BB: CCIW: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[droppinbombs47]

I really hope this rain they are calling for this weekend doesn't really make things confusing here in the CCIW 

[CCIWFAN6]

I don't disagree that composites would save money, and might be the best solution to the injury issue... however, in terms of the game of baseball, my experience with composite bats is that they significantly lack pop from other wood, especially Maple.  But, if injury is solely what you're going for then perhaps that's the best option for college baseball.  Perhaps composites have improved, but the Baum bats I swang a couple years ago were not good baseball bats if you're looking for a bat that performs well.  I guess that's the ethical dilemma at the heart of the issue, and it's hard to know what blend of performance and safety should be assumed.  I don't think college baseball is going to resort to safety balls anytime soon ;-) haha.  Considering how baseball is becoming a revenue sport at the D1 level, I find it hard to believe that the NCAA would sacrifice revenue for a very small degree of safety.  I think college baseball would suffer revenue if it didn't possess some of the offensive prowess it does from metal bats.  The general public just doesn't enjoy/respect the defensive side of the game anymore.

Not sure how many college AD's would agree with you that baseball is revenue sport.

[DirtyJersey]

I don't disagree that composites would save money, and might be the best solution to the injury issue... however, in terms of the game of baseball, my experience with composite bats is that they significantly lack pop from other wood, especially Maple.  But, if injury is solely what you're going for then perhaps that's the best option for college baseball.  Perhaps composites have improved, but the Baum bats I swang a couple years ago were not good baseball bats if you're looking for a bat that performs well.  I guess that's the ethical dilemma at the heart of the issue, and it's hard to know what blend of performance and safety should be assumed.  I don't think college baseball is going to resort to safety balls anytime soon ;-) haha.  Considering how baseball is becoming a revenue sport at the D1 level, I find it hard to believe that the NCAA would sacrifice revenue for a very small degree of safety.  I think college baseball would suffer revenue if it didn't possess some of the offensive prowess it does from metal bats.  The general public just doesn't enjoy/respect the defensive side of the game anymore.

Not sure how many college AD's would agree with you that baseball is revenue sport.

Agreed CCIWFAN, there isn't an athletic director out there that relies on revenue from baseball. Articles I have read on this subject only have 2 powerhouse baseball programs (Oregon State and LSU) "out of the red" for the 2007 baseball season. Breaking even would be a blessing, and, at least at the major Division I level, bats are not a legitimate cost concern. However, at the D3 level, I am sure the switch away from metal would leave more of an eventual cost onto the player realistically. 

[Gregory Sager]

I don't know how much it would cost for schools to buy wood bats in max quantities, but most likely it would be quite costly.  This is the main factor that would keep schools/conferences from changing from metal to wood bats (even if wood bats are safer for the kids).

Breaking even would be a blessing, and, at least at the major Division I level, bats are not a legitimate cost concern. However, at the D3 level, I am sure the switch away from metal would leave more of an eventual cost onto the player realistically.

Switching to wood bats would be so prohibitively expensive that I can't imagine even the wealthy D3 schools, or the D3 schools with the biggest athletic budgets, approving the change. Wood composite bats, such as the Baum Bat cited in CrashDavisD3's link, could be the answer -- that is, if they really are as durable as the manufacturer insists that they are.

That's the ideal marriage that D3 baseball programs seek: The durability of a metal bat combined with the feel, reduced action, and added safety of a wood bat.

[warrior35]

First of all, I said that it's BECOMING a revenue sport.  I'm not sure that it ever will be at the D3 level.

Secondly, I'm not sure where you guys are getting your information, but it's really hard for me to believe that a lot of southern DI schools aren't breaking even... and if they're not, they really need to hire new marketing executives.  Most stadiums down there, and new DI baseball stadiums everywhere, rival minor league parks and seat 5,000 or more. For example, Florida State's average attendance has steadily been on the rise for years.  The latest data I could find showed an average home attendance of 3,305.  3,305 over 35 games, that's 115,680 fans a year.  I don't know what they charge, but even if it was just $5, that's just over $575,000 a year. I'm not involved with the daily operation of a baseball program, but I would hope that's enough money to at least break even.  College baseball is more popular now that it was in 2004, most of the numbers I've seen for attendance in the south from the past few years ranges between an average of 3,500-upwards of 6,000.  If you still don't agree, take a look at some of the stadiums that have been built/completely remodeled in the last 2 years...

http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/view.gal?id=41534 (UNC)
http://www.spinatour.com/usc2/tour.html (South Carolina)
http://www.thetigerblog.com/wp-content/gallery/alexbox/dsc_7470.jpg (LSU)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/480433897_c7ead79b45.jpg?v=0 (The Citadel)
http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/tul/graphics/zephyr-field-main-lg.jpg (Tulane)
http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204893537 (Oregon)
http://www.mgoblue.com/view.gal?id=52685 (Michigan)

[CCIWFAN6]

A schools ability to generate donations for stadiums has little to do with their ability to generate operational revenues.  Most of those stadiums are built because of private donations of alumni.  In regards to your example of Florida State's attendance generating an estimated $575,000 a year.  I would personally be surprised if that didnt simply cover the salary of one of the most successful coaches in the history of NCAA baseball entering his 31st season. Obviously, certain schools are afforded more opportunities with sponsorships, but to say that baseball programs generate a positive cashflow for more than a handful of schools simply isn't true.

