BB: LEC: Little East Conference

[soxfan42585]

The LEC is a combined 14-16 so I wouldn't crow too loud. I now most teams view their spring trip as spring training, and us it to evaluate different players in different situations. Eastern losing to Kean and Ithaca is understandable, but Rutgers-Newark? In the middle of May when the flowers stink and the grass needs cutting we'll know who is the best.

Don't you mean, "When half of the pitching staff has blown out their arms and the batting averages plummet from their Florida free-for-alls? "  I think early on, teams have no idea what to expect.  I think by the time the second weekend of conference games rolls around you'll start to see teams playing their best ball.  It's no surprise that teams like Kean beats ECSU, for one, they already have been playing for a bit and can start earlier.  They know who ECSU is and gun for them.  It's not easy staying on top especially when every team guns at you for because of your reputation.  Read little into that game for the whole picture.  But Kean will hang their hat on that game.  (As will any team that beats them)  Not one team will finish the season undefeated, and if they do- great, but you have to drop a game here and game there.  I mean look at Keene state, they hit into a triple play with the bases loaded.  Most games that plates at least a run, bases loaded no outs.  But in this case, with a little magic the game was inevitably changed.  It went to extras and they won, but the notion that a team can go undefeated is ridiculous.  Baseball is a game of inches and sometimes you come up short, that's what happens!

Anyway, I think you are dead on kscer, wait before making the speculations about who the best team around is.  Although, a team coming out of "spring training" 0-10 is NOT a top team.  And one starting 10-0 doesn't indicate all that much either.


What is the best way to evaluate a team?  Pray the snow melts and the boys of (freezing cold Aprils and windy, bone chilling Mays) Summer get out to play.  Go watch a game and see who is the best.  Being a stat rat like myself and watching box scores doesn't paint the picture.  Go up to Plymouth State in the beginning of April and watch them play Keene State.  Then you'll know who came to the season ready (and who came ready to watch).


PLAY BALL

[KSCfan]

Keene splits today moving to 3 and 1.  Dont know much about the team they played today but they have another tough game tommorow in Hopkins

[phil]

Keene State Owls put the double dip hurt on TCNJ; further establishes that the LEC is the best conference in the country. 

Word

Before we consider whether the NJAC is worthy playing on the same field as the LEC or not, you might want to consider how deep in the pitching staff TCNJ had gone in playing their 9th and 10th games in a week. While it's true that Keene was playing for the first time all season, I'll presume that TCNJ put up a considerable amount of runs against the Owls' best pitching. Besides, the Lions went 4-0 against the other nationally ranked teams last week. Not bad for a team picked fourth in their conference... in a rebuilding year... with a new coach...

[LEC Fan]

Thats a good point Phil, that TCNJ was playing the end of their spring schedule. But for a team that was ranked in the top 30 preseason then droppped out after the first week because other teams started playing their games, shows alot about KSC coming into the 08 season and taking 2 from a top 10 ranked team. Always helps come tournament time to have those wins on your resume.

Not sure if I remember correctly but do the games in Ariz. or Fla. help your tournament resume? Is there some rule about playing teams in your region and having those count towards your overall record in region??? Anybody know the ruling or whatever on this? If that is the case that these games count then the sweep of TCNJ is more important.

[kscer]

KSC comes from behind in the 9th inning to beat Johns Hopkins 9-8. Ford has another scoreless inning to get the save. If a pitcher works Sunday or Monday and then comes back on Saturday, isn't that sort of the normal rotation. I did not check to see when the TCNJ starters pitched, but I think both had been in relief. I guess being tired at the end of the week is as good an excuse as being cold at the beginning.

[kscer]

KSC comes from behind in the 9th inning to beat Johns Hopkins 9-8. Ford has another scoreless inning to get the save. If a pitcher works Sunday or Monday and then comes back on Saturday, isn't that sort of the normal rotation. I did not check to see when the TCNJ starters pitched, but I think both had been in relief. I guess being tired at the end of the week is as good an excuse as being cold at the beginning.

I went back and checked. One pitcher pitched 3/8, and one 3/10, so that's plenty of rest.

