BB: General NY Region Talk

[John McGraw]

We're just over a week away from the start of the regular season. New York teams will start playing games down south as early as next weekend. We'll also be publishing our "New York" preview on D3baseball.com next week.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the upcoming season? I'll post my preseason top five for the region once the preview is posted.

[airball55]

Great job with the NY preview.  I think it's time the NCAA went to 8 team regionals, no shipping.  NY has enough good teams to represent a solid 8 team regional.  Thoughts?  Is it even realistic?

[John McGraw]

Great job with the NY preview.  I think it's time the NCAA went to 8 team regionals, no shipping.  NY has enough good teams to represent a solid 8 team regional.  Thoughts?  Is it even realistic?

No, this is not realistic. Both the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions have many more teams as compared to New York. As such, New England had eight automatic bids last year and the Mid-Atlantic had seven. Conversely, New York usually hands out three - SUNYAC, Liberty and Skyline. Potentially a NEAC bid could swing to New York should Keuka, SUNY Poly or Cazenovia win that conference tournament. The good news at least for the E8, which I'm thinking is where the discussion stems from, is that now there are six league teams with Elmira adding baseball so just one more is needed for an AQ. Down the road I could see Alfred State joining the conference as an affiliate for baseball and that would bring the league to seven teams. Given A-State's geographic proximity to most of the league, it would make sense.

[DucksBB]

So, John, I don't know all the logistics but this doesn't really answer the question of why the region can't go to 8 teams.  Not saying that those two extra spots would have gone to Ithaca or SJF but it's hard to deny a top 25 national team (Ithaca until the last poll) or a 30+ win team (SJF).  I guess if the region did go to 8 you are saying that would just increase the outside the region teams due to sheer numbers in the neighboring regions?

Gotta say, personally as Stevens Ducks backer, that I enjoyed the region preview and the fact that our program is rising and getting noticed.

Can't wait for the start of the season.  Good luck to all the teams out there!

[John McGraw]

So, John, I don't know all the logistics but this doesn't really answer the question of why the region can't go to 8 teams.  Not saying that those two extra spots would have gone to Ithaca or SJF but it's hard to deny a top 25 national team (Ithaca until the last poll) or a 30+ win team (SJF).  I guess if the region did go to 8 you are saying that would just increase the outside the region teams due to sheer numbers in the neighboring regions?

Gotta say, personally as Stevens Ducks backer, that I enjoyed the region preview and the fact that our program is rising and getting noticed.

Can't wait for the start of the season.  Good luck to all the teams out there!

Let's say for the sake of argument that New York was an eight-team regional with teams only from the region. With 41 in-region teams, you're talking about essentially 1/5 of the region getting into the NCAA tournament or 20%. Three of the eight slots would go to automatic bids (SUNYAC, Liberty, Skyline) and then you could have as many as five at-large selections. That is simply way too many as compared to the other two Northeast regions - New England and Mid-Atlantic - where there is room, on paper,  for potentially just one non-AQ team.

Also, the national rankings from D3baseball.com and the ABCA have no sway on the NCAA tournament selections. The regional rankings, which are compiled by the eight regional committees, have the most impact.

[DucksBB]

That's interesting regarding the regional rankings and their importance but it didn't seem to help Ithaca and SJF last year.  I'm not sure where they were at the end but I remember one that had them #2 and #3.  Doesn't help that the budgets don't allow moving teams geographically like D1 does to balance things out better.  It's a tough system for D3 trying to keep things regional, some years are gonna be tougher on deserving teams.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Yes the NCAA tries to limits flights, but talk to the West region fans. They typically get 6 regional bids and someone, from another region, almost always gets flown in. I am not sure that they pick the teams with travel in mind. Some of it depends in who outs in a bid to host, and how many teams from other regions are within 500 miles. Depauw in the mideast has been sent to the South region several times. The National committee has had more flights some years and fewer others.  It depends on where the team was in the final ranking and when they came on the board and what other teams were there. The Polls while fun have nothing to do with it.

