18 replies to this topic

[Mischievious]

Is no one watching the Women's College World Series?

Yesterday, opening round, was amazing. I was up until 2 am (CST) time watching. Two of the four games went into extra innings.

The Northwestern-Alabama game was amazing. With two outs and a 2-2 count in the bottom of the 7th, the Northwestern batter hit a homerun to tie the game and send it into extra innings.

I attend the College World Series for baseball every year, but dang it, the WCWS is absolutely amazing. I encourage all ya'll to check it out this week on ESPN2.

[wannabe]

Oh yeah, you better believe i'm watching. This is one of the rare times they show my favoritest sport on the telly. If Texas can't bring it home, then I really hope Tennessee takes it. Even Northwestern (although I haven't forgiven them for knocking out MI) Anyone but UCLA! I have much respect for the level of softball played in CA forever, but UCLA is like the Yankees - MUST NOT WIN!

I miss you, Sam Findlay!

[Berm]

Awwww... I'm an SEC girl, but I got a little choked up watching Cat Osterman cry at the end of their game.

Now that Bama's out, I'm pulling for Tennesse, but I'm fully on the "Anyone but UCLA" bandwagon.

[Gimme Stitches]

This Northwestern-UCLA game is shaping up to be an instant classic. I really hope the Bruins lose.

Yeah, I love me some college softball world series. I'm even taping tonight's game.

Wow, back-to-back dingers for the Wildcats.

[BananasFoster]

I watched several of these games and came to the decision after the first couple to watch the rest on mute. The reason, Lisa Fernandez. I know she was a terrific player and I am sure she is very knowledgable about the game, but something about her style irritates the shit outta me.

I think I have narrowed it down to a couple of things I dislike the most. Lisa harps on the fact that mental toughness and attitude are what determines who wins or loses. I agree with this to a certain extent, but it is no different than any other athletic competition. Lisa rolls these jewels out there like her sport is unique and the women playing must overcome greater obstacles. This is simply not the case. Who wins these games is no different than any other high level competition. Which players perform the best in the clutch. In this case, whoever hits the ball, throws the ball and catches the ball better than the other team. Maybe she is saying the same thing I am but her way annoys me for some reason.

Maybe this is it. She is so INTENSE. Yeah, the game is intense but it is also fun. In fact many of these women teams look like they are having a ball and it is hard to distinguish the playing from the chatter and cheerleading that is going on. I think that part of the game is interesting and part of what makes it fun to watch. The commentators, especially Lisa, ignore the celebrations and chatter that IS somewhat unique to this sport to focus on the technicalities of a rise ball versus a drop ball. I think that stuff is interesting but so is the exuberance and comradarie that these teams bring to the sport. Part of me wonders if Lisa ignores that part of the game because she is afraid the audience will take it less seriously, or will think it's "just girls" if they mention the fact that the bench is cheerleading throughout the game.

[Berm]

I watched several of these games and came to the decision after the first couple to watch the rest on mute. The reason, Lisa Fernandez. I know she was a terrific player and I am sure she is very knowledgable about the game, but something about her style irritates the shit outta me.

I don't *love* Lisa in the booth, but I do like her better than Stacey Nuveman. I can't articulate quite as well as BananasFoster did what exactly bothers me about her, but I feel like she doesn't really say that much for someone who should have more knowledge.

Part of me wonders if Lisa ignores that part of the game because she is afraid the audience will take it less seriously, or will think it's "just girls" if they mention the fact that the bench is cheerleading throughout the game.

I never really thought about the fact that they don't really go into that kind of stuf, but you're right, it's a lot of what makes the game fun. I love the chatter and the rally caps and the goofy, complicated high fives. Good stuff!

[Mischievious]

Oh Northwestern. I want to root for you but it's hard when your second baseman runs smack into the shortstop who is in left field catching a ball causing her to drop it.

[BananasFoster]

Oh Northwestern. I want to root for you but it's hard when your second baseman runs smack into the shortstop who is in left field catching a ball causing her to drop it.

Yes, that was painful to watch. As were the multitude of other gaffes.

I will give the announcers a break for my earlier scathing comments, because I have to admit it's almost like they (NW) weren't mentally tough enough to win this game. Heh.

I also just realized there were three commentators doing the game. Their voices all sound very similar to me. In inflection and in the stuff they are saying. I still think it is Lisa Fenandez that bugs me, but I forgive her since she gave a good demo for throwing a rise ball. And she was right about Northwestern needing to be mentally prepared for the final.

[moemac]

I guess I'm the only one watching it. Every team I root for loses. First DePaul and now North Western.

[Senor Audacity]

My TWoP-related observation/raison d'etre to post this within the rules: I kept giggling every time the pitcher for Tennessee (against Arizona in their first meeting in the Series) bent over for her windup because I could see her butt.

