BB: E8: Empire 8

[NYbaseballguy]

Cortland obviously gets the 1.  Fisher, regardless of the schedule strength, and Oswego at 2/3...put either one in those slots.  Fisher challenged themselves in Florida, Haverford, etc...those teams have been off a bit and that's where the schedule strength gets hurt a bit, even Marietta is only 22-13.  The teams they played would fare well in most leagues, they all play in very difficult leagues and beat on each other.  After that...no idea.  It's a mess.  Clarkson is now leading the Liberty League.  I was ready to put Union there but not so sure now.  I know little about the teams downstate.  Ithaca?? at four or five maybe.

[sjfcards]

Fisher got two more wins today against Houghton. Now sits at 25-8 on the year, and 13-1 in the league. Their magic number is 2, with 3 against IC and one against Utica left on the league schedule. I feel like Fisher is in really good shape to get into the regional, but I am far from an expert on how the committee  picks teams. Several times in the past I felt Fisher was a lock, and they got left out. At this point I think they need teams they have beaten to keep winning.

[Bombers798891]

In general, Fisher needs to up its schedule. Two games against top 25 teams is not going to cut it, given how bleh the E8 is. They may be deserving this year, but in general, their schedule is not on the level of a Cortland.

[John McGraw]

Fisher got two more wins today against Houghton. Now sits at 25-8 on the year, and 13-1 in the league. Their magic number is 2, with 3 against IC and one against Utica left on the league schedule. I feel like Fisher is in really good shape to get into the regional, but I am far from an expert on how the committee  picks teams. Several times in the past I felt Fisher was a lock, and they got left out. At this point I think they need teams they have beaten to keep winning.

Remember, Fisher isn't competing against teams from inside the region to get into the NCAA tournament. Fisher is in the mix for a Pool B (2 bids) or potentially a Pool C (14 bids). At least in New York, figure on Oswego (or Cortland should the Red Dragons not win the SUNYAC tournament) taking one of those 14 Pool C at-large bids.

[DucksBB]

Big weekend for the top 3 in E8....so is the thinking still that only one gets in and it's basically the team that wins the E8?  I feel that's true for either SJF or Stevens, not so sure about IC.

[Bombers798891]

Ithaca's hopes ended, IMO, when they had the three game stretch where they lost to Cortland and twice to Utica. They're 20-12, have no marquee wins, and a pair of losses to a 8-19-1 team. If they were 23-9 with a nice win over Cortland, maybe you could see them sneak in if they ran the table from here on out...but even then...eh

They're simply not good enough

[sjfcards]

The regional rankings are out and all if the big three from the E8 are included. Fisher at 3, Stevens at 4, and IC at 5. Cortland, Oswego, and Brockport are the other ranked teams.

[sjfcards]

Fisher gets 6 in the bottom of the 6th to take game one 7-5, and jumps on the Ithaca starter early in game two to sweep IC today. Fisher cements the E8 regular season title, and top seed in the tournament with the two wins today. Now 27-8 overall and 15-1 in the league. Perhaps most important they get 2 more wins against a regionally ranked team.

Game 3 tomorrow.

[NYbaseballguy]

Nice comeback in first game.  Pendregast was haunting them for a while.  I like this Fisher team.  They catch the ball better and the pitching is obviously very good.  I don't think it's a matter of if they get in the regional, a regional.  I think it's more of a question of how far they can go.  Ithaca gave it all they had.  They just don't have Fisher's talent.

[sjfcards]

Another win for Fisher today, beating Brockport 4-2. Fisher can definitely pitch and catch this year. I'm not sure Brockport is really that great a team, but still another win against a regionally ranked team. RIT tomorrow before Utica and IC to close out the regular season for the league.

[NYbaseballguy]

Cards...they are in.  I am calling the shot.  Your right about them being "snubbed" in year's past.  I love Oswego, but, at the end of the day, if Oswego is a lock, which I am sure they are, then Fisher has to be.  In the head to head they split, Oswego was very lucky to get one.  Fisher's region record has to be better than Oswego's.  They have four losses (maybe three, not sure about Haverford) in region.  Oswego has six that I can think of.  In matter of fact maybe the Cards have a better in region record than Cortland...Cortland has four losses in region.  But, as John McGraw pointed out, Fisher's path is murky with no AQ in the league.  However, they will get to 30 wins and I am calling a two seed, three at worst in this regional.  Remember though, they have made the tournament in year's past and got shipped. 

[sjfcards]

Cards...they are in.  I am calling the shot.  Your right about them being "snubbed" in year's past.  I love Oswego, but, at the end of the day, if Oswego is a lock, which I am sure they are, then Fisher has to be.  In the head to head they split, Oswego was very lucky to get one.  Fisher's region record has to be better than Oswego's.  They have four losses (maybe three, not sure about Haverford) in region.  Oswego has six that I can think of.  In matter of fact maybe the Cards have a better in region record than Cortland...Cortland has four losses in region.  But, as John McGraw pointed out, Fisher's path is murky with no AQ in the league.  However, they will get to 30 wins and I am calling a two seed, three at worst in this regional.  Remember though, they have made the tournament in year's past and got shipped.

Getting shipped out is more my concern. I don't live too far from Auburn and would love to catch them in the regional. The last time they were in was a great week of baseball. My dad is a Cortland grad, and he likes to go to the games as well, so it is best for everyone if Fisher stays in Auburn.

Think the committee will take that into consideration?

