BB: CC: Centennial Conference

[d3baseballnut]

That scenario is not too far fetched. I would be impressed if Ursinus swept Gettysburg on the road.

Hopkins winning two on the road at Haverford will be the harder of the two to occur, especially if they have to burn Angeloni or Fioretti on Friday to clinch their spot by beating McDaniel.....we will see.

[UniqueNewYork]

I would be very surprised if Hopkins ends up hosting the CC Championship. Sweeping Haverford on the road will not be automatic. Hopkins must be kicking themselves for getting swept by Dickinson and splitting the Mules and Gettysburg. Also, I don't see Ursinus splitting their final series against the Bullets. With homefield on the line, they will throw Zeb and Serrano. Plus, Gettysburg was knocked out of playoff contention after getting swept by Swarthmore on Sunday so they won't have much to play for.

[RSSmith]

I didn't say it was likely; just possible.

[Hammer Ball]

Likely or possible?  JHU winning all 3 seems reasonable, especially now when they appear to be playing their best baseball of the season.  Ursinus and F&M will be playing for home field (or at least for F&M a home game) and Gettysburg and McD will be playing out the season.  (Assuming JHU beats McD friday.) Of course, this is heavy on assuming the Bullets and Green Terror will not be at their best.  An assumption I would not rely on.  Playing spoiler can be great motivation.

[d3baseballnut]

Getting swept by Dickinson was the killer. No excuse for that. Splits happen.

[BaseballBug]

mid atlantic observer is a hopkins baseball player stirring up these posts. Everyone knows that coach Babb heads one of the most respected organizations in all of D3Sports. Get over yourself whoever you are observer. And prepare to eat your words as Hopkins is poised to enter the regional with a head of steam. Look at Angeloni's last two starts. When he goes, they go! watch out centennial b/c you are over matched and this team no longer plays down to its competition.

[Rolando Paulino LL]

Wow, the probability of Hopkins hosting the conference play-offs is about as probable as a 13th seeded, Cleveland State advancing to the Final 4.  Sure, it is mathematical possible but come on.  Under the old CC playoff format, there is a huge advantage of being that top seed, but with the straight up double-elimination format, there isn't a huge advantage - for most teams that is.  Hopkins is the exception.  They need that one seed for home field advantage, because playing on a field with fences of ACTUAL college dimensions is foreign to them.  OK, your response is going to be "well, we just knocked the stuffing out of F&M in a series at their place."  A pair of good wins, but let's not punch our tickets to Wisconsin quite yet.  Thankfully for Hopkins, Dickinson and Muhlenberg will not be in the play-offs.

As with any double elimination format, pitching depth is key.  F&M and Ursinus certainly have deeper pitching, and arguably Haverford.  Hopkins has one shut down pitcher in Fioretti, and some guys who can fillibuster innings, but they haven't received the pitching efforts that took them to the National Championship last year (Zaccheria, Kealy, Angeloni, even Duddie and Steffee).  It is possible that Hopkins will start receiving better efforts from a guy like Angeloni, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. 

Why is this forum all about Hopkins, a team who has had to fight to earn a play-off spot?  They are very fortunate that Gettysburg and McDaniel decided not to show up this past weekend, allowing Hopkins to back into that 4 seed.  Engle has been the clear-cut best pitcher in the conference, having a stellar year with other pitchers and position players from F&M and Ursinus having very nice seasons.

Good luck to all.

[d3baseballnut]

Rolando--

I don't think the short fences accounted for all their wins against top 10 teams during their CWS run last year. In regionals and the CWS, they had a combined 2 HR's in 11 games, and went 8-3. Pitching is what got them there, and if Simmons, Fioretti and Angeloni show up anywhere close to their potential, man, they will be tough to beat.

Their depth is starting pitching is not the problem, its their bullpen. Losing Kealy and Steffee out of the bullpen hurt. We will see if they can get some big performances from the bullpen during this year's playoffs

[RSSmith]

Rolando--

I don't think the short fences accounted for all their wins against top 10 teams during their CWS run last year. In regionals and the CWS, they had a combined 2 HR's in 11 games, and went 8-3. Pitching is what got them there, and if Simmons, Fioretti and Angeloni show up anywhere close to their potential, man, they will be tough to beat.

Their depth is starting pitching is not the problem, its their bullpen. Losing Kealy and Steffee out of the bullpen hurt. We will see if they can get some big performances from the bullpen during this year's playoffs

In their last 10 games, the Hopkins bullpen has given up 6 earned runs in 25 innings--an ERA of 2.16.

[d3baseballnut]

That's good. They just need more of it.....they still lost a game this weekend due to bullpen issues

[RSSmith]

That's good. They just need more of it.....they still lost a game this weekend due to bullpen issues

In the loss to Muhlenburg, the bullpen gave up zero (0) earned runs.

[d3baseballnut]

Yes, I know, but you still gave up a three run homer in the  second-to-last inning to lose the game.

The bullpen has got credited with the loss in all 5 of your conference losses. Some of those runs werent earned, but you can't say (if you are the bullpen) "its not our fault, there were errors!".........step up and make a pitch.

You can't tell me the bullpen has had no issue when all five of your conference losses were lost by the bullpen

[BaseballBug]

Rs is on to something as well as baseballNut, you have to step up and make pitches. But more importantly, Hopkins has not played well as a team late in these conf. losses. I recall that last years Hopkins team had serious pitching concerns all year, and they proved to false concerns. Looking at their stuff, in the rotation and in the bullpen, i think Hopkins is a Dark Horse. Rather, the front runner who stumbled... and then fell, but is still in the race.

Rolando, since you are so clearly a Hopkins player talking crap. Why don't you step up yourself and get a job done one-time rather than jumping ship on all your teammates like a little punk.

[RSSmith]

Yes, I know, but you still gave up a three run homer in the  second-to-last inning to lose the game.

The bullpen has got credited with the loss in all 5 of your conference losses. Some of those runs werent earned, but you can't say (if you are the bullpen) "its not our fault, there were errors!".........step up and make a pitch.

You can't tell me the bullpen has had no issue when all five of your conference losses were lost by the bullpen

Three-run homers are much more apt to happen when you give a team 5 outs in the inning.

[John McGraw]

Rs is on to something as well as baseballNut, you have to step up and make pitches. But more importantly, Hopkins has not played well as a team late in these conf. losses. I recall that last years Hopkins team had serious pitching concerns all year, and they proved to false concerns. Looking at their stuff, in the rotation and in the bullpen, i think Hopkins is a Dark Horse. Rather, the front runner who stumbled... and then fell, but is still in the race.

Rolando, since you are so clearly a Hopkins player talking crap. Why don't you step up yourself and get a job done one-time rather than jumping ship on all your teammates like a little punk.

Hey, aren't you this guy?

http://athletics.trincoll.edu

If you are, I would guess that your coach wouldn't want you posting here. Remember, we can see the e-mail you registered with - it's all in the Terms of Service.

And if you're not, please refrain from pretending to be said player, close your account and register a new one with your correct information.