ball5podcast/ Scott's Top 16

Tune in as Scott predicts his 16 Regional Hosts and where, in his opinion, the Aggies will land. Scott also goes thru a few strengths for each of his picks. Be sure to go to the Ball5 Clubhouse YouTube Channel and drop your picks in the comment section. Enjoy!!

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Hey everybody, thanks for joining the Ball Five Podcast. I'm your host, Guy Livingstone, and I I wanted to jump on here and do kind of a podcast mini, if you will. I keep getting the questions about who I think the top 16 are going to be or where's AM gonna finish. What are my thoughts? And you know, you sit around, you think about it, and it's always kind of a fluid situation because anything can happen over this weekend. Uh, you know, we got Mississippi State coming in for three. I think Auburn plays Georgia. Is Georgia gonna be? How intent are they gonna be because they've already won the SEC? So, I mean, there's some different things to look at. So I think it's uh, you know, it's kind of interesting because I mean I had to make notes on this to try and figure this out and kind of where I thought teams kind of fell. And in doing so, I kind of came up with more bullet points and things that I knew about their teams, some things that I researched about the teams, and just kind of where, you know, I think everything may fall. So in taking a look at that, I mean, when I started out with my top 16, it was I I felt pretty good about UCLA at number one. Um, I took Georgia Tech at two, Georgia three, uh, I have Auburn four, North Carolina, ACC five, Texas at six, I got Alabama in there at seven. They kind of you know, sneaking in there, sneaking around. Some things can happen with them, but we'll have to just kind of wait and see that how this weekend plays out. I got AM sneaking in there at number eight. I I feel good that you know the committee believes in us, and and outside of all the injuries and stuff, that offense that we still have, I mean, it can put up some numbers. So it can beat up on anybody. Southern Miss, number nine. I got Florida at 10, Florida State at 11, Mississippi State, still got them hanging around at 12, Ole Miss at 13, Oregon State, I think they lost one of their big time pitchers, but I still got them in there at 14. Now this one, Kansas, West Virginia. I kind of waffled back and forth. I wasn't really sure, you know, where I wanted to go with that. So I'm gonna kind of leave that with a Kansas slash West Virginia. And then I got Oregon coming in at at six. So, you know, that's kind of where I'm at. And I'm gonna keep AM at number eight. You know, I I think that's I think that's where we can land no matter really what happens. Now, if we get swept, top 16. I think if we win one, we still have a chance to be a top eight seed. So I feel pretty good about that. Uh our pairing, if that in my list, our pairing would be with Southern Miss. But we'd be at Bluebell because we'd be an eight and they'd be a nine if they won their region. So, you know, but Southern Miss is dangerous, man. I mean, they they're older, they're experienced, they've all played together for a long time. It's just they're gonna be tough. I mean, you don't really hear about Southern Miss that much, but they're gonna be a tough squad. They're gonna be good. And uh, you know, if they come into Bluebell Park, I mean, I don't think they're gonna be phased by the crowd or anything like that, but you know, we'll we'll try and rile them up anyway, right? So, but I think, you know, I think we're that's who we play. I mean, that's who I really feel like that's kind of gonna be it, you know? And if we, you know, slip any further out of that, then you know, we could end up at Georgia or North Carolina and heaven forbid Austin. But right now, Southern Miss is the draw for me right now. That's who I feel like we're gonna finish eight. Southern Miss is gonna be nine. But like I said, man, this stuff is all these moving parts every single weekend, and we don't know a lot of what the what the what the committee looks at, right? I mean, they you know, I've talked about it before. They look at your ballpark. I mean, the revenue, and like I've said before, you've heard me say it before, everything's about money, which it is. How many butts are in the seat? How many people are gonna be there? You know, what are the concession stands like? What's the parking lot like? You know, what what's the hotel situation like? I mean, they've changed places before with uh a venue that couldn't house everybody or stuff was going on, and so they've moved venues, and so they're not afraid to do that. If if, for example, West Virginia is hosting, then okay, you know, if it's a super, is it gonna make much money for us? Maybe not. They may only hold like 1,800 people. I don't know, but I know it's a smaller stadium. So, but I made some notes about each one of these teams, and I just kind of want to go through them and kind of give you my thoughts on them and what I think about these guys and where they're strong, where they might be weak, what what they got going for them. And just and this just gonna be my 16. So uh we're gonna start with UCLA, and I mean that's probably the safest bet right now, right? Being number one. I mean, they got elite pitching. Uh the West Coast, I mean, travel to there is tough for anybody going to the West Coast. Uh, and they've