SPEAKER_00 0:40

Oh, welcome to the Five Arms and a Lucky Finn podcast. This is the Lucky Finn inning show. This is our college baseball show, uh reviewing games, talking about field of 64 like we did last week. If you missed that, go ahead and go watch it. Um, I think we did a pretty good job setting that up. But compared uh last week to this week, I think that thing is gonna be flip-flopping all over the place because I thought we had it set in stone. I thought we were starting to get that solid top 25, and that is not the case whatsoever this week. Crazy week this week, Jason. Um, what are your thoughts? How are we feeling? Um Are you confused?

SPEAKER_03 1:20

I'm always confused, Kenny, when it comes to this baseball season. Every week we get something new, everything changes, and something every every week, every day, I feel like I'm texting you saying, Kenny, what are we gonna do about these rankings?

SPEAKER_00 1:33

Where are we gonna put people? Well, especially this weekend. I mean, did today it's just I think West Virginia was one of the biggest the biggest surprises this week. Um, Oregon and UCLA, that was a good matchup. Um, Texas lost, Texas lost the series, uh uh Coastal Carolina. I mean, what they're up in the air now, so uh it'll be a ton. I mean, we'll we'll just go quick rundown of today's show. We're gonna talk about the biggest bubble busters, uh, maybe some new bubblers popping up. Uh we're gonna review the top 13 uh weeks of games of the week, excuse me. And then uh Jason will get to his five arms, then we'll give our final thoughts and then possibly talk a little bit about the top 25. We are recording on a recurring. We are recording on a Monday. Uh didn't record yesterday. Happy Mother's Day, by the way. But uh Jason, let's start off quick here. Uh, who out of our bubbles, bubble teams that we had last week, who was the that probably just bursted their entire bubble and then probably won't be back on the bubble? Or who's on the bubble? It could be both.

SPEAKER_03 2:46

I think UAB is gonna have a tough time right now. Uh after the series loss that they had, they really needed to win that one because to me, UAB was kind of already on the bubble, and a lot of people had them on the first four out already. I know we had them in the last four in, but with them being on the last four out with people that actually matter more than us and have uh bigger say with things, uh, I feel like they probably are gonna slide out a little more, maybe be on the fence this week to be looking on the outside, looking in, trying to make their way back in. But uh they're gonna need a they're gonna need a good win. What about you? Who do you think?

SPEAKER_00 3:22

I I think it's gonna be East Carolina. I mean, honestly, the whole American conference itself was yeah, on the bubble. I think it's looking like a one-bit, yeah. It's looking like a one-bid one one big league. Um, that Sunbelt is taking over the mid-major area. Americans got to struggle. I thought UAB would be one of those teams that just did a lot better and kind of stayed the course and just ended up not being the case.

SPEAKER_03 3:49

Um, but but I but but the other thing is Rice, Rice looking good. Maybe Rice can make a late push. It looks like Kenny, the the thing for UAB, here's their advantage, right? UTSA is most likely in the tournament.

SPEAKER_01 4:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 4:04

I think I think even if they don't win, they're probably a good at-large spot. Uh, I know they're they're kind of on that cusp of being around, they're probably in that. If you were seeding everybody, they're probably in that 33 to 40 range right now, which kind of puts them in. Uh, they get UAB this weekend, so UAB has an opportunity against them this weekend.

SPEAKER_00 4:25

So, yeah, but but all all these teams, they really don't have great RPIs. I mean, no. Like, not at all. UCSA's got the best at 50. I don't think East Carolina's helped himself over the over this year at all. I mean, so we'll we'll see about them. I'm not really too sure about an American conference. Other than that, uh, I think that's really about it. I don't think if anybody got really hit much harder than those two.

SPEAKER_03 4:58

Um that were on the bubble.

SPEAKER_00 5:01

Yeah, that were that were on the bubble, period.

SPEAKER_03 5:03

But our teams that were on the fence kind of got hammered. Uh, Arkansas State, LSU, Clemson uh all suffered defeats, and Arkansas State, I believe, got swept. So it's tough for them. I think uh Purdue gets a help, Michigan gets some help, TCU gets some help, uh, more solidifying their spots in the tournament as of right now, I'd say.

SPEAKER_00 5:26

Michigan seems to be one of those teams that's coming into everybody's bubble. Now, but before we we go, LSU, Clemson, Purdue, what was the other team? They were on our fences. Arkansas, yeah, they were on our fences. They were not, I mean, we're talking like way back on the fence, not not like close to a bubble, but right. Uh I think that would be a conversation we get about these SEC teams, the fact that how they play in conference. Anyway, Jason, let's let's get in into our prediction so we can get on uh with it. Um we had uh lots of red up here, but I'll take it as as it is. I think the only really rough one we really had was man, all of them. Uh no, it was it was it was rough.

SPEAKER_03 6:15

It was a it was a unknown week, I tell you that.

