The musings are a day late and I apologize to all of my fans.

Two games left for basketball. But what happens if one of the top 8 in the MAC tournament gets Covid? Do they invite one of the four lepers or no?
Good luck to the womens team as they are the hope for dancing.
Baseball sweeps Alabama State. Good Start.
We have a nice baseball stadium but is cold to be at a with a north wind.

(03-02-2021 10:00 AM)fanfrompowellspub Wrote:  The musings are a day late and I apologize to all of my fans.

Two games left for basketball. But what happens if one of the top 8 in the MAC tournament gets Covid? Do they invite one of the four lepers or no?
Good luck to the womens team as they are the hope for dancing.
Baseball sweeps Alabama State. Good Start.
We have a nice baseball stadium but is cold to be at a with a north wind.

Pardon me for 'thinking out of the stadium, and into the box."

Never understood why a smallish stadium could not be 'weather proofed' with plexiglass enclosures.

Kind of put plexiglass at the first and third base ends of the seatings to stop the winds coming in from right and left field. Maybe some kind of heating in those two sections behind the dugouts.

Dear Friends,
When I graduated from Eastern, we attended classes until the first part of June. That made the baseball season somewhat better then today. One can count on the weather in Michigan being nice for baseball in May and June, but now, games in March and April can be brutal.
With what I just mentioned, I don't think Eastern's Baseball will ever return to the glory days of Coach Oestrike.

(03-02-2021 02:13 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
When I graduated from Eastern, we attended classes until the first part of June. That made the baseball season somewhat better then today. One can count on the weather in Michigan being nice for baseball in May and June, but now, games in March and April can be brutal.
With what I just mentioned, I don't think Eastern's Baseball will ever return to the glory days of Coach Oestrike.

Wow. I can't remember that far back.

No doubt that EMU's academic calendar is not tailor made for baseball.

I wish MLB would continue, beyond this year, having the MLB draft in July and push back the college world series a few weeks.

I'm left scratching my head that ALABAMA STATE, whom we played this weekend, played their first games before the Detroit Tigers' first x-hibition games?

(03-02-2021 02:13 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
When I graduated from Eastern, we attended classes until the first part of June. That made the baseball season somewhat better then today. One can count on the weather in Michigan being nice for baseball in May and June, but now, games in March and April can be brutal.
With what I just mentioned, I don't think Eastern's Baseball will ever return to the glory days of Coach Oestrike.

No Ken, EMU will NEVER see the days of Oestrike having the best team in Washtenaw county again. He was an incredible evaluator of talent. He could give you a 30 minute tutorial on how to play catch, on which foot to catch the ball, how to crowfoot before throwing it back and in fact how to correctly pick up an errant throw. He was fabulous! He also corralled the best talent in the then very rich SE Michigan market and they played summers together in the Adray Appliance league as well, not NCAA compliant today.

That said, Steve once again nails hit. EMU's academic calendar does nothing to affect the baseball schedule, the CWS and MLB draft are the real villains.

(03-02-2021 07:42 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(03-02-2021 02:13 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
When I graduated from Eastern, we attended classes until the first part of June. That made the baseball season somewhat better then today. One can count on the weather in Michigan being nice for baseball in May and June, but now, games in March and April can be brutal.
With what I just mentioned, I don't think Eastern's Baseball will ever return to the glory days of Coach Oestrike.

No Ken, EMU will NEVER see the days of Oestrike having the best team in Washtenaw county again. He was an incredible evaluator of talent. He could give you a 30 minute tutorial on how to play catch, on which foot to catch the ball, how to crowfoot before throwing it back and in fact how to correctly pick up an errant throw. He was fabulous! He also corralled the best talent in the then very rich SE Michigan market and they played summers together in the Adray Appliance league as well, not NCAA compliant today.

That said, Steve once again nails hit. EMU's academic calendar does nothing to affect the baseball schedule, the CWS and MLB draft are the real villains.

It's the one sport where the college season ends early enough for the players to do some kind of MiLB rookie ball in that same season.

Not a good idea players competing in May and June and then be eligible for some kind of post career ball.

As Jerry and I are saying, MLB (draft) and CWS ought to modify their schedules so the season can start a few weeks later and extend a few weeks later.

(03-02-2021 09:35 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(03-02-2021 07:42 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(03-02-2021 02:13 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
When I graduated from Eastern, we attended classes until the first part of June. That made the baseball season somewhat better then today. One can count on the weather in Michigan being nice for baseball in May and June, but now, games in March and April can be brutal.
With what I just mentioned, I don't think Eastern's Baseball will ever return to the glory days of Coach Oestrike.

No Ken, EMU will NEVER see the days of Oestrike having the best team in Washtenaw county again. He was an incredible evaluator of talent. He could give you a 30 minute tutorial on how to play catch, on which foot to catch the ball, how to crowfoot before throwing it back and in fact how to correctly pick up an errant throw. He was fabulous! He also corralled the best talent in the then very rich SE Michigan market and they played summers together in the Adray Appliance league as well, not NCAA compliant today.

That said, Steve once again nails hit. EMU's academic calendar does nothing to affect the baseball schedule, the CWS and MLB draft are the real villains.

It's the one sport where the college season ends early enough for the players to do some kind of MiLB rookie ball in that same season.

Not a good idea players competing in May and June and then be eligible for some kind of post career ball.

As Jerry and I are saying, MLB (draft) and CWS ought to modify their schedules so the season can start a few weeks later and extend a few weeks later.

