BB: General New England Discussion

[ecfaninri]

DGilblair...
I wish I could but I gotta put down mulch today.

[Ralph Turner]

DGilblair...
I wish I could but I gotta put down mulch today.

Why go outside...

There is plenty of mulch being put down on these boards!   

[ecfaninri]

Ralph,
DOn't you mean manure? I know what you mean.....

[Ralph Turner]

Ralph,
DOn't you mean manure? I know what you mean.....

I was being polite!   

[DIII Dad]

moc323,
Here are the standings for the NEWMAC. You said in an earlier post Wheaton was listed over WPI. Maybe if you weren't blinded by your rage over Wheaton you would see WPI on top.

                 Conf.     Over-All 
WPI           9-3-0     26-11-0 
Wheaton     9-3-0    30-12-0 
MIT            7-5-0    24-14-0 
Babson        6-6-0    22-18-0 
Springfield    5-7-0    9-26-0 
Clark           4-8-0    14-21-0 
Coast Guard 2-10-0  7-23-0 

[d3baseballnut]

Moc...

If it makes you feel any better, in my opinion Wheaton has played there last game and will NOT receive an at large bid this year. There is no way you can justify them getting into a regional with a very average record this year. I have absolutely no idea how Wheaton is even still ranked in the top 10 in New England in this recent poll. Babson has proven this year that they are the best team in the NEWMAC and rightfully so, they have earned their trip to the NE regional. All Wheaton has done this year is under achieve with some bad losses. However, there is just too much talent between USM, Trinity and ECSU to think that anyone can compete with them in the NE regional. USM has a ridiculous offense to go along with some above average pitchers, Trinity has arguably the best pitcher in all of D3 in Bayer and probably the second best offense behind USM with Killeen, Graham and Wood, and ECSU has the depth to win the regional with a very strong senior class led by Gilblair and the ability to beat anyone on any given day. I just don't see anyone upsetting these 3 teams in the regional. My pick is still USM, but I think Trinity could also make a run if Bayer can pitch 2 of the 4 or 5 games.   

8)     

Dougiesgoindeep---I agree USM, Trinity, ECSU will be tough to take out, per the double elim format, as they will eventually "hit" their way back to the semis from any possible 1st round defeat at the hands of someone like Babson, Wheaton (if invited) Curry, Suffolk, etc etc....but, as we all know from playing, observing, coaching baseball games since our youth......a strong performance by a top notch starter can quiet ANY batting lineup---for any one game.    Any one of these three can be beaten on day one, if a lower seed gets a 9 out of 10 effort by their starting p.     Once that happens---if it does---that top seed can then be in big trouble, as far as being able to climb all the way back to win the region.   All 3 top seeds know they will have the pressure on them to get game 1....because those other 2 top seeds probably will be in winners' bracket.   If WNEC, Babson and Wheaton all end up as the "lower" seeds----don't bet the mortgage against all 3 of them in round 1....    As you have seen in last 24 hours on these boards---I've been the biggest Wheaton basher--or, disbeliever to be polite, for this season----but--they certainly do have enough all around batting talent and an All american/Gingras starting for them---not to mention Josh Simmons as closer in any close game late...     Babson has Aizenstadt--rookie of year last year---and 6-1 starter this season, with a rare save in finals of NEWMAC tourney also.......zero earned runs his last few starts (and 1 save) combined.    If they can get a round 1 win---watch out---3 very good starters follow Aizenstadt---thus the 4-0 sweep through their tourney.      I know college baseball is a hitting league, in general, with several teams batting well over .300 each year, so, eventually those teams do show up at the end.   Not too many of them have the 4 quality starters Babson has though----so, they can be equalizers?      For a team like Trinity to go 43-0 or more last year...and almost run the whole table through the Nationals....they obviously weren't "stopped" by anyone!   USM never stops hitting, nor does Trinity as you say.  ECSU is always solid, top to bottom.    Any of these 3 would be almost impossible to take down, in a best of 7 series.   The good news for all others is:  it's not best of 7 !!     Too bad all 3 may be in same regionals.....      Would love to believe Wheaton will be absent, but....they still show up as # 15 Nationally, # 4 in NEW ENG?     TRAVESTY......

