The SEC Baseball Tournament is dumb

[bulldogcountry1]

1. The bracket doesn't make sense. It's overly complicated, and having single elimination on the first day really hurts attendance.

2. Trying to play 4 games a day is ridiculous. Nobody likes that, and it's a big waste of potential revenue. Think about how many more people would come if they didn't have to go to a 10:30am game or wonder if the night game is going to be 3 hours late?

3. Only a few teams really care. The host locks are just trying to get it over with unscathed. The only ones that care are those that have to win a game or two to even make a regional.

4. Squeezing in a brutal SECT in between the end of the regular season and regionals they way it is now is irresponsible.




The solution that would make much more sense:

1. Either scratch the 10th SEC series or move the SEC schedule up a week.

2. Play the pool phase of a pool-type tourney on what is currently the last weekend of the regular season (Thur-Sun). 12 teams with 2 guaranteed games each. 3 pool games a day, similar to the ACC.

3. Hold the semis and finals on the following weekend, which would be this weekend.



This format would draw much more interest from fans, knowing they get the opportunity to see their team 3 times. The teams themselves would like it because it would be more like a typical weekend series and not the potential of playing 5 games in 5 days and then starting regionals in 5 days.

 

[CadaverDawg]

1. The bracket doesn't make sense. It's overly complicated, and having single elimination on the first day really hurts attendance.

2. Trying to play 4 games a day is ridiculous. Nobody likes that, and it's a big waste of potential revenue. Think about how many more people would come if they didn't have to go to a 10:30am game or wonder if the night game is going to be 3 hours late?

3. Only a few teams really care. The host locks are just trying to get it over with unscathed. The only ones that care are those that have to win a game or two to even make a regional.

4. Squeezing in a brutal SECT in between the end of the regular season and regionals they way it is now is irresponsible.




The solution that would make much more sense:

1. Either scratch the 10th SEC series or move the SEC schedule up a week.

2. Play the pool phase of a pool-type tourney on what is currently the last weekend of the regular season (Thur-Sun). 12 teams with 3 guaranteed games each. 3 pool games a day, similar to the ACC.

3. Hold the semis and finals on the following weekend, which would be this weekend.



This format would draw much more interest from fans, knowing they get the opportunity to see their team 3 times. The teams themselves would like it because it would be more like a typical weekend series and not the potential of playing 5 games in 5 days and then starting regionals in 5 days.

I agree, and I like your solution. Basically you have little chance of winning it without the Bye, but if you DO, your reward is that your arms are shot and you have the real tourney starting in a few days.

And like you said, I would have gone this year but didn't know how late I'd be getting back Tues night, and wasn't going to book any extra days since State was only guaranteed a game. Games ending at 1:30 am and being played from Tues-Sun is stupid.

 

[patdog]

Just go to the ACC format. 4 groups of 3 teams. Round-robin play within each group. 3 games per day Tue-Fri. Each team plays 2 games in those 4 days. The 4 group winners advance to single elimination semi-finals on Sat and finals on Sun.

Giving up a week of the regular season isn't an option, or a good idea even if it was an option.

 

[8dog]

What makes no sense is that they put the teams that need wins the most in the worst spot-single elim. I mean what damn good is it to give four nat seeds a bye? Which is why I would love to see pool olay. Or see the tourney go away entirely

 

[patdog]

Or see the tourney go away entirely

This is what I'd really like to see. The tournament is useless. Replace it with an 11th weekend of conference baseball. But it's not economically feasible so it will never happen.

 

[Awwhellnaw]

It’s cool to watch your team make a run. But if your team ain’t in it, yes, it seems pretty pointless.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Take the current bracket and make it single elimination.

Tuesday: Play 3 opening round games
Wednesday: Play 1 opening round game and 2 quarter-finals
Thursday: Play 2 quarter-finals
Friday: Play 2 semi-finals
Saturday: Play final

You cut out 6 games, maximum of 3 games in a day so you can predictably schedule (well, assuming no rain, but it's easier to compress this schedule if you have to). No team plays twice on the same day (Wednesday's opening round winner plays on Thursday). Some teams can even get a rest day (one opening round winner and two quarter-final winners). You play a maximum of four games. If you're a top 4 seed, it's as easy as a regular season series.

 

[5049]

What makes no sense is that they put the teams that need wins the most in the worst spot-single elim.

Because it's supposed to be harder on them

I mean what damn good is it to give four nat seeds a bye?

Because they earned it?

Which is why I would love to see pool olay.

I agree, but not for the reasons you mention. Mainly for fan experience

 

[8dog]

I get all that in a tournament that teams want to win and has meaning. This tournament only exists for money so let it help your league. The sec acknowledged this when they expanded the tourney field from 8-10 many years back because they thought it was hurting teams ncaa chances when they got left out

 

[bruiser.sixpack]

OR:

Play East and West brackets at the Home Field of the Regular Season Champ in each division. Give the Home Team the bye. 3 games on Tues.Single elimination.

2 games on Wed., double elimination.

3 games on Thurs., Losers Bracket, Winners Bracket, Second Losers Bracket.

Division Chanpionship Game(s) on Friday.

Champions of each Division Play Saturday at Hoover Day night Double Header.

Sunday Game (if necessary)

 

[Go Budaw]

Because it's supposed to be harder on them

It can be harder on the lower seeds and still be double elimination at the same time. The goal for the conference should be to choose the format that maximizes the total number of teams that make the regionals, not make it easier for high seeds or harder for low seeds. If LSU had lost to us Tuesday, they might not have made the regionals (although I still think they would have). In the current format they would have had no other opportunity to play their way in, whereas with double elimination they could have still had an opportunity at 1-2 more wins (or more). It didn’t affect us any, but it easily could in the future.