[Mick]

The number of undefeated NCAA baseball teams is down to ten. The ACC has three teams currently undefeated, Stanford, Florida State and North Carolina. 

The rest:
SEC (4), Fla, 'bama, Tenn, Okla
Big 10 (1), Purdue
Big 12 (1), W. Va.
Missouri Valley (1) Murray State

These 24 conferences have no undefeated teams: AAC, America East, ASUN, Atlantic 10, Big East, Big South, Big West, Conference USA, Coastal Athletic, Horizon, Ivy, MAAC, Mid-American, Mountain West, NorthEast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Summit, Sun Belt, SWAC, WAC, WCC

[Mick]

The number of undefeated NCAA baseball teams is down to ten. The ACC has three teams currently undefeated, Stanford, Florida State and North Carolina. 

The rest:
SEC (4), Fla, 'bama, Tenn, Okla
Big 10 (1), Purdue
Big 12 (1), W. Va.
Missouri Valley (1) Murray State

These 24 conferences have no undefeated teams: AAC, America East, ASUN, Atlantic 10, Big East, Big South, Big West, Conference USA, Coastal Athletic, Horizon, Ivy, MAAC, Mid-American, Mountain West, NorthEast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Summit, Sun Belt, SWAC, WAC, WCC

[Sam Leopold]

Saum just hit a sacrifice fly to second.  If Tim Kurkjian did college baseball, that would make his "Quirk-Gems" for sure

[Sam Leopold]

Saum just hit a sacrifice fly to second.  If Tim Kurkjian did college baseball, that would make his "Quirk-Gems" for sure

[PVTree]

X holds on for the 5-4 win.

[PVTree]

X holds on for the 5-4 win.

[M T]

In the first game, Stanford had the tying run on 3rd but no go. 

Can’t Stanford afford a second camera???  The batter is tiny; the ball is practically a pixel.  No prayer of seeing what happened on a close play.  I feel like my nose is going to bleed. Where are my binoculars?

Clearly someone is controlling the camera. With a 2nd came focused on pitcher to umpire, the operator only needs to switch to the wide view when the ball is hit.   The camera on the battery probably wouldn’t show the annoying netting

[M T]

In the first game, Stanford had the tying run on 3rd but no go. 

Can’t Stanford afford a second camera???  The batter is tiny; the ball is practically a pixel.  No prayer of seeing what happened on a close play.  I feel like my nose is going to bleed. Where are my binoculars?

Clearly someone is controlling the camera. With a 2nd came focused on pitcher to umpire, the operator only needs to switch to the wide view when the ball is hit.   The camera on the battery probably wouldn’t show the annoying netting

[TonyLima]

In the first game, Stanford had the tying run on 3rd but no go. 

Can’t Stanford afford a second camera???  The batter is tiny; the ball is practically a pixel.  No prayer of seeing what happened on a close play.  I feel like my nose is going to bleed. Where are my binoculars?

Clearly someone is controlling the camera. With a 2nd came focused on pitcher to umpire, the operator only needs to switch to the wide view when the ball is hit.   The camera on the battery probably wouldn’t show the annoying netting

Second your question. In the past there were three cameras. But that adds a producer controlling the feeds to the output channel. No idea why we’re down to one. Re the net, I await the ai solution.

[TonyLima]

In the first game, Stanford had the tying run on 3rd but no go. 

Can’t Stanford afford a second camera???  The batter is tiny; the ball is practically a pixel.  No prayer of seeing what happened on a close play.  I feel like my nose is going to bleed. Where are my binoculars?

Clearly someone is controlling the camera. With a 2nd came focused on pitcher to umpire, the operator only needs to switch to the wide view when the ball is hit.   The camera on the battery probably wouldn’t show the annoying netting

Second your question. In the past there were three cameras. But that adds a producer controlling the feeds to the output channel. No idea why we’re down to one. Re the net, I await the ai solution.

[BobK]

Why would the netting be annoying? Certainly makes the game safer for those at the game.

[BobK]

Why would the netting be annoying? Certainly makes the game safer for those at the game.

[M T]

Why would the netting be annoying?  Certainly makes the game safer for those at the game.

No doubt the netting makes it safer and is required.

But, visually, the netting being visible is annoying.  In person, with your eyes focussed on the players, the netting is not going to be very noticeable.  The camera is ultra wide angle and has a very deep depth of focus, so the netting is in focus as well as the small players in the outfield.  The camera is some distance from the netting, so the netting is never out of focus.

