BB: SUNYAC

[StarvinMarvin]

NCWC, I'll be jealous if you can make it to the game as I wish I was able to travel down to see it but work calls unfortunately.  Should be a treat for those in attendance.  I see Wesleyan will have eight games under their belt before they play Cortland which should make for a bit of an advantage but nonetheless, no excuses.

[NCWC]

I played against Cortland a few times and always liked their style, which made me curious of their team, I knew Zaccardo's name, but was unclear on those two southpaws.  I briefly went over the roster and it looked like they had more than two guys.  I wanted to make sure I was getting the real deal even though admission is free.  Good luck to Cortland through the season.

[StarvinMarvin]

I go to as many Cortland games as I can and I know they have two very, very talented arms coming back this year who were injured and unavailable last year along with a couple of transfers and freshman aside from returners.  Objectively speaking, I cannot imagine a team with more depth and talent in the country.  They have ten legitimate arms and throw in another 3 to 5 arms that will contribute.  Obviously they will have a target on their back even more so than previous years because of rankings but this is the most talented team on paper that Cortland has ever had in my opinion.  Overall, a very, very solid team.    A fun team to watch play no doubt about it.  Best of luck to Wesleyan and safe travels in your attempt to watch them play.  I'd like to hear your thoughts on the game if you get a chance to see it when they face off in late Feb. I believe it is.

NCWC....I apologize for my earlier posts, didn't mean to be disrespectful to the NCWesleyan program or to you yourself.  I just get pumped up when I think of the Cortland's chances this year and can't wait to see some ball!  Best of luck to NCWesleyan this year in their attempt to make it to Appleton!

[banalyst]

Kyle Blanco, Farleigh Dickinson (finished with nine wins)
0-6, 14.90 ERA, 22.1 IP, 44 H, 41 R, 37 ER, 15 BB, 15 K, .411 OBA
-Out of St. Raymond's in the Bronx.

Kyle Dimino, Finger Lakes CC
.358 BA, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 39 H, 1 DBL, 3 TRP, 43 SB-44 SBA
All-Mid State Athletic Conference 2007

Kurt Heaton, Suffolk Community College-Seldon
5-1, 2 SVS, 3.44 ERA, 55.0 IP, 27 R, 21 ER, 43 H, 55 K, 23 BB
-team leader in wins, strikeouts, saves


you forget the other dimino brother who hit over .400 last year and the monroe kid palmiero who also hit over.400 as well as avery who was brockports best player, they have very good transfers

[banalyst]

Cortland is going to be a contender for this year, very strong in pitching and they just got great hitters to join the squad....it will be an exciting year for them...here is a look at some players to look out for this year!

Anderson Gardner
Mike Zaccardo obviously!
Matt Tone
Mike Avery- transfer
Nick Palmiero- transfer
George Jweid
Adam Dimino who transfered from Lemoyne
Kyhle Dimino- transfer
Nick Blanco- transfer
Steve Nickel

Those guys hould have good years!

[NYBaseball]

Banalyst Cortland is always a contender.....a lot of depth on the pitching staff, but no true ace like dougher may be a problem late in the season unless someone can step up.  All pretty solid recruits, but last time i checked only 9 guys can play at once. 

You mention all these guys but fail to mention arguably 3 of C-State better players.  Vitalone will start at ss and most likely hit in the 3 spot. Russo will be starting at 2b and Coromato will be in one of the OF spots.....so its nice they got all these guys

It'll be interesting to see whose in the lineup when the season starts and gets the at-bats.....its only common sense that someone will be the odd man out. I guess its a good problem to have if your Coach Brown

It's going to be hard for palmiero, and the the dimino brothers to even crack the lineup with all the depth corltand has returning

[pudge27]

NYBaseball--You make a good point about only 9 guys on the field at once.  A point that needs to be made is that in my opinion, the thing that sets Cortland apart from the rest of the NY Region is their depth more than their talent.  Don't get me wrong, they're very talented and their top line pitchers are very good.  But take a look at how many times Cortland has actually lost early in the Regionals and just picks other teams off on their way back through.  They've also done similar things in the CWS, although never made it all the way back.  Aside from ECSU a couple of years ago, I don't remember another team doing that in the NY Regional. 

