BB: Midwest Region

[scrapper]

MIAC LUV, your name speaks for itself.  Who could another MIAC team replace?  No way could they replace Whitewater, Stevvens Point or St Scholastica.  The MIAC is way overrated in these rankings.

[biggio34]

Laughable.  Boy, St Scholastica sure gets no respect.

Play good teams and you get respect.  CSS, for various reason's, hasn't played many good teams.  And one of the perennial good teams they have played, and beat twice, isn't having a great season.

If CSS doesn't get in good non conference games, they aren't going to get the respect.  Hopefully they will be helped by their games coming up against St. Johns and Whitewater, but I think even those will only help their SOS so much.

[scrapper]

The weather has hurt them more than anybody.  They have had alot of their games cancelled.  St Olaf,Wartburg,Augsburg

[cubs]

This is an embarrassment to D3 baseball.  May as well throw Finladia on the list.  Where's Oshkosh?

Right where they should be....  What have they done in Region to be ranked?  They were 12-6 going into the week, and only one of their wins would be classified as quality (Stevens Point.)  The 4-0 record against Wooster doesn't look as good as it did back in March (they are #7 in their Region.)

I would say that Oshkosh would need to take 3 out of 4 from Whitewater over the weekend to even be in consideration for the rankings next week.

[Just Bill]

Here's the Regional record/SOS comparison sheet for the Midwest:

http://web1.ncaa.org/champsel_new/exec/staticpdfrank?doWhat=publicrankingsRedirect&sportCode=MBA&region=35&division=3

[biggio34]

The weather has hurt them more than anybody.  They have had alot of their games cancelled.  St Olaf,Wartburg,Augsburg

Their original schedule had Olaf, Buena Vista, Augsburg and I believe someone else in the dome.

Then they had a weekend in Rockford canceled where they were going to play Rockford and Augsburg I think.

Then they had Olaf and Carleton scheduled and those also got postponed and it doesn't look like they will be made up.  

But this just proves the point, just because you have them on your schedule does you no good, you actually have to play the games.  It's unfortunate the way it worked out with the dome and the weather, but the rankings can't be based on what might have been.

[MIACLUV]

Ask and you shall recieve

St. Olaf
Having seen them early in the season, I thought they were the best team in the MIAC. Most quality pitching depth in the conference and at the time the offense was putting up a decent amount of runs. Has not played well at all the second half of the season
Key games: UWW (1-1), UWSP (1-0), Wartburg (4-0)



Maclester
Starting pitching is not dominant, offensively in the top 2-3 in the MIAC (not saying much this season). Believe they will make the MIAC tournament, lack of depth on the mound makes them a tough pick to win it. 2 pitcher team, period. Decent non-conf schedule that includes, Pomona-Pitzer, LAX, Conc Chicago. Was swept by both LAX & PP. Still has a ways to go with games to be played against St. Thomas (2), St. Johns (2), Conc. Moor (2)
Key Games: Conc. Chicago (1-0) St. Olaf (2-0) LAX (0-2) Pomona Pitzer (0-2)


Hamline
This team is a mystery, their pitching is very average to the eyes same as the offense, but they have managed to play well during the MIAC schedule. Swept St. Thomas early in the conference season and believe me, those wins were givin to them with poor pitching and defense by the Tommies. Will definitely be in the MIAC tourny, but look for an early exit. Have two key wins against ranked opponents.
Key Games: Buena Vista (1-2) East Conn. (0-2) Macalester (1-1) St. Thomas (2-0)

Having seen all three of these teams, I can honestly say that I think Olaf is the only team that is a regional caliber team. But with them being 3-7 in there last 10 they'll need to turn it around soon!

The Tommies are the dark horse (can't believe I just said that) and have been playing very well as of late. I see them winning the conference tournament even though I think it's a little to take the regular season crown.

[BaseballFan]

they're up
http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d3

1. UW Whitewater
2. UW Stevens Point
3. Macalester
4. Hamline
5. St. Scholastica
6. St. Olaf

A lot of MIACLUV here, even I don't buy this! 

