BB: Central Region Rankings

[BigPoppa]

Simply because I am bored while watching the snow melt off the local baseball fields...

Conference records through 3/8:

CCIW: 18-9 .667
IIAC: 14-14 .500
MWC: 6-6 .500
SLIAC: 10-18 .357

Well, at least the snow is now gone! Here are some updated conference records. There is not much else to go on at this point as regional play is just beginning for most teams this week or next.


CCIW: 32-20 .615 52 games
IIAC: 34-30 .531 64 games
MWC: 18-21 .462 39 games
SLIAC: 28-50 .358 78 games

I think so far ithe conference are holding true to form as far as their regional standing. Some may disagree, but the numbers say more than any of us could. The MWC (39 games) is really just starting this week with their Spring Breaks while the SLIAC is off and running(78 games).

[ballfan55]

Carroll is headed to Westminster this weekend for 3 games.  Forecast: Rain and temps in the upper 30s.  Could be a long trip for nothing.

[mr_b]

Carroll's trip to Westminster has been cancelled due to poor weather.  Smart move!

[TurtleHead]

1.   Carthage (CCIW)-(7-4) Good team but needs to be sure it doesn't beat itself with poor fielding.  

2.   Augustana (CCIW)-(11-0) Continues to look like a solid team.      

3.   Beloit (MWC)-(5-3) Idle last week.  Home opener delayed until 3/23 due to snow.    

4.   Wheaton (CCIW)-(8-3) Test against St Francis this week.  Start off with Augustana then Carthage to open CCIW.

5.   Ripon (MWC)-(6-4) finished spring trip last week.  Face Whitewater and St Francis This week.  

6.   Coe (IIAC)-(6-4) Idle last week.  Picking over Central due to strength of schedule.

7.   St. Norbert-(MWC)-(5-5) finished off spring trip last week.  

8.   Illinois Wesleyan (CCIW)-(4-5) Won last 3 games.      

9.   Washington University (UAA)-(9-6) most wins coming against Sliac and lower tier Nathcon teams.  

Tie 10.  Central (IIAC)-(9-4) good effort against CSS.
Tie 10. North Park (CCIW)-(7-2) Good record but did not really challenge themselves in the early season.  

[UMACfan]

I know this is a little out of my region but...

1. Carthage (7-4)- Obviously much better than their record
2. Augustana (11-0)- 11 in a row (with wins against good teams)? Maybe deserving of 1
3. Wheaton (8-3)- CCIW by far the best conference in the central

BIG GAP

4. Beloit (5-3)- No one wants this spot.
5. Il. Wesleyan (4-5)- They'll improve their record quickly
6. WashU (9-6)- 12 games this week?! I'll leave them here and see how they handle that schedule.
7. Coe (6-4)- I guess their the best in the IIAC?
8. Central (9-4)- unless they are?
9. Ripon (6-4)- They'll challenge Beloit more than St. Norbert
10. North Park (7-2)- Let's see how they do in the CCIW

[BigPoppa]

Here is what I see:

1. Augustana: 11-0  All they do is win. I have to admit that I am surprised at their start.

2.   Carthage: 7-4  Three of four losses are to teams ranked in the top four in the nation. Need to find a third starter fast as the CCIW season is quickly approaching.

3.   Beloit: 5-3  They need to get on a roll in the MWC as strength of schedule could catch up with them.

4.   Wheaton: 8-3  Things are starting to come together for the Thunder. If Urbanowicz finds his stuff gets in a groove, look out.

5.   Coe: 6-4  Balanced IIAC could give them a few more losses in league than they expect.

6.   North Park:7-2  A bit of a surprise so far, but how they hold up in CCIW play will determine their future.

*After the top six, I see a jumble of teams trying to find their identities. The SLIAC teams are getting pounded out of conference. WashU is getting by on SLIAC teams.

[TurtleHead]

I know this is a little out of my region but...

1. Carthage (7-4)- Obviously much better than their record
2. Augustana (11-0)- 11 in a row (with wins against good teams)? Maybe deserving of 1
3. Wheaton (8-3)- CCIW by far the best conference in the central

BIG GAP

4. Beloit (5-3)- No one wants this spot.
5. Il. Wesleyan (4-5)- They'll improve their record quickly
6. WashU (9-6)- 12 games this week?! I'll leave them here and see how they handle that schedule.
7. Coe (6-4)- I guess their the best in the IIAC?
8. Central (9-4)- unless they are?
9. Ripon (6-4)- They'll challenge Beloit more than St. Norbert
10. North Park (7-2)- Let's see how they do in the CCIW

I will be the first one to agree that the CCIW is the top conference in the Central.  

Disagree with you on several items.  

Wheaton is 8-3 but has only played 2 teams with winning records.  Beloit has yet to play a team with a losing record.  Opponents winning percentage is at .721 at 35 games above 500.

Big Gap.   Beloit lost to Augustana in extra innings with a #4 pitcher vs #1 (Erickson) - may have changed with Pagano taking over.  Ripon beat Wheaton.  Would give more examples but CCIW hasn't really played anyone else in the central except teams from the SLIAC.  

IWU-  I do not think their ride is going to be as easy as you may think.  Aside from Pankau pitching appears to be suspect, and Moore is hurt.

[BearBaseball]

Right. Aren't most of the teams who have decent records in the central "getting by" on bad competition? (Teams above .500 in parenthesis.)

North Park has beaten Atlanta Christian, Carroll, Dominican, Southern Vermont, and U of the South.

