza]

That decision to steal was awesome and Leggett's single was clutch as hell.

Kind of surprised UT didn't go back to the pen. Quintanilla only gave up 2 hits in 3 innings of work when all was said and done, but MSU was getting good contact in the 7th and 8th innings. When he beaned what ended up being the winning run aboard, I'd have hooked him then.

Pulling hard for State. They're past due for a national championship in something.

The stolen base.

Should be the story.

That's what competitors do.

They compete!

 

[BamaHoops]

Looked up Bama's combined baseball record vs. Vandy & Miss State over the past five years (actually six - but we didn't play either in 2020 covid year ... so I included 2016 to make it five seasons). We are a fantastic 2-20 against them from 2016-2021.