Raleigh Regional Preview (sort of)

Baseball NC State NC State Baseball485

Wolfpack Baseball (35-20) didn’t necessarily have a stellar ACC Tournament showing in Durham last week. But after falling in consecutive games to Florida State and Miami, the Pack rebounded with a much needed win over Georgia Tech.

In all likelihood, the win kept the Pack from losing the opportunity to be named a regional host for the first stage of the NCAA Baseball Tournament. And even if that’s not true, the victory over the Jackets was good for the Pack to get back in the win column and build some confidence/momentum as they get set to host the opening round this weekend.

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Raleigh Regional

My apologies in advance, but due to some unexpected “lack of free time” issues this week, this is going to be mostly links. And probably from more smarterer folks than me anyway. If we advance to Super Regionals, I semi-promise a better write up next week.  Probably.

NC State Hosts Raleigh Regional (GoPack.com)
(links, info, tickets, etc.)

Navy Baseball Selected to Participate in Raleigh Regional (NavySports.com)

At 35-20, overall, and 15-13 in ACC play, North Carolina State will be hosting a regional for the fifth time in program history. Under the guidance of 20th-year head coach Elliott Avent, the Wolfpack were the fifth seed in this past weekend’s ACC Tournament and went 1-2 with a 7-5 victory over Georgia Tech and setbacks to Florida State, 7-3 and Miami, 8-7.

The second-seeded Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina are 44-15 and come in with an RPI of 12 after going 4-0 and winning the Big South Championship. Saint Mary’s will be participating in its first-ever NCAA Tournament after defeating Gonzaga on Saturday in the finals of the West Coast Conference championship. The Gaels from Moraga, Calif. went 3-0 at the WCC tournament over the weekend.

“Winning an automatic bid as the Patriot League champion was a goal of team since last fall,” said Kostacopoulos. “Now we have a new challenge and goal ahead of us and I know we are all looking forward to it.”

All games of the regional will be streamed live on ESPN3.com.

 

Coastal Carolina baseball draws No. 2 seed in Raleigh regional (MyrtleBeachOnline.com)

Coastal Carolina, which swept the Big South regular-season and tournament titles, was hoping its No. 12 RPI and No. 7-rated non-conference strength of schedule would be enough to make it one of the 16 regional host sites for the first time since 2010. The Chants won their last 10 games and 31 of their last 37, but that momentum wasn’t enough to sway the selection committee.

Five teams that finished behind the Chants in the RPI earned the right to host, including a Virginia team they beat early in the season.

By Monday, though, Gilmore said he and his team had moved on from that slight.

 

Buncha damned whiners.  But yeah, they’re good.  Arguably just as good as we are.  And in all honestly, they did deserve a hosting bid.  And if they’ve got a chip on their shoulder it makes them good AND motivated.

This is why Coastal scares the bejesus out of me.

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2016 NCAA Raleigh Regional Schedule

Friday, June 3
Game 1 – No. 2 Coastal Carolina vs. No. 3 Saint Mary’s, 2 p.m. – ESPN3
Game 2 – No. 1 North Carolina State vs. No. 4 Navy, 7 p.m. – ESPN3

Saturday, June 4
Game 3 – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 2 p.m. – ESPN3
Game 4 – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 7 p.m. – ESPN3

Sunday, June 5*
Game 5 – Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 1 p.m. – ESPN3
Game 6 – Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 4, 6 p.m. – ESPN3

Monday, June 6
Game 7 – Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 7 p.m. (if necessary) – ESPN3

*Because of Sunday’s Ironman event being held in Raleigh, if you’re planning on attending either of Sunday’s games, you’re gonna want to take a look at this road closure map and choose an alternate route to The Doak.

 

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No highlights to share this week, so instead I’ll give you a few clips of some guys who really hate umpires (and also bullpen phones….apparently). Also, that was a helluva cover up Dustin Pedroia. Well done.

George Brett is still a huge…ummmm…jerk (family site profanity editor…ENGAGED).

