BB: E8: Empire 8

[scuba16]

I agree  RPI and Rochester are also good teams but other than that there isn't much in NY state

[JQV]

Cortland and Ithaca are always good, but the statement that the rest of the NY is weak is way off base.

No one said that...this time.  I guess we will see just how strong they are in the tournament.

[scuba16]

Here are the NY region champions as far back as I can remember
1990 - IC
1991 - IC
1992 - IC
1993 - IC
1994 - IC
1995 - Cortland
1996-  RPI
1997-2001 - CORTLAND
2002 - RPI
2003 - TRINITY CONN
2004 - BROCKPORT
2005 - CORTLAND
2006 - ECONN
2007 - CORTLAND

[John McGraw]

I think the jury is still out on Rochester and RPI. RPI's schedule leaves a little bit to desire and Rochester was just swept badly by Clarkson yesterday.

There's a chance, with the enlarged field, that both teams will go to Auburn - unless one of them has a meltdown in the final three weeks or so.

Then, who else is going from New York? Well, I think St. John Fisher, is still slightly in the race. They need to win out in their conference games and sweep Rochester at the end of the month. If that happens, they'll sneak in as a six seed or so. Their resume isn't great though with in-region losses to Brockport and Oneonta (2).

Elsewhere, you've got an auto-qualifier from the Skyline that will slide in as a seven or eight seed. Out-of-region Westfield was the low man on the totem poll last year. Then there's the NEAC. Keystone was the top team in the league last year but they weren't tournament eligible. Cazenovia leads the league right now, but Keystone has the best overall record.

Not having seen the handbook for this year, I'd suspect Manhattanville may be shipped back to New York. Though they could end up at the Mid-Atlantic region too. The Valiants are in the drivers seat in the MACF right now.

So, that being said, here's what it looks like in Auburn, barring some New England interlopers.

1. Cortland
2. Ithaca
3. RPI/Rochester
4. RPI/Rochester
5. Manhattanville
6. Skyline
7. NEAC

[AlleyCat]

If anyone were to look at the numbers Ithaca's schedule is very weak this year. They played a couple of good teams in California and 2 good teams in NY and lost to both. I believe Ithaca is a good team but let's not just say they other peoples schedules are weak just because its the they don't play in the western part of the state.

I think if any of the schools listed have a bad 3 weeks, except Cortland,  they could be left out. Cortalnd has played a tough schedule and looking at the numbers Ithaca is NO LOCK!

[BoomerIL]

So John your saying that Rochester has an outside chance, or better that 50% chance of making it, depending on the out come of the final three weeks, correct?  What then, based on a final record, would you consider them as a team for the regional.  I'm sure this has been explained before, but with all of the knowledge on this website, a simple explanation would help me understand better the process, besides winning the conference outright.

Thanks

[JQV]

2 good teams in NY and lost to both

I presume this refers to Fisher.  Under what logic does winning 3 of 4 constitute a loss?

[John McGraw]

2 good teams in NY and lost to both

I presume this refers to Fisher.  Under what logic does winning 3 of 4 constitute a loss?

No idea, I figured I'd just let that go.

[shoeless]

Rochester and RPI will be settled up this weekend.  Rochester and RPI can both hit.  Both have good 1 and 2 pitchers. 

Rochester pitchers get no support from defense.

But i agree Clarkson is not a very good team.

Rochester finishes with Ithaca and St John Fisher I believe. Their schedule is much softer than RPIs.

[AlleyCat]

I believe that this year unless each fall apart in the last 2 weeks of the season that the Liberty League is the 2 bid league from NY. Rochester and RPI are both good squads and look like they could compete.

SUNYAC looks very weak this year with no team with 20 wins except Cortland.

Empire 8 is even weaker besides Ithaca.

Just my take.

[StarvinMarvin]

I don't believe that the SUNYAC is very weak at all.  With the exception of Cortland, there's more parity in the league this year than in recent past.  I think that constitutes a strong conference when there are several teams beating each other up and the playoff situation comes down to the last conference weekend.  Some of the SUNYAC teams may not have the win total that was mentioned (20) but are still good teams who have just struggled in the conference.  Conference play basically accounts for a third of your schedule and if you struggle in conference thenit's going to be tough to have a win total of much over 20.  That's not counting wins in the conference tourney if you make it.  I guess it depends on the criteria you want to use in judging the strength of a conference put parity is a big factor for me and the SUNYAC has that.  Brockport is down a bit this year but I think talent wise they are second best in the conference regardless of record.  I'd take Cortland and B'port over RPI and U of R and the rest of each conference is a draw.  Sorry Boomer and no offense to U of R but I don't think their schedule is difficult whatsoever and their record is not a great indicator of how good they are.  I know they are a solid team but if they played Cortland's schedule how would their record look?  I just think that basing the strength of a conference on win totals for its teams can be misleading. 

[BoomerIL]

StarvinMarvin.....

I don't disagree at all with what your saying, I think that Rochester's schedule was softer that Cortlands, by how much, who's to say.  But, like my friend "shoeless" says, the defense needs to tighten it up if they are to get a chance at any post season play, plus they need to really win big against RPI and St.John Fisher.  Beating Ithaca tomorrow would be a definite plus as well!

Like I mentioned in previous posts, I wish that the weather didn't keep Rochester from playing their games against Cortland and Brockport.  Without dising either program, I think UR would have been great competition for both of those.  Yep, I'm a UR homer, but I've seen these kids play good ball.  They can hold their own with anyone.  Why did they lose several supposed easy games, with mistakes, whos knows.  Thats baseball!!  Will any of you be surprised if they beat Ithaca, or RPI, or St. John Fisher?  I know I won't, I really believe they can.  No I'm not a dreamer, just a believer in this team and its talent.

[StarvinMarvin]

Boomer, I for one would not be surprised at all if they beat any of the teams you mentioned.  I'm actually rooting for them to beat those teams, I'd like to see them get a post-season bud.  Best of luck tomorrow and this upcoming weekend as well!

[WrongArm]

Boomer,

A solid team like Rochester has a great chance to beat any of the teams you mentioned. In the E8 this season Fisher swept  Stevens (6-22 overall, 0-8 in the E8), but three of the games were decided by one run. Even Utica (2-17 overall, 0-8 in the E8) gave Ithaca two tough games in their Sunday double header losing 1-0 and 6-3.

The unpredictable nature of the game makes the winning streaks of Ithaca (theirs now over) and Cortland so impressive. Though impressive, those streaks and records don't mean diddly on any given day. But as part of a body of work to present to the tournament selection committee... "priceless."

[scuba16]

I think that Rochester's schedule was softer that Cortlands, by how much, who's to say. 

By how much? I would say Rochester's schedule was softer than C-State's and so would 99% of anyone who knows D-3 baseball!
Have you even looked at who Cortland played in their non leaguers? Look at these and compare:
http://www.cortlandreddragons.com/schedule.aspx?path=baseball&

http://www.rochester.edu/athletics/schedule.php?id=1

When you think of D-3 powerhouses Drew, Case, Washington MO, Washington and Brandeis don't come to mind.

As a Ithaca despiser, it pains me to say this but they play a hell of a schedule as well!
http://bombers.ithaca.edu/schedules.asp?path=baseball

When you look at the schedule IC and Cortland play and then try to compare them to U of R's it laughable.
They both played a nationally strong spring trip schedule, riddled with teams that have won National Championships and had multiple World Series Appearances while U of R was playing Skidmore 4 times in florida! That's Funny!