BB: WIAC: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OshDude]

Whitewater is my preseason pick, followed by Oshkosh and Stevens Point in third.

The other? I like La Crosse. Like the lineup and, unlike the other two contenders, there are some decent arms.

I just don't think Stout can get anyone out. Then again, that offense will be tough to stop, even without Seth Meier.

Platteville should give LAX and Stout a run for the fourth spot. You could do worse than that lineup, and I actually really like a couple of the PV pitchers.

Superior? Not so much.

[cubs]

I think when you look at the "Big Three" they are all have "weaker" pitching staffs.

Oshkosh-Already went over their short-comings in my previous post. 

Stevens Point-They return Brandon Hemstead, however I have heard that he has some shoulder problems and had surgery around Thanksgiving.  If that is the case, both Kempf and Thurn will need to step up in a big way to carry the load. 

Whitewater-Returns Jacobson (the only pitcher on the staff with an ERA under 4.00 (3.84)) but after that it is slim pickings.  There is a reason he threw over 30 more innings (79.2) than anyone else on the staff (47.1) last season.  They lost their #3 (in terms of IP) to graduation as well (Grutzmacher-42.1 IP.)

Again, depending on recruits/transfers, 13-12 games may be the norm this season with the lack of returing quality pitchers.

[OshDude]

I think when you look at the "Big Three" they are all have "weaker" pitching staffs.

Oshkosh-Already went over their short-comings in my previous post. 

Stevens Point-They return Brandon Hemstead, however I have heard that he has some shoulder problems and had surgery around Thanksgiving.  If that is the case, both Kempf and Thurn will need to step up in a big way to carry the load. 

Whitewater-Returns Jacobson (the only pitcher on the staff with an ERA under 4.00 (3.84)) but after that it is slim pickings.  There is a reason he threw over 30 more innings (79.2) than anyone else on the staff (47.1) last season.  They lost their #3 (in terms of IP) to graduation as well (Grutzmacher-42.1 IP.)

Again, depending on recruits/transfers, 13-12 games may be the norm this season with the lack of returing quality pitchers.

As for the Whitewater staff, Jacobson is a bulldog who, in terms of talent, put up below-average numbers last year. I think he'll bounce back and lead the staff better than last year.

Aaron Dott is the key. That dude can pitch. I have no idea what happened to him last year, but I would be surprised if he didn't make a push for all-conference, if not make the first team.

After those two starters, WW still has depth. Granted, Grutzmacher is a big loss. But Wong, Johnson, Dominick and Severson all have outstanding stuff. And WW still has other decent pitchers like Riek, Harves and Greg Donovan.

Jake, Johnson and Dominick have all been through the league a few times. I think that matters. Then add Dott, Wong and Severson? I don't think another WIAC team can beat that. Jake might not be the best No. 1 pitcher in the league, but the other pitchers are either solid or have a lot of potential.

I'm with you on the rest. Some very good lineups and questionable pitching in the WIAC.

[cubs]

You have much higher expectations for the Whitewater pitching staff than I do......

I just can't get too high on some of these guys who finished last season with ERA's between 5.50-7.00 or higher.  The majority have a BA against around .300 or higher.

Dott-5.65 ERA .294 BAA
Johnson-6.19, .329
Dominick-5.32, .295
Severson-6.94, .244 (11 BB, 6 K)
Wong-7.18. .346
Riek-6.33, .341
G. Donovan-7.20, .300
Harves-7.36, .349

Comparing numbers to the other staffs around the WIAC, these numbers aren't any better than anyone else's.  The only difference, is that they return more arms, which doesn't really help unless they are quality, which I think the numbers show otherwise.

[BigPoppa]

Since many of the WIACers are expecting high scoring games, the pitching stats are not a surprise. The WIAC has always been known to produce some great hitters that can quickly skew an ERA or two.

[Barber Greene]

Kris Edwards for Whitewater had a solid freshman season in 2006 with a 4.97 ERA...last year he had an injured arm or elbow...will he be back in 2008?

[Gustie13]

Keith Law of ESPN has Zimmerman ranked #83 in his list of MLB prospects:

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/columns/story?columnist=law_keith&id=3222287

"Zimmerman has a chance for four solid-average pitches and excellent control, projecting as a No. 3 starter if his command improves. He's very athletic and has a loose, fluid arm action, and wasn't worked as hard as most college pitchers due to a broken jaw in his final spring in school."

[webjem]

STEVENSPOINT IS STILL THE TEAM TO BEAT IN THE WIAC. THEY RETURN 6 SENIOR STARTERS TO THEIR EVERYDAY LINEUP, PLUS 3 SENIOR STARTING PITCHERS. THE SENIORS ARE VETERANS OF TOURNAMENT PLAY INCLUDING COMPETING IN TWO WORLD SERIES. THIS TEAM KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN AND THEY ARE DEEP IN TALENT. OSHKOSH, I BELIEVE, IS A YEAR AWAY FROM BEING VERY GOOD. THEIR PITCHING NEEDS TO JELL QUICKLY FOR THEM TO COMPETE THIS YEAR. THE REST OF THE LEAGUE IS UP FOR GRABS. FORGET WHITEWATER, TO MANY INTERNAL PROBLEMS. LOOK FOR STOUT TO COMPETE.

