BB: General West Region Discussion

[CrashDavisD3]

I think the loss of BSC, Millsaps, Hendrix certainly hurts their SOS from years past. I would say that this years schedule looks less competitive than in years past. This becomes even more evident when looking at the conference tournament, not playing the top teams from the eastern conference really weakens their schedule. Centenary is a very competitive team, but is not eligible to move on to Regional play, but the rest of the conference looks weak compared to years past.

I think they should go to the Arizona tournament given their situation, but of course no one at TU cares what I think. 

SOS has really not much impact if you win your conference Pool A bid. Yes it does impact seeding for the Regional playoffs but I remember a #6 seed win the West Regional a few years back.  Win your Conference Pool A bid which Trinity has done many times over the past few years.

[Ralph Turner]

I really don't see much difference in #1 and #6 in this regional.  Does having last bat in 1 or 2 games make a difference?  If so, how much?

[108 Stitches]

Excellent point Ralph.

My point on SOS is not necessarily seeding, but preparing a team to be able to have the mental fortitude and experience to win close games, like you will see in the Regionals.  Tough schedules make tough teams, tough teams can come through loosing brackets or come back after getting down, they know how to play comfortably in a tight games. If you have a bunch of blow out wins then you don't develop this Character. I think Character means a lot come Regionals. JMO. 

[CrashDavisD3]

I really don't see much difference in #1 and #6 in this regional.  Does having last bat in 1 or 2 games make a difference?  If so, how much?

Having the last at bat made a difference in the regional playoff game.

http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2007-08/stats/mcm-cu4.htm

[Richard Hamstocks]

I really don't see much difference in #1 and #6 in this regional.  Does having last bat in 1 or 2 games make a difference?  If so, how much?

The answer seems to be not much, likely none, and it might actually be a disadvantage. http://w4.stern.nyu.edu/emplibrary/Lastlicks.pdf
This study looked at division I playoff games for both baseball and softball, which allowed them to remove other homefield advantages of non-travel and fan presence.  They found no effect in baseball of batting last and the effect in softball was that batting last was actually a disadvantage.
The idea that you can strategize offensively in the last inning knowing how many runs you need seems to be negated by the fact that the visitor can strategize defensively knowing how many runs they can allow.

[Richard Hamstocks]

I really don't see much difference in #1 and #6 in this regional.  Does having last bat in 1 or 2 games make a difference?  If so, how much?

Having the last at bat made a difference in the regional playoff game.

http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2007-08/stats/mcm-cu4.htm

Could you be more specific? Chapman didn't seem to use the knowledge that only 1 run would be sufficient in that the hit a 2 run bomb after the first guy reached with 2 outs.

[CrashDavisD3]

TOP TEAMS IN THE WEST 2-24-2013

SCIAC - Pomona-Pitzer(8-2) Cal Lutheran(5-3-1)
SCAC - Centenary(8-2) Trinity(8-2)
ASC - LeTourneau(6-1) Texas-Tyler(7-3)
NWC Linfield(7-1) Pacific Lutheran(7-3)

Corrected

[Whatagame]

TOP TEAMS IN THE WEST 2-24-2013

SCIAC - Pomona-Pitzer(8-2) Cal Lutheran(5-3-1)
SCAC - Centenary(8-2) Trinity(8-2)
ASC - LeTourneau(6-1) Texas-Tyler(7-3)
NWC Linfield(7-3) Pacific Lutheran(7-3)

Linfield is 7 - 1, and given their victory this weekend against Beatty/PLU, they look to be the top team in the West at this early point.

[CrashDavisD3]

TOP TEAMS IN THE WEST 2-24-2013

SCIAC - Pomona-Pitzer(8-2) Cal Lutheran(5-3-1)
SCAC - Centenary(8-2) Trinity(8-2)
ASC - LeTourneau(6-1) Texas-Tyler(7-3)
NWC Linfield(7-1) Pacific Lutheran(7-3)

Corrected

[Patriotfan87]

5 errors and 9 walks for UMHB. Clean that up and they showed they can hang with the big boys. I am glad to see they hit Lucero, Barron, and Bentz. I have come to expect to see Trinity's best pitchers every time UMHB faces them in a midweek game. Arguably could be the toughest 3some they will face in any one game.

