BB: E8: Empire 8

[sjfcards]

Well yes, but I can't imagine a conference with four teams will be able to sneak two teams into the tournament.

Conference? What conference?
The E8, at least for baseball, is more like a bizzaro anti-conference. What benefit do any of the four remaining teams derive from playing under that admnistrative umbrella? Ithaca and Fisher, two excellent NY teams, get to beat each other up six times this year. Utica burns nearly a third of their schedule playing those same two teams. Is that in Utica's best interest, or would they be better off facing some teams without NCAA aspirations? Fisher was slammed for a low SOS last year. Do they benefit from having to play so many games against Utica?

No AQ. No second-chance tournament. Stupid schedule. I think Fisher and Ithaca suffer enough as members of the E8 without having one of them dismissed because they happen to find themselves in the same lousy circumstances.

I guess the E8 baseball teams should be grateful that they have a "conference" schedule to play at all.

A question to inform me and understand the New York Region...

Would the E8 affiliate with the CUNYAC schools and send the Top 4 teams from each division to play for an AQ (after waiting 2 years for the AQ?)

CUNYAC rarely has a team in the Regionals.

E8 has missed Pool B several times.

It looks like a win/win to me.

Wow, I think that is a great idea. It would make life a lot easier for the E8 teams as they could build in some CUNYAC teams into a schedule packed with league games. The only issue I see is that the E8 only has 4 teams so Utica would get in without really earning it, but the idea has a lot to like. Somebody call someone and make this happen.

[WrongArm]

Wow, I think that is a great idea. It would make life a lot easier for the E8 teams as they could build in some CUNYAC teams into a schedule packed with league games. The only issue I see is that the E8 only has 4 teams so Utica would get in without really earning it, but the idea has a lot to like. Somebody call someone and make this happen.

Anything for an AQ!

Stevens has already played every baseball team in the CUNYAC this year. Those games account for 11 of their 18 wins. If they beat Lehman next week, they will have run the table and will stand at 12-0 against that conference. I wouldn't be too concerned that Utica might get a playoff position they didn't earn under Ralph's modest proposal. Those guys deserve medals for playing 12 games against Ithaca and Fisher. They'd be a good team in the CUNYAC. I'd be more concerned about finding a scoreboard with enough blank spaces if Ithaca were to play Yeshiva.

[sjfcards]

Fisher pushes their first run of the game across the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but it was enough as Fisher wins 1-0. Damato pitched a great game and just barely out dueled the pitcher from Ithaca who was also great. Well played game that had all the aspects of a classic (including a play at the plate to keep the shutout going for Fisher. Big win for Fisher who still has Beaumont and Johnson back for tomorrow.

[WrongArm]

In the interest of an E8 baseball season that means something right to the end, I hope Fisher can close the gap with Ithaca this weekend -- at least 2 of 3. That would make the remaining games with Stevens and Utica a bit more interesting.

If it wasn't aparent in my earlier post, I'm all in favor of the E8 throwing in with the CUNYAC to secure an automatic qualifier. Ralph's idea makes too much sense to me; there must be some political or procedural reason it can't happen.

But don't dispair E8 fans. Houghton brings the league back to five teams next year with it's shiny, new, second-season baseball team.

[sjfcards]

In the interest of an E8 baseball season that means something right to the end, I hope Fisher can close the gap with Ithaca this weekend -- at least 2 of 3. That would make the remaining games with Stevens and Utica a bit more interesting.

If it wasn't aparent in my earlier post, I'm all in favor of the E8 throwing in with the CUNYAC to secure an automatic qualifier. Ralph's idea makes too much sense to me; there must be some political or procedural reason it can't happen.

But don't dispair E8 fans. Houghton brings the league back to five teams next year with it's shiny, new, second-season baseball team.

Whatever makes the conference more respectable right.

I think Fisher can take at least 1 of 2 tomorrow. The game in IC where Beaumont pitched and IC got him was a strange game. A lot of things just didn't go Fisher's way. Klock dropped what was a very routine fly ball in the first that scored 2, then lost another routine fly ball in the 8th I think that opened the door for IC to start the comeback. Fisher booted some balls they typically make plays on, and stranded a lot of runners as well. Even with all that Fisher was up 9-2 with 1 out in the 8th. Unfortunately Beaumont was out of gas and Fisher had used their bullpen a ton in the first 2 games. Not excuses, but if those quirky things don't happen this weekend I think Fisher has a big advantage with Beaumont on the mound. What Fisher really needs is a quality start from Johnson. If they can get some quality innings maybe they can steal 2 ( I am assuming they will start Johnson in the 7 in ing game to maximize the innings he can give them).

IC is really good, maybe the best team in the region, but hopefully Fisher can at least keep them in sight.

[Ralph Turner]

If the conferences have reservations for sending the Top 4 teams from each "conference" in a CUNYAC/E8 affiliation, the sending the Top 3 from both might make more sense.

