BB: NCAC: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Spence]

The stage is now set for early season showdown at Marietta, on March 26th between #1 Wooster, and #9 Marietta.

Marietta has all pitchers returning from last year, and also has CF Tony Piconke-
the leading hitter from last years team returns as well, but the Express must 3 infield starters.  Should be a great game- am looking forward to it a lot.

BTW- by looking for Wooster's schedule- has not yet been posted. Does anyone
know when it might be out?

Request that you drop the ranking numbers, as the preseason poll is junk and Wooster has never justified a #1 ranking with a season-ending #1 ranking in program history.

Wooster at Marietta stands alone anyway.

But the DH immediately before that game is bigger than the Wooster contest by far.

As far as replacements, the only one I'm kind of wondering about is SS. I'm confident we have very capable options elsewhere. I say this not knowing who you, for all I know you might be in the mix among those people. But it wouldn't change what I say if I did know.

Good luck and enjoy the season. Hope you get to see more games than me, though with Johnny and Mark, it's almost like being there anyway

[Spence]

Sorry to reply to my own post, but just read on the Wooster site that they're playing EIGHTEEN games in Port Charlotte? That's almost half the season...are they just inviting the whole NCAC East to play down the conference schedule down there or what?

Marietta used to play 16 games in Panama City, but it counted as 1 and was part of about a 60 game schedule. How many home dates does Wooster have this year?

I'm just blown away by this.

[Jim Dixon]

Sorry to reply to my own post, but just read on the Wooster site that they're playing EIGHTEEN games in Port Charlotte? That's almost half the season...are they just inviting the whole NCAC East to play down the conference schedule down there or what?

Marietta used to play 16 games in Panama City, but it counted as 1 and was part of about a 60 game schedule. How many home dates does Wooster have this year?

I'm just blown away by this.

Wooster could be playing a variety of good teams.  We will know once schedules are posted.

Personally I like the fact that a school will play a lot of games on the spring trip.  This leaves more time for academics for the players instead of trying to squeeze in Wednesday games and competing with class work.

Spence - i see your almost at your 1000th post.  Good Job

[countyroad]

Schedule is posted.


http://athletics.wooster.edu/base/schedule.php

[Jim Dixon]

Schedule is posted.


http://athletics.wooster.edu/base/schedule.php

That looks like a substantial enough schedule to me.  Stevens, two with Point, then W&J over three days will give the team a test.

[Spence]

Schedule is posted.


http://athletics.wooster.edu/base/schedule.php

That looks like a substantial enough schedule to me.  Stevens, two with Point, then W&J over three days will give the team a test.

I'd take that over at Rhodes, at Hardin-Simmons on back to back days, then vs. UT-Tyler and UT-Dallas on the same day.

The Marietta game's going to aces for Wooster vs. no #3 at best for Marietta, again. Wooster's aces will throw the 20th most likely if at all, Marietta's the 22nd against Heidelberg, and travel to OWU the day after the Wooster game. Both have conference games on the following weekend, but again we're talking about NCAC East vs. the OAC. You can't get away with skipping your aces in the OAC.

Wooster's schedule looks about like what their mediocre schedule usually looks like. Not sure why they need to play Case home and home on separate dates. Also helps Wooster that their trip is so long, so even though they're playing a lot of games it's not in as many days as many teams play, allowing them to get away with using a shorter staff. They're playing some decent teams, but most teams play a much more compressed schedule than they do down there.

That schedule is nowhere near Marietta's though. Most of their toughest opponents are on our conference schedule twice, and MC's non-conference blows away Wooster's conference foes, and is still probably better than their non-conference slate besides.

Something to remember come May when we're ordaining Wooster the national champs again.

[Ralph Turner]

Schedule is posted.


http://athletics.wooster.edu/base/schedule.php

Good points about Wooster's schedule.

On closer review of the Woo schedule, these are the "non-in-region" games.

Spaulding -- 3/11
Fontbonne (2)  -- 3/15
Stevens Tech -- 3/16
UWSP (2) -- 3/17
Bethel -- 3/22

Losses to those teams don't hurt as much, but they are quality opponents so you test your bullpen.  You can then use your good starters against the other "in-region" opponents.

[Ralph Turner]

Marietta's 2008 Schedule

IMHO, Marietta's spring trip is tougher competition because Piedmont and Sewanee have been playing for a month by the time that Marietta starts its season.

The Abilene Tourney is as fine a murderer's row for a northern team as Marietta can find!  The Rhodes game on the way down is in-region, but none of the Texas schools are.  However, IMHO UT-Tyler, UT-Dallas should finish 1-2 in the ASC-East, HSU, McMurry should make the ASC tourney from the ASC-West and Southwestern may be the weakest of the field, but will make the SCAC-West tourney.