I believe there is a good chance Trinity gets sent to the NY region and becomes that region's #1 seed. Cortland state cannot legitimately be the #1 seed in that region.

[ECSUalum]

Some Broadcast info re LEC Tourney for those interested:

Here is USM Radio web link:

http://people.usm.maine.edu/jkessler/athletics/

As of today it was just showing the USM vs Plymouth State game from last weekend, but would assume they will post broadcasts of the LEC Tourney soon.

Very good announcers of of USM College Radio
Here is Little East TV broadcast schedule:

Current Schedule
05/07
Little East Baseball Final Four Game 1: USM vs. UMB (ME) 12:00PM (EST) 
05/07
Little East Baseball Final Four Game 2: ECSU vs. KSC (ME) 03:30PM (EST) 
05/08
Little East Baseball Final Four Game 3 (ME) 09:30AM (EST) 
05/08
Little East Baseball Final Four Game 4 (ME) 12:30PM (EST) 
05/08
Little East Baseball Final Four Game 5 (ME) 03:30PM (EST) 
05/09
Little East Baseball Final Four Game 6 (ME) 12:00PM (EST) 
05/09 Little East Baseball Final Four Game 7 (ME) 03:00PM (EST) 

Again, go to LEC web site and click on Little East TV, then click on game as shown above under "Current Schedule"

Click on "try this link" under video box if video does not show in 20 seconds

[moc323]

moc323,
Here are the standings for the NEWMAC. You said in an earlier post Wheaton was listed over WPI. Maybe if you weren't blinded by your rage over Wheaton you would see WPI on top.
thanks Wheaton dad? Or, d3 dad------but---if you followed that conference a few weeks ago, as the reg season ended and the NEWMAC tourney started up---it was a full week, before they flip flopped those two teams and showed them, accurately, as you now show them.  And it wasn't because the wins/losses/stats hadn't been updated for the 2 teams yet--as the NEWMAC had showed both their records at 9-3, which is how they finished conference play.    From your "rage" comment, I have to assume you are a D3 DAD, OF A Wheaton player...?   If so---sorry for any "rage" aimed at your son's team...It wasn't meant for, nor aimed at any of the players on Wheaton----AS I FOLLOWED UP IN A COUPLE LATER POSTS BY STATING THEY "HAVE PLENTY OF TALENT", etc etc.....It's strictly observations I made that the committees whom judge all d3 teams, had seemingly, already plugged Wheaton in to a certain top area, for year end consideration, before they even played their schedule out??.....   These standings showed Wheaton 1st, WPI 2nd, as I said-----with these identical 9-3 records for at least a full week---before they were finally corrected.  Simple oversight by those whom list standings?  maybe.   maybe not, based on 2 years of adoration given to Wheaton on D3 sites in general.....even as they go through their late season swoon this year...   
             
 Conf.     Over-All 
WPI           9-3-0     26-11-0 
Wheaton     9-3-0    30-12-0 
MIT            7-5-0    24-14-0 
Babson        6-6-0    22-18-0 
Springfield    5-7-0    9-26-0 
Clark           4-8-0    14-21-0 
Coast Guard 2-10-0  7-23-0 

[rbgosfan]

moc323,
Calm down a little bit. I agree that  Wheaton has received a lot of press over  the past 2 years but starting with their second place finish nationally in 2006 they have done a lot to deserve it. I saw them a couple of times in Arizona this year and they were a quality team. Prior to their late season problems they were deserving of much of the praise.

I also agree that  teams to get recognized as much by reputation as witnessed by Cortland and Hopkins being top 5 in preseason polls and not ranked halfway through the seasaon. With the number of D3 schools out there and lack of data on all  the recruits, reputation and returning players has to be a key factor early in the year and once ranked it does take a while to slip downward but that is the case when 25 coaches are voting who could not possibly have seen all the teams they are evaluating.