For instance, the softball game at Georgia Tech has at least 4 cameras, one above & behind the plate, one from 3B, one from 1B, and one from Center Field.  Only one of those has netting in front of it, and it is rarely used. But when it is used, it is focused on a play, not the entire field.

[M T]

Why would the netting be annoying?  Certainly makes the game safer for those at the game.

No doubt the netting makes it safer and is required.

But, visually, the netting being visible is annoying.  In person, with your eyes focussed on the players, the netting is not going to be very noticeable.  The camera is ultra wide angle and has a very deep depth of focus, so the netting is in focus as well as the small players in the outfield.  The camera is some distance from the netting, so the netting is never out of focus.

For instance, the softball game at Georgia Tech has at least 4 cameras, one above & behind the plate, one from 3B, one from 1B, and one from Center Field.  Only one of those has netting in front of it, and it is rarely used. But when it is used, it is focused on a play, not the entire field.

[TonyLima]

Why would the netting be annoying?  Certainly makes the game safer for those at the game.

No doubt the netting makes it safer and is required.

But, visually, the netting being visible is annoying.  In person, with your eyes focussed on the players, the netting is not going to be very noticeable.  The camera is ultra wide angle and has a very deep depth of focus, so the netting is in focus as well as the small players in the outfield.  The camera is some distance from the netting, so the netting is never out of focus.

For instance, the softball game at Georgia Tech has at least 4 cameras, one above & behind the plate, one from 3B, one from 1B, and one from Center Field.  Only one of those has netting in front of it, and it is rarely used. But when it is used, it is focused on a play, not the entire field.

Seriously, thanks for the optics lesson.

[TonyLima]

Why would the netting be annoying?  Certainly makes the game safer for those at the game.

No doubt the netting makes it safer and is required.

But, visually, the netting being visible is annoying.  In person, with your eyes focussed on the players, the netting is not going to be very noticeable.  The camera is ultra wide angle and has a very deep depth of focus, so the netting is in focus as well as the small players in the outfield.  The camera is some distance from the netting, so the netting is never out of focus.

For instance, the softball game at Georgia Tech has at least 4 cameras, one above & behind the plate, one from 3B, one from 1B, and one from Center Field.  Only one of those has netting in front of it, and it is rarely used. But when it is used, it is focused on a play, not the entire field.

Seriously, thanks for the optics lesson.

[TonyLima]

Well, I guess we needed that jolt of reality. Dee-fense? Why bother? Sigh.

[TonyLima]

Well, I guess we needed that jolt of reality. Dee-fense? Why bother? Sigh.

[CTcard]

That fourth game sure left a bad taste in my mouth; it was a very poorly played game by Stanford. 
For now, I will remind myself that these things happen in baseball from time to time. 

As always, there was good and bad to the series. 

Good: 
- Through the first three games and 4+ innings the hitting remained strong. They got 43 hits in the series, including 6 home runs. 
- About 1/2 the pitching staff is throwing pretty well - and coming up we only have to last through 3 games on a weekend. 

Bad
- the other half of the pitching staff. (among other things, 26 free passes in the series including 6 HBP)
- defense
- base running
- timely hitting

Possibly the most interesting development of the series was that we saw frosh RHP Cohen Gomez to close out the final two innings of the last game. He's the second frosh pitcher (of 6) to get on the field this season. He was okay (no runs allowed) but Xavier was just cruising to victory at that point. 

Also noted that Kassius Thomas hasn't seen the field yet this year after 23 appearances last year. I am guessing some kind of health issue but know nothing. 

--------------
Now it is on to the big time. 
Three game series vs. 12-0 UNC at Chapel Hill this weekend. UNC is ranked #4, 4, 7. They haven't set foot outside of North Carolina yet this season, but we haven't yet been away from California.

[CTcard]

That fourth game sure left a bad taste in my mouth; it was a very poorly played game by Stanford. 
For now, I will remind myself that these things happen in baseball from time to time. 

As always, there was good and bad to the series. 

Good: 
- Through the first three games and 4+ innings the hitting remained strong. They got 43 hits in the series, including 6 home runs. 
- About 1/2 the pitching staff is throwing pretty well - and coming up we only have to last through 3 games on a weekend. 

