BB: Midwest Region

BigPoppa · April 25, 2011, 01:32:55 PM

Quote from: scrapper on April 25, 2011, 01:23:00 PM
Really have a hard time with St Olaf in the top of anything right now. No matter what they did earlier this year they have lost 7 0f their last 10 and are 7th in their conference with a 7-7 record and 19-10 overall. No way do they deserve to be on any list right now. Only if they can turn it around and sneak back into the MIAC race. Almost impossible with them sitting at 7-7 right now.

Still, how a team is playing right now is NOT one of the cosiderations for the committee. It is looked at collectively.

cubs · April 25, 2011, 03:11:33 PM

I see a couple if guys have Concordia a little higher in the rankings than I did. Is it safe to assume that their Regional Record (18-5) holds more weight than the Strength of Schedule?

MIACLUV · April 25, 2011, 05:29:26 PM

Here is how I see it to this point:
1) UW-Whitewater -- quality wins plus SOS
2) UW-Stevens Point -- SOS is off the charts, some bad losses in there though
3) St. Scholastica -- beat a UST playing very well of late today, and had some teams get canceled by weather
4) Conc. Chicago -- in the same boat as St. Scholastica weak SOS but win the games they are suppose to
5) UW-Oshkosh -- Nice wins on the schedule, in the toughest conference in the country
6) St. Johns -- believe will win the MIAC, has beaten the upper tier of conf foes, schedule lightens rest of way

7) UW-Lax -- SOS really only thing that keeps them in mix, don't see them making WIAC tourney
8) MAC -- Leading the MIAC and have care of Olaf
9) St.Olaf / UST -- UST on the way up, Oles on the way down. UST had won 8 in a row until today inc over U of M

Top 5 are all serious regional contenders, all have good pitching depth and consistent offense. UWW & UWSP are a notch ahead of everyone else though as far as talent and being built for tourny play.

Bronko7 · April 25, 2011, 05:46:23 PM

Quote from: Dagger on April 25, 2011, 12:30:45 PM
I have no prejudices against CSS, and admittedly know little about their current team, but knowing their past performances I have a very difficult time accepting them as a legitimate 1-4 seed despite their season record. Until they can win a game or two in a regional I would have to make them 5-6 seed. I'm sorry but you can't ignore their competition throughout the year.

The dome going down hurt the schedule a lot ( St.Thomas & St. Olaf ) as well as weather in Rockford (Rockford & Augsburg) and even with trying to make games up later in the season (St. Olaf & Carleton). The weather has caused a mess for a lot of teams this year, but has really taken its toll on the CSS schedule, which will in turn reflect in the S.O.S.
So justly you are correct that they will be seeded low based on the numbers, but to say they have not won games in regionals is ridiculous. I think someone mentioned this before, but I do know that UWSP lost 2 straight years with Zimmerman on the mound to CSS. Also they beat, Carthage & St. Thomas in 2008 on the way to the regional title game before losing to Whitewater. Last season was a bit of a buzz saw that there weren't a lot of teams that would have faired any better (Open with WW and game 2 UWSP) I think both of those teams faired pretty well in that regional. Am I wrong?

scrapper · April 25, 2011, 07:53:05 PM

Big Poppa, you still have to see that St Olaf is 7-7 in conference and in 7th place. I don't see how you can even rate a 7th place team that is .500 in conference.

BaseballFan · April 25, 2011, 08:01:39 PM

Quote from: Bronko7 on April 25, 2011, 05:46:23 PM
Quote from: Dagger on April 25, 2011, 12:30:45 PM
I have no prejudices against CSS, and admittedly know little about their current team, but knowing their past performances I have a very difficult time accepting them as a legitimate 1-4 seed despite their season record. Until they can win a game or two in a regional I would have to make them 5-6 seed. I'm sorry but you can't ignore their competition throughout the year.
The dome going down hurt the schedule a lot ( St.Thomas & St. Olaf ) as well as weather in Rockford (Rockford & Augsburg) and even with trying to make games up later in the season (St. Olaf & Carleton). The weather has caused a mess for a lot of teams this year, but has really taken its toll on the CSS schedule, which will in turn reflect in the S.O.S.
So justly you are correct that they will be seeded low based on the numbers, but to say they have not won games in regionals is ridiculous. I think someone mentioned this before, but I do know that UWSP lost 2 straight years with Zimmerman on the mound to CSS. Also they beat, Carthage & St. Thomas in 2008 on the way to the regional title game before losing to Whitewater. Last season was a bit of a buzz saw that there weren't a lot of teams that would have faired any better (Open with WW and game 2 UWSP) I think both of those teams faired pretty well in that regional. Am I wrong?

