BB: General New England Discussion

[KSCfan]

KSCer- I can see Nelson from Keene getting 5 wins, that would leave Davis, and Pelky to win 5 as well, who is the other one?  Their is no question Keene bats will pound the ball, I just hope the staff steps up.  When Keene made a couple of deep runs in the regional it was on their pitching and defense. 

Ms. Beacon- Good point about Vogt, but I think that you will see Keene go to him not just in save situations.  I could very easily see Keene going to him in the 8 and 9th in a close game, or if the owls are up 6 or 7 and the other team starts to rally Keene will go to him as well.  I think you are going to see Vogt put impressive numbers no matter what, you might not see a lot of save but I will gurantee that you will see a lot of innings for him, with a very low WHIP, and a high strike out total.

Also please dont tell Jconn that Lebrun and Andriano underpreformed, those two guys are his boys, he might dis own your from beaconville.  Dalton is very good and I was very impressed with him last year as he just tore teams up.  With a questionable bullpen will we see teams try and be more patient with him to run up the pitch count and get to the bullpen in the 6th or 7th?

LECfan- Good point about Keene playing some Northern games before going south.   I think that this will help the team shake out a little before going south.  Usually in years past spots have been won and lost on the Arizona trip, now maybe the Owls might be able to lock in that "weekend lineup" a little sooner and really dominate that trip to Florida.  Some big new england games on that trip.

Who has the best pitching staff in New England?   I am a big LEC guy but i dont really see the best staff in New England at any of the LEC schools.  Is it perhaps at a Babson, Wheaton, a Trinity or a Williams, a St Joes?  Someone help please

[LEC Fan]

While I think Vogt will put up great numbers it is interesting that Keene has had 2 premier "closers" in the last 5-6 years with Ford (holds the record for saves in a year and career at KSC) and now Vogt. Now they just have to get the starters and mid relievers on the same page!

LECFan, becuase it is Friday and do not wish to get back to work, I have gathered some information on your pitching question. Below is info. from the 2010 season as it relates to teams ERA. Suprised?

Team ERA 2010 (per NCAA website)- rankings are national
6. Wheaton (MA)- 3.71 (44 games)
22. Tufts University- 4.05 (41 games)
29. Worcester St.- 4.21 (43 games)
30. Western NE- 4.21 (46 games)
34. St. Joe's (ME)- 4.32 (48 games)

Those were the top 5 New England teams, below is Eastern and KSC to give you an idea of where they stood in region/country

88. Eastern CT- 5.08 (46 games)
152. Keene St.- 5.78 (45 games)

I have also put together some additional information (statistics) about those respective teams and their roster makeup for 2011.

Wheaton (MA)
Shepard  1.04 ERA  9 daves  26 IP  (graduated)
Corr  1.82 ERA  8-2  59 IP (junior)
Longley  2.42 ERA  2-0  26 IP  (graduated)
Kostaras  3.71  6-1  50 IP  (graduated)

Tufts
DeGoti  1.17 ERA  12 saves  23 IP  (junior)
Bernstein  1.55 ERA  4-0  29 IP  (senior)
Miller  2.92 ERA  5.0  52IP  (senior)
Ryan  3.33 ERA  4-1  51IP  (junior)
Gilchrist  3.48 ERA  6-1  51IP  (junior)

Worcester St.
Slattery  2.88 ERA  4-0  34IP  (sophmore)
Kasik  3.83 ERA 5-4  52IP  (senior)
Borowiec  3.84 ERA  4-2  63IP  (graduated)
DeVito  4.30 ERA  6-0  44IP  (senior)

Western New England
Lawlor  1.47 ERA  4-1  36IP 7 saves  (junior)
Jefferis  2.93 ERA  7-1  73IP  (sophmore)
Rogers  3.46 ERA  10-1  80IP  (senior)

St. Joe's
Murray  2.45 ERA  7-2  58IP  (junior)
Stanclift  2.55 ERA  5 saves  17IP  (transfer?)
Moran  3.52 ERA  7-2  64IP  (graduated)

Out of those top pitching teams in 2010 I think Tufts has to be reckoned with. They are returning all of their studs and will have 2 seniors and 3 juniors anchoring that staff. I will look to do some more digging this afternoon, need a good lunch, into the LEC and what is to come in that conference!

[LEC Fan]

LECFan, becuase it is Friday and do not wish to get back to work, I have gathered some information on your pitching question. Below is info. from the 2010 season as it relates to teams ERA. Suprised?

sorry...I meant KSCFan!