Bad
- the other half of the pitching staff. (among other things, 26 free passes in the series including 6 HBP)
- defense
- base running
- timely hitting

Possibly the most interesting development of the series was that we saw frosh RHP Cohen Gomez to close out the final two innings of the last game. He's the second frosh pitcher (of 6) to get on the field this season. He was okay (no runs allowed) but Xavier was just cruising to victory at that point. 

Also noted that Kassius Thomas hasn't seen the field yet this year after 23 appearances last year. I am guessing some kind of health issue but know nothing. 

--------------
Now it is on to the big time. 
Three game series vs. 12-0 UNC at Chapel Hill this weekend. UNC is ranked #4, 4, 7. They haven't set foot outside of North Carolina yet this season, but we haven't yet been away from California.

[cardfan77]

In the first game, Stanford had the tying run on 3rd but no go. 

Can’t Stanford afford a second camera???  The batter is tiny; the ball is practically a pixel.  No prayer of seeing what happened on a close play.  I feel like my nose is going to bleed. Where are my binoculars?

Clearly someone is controlling the camera. With a 2nd came focused on pitcher to umpire, the operator only needs to switch to the wide view when the ball is hit.   The camera on the battery probably wouldn’t show the annoying netting

Second your question. In the past there were three cameras. But that adds a producer controlling the feeds to the output channel. No idea why we’re down to one. Re the net, I await the ai solution.

I’m watching the Cal vs Santa Clara game and the production is so much better with multiple camera angles.  Stanford has to do better for their fans who can’t attend games in-person

[cardfan77]

In the first game, Stanford had the tying run on 3rd but no go. 

Can’t Stanford afford a second camera???  The batter is tiny; the ball is practically a pixel.  No prayer of seeing what happened on a close play.  I feel like my nose is going to bleed. Where are my binoculars?

Clearly someone is controlling the camera. With a 2nd came focused on pitcher to umpire, the operator only needs to switch to the wide view when the ball is hit.   The camera on the battery probably wouldn’t show the annoying netting

Second your question. In the past there were three cameras. But that adds a producer controlling the feeds to the output channel. No idea why we’re down to one. Re the net, I await the ai solution.

I’m watching the Cal vs Santa Clara game and the production is so much better with multiple camera angles.  Stanford has to do better for their fans who can’t attend games in-person

[skip75]

Big win for Stanford in their 1st ACC game - taking down #4 North Carolina 13-9.  UNC was 13-0 coming into this game.

Matt Scott struggled, giving up 6 runs (5 earned) in 3.2 innings.  Ty Uber (1.1 innings) & Trevor Moore (3 innings) shut down the Heels while the Stanford offense took over.  Brandon Larson led the way, going 2-for-5 with a grand slam & 6 RBI.  Nick Dugan gave up 3 runs in the 9th without getting an out - victimized by a weird hop on what looked like a possible double play ball.  Aidan Keenan came in and faced just 3 hitters to close it out.

Enjoyable broadcast on ACCNX.  Carolina announcers were complimentary of this Stanford team and of the history of Stanford baseball.

[skip75]

Big win for Stanford in their 1st ACC game - taking down #4 North Carolina 13-9.  UNC was 13-0 coming into this game.

Matt Scott struggled, giving up 6 runs (5 earned) in 3.2 innings.  Ty Uber (1.1 innings) & Trevor Moore (3 innings) shut down the Heels while the Stanford offense took over.  Brandon Larson led the way, going 2-for-5 with a grand slam & 6 RBI.  Nick Dugan gave up 3 runs in the 9th without getting an out - victimized by a weird hop on what looked like a possible double play ball.  Aidan Keenan came in and faced just 3 hitters to close it out.

Enjoyable broadcast on ACCNX.  Carolina announcers were complimentary of this Stanford team and of the history of Stanford baseball.

[martyup]

All Right Now!!

[martyup]

All Right Now!!

[Mick]

I’m watching the Cal vs Santa Clara game and the production is so much better with multiple camera angles.  Stanford has to do better for their fans who can’t attend games in-person

SCU took three of four from Cal. Not unhappy about that. Stanford vs. SCU at Sunken Diamond on April 1, 6:05 first pitch, and May 6 at Schott Stadium in SCU.

---

Big win for Stanford in their 1st ACC game - taking down #4 North Carolina 13-9.  UNC was 13-0 coming into this game.

