BB: SUNYAC

[baseball13]

Khyle hitting .308 and stealing 28-31 bases is a big part of their offense.  They'll without a doubt find a sufficient player to replace him but I think it hurts when you lose a starter who happens to be your leading base stealer by far.  Next best was 16 stolen bases by Coromato, and he graduated.

[Ralph Turner]

Welcome to the boards baseball13!

SUNYAC hot stove league is in full session!

[John McGraw]

C-State 2009 slate now posted on the web. Interesting schedule and pretty much the usual fare for a Joe Brown team though the Florida schedule seems a little lighter than years past.

Some of the highlights include...
2/20 at Salisbury (trip also includes stops at Mary Washington and Catholic)
3/8 vs. RPI (Winter Haven, Fla.)
3/10 vs. Webster (Winter Haven, Fla.)
3/12 vs. Rhode Island College (Winter Haven, Fla.)
3/13 vs. Messiah (Winter Haven, Fla.)
3/20 at SUNY Farmingdale
3/21 at Montclair State
4/10 vs. St. Joseph's (LI) (DH)
plus a home-and-home with Keystone and the usual home-and-home with Ithaca (4/1, 4/15)

No roster listed but it's still early.

[bball 14]

heard cortland state got some quality transfers as usual.... go CS

[dgilblair]

heard cortland state got some quality transfers as usual.... go CS

Boy, what a shock....they are unreal.

[John McGraw]

heard cortland state got some quality transfers as usual.... go CS

They can be good players but it doesn't mean they'll crack the line-up. Some transfers have come in and flourished right away - like the Dimino brothers, Travis Ratliff and Nick Blanco did last season, others take a while before we see what they truly can do. Off the top of my head, Nick DeVito didn't really have a breakout until the 2007 regionals and then he raised his average by almost 30 points last year and did a good job in spot relief.

My favorites will always be the kids that come through the program. The ones where you can see them progress from one stage to the next, guys (of late) like Andy Mead, Jim Dougher, Joey Russo, Johnny Giametta Jr. and Will Groff (wished he'd stuck around as a senior) to name a few.

But college baseball is what it is and I have no problem with transfers, every program has them, some more so than others.

[HotSoupTrio]

the latest college baseball newspaper mentions some rather impressive transfers for the "big red dragon machine"....

most notably d1 transfer Kevin Jackson (interestingly enough a summer teammate of travis ratlif).

i also like sean bailey at second base for them this year, he comes from a great baseball family, i have known his father skip for many years. should provide an excellent glove for them as well as some timely hitting....

it looks like the machine might be rolling again this year...anything less then a world series title would be a giant let down for joe brown and crew

[John McGraw]

I agree that Jackson is an interesting pick-up since he is a Division-I transfer, hit .318 as a frosh at UMaine and was on the 2007 America East all-rookie team. However, I think you're wrong on Bailey, I don't think he'll see much more playing time than he did in the PSAC at California.

[John McGraw]

Sean Bailey helping anyone out with timely hitting just makes me want to fall out of my chair,he couldnt hit his way out of a milk carton...defensively he's alright but no joey russo.

How many teams has Joe Brown had in the world series Im starting to begin to think he cant win the big one, which honestly wont make me lose any sleep.

+K on Bailey comment.

I think winning the national championship once you get to Wisconsin is a crap shoot. A lot of it depends on the luck of the draw and how you deal with that luck. Pairings in the first few games are predetermined, like which regional winner will play another and what four-team group they'll be in. I think Cortland's play in the series the past two years has been disappointing but they have showed that they can get there on a regular basis and the players are learning what it takes to win at that level.

The Dragons are still getting to Wisconsin and have made it to the World Series three out of the last four years after missing out in '02 (RPI), '03 (Trinity), '04 (Brockport). With Matt Tone, Nick Blanco, Travis Ratliff and a healthy George Jweid at the top of the rotation, I think this year will be the Dragons best shot to take the title.

[HotSoupTrio]

Butch,

kind of a low blow attack on Joe Brown, the guy is a proven winner... congrats to him on his NECBL title this summer, a very impressive addition to his resume. any thoughts on JB moving onto a Division 1 job in the near future?

John
your right  winning is a crapshoot and alot of luck must be on your side...The Red Dragon nation will get a national title soon enough...the only competition they really have at regionals is when an out of region team is brought in...they are really the cream of the crop for northeast baseball. they should run away with the SUNYAC again this yr, probably with little slip up

[John McGraw]

John it was to my understanding that Jweid was done, but I'm not sure anyone know about his status.

I've heard Jweid's name bandied about in summer baseball discussions so I would assume that he'll be good to go at some point this spring. I can't imagine him being listed on a roster if he's not going to be healthy.

[HotSoupTrio]

it would be great to see jweid rebound and have another great year.

anyone got any predictions on how the SUNYACs might shape up this year? why don;t we throw out some predictions for who might be playing for it all on Wallace Field this spring.

[StarvinMarvin]

In regard to Cortland (Brown) not being able to win it all, let's understand some things first.  With the most recent format, you lose game one and you're walking uphill on ice with skates from there on out.  In 2000, Cortland beat Montclair in game one and they've been the only team to come back from a game one defeat.  In Cortland's last three WS appearance which would be '05, '07, '08, Cortland has drawn arguably the best team in the country for their first round matchup.  Basically what I'm saying is that they haven't drawn a Cinderella in game one which isn't always a guaranteed win but you feel more confident playing a team like that.  Wooster ('05), Kean ('07) and Trinity last year with Kean and Trinity being the eventual champions as Cortland's first round matchup.  All three of those first round matchups were one run ball games and I think Wooster might have been a two run game possibly.  My point is that each of those games could have gone either way and a win completely changes things much like a loss in the opposite direction.  To win the whole thing out there a lot of stuff has to go your way, it's not easy!  Like any sport the head coach gets too much credit and too much blame.  Joe Brown has had some very good help along the way to get that program to where it is, let's not forget that.  However, it's not about Cortland not being able to win the big game, it's about catching a break which they will eventually do I believe.  Other than last year's team, Cortland has always battled in Appleton regardless of the game one outcome and that's what they should be judged by.

[bball 14]

good post marvin..... gotta respect  a coach who  motivates  and brings these guys along year after year.  .... the boys really do like playing for him..... hats off to Joe and all involved in the program for the success they have had......  go CS

[HotSoupTrio]

Butch,
I know this might be a little off topic, but I love the name. As a met fan reminds me of some disappointing springs and summers in Queens, NY. LoL bring back Benny Agabayani....