BB: Top Teams in West Region

[BigPoppa]

I get that Chapman is struggling, but they are 4-3 vs D3 teams. NAIA games vs Point Loma, Cal-State San Marcos and British Columbia (exhibition/scrimmage). I hardly think 4-3 is a reason to quit on a team at this point in the season.

[108 Stitches]

I look forward to your list Ricky. I wish I had the time to do a full top 25, it is hard enough to just keep track of the West teams and the SCAC East teams for me. (plus it is more fun to throw rocks at the Pundant's!!) I can see how difficult early rankings are when you have some teams who have not even played yet. A number 2 team like Chapman comes out and stinks it up.... Speaking of SCAC East, I get the feeling that Millsaps is going to show up on a few peoples lists (or at least they should IMO) they are 8-2 and lost close games to what is shaping up to be a good Piedmont team (there is a poster here who said preseason look out and he is right) and good Huntingdon team. Millsaps generally has a very competitive program and it looks like they have some good young players contributing early. BSC I am not so sure about, but it is early.

I was surprised the Trinity was not in the top 5, they have beaten some very good teams including Centenary that has mostly a D1 line up still, mostly with their bullpen pitchers. (although Klimesh came in and gave up a save and got a win....) I think they have the pitching this year to finally take them to Wisc.

As you say it will be a whole lot clearer in two weeks.

I, like Bbfan62, am going to enjoy the Trinity/Chapman games this weekend!

[CrashDavisD3]

I get that Chapman is struggling, but they are 4-3 vs D3 teams. NAIA games vs Point Loma, Cal-State San Marcos and British Columbia (exhibition/scrimmage). I hardly think 4-3 is a reason to quit on a team at this point in the season.

I agree Chapman has always in the past turned things around and I have no doubt they will do it again but they do need to starting turning things around soon. They are 4-4 vs D3 and all are in region games.

Their 4 losses are to Whittier(8-5) Claremont(6-7) George Fox(4-8). The tougher part of the schedule is ahead of them.
They could be 7-1 in region with some good defense and runs scored. 1,2,3 starting pitching has been outstanding with ERA's under 2.00

[BBFan62]

I look forward to your list Ricky. I wish I had the time to do a full top 25, it is hard enough to just keep track of the West teams and the SCAC East teams for me. (plus it is more fun to throw rocks at the Pundant's!!) I can see how difficult early rankings are when you have some teams who have not even played yet. A number 2 team like Chapman comes out and stinks it up.... Speaking of SCAC East, I get the feeling that Millsaps is going to show up on a few peoples lists (or at least they should IMO) they are 8-2 and lost close games to what is shaping up to be a good Piedmont team (there is a poster here who said preseason look out and he is right) and good Huntingdon team. Millsaps generally has a very competitive program and it looks like they have some good young players contributing early. BSC I am not so sure about, but it is early.

I was surprised the Trinity was not in the top 5, they have beaten some very good teams including Centenary that has mostly a D1 line up still, mostly with their bullpen pitchers. (although Klimesh came in and gave up a save and got a win....) I think they have the pitching this year to finally take them to Wisc.

As you say it will be a whole lot clearer in two weeks.

I, like Bbfan62, am going to enjoy the Trinity/Chapman games this weekend!

108stitches -
See you there!
can't really agree on Chapman "stinking up the joint, etc." Some struggling, yes. However, I'm sure most schools would love to have 3 starters such as Rauh, McGee, and Levitt:
                         IP     H   W     K    ERA    OPBA
Rauh                  23.   12   7    27   1.17   .148
McGee               23     20  4    20   1.57    .241
Levitt                15     15  0    13    1.80   .268

The problem seems to be they only have 3 guys at +.300 BA and some defense issues. I think they'll challenge in the end. I'm not sure who they lost from last year, but at least they have 3 strong starters.

[OshDude]

I get that Chapman is struggling, but they are 4-3 vs D3 teams. NAIA games vs Point Loma, Cal-State San Marcos and British Columbia (exhibition/scrimmage). I hardly think 4-3 is a reason to quit on a team at this point in the season.

Nowhere did I imply quitting on any team. It is what it is right now. Things could change after the Trinity series, but a 4-4 record against teams with a combined 21-19 D-III record is where it stands. Not bad.

