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Post by FUBeAR on Mar 19, 2017 15:09:11 GMT -5
 I'm not a baseball guy, so I'm wondering...When a Visiting Team with a 17-4 record goes into the #8 Team in the country's home ballpark, a place where they haven't been swept in over 2 years and haven't even lost a series in over a year...and said Visiting Team completely dominates this #8 Team for 3 games (even while this Visiting Team's best Hitter is going 0-fer-the-series), what should that Visiting Team be ranked? |
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2017
Mar 19, 2017 20:46:42 GMT -5
Post by orangeandblack on Mar 19, 2017 20:46:42 GMT -5
I'm not a baseball guy, so I'm wondering...When a Visiting Team with a 17-4 record goes into the #8 Team in the country's home ballpark, a place where they haven't been swept in over 2 years and haven't even lost a series in over a year...and said Visiting Team completely dominates this #8 Team for 3 games (even while this Visiting Team's best Hitter is going 0-fer-the-series), what should that Visiting Team be ranked? It would be a crime not to rank the Bears at 17-4 with this road sweep under their belt. Mercer was receiving votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers poll last week: NCBWA Top 30 Poll (March 13th, 2017)
Mercer has moved into the mid-40's in the RPI. A great position to be in at this stage of the season. I believe Mercer was in the 30's when they received an at-large bid in 2013. |
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2017
Mar 19, 2017 21:20:24 GMT -5
Post by orangeandblack on Mar 19, 2017 21:20:24 GMT -5
The theme of the "experts" this week is likely to be that ECU "blew it", instead of Mercer simply being the better team. This write-up sums up that angle perfectly: d1baseball.com/analysis/ouch-list-week-five/There's way too much evidence pointing to Mercer being a top quality program. Their record is 17-4. Check. Their RPI is Top 50, check! They are rated statistically at the top of the SoCon (and very highly nationally) in too many categories to count. The only area that needs to be addressed is fielding. Far too many errors this season. Strong fielding has typically been a staple of Mercer programs, so I'm not ready to announce that the current trend will continue. It's concerning though. To finish my point on the write-up: It wasn't a "lack of clutch" by ECU. It WAS clutch pitching and hitting by Mercer. Great weekend! Go Bears! |
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2017
Mar 21, 2017 7:25:29 GMT -5
Post by FUBeAR on Mar 21, 2017 7:25:29 GMT -5
I see ECU is still ranked #25 in 1 poll and I don't believe the Bears are ranked in any. Just did a quick look though. I could be wrong.
I guess I just don't get Baseball. If, for example, Clemson beat Alabama in Football 3 straight Saturdays, I don't think a single poll would even consider ranking Alabama ahead of Clemson. If a Football Poll did that, that poll would lose ALL credibility...forever. Oh well, maybe after Mercer avenges the losses to FAMU today and tomorrow to go 19-4, they'll squeak into the rankings to open the SoCon season this weekend.
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2017
Mar 22, 2017 18:21:49 GMT -5
Post by FUBeAR on Mar 22, 2017 18:21:49 GMT -5
I see ECU is still ranked #25 in 1 poll and I don't believe the Bears are ranked in any. Just did a quick look though. I could be wrong. I guess I just don't get Baseball. If, for example, Clemson beat Alabama in Football 3 straight Saturdays, I don't think a single poll would even consider ranking Alabama ahead of Clemson. If a Football Poll did that, that poll would lose ALL credibility...forever. Oh well, maybe after Mercer avenges the losses to FAMU today and tomorrow to go 19-4, they'll squeak into the rankings to open the SoCon season this weekend. As predicted...   ...just after St. Paddy's Day...seems fitting. |
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2017
Mar 31, 2017 18:48:38 GMT -5
Post by orangeandblack on Mar 31, 2017 18:48:38 GMT -5
Mercer is in danger of losing the opening game to Furman, and extending the losing streak to 3 games. It's a 3-0 Furman lead in the bottom of the 7th right now.
An error in the bottom of the 7th has directly led to 2 huge Furman runs. It was Mercer's 2nd error of the game.
Mercer has scored a minimum of 2 runs per game, but is facing a shutout unless they can score in the 8th/9th. Mercer has only scored 5 runs over the last 25 innings.
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2017
Mar 31, 2017 19:30:19 GMT -5
Post by orangeandblack on Mar 31, 2017 19:30:19 GMT -5
The Mercer bats have come alive!!!! After 5 runs over 26 innings, they explode for 5 runs in the 9th! Bottom 9 coming at Furman, leading 5-4.
Edit: An incredible play by Edgeworth at 2nd base, and a diving catch in center by Hanson, followed by a Broom strikeout has lead to a HUGE MERCER WIN! Awesome comeback!
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