Jimmy Lemke
01-13-2013, 11:53 AM
This is a huge deal for northern teams like Milwaukee:
http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=7894
It's already old news as the NCAA passed new legislation last year to amend the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) formula, but the new change, which is expected to have widespread ramifications on college baseball teams in the northern part of the country, was reiterated by Dennis Farrell, chairman of the Division I Baseball Committee.
"The RPI is just a tool, though it's a very important tool. However, it must be remembered that it's not the sole tole when it comes to the NCAA postseason," Farrell said. "It's [the new RPI formula] a benefit to those teams who have to open the season on the road."
As a refresher course for the new RPI formula, the new equation calls for 1.3 points for a road win, 0.7 points for a road loss, while teams playing at home only will receive 0.7 points for a home win, while they'll get docked 1.3 points for a home loss. This equation, of course, as Farrell suggested, will benefit those clubs that spend much of the early part of the season on the road, while those staying at home for all of non-conference will, in theory, encounter a lower RPI.
For example, in an NCAA release last season, based on the final 2011 RPI rankings, some teams would've seen some significant changes with the new formula. Gonzaga, for instance, finished the '11 campaign 74 in the current RPI. However, the new RPI would've resulted in an RPI of 55, a 19-point increase. Also worth noting, Michigan State would've been 63 instead of 83 to end the '11 season.
On the flip side, Ole Miss finished '11 with an RPI of 39, but would've finished 48 under the new RPI formula. TCU is another example, finishing 19 in the RPI in '11, 29 if the new RPI formula had been applied.
It's tough to gauge the overall ramifications of the new formula until there's a complete season, but two things are for sure: Those teams playing a lot of road games early in the season will see great benefits, while clubs playing (and losing) a lot of early home games will take a significant hit.
http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=7894
It's already old news as the NCAA passed new legislation last year to amend the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) formula, but the new change, which is expected to have widespread ramifications on college baseball teams in the northern part of the country, was reiterated by Dennis Farrell, chairman of the Division I Baseball Committee.
"The RPI is just a tool, though it's a very important tool. However, it must be remembered that it's not the sole tole when it comes to the NCAA postseason," Farrell said. "It's [the new RPI formula] a benefit to those teams who have to open the season on the road."
As a refresher course for the new RPI formula, the new equation calls for 1.3 points for a road win, 0.7 points for a road loss, while teams playing at home only will receive 0.7 points for a home win, while they'll get docked 1.3 points for a home loss. This equation, of course, as Farrell suggested, will benefit those clubs that spend much of the early part of the season on the road, while those staying at home for all of non-conference will, in theory, encounter a lower RPI.
For example, in an NCAA release last season, based on the final 2011 RPI rankings, some teams would've seen some significant changes with the new formula. Gonzaga, for instance, finished the '11 campaign 74 in the current RPI. However, the new RPI would've resulted in an RPI of 55, a 19-point increase. Also worth noting, Michigan State would've been 63 instead of 83 to end the '11 season.
On the flip side, Ole Miss finished '11 with an RPI of 39, but would've finished 48 under the new RPI formula. TCU is another example, finishing 19 in the RPI in '11, 29 if the new RPI formula had been applied.
It's tough to gauge the overall ramifications of the new formula until there's a complete season, but two things are for sure: Those teams playing a lot of road games early in the season will see great benefits, while clubs playing (and losing) a lot of early home games will take a significant hit.