The official SEC Tournament Thread Day 1

[hogfan064]

Preview by Hogfan064

Game 1 10:00 CT

South Carolina(36-20, 15-15) vs
Kentucky(42-13, 20-10)

Kentucky swept the regular season series, but USC blew 2 six run leads on Sat and Sunday and UK won on a walkoff homer on Friday

Kentucky is making its first trip to Hoover in several years, USC is making its 8th straight appearance

Link to live stats

http://www.secsports.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=5&url_article_id=7400&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2

[hogfan13]

My Day 1 Picks

Kentucky
Georgia
Alabama
Arkansas

[hogfan064]

My Day 1 Picks

Kentucky
Georgia
Alabama
Arkansas

Going with the favorites I see.  I'll say a little different

South Carolina-More tourney experience than the Cats and UK relies on power hitting.  Big ballparks hurt power hitting clubs

Georgia-They're red hot. Can't pick against them

Alabama-Should be and entertaining game.  LSU usually travels very well.  This game could get 10-15k

Arkansas-Payback for losing the series in Oxford

My SEC Tourney Final pick is

Alabama-Georgia with the Tide winning

[ErieHog]

My Day 1 Picks

Kentucky
Georgia
Alabama
Arkansas

Going with the favorites I see.  I'll say a little different

South Carolina-More tourney experience than the Cats and UK relies on power hitting.  Big ballparks hurt power hitting clubs
Georgia-They're red hot. Can't pick against them
Alabama-Should be and entertaining game.  LSU usually travels very well.  This game could get 10-15k
Arkansas-Payback for losing the series in Oxford
My SEC Tourney Final pick is
Alabama-Georgia with the Tide winning

I'll go with KY, Georgia, LSU, and Arkansas.

[hogfan064]

My Day 1 Picks

Kentucky
Georgia
Alabama
Arkansas

Going with the favorites I see.  I'll say a little different

South Carolina-More tourney experience than the Cats and UK relies on power hitting.  Big ballparks hurt power hitting clubs
Georgia-They're red hot. Can't pick against them
Alabama-Should be and entertaining game.  LSU usually travels very well.  This game could get 10-15k
Arkansas-Payback for losing the series in Oxford
My SEC Tourney Final pick is
Alabama-Georgia with the Tide winning

I'll go with KY, Georgia, LSU, and Arkansas.

I'd like that.  I'd much rather play LSU than Bama in the 2nd round

[HoopS]

ya'll are freakin awesome!  I will be checking in all day now.  Thanks.. .+1's around the room from me.

[hogfan064]

ya'll are freakin awesome!  I will be checking in all day now.  Thanks.. .+1's around the room from me.

I'll do my best with updates until I leave work at 4:00

[ErieHog]

My Day 1 Picks

Kentucky
Georgia
Alabama
Arkansas

Going with the favorites I see.  I'll say a little different

South Carolina-More tourney experience than the Cats and UK relies on power hitting.  Big ballparks hurt power hitting clubs
Georgia-They're red hot. Can't pick against them
Alabama-Should be and entertaining game.  LSU usually travels very well.  This game could get 10-15k
Arkansas-Payback for losing the series in Oxford
My SEC Tourney Final pick is
Alabama-Georgia with the Tide winning

I'll go with KY, Georgia, LSU, and Arkansas.

I'd like that.  I'd much rather play LSU than Bama in the 2nd round

LSU fans usually travel well to Hoover; while I think Bama is the more talented team, LSU is always in the mix.  I'm not sure I have a preference, but it would be very nice to play far into the tournament.

[HoopS]

ya'll are freakin awesome!  I will be checking in all day now.  Thanks.. .+1's around the room from me.

I'll do my best with updates until I leave work at 4:00

any info along the way is good.   

[hogfan064]

Good Breakdown

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/14652334.htm


SEC capsules
NO. 1 ALABAMA

Record: 39-17, 20-10

Coach: Jim Wells

Top players: CF Emeel Salem, Jr. (.365, 32 SB, 60 R); LHP Wade LeBlanc, Jr. (9-0, 2.89 ERA); C Kody Valverde, Sr. (.330, 10 HRs, 49 RBIs)

Keep an eye on: Salem was the only unanimous selection to the All-SEC first team.