Agreed CSS has had a tough road in the regionals.
2005 beat USP in the first game, then lost to Reinhard, then lost to Zimmerman
2006 beat Zimmerman in opening game then faced #1 Ripon in the brutal setup of a 7team regional
2007 lost to Zimmerman
2008 Reached finals
2009 1-2 lost to UST and USP
2010-0-2 USP and WW

So yes they have not won a regional and if you asked CSS that is disappointing but they have faced some tough teams (i know its a regional but not all teams are great teams). Not to mention they faced Reinhard/Zimmerman 4x in 6 years. There is a reason why Point threw Zimmerman both times to open against CSS... Their strength of scheduled hurts them every year which is why they get stuck with a 4 seed and have tough match ups. They can only do so much with their schedule

Do not think CSS is below 3 but dont think they have the schedule to justify being a 2.

cubs · April 25, 2011, 08:32:15 PM

Now if I understand things correctly, Oshkosh's 4-0 record against Wooster holds little weight correct, since it is out of region? Wooster finished 9-4 (currently 19-12 overall) in the NCAC and will likely earn the #1 seed in the NCAC Tournament.

Just Bill · April 26, 2011, 09:46:00 AM

Concordia Chicago didn't do itself any favors, losing twice to Aurora on Monday, 3-2 and 6-0. I don't think those games will be reflected in this week's regional rankings though. I think the end of the consideration period for this week was Sunday.

biggio34 · April 26, 2011, 02:47:59 PM

I was just looking at the St. Scholastica schedule on their website and they have added UW-Whitewater for two games on May 3rd. Looks like the games will be at WW although WW has yet to add anything to their website.

If the website schedule is correct CSS's upcoming games will be...

Wednesday v Northland 1(9)
Friday v UM-Morris 1(9)
Saturday v UM-Morris 2 (7)
Sunday v St. Johns 1(9)
Tuesday v UW-Whitewater Not sure if these are 9's or 7's
Thursday v UWS 1(9)
Friday v Northwestern 1(9)
Saturday v Northwestern 2(7)

Thats 11 games in 11 days. Yikes! Hope the boys pack a lunch cause even though some of these teams are weak, the depth of the staff is going to be tested in a way that it hasnt been tested this season. How much will getting in games with Whitewater help their SOS?

I hope the weather holds out so this happens and I hope they are up to the challenge.

badgerwarhawk · April 26, 2011, 07:03:37 PM

The May 3rd double hitter with CSS is now listed on WHITEWATER'S website.

biggio34 · April 27, 2011, 10:32:23 AM

Quote from: badgerwarhawk on April 26, 2011, 07:03:37 PM
The May 3rd double hitter with CSS is now listed on WHITEWATER'S website.

Badger, do you know if the games are 7's or 9's?

badgerwarhawk · April 27, 2011, 10:42:42 AM

No, but I'll try to find out and post later.

scrapper · April 27, 2011, 09:45:16 PM

usually doubleheaders are 2- 7's and single games are 9 innings.

cubs · April 27, 2011, 10:24:50 PM

Quote from: scrapper on April 27, 2011, 09:45:16 PM
usually doubleheaders are 2- 7's and single games are 9 innings.

Depends what league you are looking at.... The WIAC plays 24 9-inning games in league play, with all games being part of DH's.

scrapper · April 27, 2011, 10:35:14 PM

just guessing that since it is a mid-week non-conference game that with the travel etc. that it would be 2-7's. Both teams have a lot of games on their schedule and are playing a lot of games in the next couple of weeks so I would guess that they would want to keep their players on the road as little as possible to get them home for classes.