BB: ASC: American Southwest Conference

[Ralph Turner]

Here is the preliminary 2009 UT Tyler Baseball Schedule, also at http://www.uttyler.edu/athletics/baseball/schedule.html

Feb. 6-8 Easton Classic -
Trinity (Tex.) (NCAA Reg. Qual), Millsaps, Texas-Dallas  Irwin Field       
  Feb. 6  TBA Irwin Field  TBA     
  Feb. 7  TBA Irwin Field  TBA     
  Feb. 8  TBA Irwin Field  TBA     
  Feb. 15 Castleton (DH)  (NCAA Reg. Qual) Irwin Field  1:00 p.m.     
  Feb. 16  Castleton (NCAA Reg. Qual) Irwin Field  6:00 p.m.     
  Feb. 20 Mary Hardin-Baylor (DH) Irwin Field  6:00 p.m.     
  Feb. 21 Mary Hardin-Baylor Irwin Field  1:00 p.m.     
  Feb. 24 Hardin-Simmons Irwin Field  6:00 p.m.     
  Feb. 27 McMurry  (NCAA Reg. Qual) Abilene, Texas  6:00 p.m.     
  Feb. 28 McMurry (NCAA Reg. Qual) Abilene, Texas  1:00 p.m.     
  Mar. 3  Austin Sherman, Texas  3:00 p.m.     
  Mar. 4  Hendrix Conway, Ark.  TBA     
  Mar. 5  Hendrix Conway, Ark.  TBA     
  Mar. 9  Abilene Classic  Abilene, Texas  TBA     
  Mar. 10  Abilene Classic  Abilene, Texas  TBA     
  Mar. 13  East Texas Baptist* Irwin Field  6:00 p.m.     
  Mar. 14  East Texas Baptist* (DH)  Irwin Field  1:00 p.m.     
  Mar. 17  Texas-Dallas Irwin Field  6:00 p.m.     
  Mar. 20  Ozarks*  Clarksville, Ark.  2:00 p.m.     
  Mar. 21  Ozarks* (DH)  Clarksville, Ark.  12:00 p.m.     
  Mar. 24  Austin Irwin Field  6:00 p.m.     
  Mar. 27 Texas-Dallas* Richardson, Texas  2:00 p.m.     
  Mar. 28  Texas-Dallas* (DH)  Richardson, Texas  1:00 p.m.     
  Apr. 3  LeTourneau* (DH) Irwin Field  6:00 p.m.     
  Apr. 4  LeTourneau*  Irwin Field  1:00 p.m.     
  Apr. 7  Dallas Irwin Field  6:00 p.m.     
  Apr. 10  Louisiana Col.* Pineville, La.  6:00 p.m.     
  Apr. 11 Louisiana Col.* (DH)  Pineville, La.  1:00 p.m.     
  Apr. 17 Mississippi Col.* (DH)  Irwin Field  6:00 p.m.     
  Apr. 18  Mississippi Col.*  Irwin Field  1:00 p.m.

I have bolded all of the non-divisional in-region games.  Is McMurry on Feb 28th a DH?

[ILVBB]

I just got back from Abilene the other day. Reflecting on the tournament, I want to say thank you to all the McMurry fans as well as the kids on the  team.

I spent most of the tournament down the left field line where I got to talk with several of the McMurry parents and players. They were a great host and couldn't have been nicer to this visitor from CA.

They showed well for McMurry, Abiliene and the entire ASC!

[TexasBB]

Thanks Ralph for posting the UTT schedule.  I don't think anybody will quible with that schedule.  Granted they have a couple of blank spots yet to fill but that is very competitive. If they win over 30 games with that schedule and still don't make the playoffs then everyone will have to wonder what is going on.

[Ralph Turner]

Thanks Ralph for posting the UTT schedule.  I don't think anybody will quibble with that schedule.  Granted they have a couple of blank spots yet to fill but that is very competitive. If they win over 30 games with that schedule and still don't make the playoffs then everyone will have to wonder what is going on.

Actually, it was PatriotASID who gets the credit.  I count 32 or 33 in-region games.

The problem with the schedule is what we discussed on the basketball boards last season.  The OWP and the OOWP from that schedule may be too close to .500.