been consistent all year, they really have. And they've I mean they have a few bad losses, but all in all, we know after that run rule at Globe Life that you know they're they're somebody to deal with. My uh second team, Georgia Tech. I mean, their offense, wow, they can explode. They got a top-round pick in their catcher. I think his name's Lackey. I mean, they they can get it done. And you know, ACC's had a tough schedule this year, you know, with North Carolina and Florida State and those schools in there. I mean, now you get an RPI boost, just like the SEC. Maybe not as good as SEC, but pretty close. And like I said, they're you know, offensively, they're dangerous, but they're especially dangerous at home. They are tough at home. So, and they got a one of the hottest resumes, you know, this late in the year of who they've played. Georgia, you know, SEC matters in the committee. So winning the division, big deal. And they didn't run away with it, but they kind of jogged away with it, right? So, I mean, it was a situation where they pretty much handled just about everybody. And, you know, their lineup, we've seen it firsthand. They're physical, top to bottom. They're tough. They got a great catcher, Daniel Jackson, and he can run, throw, hit, hit for power. He can do it all. And they got a great weekend rotation, too. I mean, they're they're tough, man. We've seen it firsthand, like I said. So I feel like hosting for them is kind of a lock. The Longhorns, they got them, you know, that's a brand name. Uh, you know, they got a good record too, and that also carries weight. Committee loves winning series late. So be nice of us to win this Mississippi State series here late since we've lost the last two. And I think they kind of look at who's hot, who's not, type of situation. Uh, you know, and they're Texas balanced on offense and they're pitching pretty solid all the way around. And uh, I mean, they could push for a higher seed, too. They they could they could get up there. Uh, North Carolina is one of the teams I got up there. They're dangerous at home, man. They really are. They got that ACC profile of playing those teams again, similar to the SEC, but not quite there. And they have a veteran club. I think they're older. That doesn't seem like they really beat themselves. They make you beat them. And so just playing solid baseball, and you know, it's it's a it's a tough place to go in and play, too. So that'd be a tough one. Auburn, we already know about them, right? They're kind of they're on, they got this momentum swing in their direction where and you know, and I think that matters. The committee looks at what's a team doing at this moment, right? How are they playing right now? And SEC scheduling, obviously. And you know, it says physical offense is kind of what I picked up on, but you didn't really think they were going to be that way. I sure didn't at the beginning of that series, but the bottom half of their lineup kind of threw some pop out there and put some balls in play. And I mean, they they played really well. And, you know, playing at home at Auburn, that atmosphere, you know, from what I understand, can be pretty brutal in the postseason. Alabama, like I said, quietly kind of building a good resume. Um, it's a tough matchup, too. I mean, they're they're very athletic, and like I said, the committee, you know, they they value the SEC, you know, pretty heavily. So, um, and Alabama can move up or down. It's kind of what I said, you know, AM could be seven, couldn't sneak in there. And AM, I mean, the biggest thing is just trying to stay in the top eight. I think, you know, obviously everybody knows we have home field advantage, college station, and trying to play our best ball, which losing two series is not, but it's gonna matter. So if we can sit back and and and take care of business this weekend and show well and maybe get a win or two in Hoover after hopefully a couple buys, if we're one of the top four in the SEC, that'll show well for us. So, you know, we just need a strong move here at the end, I think, to kind of push us over the line. And again, the crowd, the environment, I think it really becomes a factor for the Supers. And and the committee looks at that. So, so we'll see. Uh bumping on down to I think we're gonna end up playing, like I said, Southern Miss. A little bit about them. It's kind of like what they said about us before when we were down last year. It's like, really? Nobody wants AM in that regional. Nobody wants to, you know, see those guys. And it's kind of like Southern Miss. They're gonna be good, older, experienced. They're tough at home. And uh, you know, they play clean baseball. And when they do, they're pretty dangerous, from what I understand. Florida Gators got them kind of under the radar, sneaking in there. They seem like they're, you know, their talent level just screams, you know, top 10, right? Maybe not top eight, but it's to me it screams top 10. And plus the, you know, they had a good hitter that came on and hit some home runs against us. I think he's pitching now and actually doing really well. SEC again, and they got some arms. If they're you know, we've we know though those arms that they got. So if they can pitch and pitch better than the the you know, they did at the second half of that series, they could be somebody to you know reckon with. And like I said, it's momentum, so I think