BB: OAC: Ohio Athletic Conference

[motorman]

I did have my tongue in cheek when I made the comment about #1's facing Berg's offense, guess I should have used an emoticon there.

I also think anyone from a school with a rec league football program like Marietta's, where they annual question is are we going to beat Wilmington to avoid another winless season, shouldn't be denigrating anybody else's student athletes.

[Spence]

Your rotation should always be based on who you are pitching and when.  I guess Adrian thought they had a better chance of beating Heidelberg with less than their best than John Carroll. Probably true.

Mount Union won the conference tournament last year and went to the regional and has everyone back. I'm not sure just how good they are, but they're definitely good enough that I'm not too concerned about who they've played. They'll be in the conference tournament in May.

MC has faced the other team's ace probably 80% of the time for years. It's a surprise when it doesn't happen, really. Probably will see Torregroza once and Papa once. Unfortunate situation there with Moose having trouble. Hopefully he gets back soon and can again lead a great program. But they'll be up for Etta Express as they always are.

Wooster could throw their 2 or 3 today, but it doesn't matter much because there's not much difference between them anyway. Koski had a better ERA last year but fewer innings. Their schedule sets up nicely to use Hagen against 3 teams that will probably all be ranked (MC, Webster, Birmingham Southern).

What I don't know is what Marietta will do pitching-wise the next few days. You'd think Byers goes against Webster if able and Herstine starts against Farmingdale (who is likely to start one of the best in the country). Finlan will have one of the games, not sure which one. Other than that, don't know if it'll be Fulton, one of the freshmen that's already pitched, or someone new.

Oh, and MC doesn't need excuses. Doesn't accept them, either. Young team (3 seniors, 6 juniors), doesn't matter. Expectations remain the same.

Since the league was nice enough to give MC road trips to Mount and Heidelberg within 3 days, it'll be interesting to see if Heidelberg actually sees Byers and Herstine. Might be 1 and not the other. One place where playing 9 in the first game could make a difference.

[Spence]

I also think anyone from a school with a rec league football program like Marietta's, where they annual question is are we going to beat Wilmington to avoid another winless season, shouldn't be denigrating anybody else's student athletes.

And if this was a football board, you'd have a great point. But...it's not.

[Dr. Acula]

Could maybe Adrian didn't thorw Robinson was because he pitched the day before? Like Berg, they didn't fiddle with the rotation based on who they were playing maybe? So they threw their #3 in their 3rd game in FL and Berg used #5 and we should be embarassed about beating them?

Papa pitched Montclair's first game before coming to Florida so I guess he would be their #1. From what I saw with my own eyes and not from looking at live stats, Marietta won't have any problem with Montclair.

Why don't you take issue with the cupcakes Mount went 9-0 against instead of bashing the pitching choices of Berg's opponents? Don't think they have played any teams that went to regionals last year, not to mention playing 7 inning DHs. So Berg had one weak sister and played 6 of 10 vs 2013 regional participants.

This whole line of discussion looks like setting up an excuse ahead of time if Wooster had beaten Marietta and Berg beats them today. Oh, we had to face their best pitcher and you guys beat someone lower in the rotation.

I complained about Mount's schedule again this year, but let's be clear...they don't play all cupcakes.  They play all average teams.  Haha.  The worst team they played might have been Aurora and they were 25-13 last year and 38-10 the year before.  Actually, it was probably Waynesburg because Aurora hit pretty well.  But the flip side is I don't know who would be the BEST team they saw.  They're all middling, around .500 teams it seems.  But they did what they should against that competition and beat up on them. 

I feel much more confident about them making the OAC tourney for a couple reasons:

First, I like their pitching depth more than I thought I would right now.  Ceriani, who I suspected might end up as the #3 based on the end of last year, was great in both his starts.  And I didn't even know who Toma was and he pitched great in his start against RHIT.  They should be able to find 4 solid starters out of this group.  Regardless of what order the rotation shakes out I think it's safe to say this will be the best rotation 1-4 that Mount has had in decades.