These will change over the next 2 weeks and CSS never gets the respect due to SOS, but them getting probably 8 more in regions wins and then probably an additional 1 or 2 against UWW/St. Johns will increase that record.

Things will change over the next 2 weeks. Macalester still needs to play UST, UST, Bethel. Still surprising to see them at 3 considereing 8 of the 9 conference wins are against 4 of bottom 5 teams. And 3 other in region wins against UWS who is down this year.

[BigPoppa]

What are everyone's thoughts on Hamline? Are they ready to sneak through the backdoor?  I know nobody has picked them recently but they are always there to throw a wrench into the rankings. Is it there time to break through? They have a lot of talented players. I know Whitewater and Stevens Point, along with St. Thomas and a few others have domintated the region, but what if Hamline was for real this season? Do you think that Verdugo could put that squad into a position to run with this? I think CSS is on their way to dominance, but if they met up with Hamline with their aces on the mound I wouldn't be surprised if Hamline took them down. What do you guys think?

Nope. Hamline is a product of being an above average team in a conference that is really, really, down this year. There is still a long way to go, but I don't see Hamline playing past the MIAC tourney unless they win it.

[OshDude]

It looks like the committee considered results through Tuesday.

One missing result this early in the SOS calculations is important. It is anytime, but especially so when the sample is smaller.

I'm pretty sure the NCAA's regional record for Benedictine is incorrect. I think it should be 17-9 instead of 14-9. That's a big difference, and it makes me want to go through all of the teams over the next couple of days. I could be wrong on Benedictine, but that would mean that the sites of BU, D3baseball.com and the Northern AC are wrong.

EDIT: It appears that some teams had games considered from this week while others did not. The order of teams does not much matter, but in the era of "Once ranked, always ranked," varying data sets among teams could prove important.

[MIACLUV]

I think Coach Verdugo is so high on his team and the program he's building that he applied and interviewed for the job at St. Thomas 

So username lets do this post by post:

I've been following Hamline for the past 5 years or so and they don't seem to struggle against top regional opponents (8-5 vs. UST over the past 13 games). Are they a regional player now?  It seems like their players are always ready to take on the best in the region. Are they ready for the next step.  I know UST has had a stranglehold on the conference and at times the region, but does the departure of Dennis Denning factor to in there?

True, Hamline has been a thorn in the Tommies side for the past few years during the regular season. Do they get it done when the make the MIAC tourney and face teams #1 and #2? No they have not, don't see it changing this season. Coach Denning leaving is a big loss for the Tommies without a question, but the talent is still higher and deeper at UST, obviously Coach Verdugo thought so to.

What are everyone's thoughts on Hamline? Are they ready to sneak through the backdoor?  I know nobody has picked them recently but they are always there to throw a wrench into the rankings. Is it there time to break through? They have a lot of talented players. I know Whitewater and Stevens Point, along with St. Thomas and a few others have domintated the region, but what if Hamline was for real this season? Do you think that Verdugo could put that squad into a position to run with this? I think CSS is on their way to dominance, but if they met up with Hamline with their aces on the mound I wouldn't be surprised if Hamline took them down. What do you guys think?

My thoughts are pretty much the same as Big Poppa's above average in a down year for the MIAC. Not sure they've been ranked before to throw a wrench in, but whatever. No I don't think they will run this by any means although they do have the easiest path of any of the MIAC contenders the rest of the way. WW & Point are the class of this region, CSS is far from dominant, very good but not quite with those two yet. Having seen your top 3 (and not really being able to say there was a true #1 in the group, all good, none dominant) and seeing the Lewis kid from CSS twice, I can say in a one game matchup, Lewis holds a decided edge, and I don't think it's close.