SPEAKER_00 6:18

I and I think this whole week surprised all of us. I mean the West Virginia series, like we said, uh Oklahoma State's another surprising series, uh Florida State. That I I'm surprised Clemson actually took one. Uh, I mean, we got it right. I didn't really think they would take one. Um, but out of out of these, what what you think's the biggest upset or biggest biggest loss?

SPEAKER_03 6:46

The most impactful. I'll go with the most impactful. How about that? Yep. First off, West Virginia. That sweep in Lawrence is huge. This was a team for Kansas that was sitting at number seven. We were sitting in them in about the top eight. They were gonna be a super regional host. All they had to do was close out the rest of the season and then do well in the big uh big uh Big 12 tournament. But West Virginia goes in, their pitching staff is phenomenal, offense comes alive a lot in that last game, and then they just pour it on and win all three games. Kenny, this is huge. Uh I think this propels West Virginia. I know we originally when we were making our bracket, had them in that 13 to 16 range. We moved them out because we we figured between them and Arizona State we'll give Arizona State the edge. But I think this put puts them up in the top uh top brackets and or in the in the in the top 16. And can't Kenny, does this drop them drop Kansas so far that you have to put West Virginia above them? What do you think?

SPEAKER_00 7:50

I I I'm not gonna say no yet. Wait, I'm not I'm not gonna say yes yet, because Kansas is still above them. Um and I'm just gonna go off of the pattern. Last year, West Virginia did the same thing. They kind of they got hot at this time of the year, the week 11, week 13, week 11 to thir to 13, and they kind of fell down, and maybe Kansas peaked too early. So I'd have to see until next week. I mean, again, I'm not gonna even set anybody set in stone yet because I thought we were gonna set everybody set in stone last week. Um, Kansas just did not hit well over the weekend. They hit 180 and they struck over, struck out over 25 times. I mean, they just did not do well at all. West Virginia only used like five pitchers, and then that was the whole, and I think we'll you'll we'll hit on this Friday. They was great for starters. I think it was a decent weekend for pitching staffs this week.

SPEAKER_03 8:53

A lot of them a lot of staffs didn't use a lot of pitching, and um I think game three they West Virginia only used two pitchers, so yeah, and I think the other thing that's uh good for West Virginia, this is a team that doesn't hit a lot of home runs. Uh when you look at uh game one, they get two solo home runs, game two, they get two solo home runs. Uh on game two, Matthew Graveline has goes three for four. And uh it's it's good to good to see the West Virginia bats coming alive, and I think that's what they're gonna need, especially when we get down to postseason time. If they're gonna host, uh, I don't think they need a lot of home runs. Their pitching staff is really strong, but it's always helpful.

SPEAKER_00 9:37

Yeah, I think they're they're definitely in the back of the hosting conversation. Um now the issue is is there's a few teams that people keep kind of pushing up there a little bit more. Um I'm such a Florida hater, but Florida's been been one of them. Uh apparently they're counting this the the sweep win over Kentucky, uh the series win over Kentucky, and possibly how well they do against LSU is like a signal that they should be a top eight seed. I just I swear that the D1 guys have said that. I just I don't believe that. I I because they're going off of the RP RPI numbers, which I think is absolutely ridiculous. You cannot give teams that are at the bottom of the SEC credit for or give Florida credit for beating those teams. They are at the bottom of the SEC.

SPEAKER_03 10:39

So I don't want to get Kentucky's a good team, but like Yeah, Kentucky's not bad.

SPEAKER_00 10:45

I'm not saying Kentucky's, but I don't think Kentucky's like I think they'll I don't think they've even won a series or something. I mean they it's they're not getting swept, but they're not doing great. I mean they're 12. I don't yeah, I don't think Kentucky's good enough to be a re in a regional type caliber team, and that's what I'm I'm saying here.

SPEAKER_03 11:12

So you think do you think this series lost to Florida puts Kentucky on the bubble?

SPEAKER_00 11:21

Yeah, I'd I'd put them in the bubble. I don't think they I'm not I don't want to give mediocracy to mediocracy mediocre thank god let's find it mediocre teams got it yeah I got it mediocre teams I mean I don't know it's it's a 13th win a 13th wins in the SEC kind of ordeal. I'm not winning games.

SPEAKER_03 11:48

I'll play uh I'll play devil's advocate to you. Thank you. We need that. They're 31 and 18. I think if you're an SEC team and you have under 20 losses, you're probably getting in the tournament. So unless they'll put them in. Don't put them in. Yeah, and they'll get in. Um they get Arkansas at home this weekend. So that that's the other thing, Kenny, right? Let's just say Arkansas goes in there and sweeps them. Well, they're still gonna say, well, Kentucky's still, I mean nothing they could do about Arkansas, they're playing so well. Yeah. And then and then we're basically gonna reward it because yeah, because their strength of schedule, right? So I I I can see it from both sides, but most likely we're gonna see 12 SEC teams in the tournament. It's gonna be hard not to, just yeah, the things are going.

