| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Gwinnett
791 Posts |
 Posted - 03/20/2012 : 12:34:10
|
This looks like a good one!
EC Braves
EC Longhorns
EC Select Bulldogs
EC Astros
RBA Titans
Ga Greys
643 DP Cougars
NG Bulldogs-Red
Elite Gamers
Copperheads blue
Alpharetta A's
Without seeing brackets I'll take EC Longhorns and RBA Titans in the ship. The Longhorns winning it.
|
|
|
Beaux
23 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2012 : 15:16:01
|
| I think you have to go with Braves and Grays depending on how the brackets line up. RBA Titans might be the hardest team to pick, because you simply do not know how they will play. Loads of talent but sometimes seem to be themselves. |
 |
|
|
ecbpappi
244 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2012 : 18:25:02
|
| Alpharetta A's vs. Copperheads in ship, game is determined by a balk in last inning.... |
|
|
|
ballfan14
12 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2012 : 19:54:45
|
Well.....since the brackets are now out, we will see what the teams in pool A are all about. That will settle a couple things. First, Astros will be playing some stiff competition and second, braves finally get a hard pool draw......maybe the baseballs gods read this forum????
Should make for an interesting Sunday! |
|
|
|
eastcobbkreskin
143 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2012 : 23:05:40
|
BFAN,
I would disagree as this tournament is set up different. The Brackets are preset from the pools insuring that the teams in each pool will not see each other in the first bracket game. So if they put the best teams in the same pool then they will not play one another until at least the second bracket game. The first place seed in pool A could not see the other two teams from Pool A until the Championship game. 2nd place in Pool A does not get a bye so you are playing for the bye and the saving of your pitching if you want to win Pool A. Do you risk your pitching in pool play, if you are the Astros and Grays, I would not. The Braves will have enough either way. The question will be which one of the pool A teams will see the Longhorns first. The Longhorns may want to shoot for 2nd in there pool and meet the Braves in the semis. You want to see the Braves before they get to the championship game!
quote:
Originally posted by ballfan14
Well.....since the brackets are now out, we will see what the teams in pool A are all about. That will settle a couple things. First, Astros will be playing some stiff competition and second, braves finally get a hard pool draw......maybe the baseballs gods read this forum????
Should make for an interesting Sunday!
|
|
|
|
ballfan14
12 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 08:07:14
|
Eastconnreskin,
I completely understand what you are saying.....I also understand that this is sort of "setting" the tournament up so some teams don't meet to later. Why doesn't USSSA just go by their rules and set the pools up by points and let the chips fall wherever they fall? In any case, it should be a great weekend of baseball! |
|
|
|
titans
94 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 08:41:13
|
| I totally agree with the previous posts. They should have scheduled the pool games based on points as is required, and also to avoid any manipulation of the bracket games schedule. Looks to me like Pool A was set up so those three team wouldn't play each other again until the semis (top four qualify). Using points would have been the most fair to all teams, but as we all know, fair pool schedules tend to be a struggle at this age group. |
|
|
|
Gwinnett
791 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 08:42:24
|
Ballfan14, that's what everybody is wondering why?
[qIuote]Originally posted by ballfan14
Eastconnreskin,
I completely understand what you are saying.....I also understand that this is sort of "setting" the tournament up so some teams don't meet to later. Why doesn't USSSA just go by their rules and set the pools up by points and let the chips fall wherever they fall? In any case, it should be a great weekend of baseball!
[/quote] |
|
|
|
GA Grays
42 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 08:48:43
|
| USSSA is going by their rules. The pools are set up by points. If you are a AAA team, the points don't matter, you seed the Majors first then triple A. If you snake this out as is U-trip policy, the seedings are spot on. It's just the way it happened to fall this week. No conspiracy sorry. Good luck to everyone and you guys take it easy on us. |
|
|
|
Gwinnett
791 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 09:30:12
|
| Like ecball told me recently "nobody said travel ball was fair". |
Edited by - Gwinnett on 03/21/2012 10:52:23 |
|
|
|
Beaux
23 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 10:02:22
|
GA Gray-- I think we understand your point...But if you go by what eckreskin wrote, “So if they put the best teams in the same pool then they will not play one another until at least the second bracket game. The first place seed in pool A could not see the other two teams from Pool A until the Championship game”....then you apply the u-trip points system to define the best teams you would have a different alignment. The top four as of today, based solely on the u-trip points, would be Braves, Longhorns, Bulldogs and Titans.
