Rochester (25-14) takes down Union (23-10-1), 3-0, in a classic pitcher's dual.  O'Neil was good, but Schulman was better.  No hits for either team until the 7th inning.  Garry gets the big hits in the game for UR crushing a double to put Rochester up 2-0 and then tacking on another run in the ninth with a solid RBI single.  Janifer closes the door with his 9th save and has only allowed 1 ER in 19+ innings this year.  Another clean game with 1 E for UR and none for Union.

Schulman  7.2 IP  0 ER 0 R 2 H 6 K 3 BB 1 HBP
O'Neil           8 IP  2 ER 2 R 3 H 5 K 1 BB 1 HBP

The story of the tourney so far has been the Rochester pitching.  1 earned run and 5 hits allowed in 18 innings to this point.

Warren bests Jasek in Game 1 and lowers his season ERA to 1.05 in leading Rochester (24-14) to the 5-2 win over Clarkson (19-12).  Pretty clean game with 1 E for each team.

Warren    8 IP 0 ER 1 R 2 H 4 K 3 BB
Jasek       8 IP 4 ER 5 R 7 H 8 K 2 BB 1 HBP

Good pitching duel in Game 2 until Union (23-9-1) broke it open late for the 8-1 win over Vassar (18-13).  Five Vassar errors did not help Erkis, but Fishman was better today.

Erkis         7.1 IP 3 ER 8 R 10 H 2 K 1 BB 1 HBP
Fishman      8 IP  1 ER 1 R   3H  8 K 2 BB

Should be two good match-ups tomorrow.

Breaking down the first day of the LL Post-Season Tournament.....

Clarkson (19-11) vs. Rochester (23-14)

Likely starters Jasek       (5-2)   2.39 ERA      49 IP  45 H  18 BB+HBP  45 K  .249  Opponents BA
                      Warren    (3-2)    1.25 ERA  43.1 IP  36 H   20 BB+HBP   35K  .226 Opponents BA

Team BA - Rochester  .304
                 Clarkson    .271

Opponents BA - Rochester .245
                        Clarkson    .255

Team ERA - Clarkson   2.71
                   Rochester 3.17

Errors per Game - Clarkson   1.33
                            Rochester  1.73

Successful Steals by opponent per game / caught stealing per game - Rochester 0.70 / 0.38
                                                                                                         Clarkson 0.90 / 0.37

Significant wins outside of LL and NY Region record - Rochester (21-8) - Case Western, Ithaca, Brockport
                                                                               Clarkson (17-10) - Brockport

NCAA Strength of Schedule Ranking (376 teams) - Rochester 119
                                                                             Clarkson   235

Vassar (18-12) vs. Union (22-9-1)

Likely starters Erkis       (7-0)   1.72 ERA      52.1 IP  36 H  16 BB+HBP  23 K  .191  Opponents BA
                      Fishman (6-0)    2.30 ERA        47 IP  38 H   21 BB+HBP   38K  .221 Opponents BA

Team BA - Union     .305
                 Vassar    .303

Opponents BA - Union      .267
                         Vassar    .269

Team ERA - Vassar   4.49
                   Union    4.46

Errors per Game - Union   1.63
                            Vassar  2.30

Successful Steals by opponent per game / caught stealing per game - Union    1.72 / 0.28
                                                                                                         Vassar  1.77 / 0.17

Significant wins outside of LL and NY Region record - Union (16-7-1) - None
                                                                               Vassar (16-10) - Cortland

NCAA Strength of Schedule Ranking (376 teams) - Vassar  132
                                                                             Union   274

                                             

Thanks for the Regional site information.  Old park in a pretty rural area - home of the Perfect Game Summer Collegiate League Newark Pilots.  They do have lights, which is good for weather delays, but not many hotels in Newark.  Interesting choice.

Any idea where the regional will be played yet?

Some final thoughts on the five LL teams that did not make the cut - beginning at the bottom:

Bard - Although Bard clearly did not win enough games to earn the respect of some, they can go into the off-season knowing they didn't quit on their season.  Building a program from the ground up takes time and patience.  The first few classes accept the challenge knowing they likely won't win many games.  They put a scare into every league opponent they faced in at least one game each of those series, including all four play-off teams.  Yesterday they came back to tie Vassar in the 8th inning, only to see it slip away in the bottom of the inning. They only lose one guy to graduation and he was not a starter.  They will win some games next year.

Skidmore - This team seemed to quit on themselves down the stretch when it became clear they were not going to be in the post season.  But zero runs scored in a four game series??  That is pretty hard to do and I would be willing to bet it has not happened in LL history.  Clarkson's pitching staff is good, but they are not that good, lol.  The Thoroughbreds "checked out" early even though the final weekend was moved to their field due to poor conditions @ Clarkson. 

