BB: West Region Independents

[BigPoppa]

I finally added the ASC and SCAC schools to the mix.  Pretty interesting as it looks like all of the Texas schools are beating up on each other.


TEAM                                    WINNING %
1.   George Fox                      1.000
2.   Pomona-Pitzer                  .917           
3.   Cal Lutheran                     .867
4.   UT Tyler                             .833
5.   Linfield                              .786
      Redlands                          .786
7.   Claremont                        .667
8.   UT Dallas                          .647
9.   Chapman                         .643
10. UMHB                               .625
 
That is the top 10 as of 3/16/09

I realize there is still a lot of baseball to be played but the SCAC West needs to have a team win their conference tourney to get in.

Great work. I agree with Chapman needing to win this weekend. The SCIAC has three teams here but they should all start to beat each other up a bit. Linfield is looking very strong right now and TEXAS needs another school besides Tyler to step up.

[Ralph Turner]

I posted on the ASC board that there is a very good chance that the ASC-West ends up with a multiple tie and that easily there could be a 4-way tie at 15-6.

There is only one more series among the top 4, TLU at HSU.

Concordia TX (5-7) has critical series left, at McMurry, UMHB, at Schreiner.

[Jack Parkman]

Chapman drops one to CSU East Bay.  No Kitchens for Chapman.  Good outing by the East Bay starter and a CG by Luzar for Chapman.

[Jack Parkman]

Chapman drops 2 of 3 to CSU East Bay.  No Kitchens for Chapman which really spells trouble for them.  Maybe he just needed a week off, but Chapman can not afford to lose games this late in the season.  I do realize 20-8 is a good record, but all 8 losses are to D-III teams, 7 of them in the West region.  These guys better figure it out fast.

[BigPoppa]

Agreed... while Chapman's 20-8 overall record is noce, it is their in0-region record that determines their post-season fate. Right now, it is not looking good for Chapman as a Pool B team. They have three games left with Pomona-Pitzer in addition to Redlands and a Dallas. If Kitchens really is hurt, you can almost kiss Chapman's season goodbye. I have said it before... they are a much different team when he does not throw.

[Jack Parkman]

I just checked the NWC standings and things are very close up there.  Does anyone think the NWC could get 3 teams in?  If Chapman falters, I think it could be 3 NWC teams, 2 SCIAC, ASC.  I think UT Tyler gets in if they don't win the conferencte tourney.  Am I crazy for thinking this way?

[BigPoppa]

Jack- I was thinking about this today as well. Just because the west is a six team regioanl does not mean that six teams from the west HAVE to get bids. They could ship another team from outside to fill it if they feel somone else deserves a shot over a third NWC.

I personally do not see a third NWC team getting in. Putting them with that many bids would put the NWC into a class of conferences that are HUGE powerhouses... WIAC, CCIW, New England , NJAC... not sure the NWC is ready for that jump yet, but the emergence of Linfield has been a positive for the entire region. George Fox now has a legitimate rival locally that keep a focus on the region.

My projection:
Tyler- Lock
Pitzer- Lock
Cal Lutheran- Lock
Linfield- Lock

Chapman- bubble
George Fox- bubble
Pacific Lutheran- bubble

Now... all of this goes out the window if MAJOR (ie... an unknown takes a bid with an upset)upsets happen in conference tourneys (the SCIAC does not have one).

[OshDude]

Jack- I was thinking about this today as well. Just because the west is a six team regioanl does not mean that six teams from the west HAVE to get bids. They could ship another team from outside to fill it if they feel somone else deserves a shot over a third NWC.

I personally do not see a third NWC team getting in. Putting them with that many bids would put the NWC into a class of conferences that are HUGE powerhouses... WIAC, CCIW, New England , NJAC... not sure the NWC is ready for that jump yet, but the emergence of Linfield has been a positive for the entire region. George Fox now has a legitimate rival locally that keep a focus on the region.

My projection:
Tyler- Lock
Pitzer- Lock
Cal Lutheran- Lock
Linfield- Lock

Chapman- bubble
George Fox- bubble
Pacific Lutheran- bubble

Now... all of this goes out the window if MAJOR (ie... an unknown takes a bid with an upset)upsets happen in conference tourneys (the SCIAC does not have one).

I think Chapman is still pretty safe. With six Pool B's this year (according to the latest Handbook revision I've seen), I don't see six better resumes so far. St. Scholastica, Salisbury, Ithaca, Chapman, York and Emory would be my six if the season ended now. Agree or disagree? It would be more interesting if you disagreed 

St. John Fisher, Dallas, Huntingdon and Wash U would round out my top 10 contenders. Let me know if I missed a team.

[DIIIBASEBALLFAN]

Chapmans remaining schedule
CHAPMAN(20-8)
Apr 9 @ Redlands   
Apr. 10  @ Cal St. San Marcos(NAIA)   
Apr. 11  Cal St. San Marcos(NAIA)       
Apr. 17  Pomona-Pitzer     
Apr. 18  @ Pomona-Pitzer(Doubleheader)     
Apr. 24  Cal St. East Bay     
Apr. 25  Redlands   
Apr. 26  Menlo   
May. 2   Dallas(Doubleheader)   
May. 3   Dallas   

[OshDude]

Chapmans remaining schedule
CHAPMAN(20-8)
Apr 9 @ Redlands   
Apr. 10  @ Cal St. San Marcos(NAIA)   
Apr. 11  Cal St. San Marcos(NAIA)       
Apr. 17  Pomona-Pitzer     
Apr. 18  @ Pomona-Pitzer(Doubleheader)     
Apr. 24  Cal St. East Bay     
Apr. 25  Redlands   
Apr. 26  Menlo   
May. 2   Dallas(Doubleheader)   
May. 3   Dallas   

I think the Dallas games are most important since that's Pool-B contender competition. The P-P games are gravy; they're good resume boosters no matter the results. Sure, it could get dicey for Chapman, but that extra Pool B bid this year (if it stays at six bids  ) is huge.

[Jack Parkman]

Chapman is down 9-1 in the 6th against Redlands.  No Kitchens for Chapman.

[BigPoppa]

Chapman is down 9-1 in the 6th against Redlands.  No Kitchens for Chapman.

I know everyone jumps on me when I say this every week, but Chapman is in serious trouble right now. Even if Kitchens returns, he can't pitch every game of a regional.

[Jack Parkman]

BigPoppa-  I am right there with you.  It is obvious that something is really wrong with him.  They had a D-III regional game today and he didn't throw.  They play the next 2 days vs. an NAIA school, so there is no reason to hold him back. 

Chapman made it interesting in the 9th by scoring 5 but ended up dropping a very important game 10-9.

[beachlover]

Interesting game at Redlands today.  Big innings for both teams.  Nicholson pitch count was up and the bullpen struggled big time.  Chapman pitching had their struggles as well. 

[tiger_fan2000]

Chapman is down 9-1 in the 6th against Redlands.  No Kitchens for Chapman.

I know everyone jumps on me when I say this every week, but Chapman is in serious trouble right now. Even if Kitchens returns, he can't pitch every game of a regional.

Chapman has lost 4 in a row.  Will the Committee take into account how they finish.....strong finish or limp to the line?