BB: LEC: Little East Conference

[santeezy06]

I know this will sound very bias as i am a RIC fan but I will say,

Coach Scott Virgulak from RIC will win Coach of Year, he has revitalized the winning spirit down here for this team.

Player of the Year- I'd say Castillo(ECSU) OR Levesque(RIC) both are gritty players, who can crush a ball at any time.......

Pitcher of the Year, I'm not sure but Vatter is looking good.................


And finally RIC is 5-0 LEC................lol

[KSCfan]

Santzey I apologize for the oversite. I forget about the
mid week lec games

[ecfaninri]

ECSUalum and Hobbesy...

Be careful - everyone will accuse us for having a Eastern lovefest again. But you are both correct on your discussions about Mel. Some of the best moments I have ever had at Eastern games were knowing that their lineup would always turn over and give Mel and Gilblair another at bat. Having the opportunity to see him progress over the past four years has been a pleasure. The home run against Bridgewater was a laser to right center. But I think that the homerun also did one other thing... it settled down Eastern pitcher Mitch Furber making his first career start and lasted 6.1 innings to bolster the staff.

Player of the Year - Castillo ..... but you look at the LEC stats and you can make a case for Eastern players Dewing, Thomson,Parke and Schult as well. The lineup does not quit. Averaging 12 runs and 14 hits per game. Oh by the way if any of those 5 get cold in the batter's box, there is Bass and Turgeon able to carry the team.  But don't forget UMD Zak Talis.

Pitcher of the Year.... Anyone's guess but right now RIC has Vatter and Thadeio pitching well. This weekend vs Keene and next weekend against EConn will be big. I wouldn't give up on Eastern's big three Musson, Schult and Fontaine.

Coach of the  YEar- RIC coach - so far

[wordsmith]

Hobbesy,

I have watched quite a few ECSU games so far this year, and it looks like Melvin has cut down on his swing, the result, so far, being he is hitting more for average vs hitting for the seats....

....and his HTOCG is down as well - Hits to the Tops of Opposing Catchers Grilles.

Word-a-rama

[ECSUalum]

Hobbesy,

I have watched quite a few ECSU games so far this year, and it looks like Melvin has cut down on his swing, the result, so far, being he is hitting more for average vs hitting for the seats....

....and his HTOCG is down as well - Hits to the Tops of Opposing Catchers Grilles.

Word-a-rama

Hilariously laughing out loud

Word,  You are amazing!!!!!!

Hope I get to meet you when WNEC or Keene plays in NE Regional.  Need to put a face against the mighty WORD

[ECSUalum]

ECSUalum and Hobbesy...

Be careful - everyone will accuse us for having a Eastern lovefest again. But you are both correct on your discussions about Mel. Some of the best moments I have ever had at Eastern games were knowing that their lineup would always turn over and give Mel and Gilblair another at bat. Having the opportunity to see him progress over the past four years has been a pleasure. The home run against Bridgewater was a laser to right center. But I think that the homerun also did one other thing... it settled down Eastern pitcher Mitch Furber making his first career start and lasted 6.1 innings to bolster the staff.

Player of the Year - Castillo ..... but you look at the LEC stats and you can make a case for Eastern players Dewing, Thomson,Parke and Schult as well. The lineup does not quit. Averaging 12 runs and 14 hits per game. Oh by the way if any of those 5 get cold in the batter's box, there is Bass and Turgeon able to carry the team.  But don't forget UMD Zak Talis.

Pitcher of the Year.... Anyone's guess but right now RIC has Vatter and Thadeio pitching well. This weekend vs Keene and next weekend against EConn will be big. I wouldn't give up on Eastern's big three Musson, Schult and Fontaine.

Coach of the  YEar- RIC coach - so far

I agree with Professor ecfaninri, particularly on his Pitcher of the Year thoughts.  FONTAINE!!!!

[ecfaninri]

Word...

Can you tell me how many catchers Melvin has hit on the backswing other than Keene's Catcher - Cipolla? He probably wouldn't even hit him if he didn't creep forward on every pitch or lunge forward for all those breaking balls to Mel avoiding a fast ball being crushed by all the red cups in left. All I can say is that I am glad Mel never has to play at the swamp again and that's a good thing for all.

ECSU ...
Thanks for the kind words on Matt ... he has worked hard to regain his form from 08 and 09, I think he is back on track. But it is nice to see the staff really coming together. This week is a big week with Suffolk on Monday, Trinity on Tuesday, Wesleyan on Wednesday and RIC on Saturday.

