BB: E8: Empire 8

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Might there be other Defectors to the LL. The LL lost some members to the NEWMAC when they added Football.

[D3SportsFan]

What does this do to the future of the Empire 8? Now back down to 6 teams, are there other potential members on the horizon? If not, it's unfortunate for the remaining E8 members.

I still think that the E8 can shore up the numbers to keep the AQ by then.

Can the E8 earn an AQ and have a provisional time period to add another member to retain the bid? Or does the 2-year provisional period reset now that Ithaca is leaving?

[Ralph Turner]

What does this do to the future of the Empire 8? Now back down to 6 teams, are there other potential members on the horizon? If not, it's unfortunate for the remaining E8 members.

I still think that the E8 can shore up the numbers to keep the AQ by then.

Can the E8 earn an AQ and have a provisional time period to add another member to retain the bid? Or does the 2-year provisional period reset now that Ithaca is leaving?

That is a good question. I think that the AQ is preserved if the membership is fluid, but the conference has 4 core members and at least 7 total core and affiliate members at all times.

[D3SportsFan]

Ithaca doesn't look like themselves out the gate so far. Any insight?

Stevens playing ok, starting pitching seems to be fairly strong. Beat Kean but late inning loss to William Paterson.

St. John Fisher starting pitching starts out very strong in Florida, but offense struggles.

Houghton and Elmira open to 1-10 start combined.

Any other thoughts around the Empire 8?

[NYbaseballguy]

Fisher can pitch but the schedule is tough the rest of the week.  They look solid as does Stevens.  Similar teams with real good pitching.  Ithaca hasn't been all that great the past couple of years but I am a bit surprised as to how bad they have been getting beat.  The rest of the league is just that...the rest of the league.  I still think it comes down to Stevens and Fisher at the end of the season.  That's my two cents.

[DucksBB]

Saw the two Stevens games this weekend.  Saturday was a tough one...up 8-0 thru 6 and lost 9-8.  Two blown saves this weekend.  Early losses show coach what he does or doesn't have on the bench and bullpen.  Starting pitching not a concern at this point.  Few too many errors which will be worked out.  Hitting is an improvement over years past.  Chemistry is good on this team.

[NYbaseballguy]

NY region is representing itself well.  The SUNYAC teams Cortland, Oswego, Brockport off to outstanding starts.  Stevens and Fisher have good wins against tough schedules.  Pretty impressive. 

[Ralph Turner]

Welcome to the boards, NYbaseballguy.  +1!

Keep on posting and contributing.

[Bombers798891]

Ithaca is 6-6, and their pitching is just dreadful.

I wonder if John Prendergast is done. If so, that's really sad news. In 2013 and 2014, he went a combined 19-1 with a 2.29 ERA. He threw one inning last year, and has thrown just two this season. Bummer to see one of the elite pitchers in the region have his career end this way.

[D3SportsFan]

It is unfortunate for Prendergast and IC. He hasn't pitched in over a week, so difficult to say that he's done yet, but he's likely not the same pitcher he was pre-2015 injury.

Any takes on the other E8 teams thus far? Stevens struggled in CA against good competition, St. John Fisher is 8-6 against a respectable schedule, Ithaca looks to be struggling on the mound, Houghton is 9-9 with wins against a weaker schedule.

12-13 or more losses as a Pool B conference could be the line for an E8 team to get a bid or not.
Losses:
Houghton 9
Stevens 8
Ithaca 7
St. John Fisher 6

[John McGraw]

It is unfortunate for Prendergast and IC. He hasn't pitched in over a week, so difficult to say that he's done yet, but he's likely not the same pitcher he was pre-2015 injury.

Any takes on the other E8 teams thus far? Stevens struggled in CA against good competition, St. John Fisher is 8-6 against a respectable schedule, Ithaca looks to be struggling on the mound, Houghton is 9-9 with wins against a weaker schedule.

12-13 or more losses as a Pool B conference could be the line for an E8 team to get a bid or not.
Losses:
Houghton 9
Stevens 8
Ithaca 7
St. John Fisher 6

Unfortunately for the E8 teams, Pool B has become an uphill battle, even more so now with the extremely limited number of tournament spots available. I stand by my prediction in the regional preview that the league title will come down to Stevens and Fisher. One would surmise that the winner of the league, assuming it can get through the conference tournament relatively unscathed, would be in the drivers seat for a possible at-large NCAA selection. Without Prendergast, Ithaca just doesn't have enough quality pitching. Even if he does return, I can't imagine him logging the innings he did when he was healthy during the World Series run. Though, I'm impressed that Parkes held Cortland to two runs in a long outing on Tuesday.

In terms of Fisher and Stevens, it's early, but both are in the top 35 in SOS - Fisher at 15 and Stevens at 32. Emory, a strong Pool B contender every year, is ranked lower in SOS than both but has a 19-6 record already. Washington U. was the other B team last year and the Bears are currently 13-8 with an SOS of 23.

[DucksBB]

As for the Ducks, it's been a grind.  The games, for the most part, have been close.  Trouble stringing hits together at the right times and the bullpen is working through it's issues.  California was tough and not the result we wanted.  After two days of fun and a doubleheader vs Redlands they had nothing left for Chapman.  Conference opener vs Canton tomorrow.

JM, do you think there's any factor in the committee's decision making for the E8 champ getting in since the conference was left out last yr?

[John McGraw]

As for the Ducks, it's been a grind.  The games, for the most part, have been close.  Trouble stringing hits together at the right times and the bullpen is working through it's issues.  California was tough and not the result we wanted.  After two days of fun and a doubleheader vs Redlands they had nothing left for Chapman.  Conference opener vs Canton tomorrow.

JM, do you think there's any factor in the committee's decision making for the E8 champ getting in since the conference was left out last yr?

Can't speak for the committee but I'd imagine it will have zero bearing on this year's selections.

[D3SportsFan]

Has anyone heard rumors about other possible E8 affiliate baseball members? With Ithaca leaving as Canton joins, the E8 will be back to 6 teams and 1 short of the AQ requirement. What options do they have?

[Jim Dixon]

Has anyone heard rumors about other possible E8 affiliate baseball members? With Ithaca leaving as Canton joins, the E8 will be back to 6 teams and 1 short of the AQ requirement. What options do they have?

If I was the E8, I might want to look at Alfred State for a 7th member or have a school add baseball.  It was not long ago that Houghton, Elmira and Canton did not have D-III baseball programs.