BB: Midwest Region

[cubs]

So anyway...If you don't throw your top guy in the first game and lose, go with your best in the next game because it becomes must win.  If you win that first game, stay with the process until you need your top guys.  Game 1 IS NOT a must win.
Stevens Point's starters can throw complete games and come back 2 days later??!!  Nolan Ryan couldn't do that, I don't think Stevens Point can either.

Not sure about Stevens Point, but Whitewater's Riley Tincher has shown he can come back on two days rest.  When you may ask?  Just take a look at the 2010 Regionals........

He threw the opening game against Aurora and went 8.0 innings for the win, and came back on two days rest and got a CG victory over Stevens Point to force an "if necessary" game.  If there is one guy that has shown over the duration of his career that he can come back on short rest, Riley Tincher is that guy.  While he might not be Nolan Ryan, I have a feeling he would have fit in well with the rest of the pitchers in the early era of baseball where there were no pitch counts.

[rob]

So anyway...If you don't throw your top guy in the first game and lose, go with your best in the next game because it becomes must win.  If you win that first game, stay with the process until you need your top guys.  Game 1 IS NOT a must win.
Stevens Point's starters can throw complete games and come back 2 days later??!!  Nolan Ryan couldn't do that, I don't think Stevens Point can either.

Not sure about Stevens Point, but Whitewater's Riley Tincher has shown he can come back on two days rest.  When you may ask?  Just take a look at the 2010 Regionals........

He threw the opening game against Aurora and went 8.0 innings for the win, and came back on two days rest and got a CG victory over Stevens Point to force an "if necessary" game.  If there is one guy that has shown over the duration of his career that he can come back on short rest, Riley Tincher is that guy.  While he might not be Nolan Ryan, I have a feeling he would have fit in well with the rest of the pitchers in the early era of baseball where there were no pitch counts.

Amen Brother!

[Strikeout]

I see UST and CSS with a disadvantage because of how closely their pitch counts are monitored.  When those counts get high, CSS and UST tend to take out their starters earlier rather than later to save their arms.  Maybe not so much UST, I remember when they threw Schuld game 1 to the tune of well over 100 pitches into extra innings and brought him back on 1 or 2 days rest to throw again.  09 I believe?  WIAC pitchers seem to be on a much much longer leash than the UMAC and MIAC pitchers.  Not sure about how Hamline and Aurora are coached but CSS and UST tend to be a little more careful.  Does this hurt them in a regional as competitive in this one? 

[cubs]

I see UST and CSS with a disadvantage because of how closely their pitch counts are monitored.  When those counts get high, CSS and UST tend to take out their starters earlier rather than later to save their arms.  Maybe not so much UST, I remember when they threw Schuld game 1 to the tune of well over 100 pitches into extra innings and brought him back on 1 or 2 days rest to throw again.  09 I believe?  WIAC pitchers seem to be on a much much longer leash than the UMAC and MIAC pitchers.  Not sure about how Hamline and Aurora are coached but CSS and UST tend to be a little more careful.  Does this hurt them in a regional as competitive in this one? 

I'm not sure I would say pitch counts put CSS and UST at a disadvantage, as much as I would say that Point and WW have a bit of an advantage based off of how the WIAC schedule is set-up.  The four 9-inning games in two days on the weekend, with another 9-inning conferene DH on Wednesday is something that gives pitchers experience with either:
A) Quick Turnaround for the #1 and #2 guys
B) More "meaningful" innings for the back end of the rotation

[biggio34]

I see UST and CSS with a disadvantage because of how closely their pitch counts are monitored.  When those counts get high, CSS and UST tend to take out their starters earlier rather than later to save their arms.  Maybe not so much UST, I remember when they threw Schuld game 1 to the tune of well over 100 pitches into extra innings and brought him back on 1 or 2 days rest to throw again.  09 I believe?  WIAC pitchers seem to be on a much much longer leash than the UMAC and MIAC pitchers.  Not sure about how Hamline and Aurora are coached but CSS and UST tend to be a little more careful.  Does this hurt them in a regional as competitive in this one? 

I'm not sure I would say pitch counts put CSS and UST at a disadvantage, as much as I would say that Point and WW have a bit of an advantage based off of how the WIAC schedule is set-up.  The four 9-inning games in two days on the weekend, with another 9-inning conferene DH on Wednesday is something that gives pitchers experience with either:
A) Quick Turnaround for the #1 and #2 guys
B) More "meaningful" innings for the back end of the rotation

I agree with cubs here.  The WIAC teams have big battles every weekend in their conference season as well as tough mid week games where their pitchers are always going to be tested and you have to throw your best guys if you want to be successful.  I think more than anything, having done it all season long, those pitchers have the right mentality to do it at the end of the year and have already experienced what it is like. 

[cubs]

Wednesday Predictions.....

Game #1- Point over Aurora 8-2  (Williams isn't at his best, but throws good enough to get the job done.)