Cortland has always made sure that guys that can play, get time and their ready to go when it counts.  And if you're a NY team that is going to have to rely on your 3, 4, or 5 pitcher to got against Cortland's pitching depth, just forget about it.  I'm sure that there's teams across the country with that depth, but year in, year out, I think that's the biggest difference between Cortland and everyone else in NY.

[banalyst]

pudge27 i know what you meen about the 9 guys on the field....that doesn't meen that those guys are going to have good years....where there is talent....it should be able to get a crack at the lineup...coach brown didn't bring good tranfers in who already have experience to sit the bench.....they will do fine!

[NYBaseball]

i dont know about that banalyst.....you tell me where any of those transfers are gonna see consistent playing time.  Just about everyone of those guys will be lucky to see a spot start and some pinch hit at-bats.  Coach Brown trys to stock-pile as much talent as possible, and just because they have experience means nothing. 

This will be one of cortlands deepest teams theyv'e ever had.  Its only a proven fact that someone is going to be the odd man out.  Like i said before only 9 guys can play. 

Zaccardo C, Devito/Giametta 1b, Russo 2b, Vitalone SS, Nickel 3b, Coromato LF, Avery CF, Gardner DH......so that leaves RF for Caughey/Simone/the Dimino brothers.

basically anyone that came in will have trouble cracking the lineup, but like i said its a nice problem to have.....just can't see kids like Palmiero, or the Dimino brothers see consistent playing time. 

[Bob Maxwell]

Let me start by saying that I think Cortland is the favorite in both the SUNYAC and NY Region...  they are the team that everyone is chasing at this paper part of the season.

Yes, they have a lot of talent on paper... and most likely it will be on the field as well.  The point about only 9 guys playing is true... However, I don't think the depth is a problem at all.  They all will play... some will have good years and some won't.  But they all will play...  The "regular" season is the tryout for the post season... With the exception of a couple of key spots (I'm guessing SS and Catcher) the lineup will change daily with everyone getting their AB's and innings played.

BUT... the games still need to be played on the field.  So what is on paper has to transfer daily to the field.

I think the interesting parts of the season for this team are:
1) who will emerge from the pack to be the top coupld of pitchers.  yes they have several good ones.... but no one who has been the go to guy in college (yet). 

2) with all the playing time being split, a key will be to keep everyone happy through out the season.  Winning is a big part of that... so it may be true that it happens all year long, but a speed bump some where could be something that causes some hard feelings some where along the line...

We will see...

I think it is starting to warm up... its 25 out today!  Baseball must be almost here...

[NYBaseball]

Bob, you hit several of my key points.  Cortland has a lot of depth and more than they've probably ever had before.  My point is that i just don't see many of those new guys getting any consistent at-bats to really be effective.  It's hard to produce when you don't know if your going to be in the lineup everyday.

I agree guys will get their opportunities....but it just may only be a handful of spot starts and pinch hit at-bats during games that Cortland is beating up on someone. You mention SS not changing and that was my point.  Vitalone will be at SS meaning Palmiero will not be seeing the field, looks like hes along for the ride to Appelton  

Winning will keep guys happy, which i see C-state doing a lot of, and they should be tested playing one of the best schedules in the country

[StarvinMarvin]

