Looking for thoughts on how the DI Feb 22 opening date will effect scheduling and the post-season field? Has winning 40+ against a competitive schedule become even tougher? Or is the 40+ win mark now out of date? Virginia has been great for some time now, but I wonder if the decision to play the lightest possible non-ACC schedule is less related to bringing their roster along or more about the fact that the schedule now has to be somewhat condensed? Winning 2 mid-week games using your #4-9 arms is not easy for anyone.

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Originally posted by balker:
Looking for thoughts on how the DI Feb 22 opening date will effect scheduling and the post-season field? Has winning 40+ against a competitive schedule become even tougher? Or is the 40+ win mark now out of date? Virginia has been great for some time now, but I wonder if the decision to play the lightest possible non-ACC schedule is less related to bringing their roster along or more about the fact that the schedule now has to be somewhat condensed? Winning 2 mid-week games using your #4-9 arms is not easy for anyone.

These are good questions and observations imho balker and welcome to the hsbbweb!

I think there is some early evidence that these questions can cut both ways. When you are down to your fifth or sixth starter to go in a mid-week game, it will be dicey for just about every program out there. Has anyone else noticed the number of 22-15 games seem to be on the rise this year? Have also noticed some major programs stubbing their toes thus far during the mid-week against what are perceived to be in theory - lessor opponents.

In the old days, a team could ride a few main starters and bullpen guys throughout the year. Now teams are forced to develop their depth. This is obviously good for incoming freshman pitchers and there seems to be more opportunities for pitchers to actually pitch now in college baseball.

For those teams that properly develop their depth at the risk of occassionally losing to a lessor program, then in the long run that team should be better poised to make a run in the post season imho. For those that are selling out now to win during the mid-week i.e., throwing your top pitchers against the other guy's freshman, then there may not be any gas left in the tank come playoff time.

One thing to remember when it comes to the post-season field is that everything is relative. One thing you may see is the door being opened more for Northern schools who have always played within the rules that everyone now has to abide by. By compressing the warm weather schools season and forcing them to dig a little deeper into their pitching staffs it allows for a more competitive situation when it comes time to play those "inferior" opponents.

The same criteria for determining an at-large berth in the tournament will be used this season. What you likely will see is a larger pool of comparable teams and more of a "bubble" situation with more teams being considered than in past years. It truly is a great thing for college baseball.