Diamond Dogs inching closer to NCAAs

One quick blog note: We’ll return to the post-spring depth chart series next week, once we’re done with the NFL draft. But before we get to that, we’d be remiss if we didn’t catch up with the Georgia baseball team.

(We’d also be remiss if we didn’t keep using the royal “we.” It really is fun.)

The Bulldogs had a heart-warming night on Tuesday, and not just because they beat Georgia Tech 6-4. Injured outfielder Jonathan Taylor made it to Turner Field to meet with his teammates for the first time since March 6, when he sustained the serious neck injury.

Taylor, who is undergoing rehab at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, shook hands and spoke with his teammates in his wheelchair. Here's the write-up on UGA's web site.

Georgia then went out and rallied to beat Georgia Tech, a good win for the Bulldogs’ resume’. Their overall record (22-20) isn't overly impressive, but their hopes for the NCAA tournament rest on its SEC record (11-7) and it’s RPI rank (18th as of Wednesday, according to Boydsworld.com.)

This projection on ESPN.com has Georgia making the tournament as a No.2 seed, and playing in a regional hosted by Georgia Tech.

Georgia’s remaining schedule has a home series against Arkansas (28-11, 9-9), followed by road trips to Auburn (22-17, 9-9) and Kentucky (20-22, 4-14), and finishing at home against Vanderbilt (35-5, 14-4). There are also mid-week games against Mercer and Kennesaw State.

There weren’t very high expectations for the Bulldogs this year, particularly coming off last year. So to make the NCAAs would be a huge lift, especially after the Taylor injury.

In order to make it, Georgia probably needs to put a bit more distance between its Ws and Ls, rather than just rest on its RPI and schedule strength. Although that did work for the Georgia men's basketball team.