Article: College World Series Journal

[Cody Christie]

For baseball fans across the country, attending the College World Series is one of the events on almost everyone's bucket list. The NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament culminates in a multi-week, double-elimination tournament where there is drama and plenty of surprises.

 

I was lucky enough to head to Omaha at the end of last week to take in multiple games over a three day stretch. Here are some of my impressions as the Championship Series gets underway on Monday night.Omaha Overview

Omaha has got this event down to a science. The area around the stadium is set up perfectly for fans to enjoy pre-game festivities at local establishments. Fans can then head into the game and after the game there are multiple concerts, food offerings and activities. If you can't find something to occupy your time, you aren't trying very hard.

 

Blatt Beer & Table was our gathering spot before the first game because it was right next to the stadium and it had a roof-top patio to enjoy views of the downtown area. We ran into ESPN's Pedro Gomez at this bar as his son Rio Gomez is a sophomore left-handed pitcher for Arizona. Through out the trip we tried many of the establishments near the field and my group was impressed with the service, food and overall atmosphere.

 

Omaha makes it easy to want to come back to this event again and again.

 

Stadium Experience

TD Ameritrade Park is beautiful with all the amenities fans need to enjoy the baseball experience. I spent most of my early time in the park exploring each part of this venue that opened in 2011. You can walk all the way around the concourse and have a pretty good sight lines. Even when I sat in the upper deck for part of a game, it felt like you were still right on top of the action. There were plenty of water stands available to counteract the 90 degree heat.

 

Some things I would like to see improved would be to add in some big fans like those used at Target Field. The lines for concessions were very long during the games which were sold out and this took a little away from the experience.

 

Pace of Play

Thursday night's game between Coastal Carolina and Texas Tech was brutal to watch. The official game time is listed at three hours and 48 minutes but it seemed like an eternity. It was an elimination game for both teams so there were seven different pitchers used with no pitcher throwing more than 4.1 innings. Pitchers took a long time between pitches, batters took a long time getting into the box, and coaches visits to the mound lasted too long.

 

I didn't realize how much MLB's new pace of play rules were impacting the game until I had to watch a game where those rules aren't in place. One has to wonder how long it will be before the NCAA starts to implement some of the same rules.

 

Power Outage

It is really tough to hit home runs at TD Ameritrade Park. It was amazing to see the positioning of outfielders especially on Friday when the wind was blowing straight in from center field. I made a comment to one of my friends that it almost looked like they were playing at Little League depth. There was no reason to play any further back as the wind played a factor in all the games we attended.

 

Between the three games we attended on Thursday and Friday, we saw a grand total of one home run, a line drive down the third base line that snuck into the bullpen off the bat of TCU's Dane Steinhagen. Some of these teams rely a lot on the long ball during the regular season but it's almost impossible to hit it out in the most important games of the year.

 

Pitcher Usage

When it comes to watching a big league game, fans know that a pitcher getting close to 100 pitches is most likely near the end of his time on the mound. MLB organizations are very conscientious about the health of their pitchers and their future in the game. College teams and coaches don't have the same agenda as MLB teams. The incentive in college is to win and to win now, no matter the cost.

 

On Friday night, I witnessed a pitcher throw 137 pitches on the way to a complete game. Andrew Beckwith was an undrafted junior who throws with a side-arm action so there is less stress on his arm. This was his second straight complete game and now his team is in the College World Series Championship. Arizona has also been criticized for their use of pitchers and they might have seen the results of this on Friday afternoon as Nathan Bannister left the game with pain is his forearm. The Wildcats will face Coastal Carolina in the championship but their pitcher usage might have cost them their ace.

 

Attending the College World Series was a dream come true and I'm excited to see who will come out victorious over the next few days. Part of me is rooting for Coastal Carolina since it is their first trip to the College World Series and who knows when they will be back.

 

Feel free to ask any questions in the COMMENTS section about the event and I will try and answer as many questions as I can.

 

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[h2oface]

Pitch count is sooooo overrated. Amazing baseball survived with a 4 man rotation. Teach someone that they can only throw 100 pitches, and they will think it is true. Pitch count is soooo overrated.

[h2oface]

Personally, I love baseball and like to go early and stay late, and love it when the game goes into extra innings. I feel robbed if the game is over in 2 hours.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Arizona pitcher throws complete game shutout, 122 pitches. Playing for title Tuesday night.

[BobAzar]

Cody, where did you stay? and how far from the stadium did you go? I lived in omaha for 4 years, and other than the 2 weeks for the CWS, that area is pretty dead (although it has changed since I moved I'm sure). Omaha is so spread out with not much to do other than the zoo and the CWS. Just wondering what your thoughts on the town are.

[Thrylos]

My biggest issue with amateur school (including college) baseball is the bats.  The sound of the aluminum bats makes watching those games like watching a beer league softball game.  College "World Series" (they need to change that bit too) or not.  

 

The Cape Cod league is the premier ground for competition at the college level.  That one should be in people's bucket lists.  

 

I see no reason that schools should not change to wood bats, like in the real sport.  What they are doing is the equivalent of playing NCAA football with a vortex football.  No. Thank. You.

