SB Open Thread vs Cal on ESPN2

Submitted by MGoSoftball on

The SB team is playing Cal in the Regionals on ESPN2.  Cal defeated Pitt yesterday to advance.  

ESPN has the game scheduled and announced at 4pm.  the MgoBlue website that is linked to the NCAA Regional Brackets has the game starting at 6:30pm.  Usually TV is more acurate, so I am opening this thread assuming the game is at 4pm.

justingoblue

May 16th, 2015 at 11:46 PM ^

With a weird twist of fate I'll be in town tomorrow. Can anyone familiar with the last day fill me in on how tough getting a ticket will be? Full disclosure: this is the first place I've gone to, so if the box office still has tickets I'll be unaware for the next few minutes.

Edit: MGoBlue is sold out, no results on Craigslist or StubHub. Help! Please! Anyone!

MGoSoftball

May 17th, 2015 at 12:03 AM ^

I would hang out by the outfield entrance by the main parking lot.  You will find a ticket.  

Your M Card is not accepted at NCAA Sanctioned Events.  I did this a few years ago as my schedule opened up and I said what the hell, and went to the game without a ticket.  You will not have a problem finding a single in the outfield bleachers.

freejs

May 17th, 2015 at 12:03 AM ^

they are praising this umpiring crew as "dynamite," meanwhile the strike zone is literally random. 

The announcers are referring to the "outside edge," but the ball is literally in the opposite batter's box. 

I don't know who we would have preferred to face, so it's really neither here nor there, but as much as I enjoy these games, the strike "zone" just drives me batty. 

MGoSoftball

May 17th, 2015 at 12:15 AM ^

have been kissing ass all day.  I know they are trying to make the game interesting for the "common folks" but they need to calm down.

The Umpires were inconsistant that is for sure but that is the nature of softball.  Some umpires call the game "nose to toes, dugout to dugout" while others have a more traditional baseball strikezone.

I prefer the smaller strikezone because it forces the pitchers to try and pitch around us.  However our powerful lineup takes advantage quickly.

freejs

May 17th, 2015 at 12:22 AM ^

"The first diagram will be a horizontal representation depicting the width of the strike zone.  The limits of the width are bounded by the edges of the 17-inch wide home plate plus the width of the softball as it grazes either edge."

HA HA HA HA HA. 

http://cagesplus.com/prop-addresses-college-softball-strike-zone/

Apparently, that's a diagram the NCAA "Playing Rules Oversight Panel" put out there. 

I still don't get why they can't find better umps than this, but I guess it is what it is. 

MGoSoftball

May 17th, 2015 at 12:46 AM ^

I would not have believed it.  I would imagine that most people, coaches and players prefer the smaller strikezone.  Pitchers hate it.

It makes the game more interesting to watch from the common folk.  Now I have been coaching for 20 years so a 1-0, dual no hitter is a great game IMO.  But I understand most people like to see offense.