This weekend games with Plymouth has already been moved to Sunday.

[Hobbesy]

WORD-

HAHAHAHAHA!  That is a great stat!

Surprisingly last weekend it was Travis Bass and Cipolla that shared some words around the home plate area. 

I just hope people understand that Mel doesnt hit the catcher on purpose.   

[Bobbybeacon]

You know it's spring and we're rounding into mid-season form when the ECSU Love-Fest starts getting all hot and heavy!  Dare I ask, what's going to happen when Mel leaves    ?!?!?

I don't usually make predictions, but here are my 2010 mid-season awards:

Biggest Surprise/Coach: Brendan Eygabroat (UMB) - These two awards go hand in hand.  It's still too early to tell if RIC and UMD are are serious contenders or not, but we know the Beacons are!  Eygabroat gets the most out of the least (not even a field!) since he arrived and and finally gets recognized.  If all three teams continue to play well this award should just be shared.

Biggest Disappointment(s): The "big three" - I agree with Hobbesy that USM and KSC just don't have the pitching this year.  However, I still think there's a couple ECSU pitchers who do have the kind of experience that tends to show up when it counts.  Can you say sinking ship?

Player of the Year: Ryan Walsh (UMB) - This kid can flat out play.  This is the third year Walsh is hitting in the heart of the Beacons' lineup and has improved every year.  Not to mention, he isn't surrounded by an entire lineup of guys who could also qualify for POY like the Warriors have.  For the Love-Fest, we'll just put things into perspective:
                           AVG  GP-GS    AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR RBI   TB  SLG%  BB HBP  SO GDP   OB%  SF  SH  SB-ATT
Castillo, ECSU.... .451     24-24    91  32  41   8   1   3  30    60  .659    18   3     13   1    .549      1   0    8-9   
Walsh, UMB......  .418     24-24    91  33  38  13   0   3  28    60  .659    18   3      3    2    .518      2   0   14-16 

                          C      PO   A   E    FLD%  DPs
Walsh, UMB........    114   49  61   4   .965    14
Castillo, ECSU......    75   18  53   4   .947     7

Think  Mel  , but he makes more contact (with the ball, not the catcher), can run AND field!  For his career Walsh may not have the same power numbers as Mel, but there's a better chance of hitting one out of Yellowstone than Beacon Stadium (unless you're a left-handed power hitter like Hobbesy).   But since the LEC just gave Nick Conway Pitcher of the Year two years ago they'll probably "make up for it" and give it to  Mel    But don't forget Walsh still has another year  .

Co-Pitchers of the Year: James Dalton (UMB) and Nick Conway (Worcester Tornadoes) - With LEC pitching staffs currently on hiatus, flashbacks of Nick Conway finally convince the LEC Baseball Committee (and bloggers) that "God's Gift to UMB" really was that good and they should give Conway one more award.  But James Dalton has already thrown two complete game shutouts - the first Beacons pitcher to do it since, you guessed it, Nick Conway.  They usually just draw straws for this award anyway.

Rookie of the Year: Mark McCormack (UMB): Technically he's not a rookie, but he should've won it last year !! If you're Rookie of the Week 50 out of 52 weeks, does that not make you Rookie of the Year? 

Tournament Location: Beaconville - I agree with Hobbesy that RIC will fall just short... and the Beacons will be waiting with open arms!  Can you imagine?!?!  I don't know if there would be enough cowbell to save all of you!  I don't even know where the tournament would be held.  With so many colonies to choose from (the newest being Quincy) it probably wouldn't even be their current "home field!"

LEC Champ - With the LEC in a log-jam it's still too early to tell.  There's no clear-cut favorite which is going to make for another great tournament.  I am going to go out on a limb and pick, you guessed it, the UMass Beacons to win it.  Playing in Beacon Stadium with the Coach of the Year, Player of the Year, Co-Pitchers of the Year and Rookie of the Year how can you lose?

[wordsmith]

OK officially, I do not know Mel. I have seen him play and he plays hard. I have heard from the EConn Fandum   and they all agree he is a class guy. So I consider him to be that a hard palying ballplayer who is a class guy.

Now for Cipolla - I do know Cippy, he is a hard working ballplayer and a very polite, smart young man. I will miss running into him on those hot & humid afternoons in July at the Swamp when he & I were the only two in the entire KSC complex. I was out there running trying to keep my 'girlish' figure, Cip was out there trying to get faster, better and stronger. He always would take a minute to stop and talk to me, this old fart jogging around with his dog. He is an awesome competitor and plays hard and is a class guy, and I root extra hard for him.

