BB: Pool B

[BigPoppa]

Who are your Pool B teams as of right now?  I know a lot hinges on this week but here are mine:

Salisbury
St. Scholastica
Ithaca
York
Chapman
WashU

I think WashU needs to sweep Webster this Saturday to lock it up. It would look great to the committee to beat another regianlly ranked team.

[JohnnyU]

Besides Salisbury CSS and Ithaca, no one from Pool B wants to get in this tournament.

York has lost 3 of 4.
Chapman lost 7 of 9 before winning their last 3.
WashU has played well of late but lost 9-1 to Case in a non-region game.
Bethany Lutheran hasn't beat a team with a winning record since mid-March (then again they've only lost 2 games in that time, both to CSS)

and all other Pool B schools by my count have at least 14 losses. It is unbelievable that 3 of those gets a chance in the big tourney.

[d3baseballnut]

Who are your Pool B teams as of right now?  I know a lot hinges on this week but here are mine:

Salisbury
St. Scholastica
Ithaca
York
Chapman
WashU

I think WashU needs to sweep Webster this Saturday to lock it up. It would look great to the committee to beat another regianlly ranked team.

This is the crap I was talking about on the "Tournament Snub" feed. Bethany Lutheran MUST be considered a Pool B receiver right now.....HAS TO. They are 25-6. Period. Plus, they beat the #1 seed in the NY region. I know that was out of region, but that is why the system is messed up. You can't say to them "You haven't beaten anyone... that great win you had over RPI, it doesnt figure into the decision." Give me a break.

If they end up anywhere around 32-8, 32-9, they must be in. You can't take a team like Wash U , OR Chapman over them...can't take York over them either the way York has played. Use your head guys, Bethany Lutheran deserves to be in as of now....

[AlleyCat]

I agree! You can't keep taking teams based on the past. If Bethany Lutheran is 25-6 and the other Pool B contenders all have double digit loses in region how can they justify? Chapman was good last year and previous years. This year not so much. Just like in leagues that have AQ's that gives the little guys a chance, give that same chance to the Pool B little guys. If not, then do away with Pool B so they don't have auotmatic bids if you've had a good past.

Just my thoughts.

[BigPoppa]

I agree! You can't keep taking teams based on the past. If Bethany Lutheran is 25-6 and the other Pool B contenders all have double digit loses in region how can they justify? Chapman was good last year and previous years. This year not so much. Just like in leagues that have AQ's that gives the little guys a chance, give that same chance to the Pool B little guys. If not, then do away with Pool B so they don't have auotmatic bids if you've had a good past.

Just my thoughts.

While I do agree that Bethany Lutheran SHOULD be in over CHapman, I do not see it happening. The NCAA committee will take Chapman over them if it is the final two.

[JohnnyU]

I agree that every team should have a chance. But if Bethany Lutheran ends up 32-8, they don't deserve to be in. 15 of their wins come in the UMAC, a weak conference, leaving them 10-6 against CSS and the rest of the country. That just shows poor scheduling, not dominance. If all you had to do was win to make the tournament, all Pool Bs would just schedule the Crowns of the country.

I also agree that the system is not right. Beating RPI is impressive. And the fact that WashU's games in Florida against Case count toward their regional record while their games against the same team in Chicago don't is strange. But when it comes down to the playoffs, they will only be playing regional teams, so it is irrelevant what they have done against other competition.

[baseballdad]

What are everyone's thoughts on Salisbury making it past regionals this year? I have watched a few games and they seem to have a talented team.  Looking at the history of regionals they seem to be short on pitching or bring back guys on 1 and two days rest.  Could the same thing happen this year as looking at the stats the coach relys on bascially three pitchers.  Not a good thing at tournament time when you have to win atleast 5 to go forward.  Thoughts?

[d3baseballnut]

They do have very good pitching 1-3. But you are right, after that, they really fall off and become mediocre. If they lose a game early and pitching is stretched, they are in trouble

I really don't know what to expect from them this year in regionals. I could see them winning, and I could also see them winning a few games and puttering out.
If I had to make a prediction, I would say that they are going to win the South Regional this year, just because it doesnt make sense to pick against a team with their talent and experience. Additionally, the South Region will not be as deep as it was last year without strong teams like Hopkins and Lynchburg in it. it was a legit region last year. I like Salisbury....not enough firepower in other Southern teams to derail them this year.

[baseballdad]

Can Hopkins still get in if they win the conference tournament?  Not sure how the process works.

[OshDude]

BLC deserves to be in over Chapman? The Handbook suggests otherwise. BLC is 22-4 in-region with a .448 OWP, according to my calculator. I agree BLC has played its way into the B conversation, but winning percentage isn't everything.

Case/Wash U games would not be considered in-region? Nonconference maybe, but not in-region? Any explanation? Someone also left a comment the blog stating the Wash U/Chicago game was not in-region as well. That can't be true because both are in the Central Evaluation Region, but is there any validity to the Case situation?

[JohnnyU]

For the UAA, only games in Florida during Spring Break count as conference games. So games like WashU/Chicago/Case last weekend don't count as conference games. From there, playing any UAA team is like playing any non-conference opponent as far as regional status. So the WashU/Chicago game was in region but the other two games were not.

[CrashDavisD3]

How is York (PA) 27-13 looking for a POOL B BID ?

Has lost 6 of 9 games recently. Had a 30-6 loss to Salisbury this year

[BigPoppa]

How is York (PA) 27-13 looking for a POOL B BID ?

Has lost 6 of 9 games recently. Had a 30-6 loss to Salisbury this year

I think York is in, but not by much.

[d3baseballnut]

BLC deserves to be in over Chapman? The Handbook suggests otherwise. BLC is 22-4 in-region with a .448 OWP, according to my calculator. I agree BLC has played its way into the B conversation, but winning percentage isn't everything.

Case/Wash U games would not be considered in-region? Nonconference maybe, but not in-region? Any explanation? Someone also left a comment the blog stating the Wash U/Chicago game was not in-region as well. That can't be true because both are in the Central Evaluation Region, but is there any validity to the Case situation?

I'm just going to say that i think the committee gives way too much weight to strength of schedule. It is an arbitrary science. I mean, you guys are giving some SERIOUS weight to it to say York (27-13) is in over Bethany Lutheran (25-6). Its hard for me to believe that you are going to force BLU to go 35-4 to get into the tournament, when only 2-3 teams can manage to do that per year. You are pretty much requiring them to have the best record in the country just to get in. I dont know who you guys think York plays, but the CAC aint exactly the best conference. A lot of automatic wins in there.

[AlleyCat]

York lost again yesterday to Montclair. They should not be in! 13 loses are too many for a Pool B team.