BB: ASC: American Southwest Conference

[HAMBONE]

Hambone,

I am just glad to see your still alive.  Its been too long.  Just don't let D White cry too much about losing his record.  Hopefully my indians can give you all a run for your money.  How is Thielapape (can't ever spell the kids name) playing?

i am still alive and kicking CMG...in fact i am kicking harder than ever as I won the Homerun derby @ our alumni game this year.  I guess you never really forget how to do some things.  In fact i do believe i have somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 career homeruns against your indians....1 of which was off "the real deal" josh lee....The McMurry and CTX series should be a fun one to watch this year as both their pitching staffs appear sub-par and both teams are hitting the long ball regularly both almost 2 per game....it will be interesting to see if Driggers will make Williams beat him before he pitches around him or if they will just walk him the whole series....which leads us to Warneke and Thielepape...if they both do their job then they will have to throw a few pitches in the zone to Williams.  Thelepape is doing ok.  he has 23 rbi 17 games into season...i would have to say that 50 rbi this season is realistic for him and 50 is a very respectable # in a 40 game season.

[mcm505]

Well my friend, I just dropped three bombs (in one game) in intramural softball up here at Texas Tech, last year (or month) of law school.  Of course you know with my build being like my dad's they were all wind aided.  Glad to see that you still know how to swing a bat.  Thielpape is a good kid, another one of those that you stole away from my indians, but I hear that Coach at Concordia knows a thing or two about recruiting.  Make sure you keep me updated on the McM CU series, I don't here much way up here in Lubbock, but I do get to catch a good Big 12 series from time to time.  Tell your dad my family said hello and sorry my dad couldn't make it to the season opener, family emergency caused him to miss out. Getting married Friday so tons of planning to due, good hearing from ya.

[HAMBONE]

i think if you put trinity or southwestern in the ASC, they would be just an average team fighting for the last playoff spot. JSG, does either team have any stand out players and how do you think they would do in the ASC.

Bman,
The ASC isn't the big 12. 
Other than last year, Trinity has had as much talent as any  ASC team on a year to year basis since 2001. If Coach Meccage had not passed away during the 2002 Regional, that Saturday morning game could have ended up 5-2 Trinity instead of CTX.  But he did and our guys were in no position to play.  CTX played very well the entire 2002 Regional and deserved it's crown.
With Coach Mallon's departure, Southwestern hasn't been at the same level.  That guy got the very, very best out of every player.

Nope the ASC is not the Big 12 and i dont think Bman3 ever made any impression that he thought it was.  he only commented that if you put southwestern or trinity in the ASC that they would be an average team fighting for a playoff spot.  I agree completely with this suggestion.  The ASC has 15 teams and even the bottom feeders have 1 pticher and 1 hitter that if are helped by the other 7 can give a team a loss.  its a very competitive conference that is much tougher to get out of than the SCAC...and visa versa if threw a few ASC teams into the SCAC, which I actually think they should do to spread out the talent.

on another note...my heart goes out to Trinity Club for having to play us in the Championship game of the regional the same day one of their coaches died....success in this game of failure is influenced so much by your mental approach and I know their minds and hearts were somewhere else that day...but keep in mind we were undefeated and if Trinity had beaten us the first game 5-2, they would have had to beat us again right after that.....the only team that beat us in a doubleheader in 2002 was UT and they won the Big 12 and the National Championship...

[Just_Some_Guy]

I was @ the TLU/CUA....I mean CTX series and I learned a few things:

*Not the rivalry it use to be
*Tom Williams is The Real Deal and might hit 28 HR
*Logan Hull is descent #1
*TLU won Game 1, but act like you've been there before. You have represented the ASC in the Regionals the past 3 years, I hope you didn't act like that there. It was quite pothetic. 
*JSG either has a ton of Frequent Flier Miles or spends too much time on the computer. It is nice to know what is going on in the Conference, but damn I got home from the CTX game Friday night only to see a full summary of the game. I did notice that when TLU won, the summary was much longer than when CTX put their beat down on. Must be a Bulldog.

It looks like this year we are going to see a lot of Offense from most of the teams around the ASC. It should be a very fun season to follow.

Just wanted to touch on a few of these.

1.) You're right. It's certainly not the rivalry it used to be, but at the time there were a number of factors that made that a great rivalry.

