BB: Top Teams in West Region

[CrashDavisD3]

I am openly a Trinty homey, but I have always been very straightforward and honest about the team, the program and their schedule, which is weak this year IMO. It is, again IMO ,one of the most talented teams they have fielded in a number of years, and it will be a disappointment for everyone involved  in the program if they don't move on to Appleton this year. It remains to be seen if "talent" can be translated into a winning team. Everyone knows getting through a baseball regional is one of the toughest things to do for a sports team since all it takes is one hot pitcher, an injury, ect to knock a team out. 

That said they have the easiest path to the Regionals of any quality team in the West. (again IMO)  It is not the programs fault that they have an easier schedule, it just worked out this way this year. This year they have to win the SCAC, which only has 5 teams and the best team not named Trinity is not eligible. The fact is that the other teams are significantly weaker than Cent and TU. Their challenge is to play enough tough games and get this team ready to do battle later in the year with the very good teams they will face who have likely played tougher schedules. 
So far this year this team has shown that they can swing the bat as well as anyone in the country, they have a very deep pitching staff that showed last night that they can bring in arms that can shut down a team when one or two of their pitchers are not on, and they played a very good defensive game. (one of a few I would add)

IMO they must continue to get better defensively and continue to develop the pitching staff so they don't run out of arms like they did last year in the Regionals. The team is literally two deep at every position on the field, so they need to keep getting enough innings for these players so it won't matter if someone gets injured, or they can ride a hot bat, or sit a cold one. If they can do this and develop that winning chemistry then they will move on.

You could probably ask every player or coach on the team this year about whether they care about the number one ranking, and I would bet everyone would tell you the same thing, "the only time number one means anything is at the end of the season" Just my 2 cents.

Excellent Assessment. Trinity well coached, great players has been so close getting to Appleton in past years. Always played Chapman tough against great Chapman teams in past years. BUT playing a weak overall schedule, SCAC tournament getting done weeks before regional and staying at hotels far from the field at the regional has not helped Trinity get over the hump to get to Appleton. I expect Trinity to be on the teams as favorites to win the regional IF they stay healthy. I also expect Linfield to be back at the Regional to compete for that spot to Appleton. I am not sure about the rest of the WEST with so many games to go...Will Chapman miss their 2nd regional and maybe even the SCIAC playoffs..? Time will tell.

[ILVBB]

I am not convinced that TU is a top team yet. As has been noted they have played a weak schedule so far (not necessarily by choice). This has allowed the coaching staff to "audition" a good number of freshman. From my perspective, most had done their job but none have proven that they are beyond their years.

Hitting has been good against weak teams. I question how good the hitting will be against tougher competition.

I see lots of good arms; yet few have really been tested. Again, this is the challenge of playing a weak schedule.

The team is nearly 1/2 way through their schedule. The second half will really indicate what kind of team it is and can they get through a regional (assuming the win the SCAC). They have 14 games with Centenary, Dallas, TLU, HS & CTX; in my mind they need to win 10 of these games for them to show me that they are ready to compete at regionals.

I am also a bit of a "homer" yet I don't see the dominant pitchers that prior teams have had. Lucero has done a good job; but really isn't going far beyond 5 innings per game. Barron has struggled, Bentz has done well but has not been as strong as prior years. I see lot's of arms, but I don't see 3-4 solid starters that can carry a team deep into a game. They will do well in the SCAC but this year I don't think that will really mean much.

Then assuming they win the SCAC they haven't dealt effectively in the past with their one month layoff before regionals.

In baseball where the west teams play early people want to get excited about teams that post a good record early. However, this may be a case of listening to the great OZ "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."

I sure hope I am wrong.

[CrashDavisD3]

I am not convinced that TU is a top team yet. As has been noted they have played a weak schedule so far (not necessarily by choice). This has allowed the coaching staff to "audition" a good number of freshman. From my perspective, most had done their job but none have proven that they are beyond their years.

Hitting has been good against weak teams. I question how good the hitting will be against tougher competition.

I see lots of good arms; yet few have really been tested. Again, this is the challenge of playing a weak schedule.

The team is nearly 1/2 way through their schedule. The second half will really indicate what kind of team it is and can they get through a regional (assuming the win the SCAC). They have 14 games with Centenary, Dallas, TLU, HS & CTX; in my mind they need to win 10 of these games for them to show me that they are ready to compete at regionals.

I am also a bit of a "homer" yet I don't see the dominant pitchers that prior teams have had. Lucero has done a good job; but really isn't going far beyond 5 innings per game. Barron has struggled, Bentz has done well but has not been as strong as prior years. I see lot's of arms, but I don't see 3-4 solid starters that can carry a team deep into a game. They will do well in the SCAC but this year I don't think that will really mean much.

Then assuming they win the SCAC they haven't dealt effectively in the past with their one month layoff before regionals.

In baseball where the west teams play early people want to get excited about teams that post a good record early. However, this may be a case of listening to the great OZ "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."

I sure hope I am wrong.

Trinity e 2 losses have been to losing teams Chapman(6-8) and Austin(3-16). Chapman beat them 11-1 and Austin 4-2. Both may not make their conference tourney. So what does this mean when for Trinity when they have to play alot game against top teams in a few days....

Last game for SCAC Championship is April 28th. West Regional starts on May 15th. That 2 1/2 weeks of no baseball against other teams. That is a huge break which hurts Trinity every year.

[Jack Parkman]

But Trinity (TX) just defeated the team with the #1 SOS in the country last night!!!   

Agree that at least some of the "top" teams in the West will start to fall out once they encounter some quality competition.   We should get a better handle on where Trinity stands with their series at Centenary (La) followed next Tuesday a single at home against a pretty decent Texas Lutheran.