[Cody Christie]

 

Cody, where did you stay? and how far from the stadium did you go? I lived in omaha for 4 years, and other than the 2 weeks for the CWS, that area is pretty dead (although it has changed since I moved I'm sure). Omaha is so spread out with not much to do other than the zoo and the CWS. Just wondering what your thoughts on the town are.

We stayed in Council Bluffs but it was less than a five minute Uber ride away from downtown. We stuck pretty close to the stadium both nights because that's where most of the action seemed to be centered. I could see where that area would get quiet if there wasn't any games going on. 

[Cody Christie]

 

My biggest issue with amateur school (including college) baseball is the bats.  The sound of the aluminum bats makes watching those games like watching a beer league softball game.  College "World Series" (they need to change that bit too) or not.  

This would make scouting for MLB organizations easier as well. I hope they make the switch soon but it might be awhile. 

[Thrylos]

 

This would make scouting for MLB organizations easier as well. I hope they make the switch soon but it might be awhile. 

 

Too much $ for them from aluminum bat companies to make the switch.  Also, those bats add offense, so I do not see it happening, because people want more hits and runs when they watch baseball for some reason

[biggentleben]

 

My biggest issue with amateur school (including college) baseball is the bats.  The sound of the aluminum bats makes watching those games like watching a beer league softball game.  College "World Series" (they need to change that bit too) or not.  

 

The Cape Cod league is the premier ground for competition at the college level.  That one should be in people's bucket lists.

 

I see no reason that schools should not change to wood bats, like in the real sport.  What they are doing is the equivalent of playing NCAA football with a vortex football.  No. Thank. You.

 

Um...you do realize that college football does use a different ball - striped differently and laced differently, so it is easier to grip for QBs and easier to see in the air for WRs.

[Vanimal46]

 

Arizona pitcher throws complete game shutout, 122 pitches. Playing for title Tuesday night.

I have no idea if this Arizona pitcher is a future MLB prospect or not. Either way it's another example of the NCAA and these schools exploiting athletes for the sole purpose of earning more money for the university. It's hard to argue that they're doing these kids any favors preventing future arm injuries. 

[DaveW]

Too much $ for them from aluminum bat companies to make the switch. Also, those bats add offense, so I do not see it happening, because people want more hits and runs when they watch baseball for some reason

That and wood bats break a lot/cost a lot. While this isn't a concern for D-1 or even a lot of D-2 and larger high schools, it would be a concern for a huge chunk of high schools who don't have sponsors or money to pay the $60-$120 every time a bat breaks.

 

I played (poorly) in a wood bat league up until 2 years ago, and there is nothing more annoying then breaking a bat and flushing another $60+ down the drain. Now times that by 15+ guys on a high school team over the course of a full season (plus practices and scrimmages) and it would add up very quickly.

[Cody Christie]

 

That and wood bats break a lot/cost a lot. While this isn't a concern for D-1 or even a lot of D-2 and larger high schools, it would be a concern for a huge chunk of high schools who don't have sponsors or money to pay the $60-$120 every time a bat breaks.

I played (poorly) in a wood bat league up until 2 years ago, and there is nothing more annoying then breaking a bat and flushing another $60+ down the drain. Now times that by 15+ guys on a high school team over the course of a full season (plus practices and scrimmages) and it would add up very quickly.

I'm fine with high schools using metal bats but I'd like to see colleges make the switch. 

[Cody Christie]

One game tonight for the title... who is everyone picking to win?

[Cody Christie]

 

One game tonight for the title... who is everyone picking to win?

I'm pulling for Coastal Carolina but Arizona's pitching might be too tough. 

 

Should be a great game and a great ending to the 2016 CWS

[Vanimal46]

I'm pulling for Coastal Carolina specifically because of this coaching rant. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EChnZTJicw

[notoriousgod71]

The final game of the season postponed until Thursday at noon.

 

That should attract a huge viewership....

[Cody Christie]

 

The final game of the season postponed until Thursday at noon.

 

That should attract a huge viewership....

I don't think they get huge viewership anyway. Especially without big named schools in the final. 

 

I'm sure ESPN had plenty to say about when the game was going to be played. There must be something else on the four-letter network tonight that couldn't be moved.

[notoriousgod71]

 

I don't think they get huge viewership anyway. Especially without big named schools in the final. 

 

I'm sure ESPN had plenty to say about when the game was going to be played. There must be something else on the four-letter network tonight that couldn't be moved.

 

You're right. 30 for 30 Believeland, BattleFrog Obstacle Race, and the CFL.

 

Coverage of this is non-existent as I had to search the Coastal Carolina website to find out who won.

[Cody Christie]

Congrats to Coastal Carolina. They were a fun team to watch the CWS.

 

It was pretty crazy to see that their locker was in the back of the shed that was also concession stand when the current coach started there 20 years ago.

[Cody Christie]

 

You're right. 30 for 30 Believeland, BattleFrog Obstacle Race, and the CFL.

 

Coverage of this is non-existent as I had to search the Coastal Carolina website to find out who won.

 

If you followed some of the ESPN and Baseball America Twitter accounts, there was coverage during the game. It was also streaming on ESPN.com so I had it pulled up in a window at work. It stinks that they had to play in front of a half empty stadium with no one watching at home.