BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[bballfan0887]

yank52 you obviously watch a lot of North Park baseball but I'm curious as to why.  The vast majority of your posts are about how you don't think NPU is very good.  Maybe I'm getting the wrong impression but it seems like you're rooting against them.

[yank52]

I know it seems that way but as a fan I have a right to criticize when I witness something that just ain't right.

The NPU Vikings are a better offensive team than the past 5 years, that is a plus (1)
The pitching staff has 40+ more strikeouts than walks, that is a plus (2)

These two are most prominent when gauging how a team is performing and will perform, but there are only 40 games in a season, NPU is now 23 into it and only 17 left with 12 in conference.

So, as optimistic as I was from last year to this year, I am also human and can't resist the opportunity to vent my disappointment with the record to date (11 wins  12 losses). I as a fan want to see them succeed and cheer every game I attend and read about via the internet.

[Gregory Sager]

Granted North Park is making the best of a less than ideal situation in regards to their field, compromises must be made and we all understand that. That being said, I would point out that contrary to stated above the abandoned NEIU field is of more legitimate dimensions and would be an attractive alternative.

Not that attractive, really. The dimensions are better down the right field line at NEIU, of course, but the tennis courts in center field make the outfield much more shallow in that part of the ballpark than at HAC and give it a concave profile.

Also, while I appreciate the fact that you are in an urban setting and land is not so plentiful, but has a joint venture with the CPD been examined? You have a huge park, River Park just East of you, plenty of room to stretch around, could be a win/win, the college getting a decent home field a block away, the park district getting some use of the field for their purposes.

A "decent home field" at River Park? You must be joking. The baseball field in River Park is in horrible shape. In fact, it has never been in good shape throughout the thirty years that I've lived in the community. I ought to know, as my softball league has played there for the past seven summers (we're desperate to get fields elsewhere, but none of the other parks on the North Side have opened up for us on our preferred evenings). The field is a cow pasture -- chewed up, strewn with mounds and chuckholes, sparsely covered with ill-groomed grass and weeds thanks to the fact that the field is constantly used for soccer games that tear up the vegetation. River Park is a minefield of twisted and sprained ankles waiting to happen. The infield is not kept up at all -- we have to complain pretty regularly just to get it dragged once a week in summer -- and it slopes downward towards the first base line. Drainage is terrible. The lights are barely adequate for evening softball games, let alone baseball. As Chicago parks go, River Park is notably negligent in its upkeep in all phases, landscaping being only the most conspicuous problem.

None of the parks within a two-mile radius of the NPU campus -- River Park, Eugene Field Park, Winnemac Park, Welles Park, Horner Park, Peterson Park, Mather Park, Green Briar Park, Gompers Park -- has a field suitable for college baseball.

It was stated that it would handcuff recruiting not playing on campus, that might be true to an extent but I would submit that recruiting has surely been handcuffed  due to lack of a proper field. I find it interesting that the NPU guys here complain about the ridiculous runs given up by their pitchers, but I would ask why would a pitcher possibly want to come there with those dimensions?

Has NPU's pitching recruitment been handcuffed by the short porch in right? Could be. I've never broached the subject with Luke Johnson or any of the other North Park coaches. It's certainly a plausible theory. I haven't  been to enough road games to know what the competition's facilities are like in terms of other local D3 baseball-playing schools, but as Augie28 pointed out there are other CCIW schools (Elmhurst and Millikin) that have to rent high school facilities because they don't even have their own baseball fields -- so while NPU's situation is hardly ideal from a recruiting standpoint, there are competing schools who have it even worse.

The field comes awfully close to making a mockery of the game, we all certainly understand the economic realities but if NPU wants to build a first class program, which from reading your posts seems to be the goal, they aren't going to be able to succeed while playing on a glorified whiffle ball field.

"Mockery of the game" and "whiffleball field" are a bit extreme. As Mr. B noted, the dimensions in center and left-center are actually pretty spacious, and the field itself is kept in excellent shape and plays true thanks to the Field Turf. Plus, NPU has an indoor practice facility that also has Field Turf that allows the Vikings to practice all year long, regardless of weather -- an advantage that is (as far as I know) unique among local D3 baseball programs.

I'm not saying that the unfortunate distance down the right field line isn't affecting North Park's baseball recruiting with regard to pitchers. Perhaps it is. Then again, perhaps it isn't. I simply don't know either way, and I've never heard anyone in-the-know comment about it.

[REDMENFAN]

Good article in the paper about former Carthage pitcher Jeff Livek, and his time last year in the Yankee organization, as well as his plans for independent ball this summer.

http://ksn.kenoshanews.com/view_article.php?articleNum=2779147

[goldengear]

I'm well aware of the current conditions of River Park, what I suggested was that NPU could investigate a joint venture with the Park District to build a suitable d3 field on thier land, would be a win/win as far as I could see, and it negates the arguement that land is too expensive.

Not a mockery? How many homers did Carthage hit there? Any stats pitching or hitting are suspect when played on that field, lets just be realistic about it.