It is definitely easier to play a 6-team double elimination tourney (with 11 possible games) in the spring time than 8-team tourney and 15 possible games.

[sjfcards]

If the conferences have reservations for sending the Top 4 teams from each "conference" in a CUNYAC/E8 affiliation, the sending the Top 3 from both might make more sense.

It is definitely easier to play a 6-team double elimination tourney (with 11 possible games) in the spring time than 8-team tourney and 15 possible games.

I like the 6 team format more, since teams will have to do something to get into the tournament (admittedly not much), but either way I think the idea has a ton of merit to it. Both sides benefit, and could open some potential cross conference games against teams we don't see every year.

[Ralph Turner]

If the conferences have reservations for sending the Top 4 teams from each "conference" in a CUNYAC/E8 affiliation, the sending the Top 3 from both might make more sense.

It is definitely easier to play a 6-team double elimination tourney (with 11 possible games) in the spring time than 8-team tourney and 15 possible games.

I like the 6 team format more, since teams will have to do something to get into the tournament (admittedly not much), but either way I think the idea has a ton of merit to it. Both sides benefit, and could open some potential cross conference games against teams we don't see every year.

We have seen it in multiple sports at multiple levels. You cannot jump for 4th or 5th to first, but that first season of getting to 3rd and a tourney berth is very exciting.

I hope that they will consider it.

[sjfcards]

Fisher took game 1 today against IC, so they are a game and a half back with one left to play against Ithaca. Fisher is down in game two, 4-1 in the 8th, so it doesn't look good for a league title, but at least they have put some pressure on IC. Also improved their chances of an at large bid. Let's hope they get some runs here...

[sjfcards]

Wow, wow, wow...Bostick Homers in the bottom of the 8th for Fisher to give them a one run lead, 5-4. Ithaca answers back with a run in the top of the 9th to send it to extra innings. Fisher scores in the bottom of the 10th to sweep the weekend series with Ithaca. A HUGE weekend for Fisher as they really needed something to make a statement. They are right in it for the league now, and those are three big wins for their at large resume.

[airball55]

It was good to see this series with both teams rolling out the top pitchers.  Remember, D'amato did not pitch in the first series.  May have not made a difference that weekend, but still has to be considered.  Anyway, too bad there is no way to ever really settle it between these two programs.  I would expect Fisher to leapfrog Ithaca in region rankings now, especially with Ithaca losing to Rochester in the same week that Fisher completed the season sweep.

[sjfcards]

It was good to see this series with both teams rolling out the top pitchers.  Remember, D'amato did not pitch in the first series.  May have not made a difference that weekend, but still has to be considered.  Anyway, too bad there is no way to ever really settle it between these two programs.  I would expect Fisher to leapfrog Ithaca in region rankings now, especially with Ithaca losing to Rochester in the same week that Fisher completed the season sweep.

After watching both weekends of Fisher vs. Ithaca I think both teams deserve a spot in the regionals. I can't believe that there is that many teams out there good enough to keep them both out. They have to be two of the top 5 teams in the region.

[John McGraw]

It was good to see this series with both teams rolling out the top pitchers.  Remember, D'amato did not pitch in the first series.  May have not made a difference that weekend, but still has to be considered.  Anyway, too bad there is no way to ever really settle it between these two programs.  I would expect Fisher to leapfrog Ithaca in region rankings now, especially with Ithaca losing to Rochester in the same week that Fisher completed the season sweep.

After watching both weekends of Fisher vs. Ithaca I think both teams deserve a spot in the regionals. I can't believe that there is that many teams out there good enough to keep them both out. They have to be two of the top 5 teams in the region.

We'll see when the regional rankings come out where both stand - Ithaca, Fisher and Cortland all have to be in the top three I would imagine. Please do remember, the tournament, much like in other sports, isn't comprised regionally i.e. a certain number of teams from one region do not make the tournament. Everything is set up on a national basis so Ithaca and Fisher will be competing against teams from all over the country. Though, if one makes it into Pool B and the other drops to Pool C, a team like Marietta or Trinity (Texas) losing in their conference tournament takes a spot away from a team on the bubble.

[sjfcards]

Did Rochester get hit with the snow storm that hit my area? If so, what are the chances that the Fisher/Brockport game happens on Wednesday.

[CrashDavisD3]

No, just two Pool B bids nationally. It's likely going to be Ithaca or Fisher and not both.

If Ithaca got a Pool B bid and Fisher didn't, isn't Fisher still eligible for a Pool C at-large bid just like every other team who didn't win their conference AQ?

Has the E8 ever in the past got 2 bids? Never say never but if it has not, not likely in 2012. If you dont get a B bid you can still get a C bid. Pool A are awarded first for AQ Conferences, then B(for non AQ conferences and Independets) and then C bids(Who is left from Pool A/B) in that order.