Buzz: The Crimson Tide are a streaky bunch; they won their final five regular-season games after snapping a four-game losing streak. Alabama leads the SEC with a 3.33 team ERA.

NO. 2 KENTUCKY

Record: 42-13, 20-10

Coach: John Cohen

Top players: 1B Ryan Strieby, Jr. (.340, 19 HRs, 75 RBIs), 2B John Shelby, Jr. (.293, 16 HRs, 11 SB); OF Collin Cowgill, So. (.315, 15 HRs, 57 RBIs)

Keep an eye on: Game 1 starter Aaron Tennyson, the Wildcats' dependable but vulnerable left-handed pitcher, has a 4.31 ERA; Kentucky might be pressing its luck giving the nod to the senior.

Buzz: The Wildcats have shocked the SEC by using large doses of power to stun teams and then put them away. Kentucky leads the conference with 92 home runs, and four players have at least 15.

NO. 3 GEORGIA

Record: 38-17, 18-12

Coach: Dave Perno

Top players: RHP Joshua Fields, So. (2-2, 1.77, 14 saves); 1B Josh Morris, Jr. (.322, 20 HRs, 59 RBIs)

Keep an eye on: Morris is the kind of power hitter who is fun to watch: home runs or bust. Of Morris' 68 hits, 20 are homers.

Buzz: The Bulldogs won 15 of their final 16 regular-season games, including two of three against Kentucky this past weekend. If Georgia had not struggled at the start of its conference schedule, it almost certainly would have won the SEC East.

NO. 4 ARKANSAS

Record: 38-17, 18-12

Coach: Dave Van Horn

Top players: LHP Nick Schmidt, So. (9-2, 2.81); LF Jake Dugger, Jr. (.326, 12 HRs, 42 RBIs)

Keep an eye on: Schmidt's 220-pound frame helped earn him some heavy-duty hardware, including the SEC's pitcher-of-the-year award.

Buzz: The Razorbacks swept Auburn to end the season on a high note; the team had lost two of its previous three SEC series.

NO. 5 MISSISSIPPI

Record: 36-20, 17-13

Coach: Mike Bianco

Top players: SS Zach Cozart, So. (.345, 9 HRs, 60 RBIs), 3B Chris Coghlan, Jr. (.345, 2 HRs, 20 SB)

Keep an eye on: Coghlan, hardly looks the part of speedster, but the 202-pound junior has been caught once in 21 steal attempts.

Buzz: The Rebels have been outstanding at Swayze Field, compiling a 26-8 home record. The team's road record is not so impressive, especially recently. Mississippi has lost seven of its past 10 road games.

NO. 6 VANDERBILT

Record: 33-23, 16-14

Coach: Tim Corbin

Top players: 3B Pedro Alvarez, Fr. (.330, 17 HRs, 55 RBIs); LHP David Price, So. (8-4, 4.18)

Keep an eye on: Alvarez is one of the SEC's most dependable third basemen and one of its best hitters. He was named SEC freshman of the year.

Buzz: The Commodores can thank a late-season pick-me-up for its berth in the SEC tournament. Vanderbilt, which went 6-3 in the final two weeks, was 2-8 the previous two weeks.

NO. 7 USC

Record: 36-20, 15-15

Coach: Ray Tanner

Top players: 1B Justin Smoak, Fr. (.298, 15 HRs, 53 RBIs), 3B Neil Giesler, So. (.364, 4 HRs, 49 RBIs), RHP Wynn Pelzer, So. (4-3, 3.25, 4 saves)

Keep an eye on: Coaches say Pelzer has the Gamecocks' best arm. He will return to the bullpen after more than a month in the weekend starting rotation.

Buzz: The Gamecocks could be poised for a 2007 SEC championship or even a run at the national title. This year's team, however, is young and unproven. Two wins in the tournament might be a stretch.

NO. 8 LSU

Record: 34-22, 13-17

Coach: Smoke Laval

Top players: OF Quinn Stewart, Sr. (.286, 22 HRs, 55 RBIs); SS Michael Hollander, So. (.285, 5 HRs, 5 SB)

Keep an eye on: Leadoff man Bruce Sprowl has the speed and sense to sniff out triples. The Tigers' left fielder has five of them, which is tied for third in the SEC.