Matt Scott struggled, giving up 6 runs (5 earned) in 3.2 innings.  Ty Uber (1.1 innings) & Trevor Moore (3 innings) shut down the Heels while the Stanford offense took over.  Brandon Larson led the way, going 2-for-5 with a grand slam & 6 RBI.  Nick Dugan gave up 3 runs in the 9th without getting an out - victimized by a weird hop on what looked like a possible double play ball.  Aidan Keenan came in and faced just 3 hitters to close it out.

Enjoyable broadcast on ACCNX.  Carolina announcers were complimentary of this Stanford team and of the history of Stanford baseball.

And none of UNC's wins coming into the game were by a single run. That's a very good team, and this is an excellent win. UNC gave up 9 runs to Kansas State in a 12-9 win, and 6 to East Carolina in an 11-6 win. All their other wins were five or fewer runs given up. Hanging 13 runs on #7 ranked UNC on the road is quite an accomplishment. 

Hopefully, Stanford has the same result tomorrow.

In case you want to read UNC's recap:  Baseball Drops First Loss of the Season - University of North Carolina Athletics

And if you want to read the real thing: Cardinal Upends No. 4 North Carolina in ACC Opener - Stanford Cardinal - Official Athletics Website

Sports Illustrated's version: Unranked Stanford Baseball Topples No. 4 UNC in Opener

[Mick]

I’m watching the Cal vs Santa Clara game and the production is so much better with multiple camera angles.  Stanford has to do better for their fans who can’t attend games in-person

SCU took three of four from Cal. Not unhappy about that. Stanford vs. SCU at Sunken Diamond on April 1, 6:05 first pitch, and May 6 at Schott Stadium in SCU.

---

Big win for Stanford in their 1st ACC game - taking down #4 North Carolina 13-9.  UNC was 13-0 coming into this game.

Matt Scott struggled, giving up 6 runs (5 earned) in 3.2 innings.  Ty Uber (1.1 innings) & Trevor Moore (3 innings) shut down the Heels while the Stanford offense took over.  Brandon Larson led the way, going 2-for-5 with a grand slam & 6 RBI.  Nick Dugan gave up 3 runs in the 9th without getting an out - victimized by a weird hop on what looked like a possible double play ball.  Aidan Keenan came in and faced just 3 hitters to close it out.

Enjoyable broadcast on ACCNX.  Carolina announcers were complimentary of this Stanford team and of the history of Stanford baseball.

And none of UNC's wins coming into the game were by a single run. That's a very good team, and this is an excellent win. UNC gave up 9 runs to Kansas State in a 12-9 win, and 6 to East Carolina in an 11-6 win. All their other wins were five or fewer runs given up. Hanging 13 runs on #7 ranked UNC on the road is quite an accomplishment. 

Hopefully, Stanford has the same result tomorrow.

In case you want to read UNC's recap:  Baseball Drops First Loss of the Season - University of North Carolina Athletics

And if you want to read the real thing: Cardinal Upends No. 4 North Carolina in ACC Opener - Stanford Cardinal - Official Athletics Website

Sports Illustrated's version: Unranked Stanford Baseball Topples No. 4 UNC in Opener

[TonyLima]

Had some family business to attend to this morning, so just tuning into the game now. Looking at the scoring it looks like Stanford pulled off a double steel in the top of the sixth. Am I reading that correctly?

[TonyLima]

Had some family business to attend to this morning, so just tuning into the game now. Looking at the scoring it looks like Stanford pulled off a double steel in the top of the sixth. Am I reading that correctly?

[skip75]

Had some family business to attend to this morning, so just tuning into the game now. Looking at the scoring it looks like Stanford pulled off a double steel in the top of the sixth. Am I reading that correctly?

Not a double steal.  Brady Reynolds broke from first base and drew the throw from the catcher.  He then got into a run-down, allowing Jimmy Nati to score from third before Reynolds got tagged out.

[skip75]

Had some family business to attend to this morning, so just tuning into the game now. Looking at the scoring it looks like Stanford pulled off a double steel in the top of the sixth. Am I reading that correctly?

Not a double steal.  Brady Reynolds broke from first base and drew the throw from the catcher.  He then got into a run-down, allowing Jimmy Nati to score from third before Reynolds got tagged out.

[skip75]

Yesterday was not a good day for the Cardinal.  UNC won 11-1 in a game stopped in the bottom of the 7th by the run rule.  A forgettable day for starter Christian Lim and relievers Ben Reimers, Sam Garewal, & Parker Warner.  Stanford had only 4 hits, 2 by Ethan Hott including a solo HR.

