BB: LL: Liberty League

[AlleyCat]

I understand those points, but league regulations say if you play a makeup in the middle of the week, it must be a DH. pitching depth is why they choose not to play 2, not missed class time. Put in on the line and let the student athletes decide the league, not coaches trying to play the system.

At least Skidmore decided to play 2 against RPI yesterday.

[LLbaseball]

McGraw is right....
Classes, costs, etc. all play a factor in these decisions.  On the other hand, Skidmore has a bye week this week and Vassar has four with Clarkson.  Next week it's vice versa.  I think it's MORE fair the way they did it, in the long run.  Also, what about Bard/Union?   Same distance to travel and they only played 2 games, with no make up scheduled. Let the coaches/administrators do the scheduling.  They all do the best they can in this league.  We should be supporters, not critics.  This is what they do for a living.....

Alleycat must be pulling for Rochester.... But I remember in the past when Rochester hasn't played up to 6 league games due to cancellations.  Obviously they can now with turf, but it wasn't that way in the past.  5-10 is a solid start for the jackets.  Keep it up.  Haha

[airball55]

Jackets get sweep at RPI today.  And, if the RPI pitching isn't rolling over for tomorrow, then, it could be the same.  RPI uses two best against Clarkson earlier in week...Rochester doesn't play and voila!! el sweepo.  Good for Jackets who, if, they can at least get one tomorrow makes it a season changing weekend.  Clarkson split at Vassar.  So, the league can get a bit more muddled, RIT gets three against Bard who is now a series that you almost have to sweep to have a shot at the conference tournament.  Tomorrow's games will be interesting.  Advantage to U of R and Vassar against RPI and Clarkson who played each other on Thursday...at least those teams played.  Not sure why U of R couldn't play RIT earlier in week on turf. Regardless, it becomes a huge advantage for those two teams against IMHO the top two in the league.

[baseballislife]

UR-RIT could not have been played at all until yesterday since Rochester got nearly a foot of snow last Sunday.  Although it melted relatively quickly in 5 days, there was still snow covering the entire field until Thursday evening.  RIT played Bard on Friday, so no room to do it then.

While RPI was clearly deep into their pitching staff, the bigger story today was the continued dominance of UR sophomore Dan Warren.  He only allowed two hits to a usually potent RPI offense.  He has not allowed a run in two complete LL starts and has yet to allow an ER in 24 innings this year.  RPI pitching had nothing to do with that.  Sophomore Matt Todd continues to emerge at the plate, as well.

UR built a 9-4 lead in game 2, but then had to hold on for the 10-8 win.  RPI showed some late heart, so good for them.  I figured getting 2 on the weekend would be a good road result for this young UR team.  Now they have a chance to get more. 

[airball55]

Lots of similarities with U or R and St. Law.  It appears they have a horse at the top of the rotation.  Is that enough??  Tomorrow is a big day for the Jackets...a three out of four would be great and RPI doesn't have their one or two.  They played games at Houghton earlier in the week, not sure if the weather was that much different from Rochester to Buffalo.  Anyway, a nice advantage to have.

[baseballislife]

UR continued their strong weekend taking game 3 @ RPI, 14-2, while banging out 16 more hits.  As I understand it, the RPI SP was their #2 and was coming back on short rest, having pitched last Wednesday.  RPI senior Sean Conroy (#1) also comes back on short rest and pitches a very strong 9 inning complete game and salvaging the final game to avoid the four game sweep.

Vassar and Clarkson each take two, splitting the weekend.  Union takes 2 of 3 from SLU and RIT takes 3 from Bard.  Neither of those series' got to play the fourth game due to field availability issues.

Several league games being made up during the week this week:

Tues - Skidmore @ RPI (2)
Wed. - RIT @ UR (2)
           Vassar @ Skidmore (1)

RIT and Union off to an early lead in the standings.  Skidmore and Bard are winless.  The other 5 teams are all jumbled up around the .500 mark.

[airball55]

RPI came back with their number two today, Jensen to get Skidmore.  Kudos to RPI, Clarkson, Skidmore for getting games in and doing it without holding guys to do it.  RPI will eventually be in the best situation..not having to make up a ton of games at the end of the year and rested for the conference tournament.  They went  Wed, Thursday, Sat., Sun, and today for 10 games, all conference.  That's a tough run on any staff.  Union had a nice out of conference win against MCLA.  Jackets have Keuka in a DH today...should be able to get two from them.  League is a logjam, Union, RPI in good shape, RIT is 4-1 in league but they played their Bard series.  Not all teams play each other this season so there is some schedule advantages.  Big series up north this weekend (weather permitting) St. Law and Clarkson.  A three out of four in that series would go a long way for one of those teams.

[baseballislife]

Good points, Airball.  UR vs. RIT in a twilight DH tomorrow also could have big ramifications down the road.  Teams split the first two a week and a half ago.  UR took Keuka 5-2 in a single 9 inning game tonight.

[baseballislife]

UR split again with RIT last night to split the series 2-2.  Four very close games between two evenly matched teams.

In game 1, Dan Warren #1 came back on three days rest to pitch a solid game.  He finally allowed an ER and has allowed 2 in 29+ innings.  The story of this game was the missed opportunities by RIT.  Two runners thrown out at the plate for would-be winning runs, many others LOB - UR gets the win in 9th inning of the scheduled 7 inning game.  3-2 final.

In game 2, UR defensive lapses allowed RIT three unearned runs in the 4-3 RIT victory.  UR comes back in last inning and the tying run crosses home plate as UR runner is out at first on a bang-bang play - game over.  You can't win games playing poor defense.