[airball55]

I was coming from more of an angle that the selection committee's just really don't think too highly of NY...maybe rightfully so but I think the depth is better than ever.  The CUNYAC isn't getting a bid this year?  That was an odd situation last season. I would be interested to know the number of teams in each region.

[John McGraw]

I was coming from more of an angle that the selection committee's just really don't think too highly of NY...maybe rightfully so but I think the depth is better than ever.  The CUNYAC isn't getting a bid this year?  That was an odd situation last season. I would be interested to know the number of teams in each region.

The CUNYAC had a one-year exemption last year.

http://www.d3baseball.com/notables/2014/04/pool-B

Regarding the number of region teams, check out the front page at D3baseball.com and under "Teams," each region is shown. Last year's Championship Handbook is also available through the News section on the top rail of the front page. The at-large selection criteria is also detailed down towards the bottom of the document. There is also a calculation shown in the handbook about how the number of Pool B and C bids are calculated.

[John McGraw]

As the season begins, my preseason top five for the region.

Feel free to discuss.

1 - SUNY Cortland
2 - Rochester
3 - Stevens
4 - Ithaca
5 - Union

[D3SportsFan]

Is there a timeline for the first official regional rankings?

[John McGraw]

Is there a timeline for the first official regional rankings?

The first rankings should be coming out pretty soon. Last year, they were released on April 24. It's fairly obvious that Cortland will be at the top of the heap in the region. Who do you guys think should be second? Both Rochester and Oswego have made very strong cases to be number two in the region. Oswego is 23-5 against anyone not named Cortland and the Lakers are among the top 25 nationally in terms of strength of schedule. Rochester just rattled off a 17-game win streak and went nearly a month between conference losses. Given Oswego's SOS (buoyed by Cortland), I would have the Lakers second in the region and the Yellow Jackets third. Right now, I could see both teams in the NCAA's.

After Oswego and Rochester, it's a little tougher. The next two are probably Stevens and Clarkson. Clarkson's difficult to gauge since the Golden Knights have played only 21 games. Stevens meanwhile has 21 wins. I'm not sure where the Ducks fall nationally in Pool B but if they continue to win and can get by Ithaca in early May, they could be in decent shape for an at-large.

[hotcorner15]

Based on the Lakers playing Cortland tooth and nail in their series,  I agree with your assessment that they should be 2, although the Jackets had the Corts on the ropes late in their only matchup only to collapse in the last inning. Had another scheduled but it looks like the Corts don't want to get it on  as it has no benefit to them. They are in regardless of the tournament and a loss to Rochester could damage the at large bid.  After watching Ithaca and Fisher not get at large bids last year, I think both the Lakers and Jackets need to win their tourney unless they both go on an unconscious run to close out.

[John McGraw]

Based on the Lakers playing Cortland tooth and nail in their series,  I agree with your assessment that they should be 2, although the Jackets had the Corts on the ropes late in their only matchup only to collapse in the last inning. Had another scheduled but it looks like the Corts don't want to get it on  as it has no benefit to them. They are in regardless of the tournament and a loss to Rochester could damage the at large bid.  After watching Ithaca and Fisher not get at large bids last year, I think both the Lakers and Jackets need to win their tourney unless they both go on an unconscious run to close out.

Different situation for both Oswego and Rochester (should neither win their league AQ) as opposed to Ithaca and Fisher last year. The Lakers and Yellow Jackets would be in Pool C. While there are a limited number of at-large bids and you're against a national field, there are far more Pool C spots available than Pool B. Even with likely non-region teams coming into Auburn, I think there could be room for either Oswego or Rochester. It depends on how things shake out in the rest of the Northeast between New England, the Mid-Atlantic and Mid-East.

[DucksBB]

I think last year Ithaca and SJF were hurt by the fact Stevens got into regional thru their CUNY championship win.  The NCAA probably didn't want to place two E8 teams.   I agree, the Ithaca series will be huge for Stevens and their regional respect.  Their SOS is pretty good this year so the record is more meaningful.  14-1 record in last 15 games and an upcoming Elmira series where they, hopefully, will take care of business.  Looking forward to another possible regional tournament......