MVC Championship

[KC Shox Grad]

In today's Shocker Report it mentioned that the top two teams get a bye in the tournament. Are they changing the bracket this year? Anyone know anything about it.

[ShockBand]

Nothing new. It will be a six team double elimination format as always, so seeds 1 and 2 only have to win three to win it all while everyone else would have to win four. I guess they have never wanted to go to an eight team format for some reason - either the added day (and expense) or they don't want to leave out just one team, since the Valley only has nine baseball schools.

[KC Shox Grad]

But I thought in years past there were no byes in the first round. The bracket could get confusing how they had it set up in the past. The way the article sounded is that the bracket structure is changing.

[SB Shock]

Nothing new.

Actually, they did change the tournament this year to reward the 1st and 2nd place team. No. 1 and 2 will get a first round bye.

Old bracket was:

1 vs 6
2 vs 5
3 vs 4

This was a complex bracket (actually 3 brackets in all). It would get pretty wild depending on how it unfolded.

The new bracket is a more conventional bracket where I believe is something like the following:

#1 plays winner of #4/5
#2 plays winner of #3/6

[shockerfanmas]

has anybody taken a look at the mvc website to see if the bracket is posted there? I'd be interested to see if they've went to that same format that softball uses, and I think volleyball uses it too

[1972Shocker]

Here is the 2008 Bracket:

http://www.mvc.org/baseball/2008bracket.pdf

Notice the #1 seed will get the lowest seeded winner of the opening round games.

[7hottamales]

Nothing new.

Actually, they did change the tournament this year to reward the 1st and 2nd place team. No. 1 and 2 will get a first round bye.

Old bracket was:

1 vs 6
2 vs 5
3 vs 4

This was a complex bracket (actually 3 brackets in all). It would get pretty wild depending on how it unfolded.

The new bracket is a more conventional bracket where I believe is something like the following:

#1 plays winner of #4/5
#2 plays winner of #3/6

Not having to face anyone's ace places even a larger premium on being seeded 1 or 2 than does a buy in a basketball format.

[Shocker85]

Here is the 2008 Bracket:

http://www.mvc.org/baseball/2008bracket.pdf

Notice the #1 seed will get the lowest seeded winner of the opening round games.

'72, nice find and thanks!. I searched all over the place yesterday and couldn't find the bracket.

I like this set-up. It gives some value to finishing in the top two in the regular season and makes a much more predictable bracket with exactly 1 scenario instead of the possibility of 3. I also like the guarantee of 3 games on Thursday and Friday and no 'if necessary' evening game on Saturday.

I do wish they would push the whole thing back a day since it is a holiday weekend, but that's just me. On the other hand, it leaves plenty of the weekend for other stuff.

Game 3 loser doesn't even need a hotel room.

--'85.

[WSUwatcher]

Aces

"Not having to face anyone's ace places even a larger premium on being seeded 1 or 2 than does a buy (bye) in a basketball format."

Well, maybe, 7hot -- but sometimes it's more about matchups. For example, assume the Shocks end up #1 and that SIU works its way up to #6 (currently they're actually seventh and would miss the tournament altogether). SIU opens with its prospect Cody Adams, who shares the team lead in starts, and who this day gives the scouts something to watch, leading his team to victory while the Shocks enjoy their bye.

In the next round, WSU draws SIU's ostensible #2 guy, Shawn Joy, who last weekend stifled them on five hits and no walks. How much of a break is that?

[Cdizzle]

Re: Aces

"Not having to face anyone's ace places even a larger premium on being seeded 1 or 2 than does a buy (bye) in a basketball format."

Well, maybe, 7hot -- but sometimes it's more about matchups. For example, assume the Shocks end up #1 and that SIU works its way up to #6 (currently they're actually seventh and would miss the tournament altogether). SIU opens with its prospect Cody Adams, who shares the team lead in starts, and who this day gives the scouts something to watch, leading his team to vistory while the Shocks enjoy their bye. In the next round, WSU therefore draws SIU's ostensible #2 guy, Shawn Joy, who last weekend stifled them on five hits and no walks. How much of a break is that?

For most teams this would be a break. But for a team that can't hit soft-throwing lefties, it could backfire.

[Shocker85]

Re: Aces

In the next round, WSU draws SIU's ostensible #2 guy, Shawn Joy, who last weekend stifled them on five hits and no walks. How much of a break is that?

Paybacks are hell.

[gorillashocker]

so assuming we get a 1 or 2 seed we could win the tournament in 3 games?

[Shocker85]

so assuming we get a 1 or 2 seed we could win the tournament in 3 games?

Ahhh ... yup. Did you read ShockBand's post or bother looking at the bracket???

[gorillashocker]

Ahhh ... yup. Did you read ShockBand's post or bother looking at the bracket???

Just making sure i read the bracket right. and in regards to looking at shockband's post, the post started out with nothing new, and since it has been determined that the bracket was changed this year, wanted to make sure it was correct . Sorry to waste your time.

[goshox24]

I would be curious to hear what the other coaches in the league think about the new format. With the Shockers consistently taking 1st or 2nd in the league every year, it could look like the MVC is trying to boost its most successful program as much as it can. I know most of them don't like playing the tournament in Wichita. Just a thought.