IMHO, Hendrix may hurt your chances unless they are much stronger.  Austin College needs to have some good teams on its schedule and have a good year.  McMurry may give you the boost to the OWP and the OOWP that they are getting by their Hawai'i trip to play some west coast powers.

Having thought this thing thru this season, we gain by playing the stronger SCAC teams.   We gain even more by playing SCIAC and NWC teams.  The next place to build a quality OWP and OOWP plus in-region record is playing the teams in Midwest Region like the WIAC's, the better MIAC's and St Scholastica and Ripon.

Seriously, go play a three-game series in the Metrodome in February!

Finally, having done the Pool B and Pool C analysis with Jim Dixon this season, losing two games in the tourney knocked out several teams across the country!  Two losses to Concordia-Texas was too much.

I think that UT-Tyler will have 32 in-region wins after the tourney next season, but only goes to the NCAA's with a Pool A bid.

There, in good faith, I have gone out on the limb.  Good luck Patriots!

[Ralph Turner]

IMHO, Castleton State is a very weak Pool A bid from a weak conference in New England.  Those games are not in-region nor are they primary criteria.

[indian4life]

Derek David was named the Rawlings POTY congrats to him!!!

[Ralph Turner]

Derek David was named the Rawlings POTY congrats to him!!!

That is a sweep!

[Pat Coleman]

Thanks Ralph for posting the UTT schedule.  I don't think anybody will quible with that schedule.  Granted they have a couple of blank spots yet to fill but that is very competitive. If they win over 30 games with that schedule and still don't make the playoffs then everyone will have to wonder what is going on.

What am I missing? I don't see what's so spectacular about that schedule.

[Jack Parkman]

I agree with Pat.  I really don't see many names on there that would make me believe it is a tough schedule.  Why have the "tournament" with only Texas schools?  I don't buy the whole money thing at all.  Look at your facilities, those cost a lot of cash, just like a trip to CA or MN.

[Ralph Turner]

I agree with Pat.  I really don't see many names on there that would make me believe it is a tough schedule.  Why have the "tournament" with only Texas schools?  I don't buy the whole money thing at all.  Look at your facilities, those cost a lot of cash, just like a trip to CA or MN.

UT-Tyler has tapped into state (one-time) capital improvement monies and local philanthropists who may wish to build edifices.

Raising $20,000 for a one-time trip may not be as "valuable" to the contributor as the chance to get a name on a plaque for a capital improvement.  It is actually a different type of fund raising. 

[Jack Parkman]

Geez Ralph, breaking out the big words today

I understand what youa re saying and I really have no idea about the money side of things.  Just wish D-III could travel a little more.

[WLCALUM83]

Here's a link that'll tell you how Jonathan Miller (Concordia-Austin) fared in his first 2008 start for River City:

http://www.rivercityrascals.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1210948751

[tloc14]

I agree that a little improvement needs to be done with that schedule.  Hosting trinity and going to west tx helps, but it still has hendrix and austin college too much.

Going to Minn would be pretty cool imo.  I know from a player's perspective anytime you get to travel out of state its a great experience...especially if you play teams that you wouldnt normally see.  A trip to Cali would be very nice, but maybe that is still in the future for UTT.

[Ralph Turner]

Playing in the Metrodome in late February.

These are pictures of St Scholastica vs. St Thomas.  Both are in-region for teams in Texas and both teams made the playoffs this year.

Playing them would have the equivalent impact on an OWP and OOWP as McMurry's playing George Fox and Chapman.

[TexasBB]

The bottom line for any ASC team is that the only way to be sure to get in is win the ASC conference tournament.

UTT won 36 games but becuase it lost twice to CTX it was out. CTX beat UTT 3 out of 5 but because it lost 4 out of 5 to McM it was out. Ozarks won over 30 games but because it lost in the first round of the tournament it was out.

McM only got in because it won the confernce tournament. Had it come in second even with its tough schedule it would be out because of loosing 17 games.

The only assurance in the ASC until they go to an 8 team western regional is to win the conference tournament. The problem I have with that is the conference tournament winner only has proven it was the best or had the best draw on that single weekend.  The fact that a team can be left out and have a bad weekend at the wrong time is a killer. Not fair? Maybee but who said life is fair. You get your chance and you have to make the most of it. 

The great thing about baseball and baseball fans is there is always nextyear. I just wish it wasn't so far off!!

Good luck to all the ASC teams next year!!!