The SEC leaderboard at the midpoint of SEC play:
1. Tex 13-2 --
2. Ark 12-3 -1
3. UT 11-4 -2
4. GA 10-5 -3
4. LSU 10-5 -3
6. Aub 9-6 -4
6. OM 9-6 -4
8. Vandy 8-7 -5
8. Bama 8-7 -5
10. Okla 7-8 -6
11. UK 6-9 -7
11. A&M 6-9 -7
13. MSt 5-10 -8
14. FLA 4-11 -9
15. USC 2-13 -11
16. Mizz 0-15 -13 [will likely be eliminated this weekend]
Regular season champ is most likely coming from 1 of 4 (maybe 5) teams.
Six of the 8 series this weekend start on Thursday. Only UK, UT, FL, and MSU will play Easter Sunday. They all 4 are obviously godless heathens who don't mind tempting fate. I will continue to crucify each of them for dissing you know who. [I'm Shinto/Buddhist/Scientologist but I don't like any religion's icon being tortured unless it's Tom Cruise.}
There are several big series here in week 6, which is true just about any SEC weekend.
I will no longer be predicting the series having hit rock bottom in doing so last weekend. Going forward I will only say what I, a staunch Vandy fan, would like to see happen that would benefit my guys.
Thursday starts
# 6 Ole Miss @ #15 USCjr
Ole Miss gets a big break this week playing an SEC dreg team even if it is on the road. USCjr can score runs but they have a hard time holding their opponent to under 10 runs. Ole Miss almost took down UT last weekend but were let down by their bullpen, blowing a late lead in game 3 and losing the series 2-1.
From Vandy's perspective, I'd like to see the Rebel Bears lose the series seeing as how we go to Oxford next weekend. They lose/we win and we can either tie or pass them in the standings.
For once in your life pull for Paul Mainieri to win the series, even if he does cry numerous ties during the games.
#6 Auburn @ #1 Texas
Following a series sweep of LSU last weekend the War Eagles are flying high and have their eye on that half-dead longhorn steer laying in the middle of the field. But I doubt that happens as Texas' starting pitcher is just too good, as is the top of their bullpen. These will mostly be low-scoring games but the home field advantage is in the favor of Texas.
We, of course, having lost a series to Auburn, want to see them pull off the upset. The better their RPI the better for us. BTW, Auburn and Vandy will likely end up 1/2 in some order atop the SOS rankings by season's end.
Pull for Auburn to win the series.
#8 Bama @ #5 LSU
LSU is reeling from a disastrous trip to Auburn. That was their 2nd series loss and losing another series at home would be very damaging. Bama is certainly capable but they also had a bad weekend in losing a home series to lowly Mississippi State. The team that rebounds the fastest will likely win the series.
We don't play LSU but we do play Bama so I'd like to see Bama lose the series and fall behind us in the standings as we are currently tied for the 8th spot. That's an important spot because the top 8 teams get a day 1 bye in Hoover.
Pull for LSU to win the series but don't cry if they don't as it would make it easier for us to catch them in the standings.
#10 Oklahoma @ #16 Mizzou
The Sooners are this week's lottery winners and will have a great chance of sending MO to their 6 straight sweep on the losing end. That has to be an SEC record, if it isn't already.
We want Oklahoma to lose so that they stand behind us in the rankings.
Pull for Missouri to do the impossible and actually win a game, preferably 2.
#11 Texas A&M @ #2 Arkansas
Don't let the rankings fool you. A&M has gotten things together -- series win at UT, sweep at USCjr and a 7 game winning streak {which now gives them a winning record.} If they get decent starting pitching I think they can keep up with the pigs HR production in that HR friendly ball park. This one is a real toss-up and could go either way -- either could sweep, either could get swept.
Since we've beaten A&M we want them to continue to do well, but not well enough to overtake us. But the higher their RPI goes the higher ours goes. Arkansas swept us so no matter their opponent I want to see them lose and Cam Kozeal go hitless for the weekend.
Pull for A&M to win the series.