[John McGraw]

Cards...they are in.  I am calling the shot.  Your right about them being "snubbed" in year's past.  I love Oswego, but, at the end of the day, if Oswego is a lock, which I am sure they are, then Fisher has to be.  In the head to head they split, Oswego was very lucky to get one.  Fisher's region record has to be better than Oswego's.  They have four losses (maybe three, not sure about Haverford) in region.  Oswego has six that I can think of.  In matter of fact maybe the Cards have a better in region record than Cortland...Cortland has four losses in region.  But, as John McGraw pointed out, Fisher's path is murky with no AQ in the league.  However, they will get to 30 wins and I am calling a two seed, three at worst in this regional.  Remember though, they have made the tournament in year's past and got shipped.

Fisher has to continue winning or at least limit losses and hope for not too many upsets nationally. The relative weakness of the region may help as there doesn't really seem to be anyone, other than maybe Stevens, that will surpass the Cardinals to take the number three regional ranking away. Stevens got a big boost from a win yesterday over Mid-Atlantic #4 Keystone (in-region win) though was hurt by not getting to play Cortland on Sunday due to the weather. In terms of Fisher & Oswego, Fisher's SOS has jumped to 76 ahead of Oswego but Oswego will benefit in the SUNYAC tournament if it goes up against Cortland.

Nationally speaking, Emory, St. John Fisher and Case Western Reserve right now appear to be in the running for the two Pool B bid spots. Both Emory and Case have concluded their regular seasons and neither will play in a conference tournament. CWRU is ranked first nationally in SOS, Emory second. Though the more telling number is Emory was rated first in the South last Thursday and Case was fourth in the Mideast. If Fisher stays at three and Case doesn't move up, that should help.

[sjfcards]

Cards...they are in.  I am calling the shot.  Your right about them being "snubbed" in year's past.  I love Oswego, but, at the end of the day, if Oswego is a lock, which I am sure they are, then Fisher has to be.  In the head to head they split, Oswego was very lucky to get one.  Fisher's region record has to be better than Oswego's.  They have four losses (maybe three, not sure about Haverford) in region.  Oswego has six that I can think of.  In matter of fact maybe the Cards have a better in region record than Cortland...Cortland has four losses in region.  But, as John McGraw pointed out, Fisher's path is murky with no AQ in the league.  However, they will get to 30 wins and I am calling a two seed, three at worst in this regional.  Remember though, they have made the tournament in year's past and got shipped.

Fisher has to continue winning or at least limit losses and hope for not too many upsets nationally. The relative weakness of the region may help as there doesn't really seem to be anyone, other than maybe Stevens, that will surpass the Cardinals to take the number three regional ranking away. Stevens got a big boost from a win yesterday over Mid-Atlantic #4 Keystone (in-region win) though was hurt by not getting to play Cortland on Sunday due to the weather. In terms of Fisher & Oswego, Fisher's SOS has jumped to 76 ahead of Oswego but Oswego will benefit in the SUNYAC tournament if it goes up against Cortland.

Nationally speaking, Emory, St. John Fisher and Case Western Reserve right now appear to be in the running for the two Pool B bid spots. Both Emory and Case have concluded their regular seasons and neither will play in a conference tournament. CWRU is ranked first nationally in SOS, Emory second. Though the more telling number is Emory was rated first in the South last Thursday and Case was fourth in the Mideast. If Fisher stays at three and Case doesn't move up, that should help.

Does the pool B option go to the conference tournament winner, or is Fisher in line having won the regular season? Your point goes to show how important having an AQ is. This is probably the best Fisher team they have ever had, and may not get in because other teams are having good seasons as well. With only three Fisher may be hoping for a pool C rather than a pool B. If Fisher keeps winning and wins the conference tournament I have to believe they are in, but if they win 2 of the final 3 (lose to Ithaca maybe) and then lose in the conference tournament...not so sure.

I have seen Fisher teams with 30 wins get left out before, but if this Fisher team can't get in then why have the NY Region in the first place. Even if Oswego gets in (and I don't see much of a difference between Fisher and Oswego) Fisher is clearly a top 3/4 team in the region, and if they are left out who is left?

[John McGraw]

[
Does the pool B option go to the conference tournament winner, or is Fisher in line having won the regular season? Your point goes to show how important having an AQ is. This is probably the best Fisher team they have ever had, and may not get in because other teams are having good seasons as well. With only three Fisher may be hoping for a pool C rather than a pool B. If Fisher keeps winning and wins the conference tournament I have to believe they are in, but if they win 2 of the final 3 (lose to Ithaca maybe) and then lose in the conference tournament...not so sure.

I have seen Fisher teams with 30 wins get left out before, but if this Fisher team can't get in then why have the NY Region in the first place. Even if Oswego gets in (and I don't see much of a difference between Fisher and Oswego) Fisher is clearly a top 3/4 team in the region, and if they are left out who is left?

The conference tournament and winning a league's regular season title have no bearing on the actual NCAA tournament selection process in terms of the teams eligible for Pool B. It looks nice on a resume but wins, losses, SOS, OWP, OOWP etc. are more important. Would it help to win the tournament? Very much so for the additional victories but winning the tournament does not guarantee getting into the NCAA regionals - that's only for Pool A teams. However, a loss or losses in the conference tournament most definitely can hurt a team's chances moving forward. As we all know, leagues without an AQ are not guaranteed a spot in the NCAA's. The Empire 8 has gone through this where no one has gotten in as has the CUNYAC. It stinks for the teams in those leagues but until the rules change, that's how it goes.

I think Fisher, should it keep winning, has a very good chance at getting in this year. Really all that the Cardinals can do now is continue to win and things will work themselves out.