BB: Top Teams in West Region

[El Hombre]

The thing that I keep thinking about are the P-P players, coaches and families. This is a very sad day for DIII baseball.

Is there any process to review these kinds of decisions by the AD's?

Stitches -
My wife and I said the same thing.  Education is the most important thing for the students.  Therefore we send them to these "highly-ranked" institutions so they can "learn from the best".  As a result, you would expect them to witness integrity and transparency.  What are the Pomona student athletes to take from this experience?  What lesson can they pass on to their children in the future?  The NCAA should set a good example and right the wrong.  That would be a good lesson for all. 

[Ralph Turner]

I see the problem.  We either believe the NCAA's numbers (and boy do I have a history with them.  They probably don't want to see me coming.) or we believe PrestoSports.com

NCAA numbers

PP OWP = .490;  OOWP  =  .507;  RPI = .496

LIN OWP = .500;  OOWP = 0.514  RPI = .505

[El Hombre]

I'm very happy that I'm not on the West RAC. I think there's a top three, probably four, and a mess that follows. I seem to be in minority, but to me Linfield is in that mess justifiably. I'm not saying I agree after the top three or four, but I don't think it's ludicrous that Linfield is among the fairly long list of contenders for the last two spots in the West.

Where Linfield gets hammered is common opponents.

Ricky -
With all due respect, I am stunned by your position! 

I read your interview with Anthony Holman - it was very informative and gave many of us confidence that the "selection process" was above board and fair to all.  When you read his (AH) comments regarding adherence to the criteria, etc., one's confidence is restored in the system.  Then this happens.  And you defend it! 

Can you please use the NCAA selection criteria to justify Linfield's #5 ranking? 
Many on these boards would love to see how that is even possible. 

Ranking of West Region Teams:
Using the NCAA Selection Criteria

Criteria:  Win-Loss % Against Regional Opponents
1.   Concordia  .800
2.   Trinity  .795
3.   Whitworth  .773
4.   Pacific  .769
5.   Texas-Tyler  .694
6.   Pomona  .676
7.   La Verne  .667
8.   Texas Lutheran  .667
9.   Texas-Dallas  .658
10.   Pac Lu / Linfield (tie)  .647

Criteria:  Strength of Schedule
1.   Chapman  .560  (Nationally #29)
2.   La Verne  .532  (Nationally #103)
3.   Hardin-Simmons .531 (Nationally #104)
4.   (tie 3) George Fox  .531 (Nationally #104)
5.   Mississippi College  (Nationally #126)
6.   Pac Lu  .523  (Nationally #134)
7.   Occidental  .511 (Nationally #192)
8.   Pomona  .510  (Nationally #202)
9.   Linfield  .509  (Nationally #209)
10.   Whittier  .506  (Nationally #220)

RPI (not listed as a criteria, but factors W/L % and SOS)
1.   Concordia  .577
2.   Trinity  .571
3.   La Verne  .566
4.   Whitworth  .564
5.   Pacific  .563
6.   Chapman  .556
7.   Pac Lu  .554
8.   Pomona  .552
9.   Texas-Tyler  .551
10.   George Fox  .545
11.   Linfield .544

Criteria:  Wins  RESULTS Versus Regionally Ranked Teams
1.   George Fox: 5  (overall 5 – 5)
2.   Chapman:  5  (overall 5 – 8)
3.   La Verne:  4  (overall 4 – 4)
4.   Linfield:  4 (overall 4 – 3)
5.   Pacific:  3 (overall 3 – 3)
6.   Pomona:  3  (overall 3 – 2)
7.   Whitworth:  2  (overall 2 – 2)
8.   Pac Lu:  2 (overall 2 – 2)
9.   Trinity:  1 (overall 1 – 0)
10.   Concordia:  1  (overall 1 – 1)
11.   Texas-Tyler:  1  (overall 1 – 3)

Criteria:  Head-to-Head Competition
(records in games between the potential Pool C teams)
1.   George Fox:  8 – 5
2.   Pac Lu:  5 – 6
3.   Pacific:  4 – 2
4.   Linfield:  4 – 3
5.   Chapman:  3 – 5
6.   Pomona:  2 – 1
7.   Trinity:  2 - 1
8.   Texas-Tyler:  0 - 0

[El Hombre]

I have posted the side-by-side comparison of Pomona-Pitzer versus Linfield in the Daily Dose blog.

http://www.d3blogs.com/d3baseball/2012/05/10/third-regional-rankings-2/#comment-2226

P-P wins every comparison.

Ralph -
Great comparison!  All you have to do is see the teams compared side-by-side using the selection criteria and the decision is easy!

Can you forward this to Anthony Holman?  He should see this so he can correct the obvious "mistake" that was made.  It will put an end to this and restore faith in the NCAA and the process. 

Thanks!

[Ralph Turner]

I have posted the side-by-side comparison of Pomona-Pitzer versus Linfield in the Daily Dose blog.

http://www.d3blogs.com/d3baseball/2012/05/10/third-regional-rankings-2/#comment-2226

P-P wins every comparison.

Ralph -
Great comparison!  All you have to do is see the teams compared side-by-side using the selection criteria and the decision is easy!