UT Tyler's pitching quieted their bats a little this weekend. If the Patriots can figure out how to hit, with the starting rotation they have, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

[wildcat11]

Linfield is 7 - 1, and given their victory this weekend against Beatty/PLU, they look to be the top team in the West at this early point.

Very strong start of the season and have a monster series this weekend with Pacific.

[LongBallGone]

My thoughts on the top teams in the West (not based solely on their record):

SCAC-
*Trinity (8-2) - Strong lineup with power and quality arms at the front end of their rotation (my top team despite loss to Austin)
*Centenary (8-2) - Probably the only team in the conference capable of stealing a series from Trinity

ASC
*UT Tyler (7-3) - Strong pitching thus far, excited to see how they fare next weekend against Whitworth
*Letourneau (6-1) -
*Concordia (7-7) - Started off rocky, but won 7 of their last 8. Good hitting team but depth on the mound doesn't appear to be the same as in years past.

SCIAC (deepest conference IMO)
*Pomona-Pitzer (8-2) - Hot start as they swept a pair of NWC teams before losing big series against Cal Lu.
*Cal Lutheran (5-3-1) - Has fared well against a tough schedule thus far, not getting easier as they visit Chapman this weekend

NWC (not far behind the SCIAC for toughest conference)
*Linfield (7-1) - 7 straight wins, .338 team avg., team ERA of 1.01. Pretty impressive I'd say. Them and Trinity appear to be fighting for #1 so far
*Pacific Lutheran (7-3) - Strong front end rotation, but offensive production is the real question
*George Fox (7-4) - Bats have had a lot of spark in the early going, but pitching and defense has been lackluster
*Whitworth (4-3-1) - Struggled the first weekend in California, but anxious to see them vs. UT Tyler this weekend. Pitching depth is a concern.

[108 Stitches]

Wow longball. For two posts you seem to have the West pretty much figured out. Nice job....maybe because I happen to agree with you 

Linfield looks like they are back and Whitworth and the other NWC upstarts better be prepared to do battle. Very nice start for them, they are back and look to be a force.

Centenary will surely be looking to avenge the series loss at Trinity last year when they were still considered a D1. They could very well take a series from Trinity IMO.

I think Trinity is kicking the ball around too much to get through a Regional to the next level. It is early but this must be fixed. I also think that since they have such an easy path to the Regional they should be working deeper through their rotation to find some quality arms and/or develop them for later in the season. Just my 2 cents. 

The 2 (IMO) teams that come out of the SCIAC will be battle tested and tough in a Regional.

[CrashDavisD3]

My thoughts on the top teams in the West (not based solely on their record):

SCAC-
*Trinity (8-2) - Strong lineup with power and quality arms at the front end of their rotation (my top team despite loss to Austin)
*Centenary (8-2) - Probably the only team in the conference capable of stealing a series from Trinity

ASC
*UT Tyler (7-3) - Strong pitching thus far, excited to see how they fare next weekend against Whitworth
*Letourneau (6-1) -
*Concordia (7-7) - Started off rocky, but won 7 of their last 8. Good hitting team but depth on the mound doesn't appear to be the same as in years past.

SCIAC (deepest conference IMO)
*Pomona-Pitzer (8-2) - Hot start as they swept a pair of NWC teams before losing big series against Cal Lu.
*Cal Lutheran (5-3-1) - Has fared well against a tough schedule thus far, not getting easier as they visit Chapman this weekend

NWC (not far behind the SCIAC for toughest conference)
*Linfield (7-1) - 7 straight wins, .338 team avg., team ERA of 1.01. Pretty impressive I'd say. Them and Trinity appear to be fighting for #1 so far
*Pacific Lutheran (7-3) - Strong front end rotation, but offensive production is the real question
*George Fox (7-4) - Bats have had a lot of spark in the early going, but pitching and defense has been lackluster
*Whitworth (4-3-1) - Struggled the first weekend in California, but anxious to see them vs. UT Tyler this weekend. Pitching depth is a concern.

Great post. I agree with your assessment so far.

[CrashDavisD3]

Chapman has a another key series this weekend with Cal Lu this weekend. Is Chapman clawing its way back from a bad early start and bad 2012 or is too young and too inexperience to have a shot at the SCIAC this year.

Chapman needs to win 2 out of 3 from Cal Lu to be taken serious.