[KSCfan]

LEC Fan- apparently the grange is boring on fridays huh?

1. I appreciate the information. + 1 karma  I agree with Tufts.  They where number 1 in New England for most of last year and i will admit that I have been over looking them by accident when talking about new england.  That staff looks very strong and I reckon they will be a force this year.  I looked for a 2011  schedule but its not posted as of yet.

2.  I think you meant KSCfan not LECfan because you are LECfan and Kscfan thinks that unless you are talking in the third person like the ROCK used to in the WWF you might of made a mistake.

3.  WNEC looks to have some good pitching as well.  New England looks to have no clear cut favorite this year.  

Based on my crazy ideas, what people have said, and some serious guess work here is my pre-season NE top 8

1. Umass Boston- Defending champs number 1 until someone proves otherwise
2. Tufts- looks to have prob the best pitching returning of all new england
3.  WNEC- looks to have a great staff back, can't see anyone else out of the CCC
4. Eastern CT- Lost a lot of offense still have strong pen with Wojick and Chamberlin, Still have Schult, they tend to win every year
5. St Joe's- Looking to put another strong year out there
6. Keene State- One of the best if not the best offense in New England, need pitching to step up and easily top 3 team in New England
7. Wheaton/Babon- NEWMAC powers are usually pretty strong
8. Worchester State- dont know much about them but they had a great year last year bring back Kasik and Deveto, should be able to win the MACSAC again
8. Wheaton/Babon- NEWMAC powers are usually pretty strong

[kscer]

KSCer- I can see Nelson from Keene getting 5 wins, that would leave Davis, and Pelky to win 5 as well, who is the other one?  Their is no question Keene bats will pound the ball, I just hope the staff steps up.  When Keene made a couple of deep runs in the regional it was on their pitching and defense. 

KSCfan, There are three or four guys who have been injured or not found themselves who could step up -- Quags, Garrison, Theising, etc and a transfer or two. The potential is there, and you got Wojsch and Vogt to finish games. Look out, they're on no one's radar

[Niner]

St. Joe's
Murray  2.45 ERA  7-2  58IP  (junior)
Stanclift  2.55 ERA  5 saves  17IP  (transfer?)
Moran  3.52 ERA  7-2  64IP  (graduated)

Stanclift transferred to Keene State. That will definitely help KSC. Saw him pitch a few times this summer for the Keene Blue Jays, decent arm, had good stuff.

[kscer]

St. Joe's
Murray  2.45 ERA  7-2  58IP  (junior)
Stanclift  2.55 ERA  5 saves  17IP  (transfer?)
Moran  3.52 ERA  7-2  64IP  (graduated)

Stanclift transferred to Keene State. That will definitely help KSC. Saw him pitch a few times this summer for the Keene Blue Jays, decent arm, had good stuff.

There's another multi game winner along with Alex Ingram who transferred from down south... Methodist I think...got homesick.

[Old Man]

Rumor has it.  KSC has no Nelson, Davis to pitch - Stanclift and Ingram from KHS still up in air on how they may help the OWLS.  Could be a great year in LEC- UMB has to be the team to beat...  USm # 30 after .500 year??? that is coach flaherty and years of being good.  will they be good - most likely - Ed hates to throw clipboards for 2 years in a row.  ECSU - how is coach hollowaty doing? - we all hope he is back in dugout at ECSU?  KSC and the man behind OWLS pitching - Coach Testo and new daughter AVERY - We all hope everyone in the Swamp (TESTO VILLE) she is doing well.

My thoughts on LEC!!!

1. UMB
2. KSC
3. ECSU
4. USM
5. RIC
6. UMD
7. PSU
8. WCSU

Bring on the Spring!!!!!!!


OM

[Ms. Beacon]

KSCer- I can see Nelson from Keene getting 5 wins, that would leave Davis, and Pelky to win 5 as well, who is the other one?  Their is no question Keene bats will pound the ball, I just hope the staff steps up.  When Keene made a couple of deep runs in the regional it was on their pitching and defense. 

Ms. Beacon- Good point about Vogt, but I think that you will see Keene go to him not just in save situations.  I could very easily see Keene going to him in the 8 and 9th in a close game, or if the owls are up 6 or 7 and the other team starts to rally Keene will go to him as well.  I think you are going to see Vogt put impressive numbers no matter what, you might not see a lot of save but I will gurantee that you will see a lot of innings for him, with a very low WHIP, and a high strike out total.

