BB: OAC: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Mr. Ypsi]

I just read Mount's preview.  They need Goodall and Mary to have 2017ish seasons.  It mentioned that 3 catchers will split time.  Hopefully one of them forces Hesse to play him everyday because it's like the old saying about having 2 QB's.  If you have 3 catchers...

The old saying about QBs may-or-may-not be true, but I disagree about it's application to catchers.  It is not infrequent that a particular pitcher-catcher combination is superior to the same pitcher with the starting catcher.  Three catchers might be stretching it, but two is IMO quite normal.  (Besides, catcher is undoubtedly the most physically tiring position (except for the arms of pitchers), so having frequent subs is perfectly normal and desirable.)

I haven't checked the stats, but I would be amazed if catchers didn't average fewer games played than any other field position.

[BigPoppa]

It could also be related one of them DH'ing or playing another position... nice options to have if all three can hit.

[Dr. Acula]

It could also be related one of them DH'ing or playing another position... nice options to have if all three can hit.

This is true, but was not the case for Mount.

[Dr. Acula]

I just read Mount's preview.  They need Goodall and Mary to have 2017ish seasons.  It mentioned that 3 catchers will split time.  Hopefully one of them forces Hesse to play him everyday because it's like the old saying about having 2 QB's.  If you have 3 catchers...

The old saying about QBs may-or-may-not be true, but I disagree about it's application to catchers.  It is not infrequent that a particular pitcher-catcher combination is superior to the same pitcher with the starting catcher.

I agree with this...in MLB.  I don't think this is common in D3 college ball.  It's definitely not common in OAC/NCAC play.

Three catchers might be stretching it, but two is IMO quite normal.  (Besides, catcher is undoubtedly the most physically tiring position (except for the arms of pitchers), so having frequent subs is perfectly normal and desirable.)

I haven't checked the stats, but I would be amazed if catchers didn't average fewer games played than any other field position.

I agree that catchers play less games than other position players.  I do not agree that it is frequent to play your backup though.  If you have a good catcher the blueprint is usually that he catches every meaningful game including pretty much every game up north.  What you'll see is that the games the backup catches are in FL when they're playing a condensed schedule in heat.  With spring weather in the north you're probably playing a DH on the weekend and 1-2 games during the week if you're lucky.  The starting catcher easily handles that workload.  That's why when you look at the teams with the best catchers last year (BW, Ott, etc.) you see that their catcher started all but 3 of their 45+ games.  The spread out nature of the D3 schedule allows you to get away with that.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

I just read Mount's preview.  They need Goodall and Mary to have 2017ish seasons.  It mentioned that 3 catchers will split time.  Hopefully one of them forces Hesse to play him everyday because it's like the old saying about having 2 QB's.  If you have 3 catchers...

The old saying about QBs may-or-may-not be true, but I disagree about it's application to catchers.  It is not infrequent that a particular pitcher-catcher combination is superior to the same pitcher with the starting catcher.

I agree with this...in MLB.  I don't think this is common in D3 college ball.  It's definitely not common in OAC/NCAC play.

Three catchers might be stretching it, but two is IMO quite normal.  (Besides, catcher is undoubtedly the most physically tiring position (except for the arms of pitchers), so having frequent subs is perfectly normal and desirable.)

I haven't checked the stats, but I would be amazed if catchers didn't average fewer games played than any other field position.

I agree that catchers play less games than other position players.  I do not agree that it is frequent to play your backup though.  If you have a good catcher the blueprint is usually that he catches every meaningful game including pretty much every game up north.  What you'll see is that the games the backup catches are in FL when they're playing a condensed schedule in heat.  With spring weather in the north you're probably playing a DH on the weekend and 1-2 games during the week if you're lucky.  The starting catcher easily handles that workload.  That's why when you look at the teams with the best catchers last year (BW, Ott, etc.) you see that their catcher started all but 3 of their 45+ games.  The spread out nature of the D3 schedule allows you to get away with that.

I completely agree with this. Especially now that the NCAC has gone away from DH's on Saturday and Sunday for conference games. You used to see the backup catcher more during the weekend. However back then they were 2-7 inning games for the DH, so it was not uncommon for the starter to start all 4. However most teams had the backup start at least one.

[Dr. Acula]

Good point, BLD.  I shouldn't have said the nature of D3 scheduling allows it as I don't follow other conferences closely enough to comment on the entirety of D3.  I should have clarified that I was referring to the conferences I follow...the OAC and NCAC (i.e. conferences that play DH multiple days apart).

[old scot]

I want to be strong up the middle. Start the No# 1 catcher ,ss 2nd base and centerfield as often as possible.

