BB: IIAC: Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[youcantseemestill]

We are soooooo close to the start of the season (2 days!).  I am going to go on record with some picks and stuff.  Feel free to join in anytime!

1. Coe
2. BVU
3. Wartburg
4. Loras
5. Central
6. Luther
7. Simpson
8. Cornell
9. Dubuque

Offensive Player of the year:  Brandon Pietzryk, BVU
Pitcher of the year: Cody Raisch, Coe

Players to watch from each team:
BVU - Pietzryk, Kloewer, Weubker
Central - Rangel, Lackey, Furlong
Coe - Richmond, C. Raisch, Velvick
Cornell - Clausen, Shimanovsky, Butler
Dubuque - Mejia, Larson, Hennessy
Loras - Safranski, Moriarty, Juergens
Luther - Reynolds, Topping, Hyland
Simpson - Johnson, Rassmussen, Rhodes
Wartburg - Grau, Schmitt, Watson

[BigPoppa]

I think the top four are pretty solid and I can easily see any of the four winning the IIAC title. Loras is loaded with arms and BV has a top-notch offense back. Wartburg has traditionally fared well in league and could do so again this year while Coe is an emergin power in the region.. will be very fun to watch.

[upandin]

I think the top four are pretty solid and I can easily see any of the four winning the IIAC title. Loras is loaded with arms and BV has a top-notch offense back. Wartburg has traditionally fared well in league and could do so again this year while Coe is an emergin power in the region.. will be very fun to watch.

Why are people talking about the Loras "Arms"?  People must have gone to the Loras website and read the article their coaching staff wrote.  Last year in conference play Loras was 6th in the conference in ERA, 7th in hits allowed, 8th in HR and 2B allowed as well as 8th in K's.  They didn't have an "arm" in the top 10.  Their top "arm" in conference had a 4.88 era(12th). Their overall stats were just as bad.  Their top "arm" had a 4.95 era(14th).  Loras's run to the top last year was on the "arms" of their offense led by IIAC offensive player of the year Olberding.  If Loras is "loaded with arms" then the IIAC is the best pitching conference in america.

[youcantseemestill]

While your point about Loras's arms is valid, you have to look a little deeper into their roster and stats than just what they did last year.  Safranski was a freshman last year, Moriarty and Laurie and Bogge were all sophs.  Most would assume that they would be better this year than the year before.  Their numbers were not great last year, but they didn't have to be because of their offense.  Loras's numbers are based a lot on promise and potential.  No different than most people assuming that Wartburg will have a potent offense despite the fact that they lost 6 starters from their line-up.......

[TheSportsFan]

I question the fact that based only on the fact that players have a year or two under their belt they will surely be better.  I agree that Loras has a pitching staff that can be relied on, but for them it will come down to their hitting because the fact is their pitchers aren't good enough to shut teams down consistently.

If you look at their pitchers:

NOTE:  Last year there were 30 IIAC pitchers that met innings qualifications.

Kyler Laurie (Jr.)............4.88 ERA (12th).........(.266) OPP AVG (4th)
Kevin Moriarity (Jr.)........6.48 ERA (23rd)........(.315) OPP AVG (19th)
Cole Boge (Jr.)...............7.39 ERA (25th)........(.357) OPP AVG (27th)
Austin Safranski (So.)....5.53 ERA (19th)........(.320) OPP AVG (20th)

It's not like those are amazing numbers!  And just to finish off the argument, here are the juniors numbers from their freshmen year.

NOTE: 28 IIAC pitchers met innings qualifications.

Kyler Laurie...........DIDN'T THROW ENOUGH INNINGS TO QUALIFY:  22.1 IP, 5.64 ERA, .297 OPP AVG
Kevin Moriarity.......3.52 ERA (12th)........(.261) OPP AVG (8th)
Cole Boge..............DIDN'T THROW ENOUGH INNINGS TO QUALIFY: 1.2 IP, 16.20 ERA, .500 OPP AVG

In conclusion, these pitchers are capable of pitching in the conference and are not a reliability, but I just don't see how they are the best pitching staff in the conference based on the fact that they are the most experienced (according to most).  Moriarity had a worse sophomore season than freshmen season, Boge was a non-factor in either year, Laurie improved towards sophomore year but was by no means a shut down player and Safranski put up very average numbers in his first year.

[youcantseemestill]

Again, all good points.  I just think that their starting pitching depth, with another year of experience, will be better than it was before and one of the more complete staffs in the conference.  For the record, I never said that Loras would have a great staff, and especially not one that is the best in the conference.   

In my opinion, Wartburg and Coe have the two best returning group of pitchers.  Wartburg with Schmitt, Watson, and Rost.  Coe with C. Raisch, Lewis, and S. Raisch.

[Maverick4004]

You can look at the high ERA from Laurie and Safranski and Opp. Avg. being very high but you have to see that they found ways to win. Laurie was 9-1 and Safranski was 7-1. Given they did have a fairly strong offense last year they were winners which is something that will carry over to this season in my opinion.