UR 6-6 with remaining series against Bard, Vassar, Skidmore.  They have played SLU, RPI, RIT.
RIT 5-2 with remaining series against Skidmore, SLU, Clarkson, Union.  They have played UR, Bard.

[airball55]

UR schedule is set up perfect.  The league seems to be wide open at this point.  It certainly does not have a Cortland or St. John Fisher team so looking at the Jacket schedule, they could easily make a run for the top and that would make a few posters here very happy!  Union and RPI hook up this weekend, that series will also go a long way in determining top spot.

[baseballislife]

Good weekend for Union, RIT, SLU, and UR.  RPI and Clarkson need to turn it around right away or they will likely be out.  Very nice non-conference win for Vassar over Cortland, as well.  Things are moving quickly now that games are getting played - big DH tomorrow between SLU and Vassar.  Current standings by winning %:

Union         6-2-1     .750
RIT                8-3     .727
Vassar           4-2     .667
SLU               7-4     .636
UR               10-6     .625
RPI                7-7     .500
Clarkson       4-6      .400
Skidmore      1-9      .100
Bard          0-8-1      .000

Big series between RIT and SLU this weekend, scheduled in Canton.  Anyone know if their field is getting close to being ready?  Also a big series between Vassar and UR in Rochester.

[airball55]

I still like Clarkson's chances because they have RIT, Bard and Skidmore left.  Union to me is now the clear cut favorite in a very balanced league.  There does not seem to be an elite team.  RPI has come back to the pack but gets Bard next weekend.  Rochester sitting pretty good too, getting Vassar at home and the Skidmore.  The team that I don't know about is RIT.  They have St. Law., Union and Clarkson left..they get the benefit of no RPI this season.  Their schedule has been very weak, no real standout win on the schedule.  Hard to say..I am going to take a run at this.

Originally, I had RPI, Union, Clarkson and St. Law.  I think U of R gets in now.  The schedule is in their favor and that weekend against RPI was big for them.  So:
Union, RPI (barely), U of R, and....either St. Law, or Clarkson.  I think the Knights get right back into it with 12 left against Bard, Skidmore and RIT (who I still don't believe in).  After this weekend, the Saints have the inner position and all of their games left are at home.  This is tough!!  St. Lawrence I guess, but, subject to change..lol.

[baseballislife]

You're right, this is tough.  The wildcard in this is it looks like only UR will play all of its league games this year.  I agree on Union looking like the team to beat.  I see them in first place again and hosting the tournament.  Of course, it has been many years since the host has won the tourney, so I'm not sure that bodes well for them, haha.

My originals were Union, RPI, UR, and Clarkson.  I am starting to think Vassar is stronger than I thought, but it is hard to tell since they have only played 6 league games.  Big series at UR this weekend. 

RIT is stronger than they have been, but they will need to prove themselves over the next three weeks to get in.  I see them going 5-7 and missing the play-offs, but finishing over .500 at 13-10.

My revised four are Union, UR, Vassar, and.....in a tie for fourth, RPI or Clarkson.  I think they could both by 13-9 and having split the only two they have played, they may have to find a way to play the other DH to see if one of them can sweep the other and get in at 15-9.  In that scenario, I'm going with RPI as the fourth.

The picture should be clearer by this Sunday.  Lots of parity in the LL!

[BBFan62]

You're right, this is tough.  The wildcard in this is it looks like only UR will play all of its league games this year.  I agree on Union looking like the team to beat.  I see them in first place again and hosting the tournament.  Of course, it has been many years since the host has won the tourney, so I'm not sure that bodes well for them, haha.

My originals were Union, RPI, UR, and Clarkson.  I am starting to think Vassar is stronger than I thought, but it is hard to tell since they have only played 6 league games.  Big series at UR this weekend. 

RIT is stronger than they have been, but they will need to prove themselves over the next three weeks to get in.  I see them going 5-7 and missing the play-offs, but finishing over .500 at 13-10.

My revised four are Union, UR, Vassar, and.....in a tie for fourth, RPI or Clarkson.  I think they could both by 13-9 and having split the only two they have played, they may have to find a way to play the other DH to see if one of them can sweep the other and get in at 15-9.  In that scenario, I'm going with RPI as the fourth.

The picture should be clearer by this Sunday.  Lots of parity in the LL!

Go Jackets! I stated it last year and I'll restate it this year - these kids can play! The Freshmen class was the best class overall since the 2010 Freshmen; all they needed was a year under their belt. Last year hitting was a problem, but 5 or 6 started. It's paying off, as the team seems to be putting it together. I am hopeful they make it this year, as we still know a few classes. But by next year the jackets should be on top.
You knew Dan Warren was a player as were a few others. Now combined wth the Seniors and Juniors they're making their move. I just checked on the Ithaca game and the jackets had a 2 hit shutout going. Don't know how it will end, but we're there (in spirit) rooting.

[baseballislife]

Impressive 6-0 shut-out win over #25 Ithaca tonight.  UR hit as the visitor in this 9 inning tilt, as this was originally scheduled yesterday in Ithaca.  Game was moved to UR to take advantage of the turf field and get the game in.

Final line: UR 6 Runs, 8 Hits, 0 Errors
               IC  0 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Error

UR has had IC's number of late, winning the last four times over five years (did not play in 2011).  UR staff pitches their 5th shut-out in last 17 games and lowers their ERA to 3.28.