So friends, we all agree Mel & Cip are both good guys. Just depends on your prespective.

I just cannot let go of something I have never seen before or since in baseball, a catcher getting smacked in the grille like 5 times by the same batter and seeing that batter warned then ejected for it. Regardless of whose fault it was or wasn't, regardless of whether they are both quality guys. It still makes for great posting material!

Word

[dchevy5]

Bobby

You have covinced me through excellent statistical analysis that Ryan Walsh should be neck and neck with Melvin Castillo for POY.  Good work!!!

Oh, by the way, would you be kind enough to do the exact same statistical comparison for last year between MCormack and Callahan and see if you can honestly think that Cody Callahan did not deserve the ROY award?

[Hobbesy]

Bobby-

Nicely done with the stats...it is remarkable how close both Mel and Walsh are.  But as you said, Walsh still has one more year left and that might hurt him in POY running. 

As for All-Conference selections, it is going to be a tough year to pick anyone for first team.  Both Walsh and Parke are putting up great numbers so who gets it??  And that is only one example from around the league.

But BB you had me believing for a minute there until you resurrected Nick Conway as the Pitcher of the Year.  IF he was still around then I think all of us might be Beacon Believers at this point!!!!

And as for Boston hosting it, I cant say you are crazy because, at this point, anyone of the top five teams has a chance to host it!

And to Word-

I think Cipolla is a great competitor and when two fierce people cross each other things get interesting.  Its amazing how much one players swing has brought to this great rivalry!!!   

[ecfaninri]

dchevy
Nice point on the 09 ROY award and McCormack/Callahan debate. But don't worry it Beaconville we can just begin the process for this year's rookie of the year discussion and include a non rookie in McCormack to make up for last year's mistake.
Don't forget Bobby Beacon's selection for co-pitcher's of the year. Maybe we can get Jamie and Perkins stats along with Giblair's to include this year.

I can't wait to go to Yetten Field for the LEC tourney - I am convinced. That was the best field the Eastern offense had the pleasure to play.

Hobbesy....
Great thoughts on Mel and good insight on LEC matchups.

Santeezy....
Secretly I wouldn't mind having the LEC at RIC. The athletic dept there does a nice job with various tournaments and although there are no lights it would be a nice venue. Plus it is only 10 minutes from my home.

JCon - when does the Worcester Tornadoes schedule begin? Holy Cross is a nice venue for a summer game.

Bobby Beacon....
While you are comparing stats.. can you look at the numbers on Zak Talis vs Walsh or even John Parke and Jim Schult for that matter. Walsh is a very good player but there are number of players in the LEC that can be shown to have comparable stats to him. This is a big weekend for the Beacons vs UMD, let's see how Talis does vs. Dalton and Gomez.

[Jcon8958]

UMB vs UMD has been postponed til tommorow and has been moved to UMD.

This is a huge stretch coming up for UMB not just this weekend vs. UMD but then they have Curry mid-week then KSC for a DH next Saturday then USM on Sunday. These Next 5 games are HUGE. Got to take it one game at a time.


My midseason picks remain the same as my preseason picks.

Pitcher- Armstrong WCSU

Player- Walsh UMB



Ecfaninri they start up the end of May.

[Old Man]

Hate to put a damper on UMB and ECSU love fest but HOWABOUT How about these #'s from B Doyon For POY???
                        AVG  GP-GS    AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR RBI   TB  SLG%  BB HBP  SO GDP   OB%  SF  SH  SB-ATT
Bobby Doyon   .433  24-24  104  34  45  12  1  7  26      80  .769     8    3     18  0       .487  0       1  15-15 

Player of the Year: Ryan Walsh (UMB) - This kid can flat out play.  This is the third year Walsh is hitting in the heart of the Beacons' lineup and has improved every year.  Not to mention, he isn't surrounded by an entire lineup of guys who could also qualify for POY like the Warriors have.  For the Love-Fest, we'll just put things into perspective:
                           AVG  GP-GS    AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR RBI   TB  SLG%  BB HBP  SO GDP   OB%  SF  SH  SB-ATT
Castillo, ECSU.... .451     24-24    91  32  41   8   1   3  30    60  .659    18   3     13   1    .549      1   0    8-9   
Walsh, UMB......  .418     24-24    91  33  38  13   0   3  28    60  .659    18   3      3    2    .518      2   0   14-16 
How about these #'s from B Doyyon