I was looking at the RPIs for the California Jucos:

http://www.spincostats.com/Com...2009/PDF/2009RPI.pdf

and trying to figure out how they work. Doesn't make sense to me that a 1-16 Reedley from a weaker conference is higher rated than a 5-15 DeAnza from a stronger conference (and many other such pairings).

How is this thing computed and how does it end up with such odd results?

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Like any other ranking system,(and you know this) all depends upon what criteria the rankers are using...

I think and have observed over the last couple years that unlike many other ranking systems this one is set up in part to give kudo's to bravery - a willingness to take on tough competition - in an effort to encourage teams to play a tough pre conference schedule. I suspect that teams in the past may have pattycaked as seeme to be the preferred method of operation for many of the DI's now. (maybe the CA JC's are way ahead of the baseball curve!) Some may disagree with the CA JC RPI system, but I believe that either the coaches of whoever decided on the system programmed that in..and I suspect as the season progresses the stronger conference ranking will put the teams more into full season line....I suspect that is programmed in as well.

Looking at the two schools but without going into statisical detail, neither are very highly ranked but I could at least make a glancing case after looking at both schedules that Reedly despite a very poor record has really made a strong effort to go out of their area to take on some relatively highly ranked So-Cal teams, as well as Western Nevada who historically has a bunch of draft choices and is leading their very tough conference, and is likley nationally ranked.

And when it comes to the conference, I would guess that it is early in the conference season so the pre-season schedule still holds some weight, that may work it's way off later as the conference scheudle increases and the stronger perceived conferences weigh the RPI differently.

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