Coe has beaten Aurora, Fontbonne, Misericordia, WashU (9-6), and Wisconsin Lutheran

Wheaton has beaten Aurora, Colby-Sawyer, Eastern Nazarene (7-5), Mt. St. mary, Ripon (6-4), Spalding

WashU has beaten Benedictine, Coe (6-4), Dominican, Fontbonne, Greenville (7-5), Rochester (7-2), Westminster

Whose wins are better? I think it's hard to tell. I think you could find some better criteria for the rankings.

[BigPoppa]

Right. Aren't most of the teams who have decent records in the central "getting by" on bad competition? (Teams above .500 in parenthesis.)

North Park has beaten Atlanta Christian, Carroll, Dominican, Southern Vermont, and U of the South.

Coe has beaten Aurora, Fontbonne, Misericordia, WashU (9-6), and Wisconsin Lutheran

Wheaton has beaten Aurora, Colby-Sawyer, Eastern Nazarene (7-5), Mt. St. mary, Ripon (6-4), Spalding

WashU has beaten Benedictine, Coe (6-4), Dominican, Fontbonne, Greenville (7-5), Rochester (7-2), Westminster

Whose wins are better? I think it's hard to tell. I think you could find some better criteria for the rankings.

Then what is your ranking of the central right now?

[Mr. Ypsi]

BP,

You have Augie ahead of Carthage in the region, yet Carthage ranked higher than Augie nationally.  Is that possible?

[BigPoppa]

BP,

You have Augie ahead of Carthage in the region, yet Carthage ranked higher than Augie nationally.  Is that possible?

I know.... I am still trying to find a way to justify it, but I am not sure how. I wanted to reward Augustana for their 11-0 start. I should have placed Augustana second in the region, but it looks weird to have a 7-4 team ahead of an 11-0 team... regardless of who they played.

I figured I could hedge my bets this way 

[OshDude]

Right. Aren't most of the teams who have decent records in the central "getting by" on bad competition? (Teams above .500 in parenthesis.)

North Park has beaten Atlanta Christian, Carroll, Dominican, Southern Vermont, and U of the South.

Coe has beaten Aurora, Fontbonne, Misericordia, WashU (9-6), and Wisconsin Lutheran

Wheaton has beaten Aurora, Colby-Sawyer, Eastern Nazarene (7-5), Mt. St. mary, Ripon (6-4), Spalding

WashU has beaten Benedictine, Coe (6-4), Dominican, Fontbonne, Greenville (7-5), Rochester (7-2), Westminster

Whose wins are better? I think it's hard to tell. I think you could find some better criteria for the rankings.

Any win over Aurora (5-5) is going to look good at the end, IMO. AU's losses are to Wheaton, Beloit, Coe and an NAIA team. AU beat Coe and Wheaton and lost to BC by one. I'm still bullish on the Spartans.

[wustlfan37]

Right. Aren't most of the teams who have decent records in the central "getting by" on bad competition? (Teams above .500 in parenthesis.)

North Park has beaten Atlanta Christian, Carroll, Dominican, Southern Vermont, and U of the South.

Coe has beaten Aurora, Fontbonne, Misericordia, WashU (9-6), and Wisconsin Lutheran

Wheaton has beaten Aurora, Colby-Sawyer, Eastern Nazarene (7-5), Mt. St. mary, Ripon (6-4), Spalding

WashU has beaten Benedictine, Coe (6-4), Dominican, Fontbonne, Greenville (7-5), Rochester (7-2), Westminster

Whose wins are better? I think it's hard to tell. I think you could find some better criteria for the rankings.

Then what is your ranking of the central right now?

I have to agree with BearBaseball...while there is a lot of subjectivity that goes into ranking a set of teams, you have to look at every angle - not JUST quality of competition, or JUST record, etc.

A team like IWU is a perfect example - they may be 4-5, but they have 4 significantly above average starting pitchers, play solid defense, and have depth in their batting order.  A sample size of 9 games isn't sufficient to say with any certainty where they belong, which is why there is so much variation in the rankings.  Baseball is a streaky game, and going by a team's record this early in the season can belie where they will be after 40 games.

My rankings:

1. Augustana
2. Carthage
3. Wheaton
4. IWU
5. Beloit
6. WashU
7. Coe
8. North Park

[BearBaseball]

[/quote]
Then what is your ranking of the central right now?
[/quote]

I think at this point you have 4 groups of "good" teams in the central region.

1.  Teams with good records who have played good teams.
      1. Carthage
      2. Augustana
      3. Beloit
2. Teams with not good records who have played mostly very good teams and beaten some of them
      4. IWU
3. Teams with good records who have beaten mostly bad teams but some good teams.
      5. Wheaton
      6. WashU
      7. Coe
      8. Ripon
4. Teams with good records who have beaten only bad teams.
      9. Central
     10. North Park

[upandin]

I think all the Central Region schools are looking forward to the start of conference play.  Early season play is just hard to judge.  There is such a wide range of good vs bad teams that everyone will play in the early season.  ( dont get me wrong some schools played a tuff schedule ) Plus the pitching matchups don't usually workout.  For example a solid team might just take a loss to a team they shouldn't, based on a #4 or #5 pitcher facing another teams #1. It all is depending on the game and travel schedules.  Most of the time, during the regular season, that just doesn't happen. Sure you might get a #1 vs a #3 but in most programs #4 #5 #6 are relievers or young.  Throw the records out in conference play. The true top teams will start to rise to the top.