Not having a "go to guy" has no bearing on the success of Cortland this season.  Jim Dougher was the "go to guy" and he started four of the seven games Cortland lost and two of them were in the post-season.  He pitched 10 plus innnings in two of those losses but wasn't given any run support.  One was against Trinity and the other against Kean.  Even though he took the loss in both games, those two outings were probably the best of his collegiate career.  So the notion that no "go to guy" has been established is just the only thing anyone can come up with as a potential weakness.  George Jweid is 15-1 in his college career after two years.  He's pitched in some pretty big ball games in his career thus far and does have a World Series win under his belt.  Arms like Dougher don't come along very often so it's hard for anyone to live up to his standards but does anyone else in the region have a World Series win under their belt?  In my opinion, George Jweid is the best "go to guy" in the region because he's won a bigger ball game on the hill than anyone else in the region aside from Ryan Hooper who had a win his freshman year against Wooster to get Cortland into the national championship game.  For a freshman to win a game of that magnitude is outstanding and I wouldn't want anyone else on the mound than that young man after doing what he did.  He and Jweid have proven it in bigger ball games than any other pitcher on a non-Cortland staff.  So until someone else in the region pitches in a World Series game, I don't know how you can say that Cortland doesn't have a "go to guy".  You're right, they don't have one "go to" guy, they have a go to staff and that's why they win.   

[scuba16]

You may as well add Jason Simone and Paul Merriweather into the mix at Cortland for PT too, Simone was the AA POY in NYS and can flat out rake. Merriweather is a proven kid that will probably platoon at 3rd base. Caughey is not on the team anymore, I think he flunked out of school? Go to guy on the mound is Jweid. Kid has proven he is lights out when the pressure is on but there will be a bunch of guys on this staff that can go out and spin a gem when you need it!
Bottom line for this team is you hit, you play. Most of the guys on this team are solid defensively so when you slump at the plate you'll probably sit. IMO, great problem to have if you are the coach. 1. Creates competition during practice = everyone is working hard if you want to play.
2. Being tired at the end of the of a long yr is non existent, alot of guy have logged innings. 3. Injuries aren't quite as devastating. 4. Gives a coach options!
As far as certain guys just being along for the ride, I disagree, over a long season roles will be defined and TEAM PLAYERS will learn and accept their role for the betterment of the team. I think you'll see alot of different guys getting it done for Cortland in '08, this team is too deep not to get everyone some innings over the 45 or so games!

[NYBaseball]

Scuba your right simone will be in the mix.....as i mentioned in a previous post.....I agree there will be innings for everyone, just not consistent ones, and that may be tough producing when your not sure whether your going to play or not.

Merriweather is a prime example....the kid only had 76 at-bats last yr and only started 18 of their 45 gms.  Someone who definately could be playing everyday.  But hey guys have to except there roles for the betterment of the team

[Bob Maxwell]

Some good points made yesterday...  I made the post I did to point out that when you are the favorite and have the depth that a top team usually has, that there are coaching issues that other teams don't have to deal with.

I don't think that anyone will argue with the probablility that even if Cortland doesn't win the SUNYAC automatic bid this year they will be going to the NCAA regional.  At this point they are the only team that any of us can make that statement for with almost 100% certainty.  Yes there are others who we can make cases for, but Cortland is the one team that can make their travel reservations (to the regionals) tight now.


Starvin,  I didn't say that they don't have a go to guy... I said it would be interesting to see who would emerge in that position.  Yes they have several very good pitchers... and as you point out Jweid is one of them.  I didn't state that they will lose big games becuase they don't have someone in that role at this point of the year.  Just that it will be interesting to see how it develops...  Personally I think that Matt Tone is a good candidate for the role... 

The stats you give on Dougher are VERY interesting... Most likely that is the case because as we all know, when you play agasint top teams you sometimes lose games... and good pitchers do get losses or no decisions.  While I didn't have the information you gave us, the numbers are as you pointed out,because he was the guy that coach Brown went to when he needed a win in a big game.  Without going into the game detials, weren't they all close games where defense and lack of run production played a part in the losses? 

Agian, interesting data... thanks.


No debate from me that Dougher, Jweid, Tone and many of the other Cortland pitchers are top notch and command respect when they are on the mound.

I only made the point that it will be interesting now that Dougher (and Burnett and Miller before him) are gone... how the dynamics of the staff will play out throught the season.  That happens on a lot of teams, we just happen to be discussing Cortland here...