I saw that Hamline is 8-5 against St. Thomas in the past 13 games. I've also looked at the MIAC records and it looks like St. Thomas is the class of the MIAC. Why wouldn't we believe that a team with a winning record over the class of the MIAC for the past few years to be a real contendor? I looked up Verdugo too and it looks like he has had a lot of success both as a player and a coach, should we believe that he might have that program on the rise? Any thoughts?

We covered why the record vs St. Thomas really carries little weight come playoff time. You didn't look that hard in your research on the coach you hold in high regard, and by research you mean his bio, you're right sounds like he was quite a star. Yes he went to ASU, he was 6-3 lifetime there with a 6.51 ERA, but it was ASU so I give him that. He is very proud that he backed up Jake Plummer on their football team though. Sorry, had to say it, seen him speak a few times and he happens to sprinkle that in every time. As for the program on the rise, his reasons for job hunting WITHIN the conference DURING their fall season, with a RIVAL, leads me to ask the question. What is his commitment to the program? Does he want to build something or is the grass greener (turf in this case) down the road here.

I also think that by looking at things that UW Whitewater and UW Stevens Point are the front runners. Do you all think that Ben Hughes from St. Olaf is a draft possibility? I think he for sure has the stuff to be a top 10 round pick.

Yes I do believe Hughes will be taken in the draft. Top 10 rounds, I doubt it. He has a lot of tools and the size but he is only a plus pitcher with his fastball, his other pitches are average. I think he's better served staying in school and pitching in the Northwoods league again to work on his other pitches.

[Bronko7]

[/quote]
We covered why the record vs St. Thomas really carries little weight come playoff time. You didn't look that hard in your research on the coach you hold in high regard, and by research you mean his bio, you're right sounds like he was quite a star. Yes he went to ASU, he was 6-3 lifetime there with a 6.51 ERA, but it was ASU so I give him that. He is very proud that he backed up Jake Plummer on their football team though. Sorry, had to say it, seen him speak a few times and he happens to sprinkle that in every time.

That is maybe the funniest thing I've ever read on the boards, having seen him speak myself. I heard the Plummer reference. Between him talking about, Plummer, Pat Murphy and his wife's hotness (his words, not mine, never seen her) there was very little substance in his clinic talk.

[biggio34]

Yesterday St. Johns and Hameline split.  MAC swept Bethel.

After studying the MIAC more, I think I like St. Olaf and St. Thomas more than Hameline or MAC.  None of these 4 teams have a very potent offense, but the Tommies don't beat themselves very often and St. Olaf's pitching is too good.  I think it is in all these teams best interest to keep Olaf out of the MIAC tourney, because if they do make it in, I like their chances.  I feel pretty comfortable that either the Oles or Tommies will win that tournament.

[MNbaseball]

Olaf can still get in, but being 3 games back with 6 to play doesnt give them great odds. In their favor-they play St. Thomas tomorrow and a sweep there only puts them a game out.  St. Johns also has a tough end to the season playing MAC and Concordia so a few losses there would make things interesting.  Bottom line is Olaf needs to win out to give themselves a realistic shot- I can't see the teams ahead of them losing 4 or 5 of their last 6.  If they don't make the MIAC tournament there is precedent for making the region as I believe Conc. Chicago did that last year, but they would have to sweep BLC on tuesday in Mankato in a non-conference DH for quality in region wins

[Just Bill]

Olaf can still get in, but being 3 games back with 6 to play doesnt give them great odds. In their favor-they play St. Thomas tomorrow and a sweep there only puts them a game out.  St. Johns also has a tough end to the season playing MAC and Concordia so a few losses there would make things interesting.  Bottom line is Olaf needs to win out to give themselves a realistic shot- I can't see the teams ahead of them losing 4 or 5 of their last 6.  If they don't make the MIAC tournament there is precedent for making the region as I believe Conc. Chicago did that last year, but they would have to sweep BLC on tuesday in Mankato in a non-conference DH for quality in region wins

CUC did NOT make the regional last year. It was thought they were in consideration with a 31-9 record, even though they missed the NAC Tournament, but it didn't happen.