And even minor league skippers have their moments.

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OK, that’s all I got. If the Pack advances, they are most likely to face LSU in Baton Rouge for the Super Regionals. I promise I will start doing advanced research on the Bayou Bengals so I don’t drop a badly done preview like this one on you next week. Which probably assures that LSU will get upset and I’ll have to research someone else instead at the last minute.

Meh, it’s baseball, who cares?

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Go Pack!!!!!

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About Wufpacker

A 2nd generation alumnus and raised since birth to be irrationally dedicated to all things NC State. Class of '88 and '92.

Baseball NC State NC State Baseball

Home › Forums › Raleigh Regional Preview (sort of)

Viewing 25 posts - 426 through 450 (of 486 total)
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  • 06/09/2016 at 6:34 PM #104559
    TheCOWDOG
    Moderator

    @ Gowolves.

    Dude, post it again. I will tell you that there may have been a chance ( 1% ) that you got caught in a crossfire with my very first, post deletion.

    One of our good peeps requested self-immolation, and I may have turned two, when there was already “2 outs” don’t know.

    Avent can bring’em here, no question, and they play well when left to play. Like Wolfanatic, I think our yard is just fine. I will take the liberty to help with his memory, some. We actually had 12 rows of aluminum down each line, but I can’t remember how many behind the plate. I wish the outfield fences had been chain link. They weren’t, as testament, cedar splinters in my ribs and back had a tendency to rise to the surface, for several years after my service. It was just an old,slat,snow fence. 🙁

    06/09/2016 at 6:49 PM #104561
    Wolfanatic
    Participant

    Catchers don’t get close to the outfield fence…..other than when they jack one…

    06/09/2016 at 6:50 PM #104562
    Gowolves
    Participant

    CD, thanks for the heads up.

    Too long to post again but essentially I am grossly tired of the fire him talk. He has made the NCAA something like 11 out of last 13 post seasons. Yeah I will admit his decision making at times leaves a head scratch but he has done well and like you said he brings them in. I like it that he goes against the grain at times. I think the players like to play for him. People don’t realize or forgot that the team was down two starting pitchers going into the post season. When things don’t work out we hear this same old tune, let’s fire him. I just don’t understand.

    You have to understand baseball and the second guessing that will always occur when a decision doesn’t work but that doesn’t mean he has to go.

    06/09/2016 at 8:41 PM #104564
    Whiteshoes67
    Participant

    I wouldn’t can him, and I rarely see a game where there’s at least a handful of bench calls or mound visits and decisions that piss me off. I’m come to anticipate them and am no longer surprised by some of the moves. He’s to be credited for luring some really strong talent. There were years when I coached and was more in tune with nc high school baseball when I didn’t think he and his staff effectively scouted nc talent. I still think that’s the case. But I’m impressed with what he’s assembled from nc recently. How well we pitch and catch next year will determine our success. We’ll be fine in the field and at the plate.

    06/09/2016 at 10:51 PM #104566
    Gowolves
    Participant
    Whiteshoes67 wrote:

    I wouldn’t can him, and I rarely see a game where there’s at least a handful of bench calls or mound visits and decisions that piss me off.

    At least a hand full? That’s a lot in a nine inning stretch. I will give you the benefit of the doubt for two reasons. One you are trying to make a point and secondly you have more experience in the game than I do. You are not calling for his removal but you can’t deny he has had some pretty good success here. You know the game of baseball is fraught with second guessing, It’s a rite of passage.

    This is not directed at you. The game lends itself to “what ifs”. When the manager makes his decision he lives and dies with it. If it works the accolades go to the player if it doesn’t it’s the mangers fault for the decision. I agreed with you the other night when the pitchers were being yanked pretty quickly. As it turned out, it worked. I realize he wasn’t there because of his suspension but I am confident he had his strategy voiced to his coaches.

    Ultimately Avent has earned his stripes here. He came into a situation when Tanner left and fans were not happy. He has done a great job dealing with that. I think part of the attitude and chip he has is because of the environment he came in to.

