BB: General New England Discussion

[Ralph Turner]

zoneit,

no I don't think it is biased towards NE. I just think this was/is a down year for talent is the region. No one or two really dominant players or teams as in recent years.

IMHO

Word

The talent was down in the major conferences (NESCAC and LEC).  We saw that when the Pool C bids were given by the NCAA.

How many New England fans picked WNEC, a CCC team, to go to Wisconsin this year?  Sometimes it is good to peak in an "off year"!

I even like WNEC's first round draw.  I think that they beat Keystone, but lose to UWW on Day #2.

[OshDude]

zoneit,

no I don't think it is biased towards NE. I just think this was/is a down year for talent is the region. No one or two really dominant players or teams as in recent years.

IMHO

Word

The talent was down in the major conferences (NESCAC and LEC).  We saw that when the Pool C bids were given by the NCAA.

How many New England fans picked WNEC, a CCC team, to go to Wisconsin this year?  Sometimes it is good to peak in an "off year"!

I even like WNEC's first round draw.  I think that they beat Keystone, but lose to UWW on Day #2.

Shh. Don't tell any WIAC folks, but I have WNEC winning its first two. I actually have WNEC in the final three. It's probably the kiss of death for WNEC, and it's merely one idiot's prediction, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

[ECSUalum]

Congratulations to Jim Shult on another honor!!!!  Amazing in that he played over 45 baseball games and at the same time was also a member of the ECSU Honors Program, (3.7 GPA) which has a very difficult academic program where an senior thesis is required!!

WILLIMANTIC, Conn. - For the fifth straight year, the Eastern Connecticut State University baseball program has been represented on the Capital One Academic All-District Baseball Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Evan Michaud of WNEC also made the list

see the rest of article below:

http://nutmeg.easternct.edu/mt-static/athletics/2011/05/baseball-schult-repeats-academic-honor.html

also

http://www.cosida.com/media/documents/2011/5/2011_Baseball_CO_Acad_All_District_Teams.pdf

[wordsmith]

See where Charlie Furbush, formerly a St. Joe's pitcher who transferred to LSU mid-career, got his first MLB win with the Tigers a couple of days ago.

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=518703

Word

[hockeyfan77]

See where Charlie Furbush, formerly a St. Joe's pitcher who transferred to LSU mid-career, got his first MLB win with the Tigers a couple of days ago.

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=518703

Word

And if you dig deeper formerly a SP Red Riot who I saw pitch many times... I wish him continued luck...I knew he would make it!!

[zoneit]

 His father Craig was a pretty decent ballplayer for Amherst College early to mid seventies, also a really nice guy. Glad to see his son in the bigs!

[hockeyfan77]

His father Craig was a pretty decent ballplayer for Amherst College early to mid seventies, also a really nice guy. Glad to see his son in the bigs!

And also one of my old teachers...Not my Favorite class though!!!

[wordsmith]

NESN Sports spent a good deal of time interviewing Furbush tonight. Give credit to Tom Carron and NESN...he touched on Furbush's time in high school, as a Monk, how difficult it is playing in Maine, he even threw in a Sebago Lake reference.
Carron also referenced Reid and Ryan Flaherty's march to the majors.  Furbush was real solid in the interview, came across as much more mature than his years. Nice job all around.

As some one who got to see Furbush pitch quite often it is good to see him make it....no  Moonlight Graham.

Hopefully I'll find a link to post later.

Furbush is into the game tonight in the 5th.

Word

[wordsmith]

WNEC loses a close one 2-1. Had the lead until fairly late but just could not convert.

[ECSUalum]

Congrats to WNEC on a historic season!!

[zoneit]

WNEC did have a great year, lots to be proud of.

Before we put a wrap on the season, and at the considerable risk of sounding like sour grapes, I am still baffled as to how MIT got an at large bid over Amherst. If someone can adequately explain what I am missing, it will make me sleep better this winter. It will also educate me as to how at large bids are in fact awarded.

Records: 25 - 10 (Amherst) versus 25 - 13 (MIT)

Records versus common opponents (they did not play each other): 11 - 4 (Amherst) versus 10 -7 (MIT)

Strength of schedule: 30 (Amherst) versus 35 (MIT)

Some comments in this discussion board around second week of May suggest how objective the process is, and that it is not subject to the whims of the committee. If that is true, what are the objective criteria that were used in this case? The ones identified above were close, but Amherst came out on top in all three.

There may be other teams that were on the outside looking in that also have  compelling arguments, I happen to be most familiar with the Lord Jeffs. Bowdoin comes to mind, especially with its number one strength of schedule, although they did lose to MIT head to head.

I really think the committee has some `splainin to do here.

[gap to gap]

Because the nescac only plays each other. Records are skewed and the committee Took that into account. But one huge factor is record against ranked opponents and that was well in favor of MIT who had 9 wins vs Amherst who may have had 2?  Make your conference finals or don't complain.

[Ralph Turner]

Because the nescac only plays each other. Records are skewed and the committee Took that into account. But one huge factor is record against ranked opponents and that was well in favor of MIT who had 9 wins vs Amherst who may have had 2?  Make your conference finals or don't complain.

That is another criterion.

I don't have the exact MIT vs Amherst "ranked opponents results info" in front of me, but if you are a New England baseball team, there is no reason why you should not have at least 10 games against at least 3 regionally ranked opponents.  Even better is 12 games against 5 teams!

[zoneit]

I wouldn`t be too tough on Amherst for its scheduling outside of the NESCAC West. They opened with a win against UMass Boston, which won the New England region in 2010. Also played Keene State, ECSU, two with USM, 2 Endicott, 2 Worcester State, Westfield State, Oneonta, Castleton, four with Bowdoin, Bates, Brandeis, and Babson. Almost any of those teams may have been projected to be ranked in New England or New York going into 2011 - you don`t know who will be regionally ranked at the end of the year. Also, NESCAC schools are restricted in the number of dates they can play up north, I think it is 17, so it isn`t easy.

They could try (perhaps they have tried) to add Wheaton, WNEC, MIT and Tufts but that would probably involve bumping another team that in a given year could be better. Some of those teams may not be all that anxious to play Amherst.

Amherst will need to add pitching in the incoming freshman class ( I understand they have done that) and look for Shepard, who is pitching well for Vermont in the NECBL, to be dominant in 2012. Their every day lineup will be scary. Look for them to go places in 2012.

[wordsmith]

Link to a great article about Keene State College Associate Head Coach Marty Testo and the difficult health issues he and his family have had with both kids. Marty is also the Head Coach of the NECBL 2011 Champion Swamp Bats.

Marty and Sarah are both great people and I hope you will enjoy this article.

http://www.sentinelsource.com/opinion/columnists/staff/gilbert/keene-couple-comes-through-battle-to-keep-their-daughter-alive/article_52c6cc48-fcab-50c2-b35e-353a5b8bf06e.html

Word