BB: LL: Liberty League

John McGraw · April 06, 2009, 12:09:29 PM

Quote from: AlleyCat on April 06, 2009, 09:29:07 AM
Was anyone at the Rochester games this weekend? I'm shocked that Union took a game from them. They must have played extremely well to shut them down on one hit. But with that said winning 3 of 4 on the road is good against anyone. St Lawrence and Skidmore split doesn't help with the determination of the 4th team yet. It looks like Clarkson is the real deal this year losing a close game to RPI yesterday.

This weekend should be a good one in Rochester if the weather allows them to play. Last year Rochester took 3 of 4 at RPI.

I'd go to watch if the series wasn't being played on Easter weekend.

BoomerIL · April 06, 2009, 10:32:36 PM

I was going to be at the Rochester vs RPI series this coming weekend, however, discretion being the better part of valor, I need to be home. Our oldest daughter and son-in-law are having their first baby, our third grandchild. They live in Madison, WI. So, needless to say if I go to the games, well let's just say that my son wouldn't appreciate me trying to share his campus dorm room with his dad!!! I f you know what I mean!

AlleyCat · April 09, 2009, 08:13:02 AM

With RPI's sweep yesterday over Clarkson it sets this weekend up very well. 10-2 against 11-0 in the league. Was anyone at the games yesterday? They looked like barnburners?

John McGraw · April 11, 2009, 07:12:22 PM

RPI and Rochester split on Saturday in Rochester. They'll wrap up the series tomorrow. Rochester needs to sweep to have any hope of hosting the conference tournament. RPI's remaining league opponents are Skidmore and Union, both of those are home-and-home's.

BoomerIL · April 12, 2009, 08:09:42 PM

Well John, there is no hope! I hope you didn't throw an RPI jinx on UR?

However, the truth is...."piching isn't the only thing, it's everything!" The starters for UR did really well today, but the relief effort, "how do you spell relief?" Not good! You cannot give-up 2 and 3 run leads as the visiting team going into the home teams (RPI) bottom of the ninth, and then lose!! My hat is off to RPI. They were the better team this weekend. And please, I hope someone doesn't say that they are, have been, and always will be the better team.

I really don't like the RPI coach and how he manages, but I do give him his "props" for putting good hitting and pitching on the field every year.

John McGraw · April 12, 2009, 08:34:48 PM

Quote from: BoomerIL on April 12, 2009, 08:09:42 PM
Well John, there is no hope! I hope you didn't throw an RPI jinx on UR?

However, the truth is...."piching isn't the only thing, it's everything!" The starters for UR did really well today, but the relief effort, "how do you spell relief?" Not good! You cannot give-up 2 and 3 run leads as the visiting team going into the home teams (RPI) bottom of the ninth, and then lose!! My hat is off to RPI. They were the better team this weekend. And please, I hope someone doesn't say that they are, have been, and always will be the better team.

I really don't like the RPI coach and how he manages, but I do give him his "props" for putting good hitting and pitching on the field every year.

Love or hate RPI, Karl Steffen's teams are always in position to win and have become almost a sure thing at regionals time. While some years they may not have the best talent, they know how to win and find ways to do it.

The Engineers have a big pair of regional games this week against a decent Montclair State team. RPI already has a win over Willy P so this should be a fun series. An RPI sweep and I'm ready to annoint them the number one seed at the Farmingdale regional.

BoomerIL · April 13, 2009, 12:19:00 AM

Annoint them if you must, but don't count Rochester out yet. Sure Steffen may always have good teams, but you can't beat yourself like UR did this weekend. You can give all the credit in the world to Steffen, but the players played the games. Give them the credit, not Steffen.

You have probably heard of the saying, "should have, would have, or could have." Or how about "if?" UR let them back in those games today. Not great coaching by Steffen, but UR pitching.

AlleyCat · April 13, 2009, 10:01:11 AM

With the closeness of all 4 games you cannot count Rochester out of anything. Their relief pitching was suspect this weekend but it had been pretty good before that. Remember last year Rochester went to RPI and took 3 of 4 and then RPI took the tourney. Like I said before, Rochester should have gotten a bid last year and I think if everything goes on plan that both Rochester and RPI are going to be deserving of bids this year.

BoomerIL were you at the games?