As far as the order teams are listed in standings, there is probably an algorithm being used such as sort first on conference record and  if tied a second criteria would be used. Often times that is alphabetical (Wh would come before WP or Wo) or it may have been overall winning percentage (Wheaton is .714 while WPI is .703).  Really what difference does it  make how the regular season standings are listed when ultimately Babson won the conference tournament and received the AQ to the NCAA's.

Enjoy the success of your team and lighten up on the bashing of other teams.

[moc323]

RBGosfan:

As I do: "calm down" , "lighten up" and "enjoy my own team's success", per your suggestions...   please note I am not "bashing", nor meaning to bash---any other teams, by any means.  If you go back further in general new eng discussions, from a few days ago---vs only responding to the last post or 2 from today, you'll, hopefully see I'm well aware of Wheaton's success over the past 3 years, as I've seen them play 9 times in person.... and you'll also see I stated a few different times how they are very talented every year.    It's the ranking system, and/or those whom do the rankings (yes, the 25 coaches) which I have been questioning----NOT THE actual players themselves.    I think I can voice my opinions/concerns etc about how teams are ranked, or why they may be left unranked?   I appreciate the algorithm explanation you gave, re: why standings may have been listed incorrectly for awhile...whether that's correct or not--it is believable.  As you said---who cares about reg season now anyway. 
Someone else had emailed me those *(corrected) standings, as they saw them listed today----but, I had moved on from that question a long time ago...fyi. 
Please know---my feelings expressed on the BB, have been formed over 4 years of observing this conference play....
We all have our own team(s) we follow and which we back, passionately.
I've commented favorably about several GOOD New Eng teams, other than the one I root for...over the past 3 days on the BB...
LAST YEAR the tourney committee "screwed up", in their own words, (after the fact..)..by having remaining teams on sat/Sunday play the semifinal and final rounds of last yr's NEWMAC TOURNEY at Wheaton's home field....when it should've been at Babson!   Wheaton has been tough enough for all others to beat--without the conference giving them an added advantage---"by mistake".   Of course---all teams,fans, etc were already there---when everyone learned they had gaffed things, so, they just played it there anyway?     So---please understand some of the "other" NEWMAC teams' and fans' viewpoints may be a little tainted over the past few years?   Of course---many are jealous of a top program like Wheaton----rightfully so--as it's a great role model for the conference.     Again---it's just the treatment they are sometimes given by others which can be annoying at times.  That simple.   Their players and the school program are excellent.....no-one should dispute that.    No-one is disputing that.     Thanks again for your info.

[rbgosfan]

moc323,
Fair enough, I reviewed your posts and agree that you were complaining more about the rankings, than the teams and as I said, in many cases I agree with you that rankings are too arbitrary but it is that way in most sports where there are polls.

It is now time to wait for the dust to settle in the final conference tournaments, see what the powers to be decide on Sunday night and then sit back and enjoy the regionals. I have a strong feeling that the national champ will be coming from NE for the second straight year (if not directly from the NE regional, then the team that gets shipped out).

[wordsmith]

moc323,

If it makes you feel any better I posted a Wheaton-whine back on May 25th, 2007 about their over-ranking (see below). If fact there are a whole series of comments about Wheaton being over-rated. To which the Wheaton coach told me via a posting to chill-out.

The highlight of all this was KSCer calling spring07 (the Wheaton coach) "Wheaton-Boy"

So moc323, I'm wiff ya. 

Word

May 25th, 2007

Please, will someone help explain these rankings to me? How does Keene State College end up 4th in New England, and unbelievably 29th in the USA while Wheaton claims 2nd and Oh My GOD 11th in the Nation.??!!?? 