Buzz: At least the Tigers can play defense. LSU's .973 fielding percentage is No. 2 in the SEC. Its batting average and ERA, however, are each ranked in the bottom half of the conference

[CharlieHog]

South Carolina
Georgia
Alabama
Arkansas

[CharlieHog]

clicked on the livestats and saw that secsports was predicting a UK victory...

[hogfan064]

Yeah they have UK 5 USC 3. 

And what's up with the East Carolina-George Mason game?

[Hawgzilla]

    Anywhere I can print a tournament bracket,or would that be a mess with all the games.......... :razorback:

[hogfan064]

    Anywhere I can print a tournament bracket,or would that be a mess with all the games.......... :razorback:

http://www.secsports.com/doc_lib/bbc_2006_bracket.pdf

[Hawgzilla]

    Anywhere I can print a tournament bracket,or would that be a mess with all the games.......... :razorback:

http://www.secsports.com/doc_lib/bbc_2006_bracket.pdf

                          Thanks Hogfan 064.... :razorback:

[hogfan064]

http://www.al.com/sports/mobileregister/nmccready.ssf?/base/sports/114846214879210.xml&coll=3

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

HOOVER -- Three different Southeastern Conference baseball teams were ranked No. 1 at least once during the regular season.
Only one of those clubs, South Carolina, qualified for the SEC tournament, which begins today at the Hoover Met.
The Gamecocks, by the way, are no longer ranked. Instead, they enter this morning's tournament opener against Kentucky as the seventh seed.

That, in a nutshell, is how good the SEC is in baseball these days.
"This league will get you if you're not at your best," South Carolina coach Ray Tanner said. "If you're playing a team that is good and you're not at your best, you're going to pay. That happened to us a couple of weekends."
Florida, which lost to Texas in the finals of the College World Series last season, was ranked No. 1 early in the season but won just 10 of 30 league games this year and failed to make it here. Last year's tournament champion, Mississippi State, was ranked No. 1 two months ago but missed the eighth and final spot in Hoover by one-half game after losing two of three games last weekend against Ole Miss.
"It's a battle every weekend," said Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco, who picked up his 100th conference win Saturday and has quietly guided the Rebels to 70 league victories in the past four years, the top mark in the SEC during that period.
I know what you're thinking: Coaches in every league, in every sport, say this just before the postseason begins. And you're right, they do. It's just that in baseball in the SEC, all the coachspeak rings true.
From top to bottom -- and that's the key phrase -- the SEC is easily the nation's best baseball league. The two worst teams this season, Florida and Auburn, are highly respected programs that are often among the nation's elite. Realistically, as many as six SEC programs -- Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, Ole Miss and South Carolina -- have the talent in place this season to get to the College World Series next month in Omaha and compete for the national championship. Without a doubt that's impressive stuff, or it would be if many people noticed.
SEC fans prefer to brag about the league's football prowess instead. The problem with that is it's simply not true anymore. In fact, it's not even close.

Think about it. How many of the SEC's 12 football programs could be classified as true national title contenders in the upcoming season? LSU and Auburn, maybe? Granted, Georgia is a perennial national power, and from all indications Alabama and Florida are close to returning to that status. Tennessee is falling, as Arkansas seems to be. South Carolina is an unknown. The others -- Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Kentucky -- are really just awful programs searching for solid footing.
Sure, Florida just won a national championship in basketball and is a wonderful program. Despite its recent struggles, Kentucky is, well, Kentucky. LSU just reached the Final Four. Alabama will be nationally competitive next season, as will Arkansas. However, several programs -- Auburn and Ole Miss immediately come to mind -- are just atrocious.
That's not the case in SEC baseball. Every team is competitive. Unlike basketball, where several of the league's facilities are outdated barns, the league's baseball stadiums rank among the best in the country and improvements are forthcoming. It makes for a volatile, fascinating mix every season.