RIT - My opinion of RIT is they had their strongest team in years.  The biggest story for them, in my view, was the loss of Player-of-the-Year candidate Walt Roman through an injury in the SLU series.  They were 14-7 with him and 3-8 without him and I don't think that is a coincidence, so maybe that spoke to their depth a bit.  However, Humbert and Cohall were a solid 1-2 SP combination and will both be back.  Gorman and Barr are solid returnees as well.  I did not have them as a play-off team at any point, but they were better than past years and have made progress with their program.

SLU - A talented team with perhaps the best power hitters in the LL.  Losing Palmero and Riley to graduation will hurt.  The Saints definitely drew the short straw when it came to scheduling this year.  Of course, some teams will be in that situation every year under the current format.  You still have to find a way to win the games on your schedule and they seemed to lack the depth to break out of the .500 rut after a strong first weekend.  I believe the teams that made it are privately celebrating they don't have to see Riley anymore!

RPI - Hard team to figure.  Their season seemed to turn after dropping 3 of 4 to UR.  An 8-2 Florida trip had expectations high, but they went 3-7 against the play-off teams (did not play Vassar) and that doomed them in the end.  They did have two of the best players in the league in LeSuer and Conroy and hitting depth.  Lack of depth on the mound probably hurt the most.  They may not be the dominant team they were in the LL for so many years, but i believe part of that is because the league itself is more balanced than it used to be and teams tend to beat each other up.  I know some are rolling their eyes and pointing to Bard and Skidmore at the bottom, but 7 of the 9 teams were over .500 both in the league and overall.  A strong year for the LL!  See my final comment on SLU.....same goes for Conroy! 

Quote from: baseballislife on April 15, 2014, 09:44:44 AM
You're right, this is tough.  The wildcard in this is it looks like only UR will play all of its league games this year.  I agree on Union looking like the team to beat.  I see them in first place again and hosting the tournament.  Of course, it has been many years since the host has won the tourney, so I'm not sure that bodes well for them, haha.

My originals were Union, RPI, UR, and Clarkson.  I am starting to think Vassar is stronger than I thought, but it is hard to tell since they have only played 6 league games.  Big series at UR this weekend. 

RIT is stronger than they have been, but they will need to prove themselves over the next three weeks to get in.  I see them going 5-7 and missing the play-offs, but finishing over .500 at 13-10.

My revised four are Union, UR, Vassar, and.....in a tie for fourth, RPI or Clarkson.  I think they could both by 13-9 and having split the only two they have played, they may have to find a way to play the other DH to see if one of them can sweep the other and get in at 15-9.  In that scenario, I'm going with RPI as the fourth.

The picture should be clearer by this Sunday.  Lots of parity in the LL!

So things have sorted themselves out in the LL and the four teams making the tournament are:

1.  Union       14-6-1
2.  Rochester 16-8
3.  Clarkson   14-7
4.  Vassar      13-7

I know that Union hosted last year and the games were played @ Siena College.  Does anyone know if that is the plan again?  The forecast looks rainy, so hopefully they can find a place with good drainage if they don't play on their home field.  Home advantage aside, they had a better chance of playing all the games at UR with the turf and lights.  You just hope it gets settled on the field and not through a rain shortened tourney, as has happened in other years.

I believe that UR edges Clarkson for 2nd place based on a third tie-breaker, making them the home team in Game 1 on Thursday.  Same winning %, did not face each other, but UR took 3 of 4 from Vassar while Clarkson split - Vassar being the highest finishing common opponent.

The play-offs effectively start today for the LL.  Six teams alive for the three remaining berths in the tournament.  Home field still up for grabs and too many scenarios to effectively predict.  Riley vs. Conroy pitching match-up in Canton is predictably off to a 0-0 start in the 4th inning of 7 inning tilt.  Who will blink?

Looking forward to this take four of the Oswego-Cortland match-up.  They appear to be the clear-cut best two in the SUNYAC this year.

Good win by SLU today over Ithaca, 5-3.  Good for the Liberty League.

Quote from: CookFedoShimkin on April 30, 2014, 01:37:24 PM
Does anyone know how the scheduling works in this league? How can a team in its second year be qualified to play in the league and not even record a single win. At least Skidmore is capable of maybe taking 1 from some opponent. These are the amount of games played against the bottom two horrible teams in the LL.

Union – 11-5-1 – 2 v Bard, 4 v Skidmore _____ 6 games
Rochester – 16-8 – 4 v Bard, 4 v Skidmore______ 8 games
RPI – 11-7 – 4 v Bard, 4 v Skidmore _____ 8 games
RIT – 11-7 – 3 v Bard, 4 v Skidmore______ 7 games
Clarkson – 10-7 – 4 v Bard, 4 v Skidmore (this weekend) ____ 8 games
Vassar – 9-7 – 4 v Bard (this weekend), 2 v Skidmore ____ 6 games
St. Lawrence – 9-8 – 0 v Bard, 0 V Skidmore ____ 0 games


The standings are so skewed this year in the LL. Without Bard/Skidmore - Rochester and Clarkson are .500 teams at best. Union, Vassar, SLU, and RPI should be post season teams. SLU got unlucky with schedule. They could have used an easy 4 win weekend like those experienced by UR.