[Dr. Acula]

Mount started their season off with a sweep of Widener 7-4 and 12-4.  I'm curious what the pitching will be beyond Mary.  He won the opener.  Yesterday it was all sophs aside from him.  Davis started the second game, Ostrowski relieved in both along with Neider in the nightcap.  The soph C Stauffer started both games and played well (2-5, 2 BB, 3 CS).  Mount did not start any juniors in either game.  Soph Joey Nave started at SS both games.

BTW JCU is raking so far.  Geez.     

[Dr. Acula]

Strong trips for our teams that wrapped up this weekend:

JCU (8-3) surprised me a little.  They're hitting .361 and put up at least 7 runs in 8 of their 11 games.  We knew Mittiga and Keohane could hit, but they're getting production elsewhere including Charpentier (.457, 12 RBI) who replaced Donnelly behind the dish and stepped into the clean up spot.  Mittiga has an insane 21 RBI and 18 runs scored already.  Oh, and he's 8-8 on SB too.

Berg (7-2) also had a very strong trip.  Their only losses are a 2/22 loss 3-1 against Anderson (who also beat Ott already) and a respectable loss to a ranked Misericordia program.  They came back and beat Misericordia a couple days later and added a nice win over a ranked Kean squad too.  The highlight was yesterday's 10-3 win over #5 Swarthmore though.  Adkins wasn't sharp in his first couple starts, but he was good yesterday.  That's the OAC's best win to date I think.  Berg definitely looks strong so far.

ONU (7-3) looked solid.  Their 3 losses were a pair of 4-3 games to 9-0 Coe and a 12-2 loss to #15 Webster. 

Ott (6-4) rattled off 4 straight wins to end their trip and calm my nerves a little about calling them the favorite in the OAC.  I'm still not confident, but I was really regretting that one a week ago when they were sitting at 0-3 fresh off a loss to Mitchell.

BW (4-5) went 4-3 in FL.  The bad:  getting swept by Moravian.  Not a great look.  The good:  Cody pitching (0.55 ERA in 3 starts).  Beating Kean, splitting with Misericordia and sweeping SJF.  The ugly:  they're hitting .233 as a team.  Taw is sputtering at .235 so far.  Very unlike a Harrison team which normally beats the ball around the yard.   

[Dr. Acula]

I'm a traditionalist when it comes to uniforms.  But I get it.  I'm not a kid.  My summer team picks jerseys that look like those awful ones the way-too-serious slow pitch softball guys wear.  They're horrible.  They look like something Oregon would wear.  But we only wear white and gray pants, no silly hats and everything matches so I'm fine with it.  That being said, someone in the Mount Union dugout needs to step in and handle what I just saw.  Wearing all white hats with gray pants looks like rec league sh!t.  It looks like you forgot your hats and had to borrow them from the other team.  They probably look clean as can be with your whites.  Stick with that.  Please.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

I'm a traditionalist when it comes to uniforms.  But I get it.  I'm not a kid.  My summer team picks jerseys that look like those awful ones the way-too-serious slow pitch softball guys wear.  They're horrible.  They look like something Oregon would wear.  But we only wear white and gray pants, no silly hats and everything matches so I'm fine with it.  That being said, someone in the Mount Union dugout needs to step in and handle what I just saw.  Wearing all white hats with gray pants looks like rec league sh!t.  It looks like you forgot your hats and had to borrow them from the other team.  They probably look clean as can be with your whites.  Stick with that.  Please.

Ugh, don't like those at all.

[Dr. Acula]

I'm jealous of Mount's spring trip.  Fly down for 12 varsity games over 10 days in FL.  They also have a couple JV games on varsity off days.  That's a nice spring trip.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

I'm jealous of Mount's spring trip.  Fly down for 12 varsity games over 10 days in FL.  They also have a couple JV games on varsity off days.  That's a nice spring trip.

Yes it is. OWU is only gone for 5 days.
However it does not compare to Kenyon, 12 days 15 games, 13 if they get there the day before games start. Not sure about JV. that is almost half their games.

[Dr. Acula]

Mount continues their solid start now at 7-1.  They split with a Suffolk team that made the tournament last year.  4-2 loss and 5-2 win.  Yesterday they turned the rotation over again as Mary and Davis both moved to 2-0 against Concordia Moorhead.  Mary was locked in striking out 10 in 6 IP allowing just 1 run on 3 hits.  Davis fell just short of the CG shutout allowing a pair of runs with 1 out in the 7th.   

[Dr. Acula]

I just had to mention Mount's nice start and jinx them.  They had a rough day yesterday, especially on the mound, dropping a pair to Salve Regina 14-6 and 12-7.  13 IP, 22 ER, 29 H, 10 BB.  They used 8 different pitchers and only Zelina (0.2 IP) emerged unscathed.  I listened to both games and it was just one of those days you have sometimes.  SR had some extra base hits (mainly from their 3 hitter) but they just kept finding the holes on grounders all day.  Day off for varsity today and try to sweep tomorrow and finish 9-3.