SPEAKER_00 12:40

But uh man, who's making a great push? Oklahoma State. Oklahoma State goes out there and takes a series from Arizona State. A little surprise for the both of us. I had I had Arizona State sweep, and uh I I think I was afraid that first score, I was afraid. I said, I'm not getting this.

SPEAKER_03 13:00

Can we make it six? They got six in the ninth, though. Oklahoma State had to make a huge comeback. Yeah, huge comeback. And really, if you think about it, a lot of this was started by a throwing error, and then a game time double by yes, and then a game time double by Aiden Mayola, and then it's capped off by a three-run home run by their catcher Campbell Smithwick, his eighth of the season. What a crucial time to get that eighth home run.

SPEAKER_00 13:25

I think it went bad for Oklahoma State, and I think the inning before. I think they dropped a couple pop-ups, or I I can't remember what happened, but I remember they had some. No, I think it was Oklahoma State, like the a few innings before.

SPEAKER_03 13:41

Oh, in the first game.

SPEAKER_00 13:43

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, game one. One of the games they just they had, but I mean, I get I think we've talked about Arizona State having all the issues in bullpen, but um and then game two was a home run fest. Seven state had seven home runs. Yeah. Uh I mean three for Arizona State. So I mean huge, but it I I Oklahoma State's up there, and I think that's good for them. It's good to have them back in this. And I where are they at this week? Are they 25? No, the ranking.

SPEAKER_03 14:19

I think right now we're sitting about 21, I think, on D1s that came out today. That's the difference when we're when we're recording this on Monday, we get to see the rankings come out. But yeah, I think they have them one spot ahead of Arizona State at 21.

SPEAKER_00 14:32

So that should be good. Um Oklahoma State host 2C, depending on how is it too late to play for him?

SPEAKER_03 14:42

Now they make a big they make a big run and win the Big 12. You could, if they win the Big 12 tournament, I mean, I'm gonna think about it. But it also depends on how everybody else does. I'll tell you what, Kenny, talk about Dominic Smaldino. This dude went off for Arizona State this weekend, even though they lost the series, yeah. He still goes eight for 15 with two extra base hits, five home runs and 14 RBIs. Three of those home runs were on Sunday and eight RBIs on the game. Pretty sure the three home runs tied an A Arizona State single game record. And what's crazy is the last one he got was in the eighth inning. I believe it was a two-run homer, and they go up big. And you can see the score line seemed a little closer for Oklahoma State. It was 11-7, but Oklahoma State made a big run, hit a couple home runs in the ninth inning. So, you know, if they don't get that small Dino home run, that eighth inning, kind of maybe we have a different pressure situation on Arizona State's pitching there in the ninth. But uh man, uh the offenses were alive here. Alex Conover for Oklahoma State goes 7 for 12 with three home runs on this on the weekend as well. So just all around both teams. You were talking about the home run fest. I mean, we saw a lot of dingers, and we talk about this Arizona State team is driven by their offense. Yeah, and we always talk about this is why this team is going to be so dangerous in a regional no matter where they're at, whether it be at home or on the road. But Kenny, I believe a month ago you brought up Oklahoma State. You said, Where is Oklahoma State? This is a team that just a couple a couple years ago was was was playing at home in the regionals, and they come out of nowhere. It feels it feels like TCU both. It feels like they've just both been sneaking in, they've been lying low, and now they're coming alive at the right time. So it will be interesting.

SPEAKER_00 16:41

Update I'm trying to figure out who they have left. We're in that last week. I want to say Oklahoma has Kansas. Why do I want to say they have Kansas State left?

SPEAKER_03 16:51

I'm pulling it up. Arizona. Okay, Arizona. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 16:58

Oh, Robert. That's a great, that's a great game to play. Hopefully they don't get no canceling.

SPEAKER_03 17:06

No canceling.

SPEAKER_00 17:09

Uh Arizona State has Houston. At Houston. So not I'm not positive on Houston. That should be an easy. Yeah, that should be an easy sweet. I believe Houston's Houston's last. There's six conference play. Sweet. Well, uh, speaking of the state of Texas, Texas AM is uh loses the series to old miss. Uh AM not a great weekend. Umus is is is another it's another team that's hit and miss, and they're a dangerous team, but um didn't get a hold of them on game two.

SPEAKER_03 17:50

Yeah, that was um that was tough. Game two, Texas Anime gets three home runs in the third, end up with seven. They get seven in a game, can't you? They get seven in a game, including two by Ben Royo, uh, who went three for three with four RBIs on the day. And uh yeah, impressive performance there by AM in game two. And they needed that. Uh that was uh I believe game two and game three were on the same day. They get the they get the big one game one, and uh Ole Miss ends up prevailing in game three to win the series. Uh I need to stop. Whenever you send me your picks, I'm just gonna start picking the opposite because every ever if you can we not go the same. You've lost every week. I've beaten you every week, and then this week you've won.

SPEAKER_00 18:40

Yeah, I won by a point. I'm so happy about myself.

SPEAKER_03 18:43

You did. And I know we're getting on you. But the other thing that's uh interesting about this is Kenny, where does this move AM? When we think about AM, up until now, we had them in the top eight. Where do you think this drops them to? I mean, I know rankings came out, but where do you have them?

