BB: MIAC: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Gustie13]

MiacBaseballFan,

I don't have a comprehensive list like Jim's link, but here are the MIAC players I can think of that are still active in Pro ball:

Andrew Schmiessing, OF, StO, MN Twins
Chris Coste, C, Con, Phillies
Brian Whinnery, LHP, UST, StP Saints
Kyle Foster, RHP, HU, StP Saints
Charlie Ruud, RHP, StO, StP Saints
Brian Sprout, INF, StO, StP Saints
Tony Konicek, OF, GAC, Evansville Konicek was released prior to the start of the season.
Casey Haugen, C, SJU, Winnipeg *just my 2 cents, but if this guys dad wasn't SJU's coach, would he be playing professional baseball???*UPDATE: Haugen was recently released by Winnipeg.
Zach Goldberg, C, UST, *not sure about this one. As far as I can tell Goldberg played for and was released from a number of Frontier League and American Assocation teams last year, don't know if he'll be playing again* UPDATE: Goldberg was signed by Evansville of the Frontier League last week following the league tryout. Goldberg traded to St Paul Saints. Currently backup C
Josh Dietz, P/INF/DH, CON, Gateway *signed in Dec, released in May*

Good luck tonight vs Edgewood.

I'd guess that Lonnie Robinson (P, USt) gets drafted and that Kyle Johnson (C, Con), and Andrew Bennet (OF, Ham) both get serious looks from some independent league teams. Bennet signed by StP Saints.

I have got good sources that have told me to expect to see Brandon Carr, 3b, Bethel drafted in this coming draft.  The Twins have seen him play against pros for 3 years now when Bethel plays their rookie team during Bethel's Florida trip, and Brandon has put up great numbers against them every game even hitting a home run when he was a sophmore.  Look for Brandon Carr to get drafted in the later rounds of this draft.

I'd have a very tough time understanding why Brandon would get drafted when his brother wasn't. Kirby's career stats are better than Brandon's for every category except 2b (27 v 30) and SB (29 v 42). Kirby's BatAvg, R, H, 3b, HR, TB, Slug%, and RBI were all better than Brandon's, and if memory serves me correctly, Kirby has a better physical frame than Brandon (which MLB organizations pay special attention to when drafting D3 guys). Brandon is listed at 5'10 185 while Kirby was something like 6'2 210.
Just my opinion, I'm not knocking Brandon, I hope he does well if he gets drafted.

As for seeing someone against pros, I'm guessing that Bethel was using aluminum bats in those games, at least thats what we did when we played the Twins rookie league team. And having games against the Twins rookies didn't help 2002 MIAC POY Brad Mazer get drafted, although he did sign with Fargo Moorhead after the draft.

[supermiac]

Kirby made it very clear his junior year that he would not be playing professional sports after college from the information I gathered at a Bethel game this spring. From what I understand (correct me if I'm wrong), he never had any desire to play professional baseball; and this led to him not being drafted or picked up by any professional team. Personally, I thought he had more talent than Konicek, Schmiesing, Kasner or any of the other great players in his class (albeit Schmiesing was a junior). IMO Carr was a 5-tool player who was also a very good student and leader. It's too bad he isn't playing anywhere.

[supermiac]

And yes, I find it extremely hard to believe Brandon Carr is getting drafted. I saw him flash some power, but I also saw A LOT! of metal-bat hits coming off those new Eastons that Bethel used. Anyways, I do hope he gets drafted; along with Lonnie.

[Bronko7]

Lonnie has a good chance to get taken, Carr not so much. MLB clubs don't use draft picks on players that know one else has interest in. There are a lot of players that sign after the draft, because the club knows they aren't going to be taken in the draft. Then all it costs them is a plane ticket to Florida. Also he doesn't have game anywhere close to what his brother had. The physical makeup also will hurt him. Seen him play a few times in the past couple years and think he has frontier league written all over him. His brother on the other hand, was a GREAT D3 player and a great kid.

[Iluvd3BBALL]

To respond, Bethel used baum bats in Florida versus the Twins, I know you all believe that Kirby was the better player, but Brandon is all around the better player.  He has that nitty gritty attitude that you need in the field, he will stop any ball hit his way and he plays with a chip on his shoulder.  I think Kirby was better than Konicek in '07, but he had no desire to play ball after college.  Kirby had plenty of teams talking to him, but made it clear that he was not interested.  For Brandon, baseball is his favorite sport where Kirby's was football.  If Brandon is not drafted look for Verdugo to pick him up for Evansville.

