BB: IIAC: Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[bbplayer]

Wee shall see gentlman! WEEE shall see!

[BigPoppa]

Wee shall see gentlman! WEEE shall see!

All you are doing so far is showing what type of grammar is taught at Dubuque. Mix in a spell check here and there. It might make you a bit more credible. Clearly, you have insider knowledge of the Dubuque program, which has been lacking on this board for some time, but your methods are causing everyone to tune you out and not listen to your point of view.

Can you give us a projected line-up for Dubuque?

[BigPoppa]

When looking at UD's defense, they have some serious issues. 101 errors last year of which 27 came from the shortstop position, which bbplayer claims is a strong defensive player. A .923 team fielding percentage is a massive red flag, especially when your pitching staff only had 159 Ks in 281 innings. That is a lot of balls put into play and with a suspect defense, that will enevitably lead to extra runners and ultimately extra runs.

[bbplayer]

Agreed on all pappa.My opinion was based on overall improvement as a team not just last years stats as picked apart by your buddy.They started 7 FRESHMAN! The middle infield can turn a dp with the best...Ive watched it.The short stop can RAKE as the stats show.He will be better on D as he settles in and does not have to cover 3rd base as much.The 2nd baseman is one of the best you will find in this div IMO. Steady and belongs at short but Danna cannot make the turns.If any of you have seen them turn the dp you will agree.

Starting line up? LOL Besides Martin 2 Danna 3 your guess.....but it will be better!

[mr_b]

Agreed on all pappa.My opinion was based on overall improvement as a team not just last years stats as picked apart by your buddy.They started 7 FRESHMAN! The middle infield can turn a dp with the best...Ive watched it.The short stop can RAKE as the stats show.He will be better on D as he settles in and does not have to cover 3rd base as much.The 2nd baseman is one of the best you will find in this div IMO. Steady and belongs at short but Danna cannot make the turns.If any of you have seen them turn the dp you will agree.

Starting line up? LOL Besides Martin 2 Danna 3 your guess.....but it will be better!

And which one are you?

How about a position-by-position listing?  That should be easier.

One month before many of the northern teams start their seasons... can't wait!  Let the games begin.

[upandin]

Hey Pappa, how many teams in the CCIW can turn a DP?  Because apparently the ability to turn a DP qualifies you as a team to watch out for in the IIAC.   I would love to know who that new 2B is.  I'm just assuming it's not the same player from last year.  The Martin kid had the most errors (11) from a 2B in the IIAC.  And he hit a whopping .246 with 23 K's.  Far from "one of the best you will find in this div".   Not even close to the best you will find in the IIAC.  Then again we have been told the inside scoop that he is still hitting in the two hole.  I guess it is a good thing to know at least one UD player has plenty of confidence in his game or at least "IMO".

Here is a stat for ya, UD turned 16 DP's in 24 IIAC games last year, surpassing only 3 teams.  Loras (10) who tied UD as the worst fielding team in league play, Simpson (12) who just didn't turn many, and Cornell (15) who turned just 1 less than UD.  I suppose Cornell has a chance to "make some noise" this year with their DP combo as well.

I am obviously just an "uninformed" bag of some sort, but I can't wrap my head around the idea that starting 7 freshmen is somehow a positive refection on a program.  Don't get me wrong I hope UD can find a way to compete.  The conference needs them to improve to help with regional rankings.  This is Cornell's last year in the IIAC so UD could be alone on an island in 2012.

[bbplayer]

For your record...I am so far removed from a player on this team,you need to all get a life.I thought I would sign on and bring some fresh blood to this board with hopes of some sort of civil banter (I was proven wrong) by the 2 resident "Pros" as to why places (forums) like this have little or no regulars.

You can now go back to your holes and wait......for the next decent person who dares to log in with their opinion and......jump on with your obvious professional experience that anyone with a computer has access to base your rebuttle.

I am a UD fan and hope these boys will prove me right! Go UD have a great year!

Good luck to you guys! Have a fun here on your forum....all 2 of you.

[BigPoppa]

The IIAC doesn't really pick up until early March. By no means has anyone prevented others from joining the conversation on this board. At this point all we did was point out that you did not use anything to back your argument.

