[Rooster Cogburn]

Alright experts! I know this series this weekend is HUGE, but just how huge is it? I mean I know a good outcome will help us, but how would a bad performance affect out NCAA chances?

[therealbodoyle]

I don't think it will have much of an effect on your post season chances whatsoever. I think you guys get in no matter what happens in this series. The biggest thing that it will effect for both teams is seeding. If we sweep you guys, a National Seed is pretty much a lock, if you sweep us, maybe you are a 3 seed instead of a 4 seed, and we will need a ton of help to get a National Seed. If it goes 2-1 one way or the other then things will remain the same IMO.

[Rooster Cogburn]

That makes sense and was actually what I was thinking, but I'm no expert.

[SuperJon]

Bob, if we get in, it's as a 3, not a 4. If we somehow sweep you, that would move us to the 2 line. Here's what I think:

0 wins - Not good but not terrible. Doesn't hurt us a ton but we will lack a "good win."
1 win - Pretty much seals us getting into a regional as long as we handle our business vs Winthrop and in the tourney.
2 wins - Potentially gets us in as a 2 instead of a 3.
3 wins - Definitely puts us as a 2.

[Sly Fox]

I'm not sure I am as confident about a 2-seed with a sweep but I agree that we really need at least one win this weekend to secure an at large. Otherwise we are too close for comfort. Seeding can be really crazy based on the whims of the committee. As long as we are in I really could care less about our seeding.

[therealbodoyle]

Even if you guys swept us, I don't see you guys getting as high as a 2 seed unless a LOT of teams ahead of you lose a couple games down the stretch.

[SuperJon]

If we swept (which, for the record, is a gigantic if), we would likely go into the conference tournament at 44-12, 43-13 at worst. If we get to Saturday in the conference tournament, that puts us between 46 and 48 wins with an RPI around 31-32. That's a very gaudy record.

[therealbodoyle]

Agreed SJ, but you have two things going against you. 1) The Big Suck Conference and 2) and not trying to sound arrogant, but you're not Coastal when it comes to baseball. If it comes down to Liberty and some other likely seeds - Va Tech, Rice, Bama, Auburn etc, you guys will lose that race. On the other hand, if it was us in your situation, we have more...national name recognition. Just my opinion.

[SuperJon]

I can give you that. However, one of the things we have going for us in the name recognition is the Jim Toman factor. We get more respect nationally easier simply because he's our coach. That's the good thing with having a "name" as your head coach.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Alright so What is your prediction for the series? I say we take 1 at least.

[therealbodoyle]

Yes, a lot of people know Toman, but Gilly is no slouch. Up until he re-upped with Coastal a few years ago, he was offered positions at Tennessee, Auburn and a few other places. I lost a lot of respect for Toman when he had them check Rico's bat, what was that, 2 years ago? Come on Jim. That's bushleague. Watching that game, it seemed that he was ticked that he was getting his head handed to him (9-2 I believe) and wanted to be a.... jerk about it.

[therealbodoyle]

Alright so What is your prediction for the series? I say we take 1 at least.

I never make predictions.

[bigsmooth]

we all know coastal has a superior program, and if we can get one win this weekend and then see the chants again in the big south final i think we could get a two seed, but i feel a three seed would be more likely. it should be an excellent series this weekend.

[From the class of 09]

No matter what seed we get we would have to get though UVA. I'm assuming that we would still be up in Charlottesville no matter which seed it is.

Does anyone know how they try to pick where they send the lower seeds? Do they try to keep them close to home if possible?

[SuperJon]

Yes, a lot of people know Toman, but Gilly is no slouch. Up until he re-upped with Coastal a few years ago, he was offered positions at Tennessee, Auburn and a few other places. I lost a lot of respect for Toman when he had them check Rico's bat, what was that, 2 years ago? Come on Jim. That's bushleague. Watching that game, it seemed that he was ticked that he was getting his head handed to him (9-2 I believe) and wanted to be a.... jerk about it.

No one's denying that Coastal has a great coach. However, unlike most of the programs in this league, we have a coach that people around the country know and respect.

As for the bat thing a few years ago, I thought it was a "jerk" move at the time but in the years since, after talking to guys who actually played in that game, they said that his bat sounded very, very weird. Remember, when that happened, that was right when all of the "rolling" of composite bats was starting to get popular.