Texas Wesleyan (NAIA-1) is another strong contender.  The Texas teams will have a month of play under their belts when Marietta calls.

Thanks to Coach Brewer for coming to Abilene.

[Spence]

I'll trust you're right on Rhodes...I can't keep in-region straight anymore without more work than I want to do for it

The Abilene thing has turned into a great find for coach Brewer I think. The times I've talked to him about it, it seems like we're getting everything out of it we want -- great competition, great facilities, great hospitality. Fewer distractions and chances for guys to get themselves in trouble as well compared to the beach. The schedule there looks like the best since we've been going down. There's not a game down there that we won't have to show up and play well to win.

As far as Wooster, let me be clear. Their non-conference schedule is decent, but in order to make up for their wretched conference slate, IMO they should be doing more. Of those out of region schools we mentioned, only UWSP is much of a bet to be playing after selection sunday and only Bethel could be put into a category of a pretty decent team that's just stuck in a rough conference situation as far as making the postseason (similar to finishing 3rd-5th or so in the OAC and being left out because of all the patsy automatic bid entries). Even the D-III non-con up north is not as strong as it could be, though they do play most of the OAC in midweek.

[Ralph Turner]

I'll trust you're right on Rhodes...I can't keep in-region straight anymore without more work than I want to do for it

The Abilene thing has turned into a great find for coach Brewer I think. The times I've talked to him about it, it seems like we're getting everything out of it we want -- great competition, great facilities, great hospitality. Fewer distractions and chances for guys to get themselves in trouble as well compared to the beach. The schedule there looks like the best since we've been going down. There's not a game down there that we won't have to show up and play well to win.

As far as Wooster, let me be clear. Their non-conference schedule is decent, but in order to make up for their wretched conference slate, IMO they should be doing more. Of those out of region schools we mentioned, only UWSP is much of a bet to be playing after selection sunday and only Bethel could be put into a category of a pretty decent team that's just stuck in a rough conference situation as far as making the postseason (similar to finishing 3rd-5th or so in the OAC and being left out because of all the patsy automatic bid entries). Even the D-III non-con up north is not as strong as it could be, though they do play most of the OAC in midweek.

Spence, I know that Coach Driggers and the rest of the ASC really appreciate Marietta coming down for that week.

We, the ASC schools, have had a month of play and are in the midst of divisional play.  We had gotten our pitching rotations going.  The game against 'Etta is a chance to show the ASC players what a great team does to get ready.  Those players know that this is 'Etta's spring trip.

'Etta gets a chance to get "non-in-region" games against very good teams without getting hurt in Regional Rankings.  This is one very good thing about the current rules established by the competition committee.

For the rest of the in-region rules, here is the FAQ.

The critical thing the remember is the Administrative Regions.

Region 2 is NY and PA.
Region 3 is MI, OH, WV, VA, NC, SC, GA, down to FL, (we don't have any D3 schools in Puerto Rico), over to AL, MS and LA, then back up to  AR, TN, KY and up to IN , starting in Michigan and going clockwise on the map.

[Spence]

I'll trust you're right on Rhodes...I can't keep in-region straight anymore without more work than I want to do for it

The Abilene thing has turned into a great find for coach Brewer I think. The times I've talked to him about it, it seems like we're getting everything out of it we want -- great competition, great facilities, great hospitality. Fewer distractions and chances for guys to get themselves in trouble as well compared to the beach. The schedule there looks like the best since we've been going down. There's not a game down there that we won't have to show up and play well to win.

As far as Wooster, let me be clear. Their non-conference schedule is decent, but in order to make up for their wretched conference slate, IMO they should be doing more. Of those out of region schools we mentioned, only UWSP is much of a bet to be playing after selection sunday and only Bethel could be put into a category of a pretty decent team that's just stuck in a rough conference situation as far as making the postseason (similar to finishing 3rd-5th or so in the OAC and being left out because of all the patsy automatic bid entries). Even the D-III non-con up north is not as strong as it could be, though they do play most of the OAC in midweek.

Spence, I know that Coach Driggers and the rest of the ASC really appreciate Marietta coming down for that week.

We, the ASC schools, have had a month of play and are in the midst of divisional play.  We had gotten our pitching rotations going.  The game against 'Etta is a chance to show the ASC players what a great team does to get ready.  Those players know that this is 'Etta's spring trip.

'Etta gets a chance to get "non-in-region" games against very good teams without getting hurt in Regional Rankings.  This is one very good thing about the current rules established by the competition committee.

For the rest of the in-region rules, here is the FAQ.

The critical thing the remember is the Administrative Regions.