Last season, Kentucky lost 22 of its 29 league games. This year, the Wildcats won 20 of 30, swept South Carolina and both Mississippi schools at home, and are in the mix to host an NCAA Regional next week in Lexington. Kentucky and Alabama will both take home SEC regular-season title trophies this weekend.
"To go from last to first is obviously great for us," Kentucky assistant Gary Henderson said. "I think our conference every year is so competitive that one or two significant injuries or just a bad run at any time, I think any coach would tell you that no coach is immune from having a bad year."
The opposite is also true. No coach is immune from having a dream season, at least not in the league that is king of the college baseball world.
Do you think Bobby Johnson, Ed Orgeron, Rich Brooks or Sylvester Croom can say the same?

[CharlieHog]

free audio from South Carolina via Yahoo

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/collegebroadcast/teams/sbf

[hogfan064]

Tourney has started

UK-USC
Anyone want some play by play?

Top 1
Hurst up first for USC and strikes out

[hogfan064]

free audio from South Carolina via Yahoo

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/collegebroadcast/teams/sbf

Free audio for me on the radio in Columbia

[hogfan064]

405 to center, 385 down the lines.  Big park.  This should help the Hogs since we are good at small ball.  Could hurt UK

[hogfan064]

USC gets 1 runner on, but nothing else. 

Bottom 1st

USC 0
UK coming to bat

[HoopS]

Personally Hogfan, an occasional update would be enough for me but its all good.

[Cajun Hog]

My Day 1 Picks

Kentucky
Georgia
Alabama
Arkansas

Going with the favorites I see.  I'll say a little different

South Carolina-More tourney experience than the Cats and UK relies on power hitting.  Big ballparks hurt power hitting clubs
Georgia-They're red hot. Can't pick against them
Alabama-Should be and entertaining game.  LSU usually travels very well.  This game could get 10-15k
Arkansas-Payback for losing the series in Oxford
My SEC Tourney Final pick is
Alabama-Georgia with the Tide winning

I'll go with KY, Georgia, LSU, and Arkansas.

My picks So. Carolina, Georgia, LSU and Hogs.

[hogfan064]

Personally Hogfan, an occasional update would be enough for me but its all good.

I don't think I'll do batter by batter.  I'll do updates when a run is scored and at the end of each half inning. If it was a Hog game I'd do batter by batter

[hogfan064]

End of 1st

USC 0
UK 0

[hogfan064]

Bottom 2nd

USC 0
UK 0

Announcer says about 50 fans from UK and 50 from USC in attendance right now.  I doubt UGA-Vandy gets many fans either.  The night session will be packed

[CharlieHog]

Everytime I listen to another broadcast I think: I LOVE CHUCK BARRETT.

[wincrimson]

Kentucky, UGA, Alabama, and Arkansas will all win today IMO...

[LA HAWG]

I have a question, is this a double elimination tournament?  I know there is a losers bracket but it says if both bracket winners are undefeated the championship game would be Sunday.  Would there not be a three game series for that if it was indeed double elim.?

[hogfan064]

I have a question, is this a double elimination tournament?  I know there is a losers bracket but it says if both bracket winners are undefeated the championship game would be Sunday.  Would there not be a three game series for that if it was indeed double elim.?

It's double elim until the title game. 

[CharlieHog]

I have a question, is this a double elimination tournament?  I know there is a losers bracket but it says if both bracket winners are undefeated the championship game would be Sunday.  Would there not be a three game series for that if it was indeed double elim.?

Yes it's double elimination but they aren't going to play a 3 game series if both are undefeated.

[LA HAWG]

I have a question, is this a double elimination tournament?  I know there is a losers bracket but it says if both bracket winners are undefeated the championship game would be Sunday.  Would there not be a three game series for that if it was indeed double elim.?

It's double elim until the title game. 

Okay, makes sense.  Thanks hogfan!  Go Hogs!!! :razorback:

[hogfan064]

Everytime I listen to another broadcast I think: I LOVE CHUCK BARRETT.

USC's broadcaster Mike Morgan I think is actually very good.  He was a finalist for the Carolina Panther's Play by play job last year.   The color guy for road games is 80+ year old Tom Price who is very boring to listen to.

[LA HAWG]

I have a question, is this a double elimination tournament?  I know there is a losers bracket but it says if both bracket winners are undefeated the championship game would be Sunday.  Would there not be a three game series for that if it was indeed double elim.?

Yes it's double elimination but they aren't going to play a 3 game series if both are undefeated.

