BB: MIAC: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[tommiegun]

This is just getting ridiculous, Schuld gives the Tommies a chance to win and the middle infield kicks 4. Last time I checked Parade Stadium isn't a gravel infield. This is a program built on pitching and defense and when the starting middle infielders have 19 errors on the season, ITS A PROBLEM. Especially when 10 of the 26 games have been on turf. Get it together!

"St. Thomas won all eight NCAA games in Florida to improve its season record to 13-1. During the trip, the Tommies outscored opponents 88-18, outhit them 110-46 and batted near .340 over 64 innings. St. Thomas pitchers allowed only 13 earned runs and the defense had only 11 errors."

A great week, but this is a little disconcerting.

I can't help but feel like a bit of a prophet right now.

[biggio34]

This is just getting ridiculous, Schuld gives the Tommies a chance to win and the middle infield kicks 4. Last time I checked Parade Stadium isn't a gravel infield. This is a program built on pitching and defense and when the starting middle infielders have 19 errors on the season, ITS A PROBLEM. Especially when 10 of the 26 games have been on turf. Get it together!

"St. Thomas won all eight NCAA games in Florida to improve its season record to 13-1. During the trip, the Tommies outscored opponents 88-18, outhit them 110-46 and batted near .340 over 64 innings. St. Thomas pitchers allowed only 13 earned runs and the defense had only 11 errors."

A great week, but this is a little disconcerting.

I can't help but feel like a bit of a prophet right now.

Use your prophetic ways to predict the 4 teams that are going to make the MIAC tourney.  My picks are...

St. Thomas
St. Olaf
St. Johns
Augsburg

[tommiegun]

I still think that St. Thomas will end up winning the league (although I am the first to admit I have decidedly purple tinted spectacles).  They are the most talented and experienced team and at some point they are gonna realize this ain't no intramural kick ball league and stop booting it all over the place.  So I'd put them #1.

Not having seen many of the other contenders play, shooting purely from by prophetic hip I'd say...:

2. St. John's
3. Concordia
4. Augsburg

Something about St. Olaf just seems to be "off" this year; I could see a late season collapse in their future.  

[biggio34]

I still think that St. Thomas will end up winning the league (although I am the first to admit I have decidedly purple tinted spectacles).  They are the most talented and experienced team and at some point they are gonna realize this ain't no intramural kick ball league and stop booting it all over the place.  So I'd put them #1.

Not having seen many of the other contenders play, shooting purely from by prophetic hip I'd say...:

2. St. John's
3. Concordia
4. Augsburg

Something about St. Olaf just seems to be "off" this year; I could see a late season collapse in their future.  

I think the collapse for the Oles was at the begining and middle of their season and is now in the rear view mirror.  You are right though, something does seem to be off with them... and arguably with the rest of the league as well.

[OshDude]

Gene McGivern's blog alerted me to this fact: no team has scored more than five runs against St. Thomas in the last 36 games.

[Gustie13]

I hate to make my first post of the year negative, but are there some mitigating circumstances that would explain why the two premiere pitchers of the league (Schuld and Murrey) are carrying In-Conference ERAs of 4.66 and 4.65?

[BASEBALLLOVER18]

Both pitchers have a sketchy defense at best behind them so that could easily explain the ERA fluctuation.  On another note, it has come to my attention how down the bottom of the MIAC is this year.  Hamline beating Crown 3-1 and then posting that on the d3 website what a joke!  Any other thoughts on why the MIAC as a whole is down sooooooo much this year
 

[tommiegun]

Both pitchers have a sketchy defense at best behind them so that could easily explain the ERA fluctuation.  On another note, it has come to my attention how down the bottom of the MIAC is this year.  Hamline beating Crown 3-1 and then posting that on the d3 website what a joke!  Any other thoughts on why the MIAC as a whole is down sooooooo much this year
 

Most (obviously not all, see UST) of the teams are pretty green, especially on the mound.

[BASEBALLLOVER18]

Any predictions on the Bethany vs. St. Olaf matchup tomorrow?  I have Bethany sweeping with scores of 7-2 and 6-4
any thoughts?

[MIACLUV]

I hate to make my first post of the year negative, but are there some mitigating circumstances that would explain why the two premiere pitchers of the league (Schuld and Murrey) are carrying In-Conference ERAs of 4.66 and 4.65?

I believe that fatigue is an issue for both. Both of these guys are throwing deep into games that are well in hand. With both of them being the work horses for their squads as well as being draftable, the coaches should be taking care of their arms by getting them on full rest and a pitch count.

[MIACLUV]

Any predictions on the Bethany vs. St. Olaf matchup tomorrow?  I have Bethany sweeping with scores of 7-2 and 6-4
any thoughts?

I see a split. If Hallahan goes he can shut down any offense. I don't see anyone else on the Vikings staff shutting down Olaf who has been playing well lately.

[biggio34]

Any predictions on the Bethany vs. St. Olaf matchup tomorrow?  I have Bethany sweeping with scores of 7-2 and 6-4
any thoughts?

I see a split. If Hallahan goes he can shut down any offense. I don't see anyone else on the Vikings staff shutting down Olaf who has been playing well lately.

My guess is that Bethany needs to sweep to stay alive in the Pool B conversation.  It will be interesting to see where they are slotted when the regional rankings come out later today.  I'd guess they are right on the borderline of being ranked in the region now and with a couple wins against the Oles and a good weekend, they should be in the top 5 or 6 in the rankings next time.

St. Olaf will be a good matchup for Bethany, the pitching matchups in this one will be interesting.  I'd guess Olaf will have to save for their conference games this weekend as they are still fighting to get into the MIAC tourney.

[BASEBALLLOVER18]

I find it hard to believe that Bethany would have to sweep in order to stay alive in Pool B conversation.  They split today with Olaf, and if they handle thier business this weekend and next weekend, they will enter the conference tournament with a possible 30-8 record.  With a conference championship they could be upwards of 33 wins and at worst 30 or 31 .... if you ask me that is a pretty hard team to pass on come selection time.

[tommiegun]

First Regional Rankings.

1. UW-Whitewater 22-3 27-4
2. St. Thomas 20-4 21-5
3. St. Scholastica 22-2 29-3
4. UW-Stevens Point 18-7 22-9
5. Concordia (Ill.) 21-5 25-8
6. Edgewood 16-10 19-11

Bethany probably needed to sweep Olaf at the least to get into the tournament.  31-10 is a great year but there is very little chance that the Selection Committee would take two teams from the UMAC; especially if St. Scholastica tops Bethany in the tournament.  That would mean that the Vikes would be at best 1-4 against the Saints, their only regionally ranked opponent.  That won't cut it, especially when you consider how competitive the WIAC tournament is (UW-W or UW-SP might not win it), the small number of "B" spots, the competition Bethany plays, the traditionally 6 team Midwest region, and that the Committee i$ unlikely to $end a team out$ide of it$ region.

[CrashDavisD3]

I find it hard to believe that Bethany would have to sweep in order to stay alive in Pool B conversation.  They split today with Olaf, and if they handle thier business this weekend and next weekend, they will enter the conference tournament with a possible 30-8 record.  With a conference championship they could be upwards of 33 wins and at worst 30 or 31 .... if you ask me that is a pretty hard team to pass on come selection time.

Read my reply in the MidWest Region and then maybe you understand WHY along with replies in this section
http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=5108.615