SPEAKER_00 19:03

I don't want to drop them too big. I think maybe just a 10 spot. Well, here's the problem is if I say a 10 spot, that means I believe that uh Oregon State is better than AM, which I do not believe. So maybe just keep him at maybe a 10. I say 10, but that's that's saying Oregon State is at 11 or or 12.

SPEAKER_03 19:34

And I still think that's fair.

SPEAKER_00 19:37

Yeah. I mean, I don't I we people have moved him up, but I believe that's because of who maybe above them lost. I mean, you played Long Beach State. This is not the 90s anymore.

SPEAKER_03 19:48

Like you have not done you you don't get to I don't I don't I don't I I will say people may have removed them up, I think, in their rankings, but I think when we see when we see team people's brackets come out, now I like to I like to look at ours, do ours first without looking at anybody else's because yeah, I don't want to be uh swayed. Yeah, I don't want well and I also don't want to be swayed to anything that I thought to be different. Um, but I do still think Oregon State's probably in that 13 to 16 range. I don't think they're moving up from that, to be honest. Uh, I still think you're gonna see SEC teams sitting in that uh 10 to 12 range, mainly because of the pod situation, where you're gonna have these SEC teams that are sitting right outside of the top 16, and you're not gonna be able to send them to another SEC team. So you're gonna see those SEC teams in that 9 to 12 range rather than that 13 to 16.

SPEAKER_00 20:41

Well, we got off a little tangent. Let's hit on uh let's hit on the Wenthrop and High Point. No, no, no. Oregon UCLA. Uh UCLA has asserted their dominance. I think that is gonna be this don't go all the way, and it's just gonna be dependent on who's gonna play UCLA in this final. But can we talk about uh God uh crap? You got it. I believe in you Dean West. Did you see what he did on game three?

SPEAKER_02 21:24

Did you see what he did in game two? No, I did not see what he did. Maybe I'm talking about game two. No, you're right, because game two he went over five. But what did he do when he came back in game three? Jesus. So you put you put no, not game three. No, you're right.

SPEAKER_00 21:44

I'm talking Dean West.

SPEAKER_02 21:46

Yeah, game three, he went four for five.

SPEAKER_03 21:49

Oh, four for five.

SPEAKER_00 21:51

I thought you said oh for five on game three.

SPEAKER_03 21:53

On Saturday, he went oh for five. Okay, this brings me to a quote from a great movie I love. Called Trouble with the Curve with Clint Eastwood. Clint Eastwood says, A computer can't tell you. Let me make sure I get this right. A computer can't look uh can't tell you if you're gonna be able to look a kid in the eye who just went over four and have him come back the next day like nothing happened. But Dean West did exactly that. Impressive.

SPEAKER_00 22:26

That so you put first in the notes that he hit a grand slam. You put it in the notes, but you missed that he robbed a grand slam. Okay, I did not see it. Shew any prioritors. Yes. Not only did he rob this grand slam, I mean this thing was a tank. I mean, moonshot. And he like his arm like dipped over the wall and he grabbed it out of the wall. Now, the Oregon, uh, Oregon went on a run still after that. If he did not rob that home run, I think you're looking at Oregon taking this series this weekend. Like that's how big of a robbed home run.

SPEAKER_03 23:07

I mean Especially, yeah. Yeah, I mean, especially because UCLA was already down six to one at one point.

SPEAKER_00 23:13

Well, that no, that just it was 2-0 at the time. Right, that was 2-0, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 23:19

It would have been a lot worse.

SPEAKER_00 23:20

Yeah, no, that's what I'm saying. Yeah, so I mean it got worse, but his home run was a monster. Excuse me, two. So I'm gonna pick props. So, dude, you feel like it's hot, dude. They it's not just their pitch and staff, they they can rip it. And it's not like they were when they went to the College World Series last year, where they were just hitting these little infield hits that got through. I mean, they're ripping it. So I got them high, man. I think they're gonna be great. I don't think this really hurts Oregon much. I mean, that's UCLA. UCLA, that was UCLA's first conference loss. Maybe at home. I think it's their first conference loss.

SPEAKER_03 24:04

So that shows you how great their first conference loss of the shows you how good that team is.

SPEAKER_00 24:09

That's ridiculous.

SPEAKER_03 24:10

And also, and I'm with you. This also says a lot about how good this Oregon team is. I did not see this Oregon team coming in and doing what they did, and they were so close, they were this close, Kenny, to winning the series with UCLA, which really would have put them into that like, hey, stop acting like we're not good. Yeah, but I still think even with the loss, it still looks that good. I still think they look great. I still think they're not really hurt by much by this. I think they're still in that regional hosting conversation.

SPEAKER_00 24:40

I think they should be too.