I appreciate it charliehog!

[CharlieHog]

USC's broadcaster Mike Morgan I think is actually very good.  He was a finalist for the Carolina Panther's Play by play job last year.   The color guy for road games is 80+ year old Tom Price who is very boring to listen to.

The pbp guy isn't bad. Very easy to listen to although not as good as Chuck. The color guy sounds drunk.

[hogfan064]

UK went down 1-2-3 in 2nd.

top 3rd

USC 0
UK 0

[hogfan064]

USC's broadcaster Mike Morgan I think is actually very good.  He was a finalist for the Carolina Panther's Play by play job last year.   The color guy for road games is 80+ year old Tom Price who is very boring to listen to.

The pbp guy isn't bad. Very easy to listen to although not as good as Chuck. The color guy sounds drunk.

Well, Tom Price was the SID at USC for like 50 years.  He actually tells some good stories, but he's older than dirt or Frank Broyles take your pick

[hogfan064]

For home games USC doesn't use Price, they a much better color guy

[hogfan064]

Bottom 3rd

USC 0
UK 0

[CharlieHog]

Well, Tom Price was the SID at USC for like 50 years.  He actually tells some good stories, but he's older than dirt or Frank Broyles take your pick

That's what I love about Rick doing color for our games. He has great stories. Something will remind him of somebody that played on our team in 1977 and he's got a story about that guy.

[hogfan064]

Well, Tom Price was the SID at USC for like 50 years.  He actually tells some good stories, but he's older than dirt or Frank Broyles take your pick

That's what I love about Rick doing color for our games. He has great stories. Something will remind him of somebody that played on our team in 1977 and he's got a story about that guy.

That's why I think listening to baseball is actually better than watching it.  The radio guy has to keep the audience interested and some of the stories that baseball PBP and color guys tell are just great

[CharlieHog]

Well, Tom Price was the SID at USC for like 50 years.  He actually tells some good stories, but he's older than dirt or Frank Broyles take your pick

That's what I love about Rick doing color for our games. He has great stories. Something will remind him of somebody that played on our team in 1977 and he's got a story about that guy.

That's why I think listening to baseball is actually better than watching it.  The radio guy has to keep the audience interested and some of the stories that baseball PBP and color guys tell are just great

I agree. Any other sport I'd much rather watch on TV but baseball, especially college baseball, is better on the radio.

[hogfan064]

Bottom 4th

USC 0
UK 0

[hogfan064]

Well, Tom Price was the SID at USC for like 50 years.  He actually tells some good stories, but he's older than dirt or Frank Broyles take your pick

That's what I love about Rick doing color for our games. He has great stories. Something will remind him of somebody that played on our team in 1977 and he's got a story about that guy.

That's why I think listening to baseball is actually better than watching it.  The radio guy has to keep the audience interested and some of the stories that baseball PBP and color guys tell are just great

I agree. Any other sport I'd much rather watch on TV but baseball, especially college baseball, is better on the radio.

That's why I think the football announcers are overrated.  Calling a football game is easy(I do it for a highschool)  Baseball has so much deadtime you have to be very creative to be good

[hogfan064]

UK goes down 1-2-3

Top 5th

USC 0
UK 0

Keep in mind these are 2 of the top hitting teams in the conference.  The big ballpark is showing its effect

[hogfan064]

USC hit 2 deep balls in the top 5th, but Hoovers size at the balls up

Bottom 5th

USC 0
UK 0

[CharlieHog]

Keep in mind these are 2 of the top hitting teams in the conference.  The big ballpark is showing its effect

I'm not 100% sure, but I think Cliff Hagen and Sarge Frye must be the 2 smallest parks in the conference.

[hogfan064]

UK goes down 1-2-3 again

Top 6th

USC 0
UK 0

SEC freshman of the year Mike Cisco pitching a 1 hitter so far

[hogfan064]

Keep in mind these are 2 of the top hitting teams in the conference.  The big ballpark is showing its effect

I'm not 100% sure, but I think Cliff Hagen and Sarge Frye must be the 2 smallest parks in the conference.

Hagen is the smallest.  Sarge Frye is also very small.  Sarge Frye is 390 to center 325 down the lines.