BB: Midwest Region

[MIACLUV]

Anyone wanna play the prediction game and pick some Conf tourney winners?

I'll start:

MIAC: St. Thomas (like I'd pick anyone else)

WIAC: Stevens Point - Like their pitching better than WW

NathC: Benedictine - I think they are little more tested the Con Chi.

UMAC: St. Scholastica - going out on a limb here 

Regional Bids:
UST - A
UWSP - A
NATHC - A
UMAC - A
UWW - C
Conc Chi - C

Not sure anyone else in the region is C worthy.

[cubs]

You are entitled to your own opinion, but with that said I TOTALLY disagree with you in regards to liking Stevens Point's pitching compared to Whitewater.

Whitewater
Plaza- 6-0 with 2.28 ERA
Kerndt- 6-1 with 3.11 ERA
Lambert- 7-1 with 3.52 ERA (Includes CG victory over St. Thomas)
Roberts- 5-0 with 3.70 ERA
(Each pitcher has throw at least 40 innings on the season.)

Now compare that to Stevens Point

Stevens Point
Feyereisen- 5-2 with 1.73 ERA
Herbst- 8-1 with 2.43 ERA
Stroik- 4-0 with 5.63 ERA 
(Each pitcher has throw at least 40 innings on the season.)

After those three, they don't have another pitcher with more than 30 Innings pitched with an ERA under 5.00.

[ShineTime]

Whitewaters pitching is definitely better than points but lets not forget messenger is really coming on and wasn't used much until lately.  I'm predicting whitewater to win tourney although they don't need to.  Their still playing for number 1 regional seed so that will be interesting.  I'm not counting Oshkosh out they can flat out rake.

[cubs]

Whitewaters pitching is definitely better than points but lets not forget messenger is really coming on and wasn't used much until lately.  I'm predicting whitewater to win tourney although they don't need to.  Their still playing for number 1 regional seed so that will be interesting.  I'm not counting Oshkosh out they can flat out rake.

Doing it against the likes of La Crosse (6th in the WIAC in hitting,) St. Norbert, and Ripon isn't the same as doing it against a line-up the caliber of a Whitewater or Oshkosh...  While he has pitched well as of late, I want to see what he does against the better line-ups when hitters get to see him for their second and third at-bats.

[biggio34]

A final regional ranking guess...

1. St Thomas
2. Whitewater
3.  UWSP  --- Is winning the conf tourney enough to take over the #2 spot?
4.  Conc C
5. CSS
6. Benedictine

What is it looking like for the Midwest regional?  6 or 8 teams?  I feel like the top three are all deserving of a #1 seed at a regional.  Will one of them get shipped somewhere else?

[ShineTime]

I'm guessing they will all be in whitewater.  Point got lucky I want to say in 2008 and went to Illinois and I thought for sure they were heading to appleton but didn't get it done.  It's going to suck having two top 5 teams and also point who in my opinion is top 10 even though their lowing in rankings.  If I would have to bet my house on it I would pick whitewater to win it they got their bad weekend out of system and playing at home is just a huge advantage.  I really think point is playing well but I just don't know if their pitching is experienced enough to win regionals.  Definitely have the bats to hang around but they would for sure have to win first two games with Jp and herbst to have any chance.  What's the status of maher?  Is he a starter or closer now does st Thomas have good enough pitching?  I know Thomas is very good do they have any other studs?

[biggio34]

What's the status of maher?  Is he a starter or closer now does st Thomas have good enough pitching?  I know Thomas is very good do they have any other studs?

Mahar is whatever they need him to be.  He has not been a dominant number 1 this year, but with him and Thomas at the top, this is the deepest STU rotation in years in my opinion.  I would think any one of 5 or 6 guys could potentially make starts and I would expect all of them to throw very well.  I would not be surprised to see STU hold Mahar back until late in the regional, maybe use him to close their first few games, and then have him ready and waiting for the championship. It is just a solid group of arms from top to bottom, a great fielding and fundamental team, and a very capable lineup.

[ShineTime]

It's unfortunate if he hurt his arm a tad he sure was dominant last year and was a guy he could beat any lineup.  Lets hope either point or st Thomas get shipped

[MIACLUV]

I don't worry about Maher or any of the staff, the question lies in what this Tommie squad does against top end pitching. With the MIAC down this year there was not the quality top end arms in the conference (outlside of Rowley at Bethel) that can put a good offense to the test. I like the Tommies to come out of the Midwest and I REALLY like them to come out of the Central if that scenario were to play out. I think the Tommies locked up a #1 seed no matter what region they are in, so the option to throw a Wedinger or Veglahn and hold Thomas for game 2. Also if need be have Maher to close game 1 and get a later start. Should be a fun week. Lastly I'm pretty sure about a week or so I said that Point would win the WIAC tournament, was told about the Warhawk pitching being far superior, guess that worked out. 