SPEAKER_03 24:42

Maybe, maybe slightly lower just because of how some teams how well some teams did, but I don't think you move them much. And um, shout out uh Rock Chalowski. Another another great weekend. I mean, we're looking at probably the number one overall pick in the draft, gets another three home runs this weekend. So it's just another continuation, Kenny. Like you were saying, offense is impressive, pitching is impressive. This this is the best team up and down the lineup.

SPEAKER_00 25:10

Oh, a hundred percent. So um that's probably one of the that was a good game to good game to see just to kind of get a better taste of UCLA, see where Oregon is. Um, we won't really talk about Florida State much. Uh it's it's a series one over Clemson.

SPEAKER_03 25:30

I will say I do have a question for you, Kenny, off of this Florida State one, right? I like questions. Florida State gets Miami next weekend. They're hosting Miami next weekend. Okay. What do you need to see from what do you need to see from them to solidify them hosting a regional next weekend?

SPEAKER_00 25:46

They've done pretty well without their star player who got hurt earlier. And it hasn't hurt them much, so I'm gonna give them points off not having to deal with a hurt player. I'm trying to get to this point here. You got it. They lose the series. If they lose the series, I think maybe they'll probably be 16 at a 16 hose, 16 seated hose at best. Uh I mean that they win it, they they probably just stay there. If they sweep, they move up. I don't think it's hard to tell. What are you thinking?

SPEAKER_03 26:39

I'm in that weird thing with Florida State where I don't feel like they can move too much too. They can't move up too much, in my opinion. Uh, I think they're I think a 2-1 over Miami gets them gets them the host no matter what happens in the ACC tournament. I think that's what's gonna solidify them. Because when we think about the pods and where those SEC teams are, uh I mean that 13 to 16 is gonna be pretty much non-SEC teams. We may get one in there, but most likely no SEC teams are gonna be there because we're gonna have so many on the right on the outside, and you can't have eight SEC hosts. Well, I mean, I guess they can, but I don't think that's what's gonna happen. Not this year. Not this year. Yeah, I don't think that's what's gonna happen. So yeah, I think a 2-1 is fine, and then and then it doesn't really matter what else happens.

SPEAKER_00 27:28

I definitely want to hit on the the the conference tournaments coming up at the end of this. I get your thoughts on okay, what performances will show up. But uh this last series with this is probably a big important one for the big south. Uh your surprise on on Winthrop getting swept. It's a little bit so am I. I mean, uh H HPU is a great team that everyone is. I don't want to see them in a re in my regional. Uh well, my regional is in L shoe regional, so that ain't really happening. But uh what's your thoughts? What's your thoughts on Winthrop?

SPEAKER_03 28:07

Yeah, uh Winthrop gets up early in game one and game two, gets ahead 6-0 in game one, gets up 2-0 on in game two. So they're it's not like the offense didn't come to play in the beginning, but man, they high point just like you were saying, they're just so good. They they just came alive, overcome adversity, make big comebacks, and come back and win that game one. They tied the game in the ninth on a sack fly and they win it on in the tenth on a sack fly. Kenny, that just tells me a lot about situational hitting in this high point team. And and that's what we love to see. And this is a big south team that we we have as a three-seed right now. Uh, when we think about the the at-large spots, um, I mean, not the at-large spots, the conference champion spots. You know, you're gonna have 16, four seeds, but then there's gonna be some left over that are gonna have to be three seeds, the top of the top tier ones. And we have the big south as one of those opportunities for high if it's high point. Um, this is a huge one because Winthrop was a team that's played well all year. They've beaten a lot of big power four teams in the mid in the mid-weeks and uh performed really well. So I'm with you. Shock, but impressive for high point.

SPEAKER_00 29:19

High points played like some really high caliber teams this year. So, and that's why I'm pushing for them for a three-seed. I don't think a four seed does, to be honest, for from who they whom they played, and and so so on and so forth. Um, we'll finish off. We'll we'll get into our other predictions. Thank god. Uh what is going on? Um it's the internet. I know. Uh cocks suck so bad. Um, Cal Poly, we got that one correct. Look, I knew I should have taken Louisiana Tech because that team is really they're getting there big, dude. Come on. The Texers. Uh why we said West Carolina was gonna take a game from Wake, I don't know. I think we just don't trust Wake and uh Indiana State. I think this is where I got you here off this Indiana State game. Uh Indiana State and Murray. Um, they all of all of these games play uh big big roles in in their uh conferences, and I think this Western Carolina uh Wake Forest game, we were just wanted to see how West Carolina plays because I think that's one of the teams, take a breath, that uh we kind of have maybe getting in to into a regional.

SPEAKER_03 30:41

Yeah, uh they're sitting top of the SoCon. So the way yeah, I think that is why I thought about putting that one in there. Western Carolina Wake Forest. This is a Wake Forest team that's kind of also like kind of like Oklahoma State. They're coming alive at the right time. Uh in Western Carolina just had a big weekend last weekend. We talked about them against uh, I believe they had Waff. And so this is this was one of those where I'm like, all right, we're gonna see how good some of these smaller schools really are against some of these bigger ones. Man, week force came to play in that series.

