BB: LL: Liberty League

[AlleyCat]

Looks like RPI went with all relievers and some guys who didn't pitch much. The tough weekend in Rochester must have left them a little tired.

[John McGraw]

Montclair 6 RPI 4

Another pitcher-by-committee effort from the Engineers. They were done in by four errors and Montclair's offensive prowess of 14 hits.

Seems like RPI is more lining its' ducks up for Union in league play this weekend. Not a bad idea since wrapping up home field for the conference tournament is most important in a Pool A league.

[AlleyCat]

John,
I think you hit it right on the head. RPI used some guys over the last 2 days that have had much time on the mound.  I think they were setting themselves up for the weekend and not worrying too much about these 2 games. Montclair looks like they went after these games due to not playing this past weekend with 2 of their top starters.

[John McGraw]

Given RPI's outstanding regional record coming in, the losses don't hurt them. They still have a win over William Paterson so it's not as if they don't have any great out-of-conference wins.

As for Montclair, it's a big sweep for them. If they can get on a roll here at the end of the season, they'll have a good shot at an at-large if they don't take the NJAC title. But, they still need to get on that roll since a 14-11 mark isn't going to do it now. They'll have quality OOC wins over Eastern Conn., Cortland and RPI

[Big Louie]

Any idea why Veenema didn't pitch this weekend in the rpi series? Is he hurt?

[AlleyCat]

Big weekend in the LL. Clarkson @ Rochester should be a great series and see where Clarkson is at late in the season. Union and RPI square off in an always tough local rivalry. Skidmore needs a sweep of Vassar to get  a leg up on St lawrence for the 4th spot.

Should be interesting and should shake some things out.

Veenama must have been hurt if he didn't pitch. I'm sure it's something minor that they were just taking precautions. Also could have been a strategy move on coaches part so RPI wouldn't see all of his starters on the weekend.

[John McGraw]

Big weekend in the LL. Clarkson @ Rochester should be a great series and see where Clarkson is at late in the season. Union and RPI square off in an always tough local rivalry. Skidmore needs a sweep of Vassar to get  a leg up on St lawrence for the 4th spot.

Should be interesting and should shake some things out.

Veenama must have been hurt if he didn't pitch. I'm sure it's something minor that they were just taking precautions. Also could have been a strategy move on coaches part so RPI wouldn't see all of his starters on the weekend.

Veenema's a senior. It's not like RPI hasn't seen him before.

[Big Louie]

Alley Cat that is one of the dumbest thing ive heard and I would hope Coach Reina is smarter than that.  Like John said Veenema is a senior and RPI has already seen him at least 3 or 4 times. Hopefully its not anything serious and hes able to pitch this weekend.

[John McGraw]

Today's scores...

RPI 10 Union 3
RPI 15 Union 5

Skidmore 5 Vassar 4
Skidmore 20 Vassar 7

Rochester 9 clarkson 4
Rochester 5 clarkson 2

[AlleyCat]

I think with todays outcomes RPI has locked up the No.1 seed for the LL tourney.

RPI 19 Union 5
Union 9 RPI 8
Clarkson 2 Rochester 0
Clarkson 2 Rochester 0


RPI 17-2, 4 to play
Rochester 13-7, 4 to play
Skidmore 9-7, 8 to play
Clarkson 7-6, 8 to play

Todays sweep could hurt Rochesters chance at an at-large bid depending on how they finish. Let me know what you think.

[BoomerIL]

I think you might be right about Rochester's chances.  To me, 32-33 wins for a Pool C may be enough to get you in.  However, with 8 scheduled games left and rain predicted for the Ithaca game Tuesday, they would have to win all of them, or just win the Liberty League tournament outright.

For some reason the bats have been cold.  I don't know if they a "pressing" or what, but for the whole team to drop 20+ points in team average over the last two weekends, something is way off and has to change.  Being the forever optimist, maybe this is something they are getting rid of now.  Maybe not??  We'll see.  JMHO 

[John McGraw]

I think you might be right about Rochester's chances.  To me, 32-33 wins for a Pool C may be enough to get you in.  However, with 8 scheduled games left and rain predicted for the Ithaca game Tuesday, they would have to win all of them, or just win the Liberty League tournament outright.

For some reason the bats have been cold.  I don't know if they a "pressing" or what, but for the whole team to drop 20+ points in team average over the last two weekends, something is way off and has to change.  Being the forever optimist, maybe this is something they are getting rid of now.  Maybe not??  We'll see.  JMHO 

Rochester's regional record isn't great but it's not awful. I would say that Rochester needs to win out on their remaining schedule and then get to the finals of the conference tournament to be considered for an at-large should RPI or another school win the Liberty League automatic bid.

You'll also have to hope that there's no upsets around the country because there's nothing that eats up at-large bids faster than regular season conference champs going down in the conference tournament. For example, Southern Maine wins the Little East but then loses to Eastern conn. in the tournament finals. USM will more than likely get an at-large, knocking a bubble team off the bracket. Because, while Rochester is a solid Pool c in upstate NY, at-large bids are handed out on a national scale. Not to mention that the national committee has no problem sending extra New England region teams to the "New York" regional.

[AlleyCat]

John,
I think that Rochester or RPI could get a Pool C from NY. Do you think that there are any other teams from NY besides possibly Cortland that could get one? It seems that the SUNYAC was looking good but has tailed off a bit.

[John McGraw]

John,
I think that Rochester or RPI could get a Pool C from NY. Do you think that there are any other teams from NY besides possibly Cortland that could get one? It seems that the SUNYAC was looking good but has tailed off a bit.

I think RPI definitely will if it doesn't win the Liberty League. The Engineers (yes I know there's another nickname for the baseball team) should be number one or two in the regional rankings come Thursday. Rochester has a shot though like I said, they need to play good baseball the rest of the way.

The SUNY teams aside from cortland don't. As for cortland, I don't know. Their regional record got a big bump from a 4-0 weekend but I'm not sure that they get an at-large if they don't win the league tournament. They squeaked in in 2004 but I don't think lightning will strike twice. That being said, I still think they'll win the conference tournament.

No one else in the league has a great resume and the parity in the league has hurt everyone because they're all beating up on one another.

And then we won't see two teams from the Skyline given the conference's track record in the postseason though they've got three or four teams that could all make noise in Long Island. Farmingdale's the league leader and they have the worst regional record of the three contenders down there. Mt. St. Mary was a sexy pick earlier in the season but they've trailed off somewhat and were just swept by Mt. St. Vincent.

And Pool B, Ithaca. RIT's been atrocious and Fisher just got dumped three out of four by Ithaca. No shot for either of those two.

Now, the one thing that could throw a big monkey wrench into the bracket is if cazenovia or Keuka wins the NEAc. That would more than likely send them to Long Island. In the past, Keystone (now in another league) was sent to the Mid-Atlantic.

[AlleyCat]

Thanks for the insight. I was thinking along those lines, but wanted to get your take.