they're going pretty good. Florida State, probably one of the better offenses uh nationally, you know, pretty tough. And they're it's kind of historic, you know. You don't think about it, but the community will look at you know historically how and how are they? And Florida State's one of those teams that historically their brand kind of matters, and it's it's a tough lineup, one through nine. Like I said, you know, their offense is pretty good, and and uh they can I absolutely host a super, definitely. Um, it just gotta see where this weekend falls, right? Mississippi State, who we play, uh playing in Starkville, man. If they get home games, man, duty noble, that's tough. That's tough. It's just like Bluebell, it might be tougher. I don't know. I don't know. Um, again, SEC, they got some real good power arms, which we're gonna see this weekend, and we'll see how their bat the you know their offensive lineup is. I think they hit the ball pretty good. So, I mean, they could be a dangerous low seed that nobody really wants to see. I mean, it's just it just really is. Another SEC squad, oh miss. It just seems like they're kind of a little bit built for the postseason. I don't know why, but I just kind of got that feeling. And the offense can get hot, you know. They I don't think they hit as well as they could have, or they may have hit better in some of the spots against us, but I wasn't seeing a whole lot from them, but apparently there's potential that a lot of people believe in, and you know, they have some experienced players there, so you can't really count them out because I think they won it a few years ago when they were really down and out and they got hot at the right time. Oregon State Beavers, man, that's just an elite culture out there, tradition. I mean, they've got it all out there again. West Coast travels always tough, and they have experience. Uh pitching development, they they develop pitchers out there. The one one guy's hurt, I think it's Dax Whitney, I believe. He might be out for the year, could be a first pick next year. So uh, you know, they have experience there on the mound, and they finish if they finish strong, they could climb a little higher. Kansas, West Virginia. That's kind of my surprise jumps. Um not big preseason expectations from what I remember. Excuse me. And you know, they have an offense that just keeps pushing to win series. They do. It doesn't seem like they go out there and do anything spectacular, but win. So it's kind of a big deal, and they're consistent. And committee loves consistency. We know that. Umregon Ducks, athletic, always have been well coached, they have aggressive style of play, they try and pressure the defense, and they can be dangerous, they really can. And um, you know, hosting, you know, uh conversation, I don't know, but they'll be at a regional, they'll be at somebody's regional if they're not hosting, that's for sure. So and they can move in and out quickly. I mean, these teams near here at the bottom, the Kansas, the West Virginias, you know, Oregon State, Oregon, again, it's like anything else. It's not something that you necessarily want them at your regional, but they might end up there. So, all in all, I I mean, I think the Aggs have a great chance to be a top eight seed. I really do. And um, it just got to take care of business against Mississippi State, and we'll kind of see how much Hoover plays into this. Uh, if we get a couple buys and then win a game there, it just depends. Just got to wait and see how the chips fall this weekend and see what happens with uh the teams around the country. Like I said, is Georgia gonna come out, you know, with a lot of intent or are they gonna be like, okay, we've won the division, we're good. But I'm pretty sure they're gonna play hard and do their thing because I don't think their coach would let them, you know, let them off the hook that easily. But, you know, all in all, that's what I think. Um, I wholeheartedly believe that we will no doubt be a top 16. It just depends on are we gonna be a top eight? And holy cow, if we sweep, top eight, baby. But if we're two, if we're two out of three, we could still be a top eight. I really think we could be a top eight, two out of three. We just gotta be playing good here at the end. Two two loss series at the bottom of the schedule here, near the end of the schedule, makes it tough. And I don't know if if Bluebell Park and the revenue and all that stuff is gonna be enough for the committee to choose somebody else, but we just gotta have to wait and see. So um that's my top 16. I'm sure I'm not right, but I'm I'm sure I'm I'm wrong. But uh I'd like for you know hear what you guys' thoughts are. So I'm gonna throw a short out there later on. So if you want to go out to our ball five clubhouse on the YouTube channel and click on that short and give me your comments because that's where I'll see what you think about my top 16, top eight, and just give me your thoughts. I would uh love to hear them. I'm sure you ask 10 people, you're gonna get 10 different answers, except we probably get UCLA first and all of them. But I think that's probably the only for sure one. So, all right, gang, I appreciate you guys listening. I hope you uh understood all that, and be sure and go check out that ball five clubhouse on the YouTube channel and let me know what you think. All right, thanks again. Until next time.