What is the Point of a Conference Baseball Tournament?

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-No automatic berths like in basketball

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There is an automatic berth. It just hardly happens in this conference where the team that wins the tourney didn't already have an at-large berth locked up.

Oh, I hadn't realized that.

I hate, hate, hate that in any sport a conference champion wouldn't represent a conference in a post-season tournament.

Why bitch about extra baseball? Get to set up the side monitors at work all week.

Personally, I don't like it. I like the way DVH usually approaches it though.

I think it tires your pitching out the week before regionals begin, which is where you want to do well. It is a quick turn around for teams 5-12 to play again on Tuesday after playing a 3 game series just a few days before.

I would prefer just a single game elimination tourney like the softball tourney is set up. This would allow for a start on Thursday, which would keep everyones weekend pitching rotation the same as the week before and give arms about 6-7 days rest.

It gives teams opportunities who move up from bubble to in, 2 seed to host, host to national seed.

It is as stacked of a tournament as there is. A lot of years it is as talented as Omaha.

There is a trophy. Sure it doesn't mean as much as a national title, but it's worth trying for (as long as you're not screwing yourself for regionals)

I imagine the fans enjoy it. If they didn't, they wouldn't watch, ratings would go down, TV would stop carrying it, AND it would go away....so it's what you said.......$$$$$$$
what else is new?

I agree with all of your points. It's a shame there isn't more at stake because it is one of the more enjoyable sporting events to attend as a fan IMO.

ok, you don't like having this tournament. have you ever been?

my direct answer...

-the event makes money for the conference
-the event is fun as hell for the fans
-the event is fun for the players and coaches
-the event represents an opportunity for some teams
to improve their situation in a regional or even
to make a regional
-it allows the opportunity to face teams that were
not played during the season

"tiring out teams" is overstated. sure, if pitchers are abused during this tournament it can be detrimental to the regionals but that is the coaches job not to do that. the position players are young guys and do not "tire out" like you and I do.

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Sure, but you don't have to have bubble teams by season's end. Teams are "on the bubble" only because there is a conference tournament. Otherwise, those bubble teams are just the first teams left out.

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But we don't know who's in or who's out. This is just another format to give teams opportunities. Auto bid is in play.

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The same teams played, for the most part, during the regular season.

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And? This is a completely different format. Show me another tourney that is this stacked that isn't Omaha.

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It doesn't mean anything at all for teams vested in the national playoff picture. I rarely see teams touting a conference tournament championship.

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It means the chance to move from regional host to national seed. Hosting a super helps make it to Omaha.

Every team boasts about any trophy no matter what.

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I'm not worried about the position players (though there is always the potential for injury). I'm worried about the pitchers and the short turn-around time before regionals

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I agree. but the better teams generally have more higher caliber pitchers in their pens and most of them have byes also. but it still is up to the coach to ensure they don't overuse guys. the lower seeded teams are the ones that use more pitching and they are trying to make a regional.

teams going to a regional already often do not pitch their best option available esp late in the tournament. a deep bull pen is needed to win this tournament and some coaches do not put that high of a priority on winning the thing (of course they wouldn't publically agree).

so, imo, having the tournament has it's pluses and it's minuses. I think the positives win out.