Region 2 is NY and PA.
Region 3 is MI, OH, WV, VA, NC, SC, GA, down to FL, (we don't have any D3 schools in Puerto Rico), over to AL, MS and LA, then back up to  AR, TN, KY and up to IN , starting in Michigan and going clockwise on the map.

I bet the UT Tyler game has a playoff atmosphere. Wish I could be there. Out of region be damned, I'm sure Vilade wants that game to make a statement for his program. But then all of March seems like it's going to be like that for Marietta. Rhodes, UTT, UTD, the DH at TX Wes which has become quite a little brouhaha the last few years, then at Transy, opening the OAC season with Heidelberg, then hosting Wooster and traveling to Ohio Wesleyan the next day. That's in a 13-game span. And I didn't mention in that bunch McMurry and Hardin-Simmons which have wins against us in the last two years.

In case you couldn't tell, I'm pretty blown away by this schedule. Since the contraction of the season and the changes in criteria, our scheduling had already changed a great deal, but this is IMO even a step beyond that.

[woofan]

Spence,

Do you expend all your energy finding ways to bash Wooster's baseball program?  Never seen anyone so hell bent on bringing another program down as you!  Rings of someone that couldn't meet the admission standards at Wooster.....

SHEESH!!

[countyroad]

Spence,

Do you expend all your energy finding ways to bash Wooster's baseball program?  Never seen anyone so hell bent on bringing another program down as you!  Rings of someone that couldn't meet the admission standards at Wooster.....

SHEESH!!

Just about right.  As Wooster fans, we're not allowed to be excitied about Wooster baseball unless we are beating Marietta and/or Otterbein on the road against their #1's with all their player's being healthy.  Wooster must also be coming off 3 consecutive conference games with a conference game the next day.  Until Wooster does that, the fans should keep their mouths shut.

I have the utmost respect for Marietta btw.

[oacfan]

Just about right.  As Wooster fans, we're not allowed to be excitied about Wooster baseball unless we are beating Marietta and/or Otterbein on the road against their #1's with all their player's being healthy.  Wooster must also be coming off 3 consecutive conference games with a conference game the next day.  Until Wooster does that, the fans should keep their mouths shut.

I have the utmost respect for Marietta btw.

that would be nice

[Spence]

Spence,

Do you expend all your energy finding ways to bash Wooster's baseball program?  Never seen anyone so hell bent on bringing another program down as you!  Rings of someone that couldn't meet the admission standards at Wooster.....

SHEESH!!

Just about right.  As Wooster fans, we're not allowed to be excitied about Wooster baseball unless we are beating Marietta and/or Otterbein on the road against their #1's with all their player's being healthy.  Wooster must also be coming off 3 consecutive conference games with a conference game the next day.  Until Wooster does that, the fans should keep their mouths shut.

I have the utmost respect for Marietta btw.

Wow y'all were late to the party.

Heck I'm not saying you can't be excited. I just think it's total BS that Wooster gets overranked in the preseason every year having consistently not lived up to it. I'd feel the same way if it were true in another region (it's not). Simply unbelievable and a slap in the face to the team that's won the region the last two years.

I can't see how anyone would logically pick a team #1 in the nation when the vast majority of the time they can't even manage to win the region and have only done so once in the last 10 years? I'm hard pressed to think of a team ranked as consistently high with as little on-field success in any NCAA sport in any division. It's like if Ohio State was preseason #1 or 2 in football but had only won the Big Ten once in the last decade and Michigan had played in the national championship 3 times in the past 6 years. How much sense would that make?

And you can't pretend that the pitching matchups last year rendered the regular season games between MC and Wooster practically useless as an evaluative tool. We're throwing literally #7 and 8 and you all save Samson and Trapuzzano just to run it up and we still make the one against Trapuzzano reasonably close. There's nothing illegal about it, but one should take it into consideration if he's being trusted to honestly evaluate teams, which people who vote in polls ostensibly are. 

woofan, you make me laugh. I didn't apply to Wooster, have no interest in going to school somewhere where it's winter 6 1/2 out of the 8 months I'd be there. Doubleheaders at Ohio Northern or Heidelberg were bad enough. Plus I don't like the "objects are WAY further away than they appear" flatland foolishness. Additionally, Marietta was the top-ranked school its size in the Midwest at the time, and they more or less paid me off to go there. There are a couple other schools I wish I'd applied to now (Wake Forest, Virginia, Davidson) but Wooster wasn't one of them. I hadn't really considered the south at the time, had never really been there except to go to the beach. If I could have gotten into those schools (and I feel confident I would have, though being an out-of-state applicant to UVa would have made it tough), Wooster would not have been a problem.