[SuperJon]

No matter what seed we get we would have to get though UVA. I'm assuming that we would still be up in Charlottesville no matter which seed it is.

Does anyone know how they try to pick where they send the lower seeds? Do they try to keep them close to home if possible?

Yeah, they try to keep it regional. We're almost assured of going to Charlottesville.

The big deal with getting a 2 instead of a 3 is just us getting last at bat in that first game. If we can get in a regional, I think we can give a win or two over the two and four seeds.

[therealbodoyle]

No one's denying that Coastal has a great coach. However, unlike most of the programs in this league, we have a coach that people around the country know and respect.

As for the bat thing a few years ago, I thought it was a "jerk" move at the time but in the years since, after talking to guys who actually played in that game, they said that his bat sounded very, very weird. Remember, when that happened, that was right when all of the "rolling" of composite bats was starting to get popular.

I do remember that, but it was very coincidental that he did it after Rico had a double and triple in the game.

[therealbodoyle]

No matter what seed we get we would have to get though UVA. I'm assuming that we would still be up in Charlottesville no matter which seed it is.

Does anyone know how they try to pick where they send the lower seeds? Do they try to keep them close to home if possible?

Yeah, they try to keep it regional. We're almost assured of going to Charlottesville.

The big deal with getting a 2 instead of a 3 is just us getting last at bat in that first game. If we can get in a regional, I think we can give a win or two over the two and four seeds.

To add on to what SJ said, they try to regionalize it even more nowadays with the economy in the crapper. You will not see a #1 seed travelling far like we did in '05 when we were shipped to Tempe as a #1.

[SuperJon]

No one's denying that Coastal has a great coach. However, unlike most of the programs in this league, we have a coach that people around the country know and respect.

As for the bat thing a few years ago, I thought it was a "jerk" move at the time but in the years since, after talking to guys who actually played in that game, they said that his bat sounded very, very weird. Remember, when that happened, that was right when all of the "rolling" of composite bats was starting to get popular.

I do remember that, but it was very coincidental that he did it after Rico had a double and triple in the game.

And that shouldn't be surprising. When a bat sounds as weird as it did that day (again, from the other players) and a kid is hitting rockets, you're gonna wanna check it. If a kid is just fouling things off and striking out, it doesn't matter if it's a rolled bat.

[therealbodoyle]

I think he was doing it more based on Rico's stature (5'9" 170). If that was Jose Iglesias (6'5" 220) I think it would have been different. Also, if the bat was making that noise, why did he wait three at-bats?

[Hold My Own]

Rolling a bat wont change the sound of the ball coming off the bat. To be honest I'm not sure the NCAA is even sure why they have an issue with rolling a bat. Rolling a bat does NOT make the bat any "hotter" than it was supposed to be, it simply eliminates the break in period. Bat rolling simply eliminated the need for the wear and tear on a bat from the 500-600 swings (normal break in period)


Now shaving a bat is completely different and will cause a different sound. That is completely illegal and there is a way to test to see if that's been done. I would venture to say bat shaving has and will be done at the college level. It makes that big of a difference.


Rolling a bat = breaking the fibers of the composite down, same thing every time you make contact. I've heard of guys taking their bat that was tougher to break in to a tree. Will not cause the ball to come off the bat at a greater speed then fully broken in bat and because of that will never be detected.

Shaving a bat = shaving down inside the barrel to make it a thiner wall and a greater "trampoline" effect. Will cause the ball to come off at a greater speed than a fully broken in bat and can be tested.


There is no TRUE way to test if a bat has been rolled...that's why everything changed within the last few years saying the exit speed AFTER the break in period could not exceed ____ instead of new out the wrapper like it was

[therealbodoyle]

Article associated with the graph: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... s%3Disch:1

[Hold My Own]

That chart is correct. Thats my point....the break in period means that much. Pre simply means out of wrapper and post means rolled (broken in).

Now there are rules in place saying a broken in bat (rolled) cannot exceed _____ where before it was out of wrapper....you can see they meet the requirements out of wrapper but dont broken in....now even those would be illegal.

I'm very familiar with that site. I have played on several teams that has used them many times for their bats.

[SuperJon]

Alright so What is your prediction for the series? I say we take 1 at least.

Not making predictions but I'll be happy with one win, ecstatic with two.

[Hold My Own]

Personally I'm ecstatic with 1...