[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSWzPIE0BAA[/youtube]
So here we are, twenty Mondays from knowing who will be vying for the national championship in 2013. Yeah I know, let’s not rush ourselves to get there, right? But remember how fast college baseball seasons go? Keep in mind kids, time only goes faster the older you get. So get ready to say, “Man, I can’t believe this season is already over.”
In that spirit, here’s our first of 20 Mondays to the title. Each Monday this season I’ll try to take a few minutes to review what happened over the weekend and what to look for in the week ahead. Sometimes it’ll be posted early on Monday, sometimes it’ll be posted late Monday night, all depending on my travel schedule and things I want to discuss. So bear with me as we go through the season. Either way, it’ll be a fun bunch of Mondays until the last Monday in June gets here.
To kick things off for this season, check out the first Baldcast of the year I posted above about the things I’m looking forward to in the next five months…
There’s your hateful, repugnant waste of seven minutes, Baldcast-style.
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- ATHLON SPORTS.
As I had told you guys about before, Athlon magazine tabbed me to write their Top 25 with capsules for their preseason baseball magazine. It was just posted on the Athlon Sports site today.
Here’s the link if you want to check it out.
One thing you might notice that is different is my write up of Florida State, which now doesn’t include a mention of soph pitcher Mike Compton, who just recently was lost for the season to Tommy John surgery. In fact, had we known about Compton’s injury earlier, dare I say I might’ve even dropped FSU down from my No. 11 spot in the rankings. I might’ve put teams like South Carolina, Oregon, Arizona and Louisville – my 12-through-15 – ahead of the Seminoles. Then again, we all had doom and gloom headed FSU’s way in last year’s preseason, only to see Mike Martin and Co. put it in our faces with a 50-win season that ended in Omaha.
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- THE NAME.
Gotta give partial credit for the moniker “20 Mondays” to the late 80s band Twenty Mondays. They were kind of an atmospheric shoe-gazer type of band who had nearly no commercial success in the decade of excess. I believe they were from the Houston area… I might be wrong. My brother’s ex-girlfriend used to dig ‘em and would play their songs from time to time on our Kenwood stereo CD player.
Here’s an audio clip of one of the few songs of theirs I ever heard called “The Twist Inside” Click on this link here.
As an FYI, I don’t believe the band ever made a video and I’m not even sure if they lasted into the 90s or not. If anyone has any info on Twenty Mondays, slap me back.
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Da.Owl says:
Dude … Twenty Mondays are back
Google them for details. See you @ The Reck.
Trent seaman says:
Stitch, very excited to see the first baldcast!. R u going to catch the gophers at ucla this weekend?
Eric Sorenson says:
Trent, There’s a chance I’ll see the Gophers, though there are a lot of decent matchups to choose from. You ARE flying out for it, right?
Bunts says:
Yes! The first Baldcast of 2013! Let the games begin. Totaly agree with you on Florida being an interesting team to watch. They are depleted, but with Sully at the helm I think that he’ll get more out of those guys than people expect. Seems like everyone is drinking the North Carolina blue Kool Aid. Can’t wait to see how that plays out.
Greensboro Road Whores need love too.
Cardinal 20 says:
Your blog is one of my few must reads, thanks for all the work you do covering the greatest sport in the known world!
Go Gophers says:
—”Greensboro Road Whores…” Bwaaaahahahaha!
—”Oral Roberts…made everyone their bitch in the Summit League..”
—Too funny. So glad the season has arrived so we get to hear gems like these.
NECBLfan says:
Being a Northern college baseball fan, I like the fact that they’ve weighted road wins more heavily, but the ratio is WAY too high (1.3 points for a road win, 0.7 for a home win). It’s tougher to win on the road, of course, but is is nearly twice as tough? Do road wins really deserve that boost?
Carrol L. says:
Hey Eric,
Is there any chance that you’ll make the trip to Minute Maid Park in a couple weeks for the MLB Tournament?
Trent seaman says:
Stitch, while you are at irvine vs Baylor this weekend, can u find out what happened to long time assistant, Mitch Thompson? One of the great guys in college baseball..
Eric Sorenson says:
NECBL, I’m not sure how much of a boost road wins should get, but all these years of getting nothing were freakin’ stupid – given that the minds behind the basketball formula were smart enough to factor that in years ago.
Carrol L. I did notice that Minute Maid hoedown on the schedule. Not sure if I’ll make it or not. It’s a possibility for now. Always such a great weekend in downtown Houston for that one.
Trent, if I make it to Anteater Ballpark this weekend, I’ll ask around for you. I know nothing about that right now though.
LucienA says:
Thanks for all the hard work. Although a SWAC/JSU fan, I love reading about the other conference/teams.
Trent Seaman says:
What do you mean if you make it to Anteater Park? We should play a game each week, Guess What Parks Eric Will Show Up At This Weekend. Here is my first shot. You are not leaving SoCal, because your weather is too good to leave this time of year. So, I can see you going to Irvine vs Baylor, USC vs Fullerton, Gophers vs UCLA, out of your loyalty to me, and a fly by for Utah vs Loyal since it is in your back yard. To throw in a wild card, I could also see you heading down to San Diego for State vs San Diego.
Tim K says:
great to have these Monday posts to look forward to.
And of course Stich can’t let it be known what games he is going to. There are transplant Greensboro whores everywhere that he has to avoid.
GauchoSoul says:
You could of course make a trip up north for a day. Say up to Fresno to watch SB vs Fresno State then up to Berkeley to see Cal battle Michigan and see the upgrades being done to Evans Diamond.
Fat Sam says:
I agree with the other posters- glad to have the Baldcasts back. I agree with NECBL fan that the pendulum has swung too far. A top team could get pummeled on the road in 2 games against a weaker team, then eke out a one run victory in the third for 1.3 points. Meanwhile a weaker team could win 2 of 3 at home against a top ranked team and they’d get essentially the same weight for their wins.
And I like Trent’s “where is Stitch Head going this weekend” game. The reader’s picks would have to be blinded to Sorenson, however, to avoid any improprieties.mi think he could be bought if the price were right.
Carrol L. says:
Stitch, it would be great to see u at Minute Maid for the MLB Tournament. Unfortunately since we Southern Jaguars aren’t a “major conference team” we don’t get to see u nowadays since the tournament was moved from LA. It’s more convenient for us Baton Rouge folks who now don’t have to fork over large sums of hard earned cash for over-priced plane tickets to the left coast. I know you’re probably going to one of the “major” schools’ games that weekend, but it would be great to see you at Minute Maid. Regardless, have a great season!!!
Trent Seaman says:
Stitch, where r u tonight? The Stitcheads are demanding to know!