[CCIWFAN6]

According to IWU website, North Park scores 3 runs in the top of the 1st to jump out to a quick lead.

[jigsaw54]

North Central takes game one of the series against Wheaton 11-3. 

[mr_b]

According to IWU website, North Park scores 3 runs in the top of the 1st to jump out to a quick lead.

North Park defeated IWU 5-2 in Bloomington. Mike Giovenco struck out 13 Titans in a complete-game 6-hitter.

[Mr. Ypsi]

A schools ability to generate donations for stadiums has little to do with their ability to generate operational revenues.  Most of those stadiums are built because of private donations of alumni.  In regards to your example of Florida State's attendance generating an estimated $575,000 a year.  I would personally be surprised if that didnt simply cover the salary of one of the most successful coaches in the history of NCAA baseball entering his 31st season. Obviously, certain schools are afforded more opportunities with sponsorships, but to say that baseball programs generate a positive cashflow for more than a handful of schools simply isn't true.

Additionally, though I have no idea what FSU's tuition, fees, books, and room-and-board run, I'd imagine scholarships alone would eat up most of the $575,000.

[DirtyJersey]

First of all, I said that it's BECOMING a revenue sport.  I'm not sure that it ever will be at the D3 level.

Secondly, I'm not sure where you guys are getting your information, but it's really hard for me to believe that a lot of southern DI schools aren't breaking even... and if they're not, they really need to hire new marketing executives.  Most stadiums down there, and new DI baseball stadiums everywhere, rival minor league parks and seat 5,000 or more. For example, Florida State's average attendance has steadily been on the rise for years.  The latest data I could find showed an average home attendance of 3,305.  3,305 over 35 games, that's 115,680 fans a year.  I don't know what they charge, but even if it was just $5, that's just over $575,000 a year. I'm not involved with the daily operation of a baseball program, but I would hope that's enough money to at least break even.  College baseball is more popular now that it was in 2004, most of the numbers I've seen for attendance in the south from the past few years ranges between an average of 3,500-upwards of 6,000.  If you still don't agree, take a look at some of the stadiums that have been built/completely remodeled in the last 2 years...

http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/view.gal?id=41534 (UNC)
http://www.spinatour.com/usc2/tour.html (South Carolina)
http://www.thetigerblog.com/wp-content/gallery/alexbox/dsc_7470.jpg (LSU)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/480433897_c7ead79b45.jpg?v=0 (The Citadel)
http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/tul/graphics/zephyr-field-main-lg.jpg (Tulane)
http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204893537 (Oregon)
http://www.mgoblue.com/view.gal?id=52685 (Michigan)

Yeah, having high attendance at college baseball games is great, but there are serious operating expenses when dealing with 30-40 baseball players, transportation, food, and a beautiful facility. Here is one article that I found to be interesting. There are hundreds of schools competing in college baseball who already understand the high costs that come with it, and wood bats would increase them...we all agree it seems, even though it would be a beautiful thing.

http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=120423505333048300

[Gregory Sager]

According to IWU website, North Park scores 3 runs in the top of the 1st to jump out to a quick lead.

North Park defeated IWU 5-2 in Bloomington. Mike Giovenco struck out 13 Titans in a complete-game 6-hitter.

As I said earlier this week, don't be fooled by Giovenco's W-L record. He is not struggling this season. Nice game, Mike!

[tjcummingsfan]

NP wins game #2 of the series 4-2

[droppinbombs47]

As I said earlier this week, don't be fooled by Giovenco's W-L record. He is not struggling this season. Nice game, Mike!

Gregory this is getting borderline ridiculous with the Giovenco posts here.  He isn't even the best pitcher in our conference, just because he has a below average major league fastball doesn't mean every post needs to be about him and how he is God's gift to earth.  No your right he is not struggling guys are hitting under .200 against him that is just wonderful. I am not bashing him, but there is a lot more storylines this year in the CCIW than Giovenco's 5 - 4 record because his team can't give him any run support.  I need to see him throw against Wheaton and Carthage to jump on the Giovenco bandwagon.

In another news North Central beat Wheaton 23 - 14 and continue to put runs on the board.

[HITandRUN463]

As I said earlier this week, don't be fooled by Giovenco's W-L record. He is not struggling this season. Nice game, Mike!

Gregory this is getting borderline ridiculous with the Giovenco posts here.  He isn't even the best pitcher in our conference, just because he has a below average major league fastball doesn't mean every post needs to be about him and how he is God's gift to earth.  No your right he is not struggling guys are hitting under .200 against him that is just wonderful. I am not bashing him, but there is a lot more storylines this year in the CCIW than Giovenco's 5 - 4 record because his team can't give him any run support.  I need to see him throw against Wheaton and Carthage to jump on the Giovenco bandwagon.

In another news North Central beat Wheaton 23 - 14 and continue to put runs on the board.

I agree with Droppinbombs47 on this one...Giovenco needs to prove to me that he can beat Carthage and Wheaton.  Once he does that, then I'll tip my cap to him.  I agree he has the tools to be a great pitcher, but can he produce against the top teams?  We've seen him struggle against the playoff-bound North Central team already.  So I am excited to see him perform against the others.

Anyways...

I just saw that North Central scored in every inning in the contest vs. Wheaton.  I haven't seen that in a long time, and I mean a long time. 

If the Cards can get a sweep on Monday, then that would be huge news in the CCIW. 

North Central is just mashing right now, watch out they are hot