Game #2- St. Thomas over Whitewater 3-2 (Edwards outduels Tincher.) 

Game #3-CSS over Hamline 5-2 (Lewis keeps it close until CSS scores a couple late for the win.)

[biggio34]

Wednesday Predictions.....

Game #1- Point over Aurora 8-2  (Williams isn't at his best, but throws good enough to get the job done.)

Game #2- St. Thomas over Whitewater 3-2 (Edwards outduels Tincher.) 

Game #3-CSS over Hamline 5-2 (Lewis keeps it close until CSS scores a couple late for the win.)

Of all the predictions I have seen, no one is giving Whitewater any love.  They are going to be in their home park, they are very good, they are 2-3 vs Point and one of those loses was a 1 run game.  I think they will score runs against Edwards (if he pitches) as he will only be on 2 days rest and they already saw him earlier in the year.

I think the top 3 seeds all win tomorrow.

[cubs]

Now that some of the All Conference teams are starting to be released, where who would you guys vote as the Midwest Region Pitcher and Position Player of the Year? 

Some of the leading candidates would seem to be:

Pitcher-
Westphal-Oshkosh
Lewis-CSS
Hughes-St. Olaf
Hallahan-Bethany Lutheran

Position-
Koback-Stevens Point
Moody-CSS
Rahm-St. Thomas


Oshdude?  I know you have an opinion on this......

[biggio34]

Now that some of the All Conference teams are starting to be released, where who would you guys vote as the Midwest Region Pitcher and Position Player of the Year? 

Some of the leading candidates would seem to be:

Pitcher-
Westphal-Oshkosh
Lewis-CSS
Hughes-St. Olaf
Hallahan-Bethany Lutheran

Position-
Koback-Stevens Point
Moody-CSS
Rahm-St. Thomas


Oshdude?  I know you have an opinion on this......

I think you can scratch Hallahan from your list.  He was not nearly as dominant as last year on the mound and got hit hard by some pretty bad teams.  Not sure how Putnam from Whitewater can't be considered on the Positional list. 

[Just Bill]

Now that some of the All Conference teams are starting to be released, where who would you guys vote as the Midwest Region Pitcher and Position Player of the Year? 

Not sure how Putnam from Whitewater can't be considered on the Positional list. 

Well the most obvious reason is that the WIAC coaches didn't vote him the best position player in the conference, so that would make it hard to vote him the best position player in the region.

[Strikeout]

Wednesday Predictions.....

Game #1- Point over Aurora 8-2  (Williams isn't at his best, but throws good enough to get the job done.)

Game #2- St. Thomas over Whitewater 3-2 (Edwards outduels Tincher.) 

Game #3-CSS over Hamline 5-2 (Lewis keeps it close until CSS scores a couple late for the win.)

Of all the predictions I have seen, no one is giving Whitewater any love.  They are going to be in their home park, they are very good, they are 2-3 vs Point and one of those loses was a 1 run game.  I think they will score runs against Edwards (if he pitches) as he will
only be on 2 days rest and they already saw him earlier in the year.

I think the top 3 seeds all win tomorrow.

I have to agree with Biggio....All three top seeds win tomorrow in somewhat close fashion.  UST has had a very tough schedule this year but that doesn't change the fact that WW plays in one of the hardest, if not the hardest conference in the country....also isn't Mcquillan out for this game?  They would sure miss his bat if he's out.  WW is extremely talented and playing on their home field.  Hamline and Aurora both go 2 and out.  UST goes 1-2 knocking out Aurora.  WW goes down in the second round to CSS.  Point gives CSS their first loss of the tourny to face WW again....WW and CSS duel to see who will have to knock off Point twice in the championship. 

[cubs]

Now that some of the All Conference teams are starting to be released, where who would you guys vote as the Midwest Region Pitcher and Position Player of the Year? 

Not sure how Putnam from Whitewater can't be considered on the Positional list. 

Well the most obvious reason is that the WIAC coaches didn't vote him the best position player in the conference, so that would make it hard to vote him the best position player in the region.

That is EXACTLY why I didn't put him on my list, similar to not putting Tincher or Williams on the list of pitchers.

[schmolph]

Hallahan was a very average pitcher at best this year. Velocity is just not there. Last year high 80's to 90-91 this year I would say low to mid 80's tops in the games I watched. Got hit around pretty good.

[MNbaseball]

Now that some of the All Conference teams are starting to be released, where who would you guys vote as the Midwest Region Pitcher and Position Player of the Year? 

Some of the leading candidates would seem to be:

Pitcher-
Westphal-Oshkosh
Lewis-CSS
Hughes-St. Olaf
Hallahan-Bethany Lutheran

Position-
Koback-Stevens Point
Moody-CSS
Rahm-St. Thomas


Oshdude?  I know you have an opinion on this......

I would have to replace Hallahan on this list with Justin Kohls from BLC. Kohls went 9-0 with a 1.87 era and .221 BA/against

[ShineTime]

Koback should be in the running for player of the year overall in D3.