BB: MIAC: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Gray Fox]

I know it's early, but what is the outlook for the 2008 season?

What kind of pitching is returning for the schools etc?   Any ideas as to the final standings.

[Gustie13]

I'll take a quick stab at preseason standings:

1) USt: Lose 2 contributors from last year's conf champ team (pitchers Bosch & Montgomery). Will be strong in all aspects, off, def, pitching, and as evidenced by last years team, just find a way to win games.
2) StO: Best chance to dethrone USt was last year but injuries to Ps Mathison and Johnson ended those hopes. Will return a solid squad but probably won't be able to rebound from the loss of the first 4 hitters in last year's lineup (Asry, Schmiessing, Terrazas, Schultheis). Do return a strong rotation of Mathison, Johnson, Sommer, Dimick, & Schrewsbury).
3) AUG: P Jason Kickhafer was a pleasant surprise, as was Fr C Craig Henry. 5th place finish last year, 2008 may mean first return to the playoffs since 2005.
4) BU: Addition by subtraction? Last year's 7th place finish was a dissapointment, even with Sr OF Kirby Carr's terrific season. Return a fair amount of talent, including Kirby's little bro.
5) GAC: Tough team to gauge because of inconsistency. Have a number of players who can on occassion be terrific (Hoffer, Kaus, Siering...) but will anyone step up to replace Tony Konicek's production and take GAC back to the playoffs?
6) SJU: Johnnies usually have a good offense but struggled last year. This year could be worse with the loss of Srs Haugen and Kasner. Do return good pitching.
7) CON: Spent last year rebuilding and lots of young pitchers got experience. Coach Burgau is counting on that to lead to more Ws this year.
8) HU: Will they have any talent besides SS Bennet and P Roiger?
9) SMU: Nothing to get excited about here in my opinion.
10 Car: Ditto.
11) Mac: I'm interested to see how So P James Murrey progresses after last years good season. Not much talent behind him.

I see USt being VERY good and winning the league easy, with StOs pitching keeping them a step ahead of everone else. Behind those two its anyones guess and I think teams 3-7 have a good deal of talent.

[BaseballFan]

I'll take a quick stab at preseason standings:

1) USt: Lose 2 contributors from last year's conf champ team (pitchers Bosch & Montgomery). Will be strong in all aspects, off, def, pitching, and as evidenced by last years team, just find a way to win games.
2) StO: Best chance to dethrone USt was last year but injuries to Ps Mathison and Johnson ended those hopes. Will return a solid squad but probably won't be able to rebound from the loss of the first 4 hitters in last year's lineup (Asry, Schmiessing, Terrazas, Schultheis). Do return a strong rotation of Mathison, Johnson, Sommer, Dimick, & Schrewsbury).
3) AUG: P Jason Kickhafer was a pleasant surprise, as was Fr C Craig Henry. 5th place finish last year, 2008 may mean first return to the playoffs since 2005.
4) BU: Addition by subtraction? Last year's 7th place finish was a dissapointment, even with Sr OF Kirby Carr's terrific season. Return a fair amount of talent, including Kirby's little bro.
5) GAC: Tough team to gauge because of inconsistency. Have a number of players who can on occassion be terrific (Hoffer, Kaus, Siering...) but will anyone step up to replace Tony Konicek's production and take GAC back to the playoffs?
6) SJU: Johnnies usually have a good offense but struggled last year. This year could be worse with the loss of Srs Haugen and Kasner. Do return good pitching.
7) CON: Spent last year rebuilding and lots of young pitchers got experience. Coach Burgau is counting on that to lead to more Ws this year.
8) HU: Will they have any talent besides SS Bennet and P Roiger?
9) SMU: Nothing to get excited about here in my opinion.
10 Car: Ditto.
11) Mac: I'm interested to see how So P James Murrey progresses after last years good season. Not much talent behind him.

I see USt being VERY good and winning the league easy, with StOs pitching keeping them a step ahead of everone else. Behind those two its anyones guess and I think teams 3-7 have a good deal of talent.

Gustie13,
Would you consider St. Thomas the overwhelming favorite then? Obviously, Olaf has a great rotation (healthy?) but lost some pretty good hitters. In fact, look at what the conference lost overall in stars Schmiessing, Terrazas, Konicek, Carr. And St. Thomas only lost two guys that can be replaced so it might look like they will win the conference again unless STO and Aug steps it up

[BigPoppa]

I would be shocked if St. Thomas is challenged in the MIAC. St. Olaf has the best chance, but I think they are bit short on bullets to keep firing at the Tommies.

[Gustie13]

IMO, StOs best chance to dethrone USt was last year but they got derailed by Mathison and Johnson's injuries at the end of the season.

USt and StO were the two best teams by far last year (with a nod to GAC, who had a lot of talent and split with both teams in the reg season, but was far too inconsistent). Given what USt lost (to graduation) compared to StO, I can't see them not winning the conf.

[BETHELBASEBALL]

Watch out for Travis Adams, the southpaw form Minnetonka.  He will dazzle you with his blazing heat!

[for2n8john]

"Watch out for Travis Adams, the southpaw form Minnetonka.  He will dazzle you with his blazing heat!"

I'm new to D3 baseball.  What is blazing heat, BethelBB?  Who are the top pitchers in the conf?  What is their top end mph and at what speed do they usually throw at with control?