- For one, both teams had deep pitching staffs. -- Neither do anymore.
- CUA had White and TLU had Krog. There were a lot of other GREAT players on both of those teams, but the fact that they were such similar sluggers always made that match-up son intriguing. Plus let's be honest, Krog is the perfect antagonist to hate if you're another team. Having a guy like that makes rivalries significantly more intense.
- Two years ago TLU won game one and then the series rained out and was never completed. The way that whole thing was handled (and I don't know the intracacies of it all, but it made both coaches seem at fault) was really perplexing. The games could've been played.
- On top of all that CUA started a decline (they definitely seem to be on the way back up, but still aren't at the level they were), and now TLU has fallen off significantly at well.
- During CUA's decline the rivalries between TLU vs. HSU vs. McMurry increased.  HSU's Barry Janisse was one of those antagonists that were easy to dislike and then last year's McM vs. TLU rivalry seemed to culminate with their on-field bench clearing scuffle.

2. Tom Williams is definitely the real deal. He should give both Vorhees and David a run for their money for ASC West Hitter of the Year. His downfall will be that he swings and misses alot, and some won't give him as much credit because of the park he plays in. Those that have seen him know different.

3. I'd venture to say that Logan Hull is more than just a decent #1. He's only a sophomore and he's arguably the best pitcher in the ASC West. You can certainly make a case for some others, and Hull does work from behind and give up a few too many free passes, but holding a pretty solid CUA team to two hits typically supersedes decent.

4. Has TLU ever acted like they've been there before? They've typically been a classy team after the game, but during the game they've always spouted off at the mouth. CUA has always been a pretty vocal team as well.

Having been there before you know that all good ball players have a 'cocky' mindset that typically borders on arrogance, but you have to be that way in a game that you fail at 70% of the time and are still considered successful.

Perhaps a team that is struggling (after umpteen years of 30+ wins) feels the need to vocalize that mindset as a way of convincing themselves that they can still play at that level. Make of that what you will. It doesn't mean it's right -- but it has been the identity of that team since I've been following the ASC.

5. I do probably spend too much time on the computer, but I love division III baseball. I love that these athletes aren't even getting athletic scholarships, yet they're still playing ball typically for the love of the game.

Pardon me if I seem to be biased towards any team. I can assure you that I am not really a fan of ANY team persay. I am a fan of the way athletes compete and I am a fan of the game of baseball in its truest form. I want to see teams come together, fight back, leave it all on the field and play the game the right way.

I hope this clears some of this stuff up.

In addition, thanks very much for the endorsement Infield Dad. It means a lot coming from a valued contributer to this forum and equally knowledgeable baseball fan.

JSG

[HAMBONE]

Well my friend, I just dropped three bombs (in one game) in intramural softball up here at Texas Tech, last year (or month) of law school.  Of course you know with my build being like my dad's they were all wind aided.  Glad to see that you still know how to swing a bat.  Thielpape is a good kid, another one of those that you stole away from my indians, but I hear that Coach at Concordia knows a thing or two about recruiting.  Make sure you keep me updated on the McM CU series, I don't here much way up here in Lubbock, but I do get to catch a good Big 12 series from time to time.  Tell your dad my family said hello and sorry my dad couldn't make it to the season opener, family emergency caused him to miss out. Getting married Friday so tons of planning to due, good hearing from ya.

if you are graduating law school, you really need to learn to HEAR with your ears; also if you are getting married, then you will have tons of planning to DO...just keeping you in check.  congrats on your law degree, marriage, and most likely the first homeruns your life!  tell your folks i said hello as well.  CTX play SU @ the Dell Diamond on 3/18...

[Just_Some_Guy]

given the fact that they only played a double header against Austin College last weekend and McMurry played a 3 game series against HSU on sat and sunday, it proves that UT-Tyler is not only beatable but also proves the Indians may have a 4th starter now giving their rotation the support they will need in the conference tournament and regional...provided they make it out of the ASC West.  

FYI their other loss was to CTX...they arent that good.  I respect their ability but I am hoping they fall into a funk this weekend they cant get out of...

1.) The UT Tyler vs. Austin College series was actually 3 games.
2.) I mentioned previously, but I don't know that Smith did anything to solidify himself as a 4th starter. He did give up 6 ER and 15 hits. Opponents are hitting .378 against him and he's walked more guys than he's struck out. -- Brent Vorhees probably has to be their 4th starter in any type of tournament situation.
3.) Who's not that good? CUA or Tyler? And if CUA, why would you want them to fall into a funk?

JSG

[HAMBONE]

Having been there before you know that all good ball players have a 'cocky' mindset that typically borders on arrogance, but you have to be that way in a game that you fail at 70% of the time and are still considered successful.



well said JSG.  Some speak with actions and some speak with words....regardless only the mentally tough can deal with the failure this game brings.  And finishing with a higher career slugging pct than D White, I can honestly say that it was fun having him hit in front of me...TLU normally pitched around him to get to me, I dont know why, but they did...I remember when I could hear D White slap Krog's helmet on a pickoff attempt, those were fun times...