[soxfan42585]

kscer- I think you can coem up with an excuse no matter what happens at any point in the season.  The season is too short and too irregular to have a nice "rotation" that pros can pull.  I think a pitcher that really stands out in a season not only starts as the conference weekend pitcher but chucks an inning during the week.  Granted, not every team or every arm can do that, but a player with grade A talent and who is one of the top pitchers is one that will throw every chance he gets.  I would think that a player that can do that for a quality team is not only an ace (or 2) and deserves recognition of being a top player.

See where I am going with that?

How old is that Ford kid?  Seems like he's been throwing ched since 2002 at Keene State.
I thought he blew out his elbow a year or two back?  Did he need surgery?

[wordsmith]

Greg Ford is a senior and is either 22 or 23. 
He hurts his arm on a regular basis; last time was vs Wheaton in the regular season.
He seems like he has been around awhile because he started as a freshman and was a high impact player for KSC from the beginning.

Note to LEC Fan- KSC beat Johns Hopkins today- JH must ahve been tired and out of pitching as well huh?

[soxfan42585]

I feel like I've heard Ford's name forever.  Where did he go to high school?  I am not surprised he screws up his arm, hes got a strange hitch in his delivery if I remember correctly.  I would think that KSC would need him to stay healthy all season long to really make the impact that they want to.

[KSCfan]

soxfan ford is a nashua high product when it was still one high school and not nash north and nash south.  Ford's only problem with health was last year at wheaton.  Im not sure where else you have heard he has been hurt but that is the only time that i remember. 

Keene out to a 4-1 start with three wins over two top ten teams.  I know its early but they should get some national exposure from this week, unless you see a total collapse

[phil]

KSC comes from behind in the 9th inning to beat Johns Hopkins 9-8. Ford has another scoreless inning to get the save. If a pitcher works Sunday or Monday and then comes back on Saturday, isn't that sort of the normal rotation. I did not check to see when the TCNJ starters pitched, but I think both had been in relief. I guess being tired at the end of the week is as good an excuse as being cold at the beginning.
I went back and checked. One pitcher pitched 3/8, and one 3/10, so that's plenty of rest.

The one that pitched 3/8 was hit hard, but was the third starter in the rotation while Keene threw their ace who was touted as the conference pitcher of the year. The pitcher TCNJ threw in the second game gave up 1 run in five innings (none earned), while Keene racked up the runs against some middle inning relievers who had seen little to no action so far in the trip. Now I'll be alarmed if TCNJ's starting pitchers only average five innings during the season and these middle inning guys who faced Keene are seen on a regular basis!

It's no surprise that teams like Kean beats ECSU, for one, they already have been playing for a bit and can start earlier.  They know who ECSU is and gun for them.  It's not easy staying on top especially when every team guns at you for because of your reputation.  Read little into that game for the whole picture.  But Kean will hang their hat on that game.

Soxfan,
Don't you mean ECSU is gunning for Kean? How does the defending national champion hang their hat on that game? I think until this thing is decided in another 40 or so games, Kean is the team with the reputation who everybody will gun for inside and out of the NJAC.

[bluejayfan]

I know I'm a Hopkins fan but having actually seen the Keene Hopkins game had to jump in here. Good game between the two schools. I give Keene credit for never giving up despite being down 6-2. However, I would like to point out Keene did get their tying and winning runs in the ninth inning on a two-out Hopkins error. 

[Old Man]

Blue Jay Fan----

i was also in the stands for this game.  how do you call a full dive by the 2b going hard to his left that hits off his glove an error.  maybe home team scoring by the home team? JHU?  it was a clean basehit anda great attemp by their 2bman.

[bluejayfan]

Old Man,
Was actually talking about the error on the Hopkins' third baseman with two outs that allowed the inning to continue. Also I believe that play at second base was changed to a hit. I'm not trying to take anything away from Keene, I give them lots of credit for hanging around. Was just saying I felt bad for Hopkins that an error led partially to the way the ninth went.

[KSCfan]

Keene's got another good team today in Montclair State.  I think they have three national championships.  No real easy teams so far yet for the owls, that is till they get to albertus magnus.  Blue Jay fan nice to see someone at the game that can be able to comment on the game.  It always tough when you make errors in the ninth.  I know Keene had a little help from JHU but like you said it shows Keene to be a tough team, and a team that will make you pay for mistakes.  Also its wierd seeing Keene racking up lots of runs.  They scored 12,8,9, against JHU and CNJ.  Usually Keene's strength is around pitching and defense.  Its nice to see the hitters actually giving some run suppourt to the pitchers for a change.