I'll stick with my picks though....
1. BV - returning their entire offense...tough to beat
2. Coe - should be strong with Raisch and Richmond as seniors
3. Wartburg - still have Schmidt as well as a pretty strong offense with Grau
4. Luther - lost their two top pitchers, return Reynolds, Topping, Schott for offense
5. Loras - Olberding is gone so hitters need to step up
6. Central - returning Furlong and Rangel but still not a very strong team
7. Cornell - Shimanovsky is all they have coming back
8. Simpson - lost way to many starters
9. Dubuque - once again at the bottom

Pitcher of the Year- Cody Raisch, Coe
Player of the Year- Pietryzk, BV/ Richmond, Coe

Pietryzk has better hitters in front of him which will help boost his stats but if Coe can get some good hitters in the top of their lineup Richmond could have a stellar year. Both will be All-Region maybe even All-Americans

[BigPoppa]

Great analysis, guys. This is the most traffic we have ever had on the IIAC board. I really feel like everyone that reads this will have a solid insight into the conference as it approaches.

[youcantseemestill]

Maverick - nice takes!  I really do think you are selling Central a little short and giving Luther a little too much.  Central returns a very nice core of offensive talent as well as a young staff that fared quite well last year.  I could see them vaulting Loras into the 4 position if they catch a few breaks.  Furlong, Lackey, Tressel and Rangel make for a very tough top of the order. 

Luther lost almost all of its impact innings from last year in Kohls, Todd and Pichelman.  They also lost Waddle, Nies, and Beckman which consisted of their 1,3,6 hitters.  Schott needs to have his senior year be his first great year for them to compete offensively.

[upandin]

My prediction

1. BVU  (17-7)= Everyone back, went on a late season slide to finish year. Experience could be the difference.
2. Coe (16-8)= Good core of offense, Raisch and Lewis proven success. 
3. Wartburg (15-9)= Wont just go away.  Young, but some new faces will be impact. Schmitt and Watson are tuff.
4. Central (13-11)= Strong offense last year. Young pitchers much like Loras.
5. Loras (12-12) = Lost 5 of top 10 hitters. Pitchers will have to get better to keep them over .500
6. Luther (12-12)= Also lost some top players. Reynolds is a player but can't carry them.
7. Simpson (11-13)= A lot of unknowns but might be a case that graduation makes them a better team. Wouldn't be surprised to see them make top 6.
8 /9. Dubuque or Cornell (4-20)= Toss up,  it seem they battle for this spot every year.

Player of the year:  Brandon Pietzryk, BVU
Pitcher of the year: Cody Raisch, Coe

[baseballfans4ever]

Its going to be interesting... Simpson starts us off tomorrow... good luck to them!

[baseballfans4ever]

Simpson got a split yesterday

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Maverick - nice takes!  I really do think you are selling Central a little short and giving Luther a little too much.  Central returns a very nice core of offensive talent as well as a young staff that fared quite well last year.  I could see them vaulting Loras into the 4 position if they catch a few breaks.  Furlong, Lackey, Tressel and Rangel make for a very tough top of the order. 

Luther lost almost all of its impact innings from last year in Kohls, Todd and Pichelman.  They also lost Waddle, Nies, and Beckman which consisted of their 1,3,6 hitters.  Schott needs to have his senior year be his first great year for them to compete offensively.

I enjoyed watching Paul Pichelman in his freshman and junior seasons, but he hardly appeared in any conference games for the Norse in 2009.  Maybe you are thinking of Cody Hyland (7-0 record, 3.56 ERA, 2nd team all-IIAC) who will be a senior this spring.  It is important that he has another big year this season.

Kohls and Todd were studs though and will be hard to replace for any team.  I want to see some games in the pre-conference before I guess how tough it will be for the Norse this year.

I haven't seen a Norse roster yet, but SS Steve Beckman (.368 with 23 RBIs) should be only a junior since 2008 was his first year in the program.  He should combine with guys like Schott (.290 with 33 RBIs), Zach Topping (.417 with 34 RBIs, 2nd team all-IIAC), Mark Weber (.348 with 34 RBIs) and Reynolds (.385 with 36 RBIs) to form the heart of the batting order.  Regular OF Joe Thompson (.303 with 19 RBIs) also returns.  I will miss watching Jake Waddle a ton, but last year was not the offensive season for him that his sophomore and juniors years were.

The Norse have some holes to fill, but until I see otherwise it appears as they might not be ready to slide out of the top half of the league.  Replacing Todd and Kohls will be tough, but the Norse have tied for the Iowa Conference title in two of the last three years (2007, 2009).

Good to see some interest in the baseball board!

[Floyd in Iowa City]

St. Olaf (MIAC) swept B.V. yesterday in the Metrodome, 4-2 and 5-3.  Tough start for the Beavers, but the Oles were ranked 21st in the preseason poll.

I miss the days of the Oles and Norse getting together for baseball, especially back when both programs were on solid footing at the same time.

The Oles play Wartburg next Wednesday.

[Floyd in Iowa City]

It will be slightly interesting to see what happens with Wartburg this year.  After years of dominating most of the Iowa Conference and much of the non-conference parts of their schedule, the Knights have struggled in non-conference action the previous two seasons.  To their credit, they did bounce back and have great Iowa Conference campaigns finishing 1st and 4th the past two seasons, but for the good of the league I wish they would get off to a better start in non-league games in 2010.

They were swept by Macalester last week, 6-1 and 5-1 to start 0-2.  They play the Oles on Wednesday.  You won't hear this much from Luther fans but I am hoping the Knights get themselves right in a hurry since they will be tough in league play no matter what happened in preseason games.

Congrats to Coe and Cornell for getting off to 2-1 starts.  B.V. and Coe do look like the frontrunners this year until proven otherwise (Wartburg will have a say).