SPEAKER_00 31:14

Yeah, that I didn't really keep close with it. Um I'm more wondering if their pitching staff's kind of getting up there a lot better. Um that seems to be their issue, is their their pitching staff. But uh throughout this week we've seen that the pitching staff. Oh my god, the pitching staff, when you shut them out, you kind of just let your your batteries have re range in it. Looking at the scoreboard, that kind of seems to be the answer. Um, I think when I put up the go ahead. I cut us both out.

SPEAKER_03 32:01

You had just finished your saying, so if you want to cut it out.

SPEAKER_00 32:04

No, I I cut both of us out.

SPEAKER_03 32:06

Oh, okay, perfect. Uh yeah, I was just gonna say talk about the Wake Forest pitching staff, 39 strikeouts over the 25 innings in this series. I mean it's huge. Using 11 different pitchers across the series, not pitcher pitching ones. So, yeah, so it's a it's across the board. We talk about a lot of bullpen guys need to come alive when it comes time to the postseason, and that's where a lot of Wake Forest's pitching staff could be really helpful. Wake Forest gets all their runs in the game one off of home runs. Uh Wake Forest gets 14, all 14 of their runs, Kenny and game two come in the first four innings, uh, headed by Dalton Wentz, gets two home runs on the day. And uh Wake Forest bouncing back in the in the in the game three after Jackson Lida for Western Carolina let off the game with a home run. So it's like you know, how how good is this Wake Force team? Kenny, you know, are they putting things together? Is this a team that you're it are they gonna be dangerous? And if you're Western Carolina, are you worried after getting swept in this one?

SPEAKER_00 33:14

No, because because it's wake force. They're still a hot AC ACC team. ACC's not that bad. Um I don't know about Wake Forest. We'll we'll see. We'll see. I mean, the big their end of the year maybe could be getting better. I mean, the fact that they used that many pitchers and still got away with uh a good win is a good sign to me, but again, it's East Carolina. Uh it's just it's a one of those why they're ending. Uh Boston College played the New Jersey uh Institute of Technology. Yeah, that's weird. Um they even lost they lost uh they lost a game to them. I don't know if you saw that.

SPEAKER_03 33:58

They only played and they only played two games. It was a it was a split series. It was a weird weekend.

SPEAKER_02 34:06

I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 34:06

ACC.

SPEAKER_00 34:07

And you know what? I think Boston just canceled another game this week, too.

SPEAKER_03 34:11

Yeah, they're probably nervous after losing to NJIT. It was ridiculous.

SPEAKER_00 34:16

Uh anyway.

SPEAKER_03 34:18

Wake Forest gets is at Liberty tomorrow and at Duke this next weekend. So are they solidified in a two-seed? Yeah, assuming they win two out of four.

SPEAKER_00 34:35

I don't want to give them two seed. I don't know about a two seed. I think they're friendly.

SPEAKER_03 34:41

We had them on a two seed.

SPEAKER_00 34:42

I don't want them as a two seed. That's what I'm saying. I don't think they well, I think we had them there because who else are we gonna put there? I don't think you don't know. Look, I mean this week.

SPEAKER_03 34:56

No, no, no, right, Tennessee. We're gonna talk about them being a two seed.

SPEAKER_00 35:03

Let's talk about Tennessee right now. I think Tennessee got the series, went over to Texas. Texas had an issue with pitching staff. There, they uh Riojas was hurt. So he kind of they switched their pitching staff around and they just kind of got lit up. I mean, in that little little league ballpark, you can't get you can't get lit up at that park. You're just gonna give up home run after home run, and Tennessee kind of put it to him, except for the last game. And in you think this hurts Tex a lot, or uh no, not really.

SPEAKER_03 35:38

I think Tennessee's coming alive, they're playing really well right now. They've been playing well the recent weeks, um, and their pitching staff is pitching really well. Uh, we'll talk about it a little bit later, uh, with you know a little foreshadowing of the five arms. But um, Kenny, when you switch around your rotation like that, and obviously this is partially due to an injury, but what do you think that does to the psyche? Do you think that is an impactful? I mean, baseball players are creatures of habit.

SPEAKER_00 36:07

Yeah, I think it's good at this point because you get to the end of the season where you're knee gonna you're gonna start. Texas has been flipping around their pitching staff and they figured it out. They figured it out, they've they've pitched a lot better through the last couple series. I think this because of little injury that Rio Has had, they're just kind of playing around with it a little bit. Um, and we talk about those guys that kind of follow after the bull after the starters, it gets a little rough. So I think it's good for Texas to kind of see that, kind of get a taste of what they could be like and adjust it. So don't I think it would be good. I think it's fine. I think it's fine.

