FB: Empire 8

[dewcrew88]

pep your thoughts are flawed... as there is almost no way all those teams end with two losses and utica still has to play fisher, wick and ithaca

And Alfred.

[saxondeuce]

Jose,

I am not a Rays fan, but I love what they are doing to the Sox right now.  I always liked Crawford as a ball player.  One more game from making history again this season..

[Jonny Utah]

My point about the App St. game is that Michigan was the better team even after they lost to them, and the rankings would have shown it.   

Perhaps some people think, based on this, that Hartwick is actually better than Ithaca, then.  Is that not possible?  Could this explain some people's ballots in various polls?  

No because App St. needed to block a kick to win it while IC dominated Hartwick.  Theres the difference between the two. 

And are the Lycoming and Kings scores that out of whack?

King's and Lycoming in back-to-back weeks didn't give Ithaca much momentum early -- but Lycoming's strength right now is helping explain some of that competitiveness now. 

As I said in the LLPP - a 69-42 score isn't "domination."  That's a shootout.  Domination is a 69-7 score.  So, be careful with your adjectives.

Frank I didnt know you were the one who defined what "domination" was.  I saw the game and Ithaca dominated them the same way SJF dominated Ithaca in the second half (which I didn't see).

[AUPepBand]

Perhaps it's just Pep, but the current discussion is way over Pep's head. 

Nevertheless, Pep is not at all surprised at the progress being made at Utica this year. Out of the gate, a loss to Becker is downright embarrassing. Pep has more respect for Husson (than other posters) because he's seen them firsthand. They are no New England slouch, but still a loss for the Pioneers. Much growth seen week-to-week, however, as evidence in a close loss to unbeaten (and perhaps untested) RPI. Then they put it to a Mt. Ida team 40-8 that BEAT Becker and BEAT a 5-1 Plymouth State team.

So, Pep figures either of two things are going to happen....
1) Utica wins out and takes the conference with a perfect 6-0 slate and an overall 7-3 slate
...and this in Blaise Faggiano's first year of coaching the Pioneers!

2) Alfred wins out to finish 5-1 in E8 play, 8-2 overall, while Utica tops Hartwick 82-80 in 4 OTs, leaving Fisher, Ithaca, Hartwick and Utica each with at least 2 conference losses
...and this in a rebuilding year at Mayberry! Aunt Bee will be dancing a jig!

The Saxons and Pioneers play for the E8 title at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium this Saturday!!

Pep, you going to be at the game? I'm thinking about it.

Pep was hoping the game would be available via webcast or at least audio. Pep's taking a trip to Syracuse Thursday (work-related), then has a trip planned on Sunday, so seven hours on the road Saturday is out of the question. Plus, Pep couldn't muster any brass (Mid-Semester Break at AU) for the Hartwick trip and doubts he could muster a band for a longer trip this weekend. If you're gonna be there, Pep will give ya his cell phone if you'd be willing to offer some updates.

[fisheralum91]

settle down deuce--this sox fan is a little testy this morning.

[saxondeuce]

settle down deuce--this sox fan is a little testy this morning.

can't help it FA91.... yankees fan here, and i am seeing my sister and her bf this weekend who are HUGE sox fans...and everyone loves a cinderella story as well

[superman57]

settle down deuce--this sox fan is a little testy this morning.

Welcome to the curse of Manny Rameriez... no world series for 99 years

[JQV]

Jose,

I am not a Rays fan, but I love what they are doing to the Sox right now.  I always liked Crawford as a ball player.  One more game from making history again this season..

Easily the most underrated player in MLB over the last 5 or 6 years.  Not only a great player, but an even nicer guy I got to know while I was with the club.

The whole thing is surreal.  I'm just loving the ride and all the radio silence I am getting from Sox-fan friends that were all over me after game 1. 

Is there any greater site than the Rays high-fiving in front of all those empty red seats?

[fisheralum91]

oh brother.
hey- if the ride ends here for the sox- im still a happy man---just not as happy as if they were to go play in the ws.
heck--it has been a great 4 years for this sox fan!
i already have vindication--that was in 04.
07 was gravy!

[maninyellowhat]

This just in...New E8 Tiebreaker Scenario

[Jonny Utah]

The Rays are a better team hands down. 

Although I was just thinking that if the Sox pulled off that extra inning game the other day (or if Francona didnt have his head in his butt and didnt put in Timlin), we would be looking at a 2-2 series with Dice-K going in the next game.  Then the sox would have a chance of pulling something off.

You still never know.

[Frank Rossi]

Good example of this: WPI 2007. Started 4-0 OOC, finished 0-6 against the LL.

No, WPI 2007 started 3-0 OOC and 1-0 in the LL... then lost their last 6.

[JQV]

The Rays are a better team hands down. 

Although I was just thinking that if the Sox pulled off that extra inning game the other day (or if Francona didnt have his head in his butt and didnt put in Timlin), we would be looking at a 2-2 series with Dice-K going in the next game.  Then the sox would have a chance of pulling something off.

You still never know.

No question that comeback by Boston in game 2 could have broken a young Rays team.

The point you and LD were making about real Sox fans getting priced out of the postseason at Fenway is being proven true the last two nights.  Empty seats and booing fans.  Doesn't fit with the normal blind loyalty of Sox fans.

[Pat Coleman]

Is there any greater site than the Rays high-fiving in front of all those empty red seats?

Until you said "red" I thought you were talking about a typical June home game for the Rays.

[fisheralum91]

hey- this may not be a sox year-- but i do take solace in the yanks missing the playoffs!