Just wondering

[BETHELBASEBALL]

"Watch out for Travis Adams, the southpaw form Minnetonka.  He will dazzle you with his blazing heat!"

I'm new to D3 baseball.  What is blazing heat, BethelBB?  Who are the top pitchers in the conf?  What is their top end mph and at what speed do they usually throw at with control?

Just wondering

Blazin heat is prolly around 78 or so.  Top pitchers are Dale Eng (Bethel), Robby Wiens (GAC), Mathison of Olaf.

[BaseballFan]

Blazin heat is prolly around 78 or so.  Top pitchers are Dale Eng (Bethel), Robby Wiens (GAC), Mathison of Olaf.
[/quote]


I hope that blazing heat of 78 was a joke, considering some of the top pitchers in the MIAC will hit 90...im sure Leslie, Robinson from Thomas and Johnson and Mathison can probably do that. I heard Kummet from Scholastica tops 93. Im guessing Zimmerman from Point last year hit about 95

[Iluvd3BBALL]

Blazin heat is prolly around 78 or so.  Top pitchers are Dale Eng (Bethel), Robby Wiens (GAC), Mathison of Olaf.

I hope that blazing heat of 78 was a joke, considering some of the top pitchers in the MIAC will hit 90...im sure Leslie, Robinson from Thomas and Johnson and Mathison can probably do that. I heard Kummet from Scholastica tops 93. Im guessing Zimmerman from Point last year hit about 95
[/quote]

It was a joke.  I hope a 15 year old A team can hit 78.

[Gustie13]

ALL,

BethelBaseball is definitely not a serious poster. Robby Weins doesn't pitch for GAC, he's an OF. Travis Adams is good; I watched him confound a very good St Louis Park town team this summer in the state tournament, but it was with an assortment of off speed pitches, not a blazin fastball.

Off the top of my head, best returning pitchers in the conf:
STO: Johnson, Mathison
UST: Leslie, Robinson (and others)
GAC: Hoffer
AUG: Kickhoffer
BU: Adams
MAC: Murrey

Lets not go throwing '90' around like its something easy to do. The only MIAC pitcher that does it is Robinson. Leslie and Mathison rely on movement (sink) and Johnson relies on an assortment of other stuff. Maybe 1 guy a year from the MIAC hits 90.

[Iluvd3BBALL]

ALL,

BethelBaseball is definitely not a serious poster. Robby Weins doesn't pitch for GAC, he's an OF. Travis Adams is good; I watched him confound a very good St Louis Park town team this summer in the state tournament, but it was with an assortment of off speed pitches, not a blazin fastball.

Off the top of my head, best returning pitchers in the conf:
STO: Johnson, Mathison
UST: Leslie, Robinson (and others)
GAC: Hoffer
AUG: Kickhoffer
BU: Adams
MAC: Murrey

Lets not go throwing '90' around like its something easy to do. The only MIAC pitcher that does it is Robinson. Leslie and Mathison rely on movement (sink) and Johnson relies on an assortment of other stuff. Maybe 1 guy a year from the MIAC hits 90.

I agree with your analysis, one pitcher to watch is John Buteyn, he is coming off a bounce back year after a shoulder injury set him back for his sophmore year.  John was a dominant pitcher his freshman year, look for him to regain some of his dominance.

PreSeason Projections (Top 4)
1. St. Olaf
2. St. Thomas
3. Augsburg 
4. Bethel

What does everyone think?

[Spence]

Blazin heat is prolly around 78 or so.  Top pitchers are Dale Eng (Bethel), Robby Wiens (GAC), Mathison of Olaf.

I hope that blazing heat of 78 was a joke, considering some of the top pitchers in the MIAC will hit 90...im sure Leslie, Robinson from Thomas and Johnson and Mathison can probably do that. I heard Kummet from Scholastica tops 93. Im guessing Zimmerman from Point last year hit about 95

It was a joke.  I hope a 15 year old A team can hit 78.
[/quote]

Maybe, but there's no way those numbers are legit. "You heard" is not exactly what I would call a reliable source.

Forgive me for being skeptical that there are half a dozen pitchers throwing in the 90s in the MIAA.

[BaseballFan]

Maybe, but there's no way those numbers are legit. "You heard" is not exactly what I would call a reliable source.

Forgive me for being skeptical that there are half a dozen pitchers throwing in the 90s in the MIAA.
[/quote]


Well I only mentioned 4 guys and ment they could perhaps top 90 if they gassed it up, which means once or twice in the first inning. Typically they are around 87-88. And I think my crystal ball is a reliable source

Obviously, how hard a guy throws does not make him great, but it doesnt hurt!

[BaseballFan]

I agree with your analysis, one pitcher to watch is John Buteyn, he is coming off a bounce back year after a shoulder injury set him back for his sophmore year.  John was a dominant pitcher his freshman year, look for him to regain some of his dominance.

PreSeason Projections (Top 4)
1. St. Olaf
2. St. Thomas
3. Augsburg 
4. Bethel

What does everyone think?

[/quote]

Its more like St. Thomas 1 and Olaf 2. Thomas should easily win the conference returning the majority of their team, while only losing 3 players, 1 big contributor. Olaf has a good rotation, but lost a TON of offense.

St Thomas will be tested Tomorrow when they take on Scholastica. A pretty good rivalry considering they are not in the same conference. CSS always plays Thomas tough, so these will probably be 1 or 2 run games.