I think the Region has some outstanding teams - Ithaca, Cortland, Oneonta, RPI, Rochester, Farmingdale - any thoughts

WrongArm · April 13, 2009, 10:04:26 AM

A couple of games ... a body of work over an number years. Apples and oranges.

Anything can happen on a given weekend -- bullpen collapse, errors, homeruns, game-saving defensive plays -- it's what makes baseball such a great game.

Every team gives a few games away. The best do it less often. Over a number of seasons, smart coaching, effective practice, evaluating talent, and successful recruiting keeps those numbers down. And I'd give the coach credit for that. I'd also put some blame on a coach who's teams have shown a tendency to give away close games

I won't presume to speak for John, but I think his point is that over time, a successful coach earns some credit for the success of his team, even though the he has no role between the lines.

John McGraw · April 13, 2009, 12:42:56 PM

Quote from: WrongArm on April 13, 2009, 10:04:26 AM
A couple of games ... a body of work over an number years. Apples and oranges.

Anything can happen on a given weekend -- bullpen collapse, errors, homeruns, game-saving defensive plays -- it's what makes baseball such a great game.

Every team gives a few games away. The best do it less often. Over a number of seasons, smart coaching, effective practice, evaluating talent, and successful recruiting keeps those numbers down. And I'd give the coach credit for that. I'd also put some blame on a coach who's teams have shown a tendency to give away close games

I won't presume to speak for John, but I think his point is that over time, a successful coach earns some credit for the success of his team, even though the he has no role between the lines.

Yeah, that's what I meant.

At this point, I still think Rochester and RPI will play for the league title come May. Though, clarkson may have something to say about that. The Golden Knights hit the ball pretty well and could be a sleeper come tournament time.

AlleyCat · April 13, 2009, 01:07:26 PM

John,
I agree. Clarkson played RPI tough and pitched pretty well during the 3 game seies. I think this weekends series with Rochester could really tell everyone where they are at in the league.

BoomerIL · April 13, 2009, 04:13:59 PM

Quote from: John McGraw on April 13, 2009, 12:42:56 PM
Quote from: WrongArm on April 13, 2009, 10:04:26 AM
A couple of games ... a body of work over an number years. Apples and oranges.

Anything can happen on a given weekend -- bullpen collapse, errors, homeruns, game-saving defensive plays -- it's what makes baseball such a great game.

Every team gives a few games away. The best do it less often. Over a number of seasons, smart coaching, effective practice, evaluating talent, and successful recruiting keeps those numbers down. And I'd give the coach credit for that. I'd also put some blame on a coach who's teams have shown a tendency to give away close games

I won't presume to speak for John, but I think his point is that over time, a successful coach earns some credit for the success of his team, even though the he has no role between the lines.

Yeah, that's what I meant.

At this point, I still think Rochester and RPI will play for the league title come May. Though, clarkson may have something to say about that. The Golden Knights hit the ball pretty well and could be a sleeper come tournament time.

Gentlemen....

Don't get me wrong, I agree with what both of you have said. A coach only has to work with what he has. Over time, should the program flourish, attract better talent, and then maintain that level of play year in and year out, then they should get the credit like RPI gets.

This weekend will be a deciding factor as to whether UR can bounce back, holding-off what I believe to be like John stated, a tough Clarkson team, and take the series. If they do just that, that still doesn't guarantee Rochester anything. IF, and I hate to use that word, if they had knocked off RPI, then its a whole different story, maybe! LIke I said in a different post before, Clarkson isn't going to be easy.

BoomerIL · April 13, 2009, 04:22:41 PM

AlleyCat.....

No I wasn't at the games. I was at home on my computer. One of the moms used "Skype" so that I and several other long distance parents could be a part of the games. I almost wish I didn't hear the disaster yesterday. However, I still believe, should they get an invite to the regional and the Liberty League Tournament will tell alot, they stand a good chance of moving on.

I know many will disagree with that last sentence, but I feel these guys can make it happen, losing to RPI this past weekend or not.

AlleyCat · April 13, 2009, 08:47:32 PM

I agree with you 100% Rochester and RPI should be Regional teams if they continue to win.

John McGraw · April 14, 2009, 08:47:24 PM

Montclair State 9-1 over RPI, re-match tomorrow.

Rochester 14 RIT 8