Your argument does not hold water and here is why:

1.  Bard lost a total of six league games by 1 or 2 runs, so it was not like they were not competitive in any games.  That doesn't even include the game they tied against Union and Union needed a late unearned run to get the tie.  It also doesn't include the 8-3 win by RPI this past Sunday - a game that RPI trailed in until putting up a late big inning.  That program will be winning games before too long.

2.  Skidmore lost a total of five league games by 1 or 2 runs as well.  They were more competitive than their record.

3.  Every year there are teams at the top and teams at the bottom.  UR played every league game on their schedule and finished with a .667 winning percentage, plus have quality out of conference wins.  They took 3 of 4 from both RPI and Vassar - both teams you say should be there in front of UR.  That makes no sense.

4.  SLU took 3 of 4 from UR and Clarkson, so I am guessing that is what you are basing your .500 assessment on them on.  Four of those six wins by SLU were by one run, so it wasn't like they were that dominant.  Both of those series could easily have been split or gone 3-1 in the other direction.  If SLU had taken care of business against Vassar (0-2), Union (1-2), and RIT (2-2), they wouldn't be in the 9-8 position they are in.  Between the games they won't get to play (two vs. Vassar, one against Union) and the RPI series this weekend (I see a 2-2 split), I think SLU would probably finish at 12-12.  There is your real .500 team.

The only point you could make that I agree with would be that with the new format it is indeed unfortunate that every team does not play every team each year.  Teams that don't get to play the bottom team(s) will always be at a disadvantage.  Let's put it this way, if you want to be the best, you have beat the best teams in the regular season and in the play-offs.  If you are not good enough to play a tough schedule and win then you are probably not ready to be Champions anyway. Just sounds like sour grapes.

No doubt that Vassar and Union have risen from perpetual cellar dwellers to respectability.  I remember seeing them play a few years ago and, not to be disrespectful, but the product was not good. Seven of the teams in the league are above .500 and there is a lot of balance and parity.  I think the disparity of talent is much less than a few years ago when there were 2-3 good teams and 3-4 weak teams that the upper tier could stack up wins on.

I see this weekend and the tournament week as wide open.  Several teams have at least one guy with shut down numbers on the hill.  I expect that the team that backs them up with the cleanest defense and does the little things will prevail and move on.  I also expect some 3-2 or 2-1 type games on the first couple of days when the pitching heavyweights take the hill and more scoring on Saturday.

You are probably right about two LL teams getting in.  Until one steps up and gets beyond the regional (or gets there on a regular basis), the league probably has not earned that.

Fisher is 3-4 in those games you list.  They probably need a sweep this weekend, IMO.

True fact that UR has struggled in the tournament in the past, but that won't have any impact on this year.  There just need to win the tourney and then they are in.  Until they do, there will always be doubters. 

UR and Fisher typically play twice per year, but this year were only scheduled for one.  When that got washed out, it never got rescheduled.  You hear things, but I hate rumors.  UR has been trying to add a game(s) for this Thurs. - Sun. for several weeks since their regular season schedule ends tomorrow with a re-match @ Brockport.  No takers.  The weekend is obviously tough since most already have games, but too bad they can't get one for Thurs.  They will have 9 days to rest up for the tourney and study for finals!

A good weekend for RPI, UR, and Clarkson with series wins.  Vassar taking two from Union rather easily yesterday saved their season and kept the regular season top spot a wide open race.  The Vassar 1-2 pitchers sweeping SLU last Tuesday and Union yesterday was critical, but do they have the depth?

UR has completed all 24 of their league games (thank you, new field), have clinched a spot, and can play scoreboard watching this weekend.  If I'm looking at things correctly, I think 5 teams still have a chance to host and six teams still have life for the three remaining  spots.

Thanks for the support, BBFan62, but we both know the real crown is the tournament championship!

Good points, gentlemen.  SJF's strength of schedule (115th in the country) also may have something to do with their low loss total of six.  They are a very good team, but they typically are weak in that ranking.  The Houghton losses may not count officially, but they will be remembered.

My friend airball, this comment is probably more appropriate for the general NY thread, but I think a case could be made for Rochester, even if it is a long shot based on their 23-14 record.  They beat two ranked teams (Ithaca 6-0, Case Western 3-2) and lost to Case, 6-5, in Florida.  They took 3 of 4 from RPI, beat Brockport, had to play Emory (27-9) twice, and Wash U. (24-14) twice.  Their 3-9 start may cost them, but their 20-5 run since then should be considered. 

At least their league gets the auto-bid for the berth to the dance, so they have no excuses if they don't get that done.