In fact, Upandin and I had some serious battles early last year until we put our differences aside once we realized that we both loved D3 baseball. Now... we are like brothers on here. While I would not beg anyone to stay on here, I enjoy hearing from UD supporters. In fact, I was only right on one of my four Central region conference champs last year... I took Wartburg(BV won it), Webster(yes), IWU (sort of won it, but North Central won the regular season) and Beloit (missed the MWC playoffs).

I really hope UD gets into the mix this season as they have seven sophs back in the line-up.

[upandin]

I am glad to hear that bbplayer is not in fact a player.  Players, coaches, ect, probably should not be on here, they might read something they don't want to hear.  I think things were civil prior to someone busting out "ass bag".   See this is how forums work..... give an opinion (hopefully a justified one), then people choose to agree or post a rebuttal.  No one should expect to be able to post some pretty far fetched opinions, with the expectation that no one would challenge them with the facts ("that anyone with a computer can find").  If you don't like when people disagree with you, don't give an opinion, and certainly don't post it on a forum.  If you're looking for someone to stroke your ego or tell you how good you are, you (or your team) have to earn that on the field.  As Pappa said, last year we had some heated banter, but I respect his opinions and his creditability.  It's the way forums should work, opinions and banter.  There will be more people here during the season, if bbplayer chooses to take his ball and go home, the forum will go on.  In fact there is another UD fan on here that has been invited to tailgates at road games, so its not just about putting down people or teams. 

[TheSportsFan]

Couple of thoughts.

1.  bbplayer couldn't be more wrong on his new opinions on the forums.  While it is true that there are a couple that post more often than others there is (likely) a decent slew of forum readers that keep up to date on recent D3 happenings.

2.  I have thoroughly enjoyed catching up and reading the preseason talk (even if most of it was ridiculous speculation into the state of Dubuque baseball).

3.  I have one main question from what I have read.  Where does the Wartburg hype come from?  I understand that they have unbelievable tradition, and seem to always find a way to be in the thick of things in the end.  However, I feel like their pre-season national votes are more on reputation than current personnel.  While I am not unbiased, I am capable of looking simply at what is on paper to formulate a legitimate opinion.  I had Wartburg finishing 4th or 5th in the conference before seeing all of the preseason speculation.  I will admit that all of my information excludes any incoming freshmen.

Why 4th or 5th?  Buena Vista is without a doubt the best team in this conference.  Very little weaknesses as they can pitch and hit with the best, and run the bases and can play small ball better than most teams.  They are not average at ANYTHING, and in my opinion, Blum is likely the best player in the conference.

I think that Central and Coe are both ahead of Wartburg (only by a game though).  Central returns SO MUCH on a team that learned how to win last year.  I understand that Coe lost two monster pitchers and a good bat, but still return one of the most well-rounded lineups in the Conf (maybe the best outside of BVU).

Problems with Wartburg - (1) the graduation of Danny Rose is so important....Rose had top-notch range, a quick release, and was in many ways the glue to their entire small ball capabilities.  The rotation is not bad, but far from deep.  Watson is a given, and (in my humble opinion) Benson is a very capable two should they decide to use him as a starter.  Rost would be a capable three, but no better than average.  After that, I'm not convinced with anyone else in the rotation or out of the pen.

My top 5:

1. BVU (without a doubt!!!!)
2. Central
3. Coe
4 - 5 Wartburg and Simpson

I look forward to hearing others' opinions!!! Thanks.

[BigPoppa]

Couple of thoughts.

1.  bbplayer couldn't be more wrong on his new opinions on the forums.  While it is true that there are a couple that post more often than others there is (likely) a decent slew of forum readers that keep up to date on recent D3 happenings.

2.  I have thoroughly enjoyed catching up and reading the preseason talk (even if most of it was ridiculous speculation into the state of Dubuque baseball).

3.  I have one main question from what I have read.  Where does the Wartburg hype come from?  I understand that they have unbelievable tradition, and seem to always find a way to be in the thick of things in the end.  However, I feel like their pre-season national votes are more on reputation than current personnel.  While I am not unbiased, I am capable of looking simply at what is on paper to formulate a legitimate opinion.  I had Wartburg finishing 4th or 5th in the conference before seeing all of the preseason speculation.  I will admit that all of my information excludes any incoming freshmen.