#4 Georgia @ #8 Vanderbilt
Georgia is coming off a home series win over Arkansas PLUS a Tuesday win over Georgia Tech. They are running on all cylinders. Vandy had a disappointing weekend in Norman, with our starters being putrid in games 1 and 2, followed up by putrid relievers. Did Sunday's game right the ship? Did Tuesday's extra inning win over Lipscomb help or hurt? Time will tell. But this is absolutely MUST WIN series for Vandy if they hope to entertain any thoughts of being a regional host. Given the upcoming SEC slate they have to hold service at home. Play like last weekend and that won't happen.
Pull for Vandy to sweep or at least win the series.
Friday series
[perhaps it's appropriate these teams start the series on Friday, the day Jesus was crucified. Keep an eye out on the outfield berms at both stadiums for suspicious activity involving a big cross and opposing team fans. Pagans will stoop to anything and goodness knows Knoxville and Starkville are full of pagans.]
#14 Florida @ #13 Mississippi State
Given that they're making a sacrilege of Easter Sunday, what does it matter who wins? They're both going to hell as penance after Sunday's game. [Some say Sully's already been there and back twice so maybe the third time's the charm. It seems to have worked for his numerous marriages.] Both won series last weekend -- Florida over Missouri (nothing to brag about there) and State over Bama on the road (definitely worth bragging about.) This should be a very competitive series.
Heaven forbid we ever pull for Florida to win anything but I think it helps Vandy for them to take this series. We swept Florida in Gainesville and we don't play State, so the higher the Gators RPI and record the better for us. But again, we don't want them to do well enough to pass us in the rankings.
Pull for Florida to take the series 2-1.
#10 Kentucky @ #3 Tennessee
Two other teams going to hell in an Easter basket face off in KTown at the bandbox known as Lindsey Stadium. Kentucky has decent pitching [I especially like Beaver Cleaver who starts game 3] and are a scrapy bunch. They've lost a ton of 1-run games lately to Ole Miss and Texas and darn near pulled over a series win over the #1 Longhorns.
As faithful Vandy fans we always like to see UTjr lose every game possible. But don't be surprised if they win the series and possibly sweep.
Pull for Kentucky to sweep the Lawless Vawls and Crappy Tony [just like the devil to play baseball on Easter.]
If all goes well this weekend Vandy could climb to as high as #4 in the standings. If all goes poorly they could fall as far as #12 or #13.
Time will tell.
1. Tex 13-2 --
2. Ark 12-3 -1
3. UT 11-4 -2
4. GA 10-5 -3
4. LSU 10-5 -3
6. Aub 9-6 -4
6. OM 9-6 -4
8. Vandy 8-7 -5
8. Bama 8-7 -5
10. Okla 7-8 -6
11. UK 6-9 -7
11. A&M 6-9 -7
13. MSt 5-10 -8
14. FLA 4-11 -9
15. USC 2-13 -11
16. Mizz 0-15 -13 [will likely be eliminated this weekend]
Regular season champ is most likely coming from 1 of 4 (maybe 5) teams.
Six of the 8 series this weekend start on Thursday. Only UK, UT, FL, and MSU will play Easter Sunday. They all 4 are obviously godless heathens who don't mind tempting fate. I will continue to crucify each of them for dissing you know who. [I'm Shinto/Buddhist/Scientologist but I don't like any religion's icon being tortured unless it's Tom Cruise.}
There are several big series here in week 6, which is true just about any SEC weekend.
I will no longer be predicting the series having hit rock bottom in doing so last weekend. Going forward I will only say what I, a staunch Vandy fan, would like to see happen that would benefit my guys.
Thursday starts
# 6 Ole Miss @ #15 USCjr
Ole Miss gets a big break this week playing an SEC dreg team even if it is on the road. USCjr can score runs but they have a hard time holding their opponent to under 10 runs. Ole Miss almost took down UT last weekend but were let down by their bullpen, blowing a late lead in game 3 and losing the series 2-1.
From Vandy's perspective, I'd like to see the Rebel Bears lose the series seeing as how we go to Oxford next weekend. They lose/we win and we can either tie or pass them in the standings.
For once in your life pull for Paul Mainieri to win the series, even if he does cry numerous ties during the games.
#6 Auburn @ #1 Texas
Following a series sweep of LSU last weekend the War Eagles are flying high and have their eye on that half-dead longhorn steer laying in the middle of the field. But I doubt that happens as Texas' starting pitcher is just too good, as is the top of their bullpen. These will mostly be low-scoring games but the home field advantage is in the favor of Texas.
