BB: ASC: American Southwest Conference

[Blackcat00]

And I might add, yes the ASC represents baseball very well every year and I like seeing represenatives succeed as far as they can get and guys drafted out of our Conference. I think the quality of baseball is getting better and hope it only gets better. I look forward to some great ASC baseball this year here in Austin.

[utilitycat17]

I played for him when we went to the WOrld Series in 2003,and opened up with the likes of A&M Kingsville and The University of Texas when they won the national championship in 03.

You must have paid for those tickets to Appleton, because Chapman went to the World Series in 2003.

[Blackcat00]

2002,sorry guy. Im sure you paid for one right?

[Blackcat00]

Houston Baptist is Div 1 (left NAIA) and are in there with Sam Houston, Mcneese St. etc. Not sure on their elgibility on playffs.

[Just_Some_Guy]

Houston Baptist is Div 1 (left NAIA) and are in there with Sam Houston, Mcneese St. etc. Not sure on their elgibility on playffs.

I know they're making the transition to division I, but are we sure they're in the Southland conference? I know they play McNeese St. and SHSU this year, but there's no mention of them on the Southland Conference website, nor does it have them included in the schedule (and this may be just because they aren't eligible for playoffs and have something to do with the transition period, I don't know).

The first listed Southland game is Feb 22 and HBU is already playing.

It would make sense that would be the conference they WOULD be in if they joined a conference though so if you have a link to that I'd love to read about it. I know HBU basketball went back to division I and they said they would be a potential fit with the Southland or Sun Belt, but hadn't yet made a committment to a conference.

I suspect baseball would be in the same boat, but I can't confirm that.

[Mack09]

JSG,

I saw Fox play last year in a few games.  He is a solid hitter and a good player.  He is pretty suspect in the field (and so is their score keeping as far as marking errors), but their actual playing surface is not fantastic.  Their facilies are great though.  Perhaps the playing surface will be a little smoother this year.  I could see him winning player of the year.  He will be a strong candidate.

[Mack09]

Concordia will always have offense at that small park where a fly ball out ends up on 35.  That being said they did put up some offense on Houston Baptist who is traditionally a talented team. 

Concordia has an amazing little ballpark. It is a bit small, but the setting is great and it almost feels as if the freeway overhangs leftfield. Your pitchers better keep the ball down in that park as routine flyballs end up as round-trippers.

Poppa,

Yes you are right they do have a great facility and a quality playing surface.  I didn't mean to take away anything from their field.  It is a good place to watch baseball.  I just meant to comment that their dimesions are ridiculously short, but I believe that is because a lack of space.  298 down the right field line.  Come on that is short.  I saw a game where their small short stop (help me with his name) that played until 2006 (I think, he was a small guy, played along side Greg Warren) that was not a power hitter by any stretch, flip one over that right field wall. 

Again I am not trying to take anything away from that player because he was obviously talented enough to do that.  I am merely commenting that the dimesions are short.  Overall it is a good field, and their teams play well to their park which is why they are so tough to beat at their place.

[Just_Some_Guy]

JSG,

I saw Fox play last year in a few games.  He is a solid hitter and a good player.  He is pretty suspect in the field (and so is their score keeping as far as marking errors), but their actual playing surface is not fantastic.  Their facilies are great though.  Perhaps the playing surface will be a little smoother this year.  I could see him winning player of the year.  He will be a strong candidate.

I don't know if you were agreeing with me or contradicting me. Either way, yeah, I definitely think Fox is a guy that will be in the mix for player of the year. If I HAD to pick three RIGHT NOW I'd say Fox, Glenn and Damewood. You can't argue with his average or his obp (with the knock again being a pretty awful schedule last year).

You're right, despite the amazing facilities the surface itself wasn't that good last year. You're also right about their score keeping as well, and not necessarily just to benefit their own stats. It was laughable across the board. There were times guys were laying out and it being called an error and others where a guy misplays the ball and it's called a hit.

It's only Wednesday and I am already eagerly anticipated the McMurry/Chapman games, Concordia/Trinity games and Texas Lutheran/Austin College games this weekend. I am anxious to see how the McMurry bats fare against the Chapman arms (and if Kitchens is back in the mix despite that arm 'tweak' in his first start). I am looking foward to seeing how CUA plays against an overhauled Trinity team (albiet with a lot of depth on the mound). CUA should have some solid momentum after taking 2 of 3 from HBU. And it will be interesting to see how TLU does against the ever improving Kangaroos with two new rotation guys and a whole new middle infield, minus Jake Kaase. I envision some growing pains both on the bump and in the infield for that Bulldog team, at least early.

JSG

[Mack09]

JSG,

Yeah I think you are right about TLU having some growing pains.  I looked at their roster a few days ago and they are younger than they have been in a few years while they have been on this run.

That being said, they always seem to find talented players to fill the shoes of good players they have lost.  I think they have always been strong with their defense up the middle and especially the last two years so it will be interesting to see how they do.  But I am not counting them out.  In 2006 they seemed to be a little down and they turned it around.  It is going to be fun weekend to see, I wish I could catch more games.

Also, I was agreeing with your assessment of the ASC East POY honors. 

[BigPoppa]

McMurray @ Chapman this weekend for a three-game series. Any predictions?

[Just_Some_Guy]

McMurray @ Chapman this weekend for a three-game series. Any predictions?

I'll take the bait, but there's a lot of unknown variables here. Apparently there are some key McMurry players that won't be making the trip including Yurchick - who I anticipated being a catalyst at the top of that order, getting on base for the big 3 in the middle.

Also, does Wade Kitchens throw? (McMurry DID get to him last year).

IF Kitchens throws I'll take Chapman winning 2 out of 3.

I don't think Johnston or Curry will beat Kitchens, and I'm not convinced the other beats Luzar either. I wouldn't mind them saving one of those guys for game 3 and seeing if Chapman has anything left. Maybe Sigman? Maybe they go back to Clear?

I think McMurry has the stronger middle of the order w/ Franco, Vorhees, and David, but Chapman is probably stronger throughout the entire lineup.

They're definitely going to miss Cavan up the middle (Yacko's prone to make some errors) and at the plate, but they have SOLID guys stepping up that didn't start last year. Hall, Phillips, and Vass aren't necessarily as good as Cavan, Dean, Fraser, but the other guys all have a year more experience. This is a better offensive team than Chapman last year.

Has Vass been there all four years?

The scary thing about this Chapman team -- They have 5 seniors on their entire roster.

Your turn BigPoppa...

JSG

[utilitycat17]

Has Vass been there all four years?

Here is a quote from the Chapman website.  It is from the outlook for 2008.

Anchoring the heart of the lineup will be Division I transfer Mike Vass who hit .289 with 10 homeruns for U.C. Riverside last season.

[Ralph Turner]

Chapman 14, McMurry 12.

Pre-season All-American Utility/pitcher Kurt Yacko pitched three innings of scoreless relief while his teammates scored single runs in the 7th and 8th innings.

McMurry errors really hurt the effort!

[indian4life]

McM had 8 errors but looked very good at the plate and Yurchick did not make the trip neither did Curry or Love.  Johnston threw well but the extended innings got to him.  Chapman looked great at the plate 1-9 are all solid hitters.  I think that tomorrows games will be just as good as the first one but maybe with less errors on the McM side.

[Ralph Turner]

Yacko went for 3 innings today.  If we get ahead with a decent pitching effort tomorrow, then we have a good chance to split the DH.  How many innings does Yacko have in his "early season" arm tomorrow?  He only faced 10 batters Friday!

I hope to win both, but that would mean significant pitching efforts that we have not seen in several seasons.