HELP

New England
1. Eastern Connecticut State (38-10)
2. Wheaton (34-13)
3. Trinity (30-8)
4. Keene State (32-15)
5. Williams (27-10)
6. Tufts (25-12)
7. Western New England (28-12)
8. Southern Maine (27-15)

Rank School Record Points Last Rank
1. ( Chapman (Calif.) 40-6 240 2
2. Cortland (N.Y.) State 40-5 224 3
3. Emory (Ga.) 39-8 220 4
4. Kean (N.J.) 39-8 218 5
5. Eastern Connecticut State 38-10 206 11
6. Wis.-Stevens Point 32-15 196 25
7. Marietta (Ohio) 32-15 194 18
8. Carthage (Wis.) 36-11 193 nr
9. Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) 35-9 163 15
10. Wooster (Ohio) 42-7 162 1
11. Wheaton (Mass.) 34-13 158 6
12. Johns Hopkins (Md.) 38-11 156 13
13. Wis.-Oshkosh 35-12 155 8
14. New Jersey 34-11 122 7
15. Texas Lutheran 37-10-1 119 9
16. Luther (Iowa) 31-11 111 nr
17. St. Thomas (Minn.) 30-11 97 14
18. Ferrum (Va.) 27-18 92 nr
19. Trinity (Conn.) 30-8 90 rv
20. Otterbein (Ohio) 32-13 86 rv
21. Ithaca (N.Y.) 27-15 75 rv
22. Augustana (Ill.) 35-14 70 rv
23t. Texas-Dallas 34-13 54 28
23t. York (Pa.) 32-14 54 nr
25. Salisbury (Md.) 33-9 41 10
26. Illinois Wesleyan 32-13 34 12
27. Gwynedd-Mercy (Pa.) 32-12 32 23
28. St. Olaf (Minn.) 32-10 31 27
29. Keene (N.H.) State 32-15 30 nr
30t. Millsaps (Miss.) 35-11 27 16
30t. Ohio Wesleyan 30-18 27 nr


KSCer
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Posts: 202


     Re: LEC -- Little East Conference
« Reply #330 on: May 26, 2007, 04:57:06 pm »   

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote from: spring07 on May 26, 2007, 08:21:47 am
Chill out wordsmith,

KSC beat WC twice in the regionals, had a great year and look like they will continue gaining momentum as they had a lot of good young players. Enjoy your summer.

the thing is Wheatonboy, Wheaton does not deserve to be ranked above KSC and any one who saw all three games knows that.

KSCer

[moc323]

wordsmith-----this is awesome---thanks for the 2007 info etc...   I'm new to D3 BB stuff---but, not new to baseball. (35 years involvement between playing through college/then coaching youth leagues etc)   I thought I was seeing things, with some of these people trying to defend the ONGOING '09 rankings/ and dismissing some obvious bias in the rankings which I've been questioning....

You made my day, with this 2007 info!     glad a few of you guys are "wiff me" on this....    all we're asking is for the committee/25 coaches to take their blinders off, before it's too late---and before another "deserving" team is snubbed, for the "special" perennial invitees...     they know who they are....   ("W Boy and company:)))

[moc323]

moc323,
Fair enough, I reviewed your posts and agree that you were complaining more about the rankings, than the teams and as I said, in many cases I agree with you that rankings are too arbitrary but it is that way in most sports where there are polls.

It is now time to wait for the dust to settle in the final conference tournaments, see what the powers to be decide on Sunday night and then sit back and enjoy the regionals. I have a strong feeling that the national champ will be coming from NE for the second straight year (if not directly from the NE regional, then the team that gets shipped out).

RBGOSFAN---   Thanks---we're cool...

as you say----let's kick back and let the dust settle.  The committee will have some very tough decisions to make, this side of the Ohio River valley this year!!

[GBear210]

Latest NEIBA Poll (5/4/09)

Division III
1. Southern Maine (5) 34-5 40 pts.
2. Eastern Connecticut 31-6 33 pts.
3. Trinity 26-5 32 pts.
4. Suffolk 30-8 18 pts.
5. Wheaton 30-12 14 pts.
6. Curry 34-7 12 pts.
7. WPI 26-11 11 pts.
7. Western New England 29-15 11 pts.
Also receiving votes: Babson 3, Williams 3, Worcester State 3.

Looks like only winning percentage counts... not 'who has beaten who' when it matters most.