    06/10/2016 at 9:00 AM #104571
    Whiteshoes67
    Participant

    ^I’m not really exaggerating to make a point. When you win, it masks some of the deficiencies. My general critique of Avent as a manager (and this is strictly fromm the pov of an observer who has very little inside scoop) is that there’s no real baseball philosophy at work. This leads to the ever constant knee-jerk decision making, the willie-nillie bench calls, mound visits, and pointless tirades, not to mention the constant lineup or batting order shuffling for what appears to be no good reason.

    On the one hand, I like that Avent plays hunches. But when you always appear to pluck a decision out of your rear, it catches up to you. I think some of the best college managers play the percentages, but they also have a real feel for their players, team, and situations, and know from experience when to deviate from the odds play. Ultimately, I think that’s what separates Avent from being good to great. I think the kids like Avent. He appears to be a “player’s coach.” That aint’t always a recipe for greatness.

    06/10/2016 at 1:28 PM #104573
    ryebread
    Participant

    A post of mine from yesterday disappeared when I added in some links to show the Doak against other stadiums. From what I can see, we’re on par with UNC Charlotte and ECU, but trail UVA, UNC, FSU, Miami, Louisville, Florida, LSU, etc.. Maybe a mod can recover that post because a picture is worth 1000 words.

    I am not making excuses, nor am I saying that one has to have facilities to win. What I think is that facilities are a proxy for budget/money, and budget/money does win in college sports.

    I say this because if our stadium is a proxy for our baseball budget (and I don’t really know), it would suggest we’re punching above our weight. I don’t think Avent is perfect but I’m fine with the results given what we are seemingly paying.

    Now, if someone came back and told me our baseball budget was higher than FSU, Miami, Louisville, UVA and UNC’s, then you might change my opinion. Not that my opinion really matters……..

    06/10/2016 at 2:14 PM #104574
    Classof89
    Participant

    I say this because if our stadium is a proxy for our baseball budget (and I don’t really know), it would suggest we’re punching above our weight. I don’t think Avent is perfect but I’m fine with the results given what we are seemingly paying.

    But there’s a difference between capital funds and operating funds, right? I think Yow has said pretty of times that her philosophy has been to give the program what they need to win (full scholarship allotments, recruiting and travel $$, asst. coach salaries) before putting a higher level of expectations. If indeed the lack of capital investment is also indicative of low operating budget as you say, then that would probably explain why she didn’t fire him the day after the regional ended.

    06/10/2016 at 3:11 PM #104554
    Gowolves
    Participant

    I just don’t understand all this complaining. Maybe Avent could have been better in certain spots. Some of his decisions have been head scratchers, but this is baseball. Everything decision is questioned if it turns against you. Some of you act like it so easy and obvious. Sometimes he goes against the odds and tries to think outside of the box. I don’t mind that. He is passionate about his teams. I don’t know if he will lead us to a championship but he has done pretty darn well. Don’t forget the Pack was down TWO starting pitchers going into the regionals. You can’t discount that.

    If we had lost in the next round people would be bitching. If people don’t have something to complain about they are not happy. I think Avent deserves to stay as long as he wants provided he continues at this rate and every so often (1 out 3 or 4 years) makes it to the super regionals. The NCAA every year is almost a given. 15 out 21 times to the NCAA is not bad. Thy only missed out on the tournament twice in thirteen years.

    06/10/2016 at 3:14 PM #104576
    Rick
    Keymaster
    ryebread wrote:

    A post of mine from yesterday disappeared when I added in some links to show the Doak against other stadiums. From what I can see, we’re on par with UNC Charlotte and ECU, but trail UVA, UNC, FSU, Miami, Louisville, Florida, LSU, etc.. Maybe a mod can recover that post because a picture is worth 1000 words

    It was in the spam folder. I reported it as “not spam” but am not sure it was loaded.