[Just Bill]

Here are the Midwest and Central regionals...

Central Regional Swanson Stadium/Brunner Field; Moline, Ill.         
1. Webster
2. Wartburg
3. Augustana
4. Concordia-Chicago
5. Adrian
6. Ripon
Four Central teams, one Mideast team, one Midwest team.

Midwest Regional at Prucha Field in Whitewater, Wis.           
1. St. Thomas
2. UW-Stevens Point
3. UW-Whitewater
4. Case Western Reserve
5. Benedictine
6. St. Scholastica
Four Midwest teams, one Mideast teams, one Central team.

[biggio34]

Here are the Midwest and Central regionals...

Central Regional Swanson Stadium/Brunner Field; Moline, Ill.         
1. Webster
2. Wartburg
3. Augustana
4. Concordia-Chicago
5. Adrian
6. Ripon
Four Central teams, one Mideast team, one Midwest team.

Midwest Regional at Prucha Field in Whitewater, Wis.           
1. St. Thomas
2. UW-Stevens Point
3. UW-Whitewater
4. Case Western Reserve
5. Benedictine
6. St. Scholastica
Four Midwest teams, one Mideast teams, one Central team.

Question... if Whitewater doesn't slip up in the WIAC tournament and they are ranked #1 in the midwest region... would the committee have shipped St Thomas?  I look at the Tommies, Pointers, and Warhawks teams, and compare them to what is in the central, and I am not understanding how/why no one was moved to that regional as the #1 seed.  I do not get it.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

Here are the Midwest and Central regionals...

Central Regional Swanson Stadium/Brunner Field; Moline, Ill.         
1. Webster
2. Wartburg
3. Augustana
4. Concordia-Chicago
5. Adrian
6. Ripon
Four Central teams, one Mideast team, one Midwest team.

Midwest Regional at Prucha Field in Whitewater, Wis.           
1. St. Thomas
2. UW-Stevens Point
3. UW-Whitewater
4. Case Western Reserve
5. Benedictine
6. St. Scholastica
Four Midwest teams, one Mideast teams, one Central team.

Question... if Whitewater doesn't slip up in the WIAC tournament and they are ranked #1 in the midwest region... would the committee have shipped St Thomas?  I look at the Tommies, Pointers, and Warhawks teams, and compare them to what is in the central, and I am not understanding how/why no one was moved to that regional as the #1 seed.  I do not get it.

I'd imagine they would have moved UST to the Central, but we will never know as UWW flondered in the WIAC tourney.

[biggio34]

Here are the Midwest and Central regionals...

Central Regional Swanson Stadium/Brunner Field; Moline, Ill.         
1. Webster
2. Wartburg
3. Augustana
4. Concordia-Chicago
5. Adrian
6. Ripon
Four Central teams, one Mideast team, one Midwest team.

Midwest Regional at Prucha Field in Whitewater, Wis.           
1. St. Thomas
2. UW-Stevens Point
3. UW-Whitewater
4. Case Western Reserve
5. Benedictine
6. St. Scholastica
Four Midwest teams, one Mideast teams, one Central team.

Question... if Whitewater doesn't slip up in the WIAC tournament and they are ranked #1 in the midwest region... would the committee have shipped St Thomas?  I look at the Tommies, Pointers, and Warhawks teams, and compare them to what is in the central, and I am not understanding how/why no one was moved to that regional as the #1 seed.  I do not get it.

I'd imagine they would have moved UST to the Central, but we will never know as UWW flondered in the WIAC tourney.

Whoever comes out of this region is certainly deserving.  It will be a grind.  I do not for see UWW having two bad weekends in a row.

[scrapper]

Midwest Regional at Prucha Field in Whitewater, Wis.           
1. St. Thomas
2. UW-Stevens Point
3. UW-Whitewater
4. Case Western Reserve
5. Benedictine
6. St. Scholastica
Four Midwest teams, one Mideast teams, one Central team                                               Isn't this 5 Midwest regional teams ? ?                                                                                                                                                                             

[biggio34]

Midwest Regional at Prucha Field in Whitewater, Wis.           
1. St. Thomas
2. UW-Stevens Point
3. UW-Whitewater
4. Case Western Reserve
5. Benedictine
6. St. Scholastica
Four Midwest teams, one Mideast teams, one Central team                                               Isn't this 5 Midwest regional teams ? ?                                                                                                                                                                             

Yes