BB: SUNYAC

Bob Maxwell · May 01, 2007, 03:16:16 PM

Based on what happened in the regular season, I expect that we will see Dougher vs Weber in the second game on Friday. It was a 0-0 tie going into the last inning before either of them got into any real trouble. We may see a repeat of that great game!

In the game between Plattsburgh and Brockport, I don't think its as cut and dry as there are different things to think about from both sides. So this one is a bit of a mystery... We will find out in a few days.

No matter who pitches, the teams need to play defense and hit to win.

AND nobody wants to have to play twice on Friday.

cstate19 · May 01, 2007, 11:04:48 PM

Cortland will save Dougher for game #2. If they win Game #1 he gets a chance to put them in the final. If they lose the first he saves you from being elminated. Its a no lose.

scuba16 · May 02, 2007, 10:13:58 AM

The difference between losing on friday and saturday is huge. Lose on friday and you have to win 4 in a row to win the whole thing. Lose on saturday u only have to win 3. 1 game is a big thing in a double elim. As a coach I have done it both ways, save your best and threw my best on day 1, its worked out both bad and good. My opinion is that if you are an underdog, you got nothing to lose by saving #1 because if you win with a different guy you kinda even the playing field a bit. If you are the favorite, you earned it because you probably have the better team and might want to chuck your best guy on day 1. Whatever happens happens, makes for good conversation though!

cstate19 · May 02, 2007, 01:05:53 PM

Cortland has won 4 in a row in both the SUNYAC tourney and the World Series. This is why Brown saves his ace. Also it is a lot easier to win 4 in a row with your ace starting that 4 game streak.

FranElia · May 02, 2007, 02:46:52 PM

Here is a link to the SUNYAC Baseball Tournament Web Site:

http://www.cortland.edu/athletics/baseball/2007/sunyacbb2007.html

There are links to the tournament results pages from 2001-06 along with other info. Box scores/play-by-plays will be posted on this site after each game during the weekend.

Fran Elia
Cortland SID

scuba16 · May 02, 2007, 02:51:07 PM

??if you go 3-0 you win the tournament. if you play 4 games it means you lost somewhere. start #1 and go from there. cortland has come out of the losers bracket 3 out of the last 4 yrs i think. go 1,2,3,4 pitching wise! u want your best guy to throw the 1st game of the regional don't u?? this is the same kind of tournament. just my opinion

Jim Dixon · May 02, 2007, 03:00:16 PM

Typically you want your best pitcher first because he can have some rest and pitch later on. If the time is short that you cannot turn around your number 1, playing the matches makes sense.

If I am the bottom seed, I might not think I have a chance in the first game so save #1, #2 so your #1 pitches against the other teams #2, giving you slight advantage in games 2,3.

This might work as it might help the team think they have an advantage and play more aggressively.

scuba16 · May 02, 2007, 06:37:34 PM

alot of the times, good teams play real tough behind there # 1 because they know he is going to go out there and be lights out. mental advantage #1 seed, disadvantage lower seeds!
sometimes when you don't throw your best available guy out there and things don't go well right away, a team tanks it psychologically. mental disadvantage #1 seed, advantage lower seeds.
i agree matchups are a way to go for an underdog but the favorite should come out and make a statement the first game. baseball is a real mental game for your team and for the other teams watching you. if you come out and dominate first game, some teams are already beat before you play them the next day. thats why i'm saying if your cortland you gotta come out and make a statement the first game and let everybody know, this is our tournament!
opinions vary, just offering mine!

John McGraw · May 02, 2007, 10:34:00 PM

One of the bigger factors is the type of pitching depth behind the number one. If a team has decent frontline starters behind their number one; they may wait on the number one - either to pitch in the winners bracket final or the elimination game.

Cortland does have solid starters behind Dougher. While Dougher is very good, Zgorzelski and Jweid aren't awful and are perfectly capable. I could see any one of the three pitching on Friday afternoon. I'm sure that Coach Brown has known who's going to pitch for him in the opening game for some time now. I can't imagine the Brockport-Plattsburgh result in the 10:00 AM game changing that.

