A "True" Baseball State Tourney, AT LAST!

[jr92]

The idea has been kicked around for the past few years, and it looks like it's finally coming.

 

 

 

 

 

Baseball tournament will get new look in 2010

Posted by Mike Fields on January 21, 2009

 

 

 

 

For the past several years, eight semi-state winners have come to Applebee’s Park in Lexington for the last three rounds of the state tournament, and that’s the way it will be again this June.

 

But starting in 2010, the tournament will be restructured. The semi-state round will be eliminated, and the 16 region winners will advance to Applebee’s Park for a full week of competition to determine the state baseball champion.

 

Julian Tackett of the KHSAA unveiled the plan at the Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association convention in Louisville last weekend.

 

In 2010, regional tournaments will start on Memorial Day, with semifinals three days later, and the finals the following Tuesday. That would give the regions plenty of time to be completed in case of bad weather.

 

The 16-team state tournament would have four first-round games on Monday and Tuesday, followed by the quarterfinals on Wednesday and Thursday, the semifinals on Friday and the finals on Saturday. Pitching rules, which limit the innings a pitcher can work, would be the same for all teams in the first and second rounds regardless of what days they play, so no teams would have a pitching advantage.

 

Alan Stein, president and CEO of the Lexington Legends whose home is Applebee’s Park, has been a booster of the 16-team format for years. “I’ve always thought it made a lot of sense, a no-brainer,” he said. “It allows a lot more kids to experience the state tournament; it means more motel rooms being filled in Lexington; the KHSAA makes more money; it’s beneficial to our company, and long-term, it’s good for baseball in the state of Kentucky.”

 

Stein said the Legends are willing to surrender a week of prime dates in June to host the high school event, and will work with the KHSAA on the best format, taking into account possible rainouts.

 

“We love the event, and we think it’s great for baseball overall,” Stein said. “We’ll be as flexible as we can be because we want it to happen.”

 

 

 

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[Knuckle]

With that much time to play the regional tournament you might be able to win the region with one pitcher.

[jr92]

With that much time to play the regional tournament you might be able to win the region with one pitcher.

 

My thoughts, exactly!

 

When this format begins, I look for a couple of things to happen.

 

 

1. You probably won't see nearly as many first round Regional Tournament upsets, as you may not see nearly as many coaches "saving" their number one for later and risking getting upset by a weaker team that happens to have one good pitcher. They can afford to use their best in the opening round, and still have him elgible for later.

 

 

2. Teams that have an absolute "stud", as their number one will use him through-out the Regional Tournament.

 

 

 

Still, I kinda like this format. It should prove to be interesting, and exciting for the 16 Region winners that get to play at Applebee's.

[Vols Fan 11]

Interesting! I like it!

[westsider]

I don't like it ... a typical cheap ploy by the KHSAA to get more teams and more money to the state tournament.

 

I especially don't like the change in the regional tournament format. What's wrong with the current setup?

[HDE]

I like the 16-team state tournament.

I also don't understand the need to change the regional format.

[hja1224]

I like the 16 teams going to Lexington but there is no reason to change the Regional format. Leave it the same and if it rains, do what they do now, play the next day. I would think this may affect the 9th region playing at Florence Freedom's place, which is a very nice venue.

[PAPA PIGSKIN]

I don't like the regional format because with a dominant pitcher on the mound that can come back after a couple of days they could pitch in all 3 region tourney games. I like it when you have to make decisions about pitchers and when a team has to use 3 pitchers in the tourney. I don't know why they went to this format. It measures the quality of a pitcher more than it does the quality of a team.

[The Engineer]

I liked the semi-state format. It gave the better "team" a better shot at winning a 3-game series. As has been mentioned before, it seems that this could heavily favor teams with one "stud"

 

But I do like the fact that more baseball gets to be spotlighted at Applebee's and more kids get the opportunity to experience the state tournament stage

[cooperstown]

The 16-team state tournament would have four first-round games on Monday and Tuesday, followed by the quarterfinals on Wednesday and Thursday, the semifinals on Friday and the finals on Saturday. Pitching rules, which limit the innings a pitcher can work, would be the same for all teams in the first and second rounds regardless of what days they play, so no teams would have a pitching advantage.

 

So how would this work exactly? If a pitcher for Team A throws on Monday and a pitcher for Team B throws on Tuesday, will they view it as though Team A pitcher's innings were actually thrown on Tuesday?

 

I agree with comments that the regional setup could potentially turn into a knothole scenario in which one pitcher single-handedly carries a team through a tourney. I wonder if they might be better served allowing a total inning limit for a pitcher over the duration of the regional tournament that would prevent a team from using just one (or even predominantly just one) pitcher to get by?

[Knuckle]

This may just be a one year thing and done. The AD's and Princaples of the KHSAA schools are being asked to look at and consider going to a class system for baseball, softball, and soccer. Maybe as early as 2011. I don't know if the KHSAA wants it to happen, but the baseball, softball, and soccer coachs are realy pushing for it.

[JBCousins]

The KHSAA is going to turn the regionals into fast-pitch softball. Find one great pitcher and it could be over. However, I do like the 16 team state tournament--it just makes sense for everyone.

As a general rule though, why do you take a sport that is not meant to be played everyday (basketball) and play 3 games within 24 hours (potentially), but you take a sport that is meant to be played everyday and play 3 games in 8 days?

[JBCousins]

So how would this work exactly? If a pitcher for Team A throws on Monday and a pitcher for Team B throws on Tuesday, will they view it as though Team A pitcher's innings were actually thrown on Tuesday?

 

Correct.

[xtrabasehit]

Typical dumb KHSAA thinking MONEY first, last and always.

Edited January 23, 2009 by STRIKE3
edited Rule #8 and comply w/Rule #13

[Pat Dad]

I like the 16 team format, but the regional would need to be redone.