SPEAKER_03 36:53

Gotcha. And if you think about uh, I believe you had the notable games up on the screen. Um man, some impressive weekend games. Just gonna quickly touch on some of these. SIU Edwardsville gets a sweep over Eastern Illinois, who had just swept SEMO last weekend. We talked about that. Yes, and then and then SEMO gets a sweep as well this weekend. So it's like I feel like this conference is really up in here because now SIU Edwardsville moves into the number one seed. Um, so their conference tournament is gonna be fun. We're gonna be, I'm probably gonna be watching that one close because it'll be really interesting. I think it'll be really competitive. But Kenny, the rest of these games on here, we have them on here for a reason. You talked about it earlier. We got bubbles, we got fence lines. What stands out? I mean, what are you what are you most shocked by here?

SPEAKER_00 37:51

I think the only thing I'm really shocked by is man probably TCU. TCU kind of just jumping up. I think if if TCU can grab that spot, there I mean that it's look, there's some spots that have I think people have lost spots this week. Pittsburgh, I think they've kind of they're kind of losing that. And if you're able to whoever's able to step up next, and I think TCU is it sounds like one of the teams that's growing up there. Um East Carolina's losing to a rice team that's getting that's just hot at the right time. Um I think that's about it. Mississippi, that's Auburn's a great team. I think Mississippi's just mid-range right now, not good enough to beat the Auburn team that's probably the best and one of the best teams in the country, especially with their pitching staff.

SPEAKER_03 38:49

Yeah. Yeah, I'm with you. I'm with you on TCU. Uh TCU super impressive this weekend. Giving up only four runs across the three games was really impressive. Um, and we had them on the bubble already in the last four in or the first four out for us. I believe they move into that last four-in now. Uh, maybe even off the bubble into into the tournament. We'll see how things shake up when we look at it. Uh, but I'm with you. Pitt, I think is now out. I mean, they're sitting 14th in conference play. Uh, and I think you're gonna see a couple teams move in. Um, we talked about a little bit earlier on the phone, NC State. They're they're jumping up, they're sitting seventh in the in conference right now, 31 and 19 on the season. So um, you know, we're gonna see some bubble teams move around a lot. And so, man, right when you think bubble teams are getting, like you said, right when we think things are getting figured out.

SPEAKER_02 39:48

Nope.

SPEAKER_03 39:49

Nope.

SPEAKER_00 39:51

So hey, maybe maybe it was Mother's Day, you know, and everyone, maybe the moms were there and everyone was a little nervous this weekend. I don't mean who knows too much. Uh but some pitchers weren't nervous, some pitchers weren't nervous. Uh, we get some five arms.

SPEAKER_03 40:10

Five arms of the week.

SPEAKER_00 40:12

Five arms of the week. Oh, wait, hold on. Let me play it. Let me oh, I don't have it. I don't have that. I forgot I haven't made one. I haven't made one yet.

SPEAKER_03 40:22

All right, we'll we'll get it at some point. If not, we'll just do it for next year. Uh first off, we'll start off with Tegan Coons, the sophomore right-hander made an appearance on the five arms of the week before. So he gets another one this week. I get seven innings, four hits, giving up no runs, and having 15 strikeouts, Kenny, which ties an SEC season season record uh that we had this season by Kasen Evans against Oklahoma earlier this year. And he does that against Texas, who's one of the best teams in the country. So heck of a performance by the Tennessee right-hander. And uh getting hot at the right time. Tennessee, we talked about them. Their pitching staff is playing really well. This is gonna be a guy, Kenny. When I think about Tennessee getting into a regional, I do not want to be the three or two seed between whichever one they get. I don't want to be the one on the other side because you know this guy's gonna be coming lights out in that game.

SPEAKER_00 41:14

Oh the way like Tennessee still has that culture since um hothead left, and it's still there, it's still there. So you know how they are when Tennessee gets hot. It's it's entertaining, it's really entertaining.

SPEAKER_03 41:31

He's got a 3.13 ERA on the season, Kenny. 3.13, that's so impressive. I hear that name all the time. Coons. What, Tegan Coons?

SPEAKER_00 41:42

Yes. Almost reboot.

SPEAKER_03 41:44

Next, we got West Virginia. We talked about them a little bit with that Kansas series. Really want to shout out Maxiale here. Junior left-hander improves to 7-1 on the season, improves his ERA to 2.04 on the season. And it's complete, first complete game on the mound, Kenny. So West Virginia's pitching staff, like we talked about earlier, really coming alive at the right time. So super impressive there. Next, we get a no-hitter, Kenny. We got another no-hitter this year. Oh we got a no-hitter by Carson Swayham. He gets uh the sophomore left-hander, gets his first complete game, gets a no-hitter. I'm assuming if it's the first complete game, first no-hitter. So uh career high, 15 strikeouts for him. So it's another 15k day. So, like you were talking about, Friday was led by the pitchings. Um this wasn't on Friday, but you know, across the weekend we had some really good pitching. Then uh I want to highlight this is the one team that's probably not gonna make that's not gonna make the tournament that's on this list. Uh, but I do want to shout out Vincent Vincent Burghese. He get the senior right-hander, gets is one out away from a complete game and gets his ERA down to 4.07 on the season for Ruckers. And then our last one, want to shout out a Thursday game against Auburn for Mississippi State, Tomas Valinkus Valinkis, got that right, Valinkis. He gets goes six and two thirds, gives up four hits, he gives up third three runs, but it is impressive, Kenny, that he gets 13 strikeouts against that Auburn team, and that Auburn team is really, really good. And this is the only game that Mississippi State wins in a series, so it's a big shout-out to him. He's only a sophomore left-hander as well. And uh that's uh that 13K's was only one shy of a season high against Vanderbilt. He improves 8-2 on the season and gets his ERA down to 2 5 2. Well, it technically went up, Kenny. That's how good his ERA has been on the season. It goes up in the game, but he goes to 2 5 2, which is still hella impressive.

