BB: OAC: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

With OAC play starting why not make fools of ourselves with some predictions?  I added mine within the quote in bold.

League Action for Saturday:

ONU (6-10) @ MAR (12-3)  Etta sweeps and easily
UMU (13-5) @ OTT (13-7)  Split
BW (15-2) @ MUSK (6-8)  BW should sweep, but my gut says split here too.  Split
WILM (3-10) @ BERG (11-8)  Berg better sweep.  Unless Ramsey pulls another one out of his hat on them.  Sweep.
CAP (10-7) @ JCU (7-8)  {April 1}  Split

UMU at OTT, on paper, to me seems like the best matchup of the weekend.

Good luck to all teams as league play begins.

I agree, I think Mount @ Ott is probably the best DH this weekend.  Cap and JCU should be a battle too.  If either team can sweep that one it would be big for them. 

[ettanut4life]

Etta sweep
Mount sweep
Bw an musky split
Berg sweep
Cap and jcu split

[EttaFan1]

My predictions. 

MC sweeps ONU.  With a 36 scoreless inning streak currently, can ONU get a run or two across?  the little lefty (Price?)from ONU gave MC fits a year ago....MC's bats have not been the best lately.  Gasser and Blaski pitching for the Pios, and Lindquist is back in the mix.  I'll be so bold to say that one of the two games on Saturday is a shutout.

I think Mount Union and Otterbein split.  Statistically a fairly even matchup.  Question for Dr. Acula....Does Mount start their #3 and #4 against a good hitting Otterbein team to save their #1 and #2 to go against Marietta on Tuesday?  Otterbein looks like they are hitting it pretty well right now.

BW Sweeps Muskingum.  It would appear that Muskingum is not particularly strong.  BW, though not having the strongest schedule, is hitting the ball really well.  Muskingum's pitching, a least statistically, is not particularly strong.

Berg sweeps Wilmington.  Wilmington is bad.  Berg should be good enough to easily take two from the quakers.

CAP and JCU split.  JCU's offensive numbers do not look impressive to me. Cap's pitching numbers don't look impressive either.  Slugfest perhaps?  (Of course it will end up 3-2 and 2-1). 

[Dr. Acula]

My predictions. 

MC sweeps ONU.  With a 36 scoreless inning streak currently, can ONU get a run or two across?  the little lefty (Price?)from ONU gave MC fits a year ago....MC's bats have not been the best lately.  Gasser and Blaski pitching for the Pios, and Lindquist is back in the mix.  I'll be so bold to say that one of the two games on Saturday is a shutout.

I think Mount Union and Otterbein split.  Statistically a fairly even matchup.  Question for Dr. Acula....Does Mount start their #3 and #4 against a good hitting Otterbein team to save their #1 and #2 to go against Marietta on Tuesday?  Otterbein looks like they are hitting it pretty well right now.

BW Sweeps Muskingum.  It would appear that Muskingum is not particularly strong.  BW, though not having the strongest schedule, is hitting the ball really well.  Muskingum's pitching, a least statistically, is not particularly strong.

Berg sweeps Wilmington.  Wilmington is bad.  Berg should be good enough to easily take two from the quakers.

CAP and JCU split.  JCU's offensive numbers do not look impressive to me. Cap's pitching numbers don't look impressive either.  Slugfest perhaps?  (Of course it will end up 3-2 and 2-1).

I think Smith and Murzynski will go tomorrow.  Their 3 and 4 will go Tuesday.  I hate assuming losses, but it's such a numbers game for teams like MUC trying to make the OAC tournament.  You can't "waste" conference starts from your top 2 guys against Etta when the odds are long that you're even getting a split if you do.  Etta's 3 and 4 are going to be as good or better than your 1 and 2 pretty much every year.  And if you have a decent drop off from 1-2 to 3-4 you have to play the odds I think.  It's a terrible way to look at it from a "we can beat anyone" angle, but with how competitive it's going to be for those OAC tourney spots you almost have to do it, IMO. 

[EttaFan1]

Carlino and Horning?  Numbers don't look too bad.  Horning it would appear has walked a few too many (which can get you in trouble).  Both have respectable WHIP's 1.17 and 1.43 respectively (which includes hit batters). If either is a junk baller, that can work well against the Pios if they throw junk for strikes.

You coming down for the game?

(I'll be there, right behind the plate about three-four rows up behind the plate)

[Dr. Acula]

Horning has been a fairly pleasant surprise so far.  Carlino pulls double duty as he plays the field when he doesn't pitch.  I've actually never seen either throw as they're both sophomores and I only saw 2 games last season.     

I can't make it down Tuesday....I'm an accountant and it's quarter end so we'll be buried next week.  Sad story, I know!  Haha.  I am going to Ott Sat though since that's all of a 15 min drive for me over to Westerville.  Hopefully the wind's not blowing out at Fishbaugh.   

[motorman]

Congratulations to Ohio Northern Freshman OF Dan Belliveau and Heidelberg Sophomore P Chris Thomas on being selected OAC Hitter and Pitcher of the Week.

[Dr. Acula]

In the final tune up games before conference play Musky lost in extra innings 6-5 to OWU and Cap beat Denison again 5-2. 

Everyone starts tomorrow except Cap/JCU (Sun).

[OnuAlumni25]

MC will sweep ONU, but I think Price will hopefully give Marietta hitters problems.  I would be a bit surprised if the Pioneers would throw their 1-2 combo vs ONU considering they have Mount Union coming up.  ONU should be an easy sweep using their 3-4 or even a spot starter...  Just my 2 cents from a coaching standpoint

Mount will more than likely sweep Ott.

I bet BW and Musky will split as well.  BW is tough, but they have played an easy schedule so far.  I think Musky will be able to take one.

Berg easily destroys Wilmington.

JCU sweeps Cap. 

[Dr. Acula]

Heading out to Ott.  It's overcast and feels like it's low-mid 50's.  OAC baseball weather! 

[Dr. Acula]

6 up 6 down by Ott's Reuter. Smith escapes a bases loaded jam in the 2nd after a couple seeing eye singles and a walk. 0-0 after 2.

[Dr. Acula]

2 air mailed throws to first plate 3 runs in addition to a couple RBI singles. 5-0 Ott after 3.

[Dr. Acula]

Ott takes game 1 6-0. Reuter absolutely dominated.  I'm not sure MUC had more than a couple hits.

[Dr. Acula]

Raiders bounce back 11-2 in the 2nd game to get the split.

[ettanut4life]

Marietta struggles a bit today but sweeps ONU . I believe the scores were 7-3 and 5-4. Marietta had base runners all day, could have scored many more had they cashed in on chances. Blaski and gasser both pick up wins