BB: SCIAC: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Jack Parkman]

Lol SCIACfan5. A lot of the SCIAC posters are either still hungover with football season wrapping up or gearing up for basketball season. I know others will start creeping in here at or around Feb.

As to answer your question, here's my prediction for the 2009 SCIAC season.

After graduating some Key Players the Leo's of ULV will by eyeing for another SCIAC crown using what they have on their Roster. To me, the Leo's always have the Talent to stay atop the SCIAC race, but will drop if they don't get their pitching staff on the same page. In saying that, I might have to premateruly, say that they may end up taking 2nd place this year. (note: these guys can go on a serious streak and eventually win it all. Just look at last year.

The Pups of UoR look to avenage their 2008 season in which they just completely collapsed towards the middle and last half of the season. These guys always have a bat and a decent pitching staff. So look for them to be the top contender for the top spot of the SCIAC race. It just may be their year to take the SCIAC crown.

Heres how my SCIAC list looks for this season

1. UoR/ Leo's
2. Pomona./oxy
3.The Poets
4. Cal Lu
5. Stags
6. The Beaves

Lay off the Kool-Aid BrownEagle   There is no way Oxy does anything this year.  Strankman couldn't get it done, neither will the new guy right away.
LaVerne lost a lot. 
Pomona got exposed big time at the end of the year. 
Cal Lu hasnt done it in years. 
Redlands would be my choice right now due to the fact they have been pretty darn good the past few years.
CMS-  Who knows?  They have plenty of talent but no coaching at all.
Whitter-  Gonna be flat out bad, not much more to say about that.

I am ready for baseball now that football is over.  Plenty of time to discuss/argue with each other on the upcoming season.

[SCIACfan5]

1. Pomona Pitzer
2. La Verne/Redlands
4. Cal Lutheran
5. CMS
6. Occidental
7. Whittier
8. Cal Tech

PP was plagued by injuries last year but they're only losing a couple starters. They lacked a bullpen, which is what they need to fix. Their lineup should match up with the best of them, and their starting rotation is all returning. If injuries don't hurt them, they should take the title.
La Verne should still contend, even though they lost some key starters. THey will probably bring in a couple of solid transfers, which always puts them back into contention. Still need to work on their pitching and plug holes in the lineup.
Redlands will be an offsensive threat, but their pen will need a lot of work. They won't be loaded on either end, but should have a couple of solid starters and relievers.
I think Cal Lu will surprise some teams. They're returning all but a couple starters from last year. They're still young and raw, but should still be tough and a bit more experienced than last year.
CMS always has a powerful lineup. Their issue will be, as in the past years, their pitching, or lack thereof.
Whittier needs a lot of work. Period.
Cal Tech is Cal Tech. Although their soccer team did beat Cal Lu!

[Browneagle64]

Sweet. There's some folks in this board already willing to talk about baseball.

Good predictions SCIACfan. However, im not to sure that the hens will take the SCIAC crown this year. Sure they started off solid last year, but, if you see who they played at the start of their season last year the Hens really didn't play against solid teams. It was until half way down the road that they met the sciac co-champs, the pups, and the leos that they finally found good teams that could expose them. I wouldnt be surprised if they started off on a high note, but, this team is still too young.

More on the other teams later.

And yes, the Tigers will surprise everyone. 

[chakote]

Sweet. There's some folks in this board already willing to talk about baseball.

Good predictions SCIACfan. However, im not to sure that the hens will take the SCIAC crown this year. Sure they started off solid last year, but, if you see who they played at the start of their season last year the Hens really didn't play against solid teams. It was until half way down the road that they met the sciac co-champs, the pups, and the leos that they finally found good teams that could expose them. I wouldnt be surprised if they started off on a high note, but, this team is still too young.

More on the other teams later.

And yes, the Tigers will surprise everyone. 

Eagle,
yes it is almost that time again and I can't wait!!!! watching a little winter ball was a tease but we are coming up with the real thing here in a couple months.

I think that Hens will do just fine with a taste of winning that they came so close last year, they will be hungry for this year. As for the co champs we are looking a little rough to say the least and we have a long way to go this year. We will see once the first pitch is thrown in for real though.

Yes I am anxious and glad to start hearing some chatter from posters

[Jack Parkman]

Chakote-  What do you mean Chapman is looking rough?  Bad recruiting year?  different team?  Rusty?  I am sure they will get it all in order once Jan. comes around. 

