BB: E8: Empire 8

[Bombers798891]

I have not been able to post much this year due to work, etc, so I am doing some catch up on this baseball season more than anything. IC looks like the real deal. What are their chances to be the one seed?

Does Fisher have a shot to get in? I see they are included in the regional rankings, but their record is not overly impressive. I did see something about a tough schedule but I really don't know how it works with baseball.

Can anyone help me out?

Ithaca's going to be the #1 seed unless they drop both to Montclair next weekend, and even then, I'd think they'd have a good shot. They were ahead of Cortland in the first rankings, even before whipping them soundly in a game that the Red Dragons may or may not have cared about. But given that Montclair has struggled this season, and Ithaca will be able to start Lemmo and Prendergast if they want, I don't see the Bombers losing either, let alone both.

Cortland will probably win their conference tournament, but it's not like they'll rack up quality wins doing so. I can't imagine that would vault them over the Bombers unless something crazy happened

[airball55]

If Fisher runs the table, it puts them at 27-13 and they will go play in an ECAC tourney.  That could get them to 30 wins.  They may need it, but, not sure what the chances are.  I will say this, I don't think anyone in the region wants them in.  They would be very dangerous.  They are playing Utica this weekend, no forfeit wins.  Utica gets in trouble for hazing players, suspends the whole team and still get to play the games.  Nice punishment...but, it is good for Fisher to play them and get real wins.  Ithaca has as good a shot as anyone, just seems to be their season right now.

[sjfcards]

Fisher took care of Utica today in both games, to get to 26-13. A win tomorrow gets them to 27 wins, and I hope that is enough. Would love to spend a week in Auburn with Cortland, IC, and Fisher.

[airball55]

They will try to enhance their resume with an ECAC appearance somewhere most likely..

[AlleyCat]

I'm not sure that Fisher (27-13) will be good enough considering that the 4 Houghton wins don't count and Ithaca being the only real threat in the E5, I mean E8. ECAC tourney not what it used to be with new NCAA rules about post season tourneys. Only teams that did not qualify for their league tourneys or teams that don't have a league tourney can play in them.

[Bombers798891]

I'm not sure that Fisher (27-13) will be good enough considering that the 4 Houghton wins don't count and Ithaca being the only real threat in the E5, I mean E8. ECAC tourney not what it used to be with new NCAA rules about post season tourneys. Only teams that did not qualify for their league tourneys or teams that don't have a league tourney can play in them.

I'm inclined to agree. There just aren't a lot of good wins there. I don't know if the conference tournament results helped or hurt them or if there were a lot of upsets. I think that Ithaca series killed them. Yes, they were highly competitive, but dropping 3 of 4 there hurt their chances to rack up a couple more high-quality wins.

[sjfcards]

Can Fisher skip the ECAC's and just try to schedule some quality teams over the next week?

[sjfcards]

Fisher may have taken all of the suspense out of the inor out discussion by losing to Pitt Bradford today. Just a really bad loss for Fisher.

[Bombers798891]

Well, I think we should just admit that Fisher's really not that good. Over 40 games, we have a pretty good sample size to tell us that they're just not getting it done. I don't know enough about the ins and outs of the selection process to say for sure, but there are not a lot of good wins, and some pretty confounding losses

[Big Louie]

Fisher really hasn't beaten anyone if you look at their schedule. 26-14 overall.... 8-0 against Houghton and Utica isnt really considered doing damage. I realize they have to play these games but they really have no good wins. There best win was against an Ithaca team they went 1-3 against.

[AlleyCat]

My thought is there will be no Pool C bids from NY this year. Records aren't good enough and too many teams in the regions next to NY that have better records and SOS.

Sorry St John Fisher, not this year. Liberty League winner and nobody else from that league. No Oswego or Brockport.

[airball55]

I am inclined to agree with you all on Fisher.  They really had their chances in the Ithaca weekend but for one reason or another they couldn't get over the hump this season.  It is too bad, they wouldn't have been a team anyone would have wanted to see with the D'Amato kid in the front of the rotation.

[sjfcards]

I can't disagree with any of this. Fisher just didn't do enough this year. They do have a win against Union (1st in the LL), a pretty good Neumann team, and the one against IC, but that is really it. Plus, the loss against Pitt-Bradford in a game you had to have is just too tough to overcome for a voter I would guess.

The hard part for me is the way they lost all season. 8 one run games, 6 losses via a walk off. A run, or not making an error here and there would have made a huge difference.

[airball55]

Yes, they really are a few "breaks' away from being well over 30 wins, but, thats baseball.  I saw them against Oswego, what a difference in players.  And Oswego is very improved, but, position by position they were not on the level of Fisher.  So, it's off to the ever popular ECAC...win two there and finish 28-14 then hold their breath but it is a longshot at best.

[sjfcards]

Yes, they really are a few "breaks' away from being well over 30 wins, but, thats baseball.  I saw them against Oswego, what a difference in players.  And Oswego is very improved, but, position by position they were not on the level of Fisher.  So, it's off to the ever popular ECAC...win two there and finish 28-14 then hold their breath but it is a longshot at best.

The only good news for Fisher is that they are still ranked 4th in the region, which may show that there is some respect for their résumé. They have played a tough schedule as well, but it is a long shot at this point.

I try to make it to Auburn every year, but I am always more likely to spend my time at the regional of Fisher is there. Any one else making it out for the regional?