Today going better so far as they lead 6-0 going into the top of the 9th.  UNC's starter was perfect though 4 innings.  Then Charlie Saum led off the 5th with a home run.  Stanford added an unearned in the 5th on an Ethan Hott squeeze bunt. They added on 3 in the 6th (all after 2 outs and against a pitcher who had not given up an earned run in 12-1/3 innings this season) on singles by Jimmy Nati & Brady Reynolds, and Nati's steal of home while Reynolds was in a run-down.  During this inning UNC's coach (Scott Forbes) was ejected while arguing balls & strikes.  With 2 outs in the 8th, Saum singled in Trevor Haskins with the 6th run.

Joey Volchko breezed through 5 innings, but left with 1 out and runners at 1st & 3rd in the 6th.  Aidan Keenan came in and got out of the jam with a strikeout and a grounder back to the mound.  Volchko & Keenan have given up 4 hits & 3 walks through 8 innings while striking out 11.

I love that Esquer/Eager brought in Keenan, who has been the closer, in the high leverage situation in the 6th rather than waiting to use him in the 8th or 9th.  I also love how they're scratching out runs - with 2 out hits, a squeeze, and the steal.

---

Stanford wins 7-0!

Ethan Hott hit a solo HR in the top of the 9th.  Then Toran O'Harran came in and struck out the side (while also giving up a pair of singles) to finish it off.  Announcers said it was the first time UNC had been shut out since befor Covid!

[skip75]

Yesterday was not a good day for the Cardinal.  UNC won 11-1 in a game stopped in the bottom of the 7th by the run rule.  A forgettable day for starter Christian Lim and relievers Ben Reimers, Sam Garewal, & Parker Warner.  Stanford had only 4 hits, 2 by Ethan Hott including a solo HR.

Today going better so far as they lead 6-0 going into the top of the 9th.  UNC's starter was perfect though 4 innings.  Then Charlie Saum led off the 5th with a home run.  Stanford added an unearned in the 5th on an Ethan Hott squeeze bunt. They added on 3 in the 6th (all after 2 outs and against a pitcher who had not given up an earned run in 12-1/3 innings this season) on singles by Jimmy Nati & Brady Reynolds, and Nati's steal of home while Reynolds was in a run-down.  During this inning UNC's coach (Scott Forbes) was ejected while arguing balls & strikes.  With 2 outs in the 8th, Saum singled in Trevor Haskins with the 6th run.

Joey Volchko breezed through 5 innings, but left with 1 out and runners at 1st & 3rd in the 6th.  Aidan Keenan came in and got out of the jam with a strikeout and a grounder back to the mound.  Volchko & Keenan have given up 4 hits & 3 walks through 8 innings while striking out 11.

I love that Esquer/Eager brought in Keenan, who has been the closer, in the high leverage situation in the 6th rather than waiting to use him in the 8th or 9th.  I also love how they're scratching out runs - with 2 out hits, a squeeze, and the steal.

---

Stanford wins 7-0!

Ethan Hott hit a solo HR in the top of the 9th.  Then Toran O'Harran came in and struck out the side (while also giving up a pair of singles) to finish it off.  Announcers said it was the first time UNC had been shut out since befor Covid!

[TonyLima]

first time UNC has been shut out since 2019. Announcers were commenting that Stanford could bring a guy in from the bullpen for the ninth inning with a seven to nothing lead and he was throwing mid 90s. I think this team might be for resl.

[TonyLima]

first time UNC has been shut out since 2019. Announcers were commenting that Stanford could bring a guy in from the bullpen for the ninth inning with a seven to nothing lead and he was throwing mid 90s. I think this team might be for resl.

[Gary86]

An important win for Stanford. It was good to see Volchko pitch so well. The quality of UNC's stream was far superior to the streams from Sunken Diamond so far this year. Stanford needs to step up their game in that regard. Having a second camera from the outfield is a must. The picture quality seemed to much better at UNC as well.

[Gary86]

An important win for Stanford. It was good to see Volchko pitch so well. The quality of UNC's stream was far superior to the streams from Sunken Diamond so far this year. Stanford needs to step up their game in that regard. Having a second camera from the outfield is a must. The picture quality seemed to much better at UNC as well.

[Mick]

Getting pretty excited about this team...

[Mick]

Getting pretty excited about this team...