Proposed change to the CWS

[verbeak]

The only way that it will become more popular is if ESPN gets on board with the regular season, conference tournaments, regionals, and super regionals.

As long as they are just showing the CWS in Omaha, "Joe Sportsfan" and "General Fan" aren't going to watch.

[ABC]

I would like to see more blood.

[pogo]

I would like to see more blood.

Maybe some sex too. :yahoo:

[William]

I love the new system, the best of three for the supers and the championship of the cws is pure and simple, the way it should be done. The regionals weed out the riff-raff and the tournament really gets started in the supers.

[SHOCKvalue]

My $.02, which might actually be more like $.002:

1. William is right (yikes, that hurt to type), the current tourney format is well thought-out. There are effectively four levels to the pyramid, and at each level it takes two losses to send you packing. More teams in the tourney these days, and each of those teams gets more opportunity to help or hurt themselves.

2. Regardless of your opinion on the wood bat issue, the continued use of the aluminum sticks is a black eye to college baseball. I have many friends who are fans and students of pro ball. Their number one hang up with the college game? Yep... PING!

3. College baseball will never reach the same level of legitimacy and popularity until the relationship with it's professional draft is more like it's football and basketball counterparts. In the same vein, as long as the minor league system exists in current form, college baseball will never "get there".

Just my opinion as a true fan and apologist of college baseball.

[ShockerFever]

I really miss the Saturday afternoon championship games. These Tuesday or Wednesday night finales just don't do it for me.

[ShockCity]

The only way that it will become more popular is if ESPN gets on board with the regular season, conference tournaments, regionals, and super regionals.

As long as they are just showing the CWS in Omaha, "Joe Sportsfan" and "General Fan" aren't going to watch.

I believe they showed some of the Super Regionals this year. Not sure about the regionals though.

[CharlieHog]

College baseball is never going to "get there" if "there" is being a major sport. It's not a major sport. It's limited by a number of factors, none of which are the sound of the ball meeting metal bat. It's limited by the sheer variety of sports available, not the least of which is professional baseball. It's limited by weather, and geography, and limited funds of athletic departments.

College baseball does not have unlimited growth potential and as a sport it should focus on making college baseball better for COLLEGE BASEBALL FANS.

The sport will grow in places where college sports are important and will grow because programs are investing in baseball. It won't grow because ESPN televises a few games a year or we switch to wood bats.

[ShockCity]

It might not have anything to do with the sound, but it has alot to do with the rocket launchers they allow the players to use. To me, it's like the soccer league a couple of years ago that went to giving 2, 4, or 10 points for goals from certain areas on the field. It becomes less of a sport and more of a novelty. If you want to attract traditional baseball fans, you have to get rid of the metal cannons.

PING!!!!!!

[CharlieHog]

It might not have anything to do with the sound, but it has alot to do with the rocket launchers they allow the players to use. To me, it's like the soccer league a couple of years ago that went to giving 2, 4, or 10 points for goals from certain areas on the field. It becomes less of a sport and more of a novelty. If you want to attract traditional baseball fans, you have to get rid of the metal cannons.

PING!!!!!!

Last night Pittsburgh beat Cleveland 10-6. The Mets beat the Cardinals 11-0. The White Sox beat the Dodgers 10-7. Angels beat the Rockies 11-3.

[SubGod22]

And they do it with wood bats.

[Shocker85]

College baseball does not have unlimited growth potential and as a sport it should focus on making college baseball better for COLLEGE BASEBALL FANS.

Boy, CH, you're right on the money, here.

Stupid NCAA and the accountants always wants to meddle in everything. Holding Omaha hostage for a new stadium for the CWS - not for college baseball fans but for generating a broader fan base. A CWS in some other stadium just won't be the same. That certainly isn't a move that college baseball fans will like.

Along the lines of growing the sport ... I do not understand (and never have) the logic behind the 11.7 scholarship limit. Coaches go out and recruit the best athletes they can and in most cases can only offer 1/2 a scholarship or less. That's a killer when it comes to trying to keep youngsters from jumping to the pros. New limits for # of players receiving financial aid won't help, either.

It seems like the changes are moving the sport backward, not forward.

--'85.

[CharlieHog]

And they do it with wood bats.

This is a much greater difference 1-9 in college baseball than there is in professional baseball. Your top hitters in college would still get hits with wood bats...your guys at the bottom of the order would not.

[CharlieHog]

Along the lines of growing the sport ... I do not understand (and never have) the logic behind the 11.7 scholarship limit. Coaches go out and recruit the best athletes they can and in most cases can only offer 1/2 a scholarship or less. That's a killer when it comes to trying to keep youngsters from jumping to the pros. New limits for # of players receiving financial aid won't help, either.

It seems like the changes are moving the sport backward, not forward.

--'85.

All sports besides football and men's and women's basketball give partial scholarships. I was for fully funding baseball but then realized that that would effectively price out many programs from even having the sport.

Scholarships are expensive.

The 11.7 scholarships is what allows for the amazing parity we have in college baseball.

[CharlieHog]

And of course a smaller program can offer a great player a better scholarship and land him because of that. It keeps talented players scattered throughout all levels, and not just concentrated on the rosters of the elite programs.