But they would have had the toughest road to get there, according to seeding, and I think that's the point. Just like the George Mason basketball run a few years ago. They had to go through #3 UNC and #1 UConn. It is no different in any other sport.
And they make a pretty big deal about it. When in fact it means nothing. Which is the comlaint in the initial post. What exactly do you get for being a top 8 seed other than a super regional. They don't do it like basketball where they actually make an attempt to make it easier for the #1 overall seed to advance. If they are going to have seeds, then make them count. ok awesome.
I'd argue that hosting a super-regional is a pretty big deal. I'd much rather that than go on the road.
it does matter 1 vs 8 highest seed gets REWARDED by playing the lowest seed. 2 vs 7 next highest seed gets next lowest seed 3 vs 4 etc. 5 vs 6 etc. That's the EXACT same way the basketball tournamnet works. The ENTIRE bracket is drawn up before tourney starts. EXACTLY like the basketball tourney. Top seeds play at home, lower seeds travel to teams relatively close geographically (with some exceptions). EXACTLY like the basketball tournament. Top seeds don't always survive their brackets, there is always some upsets. EXACTLY like the basketball tournament. Brakets are not re-drawn, and there is no re-seeding as the top seeds fall EXACTLY like the basketball tournament.
Clearly it's not EXACTLY how the basketball tournament works because it's not single elimination. Plus like I said before the basketball committee puts way more emphasis on making it easier for the top seeds to make it through. The baseball committee focuses way too much on region. If you are going to announce the top 8 seeds like they matter, then make them matter. Otherwise just announce them like you do the 16 regional sites. Without ranking.