[OshDude]

STEVENSPOINT IS STILL THE TEAM TO BEAT IN THE WIAC. THEY RETURN 6 SENIOR STARTERS TO THEIR EVERYDAY LINEUP, PLUS 3 SENIOR STARTING PITCHERS. THE SENIORS ARE VETERANS OF TOURNAMENT PLAY INCLUDING COMPETING IN TWO WORLD SERIES. THIS TEAM KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN AND THEY ARE DEEP IN TALENT. OSHKOSH, I BELIEVE, IS A YEAR AWAY FROM BEING VERY GOOD. THEIR PITCHING NEEDS TO JELL QUICKLY FOR THEM TO COMPETE THIS YEAR. THE REST OF THE LEAGUE IS UP FOR GRABS. FORGET WHITEWATER, TO MANY INTERNAL PROBLEMS. LOOK FOR STOUT TO COMPETE.

Disagreement is good, and I disagree with most of your post.

But you can't just leave us hanging. Care to elaborate on this intriguing nugget?

Welcome to the board.

[Ralph Turner]

WORD IS OUT ON THE WHITEWATER PROGRAM, RECRUITS ARE NOW GOING TO PROGRAMS WHERE BASEBALL IS STILL A GAME. PLAYERS GO TO STEVENSPOINT AND THEY STAY WITH THE PROGRAM FOR FOUR YEARS (SEVEN SENIORS THIS YEAR IN THEIR FOURTH YEAR WITH THE TEAM). OSHKOSH AND STEVENSPOINT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN RECENT YEARS BECAUSE THEY PLAY WITH THEIR HEARTS NOT THEIR MOUTHS. PLAYERS ACTIONS ON AND OFF THE FIELD ARE A REFLECTION OF THEIR COACH, NUFF SAID. THIS IS WHY I FEEL THAT POINT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL AGAIN THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE CORE OF THE TEAM HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR YEARS. .OSHKOSH IS A VERY TALENTED TEAM. LEIGHTON IS THE BEST SHORTSTOP IN THE LEAGUE, FOSLER AND DEMMIN ARE TWO OF THE MOST FEARED HIITERS. WHEN THEIR PITCHING MATURES AND FADNESS RETURNS, THEY WILL BE A COMPLETE TEAM. OSHKOSH WILL WIN ALOT OF GAMES THIS YEAR BUT THEY WILL BE BETTER NEXT YEAR. STOUT AND SUPERIOR WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE, THE COACHES ARE DOING A NICE JOB WITH THOSE PROGRAMS.

webjem, Welcome to the message boards.  The WIAC is always a great message board.  They have a large group of loyal fans that provide good information.

Also, please review the Terms of Service agreement that you saw when you signed on.  The use of ALL CAPS is strongly discouraged.

3. Posts that simply serve to bash another poster and do not discuss Division III sports will be removed. POSTS IN ALL CAPS WILL BE REMOVED. Every keyboard has a shift key. Learn how to use it. Certainly your professors don't accept papers in all caps.  (Click here for link.)

[webjem]

My pre-season picks for players to watch this season, by position. catcher-Krause  Stout. 1B-Bennett  Platteville. 2B-Schlosser  Stevens Point. SS-Leighton  Oshkosh. 3B-Stace  Stout. OF-Fosler  Oshkosh,  Scheidler Stevens Point,  Corcoran  Whitewater. DH-Coe  Stevens Point. Pitchers-Thrun  Stevens Point,  Hemstead  Stevens Point,  Jacobson  Whitewater,  Benitz  La Crosse. Any comments or additions?? I'm always looking for good players to watch around the league.

[Pat Coleman]

It's alright -- the ALL CAPS is considered shouting in message board circles so we discourage it. No harm no foul on one post.

[janesvilleflash]

webjem- Am I right, that you're picking yourself as a "pitcher to watch"?

[cubs]

STEVENSPOINT IS STILL THE TEAM TO BEAT IN THE WIAC. THEY RETURN 6 SENIOR STARTERS TO THEIR EVERYDAY LINEUP, PLUS 3 SENIOR STARTING PITCHERS. THE SENIORS ARE VETERANS OF TOURNAMENT PLAY INCLUDING COMPETING IN TWO WORLD SERIES. THIS TEAM KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN AND THEY ARE DEEP IN TALENT. OSHKOSH, I BELIEVE, IS A YEAR AWAY FROM BEING VERY GOOD. THEIR PITCHING NEEDS TO JELL QUICKLY FOR THEM TO COMPETE THIS YEAR. THE REST OF THE LEAGUE IS UP FOR GRABS. FORGET WHITEWATER, TO MANY INTERNAL PROBLEMS. LOOK FOR STOUT TO COMPETE.

I would hope you feel that Stevens Point is best team in the WIAC considering you pitch for them......  I can see you aren't lacking any confidence.

[badgerwarhawk]

I'd be interested in knowing just what "internal problems" exist at WHITEWATER.