We, of course, having lost a series to Auburn, want to see them pull off the upset. The better their RPI the better for us. BTW, Auburn and Vandy will likely end up 1/2 in some order atop the SOS rankings by season's end.
Pull for Auburn to win the series.
#8 Bama @ #5 LSU
LSU is reeling from a disastrous trip to Auburn. That was their 2nd series loss and losing another series at home would be very damaging. Bama is certainly capable but they also had a bad weekend in losing a home series to lowly Mississippi State. The team that rebounds the fastest will likely win the series.
We don't play LSU but we do play Bama so I'd like to see Bama lose the series and fall behind us in the standings as we are currently tied for the 8th spot. That's an important spot because the top 8 teams get a day 1 bye in Hoover.
Pull for LSU to win the series but don't cry if they don't as it would make it easier for us to catch them in the standings.
#10 Oklahoma @ #16 Mizzou
The Sooners are this week's lottery winners and will have a great chance of sending MO to their 6 straight sweep on the losing end. That has to be an SEC record, if it isn't already.
We want Oklahoma to lose so that they stand behind us in the rankings.
Pull for Missouri to do the impossible and actually win a game, preferably 2.
#11 Texas A&M @ #2 Arkansas
Don't let the rankings fool you. A&M has gotten things together -- series win at UT, sweep at USCjr and a 7 game winning streak {which now gives them a winning record.} If they get decent starting pitching I think they can keep up with the pigs HR production in that HR friendly ball park. This one is a real toss-up and could go either way -- either could sweep, either could get swept.
Since we've beaten A&M we want them to continue to do well, but not well enough to overtake us. But the higher their RPI goes the higher ours goes. Arkansas swept us so no matter their opponent I want to see them lose and Cam Kozeal go hitless for the weekend.
Pull for A&M to win the series.
#4 Georgia @ #8 Vanderbilt
Georgia is coming off a home series win over Arkansas PLUS a Tuesday win over Georgia Tech. They are running on all cylinders. Vandy had a disappointing weekend in Norman, with our starters being putrid in games 1 and 2, followed up by putrid relievers. Did Sunday's game right the ship? Did Tuesday's extra inning win over Lipscomb help or hurt? Time will tell. But this is absolutely MUST WIN series for Vandy if they hope to entertain any thoughts of being a regional host. Given the upcoming SEC slate they have to hold service at home. Play like last weekend and that won't happen.
Pull for Vandy to sweep or at least win the series.
Friday series
[perhaps it's appropriate these teams start the series on Friday, the day Jesus was crucified. Keep an eye out on the outfield berms at both stadiums for suspicious activity involving a big cross and opposing team fans. Pagans will stoop to anything and goodness knows Knoxville and Starkville are full of pagans.]
#14 Florida @ #13 Mississippi State
Given that they're making a sacrilege of Easter Sunday, what does it matter who wins? They're both going to hell as penance after Sunday's game. [Some say Sully's already been there and back twice so maybe the third time's the charm. It seems to have worked for his numerous marriages.] Both won series last weekend -- Florida over Missouri (nothing to brag about there) and State over Bama on the road (definitely worth bragging about.) This should be a very competitive series.
Heaven forbid we ever pull for Florida to win anything but I think it helps Vandy for them to take this series. We swept Florida in Gainesville and we don't play State, so the higher the Gators RPI and record the better for us. But again, we don't want them to do well enough to pass us in the rankings.
Pull for Florida to take the series 2-1.
#10 Kentucky @ #3 Tennessee
Two other teams going to hell in an Easter basket face off in KTown at the bandbox known as Lindsey Stadium. Kentucky has decent pitching [I especially like Beaver Cleaver who starts game 3] and are a scrapy bunch. They've lost a ton of 1-run games lately to Ole Miss and Texas and darn near pulled over a series win over the #1 Longhorns.
As faithful Vandy fans we always like to see UTjr lose every game possible. But don't be surprised if they win the series and possibly sweep.
Pull for Kentucky to sweep the Lawless Vawls and Crappy Tony [just like the devil to play baseball on Easter.]
If all goes well this weekend Vandy could climb to as high as #4 in the standings. If all goes poorly they could fall as far as #12 or #13.
Time will tell.