[Iluvd3BBALL]

Time to start thinking of projections for all miac next year.  Here's what I want....1)  Who will be the breakout player of the year?  2)  Who will be the most dominant pitcher?  3)  Who will be the most dominant hitter?  4)  Who will be the MIAC MVP?  5)  Who will be drafted from the seniors of 2009?  I wanna here what you have to say!

[supermiac]

To respond, Bethel used baum bats in Florida versus the Twins, I know you all believe that Kirby was the better player, but Brandon is all around the better player.  He has that nitty gritty attitude that you need in the field, he will stop any ball hit his way and he plays with a chip on his shoulder.  I think Kirby was better than Konicek in '07, but he had no desire to play ball after college.  Kirby had plenty of teams talking to him, but made it clear that he was not interested.  For Brandon, baseball is his favorite sport where Kirby's was football.  If Brandon is not drafted look for Verdugo to pick him up for Evansville.

Hmmm...I would tend to disagree about Brandon being better. What exactly would you say was better about him? His bat speed or power (definitely not)? His arm (definitely not!)? His speed (maybe, Kirby could have stolen many more bases)? His fielding (maybe)? His size (yeah, right)? His leadership (no)? I'm not really sure you can say Kirby was "the lesser brother" when it came to baseball. Brandon is definitely a great MIAC player, definitely deserving of playing indy ball somewhere or potentially being drafted in the late rounds. HOWEVER, his brother truly was special; and any MIAC coach, fan, player, (pitcher), would agree.

[supermiac]

Time to start thinking of projections for all miac next year.  Here's what I want....1)  Who will be the breakout player of the year?  2)  Who will be the most dominant pitcher?  3)  Who will be the most dominant hitter?  4)  Who will be the MIAC MVP?  5)  Who will be drafted from the seniors of 2009?  I wanna here what you have to say!

1. Kyle Johnson C, Concordia
2. Todd Mathison, St. Olaf
    James Murrey, Macalester
3. Kyle Johnson C, Concordia
4. Todd Mathison (again)
5. Kyle Johnson

(The '09 class seems pretty weak to me....I'm waiting to see what '10's will do once their senior year rolls around...they have the talent of the last few classes and then some)

[Gustie13]

Looks like no one was right, neither Robinson nor Carr was drafted. Although I gotta believe someone will sign Robinson.

[MWCSID2005]

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George Drake, a former Midwest Conference student-athlete and 1956 Grinnell College graduate, has culminated a project he calls "a labor of love" with the completion of the 100-page soft cover book No Ordinary Conference, an introspective history of the Midwest Conference. The Midwest Conference office is making the book available to the general public at a discounted price via the Order Form linked below for a limited time only (a small number of copies may be available at full price after the ship date). Orders are expected to ship in September. 

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Click below for No Ordinary Conference Order Form:
http://www.midwestconference.org/MWC_Book_OF.pdf

[miacbaseballfan]

Time to start thinking of projections for all miac next year.  Here's what I want....1)  Who will be the breakout player of the year?  2)  Who will be the most dominant pitcher?  3)  Who will be the most dominant hitter?  4)  Who will be the MIAC MVP?  5)  Who will be drafted from the seniors of 2009?  I wanna here what you have to say!

1. Kyle Johnson C, Concordia
2. Todd Mathison, St. Olaf
    James Murrey, Macalester
3. Kyle Johnson C, Concordia
4. Todd Mathison (again)
5. Kyle Johnson

(The '09 class seems pretty weak to me....I'm waiting to see what '10's will do once their senior year rolls around...they have the talent of the last few classes and then some)

Johnson is an outstanding player, but given that Kaczrowski hit .477 with 5 HR, 40 RBI, and 21 SB, his name should definitely be included in that list.

[Gustie13]

Nick Winecke (SMU '07) takes over the SMU reins after Nick Whaley stepped down. A 24 year old head coach.

[supermiac]

Any big news from any programs now that fall season is pretty much over?

[BigPoppa]

I watched Hamline workout a few times this fall. They have some solid talent, but not enough overall depth to compete for a MIAC title.

[Iluvd3BBALL]

I hate this time of year, when there isn't much baseball news to talk about!  Anyone got anything interesting or any predictions on what will happen this year?  Who are some players to really keep an eye on this year?