Dwhite, Josh Lee, John Krog, and I were all invited to the same supplimental draft following the 2004 season and we all had a good time telling stories...

Kevin Webster....now i do believe he made some real life enemies with his classy attitiude on the field!  but man he could sure hit a baseball with some authority....spitting image of Hack Wilson!

[Ralph Turner]

McM over UT-Tyler boxscore

Seven innings from Dakota Smith for McMurry.

McMurry had the series with HSU on Sat (DH) and Sunday.

That has to be a great confidence booster for Smith!

I was advised earlier this season that McMurry had arms...maybe McM just began to find them! 

[HAMBONE]

given the fact that they only played a double header against Austin College last weekend and McMurry played a 3 game series against HSU on sat and sunday, it proves that UT-Tyler is not only beatable but also proves the Indians may have a 4th starter now giving their rotation the support they will need in the conference tournament and regional...provided they make it out of the ASC West.  

FYI their other loss was to CTX...they arent that good.  I respect their ability but I am hoping they fall into a funk this weekend they cant get out of...

1.) The UT Tyler vs. Austin College series was actually 3 games.
2.) I mentioned previously, but I don't know that Smith did anything to solidify himself as a 4th starter. He did give up 6 ER and 15 hits. Opponents are hitting .378 against him and he's walked more guys than he's struck out. -- Brent Vorhees probably has to be their 4th starter in any type of tournament situation.
3.) Who's not that good? CUA or Tyler? And if CUA, why would you want them to fall into a funk?

JSG

well giving up 6 ER and 15 hits, opponents hitting .378 and walking more guys than he's struck out, confirms my point earlier that the lack of pitching means teams will have to out hit and out score their own pitching....i know it sounds logical that you have to score more than you give up, but im leaning more towards the fact that I have seen several box scores with 10-20 hits making this season and absolute slug fest in regards to all the runs being scored against the contenders.

I meant that Tyler was not that good.  They are a good team, but when I said they are not that good, I meant they weren't unbeatable like they think they are.  And by falling into a funk, I meant that I hope a few teams in abilene this week will provide them a losing streak they can tget out of....we all know that wont happen, this this weeks competition will show their true colors as they are playing 9 games in 7 days and the last 3 are conference games...i feel some tendonitis in the near forecast.

congrats to the indians for their win today.

[Just_Some_Guy]

McM over UT-Tyler boxscore

Seven innings from Dakota Smith for McMurry.

McMurry had the series with HSU on Sat (DH) and Sunday.

That has to be a great confidence booster for Smith!

I was advised earlier this season that McMurry had arms...maybe McM just began to find them! 

About a page behind me Ralph! ;-)

JSG

[Just_Some_Guy]

well giving up 6 ER and 15 hits, opponents hitting .378 and walking more guys than he's struck out, confirms my point earlier that the lack of pitching means teams will have to out hit and out score their own pitching....i know it sounds logical that you have to score more than you give up, but im leaning more towards the fact that I have seen several box scores with 10-20 hits making this season and absolute slug fest in regards to all the runs being scored against the contenders.

I think it's a lot easier for a hitter to fall through the cracks than a solid pitcher (in addition to the fact you need more arms on a roster than any particular position) so I think you'll continue to see the ASC have a lack of pitching in comparison to the amount of solid hitters in the future.

That said. I think you could make a case for McMurry having a pretty decent staff.

Curry, Toombs and Johnston are probably the best staff of any in the West. Kyle Martin is better and significantly more capable than what his numbers indicate. Vorhees, Wood, and McBride have all been pretty solid in limited action so that suggests that they have a little more depth than other West teams too.

As I mentioned a few pages back, the jury is still out on UMHB though.

JSG

[HAMBONE]

McM over UT-Tyler boxscore

Seven innings from Dakota Smith for McMurry.

McMurry had the series with HSU on Sat (DH) and Sunday.

That has to be a great confidence booster for Smith!

I was advised earlier this season that McMurry had arms...maybe McM just began to find them! 

About a page behind me Ralph! ;-)

JSG

Ralph must have got lost in all of our posts today.  me and Bman3 are tired of being on the Junior varsity.

[infielddad]

i think if you put trinity or southwestern in the ASC, they would be just an average team fighting for the last playoff spot. JSG, does either team have any stand out players and how do you think they would do in the ASC.