Now, if you're a team without a quality pitcher behind number one and your next two are average at best, then you have to go with your ace. No question. For say an Oneonta or a Plattsburgh without great pitching depth, you have to pitch your number one starter in the opening game, there's no choice.

Bob Maxwell · May 03, 2007, 07:42:14 AM

Some very interesting opinions and insights here... There are a lot of ways for each team to go. The mental toughness of a team will have as much to do with what happens as who pitches... you have to think you can win a game, no matter who is pitching or you shouldn't play it. Records of teams in this tournament against the others:

Brockport 4-2
Cortland 3-3
Plattsburgh 3-3
Oneonta 2-4

With only two of the games being decided by more then 3 runs. The mental edge, be it from pitching, big defensive plays or a big hit will play a BIG part in this tournament's outcome.

It should be interesting.

John McGraw · May 03, 2007, 10:54:57 AM

BTW, good luck to Plattsburgh and Brockport for having to play at 10:00 AM. It's hard enough broadcasting a game that early, I can't imagine playing in one at that time. The real winners though are the ones that are there all Friday, from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

2004 would have been my first time broadcasting the entire first day of the tournament, from 9:50 AM to whenever the third game finished. The only thing I remember from that day was that it was really hot and the second game was just awful, an 18-0 Cortland whitewash of Plattsburgh. It was such a beating, even Ryan Ensel got a hit.

Bob,

Get there early because its always a pain in the ass to find a parking spot. Cortland, as usual, will be hosting every SUNYAC spring sports tournament. There will be softball, women's lax and on Saturday, men's lax too. Plus, usually that weekend, there's a state volleyball tournament that's played at Lusk Field House and those parents take up about 85% of the parking. Good luck

Bob Maxwell · May 03, 2007, 11:50:30 AM

We wondered if the volleyball tournament was going to be going again this year... How come they didnt' cancel classes?

I have my Buffalo service parking permit, won't that let me park right behind the pressbox? LOL...

John McGraw · May 03, 2007, 12:48:55 PM

Pray that the volleyball tournament isn't going on this year. Last year, I think it was the second day perhaps, we lost power in the press box. That weekend there were all the SUNYAC sports tournaments, plus volleyball, plus a concert over at the gym.

They'll probably block off the lot behind the field like they usually do. The volleyball parents are sneaky, they'll try to drive around the barriers so they can park like next to Lusk. I'd say try to park by Davis Field, but that might even be filled in the morning because of class.

The gigantic lot next to the gym might be the best bet if you can find a spot.

I'm glad I don't have to deal with that parking mess this year. Though, I will miss the tournament.

cstate19 · May 03, 2007, 10:20:06 PM

Quote from: scuba16 on May 02, 2007, 06:37:34 PM
alot of the times, good teams play real tough behind there # 1 because they know he is going to go out there and be lights out. mental advantage #1 seed, disadvantage lower seeds!
sometimes when you don't throw your best available guy out there and things don't go well right away, a team tanks it psychologically. mental disadvantage #1 seed, advantage lower seeds.
i agree matchups are a way to go for an underdog but the favorite should come out and make a statement the first game. baseball is a real mental game for your team and for the other teams watching you. if you come out and dominate first game, some teams are already beat before you play them the next day. thats why i'm saying if your cortland you gotta come out and make a statement the first game and let everybody know, this is our tournament!
opinions vary, just offering mine!

the team should come out mentally tough every game

scuba16 · May 03, 2007, 11:25:41 PM

thanks einstein, I realize the way you would like a team to play but the fact remains ur dealing with college kids not professional men so they don't always "come out" the way YOU want them too. mental motivation goes along way and playing behind your #1 is pretty good mental motivation!
got any more questions you want answered about playing or coaching baseball, ask and i'll fill you in. that cstate19 must have been your # on the throw away jersey that parge gave you or the intramural broomeball championship squad at cortland, obviously not the college baseball team that i played for!