This year, this "early season game" for DeSales on the spring trip does not count as towards the SOS.

As I understand the rules changes for next year, this game (early season DeSales versus mid-season Trinity) will count as towards SOS and the championship/Pool C considerations.

How long will we continue to see matchups such as this and the East Coast teams (Kean and Rutgers-Newark) going to the SCIAC schools for spring trips?

Thats interesting Ralph.  I am interested to see what happens with all of the East Coast teams coming West.

[CrashDavisD3]

But Trinity (TX) just defeated the team with the #1 SOS in the country last night!!!   

Agree that at least some of the "top" teams in the West will start to fall out once they encounter some quality competition.   We should get a better handle on where Trinity stands with their series at Centenary (La) followed next Tuesday a single at home against a pretty decent Texas Lutheran.

This year, this "early season game" for DeSales on the spring trip does not count as towards the SOS.

As I understand the rules changes for next year, this game (early season DeSales versus mid-season Trinity) will count as towards SOS and the championship/Pool C considerations.

How long will we continue to see matchups such as this and the East Coast teams (Kean and Rutgers-Newark) going to the SCIAC schools for spring trips?

With changes next year, I would expect less trips to west for East Coast team for those that are concerned about Pool C and SOS. For teams like Kean I dont think they will change. They want to play the best on the west and intend on winning their Pool A conference bid. You dont get better by playing bad teams if you are planning to Appleton every year. For rest of the teams it may change with less trips to the west coast

[Big Louie]

Crash I disagree....Eastern teams will be more prone to come West now once all games count based on SOS. It makes no sense for a team from the East to come to the West Region to play games when they don't count as in-region games. In-Region records are what determine who gets POOL C's.

That is why you see so many Eastern teams going to Florida so they can get in-region games in. Kean approaches things a little different and would rather get tested against tough Western teams that help prepare them to make a run in the NJAC. In hindsight if Kean drops all there West Coast games it has no effect on whether they will get a Pool C bid.

[Ralph Turner]

I have always looked at the  "dyssynchronous" scheduling (an early season cold-weather team playing a mid-season warm weather team) as playing D3 teams, (as opposed to D2) who were slightly ahead in their in-season progression, but getting a chance to see comparable D-3 talent.  The loss doesn't hurt in primary criteria. You get a "result" in the secondary criteria.   Kinda like running 400-meter laps on the track and having the "rabbit" start an extra stagger or two ahead of you.

[CrashDavisD3]

If all games count towards SOS not just in region in 2014, why would EAST COAST Teams come West. West coast teams have 10 or more games under their belt while the EAST Coast team will have zero or very few.

Please understand their is a change going to take place in 2014 is what I understand. ALL D3 games will count not just in region for Pool C bids. Others can confirm or verify this if I am wrong but is what I read and heard.

This could translate into less COLD WEATHER teams coming West.

Or teams in the East start at the same time as West but make trips to Florida, Arizona, Texas, California. Teams in CA start in Late January/Early February for their 1st games of the year.

[OshDude]

If all games count towards SOS not just in region in 2014, why would EAST COAST Teams come West. West coast teams have 10 or more games under their belt while the EAST Coast team will have zero or very few.

Please understand their is a change going to take place in 2014 is what I understand. ALL D3 games will count not just in region for Pool C bids. Others can confirm or verify this if I am wrong but is what I read and heard.

This could translate into less COLD WEATHER teams coming West.

Or teams in the East start at the same time as West but make trips to Florida, Arizona, Texas, California. Teams in CA start in Late January/Early February for their 1st games of the year.

True. And your concerns are not unique. "A game is a game" will be the focus of a column much later in the season. Not all of the coaches I contacted like it. The second half of the selection chair Q&A deals with the rule change as well. Part I of that Q&A is next Wednesday.

[Patriotfan87]

UT Tyler takes game 1 from Mississippi College 7-1 as they continue to get great production out of their pitching staff. The bats are starting to come along as well.

[Patriotfan87]

UT Tyler completes the sweep winning 2-1 and 7-2 on Saturday.

[108 Stitches]

Trinity dropped 2 of 3 vs Centenary over the weekend.

Gm1
TU    3 - 9 – 1
Cen   0 – 2 – 0

Gm2
TU   1 – 5 – 2
Cen    11 – 11- 2

Gm3
TU   5- 11 – 2
Cen   6 -5 – 2

Did not see the game today but heard that TU more or less snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. After seeing the Sat games and hearing about today's game, they are making way too many errors on both sides of the ball for a championship team at the moment.  The elements are there but time will tell if they can put it together.

[Ralph Turner]

With the addition of TLU in 2014, the SCAC will be one tough baseball conference!

[CrashDavisD3]

MOST WINS in the West as of March 10, 2013

Trinity 15-4
Texas Tyler 14-4
Texas Lutheran 14-5
Occidental 13-2
Linfield 12-3
Centenary 12-4
Pomona Pitzer 12-4
George Fox 12-5

[CrashDavisD3]

Trinity dropped 2 of 3 vs Centenary over the weekend.

Gm1
TU    3 - 9 – 1
Cen   0 – 2 – 0

Gm2
TU   1 – 5 – 2
Cen    11 – 11- 2

Gm3
TU   5- 11 – 2
Cen   6 -5 – 2

Did not see the game today but heard that TU more or less snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. After seeing the Sat games and hearing about today's game, they are making way too many errors on both sides of the ball for a championship team at the moment.  The elements are there but time will tell if they can put it together.

Trinity TX SHOULD drop in the polls while Centenary should be included and rise. Will OXY, get a vote at 13-2.