Second, with Doring MIA and BW's top 2 starters really scuffling through 2 starts it makes me pause on those Cleveland area staffs.  The conference is too competitive to have spotty starting pitching and expect to do well long-term.

[EttaFan1]

Marietta likely throws Finlan today against Montclair St. 
Tomorrow against Wooster?  Who knows.  I guess will find out who the #4 guy is.  I would be moderately surprised if it is Fulton, he seems like he is going to be a bullpen guy.  I'm guessing it will be a freshman (since that is all they have left--Nieberding perhaps).

Mon: vs Montclair State: Finlan
Tues: vs. Wooster:
Weds: Off
Thurs: vs Montclair St: Byers/Herstine
Thurs: vs Webster: Byers/Herstine
Friday: vs Farmingdale St: Finlan
Sat: vs. Nichols:  Tuesday's starter, perhaps. 

As far as your pitching rotation should always be about who you are playing and when...Last Saturday when Marietta played both Denison and CWRU, my thought, based on the projected strength of the two opponents (ie the matchup) would have been to start Herstine against Dennison and Byers against Case.  It wasn't how it happened, though, and it worked out well for the Pioneers.  It won't be surprising to see Byers throw the first game on Thursday against Montclair St, with Herstine throwing against Webster (when the matchup may dictate otherwise). 

Shoening is "out" for a while having had a hip replaced, and the interim head coach in his absence is the son of Bill Holowaty. 

[Spence]

It wouldn't surprise me if it's the mystery #4 today and then Finlan against Wooster. We'll find out in about 10 minutes.

Nieberding wasn't mentioned in the preview. Janus, McNabb, Crowl and I think Kirsch were. Kirsch is a transfer soph, so he might get first crack at starting. It will be interesting to see if Nieberding gets a shot. Could be he's having trouble getting all that 6 foot 7 going the right direction at once -- like early career Mark Williams and Austin Blaski.

Finlan vs. Dolce makes me break into a cold sweat.

I think Brewer might have legitimately figured on Denison's ace being better than Case's. I don't know. But his decisions in this regard are usually really logical so that's what I'm thinking.

Yeah that stinks about Moose Schoenig. Hope he's able to get going again soon.

[Spence]

Finlan vs. Torregroza is the pitching matchup.

EttaFan wins.

[motorman]

Berg up 7-0 after 4 on Wooster, but of course it isn't against their #1. This whole question is exactly like making excuses, you guys aren't as good because you aren't facing the same pitching we are. I know coach Palm expects Berg to beat the opponent no matter who is pitching which is what happens when you have confidence in all your pitchers instead of having to throw guys out there on short rest when you aren't sure what you are getting from your #4 and #5 guys.

Oh and by the way, Berg beat Byers last year so I don't think they fear having to face him. Mount did win the tournament but was only 23-18 last year and went 2 and BBQ cause they never faced that level of competition during the season.

[Dr. Acula]

Good win for Berg (14-1 over Woo), bad DH for Musky (swept by Hiram).  Cap got beat up on by Anderson 17-7 also and Etta lost a close one to Montclair St.  Not a happy day for the OAC overall outside of Tiffin.

[Spence]

Good win for Berg (14-1 over Woo), bad DH for Musky (swept by Hiram).  Cap got beat up on by Anderson 17-7 also and Etta lost a close one to Montclair St.  Not a happy day for the OAC overall outside of Tiffin.

Yep, Montclair played well. Every baseball game is different, and Torregroza and Finlan both were far from overpowering but managed to escape trouble most of the time.

Luyster showed he can miss bats but was wild and it hurt him. Like seeing young guys that strike guys out though...good sign. He'll get better from today and like Brewer said, they want to win but they also want to learn something about themselves.

Looks like Koski vs. ? tomorrow. I don't even have a guess.

