Proposed change to the CWS

[vbird53]

Note: This is my suggestion, but I think it would help:


I've been thinking while watching this year's NCAA Tournament that it isn't very appealing to the average fan, and it drags on for far too long. It's hard to understand, and in order to draw more of a national base, I think some tweaking is necessary.

I would keep the Regional Round, double elimination. Select 16 sites, and rank each team 1-64.

16 winners advance to the Super Regional Round to only 4 sites (4 at each site). Top 4 seeds remaining are offered chance to host. Double elimination, again.

4 teams advance to Omaha for CWS, double elimination. More fans would be drawn in for the Final Four, people are familiar with it.

I do like the final best-of-three series, but don't think it's necessary. You could give the final two team's two days to rest before the championship game, and if they pitched their ace in game 1 of the CWS, could bring him back with normal rest for a winner-take-all game. It would remain a regular double-elimination game, though, so an undefeated team would have to be beaten twice.

The whole tournament could be completed in three weeks.

[CharlieHog]

I see where you are coming from but I kind of like how long the CWS is. It's like the finale of a fireworks display. It's the best, loudest and longest part of the season.

I think college baseball needs to give up on trying to appeal to Joe Sportsfan.

[vbird53]

I see where you are coming from but I kind of like how long the CWS is. It's like the finale of a fireworks display. It's the best, loudest and longest part of the season.

I think college baseball needs to give up on trying to appeal to Joe Sportsfan.

I'm with you on appealing to Joe Sportsfan, in a sense.

However, with the interest from Joe Sportsfan comes added revenue from TV deals. Also, I think with a change to the Super Regional format, it would almost regionalize the game, giving fans from schools the chance to attend the Super Regional round, as one of the four sites would ideally be within driving distance. There's got to be very little travel from a fanbase perspective for the Super Regional round.

I'm not asking to skip any steps, just make that portion of the tournament work a little better.

[Shocker85]

Re: Proposed change to the CWS

Note: This is my suggestion, but I think it would help.

Help what? Lazy sports fans? Joe Sportsfan may never give a rip about college baseball.

Each round of the baseball tournament tests a team pretty fully without completely taxing it (especially the pitching). You better, however, come to the party with 3 good starters and several relief pitchers.

The regional tournaments are good baseball. In recent seasons they have even been pretty "regional" in flavor and and a really fun atmosphere.

The super regionals tend to be a warm-up for the hosts, but on occasion the visitors win. This is my least favorite round of the tournament.

The CWS format, in my eyes, is now PERFECT. Split the 8 teams in half and decide a bracket winner, then take the two bracket winners and let them duke it out in the best-of-three format. Having a situation where a team with a dominant starting pitcher (or starter plus closer) can win the championship with a winner-take-all single game just plain sucks in baseball. The better team doesn't always win. Going several pitchers deep is a much better test of the entire team.

IMO, the tournament is the best format right now that it has ever been, with a little reservation because of the home field advantage in the regionals and supers. Until baseball can stand on its own and the games can be played at neutral sites (probably never happen), then it will have to stand in its current format.

What needs to happen, IMO, in college baseball is a move to wood bats. There are too many average hitters getting good hits that are not hit cleanly on the sweet spot. Drives off the handle or way out on the end shouldn't be hits as much as they are.

--'85.

[CharlieHog]

Re: Proposed change to the CWS

What needs to happen, IMO, in college baseball is a move to wood bats. There are too many average hitters getting good hits that are not hit cleanly on the sweet spot. Drives off the handle or way out on the end shouldn't be hits as much as they are.

--'85.

I don't see how cutting down the offense helps college baseball.

[newshock1234]

Re: Proposed change to the CWS

What needs to happen, IMO, in college baseball is a move to wood bats. There are too many average hitters getting good hits that are not hit cleanly on the sweet spot. Drives off the handle or way out on the end shouldn't be hits as much as they are.

--'85.

I don't see how cutting down the offense helps college baseball.

Because the general fan thinks college baseball is a joke due to some of the ridiculous scores.

[CharlieHog]

Re: Proposed change to the CWS

What needs to happen, IMO, in college baseball is a move to wood bats. There are too many average hitters getting good hits that are not hit cleanly on the sweet spot. Drives off the handle or way out on the end shouldn't be hits as much as they are.

--'85.

I don't see how cutting down the offense helps college baseball.

Because the general fan thinks college baseball is a joke due to some of the ridiculous scores.

I bet there isn't that much disparity between MLB and College scores. I see plenty of high scoring MLB games.

And really, general fan is never going to watch college baseball so I don't care what he thinks or wants.

[ShockerFever]

Re: Proposed change to the CWS

What needs to happen, IMO, in college baseball is a move to wood bats. There are too many average hitters getting good hits that are not hit cleanly on the sweet spot. Drives off the handle or way out on the end shouldn't be hits as much as they are.

--'85.

I don't see how cutting down the offense helps college baseball.

Because the general fan thinks college baseball is a joke due to some of the ridiculous scores.

General fan would also prefer a slugfest over a pitcher's duel.


I hate the Super Regional round. I dunno why but I really do. Maybe it's because we've never won one.

[ShockCity]

I agree on the wood bats thing. I think it would make college baseball much more realistic and enjoyable. I know it would for me. I love it the way it is, but I would love it even more if they used wood bats. The PING is just ridiculous sometimes.

[vbird53]

My proposal would strengthen the Super Regional Round. I think that's where it lacks. I absolutely love the rest, even the CWS, but would sacrifice it for the round of 16. I just think that putting 4 teams at each Super Regional site would be thrilling.

Then play the Final Four in Omaha.

It would certainly add some drama to the middle round.

[ShockerFever]

It would certainly add some drama to the middle round.

While it would add some drama to the middle rounds, it would take some drama out of the CWS. 8 teams is the perfect amount for that event. Don't f*$% with it.

[shockfan89_]

I agree. Leave it as is, just move it back a month. :yahoo:

[vbird53]

It would certainly add some drama to the middle round.

While it would add some drama to the middle rounds, it would take some drama out of the CWS. 8 teams is the perfect amount for that event. Don't f*$% with it.

They've been f*$%ing with it for years. What's wrong with asking some questions, trying to get the best possible system? Unless you all would like to leave a sport alone that competes more closely with LaCrosse and Hockey, than Basketball and Football...

I'm sorry, I don't buy the line that baseball can't become a dominant sport in NCAA competition, rivaling basketball and football.

It is (was) the national passtime.

[Shockerman]

I hate the super regional's as well. It just seems like they are so anti-climatic. I can't really explain it. Like the other poster said, maybe it is because we haven't won one yet. Other ideas would be to...

*Have the top 16 advance to the college world series and just do a single elimination until the champioship round.

*Increase the regional size from 4 to 8 and do single elimination until the championship round.

*Increase the regional size from 4 to 8 and go double elimination with current championship game format. (ie, the old CWS format)

Of the three proposal's I like the last one best as it really doens't change things much. It still only takes three wins to be a champion and it puts more meaning into being regional champs. Not to mention the dogpile after the championship actually means your going to the World Series. This scenario would save on travel cost associated with tournament and make it more profitable. The catch is don't lose on the first day or you are screwed. Again, this is good as it will keep squads from holding out there ace for the secound round. Thoughts????

[shock10]

I have a suggestion for the BCS Baseball tournament. Have texas not host for once. How many years in a row? They host every year. Is there a record for hosting? I am sure they have it.