[OshDude]

I look forward to your list Ricky. I wish I had the time to do a full top 25, it is hard enough to just keep track of the West teams and the SCAC East teams for me. (plus it is more fun to throw rocks at the Pundant's!!) I can see how difficult early rankings are when you have some teams who have not even played yet. A number 2 team like Chapman comes out and stinks it up.... Speaking of SCAC East, I get the feeling that Millsaps is going to show up on a few peoples lists (or at least they should IMO) they are 8-2 and lost close games to what is shaping up to be a good Piedmont team (there is a poster here who said preseason look out and he is right) and good Huntingdon team. Millsaps generally has a very competitive program and it looks like they have some good young players contributing early. BSC I am not so sure about, but it is early.

I was surprised the Trinity was not in the top 5, they have beaten some very good teams including Centenary that has mostly a D1 line up still, mostly with their bullpen pitchers. (although Klimesh came in and gave up a save and got a win....) I think they have the pitching this year to finally take them to Wisc.

As you say it will be a whole lot clearer in two weeks.

I, like Bbfan62, am going to enjoy the Trinity/Chapman games this weekend!

Please, throw rocks. Polls are ripe for debate, and there's no better time to poke holes in those opinions than right now. Any number of arguments can made at this time of year. It's pretty great.

I'm jealous that you'll be at the TU/CU games purely for baseball reasons, but a small part of me also envies the nicer weather. I felt sad when I was watching a Texas matchup last week and the announcer said it was 85 degrees. Another night a guy said he was freezing after it got to be 48 at night. I've seen people tanning outside when it's 55 up here. I'll have to settle for following online with a space heater blasting my feet.

[dp643]

If UDallas doesnt get a Pool B bid, there will be room for one more Pool C than the West region is used to getting since Chapman isnt going to be getting a Pool B bid. This may turn out to benefit the west region potential Pool C candidates right?

[BigPoppa]

If UDallas doesnt get a Pool B bid, there will be room for one more Pool C than the West region is used to getting since Chapman isnt going to be getting a Pool B bid. This may turn out to benefit the west region potential Pool C candidates right?

I think there may be fewer Pool Bs awarded this season than in the past. A few Pool B conferences have now become Pool C eligible.

[tigerfan_2001]

If UDallas doesnt get a Pool B bid, there will be room for one more Pool C than the West region is used to getting since Chapman isnt going to be getting a Pool B bid. This may turn out to benefit the west region potential Pool C candidates right?

I believe U of Dallas is in the SCAC now and so they can't get a pool B bid anymore.

[CrashDavisD3]

If UDallas doesnt get a Pool B bid, there will be room for one more Pool C than the West region is used to getting since Chapman isnt going to be getting a Pool B bid. This may turn out to benefit the west region potential Pool C candidates right?

I believe U of Dallas is in the SCAC now and so they can't get a pool B bid anymore.

Last year there were only 2 bids total for the nation for Pool B. There are no longer any Pool B teams in the West Region. Only Pool A for conference winners for SCIAC, NWC, ASC and SCAC and Pool C bids that a rewarded on a national not regional basis.

If I am wrong someone who knows better please correct me.

[dahlby]

Crash:
I believe UCSC is still an Indy.

[CrashDavisD3]

Crash:
I believe UCSC is still an Indy.

I stand corrrected UC-Santa Cruz home of the The Banana Slug mascot is a Pool B but they dont play DIII baseball last time I checked. I still would give them top billing for their mascot.
http://www.ucsc.edu/about/mascot.html

[dp643]

If UDallas doesnt get a Pool B bid, there will be room for one more Pool C than the West region is used to getting since Chapman isnt going to be getting a Pool B bid. This may turn out to benefit the west region potential Pool C candidates right?

I believe U of Dallas is in the SCAC now and so they can't get a pool B bid anymore.

Thanks for the correction. I did not know that.

[CrashDavisD3]

Trinity VS Chapman

Chapman
BA .277
OBA .341
SLG% .377
FLD% .950
ERA 4.30
LOB 71
DP 71 6

Trinity
BA .309O
BA .399
SLG%.484
FLD% .987
ERA 2.50
LOB 92
DP 92 13

[dahlby]

Crash:
You are depressing me!