SPEAKER_00 43:49

Jesus, yeah, that is impressive. Well, look, I uh there's a couple of guys on there that, especially Coons and uh Belinkus. I don't think I said that right. Um that you'll yeah, you'll you'll hear those names repeat, repeat, repeat. So definitely used to hearing those names. Um we'll do our trivia question from last week. Uh this kind of went off of the week. Well, I was talking about bats before. Which team has the most home runs home runs in the College World Series? That would be L Shoe and USC. I don't think that's a surprise to really anybody, uh, especially if you're an LSU fan or even the bats in the 90s. And I think after this year, they went to B B E S R or they changed the bats altogether again. And I think L Shoe had broke the home run record that year or the year after. But uh you you had a little side note on this. What L Shu only achieved it in four, USC only in six.

SPEAKER_03 45:02

Yeah, really impressive. Both teams get 17 home runs in that tournament. But yeah, LSU doing it in four games, USC and six, so it makes it even more impressive for Gorilla, Gorilla Ball era for LSU. Uh that was the Skip Bertman days where they just had a dynasty there in the 90s. So I don't think anybody's really surprised that it ends up being an LSU team, uh, or like you were saying, a USC team, but uh that's why we said it's important to include the year because you got to get the year right.

SPEAKER_00 45:36

Well, Jason, I think we'll wrap it up here. Um final question, final question. So conference tournaments are coming up, and there's been a lot of conversation of depending on how you do in these conference championships, how like how big of a showing do you need to have to get into a regional? For instance, Vanderbilt has been a team that shows up well in the college in the SEC tournament. If they show up, do well in this tournament, maybe win it, do they get an advantage of getting a region or getting into a region? And I'm saying this why? Because I keep on seeing teams like Kentucky, and there's a couple other teams that are getting this conversation is okay, what about the conference tournament? Okay, absolutely not. Uh that's great for the conference tournament, but you've had all these chances all year. Uh I'm on the fence. I'm on the fence with it.

SPEAKER_03 46:49

Yeah, I think it depends on the team, which is uh my cop-out answer. But you brought up Vanderbilt, so let's talk about Vanderbilt for a second. I think this Vanderbilt team, they get South Carolina this weekend, they're gonna have an opportunity to get to that 13-14 wins if they get the sweep, they get to 14 on the season uh in the SEC play, which is you know, like that number, that magic number they need kind of stuff. But for me, I think Vanderbilt would really have to go on a run because I I'm looking at they'd have to I mean obviously if they win the tournament they're in. I think they would have to honestly get to the conference tournament uh conference championship to to even to be a to be really really in that middle. Because at that point, the tough here's the thing it also depends who they go through. They're gonna have to go through top teams to get to that championship game, regardless. And now we're all talking we're talking about a hypothetical that uh they can get bounced first round and we'll then nothing even matters. But uh let's say they go on a run, they beat Auburn, they beat Texas, they beat Florida. I mean, that could happen. We looked at we we had saw the new format. We got six, we uh we get all 16 teams in this year. Uh it'll definitely be really interesting. So they could go on a run, but uh, I think that's what it's gonna have to take. Get it to the get to the conference championship game for Vanderbilt. Uh LSU, uh, they'd have to win it.

SPEAKER_00 48:12

Yeah. Well, Jason, figure any last final thoughts? Uh, I guess we'll we're gonna do we're still we're gonna go live again. If you didn't miss live, I think you missed a great show. Um, we we're still getting views on it, so good, good for that. Um, I think it'll be a lot of a flip-flop this year, this this week, excuse me. But um that's it for me, Jason. Anything else?

SPEAKER_03 48:37

I was just gonna touch on the same thing. We had so much fun doing our host uh our reveal last week, and we're really hoping everybody can just comes back, join the show. Uh, give us your thoughts. Uh, we want to see more comments. We want to see people saying, hey, great take. We want to see disagree, and I want to see the bad takes. I want to know what people's thoughts are. So, yeah, please join. And uh looking forward to seeing y'all there.

SPEAKER_00 49:01

Anyway, like, share, subscribe, give us some comment. Uh, we got the Hoosier Homer hour. Those guys are talking about whatever the Hoosier's talking about. Whatever, we're gonna talk about it. This is college baseball. We are one week, we got Comfort Tournament, and then we can finally, I cannot wait. I'm tired. I just want to watch, I just want to watch some squeeze play, dude. Come on, come on.