[chakote]

Chakote-  What do you mean Chapman is looking rough?  Bad recruiting year?  different team?  Rusty?  I am sure they will get it all in order once Jan. comes around. 

Just a figure of speech Jack!! I am sure they will come out with all guns blazing come Jan.

[OxyBob]

From the Green Bay Press-Gazette:

Bullfrogs' Strankman hired as Twins scout

Elliott Strankman, the Green Bay Bullfrogs' manager for their first two seasons, has been hired as the Minnesota Twins' scout for northern California.

Strankman was named manager of the year in the Northwoods League in 2007 after leading the Bullfrogs to the playoffs in their first year of existence. The Bullfrogs were 78-58 under Strankman.

He also was head coach at Occidental College in Los Angeles for three seasons, but resigned in May to pursue other baseball opportunities.

OxyBob

[Browneagle64]

Nice. Congrats to Coach Strankman on this awesome opportunity. As much as we like to look and point at records, Coach S., did his best in a) getting more baseball players to Oxy, b) Building a program that could have both students/ and athletes and c) and program that could indeed get wins.

[Jack Parkman]

Bored, yes very bored so I thought I would look for schedules.  Here are the SCIAC schedules, excluding OXY.

Cal Tech- http://www.gocaltech.com/sports/bsb/2008-09/schedule

Cal Lutheran- http://www.clusports.com/baseball/schedule/

Claremont- http://www.cmsathletics.com/sports/spring/bsb/2008-09/schedule

La Verne- http://www.leopardathletics.com/sports/spring/bsb/2008-09/schedule

Pomona Pitzer- http://www.physical-education.pomona.edu/mens/baseball/scheduleresults2009.shtml

Redlands- http://www.goredlands.com/sports/bsb/2008-09/schedule

Whittier- http://www.wcpoets.com/sports/bsb/2008-09/schedule

After looking at all of these I will weigh in my opinion on some things....

1. Whittier to Texas?  That is not going to help the SCIAC's reputation.
2. Why does La Verne play 5 non-D III games?  Those games dont help!!
3. Why is Cal Lutheran the only one playing La Sierra?  I guess 3 wins are 3 wins
4. A lot of teams playing CSU East Bay. 

I am sure there will be more observations from others.  Is it Feb. yet

[BigPoppa]

I think everyone is playing Cal-State East Bay because CSEB needs more in-region games to boos their chances of getting an NCAA bid. I Correct me if I am wrong, but I think they are a Pool B (independent) team. In the past, they played many of the NCAA DII teams and did not have a broad enough base of DIII opponents to be considered for the post-season.

[Browneagle64]

Job well done JP. Thanks for posting these up. In due time Oxy's scedule will be posted as well. (At least thats what we hope)

Speaking of schedules, as I was looking at the Leo's list, even though they are playing 3 non-D3 teams, two of those teams (i.e APU and Biola) are actually pretty good (NAIA) teams. Playing these two teams should actually help the Leo's in their quest in making yet another Post season appearance and claiming the SCIAC crown. Games against go opponents will indeed help teams in the long run.

Looks like the Mid-spring Cal Classic will once again feature good teams from the East. Can't wait for that to happen.

[infielddad]

I think everyone is playing Cal-State East Bay because CSEB needs more in-region games to boos their chances of getting an NCAA bid. I Correct me if I am wrong, but I think they are a Pool B (independent) team. In the past, they played many of the NCAA DII teams and did not have a broad enough base of DIII opponents to be considered for the post-season.

Cal State East Bay has been in the West Regional several times over the past few years, including last Spring.
I think the issue with playing them is they are moving to DII beginning in 2009/2010.  I think they will be DIII in the Spring of 2009 for baseball. for the last time.  I will leave it to Ralph and others to explain what that transition might mean for post season play by and against CSEB.

[Jack Parkman]

I believe you are both correct.  Without playing mostly a D-III schedule, they have no shot of getting to the post-season.  The problem for them s that they pretty much stand alone in their area, minus Menlo.

infielddad- You are right about them moving to D-II.  I have no idea what that means for this coming season and the post-season.  On the right side of this page it says a little about the move.

http://edschool.csuhayward.edu/departments/kpe/athletics/index.html

[Browneagle64]

F.Y.I, here's the 09 schedule for the SCIAC co-champs: http://www.chapman.edu/athletics/men/baseball/schedule.asp . Looks like they stuck on to the same schedule as last year (yet included Dallas, Tex.)

[SCIACfan5]

Oxy's Schedule:

http://www.oxyathletics.com/sports/bsb/2008-09/schedule