Bman,
The ASC isn't the big 12. 
Other than last year, Trinity has had as much talent as any  ASC team on a year to year basis since 2001. If Coach Meccage had not passed away during the 2002 Regional, that Saturday morning game could have ended up 5-2 Trinity instead of CTX.  But he did and our guys were in no position to play.  CTX played very well the entire 2002 Regional and deserved it's crown.
With Coach Mallon's departure, Southwestern hasn't been at the same level.  That guy got the very, very best out of every player.

Nope the ASC is not the Big 12 and i dont think Bman3 ever made any impression that he thought it was.  he only commented that if you put southwestern or trinity in the ASC that they would be an average team fighting for a playoff spot.  I agree completely with this suggestion.  The ASC has 15 teams and even the bottom feeders have 1 pticher and 1 hitter that if are helped by the other 7 can give a team a loss.  its a very competitive conference that is much tougher to get out of than the SCAC...and visa versa if threw a few ASC teams into the SCAC, which I actually think they should do to spread out the talent.

on another note...my heart goes out to Trinity Club for having to play us in the Championship game of the regional the same day one of their coaches died....success in this game of failure is influenced so much by your mental approach and I know their minds and hearts were somewhere else that day...but keep in mind we were undefeated and if Trinity had beaten us the first game 5-2, they would have had to beat us again right after that.....the only team that beat us in a doubleheader in 2002 was UT and they won the Big 12 and the National Championship...

Not exactly.
If Trinity had won the morning game 5-2, CTX would have played Pitzer in the night game, used up pitchers, played against Cortez and Turner and come back the next morning to play Trinity and need to beat them 2.
But that didn't happen and we all lost one of the great baseball coaches in Coach Meccage.
BTW, Trinity played CTX, TLU, McMurry, HSU and all the rest of the ASC they could.  CTX doesn't get any better by running down good teams and good players and living in the past.

[Blackcat00]

i think if you put trinity or southwestern in the ASC, they would be just an average team fighting for the last playoff spot. JSG, does either team have any stand out players and how do you think they would do in the ASC.

Bman,
The ASC isn't the big 12. 
Other than last year, Trinity has had as much talent as any  ASC team on a year to year basis since 2001. If Coach Meccage had not passed away during the 2002 Regional, that Saturday morning game could have ended up 5-2 Trinity instead of CTX.  But he did and our guys were in no position to play.  CTX played very well the entire 2002 Regional and deserved it's crown.
With Coach Mallon's departure, Southwestern hasn't been at the same level.  That guy got the very, very best out of every player.

Nope the ASC is not the Big 12 and i dont think Bman3 ever made any impression that he thought it was.  he only commented that if you put southwestern or trinity in the ASC that they would be an average team fighting for a playoff spot.  I agree completely with this suggestion.  The ASC has 15 teams and even the bottom feeders have 1 pticher and 1 hitter that if are helped by the other 7 can give a team a loss.  its a very competitive conference that is much tougher to get out of than the SCAC...and visa versa if threw a few ASC teams into the SCAC, which I actually think they should do to spread out the talent.

on another note...my heart goes out to Trinity Club for having to play us in the Championship game of the regional the same day one of their coaches died....success in this game of failure is influenced so much by your mental approach and I know their minds and hearts were somewhere else that day...but keep in mind we were undefeated and if Trinity had beaten us the first game 5-2, they would have had to beat us again right after that.....the only team that beat us in a doubleheader in 2002 was UT and they won the Big 12 and the National Championship...

Not exactly.
If Trinity had won the morning game 5-2, CTX would have played Pitzer in the night game, used up pitchers, played against Cortez and Turner and come back the next morning to play Trinity and need to beat them 2.
But that didn't happen and we all lost one of the great baseball coaches in Coach Meccage.
BTW, Trinity played CTX, TLU, McMurry, HSU and all the rest of the ASC they could.  CTX doesn't get any better by running down good teams and good players and living in the past.

What exactly does running down good teams and good players an living in the past mean? Little thrown off by that, or elaborate a little.

[HAMBONE]

Not exactly.
If Trinity had won the morning game 5-2, CTX would have played Pitzer in the night game, used up pitchers, played against Cortez and Turner and come back the next morning to play Trinity and need to beat them 2.
But that didn't happen and we all lost one of the great baseball coaches in Coach Meccage.
BTW, Trinity played CTX, TLU, McMurry, HSU and all the rest of the ASC they could.  CTX doesn't get any better by running down good teams and good players and living in the past.
[/quote]

yes please elaborate on what you mean by CTX doesn't get any better by running down good teams and good players and living in the past.