[BigPoppa]

Current #2 ranked Carthage has a real shot at starting the season 29-0. The CCIW teams are relatively weak with the exception of Carthage, IWU and Augustana. Carthage does not play either of them until the final two weekends and both are at Carthage. This bodes well for the Redmen and has to put a scare into the other CCIW contenders.

Mix in non-conference games versus relatively unthreatening Marian and Lakeland and the possibility is real. Winning 40 of their last 42 games, Carthage is on fire right now and could run off another 10-11 wins before being challenged in the CCIW.

I suspect they will lose a game or two (law of averages says it has to happen sometime) along the way to the showdown with Augustana, but on paper, it looks pretty good.

On second thought, Carthage has yet to beat a top opponent (none in the top 25-30). They have had a few close games in the CCIW that they could easily have lost. Maybe they are a bit overated?

[mwunder]

Current #2 ranked Carthage has a real shot at starting the season 29-0. The CCIW teams are relatively weak with the exception of Carthage, IWU and Augustana. Carthage does not play either of them until the final two weekends and both are at Carthage. This bodes well for the Redmen and has to put a scare into the other CCIW contenders.

Mix in non-conference games versus relatively unthreatening Marian and Lakeland and the possibility is real. Winning 40 of their last 42 games, Carthage is on fire right now and could run off another 10-11 wins before being challenged in the CCIW.

I suspect they will lose a game or two (law of averages says it has to happen sometime) along the way to the showdown with Augustana, but on paper, it looks pretty good.

On second thought, Carthage has yet to beat a top opponent (none in the top 25-30). They have had a few close games in the CCIW that they could easily have lost. Maybe they are a bit overated?

As I type this...Carthage is tied with North Park at 5-5 going into the 10th.  Your karma points are going WAY down in the Red Men lose today.  You never talk about the streak!  Don't you remember the line from Bull Durham??  You've got to respect the streak!

[mwunder]

Carthage wins 7-6 in 10 to move to 19-0.

[robberki]

I'm well aware of the current conditions of River Park, what I suggested was that NPU could investigate a joint venture with the Park District to build a suitable d3 field on thier land, would be a win/win as far as I could see, and it negates the arguement that land is too expensive.

Not a mockery? How many homers did Carthage hit there? Any stats pitching or hitting are suspect when played on that field, lets just be realistic about it.

The current field, both Holmgren and the track complex, ARE joint ventures to some extent. There isn't anything left to explore.

[BigPoppa]

Carthage wins 7-6 in 10 to move to 19-0.

Trust in my methods, young grasshopper.

I welcome a ding to my karma as I should have known better than to mess with the streak, but the Carthage Cloud went away the Redmen prevailed.

[Mr. Ypsi]

No offense to BP, mwunder, or the RedMen, but confound it!  With the Titans playing IN Kenosha the last weekend, I'd like a bit of a cushion.

Not that I am predicting it, but two 18-0 teams battling for the conference crown would be pretty exciting.  (And, no, I'm not discounting Augustana's shot at the crown.)  But in case the Titans stumble a time or two before then, would you be gracious enough to stumble that many plus a few more?

My cardiologist thanks you.  [Well, probably not - a tie entering the last weekend might get her an extra trip to Bermuda! ]

[BigPoppa]

The CCIW is set up for a fantastic finish this year. It will be fun to watch.

[mwunder]

Carthage wins 7-6 in 10 to move to 19-0.

Trust in my methods, young grasshopper.

I welcome a ding to my karma as I should have known better than to mess with the streak, but the Carthage Cloud went away the Redmen prevailed.

You're at least 5 years younger than I am Mr. Miyagi.

You have to believe that everyone on Carthage's schedule is looking to hang that first "L" on them.  The target just gets larger as they wiggle off the hook and teams start believing that they can win.  The hitting sticks have to come out quickly against Elmhurst.  The Blue Jays have already taken one from the "big three" with a win over Augie this season.  Remember this...the blue jay is a nasty bird.

[REDMENFAN]

Here's the article in the paper today about Carthage's win yesterday. A kenosha news sportswriter was actually at the game for Carthage's home opener, and as you can see, its not like the Carthage Websites release.

http://kenoshanews.com/article_comments/view_comments.php?articleNum=2810818

[matblake]

Wheaton sweeps the season series against North Central.  According to the Wheaton website, they haven't swept a season series since 2005.  North Central is currently 0-8 in conference, so we still aren't dealing with a sweep against an upper echelon team, but a series win is a series win.  Wheaton is now 14-8, only 4 wins away from tying the highest wins from 1994 & 1999.  Considering they still have 16 games left, I'm hopeful, but we'll see what happens.  The Thunder still have Millikin, IWU, Elmhurst, and North Park to play in conference with additional games v Chicago, Benedictine, and a double header with CUW.
http://athletics.wheaton.edu/News/baseball/2008/4/9/base-ncc2.asp?path=baseball