I think common sense would lead you to believe that there was an attempt to not have the pool a teams play each other in the first bracket....does it matter? I am not sure because honestly after watching most of these teams play I think 8 of the 11 have as good a chance as anyone to win.
|
|
|
|
Travledad
17 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 10:40:32
|
| I think it was best said by ecball in another post "nobody said travel ball was fair". |
|
|
|
GA Grays
42 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 11:06:13
|
| Okay, I see what you're saying. It looks as if the brackets were manipulated from the pool schedule. I was only looking at how the pools were done and they are accurate. I will say I had a problem last year in FL, when the GA teams had to play each other. It actually worked out for my guys, even though we didn't make the finals. If recent history stays in line a very good team will be left out of the semis. I just hope we play well enough to get there. We're too up and down. Consistency is the key word for our pitchers this weekend. Good luck to everyone. |
|
|
|
eastcobbkreskin
143 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 11:45:14
|
| Is it possible they are using the power rating Vs the points? |
|
|
|
titans
94 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 12:11:57
|
| Should have done bracket play based on seeding - #1-#11 (like the SNIT) rather than pool rank. Takes away the subjectivity. I get that travel ball isn't always fair or right, and we should have asked about the format before entering. |
Edited by - titans on 03/21/2012 12:26:50 |
|
|
|
in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 12:54:33
|
Guys, You don't understand how pools are seeded by USSSA. I'll explain and then you'll see that they were seeded correctly and by points.
First, understand that pools are striped in alternating order. So assume that each team is assigned a ranking with the team with the most points ranked 1, second most 2, and so on. Also, as previously mentioned, Major teams are ranked first, then AAA, then AA, etc., so that the lowest point major team will rank higher than the highest point AAA team.
Using this method across the three pools (call them A, B & C), you assign the 1 team to A, 2 team to B and 3 team to C. You then continue this method striping back in the reverse order (this favors the top ranked team) so the 4 team goes to pool C, 5 team to pool B and 6 team to pool A. Continue again beginning with pool A puts the 7 team in A, 8 team in B and 9 team in C. Repeat again in reverse puts 10 team in C and 11 team in B. This is why you see 3 teams in pool A and 4 teams in both pools B & C.
If you work this out on paper, then you'll see that this is EXACTLY how the pools were seeded and it is EXACTLY per USSSA's seeding methods. USSSA also creates brackets in a manner that teams play out of pools into bracket against teams they didn't play in pool so that first round matches are pool protected. Again, this is the standard way USSSA brackets after pool play.
There is no conspiracy or aligning of pools to ensure teams don't meet in bracket. There is no aligning of pools to pit top teams or avoid top matchups. This is exactly what everyone has been demanding all along; the stated rules of seeding have been followed, points were used to do so, and no preference has been given to any teams other than the natural seeding based on the USSSA points earned by that team. |
|
|
|
Beaux
23 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 14:08:21
|
In-the-Know, with all do respect U-trip does not always follow your explain when creating match ups. Just take at look at the SNIT...under your logic CF Gators being ranked #2 would have played in pool b instead g. Braves would have played in C instead of H and so on on.
It's just as easy to follow #1 to A, #2 to B, #3 to C, #4 A, #5 to B, etc, as it would be to follow your example. My gut tells me that several drafts where laid out, and this one was the one that made the most sense. Nothing wrong it, just don't tell us that it wasn't arranged. We are all not that naive.
Any way let's play ball!!!!It's going to be a great weekend of baseball. |
|
|
|
TOPDOG
92 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 14:13:43
|
| in the know, check out the 9u in this tourney and let me know if you think it was done correctly? from what i can tell it was striped correctly except for two teams and that could have been a schedule conflict. my question is in the pool standing, i thought bulldogs should play yard dogs and yankees. i could care less either way, i am just curious to see if i missed something. |
|
|
|
in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 15:21:26
|
quote:
Originally posted by TOPDOG
in the know, check out the 9u in this tourney and let me know if you think it was done correctly? from what i can tell it was striped correctly except for two teams and that could have been a schedule conflict. my question is in the pool standing, i thought bulldogs should play yard dogs and yankees. i could care less either way, i am just curious to see if i missed something.
Done correctly, ECB Titans should have been in Pool B and ECB Black Knights should have been in Pool C. Not sure why they have the two swapped, but you're probably correct that it has to do with scheduling. As far as the actual match-ups in pool A, it looks like that gave seed 1 best preference playing seeds 4 & 5, then seed 2 got second preference playing seeds 3 & 5, then the final matchup between seeds 3 & 4. This looks to be the fairest way of giving top seeds preference and getting everyone 2 games. |
Edited by - in_the_know on 03/21/2012 20:13:40 |
|
|
|
tae281
447 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 15:39:29
|
| Pools are fine, either way you will need to play some very good teams to advance to the semi finals. If the Longhorns are fotunate enough to make the semi finals, we would be more then happy to give our birth to any team who wants to go because we are not going to Valdosta to play in the April tournament. |
|
|
|
mstimpson
57 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 20:24:07
|
quote:
Originally posted by GA Grays
Okay, I see what you're saying. It looks as if the brackets were manipulated from the pool schedule. I was only looking at how the pools were done and they are accurate. I will say I had a problem last year in FL, when the GA teams had to play each other. It actually worked out for my guys, even though we didn't make the finals. If recent history stays in line a very good team will be left out of the semis. I just hope we play well enough to get there. We're too up and down. Consistency is the key word for our pitchers this weekend. Good luck to everyone.