Can you forward this to Anthony Holman?  He should see this so he can correct the obvious "mistake" that was made.  It will put an end to this and restore faith in the NCAA and the process. 

Thanks!

Ricky Nelson gave me the NCAA's numbers where there is a problem, and numbers that favor Linfield.  I just added that to the blog in the last few minutes.

I hope that Prestosports.com will review their formulae in calculating the OWP/OOWP/SOS. So far, I have not found any designations of in-region to be in error.

[OshDude]

I didn't say I agreed with it. I simply stated that Linfield is in the mix justifiably.

The NCAA's numbers are slightly different than those you cite, and I can't speak for the RAC.

If you don't have a crazy good in-region winning percentage (.750+), you better have a good schedule. That stated, I think Linfield, Pacific, Pomona, Pac Lu and about six others are in the mix. How the dice cup spit out Linfield and Pomona I have no idea, but Linfield's only true weakness is common opponents.

[tigerfan_2001]

I didn't say I agreed with it. I simply stated that Linfield is in the mix justifiably.

The NCAA's numbers are slightly different than those you cite, and I can't speak for the RAC.

If you don't have a crazy good in-region winning percentage (.750+), you better have a good schedule. That stated, I think Linfield, Pacific, Pomona, Pac Lu and about six others are in the mix. How the dice cup spit out Linfield and Pomona I have no idea, but Linfield's only true weakness is common opponents.

That and they finished 4th in their conference and the CO-CHAMP, who won the series against Linfield isnt even ranked???

[OshDude]

I didn't say I agreed with it. I simply stated that Linfield is in the mix justifiably.

The NCAA's numbers are slightly different than those you cite, and I can't speak for the RAC.

If you don't have a crazy good in-region winning percentage (.750+), you better have a good schedule. That stated, I think Linfield, Pacific, Pomona, Pac Lu and about six others are in the mix. How the dice cup spit out Linfield and Pomona I have no idea, but Linfield's only true weakness is common opponents.

That and they finished 4th in their conference and the CO-CHAMP, who won the series against Linfield isnt even ranked???

I hear you, I really do. I think Pacific has one of the biggest gripes if not the biggest.

Standings can matter ("shall be considered ...") according to the criteria. But Trinity (Conn.) once received an at-large bid after not even qualifying for the NESCAC tourney.

The rankings are the collective orders of the RAC's only this season. The national committee has not altered them. Four coaches and one administrator from the West Region decided the order. As easy as it would be to blame the NCAA, it's your neighbors who rank the teams.

[Ralph Turner]

BTW, the second ranked team in New England is... St Joseph's Maine.  (That is not the first time that that error has been made.)

http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d3/regional_rankings

[Ralph Turner]

See the error to which I refer, the #2 ranked team.  Who proofreads their stuff?

NEW ENGLAND            
1   Wheaton (Mass.)   32-7   34-8   
2      36-5   36-5   
3   Keene State   28-8   29-11   
4   Trinity (Conn.)   25-7   29-9   
5   Western New England   31-9   32-11   
6   Amherst   20-6   23-8   
7   Bowdoin   21-14   23-16   
8   Southern Maine   21-13   23-16   
9   Eastern Connecticut State   19-9   28-11   
10   Bridgewater State   24-10   30-13

[CrashDavisD3]

Could we possibly see two teams sent in for the west with both Linfield and P-P being left home?

Justice would be served and I would have restored faith in the process working to reward the best teams in Pool B/C by using the primary/secondary criteria correctly. The best teams NATIONALLY not regionally I hope will be rewarded POOL B/C bids based upon their record on the field instead of hosting a tournament and past history

but

somehow I feel you see both teams in Oregon, although the numbers may not support it 

[CrashDavisD3]

More data common opponents

Pomona beat Claremont 4 times. Linfield lost once to Claremont
Pomona beat Chapman 2 out of 3. Linfield lost 2 out of 4 to Chapman
Pomona beat NWC Champ Whitworth once Linfield lost 2 of 3 to Whitworth

[CrashDavisD3]

See the error to which I refer, the #2 ranked team.  Who proofreads their stuff?

NEW ENGLAND            
1   Wheaton (Mass.)   32-7   34-8   
2      36-5   36-5   
3   Keene State   28-8   29-11   
4   Trinity (Conn.)   25-7   29-9   
5   Western New England   31-9   32-11   
6   Amherst   20-6   23-8   
7   Bowdoin   21-14   23-16   
8   Southern Maine   21-13   23-16   
9   Eastern Connecticut State   19-9   28-11   
10   Bridgewater State   24-10   30-13

Same ones that proof reads the DIII NCAA Championship handbook. The NCAA with its billions in revenue need to hire a few bright college interns.

[dp643]

They should fly 2 teams into this region and be done. Linfield making the region with almost half their wins against garbage teams shows that its all about $$$ and not the selection criteria. Its still pathetic any way you dice it up.

[BigPoppa]

They should fly 2 teams into this region and be done. Linfield making the region with almost half their wins against garbage teams shows that its all about $$$ and not the selection criteria. Its still pathetic any way you dice it up.

I am not sure that I see either Linfield or P-P making it. They need to be selected ahead of teams when compared to them NATIONALLY for a Pool C and the majority of the argument here is focused REGIONALLY. I think the WEST may only get 4 west teams and two flown in.