BB: LL: Liberty League

[BaseB13]

While being too lazy to check their schedule I will say Plattsburgh has played most LL teams each year in past seasons due to its close proximity to Clarkson St. Lawrence, Skidmore, RPI, and Union.  UR is too big of a hike for a non-conference game now that LL teams basically have to play conference games every weekend but one after their spring trips.

[baseballislife]

Yeah, I don't see them playing U of R either, but RPI is not that far and an easy drive down I-87 so I thought maybe they would play them.

I "un-lazied" myself enough to look and see that they do not play them, but are @ Clarkson today.

Good luck Plattsburgh!

[BaseB13]

Well done baseballislife.. So Plattsburgh will get 4 games against 3 teams from the LL.  Surprised RPI isn't playing then either but with 24 conference games, another 10 games or so in Florida, that only leaves room for 6 non-conference games on an LL teams schedule.  Any word on how the schedule will work next year with the addition of RIT?

[airball55]

Clarkson smacks Plattsburgh 14-9.  Out hit them 19-6.  Not close at all.  If your going to lose to stop a winning streak, may as well do it that way I guess.  Still, a great start to the season for the Cards.  Liberty League shaping up with the traditional powers again.  It always comes down to Union and Vassar.  If you can get at least 6 of 8 against them (or all 8 if u are U of R) that pretty much gives you the separation you need.  We will see how this weekend goes.

[AlleyCat]

I would have to say that Rochester has to be the favorite going into this weekend with RPI. Rochester is firing on all cylinders and RPI is struggling with its offense. If Rochester wins 3 of 4 the league championship will most likely go through U of R. Clarkson is going to be tough and Skidmore is a battle tested team with very good Division 3 talent. They like to pressure people. I was really surprised on day 2 against Clarkson. Was the wind blowing straight in? Very low scoring games for that field.

Prediction of finish
Rochester 20-4
RPI 18-6
Skidmore 16-8
Clarkson 12-12
St Lawrence 8-16
Union 6-18
Vassar 4-20

[airball55]

I will take a shot at this too.

RPI- 19-5
Rochester- 18-6
Skidmore- 14-10
Clarkson- 13-11
St Lawrence- 11-13
Union- 5-19
Vassar- 4-20

Not quite ready to name the Jackets the Liberty League Champs.  If they get thru this weekend 2-2, then they should be.  I see them dropping three of four to RPI, and three of eight to Clarkson and Skidmore.  Big weekends for Clarkson and St. Lawrence with Vassar and Union visiting.  Those are the teams you need to sweep or at least three of four against. 

[BoomerIL]

I will take a shot at this too.

RPI- 19-5
Rochester- 18-6
Skidmore- 14-10
Clarkson- 13-11
St Lawrence- 11-13
Union- 5-19
Vassar- 4-20

Not quite ready to name the Jackets the Liberty League Champs.  If they get thru this weekend 2-2, then they should be.  I see them dropping three of four to RPI, and three of eight to Clarkson and Skidmore.  Big weekends for Clarkson and St. Lawrence with Vassar and Union visiting.  Those are the teams you need to sweep or at least three of four against. 

What do you base your prediction on, past history?  You know as well as I do that you can't.  You may be correct in your predictions, but I guess that you have seen all of the teams play in order for you to make this analysis.  True?

To some statistics and history mean everything, and could be used as indicators, but that isn't always the case since teams change from year to year for the most part.  Granted, UR hasn't been the most successful team in recent memory, but don't judge them like that all of the time.  Their program is improving and continues to improve.  The coach has been bringing in some talented players the last 3-4 years and it starting to show.

I would love to see UR split with RPI this weekend, and Skidmore is really playing solid ball.  Clarkson has always given the Yellowjackets fits.  Come tournament time I give the UR boys a better chance of winning the LL tournament this year than in years past.  Its getting interesting now, and this weekends games for all LL teams should maybe give the pollsters something to think about when they say that New York is a weak region.

[AlleyCat]

Boomer,
I am so sick of the pollsters not giving NY and LL teams their due. Yes, Cortland is well represented each year and RPI has made a name for themselves, but U of R should be in the polls. They have been strong for the past three years and Clarkson showed last year that the LL is a lot stronger than people think. Look at Plattsburgh. They have great start and everyone is on their bandwagon. U of R is playing better people and has a great start and nothing.

People need to realize that NY and the LL plays a good brand of ball and needs to be respected. A NY team has a loss and they drop out of anybodies poll. Other regions teams can lose 3 of 4 and they drop 2 spots.  NY deserves more respect.


Just my thoughts.....

[John McGraw]

Boomer,
I am so sick of the pollsters not giving NY and LL teams their due. Yes, Cortland is well represented each year and RPI has made a name for themselves, but U of R should be in the polls. They have been strong for the past three years and Clarkson showed last year that the LL is a lot stronger than people think. Look at Plattsburgh. They have great start and everyone is on their bandwagon. U of R is playing better people and has a great start and nothing.

People need to realize that NY and the LL plays a good brand of ball and needs to be respected. A NY team has a loss and they drop out of anybodies poll. Other regions teams can lose 3 of 4 and they drop 2 spots.  NY deserves more respect.


Just my thoughts.....

Rochester needs to beat teams like St. John Fisher on a regular basis first.