Great point about last year in Florida Ga Grays! When the game schedule came out, the first question my son asked me was, "Why are we driving all the way down here to play Stealth?" I hope it truly makes this year, as the concept is good and Georgia has the potential to send some great teams to Valdosta this year. |
|
|
|
Gwinnett
791 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 20:43:07
|
| Either way it looks like some great match ups. Looks like there will be some great games. Can't wait to watch! |
|
|
|
eastcobbkreskin
143 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 21:19:05
|
Thanks, ITK, you are correct for this weekend's tournament! I've learned something new today!
Major - point standings
5. ECB Braves - A
12. ECB Longhorns - B
15. ECB Select Bulldogs - C
16. RBA Titans - C
18. Elite Gamers - B
20. Georgia Grays - A
22. ECB Astros - A
26. 643 DP Cougers - B
29. North Gwinnett Bulldogs-Red - C
AAA - point standings
8 Copperheads Blue - C
41 Alpharetta A's - B |
|
|
|
in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2012 : 23:26:14
|
quote:
Originally posted by Beaux
In-the-Know, with all do respect U-trip does not always follow your explain when creating match ups. Just take at look at the SNIT...under your logic CF Gators being ranked #2 would have played in pool b instead g. Braves would have played in C instead of H and so on on.
It's just as easy to follow #1 to A, #2 to B, #3 to C, #4 A, #5 to B, etc, as it would be to follow your example. My gut tells me that several drafts where laid out, and this one was the one that made the most sense. Nothing wrong it, just don't tell us that it wasn't arranged. We are all not that naive.
Any way let's play ball!!!!It's going to be a great weekend of baseball.
I'm not about to say that they do it correctly every time, or that there aren't instances of where pools have been intentionally manipulated. You're absolutely correct in stating that the SNIT was not seeded properly. No clue why. If you want to think the guys in the black helicopters had something to do with it, your prerogative. I'm just saying that they were seeded correctly in this case (which is what this thread is about). As to your "just as easy to follow" example above, yes, you could seed that way, however, it's not correct. By doing so you actually create a disadvantage/tougher pool draw for the team with the top points, and an easier pool draw for all the teams ranked below them. In your example you have Seeds 1 & 4 together and 2 & 5 and 3 & 6. So no advantage to the 1 seed and the 3 seed actually gets a lesser opponent (based on points). That's not the correct way to do it. I'm sure it's done this way frequently, however that doesn't make it correct. |
|
|
|
TOPDOG
92 Posts |
Posted - 03/22/2012 : 09:17:06
|
quote:
Originally posted by tae281
Pools are fine, either way you will need to play some very good teams to advance to the semi finals. If the Longhorns are fotunate enough to make the semi finals, we would be more then happy to give our birth to any team who wants to go because we are not going to Valdosta to play in the April tournament.
Tae, if you are not going to Valdosta if you finish top 4, Then why are you playing in this tournament????
This has hit sore subject with me because the same thing happened to us in the Super NIT this weekend. Going into the tourney we knew there were two teams there that already had a berth. so the question was asked to usssa, what happens if they finish 1st or second in this tourney? we were told it would be passed down. so sure enough, we make it to the semis and the two teams with the berths make it to the semis in the other bracket, and with Atlanta getting two Berths we are in right? WRONG!!!! We had even told our boys they had earned their berth to Disney after 3 tries. Can you imagine the feeling these 9yr old boys are going to have when we have to tell them they are not going. So all i am saying Tae is make sure if you do finish in the top 4, and i hope you do, that usssa will let you pass your berth along. It could end up being a way for them to host another tourney advertising one spot left for the ga/fla. showdown. |
|
|
|
Beaux
23 Posts |
Posted - 03/22/2012 : 09:21:27
|
I-T-K, I think I just heard a helicopter fly by...LOL. It's a fun topic to explore and to get the different opinions and views on how schedules are create depending on tournaments.
I think the consensus is that this small collection of teams will make for some fun and interesting brand of baseball to watch this weekend.
|
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