Now that I got that out of my system, what I really want to know is: How is this yet a sport? I'm not saying it can't be, but IMH (and not-that-knowledgable) O it isn't yet. From the view here, all you need to field a championship team is a dominant pitcher, someone with working knees to catch, and a woman who can move a hand to catch grounders at first. The other six positions can be tackling dummies for all I care, because the players who do man those positions are more often than not watching the pitcher bend over and strike out batter after batter. I like a defensive battle as much as the next guy, but if there are two no-hitters on the first day of the Women's College World Series, if your pitcher doesn't do the job becauser her strikeout total doesn't reach the teens, this sport is severely, unwatchably unbalanced. I don't know if the pitching talent is running laps around the batting talent or if the rules allow aces to dominate to this extent, but I haven't seen enough offense to make me believe college softball is beyond the embryonic stage. Tell me there's an equivalent to the Big Red Machine and maybe I'll care.

One other thing: Tennessee beat Arizona tonight (Monday). Didn't they beat the 'Cats on Friday? I know the "championship series" is best-of-3, but since the WCWS up to this point was double-elimination, it should be double-elimination all the way through. Which means the Lady Vols already won!

Edited by Senor Audacity, Jun 7, 2007 @ 3:16 AM.

[PotatoEgal]

Now that I got that out of my system, what I really want to know is: How is this yet a sport? I'm not saying it can't be, but IMH (and not-that-knowledgable) O it isn't yet. From the view here, all you need to field a championship team is a dominant pitcher, someone with working knees to catch, and a woman who can move a hand to catch grounders at first. The other six positions can be tackling dummies for all I care, because the players who do man those positions are more often than not watching the pitcher bend over and strike out batter after batter.

Tonight was a perfect example of a team who has a dominant pitcher, someone with knees to catch, and someone to catch the ball, yet still loses in the title game. Abbot pitched a gem each time, but when her offense fails to back her up (25 baserunners left in 2 games), you can't win ballgames. Mowatt isn't as impressive as Abbot by far, but because she has a hard-hitting team behind her, it allowed her to be a national champion second year in a row.

People say it's all about pitching, but when it comes down to it, you can pitch all day and still not score a run.

Back on topic, I obviously love the WCWS. I'm a collegiate pitcher myself, and I love watching it each year. I was just saddened my Lady Vols couldn't take it all this year.

[wannabe]

PotatoEGal, your reply was spot on. I can't add much, because I am too depressed. I just feel terrible for Monica and UT. Her offense let her down, and she was tired tonight. Plus, it really gets old watching Cal and AZ teams dominate year after year. (Not that they don't deserve it - their programs are still superior to most BUT I maintain that Sue Endquist and Mike Candrea had/have pacts with the devil!) I like it when the underdog pulls it out. When Michigan won in 2005, you could have heard me cheering in the next town.

[Gimme Stitches]

The college softball world series is still as exciting as I can remember.

That UF comeback(after Bama's comeback) today was as exciting as sports can get.

[Redtracer]

Gimme Stitches, I felt so bad for Alabama at the end of that game. I usually like come-from-behind wins, but this one was devastating. 'Bama outplayed Florida the entire game, only to lose to a walk-off grand slam. What are the odds?

The losing team took it well, though, keeping the tears to a minimum. If I were that losing pitcher, I'd be lying on the ground curled in the fetal position, sobbing uncontrollably.

Edited by Redtracer, Jun 1, 2009 @ 11:12 AM.

[Quent]

This is one of my favorite sporting events to watch every year. In fact, while I was rooting for Washington and thus was glad they won it last night, I was selfishly hoping it would go three games just so it would last a little longer. Some great moments though what with all the grand slams and even some of those insane throwing errors added a lot of excitement. Sounds like both Florida and Washington will be strong contenders next year since neither had too many seniors.

[Quiddler]

Really, Team USA? Pink uniforms? Ugh. I feel like feminism has been set back 30 years.

[PotatoEgal]

""It was breast cancer awareness day, according to the announcers. Thus every team had some form of pink on during the day game (Team Canada wore pink sweatbands).

Edited by PotatoEgal, Jul 18, 2009 @ 11:31 PM.

[Mischievious]

Is anyone watching the Super Regionals? I wasn't able to see the first Florida-Oregon game, but they kept showing highlights from it. Very impressed with the Florida batter that hit a moving SUV with her hit. It knocked the side mirror off. During the same at bat, she hit a home run and you could see the SUV's driver and cop talking in the background of where the ball landed.

The super regional games are great this year. Can't wait to watch the College World Series.

[Quent]

Yeah, I love watching this -- one of my favorite sporting events of the year. Amd yes, that knocking off the side mirror shot was one of the craziest things I've ever seen. Will be particularly exciting this year because I root for the OU Sooners -- but they're going to have their hands full with Arizona State. I notice that half of the WS field comes from the Big 12. Are they taking over from the Pac 10 as the dominant conference?