[spectator123]

Rochester needs to beat teams like St. John Fisher on a regular basis first.

We just have to win the LL tournament before anyone will begin to show any respect...and then they will probably say it was a fluke.

[BoomerIL]

Boomer,
I am so sick of the pollsters not giving NY and LL teams their due. Yes, Cortland is well represented each year and RPI has made a name for themselves, but U of R should be in the polls. They have been strong for the past three years and Clarkson showed last year that the LL is a lot stronger than people think. Look at Plattsburgh. They have great start and everyone is on their bandwagon. U of R is playing better people and has a great start and nothing.

People need to realize that NY and the LL plays a good brand of ball and needs to be respected. A NY team has a loss and they drop out of anybodies poll. Other regions teams can lose 3 of 4 and they drop 2 spots.  NY deserves more respect.


Just my thoughts.....

Rochester needs to beat teams like St. John Fisher on a regular basis first.

You always make it hard for me to root for my own team, don't you John.  I try to be positive, but always seem to get shot down by another"homer" form some other school or school lover.  Now I know why I have negative karma's.  People bring out the best in me.  I'm tired of trying to be a nice guy.  Look at any of the teams in New York or any other region, and they have their problems as well.  As "spectator said, even if Rochester wins the LL, will they get any credit or respect?  From you or anyone else, I doubt it, especially the Old Westbury coach!!!!

[baseballislife]

Just a newbie here and maybe speaking out of turn.....but,

Winning in the post season consistently will force respect.  You can point to just about any championship team in any sport and they knocked on the door before kicking it in more times than not.  And before they won their championship, I would be willing to bet they felt disrespected.  Use it as fuel to focus on the task at hand.

[BoomerIL]

Just a newbie here and maybe speaking out of turn.....but,

Winning in the post season consistently will force respect.  You can point to just about any championship team in any sport and they knocked on the door before kicking it in more times than not.  And before they won their championship, I would be willing to bet they felt disrespected.  Use it as fuel to focus on the task at hand.

You're not speaking out of turn!  I couldn't agree with you more, and I have said this many times before about UR.  You have to prove yourself every game!!!  I understand as John stated, that you have to win the St. John Fisher, or Brockport games as another example, the issue I have is that no one execept me and a few loyal UR fans seem to think these guys can do anything.  Cortland, which I regret I have never watched play UR (once in the last three years due to weather) has always been considered the team to beat in New York.  Their having somewhat of a down year, not to bad, but not as expected.  They have been to CWS.  Emory is another good example.  A few years ago they finished number 2 at the world series.  This year as of this past week, have a sub .500 record.  Do they deserve some love?  

I'm trying to promote the fact that UR has been improving over the last few years, but not enough to win the Liberty League as of yet.  I know that we have the talent to beat the Brockports and Fishers of the world, but they didn't.  So I know that this doesn't give us any respect.  

And just to clarify the St. John Fisher game, Fisher pitched their number 1, and we pitched our middle relievers, not any of the 4 starters.  So, we battled back and fell short.  But, in the eyes of some that doesn't mean anything, except to us UR fans.  I guess stats and polls don't mean anything, its what the final score says at the end of the game.  After all, polls are the basis for selecting a national champion!

[RochesterBaseball10]

Simply can't drop games to local rivals if your making a push for getting into the polls. That said, the thing that makes the liberty league schedule tough is that when you play your non conference games mid week you have to tap into your pitching depth, which for any team can be tough when your getting into your 6 & 7 arms.

Take it from someone who played in the liberty league for the past 4 years and saw some of the ranked non-conference teams, there's really no difference at all in talent. Your put the top tier (UR, RPI, Clarkson) against the top tier of another East Coast conference in a 3-game series with the 1,2 & 3 arms throwing, and I'd take the LL. I say East Coast because I have no exposure to the Chapmans and the Texas-Tylers of the world.

That said, you'd be lying to yourself if you said a 30 win season and no tourny wins will get the Jackets into the tourny. The last two years were 29 wins with 1 tourny win & 30 wins with 0 tourny wins and UR got the shaft. RPI puts up those numbers, they snag a bid. Doesn't seem like rocket science to conclude that in order to make the regional push you need get that first strong run in the tourny.

[spectator123]

Simply can't drop games to local rivals if your making a push for getting into the polls. That said, the thing that makes the liberty league schedule tough is that when you play your non conference games mid week you have to tap into your pitching depth, which for any team can be tough when your getting into your 6 & 7 arms.

Take it from someone who played in the liberty league for the past 4 years and saw some of the ranked non-conference teams, there's really no difference at all in talent. Your put the top tier (UR, RPI, Clarkson) against the top tier of another East Coast conference in a 3-game series with the 1,2 & 3 arms throwing, and I'd take the LL. I say East Coast because I have no exposure to the Chapmans and the Texas-Tylers of the world.

That said, you'd be lying to yourself if you said a 30 win season and no tourny wins will get the Jackets into the tourny. The last two years were 29 wins with 1 tourny win & 30 wins with 0 tourny wins and UR got the shaft. RPI puts up those numbers, they snag a bid. Doesn't seem like rocket science to conclude that in order to make the regional push you need get that first strong run in the tourny.

RB10
you are correct...
that is what it will take