    Since I saw a few other spam posts in their from a while back it appears links can trigger the spam filter.

    06/10/2016 at 4:29 PM #104577
    Wolfanatic
    Participant

    Rye…Just saw your post back on page 17 of this thread…It did finally post… Excellent post…nice pictures. Indeed, we are behind all of those schools despite the limited progress we have made. And thanks to CD for aiding my warped memory, which is more warped than I thought. Truthfully, I have not set foot in our yard since 1976. So many factors go into the decision of where you want to play ball if you’re wanted by numerous schools. When it comes to the yard, I can see some weighing that factor more heavily than others – as in a power hitting leftie would probably choose FSU with the short porch and high fence in right. Does it hurt our product? Maybe, but not significantly I believe.

    06/10/2016 at 4:29 PM #104578
    ryebread
    Participant

    Rick: No worries. The post was there, but then I went back to add in linked pictures so people could see with their own eyes and draw their own conclusions. When the links got added it disappeared, so I was sure it was just a SPAM filter. 🙂

    If many like me don’t follow baseball closely, they may not really understand the current state of our “peers” relative to the Doak. Doing that quick search exercise was eye opening. Yeah, the Doak’s improved from when I was a student, but it’s still behind from what I can tell. Some of those stadiums seem better than the Durham Bulls Athletics park (e.g. LSU).

    I don’t know the answer to this, but are baseball scholarships even full rides? For the longest time they were partials. If they’re still partials at State are they full rides elsewhere? I think it’d be very difficult to recruit if one school offered full scholarships and another only offered partials.

    06/10/2016 at 5:09 PM #104581
    TheCOWDOG
    Moderator

    A) Like everyone else, State has 15 schols to do anything they want to with.

    B) We don’t have a George Steinbrenner to build a yard like Boshamer, at UNx. We don’t have a Louisville Papa John, either.

    06/10/2016 at 5:14 PM #104582
    Wolfanatic
    Participant

    CD, quit being cheap and write Debbie a check for the necessary upgrade.

    06/10/2016 at 6:27 PM #104583
    TheCOWDOG
    Moderator

    Palmiero, and Knizner in the 7th to Os and Cards, respectively.

    06/10/2016 at 6:45 PM #104584
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    ^ Was just coming to say that very same thing.
    Glad to keep Presto in the family, so to speak.

    06/10/2016 at 7:26 PM #104586
    Whiteshoes67
    Participant

    Close to where cd predicted he’d sign. Will be an interesting decision. I didn’t look at their other picks, and I don’t know what kind of demands they have, but I’m Not sure he can really improve on that significantly. I’m guessing he goes.

    06/10/2016 at 10:43 PM #104590
    ryebread
    Participant

    CD: That’s kind of my point. Our program doesn’t seemingly have big cash behind it, yet we’re doing pretty well. If the budget is as it seems, then I’m happy with the results.

    Thanks for the info on the scholarships. Equal footing there it seems.

    06/11/2016 at 10:16 AM #104594
    BJD95
    Keymaster

    REALLY excited about the Kninzer pick. Been a great draft by my Most Glorious el beisbol Cardinals, except for that Hole in the 3rd…

    06/11/2016 at 12:45 PM #104595
    Wolfanatic
    Participant

    Will Gilbert Round 8 #232 to Oakland A’s

    06/11/2016 at 4:16 PM #104596
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    Congratulations Weeeel!!!!

    06/11/2016 at 5:18 PM #104597
    Gowolves
    Participant

    I don’t like that playing surface in Lubbuck,TX.

    06/11/2016 at 6:25 PM #104598
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    Ditto.
    Can’t believe ECU is a base hit away from Omaha. Sheeesh.

    06/11/2016 at 6:26 PM #104599
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    That was a generous strike call I must say.
    Sorry not sorry, PieRats.

    06/11/2016 at 6:50 PM #104600
    Gowolves
    Participant

    I missed that. Had to walk the pups. The pie rats are tough hate to say.

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