Why 4th or 5th?  Buena Vista is without a doubt the best team in this conference.  Very little weaknesses as they can pitch and hit with the best, and run the bases and can play small ball better than most teams.  They are not average at ANYTHING, and in my opinion, Blum is likely the best player in the conference.

I think that Central and Coe are both ahead of Wartburg (only by a game though).  Central returns SO MUCH on a team that learned how to win last year.  I understand that Coe lost two monster pitchers and a good bat, but still return one of the most well-rounded lineups in the Conf (maybe the best outside of BVU).

Problems with Wartburg - (1) the graduation of Danny Rose is so important....Rose had top-notch range, a quick release, and was in many ways the glue to their entire small ball capabilities.  The rotation is not bad, but far from deep.  Watson is a given, and (in my humble opinion) Benson is a very capable two should they decide to use him as a starter.  Rost would be a capable three, but no better than average.  After that, I'm not convinced with anyone else in the rotation or out of the pen.

My top 5:

1. BVU (without a doubt!!!!)
2. Central
3. Coe
4 - 5 Wartburg and Simpson

I look forward to hearing others' opinions!!! Thanks.

The more I look, the more I like Central as well. I may amend my thoughts to:
1. BV
2. Central
4. Wartburg
4. Coe

[upandin]

I would agree about Wartburg, I'm not sure where the national recognition is coming from.  My reason for having them as a contender in the IIAC is based on the fact that they have the majority of their roster back, from a team that finished 2nd in 2010.   Rose will be a tuff player to replace, it seems like he has been playing for about 6 years.  They will also be missing Schmitt on the mound, other than that, they have most of the team back.   They have an ace in Watson, and Rost is a solid # 3.  I definitely don't think Wartburg is a dominate team and they have some holes to fill if they expect to overtake BV.  But in 2010 they won every series in the league except BV and somehow Luther. 

I also would agree on BV having to be the favorite.  I guess the only question I can come up with is, how the loss of 4 starters will change them. You have to think that it will definitely change the team.  They lost the conferences best player in Pietrzyke, their spark plug in Stephenson, their first baseman M. Blum, and their DH Wilson.   Statistically that adds up to 40% of their Runs, Hits, Home Runs, and RBI's. As well as 50% of their doubles and Stolen Bases.  These players have started a tun of games for BV.  I still think they will be a very good team but I'm guessing that some teams in the IIAC will be able to keep pace with them.

You know my thoughts on Central and I just don't know what to make of Loras, Coe, and Simpson?

[BigPoppa]

Without sounding condescending, I think Wartburg in a "down year" has proven they are slightly above the middle of the pack teams in the IIAC. I had Wartburg nowhere in my preseason poll or even on my radar, but I still think they are #2 or #3 team in the IIAC. Take what you will from that comment: Would the IIAC's middle teams fare well against the middle teams in other regional conferences? I have no idea, but I'd guess that if we placed the #4-6 teams from the Central Region inot one league and let them battle it out the CCIW teams may rise to or near the top, with IIAC team near or just below them and the SLIAC and MWC teams at the bottom.

I get hammered for being a SLIAC basher, but in reality I am not. I just think the conference has only ONE quality team in Webster. The IIAC has 3-4 solid or better teams and drops off after that as does the CCIW. The MWC is terrible with the exception of Ripon and St. Norbert (and one season for Beloit).

I'd love a conference of : North Central, Wheaton, Augustana, Luther, Coe, Simpson, Loras, Beloit, Illinois, Grinnell, Blackburn, Greenville, etc... to sort all of this out.

[TheSportsFan]

I gather that the general consensus is that Buena Vista, Central and Wartburg will have no problem getting into the tournament.  The obvious question for all speculators is who will be left out of the tournament at the end of the year?

Dubuque and Cornell are both very much longshots, but one team (Coe, Simp, Luth, Loras) will be left out at the end of the year......it seems that you could make a case for any of those teams having struggles this year and missing the dance.

[golfguywaltham]

I just wanted to tell all who post here, thank you. As a father 1000 miles away, who's son plays in this conference, I am always interested in everyone's opinions. It gives me insight to the teams, players and coaches which I can not see. And I look foward to all involved having a great season and I am excited to see all of these fine young men having sucess on and off the field this season and beyond.