BB: LL: Liberty League

[nybaseball11]

Half and I say half, of the reason STL has been in the finals the last few years is because of coaching. I have seen that in the Conference tournaments, often times the coaches can out coach themselves in the 4 game format. STL has benefited from UR and RPI both messing with pitching rotations trying to anticipate match-ups and so on. For instance, 2 years ago, RPI saved there number 1 Zongol against Skidmore because they were favored in the 1 - 4 match-up. It burned them and they did not make the finals. Similarly, that year, Fishback started game 1 for UR against STL when it clearly should have been Veenema. This has happened in years before this as well. This year was the first time in recent years teams threw their guns in game 1 of the tournament.

I pose this question, Who do you guys think is the best coach in the LL? Not recruiting coach because we know RPI and UR have an advantage. But playing coach... For those who have seen alot of games... which coach do you want making decisions in the 13th inning of a conference tourney game?

[shoeless]

KARL STEFFEN  without a doubt!

INDIVIDUAL HONORS & AWARDS:
Two-time League Coach of the Year (2003 & 2006)
Four-time Marvin H. Anderson Award
Rensselaer Student Life's Student Affairs Service Award
Albany Twilight Baseball Hall of Fame
Garnered 500th career victory in 2005
Achieved 600th career victory in 2008

No one compares.  I do believe coaches have out coached themselves in the tourney.  Personally felt Rochester had best team last year but just didn't play well in the finals.

[nybaseball11]

How about the bush stunts Steffen pulled against Rochester last year in the regular season. The game McEneaney went on to shut them out for 9 innings. Calling time ever pitch and giving mock signs from the dug out. He took his players completely out of the game and it ended up hurting them more than it helped.. haha. Despite the honors which are undeniable, I do not believe he is a good fundamental baseball coach. Some of the stunts he has pulled in the passed lead me to believe that he has a fundamental lack of respect for the game of baseball. Personally, and this is not to try and take away from any of his honors, he has put together a hell of a program, but half of the reason for the wins is because of the cupcakes Steffen schedules year after year padding is teams win total.

His style seems to work but if I were to be a player, (I'm speculating here)  there is no way I would want to play for a coach with Steffen's mindset.

[BaseB13]

This was most likely because Skidmore put up 9 runs in one inning against Zongol that year while Dreimiller threw well.  (I just checked the box scores).  Cant really question a decision like that.  Throw an arm who fared very well against the #4 team (while your ace did horrible against that team) and then have your ace for game two.  Problem for RPI was Skidmore's ace that year had been hurt the entire year and had just come back and was able to shut RPI down.

With that being said RPI's coach can be a clown sometimes.  They have a lot of huge holes to fill this year.  I dont care how good their JV team is.  They will still be a good squad but they've lost a lot.  I think the league is wide open this year.  SLU will be solid again as well. 

I'd say RPI and UR will be weaker than last year but still solid.  Skidmore will be improved.  SLU will probably make the tournament as well.. They always do.  Anyone know much about Clarkson? They got in the tournament last year on a weird rule but I'm not so sure they were the 4th best team.. Did they lose much?  Any chance Union or Vassar fields a competitive team?

[shoeless]

No Doubt we have some huge holes to fill Carroll alone is a big hole.

As far as the Rochester game, call it a stunt or call it something to just change the hythm of the game.  he tried something.

i gave rochester credit they had the best team last year, but don't tell me your coach did flawless in the your "HOME tournament". And your big guns didn't hit in the tourney.   Come on, i felt Reiner over coached there as well.

[nybaseball11]

Shoeless,

Never mentioned anything about Rochester's coach, Reina (I  believe). Clearly to finish 3rd after hosting the tournament and getting a complete game in game 1 from your ace then dropping 2 straight is disappointing. I personally think the new Vassar coach showed signs of being a very good baseball guy winning a few games last year with an absolutely inferior team. I believe they even had a girl on their team (Not saying there is anything wrong with that). Vassar had no business winning any games last year let alone one against UR.

[spectator123]

New to the league and have a couple questions.  How does the LL stack up as a DIII league as compared to the NY region and in general?  Do the top teams compete successfully in the NY region tournaments?

[BaseB13]

LL is probably the 2nd best conference in NY because the SUNYAC is automatically loaded with Cortland. Besides Cortland I'd say the top 5 teams in the LL are comprable to the top 5 teams in the SUNYAC.. SUNYAC teams may be a little deeper because they seem to have way more players on their roster.  As for the NCAA Regional, much of this depends on who's participating.  Some years many teams are shipped to NY from out of region, other years not to much. 

[spectator123]

LL is probably the 2nd best conference in NY because the SUNYAC is automatically loaded with Cortland. Besides Cortland I'd say the top 5 teams in the LL are comprable to the top 5 teams in the SUNYAC.. SUNYAC teams may be a little deeper because they seem to have way more players on their roster.  As for the NCAA Regional, much of this depends on who's participating.  Some years many teams are shipped to NY from out of region, other years not to much. 

How much interconference play is there between SUNYAC and the LL every year? 

From what I gather it seems like the LL has about  half and half upper and lower echelon teams. Are the schools involved all about the same size or of the same academic standards? Any insights?

[scuba16]

New to the league and have a couple questions.  How does the LL stack up as a DIII league as compared to the NY region and in general?  Do the top teams compete successfully in the NY region tournaments?

The road to Appleton runs through Cortland every year an it will be no different in Spring 2009! Good Luck to all in the NY region, Cortland is loaded again with returners and stud transfers!

[spectator123]

Who else beside Cortland will have a chance to compete in the NY regional?

[BaseB13]

LL is probably the 2nd best conference in NY because the SUNYAC is automatically loaded with Cortland. Besides Cortland I'd say the top 5 teams in the LL are comprable to the top 5 teams in the SUNYAC.. SUNYAC teams may be a little deeper because they seem to have way more players on their roster.  As for the NCAA Regional, much of this depends on who's participating.  Some years many teams are shipped to NY from out of region, other years not to much. 

How much interconference play is there between SUNYAC and the LL every year? 

From what I gather it seems like the LL has about  half and half upper and lower echelon teams. Are the schools involved all about the same size or of the same academic standards? Any insights?

There is a decent amount considering the LL teams play 24 conference games.  I think on a yearly basis Rochester plays Brockport and Cortland (both rained out last year).. Looking at Plattsburgh's schedule last year they were 2 - 3 vs. the LL.. They got blown out a couple times and won two close ones.. Oswego was 1 - 1 vs. Clarkson.. Brockport beat Clarkson.  And then Cortland beat RPI twice in the tournament.. Close games.. I dunno that looks fairly even to me and I only included the top 5 teams from each conference because both conferences get very weak after that.  Seems with the exception of Cortland the conferences are very even.. Cortland was obviously better than RPI last year but I don't think RPI was an overmatched opponent either. Obviosly this changes from year to year.  I'd guess SUNYAC teams may be deeper based on a shear numbers game.  Much easier for them to carry a lot of guys..

Regionals will be down at Suny Old Westbury this year.. very interesting

[John McGraw]

Regionals will be down at Suny Old Westbury this year.. very interesting

Glad I'm not the only one that found that strange. This can't possibly be an on-campus site, where does Old Westbury plan on having the games played? My guess would be at the Long Island Ducks facility in Central Islip.

On the other hand, kudos to Ithaca College and the Auburn Doubledays to hosting it for the last four years.

[StarvinMarvin]

I believe the regionals will be played at SUNY Farmingdale.  It's an all turf complex, very nice!

[John McGraw]

Guess the NCAA is cutting back on using minor league facilities.