Also please dont tell Jconn that Lebrun and Andriano underpreformed, those two guys are his boys, he might dis own your from beaconville.  Dalton is very good and I was very impressed with him last year as he just tore teams up.  With a questionable bullpen will we see teams try and be more patient with him to run up the pitch count and get to the bullpen in the 6th or 7th?

LECfan- Good point about Keene playing some Northern games before going south.   I think that this will help the team shake out a little before going south.  Usually in years past spots have been won and lost on the Arizona trip, now maybe the Owls might be able to lock in that "weekend lineup" a little sooner and really dominate that trip to Florida.  Some big new england games on that trip.

Who has the best pitching staff in New England?   I am a big LEC guy but i dont really see the best staff in New England at any of the LEC schools.  Is it perhaps at a Babson, Wheaton, a Trinity or a Williams, a St Joes?  Someone help please

KSCfan -- I agree with you about Vogt.  If I were Coach Howe, I certainly would use him more.  And based on his performance last year, there is no reason to think he won't put up great numbers again.  However, it remains to be seen how his arm would respond with more use.  I still feel that in order to get All-American consideration, he needs to either pitch more innings while maintaining his numbers or improve his save totals.

I know Jconn always has the Beacons back, but if you look at their seasons objectively, LeBrun and Andriano did underperform.  LeBrun pitched all year with an injury (clearly not his fault), and although he collected four wins, with a 7.83 ERA, the offense clearly picked him up.  Andriano went 1-3 in starts and did not turn it on until the last four weeks.  It was nice to see both of these seniors go out with a bang, but Dalton, Heefner and Damon carried that staff.  And having the second best offense in the LEC wasn't bad either!

As for testing the young bullpen, Dalton pitched 6 complete games, so trying to get his pitch count up to get to the pen likely won't work well as a strategy.  The starting rotation overall should be strong and better than last year's staff looking one through five.

[kscer]

Rumor has it.  KSC has no Nelson, Davis to pitch -

OM

Old Man, I echo your thoughts. Nelson and Davis gone? That's not good for Keene in terms of pitcher development. What did you hear?

[KSCfan]

Wow the rumor mill is swirling out of the swamp.  I went to the Keene State athletic website, and the 2011 roster is not out yet.  So far the rumors are unconfirmed!  With Stanclift at keene that is going to give them three bullpen guys that are strong.  You will now have Wojsch, Vogt, and Stanclift out of the bullpen.  Might you see one of those guys go into a start role on weekdays, and then come out of the pen on saturday?  Loving the baseball talk on the board.  Some great insight from people.

Ms. Beacon good point on Dalton throwing 6 complete games. I did not know that, it seems that UMB has a work horse in him. 

Old Man- USM being ranked 30 after their 500 season last year should not come as a surprise.  This happens every year.  Pre-season rankings are nice but hardly even close to a real reflection.  The coach from Oregon has heard of Southren Maine so he votes for them, but he truly has no idea what they have.  The same is prob true of the Eastern USA coaches not knowing a team from the west.  Coaches know the team has had success and they end up in the pre-season polls.

Also the potluck for the Testo's seemed to go very well.  I attended and their was a great turn out.  Nice to see the town of Keene rally for a great family. 

[nescacbaseballfan]

Just as a reply to previous comments about schools in the nescac with bad fields such as Trinity.  I know for a fact that for the past 7 years or more Coach Decker has brought in recruits with the promise to build the new "stadium" field under the lights with locker rooms and everything during their four years at Trinity.  He even has a drawing of it in his office to show the recruits and reel them in.   

[LEC Fan]

nescacbaseballfan- 7 years!!! that is almost 2 classes of players...you would think after their national championship he would have the leg to stand on to get that thing built!!

[HBPme]

just sitting here watching the snow fall, and fall, and fall. chances these teams get their pre-spring trip games in? Farmingdale is hosting what seems to be a very promising early season tournament, but its not looking good so far. Coming from a player who got to play games before the spring trip, it is GREATLY beneficial to the team as a whole and the players as individuals to have a "tune-up" before their trips down south. It was always tough going from the gym, straight to the field. Lets hope these teams are able to play that wknd, even if it is while enduring very inclement weather.

[Hobbesy]

Got a comment on my blog from a Tufts parent stating that All-America closer Chris DeGoti underwent Tommy John surgery last week.  I checked the information with a coach at Tufts and it is correct.  Huge blow for the Jumbos.