[Spence]

Berg up 7-0 after 4 on Wooster, but of course it isn't against their #1. This whole question is exactly like making excuses, you guys aren't as good because you aren't facing the same pitching we are. I know coach Palm expects Berg to beat the opponent no matter who is pitching which is what happens when you have confidence in all your pitchers instead of having to throw guys out there on short rest when you aren't sure what you are getting from your #4 and #5 guys.

Oh and by the way, Berg beat Byers last year so I don't think they fear having to face him. Mount did win the tournament but was only 23-18 last year and went 2 and BBQ cause they never faced that level of competition during the season.

All I'm saying I think the offense is a bit of a mirage right now.

The idea that Marietta somehow lacks confidence and doesn't expect to win every game is more than a little funny. Guys are available when they're rested, and from there it depends on what the team needs. How it's always been, and what the training has always been designed to yield. Marietta's record developing pitchers speaks for itself.

Mount made the conference tournament, and then won it. Never faced that level of competition? Um...they played the region runner-up so it's pretty hard to make that case.

[EttaFan1]

Marietta defeats Wooster 4-2 today behind a solid 5.1 IP from freshman Nieberding, and 3.2 solid innings in relief for Mike Fulton, probably the best outing of his career.  I think Fulton is a key part to the longer term success of Marietta this year.  He will be needed to close out games.

Right now Marietta needs to get the offense going.  They are struggling a little at the plate, but hopefully that will come along as the season progresses.

I think the Pios are little bit ahead defensively at this early stage of the season than they were a year ago.  It looks like Hannahan is going to be the short stop and Demko at second.  Roche isn't the strongest defensive player and as long as his bat comes along, I think we will see him anchor the hot corner. 

Don't know what to think about Wooster.  A lot was made of their returning seniors, and so far they are 0-3 and have combined for 6 total runs. 

[Spence]

Marietta defeats Wooster 4-2 today behind a solid 5.1 IP from freshman Nieberding, and 3.2 solid innings in relief for Mike Fulton, probably the best outing of his career.  I think Fulton is a key part to the longer term success of Marietta this year.  He will be needed to close out games.

Right now Marietta needs to get the offense going.  They are struggling a little at the plate, but hopefully that will come along as the season progresses.

I think the Pios are little bit ahead defensively at this early stage of the season than they were a year ago.  It looks like Hannahan is going to be the short stop and Demko at second.  Roche isn't the strongest defensive player and as long as his bat comes along, I think we will see him anchor the hot corner. 

Don't know what to think about Wooster.  A lot was made of their returning seniors, and so far they are 0-3 and have combined for 6 total runs.

I would say you could see Hanahan move to 3rd and Bukiewicz to 2nd, but after today I don't know if you can break up that outfield! Bukiewicz might have been the difference in the game without getting a hit. Roche sat last game and Packanik played 2nd. Packanik made an error but he was a reliable glove last year, so might see that again.

MC has faced a lot of good pitchers. Obviously more runs would be nice, but I'm not that disappointed. Buckingham is a guy Wooster had high hopes for and it seems with good reason. Most of the other guys MC has faced have been aces. This is also a team that's going to create runs for themselves with athleticism and aggressiveness.

5-1 with a sub 2.00 ERA with a bunch of FR/SO pitchers against that schedule? Will take it and run away.

[Dr. Acula]

Congratulations to my Raiders for being ranked #20 this week.  I know it's only March and rankings don't matter anyway, but I don't know if they've ever been ranked before?  So I'm happy for them.  This group has accomplished a lot of big firsts with the biggest obviously being the NCAA appearance.  I'm going to be sad to see this senior class leave.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Marietta Alum Kyle Lindqust, has left the professional ranks and has taken up the coaching profession. Kyle is now an assistant coach for the Big Red.

http://denisonbigred.com/information/directory/bios/lindquist_kyle

Deegan bringing in Marietta Alums should be a good thing.