In fact MASTTQ posted a proposal from Northern baseball coaches that advocated for such, if you remember. I agree, the last time a snowplow state University won the CWS was Ohio State 53 FREAKING YEARS AGO in 1968! It makes Oak's team runner-up finish only that more jaw dropping!

Honestly and it pains me to say this, I really think cold weather states should shed baseball as an NCAA D-1 sport unless the season is extended. The travel costs early in the season are prohibitive and unsustainable for many programs and attendance is non-existent for games played here shortly thereafter. Buffalo realized this.

(03-03-2021 07:32 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(03-02-2021 09:35 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(03-02-2021 07:42 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(03-02-2021 02:13 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
When I graduated from Eastern, we attended classes until the first part of June. That made the baseball season somewhat better then today. One can count on the weather in Michigan being nice for baseball in May and June, but now, games in March and April can be brutal.
With what I just mentioned, I don't think Eastern's Baseball will ever return to the glory days of Coach Oestrike.

No Ken, EMU will NEVER see the days of Oestrike having the best team in Washtenaw county again. He was an incredible evaluator of talent. He could give you a 30 minute tutorial on how to play catch, on which foot to catch the ball, how to crowfoot before throwing it back and in fact how to correctly pick up an errant throw. He was fabulous! He also corralled the best talent in the then very rich SE Michigan market and they played summers together in the Adray Appliance league as well, not NCAA compliant today.

That said, Steve once again nails hit. EMU's academic calendar does nothing to affect the baseball schedule, the CWS and MLB draft are the real villains.

It's the one sport where the college season ends early enough for the players to do some kind of MiLB rookie ball in that same season.

Not a good idea players competing in May and June and then be eligible for some kind of post career ball.

As Jerry and I are saying, MLB (draft) and CWS ought to modify their schedules so the season can start a few weeks later and extend a few weeks later.

In fact MASTTQ posted a proposal from Northern baseball coaches that advocated for such, if you remember. I agree, the last time a snowplow state University won the CWS was Ohio State 53 FREAKING YEARS AGO in 1968! It makes Oak's team runner-up finish only that more jaw dropping!

Honestly and it pains me to say this, I really think cold weather states should shed baseball as an NCAA D-1 sport unless the season is extended. The travel costs early in the season are prohibitive and unsustainable for many programs and attendance is non-existent for games played here shortly thereafter. Buffalo realized this.

I agree. And EMU's 2nd semester ends way too early.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2934...e-after-hs

(03-04-2021 05:42 AM)emu steve Wrote:  https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2934...e-after-hs

im really curious what the G-League turns into. whether its a true minor league or an affiliate league.

He's not going to make to east lansing. He is going to turn north on to hewitt road and play at home for EMU (with Patrick Beilein as head coach)!!
OH sorry woke up. Crazy shot specials last night...

(03-04-2021 08:11 AM)fanfrompowellspub Wrote:  He's not going to make to east lansing. He is going to turn north on to hewitt road and play at home for EMU (with Patrick Beilein as head coach)!!
OH sorry woke up. Crazy shot specials last night...

BobW will probably chime in that we could have the other Beilein and Bates, too.

We'd need millions for Beilein and 500K for Bates. Oh, we can't do that. What?

One is above our budget and the other illegal.

I have seen some of the G League (those who signed out of h.s.) and they haven't looked that impressive to me. Would be interesting to see what Bates would do in that league.

(03-04-2021 08:43 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(03-04-2021 08:11 AM)fanfrompowellspub Wrote:  He's not going to make to east lansing. He is going to turn north on to hewitt road and play at home for EMU (with Patrick Beilein as head coach)!!
OH sorry woke up. Crazy shot specials last night...

BobW will probably chime in that we could have the other Beilein and Bates, too.

We'd need millions for Beilein and 500K for Bates. Oh, we can't do that. What?

One is above our budget and the other illegal.

I have seen some of the G League (those who signed out of h.s.) and they haven't looked that impressive to me. Would be interesting to see what Bates would do in that league.

I am not crazy about either guy to be perfectly honest.

I have a G-League team 10 miles from my house. Go Iowa Wolves. The play is quite good. I have worked the clock at some of the games.

Beilein would strangle Bates. Not his type of player.

I keep dreaming of Beilein. What if he just really loves Washtenaw County and wants to be there forever? He still lives in Ann Arbor, and actually teaches as an adjunct at UM. He could even install his son as successor. What could go wrong?

(03-04-2021 04:43 PM)holybovine Wrote:  Beilein would strangle Bates. Not his type of player.

I keep dreaming of Beilein. What if he just really loves Washtenaw County and wants to be there forever? He still lives in Ann Arbor, and actually teaches as an adjunct at UM. He could even install his son as successor. What could go wrong?

Yeah, but...

https://twitter.com/TonyPaul1984/status/...57575?s=20

Yuck.

(03-04-2021 09:48 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(03-04-2021 04:43 PM)holybovine Wrote:  Beilein would strangle Bates. Not his type of player.

I keep dreaming of Beilein. What if he just really loves Washtenaw County and wants to be there forever? He still lives in Ann Arbor, and actually teaches as an adjunct at UM. He could even install his son as successor. What could go wrong?

Yeah, but...

https://twitter.com/TonyPaul1984/status/...57575?s=20

beilein can take whatever college job he wants. he already turned down BC. he's won everywhere he's gone (at the college level). he's not coming here as cool as that'd be.

(03-04-2021 09:48 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(03-04-2021 04:43 PM)holybovine Wrote:  Beilein would strangle Bates. Not his type of player.

I keep dreaming of Beilein. What if he just really loves Washtenaw County and wants to be there forever? He still lives in Ann Arbor, and actually teaches as an adjunct at UM. He could even install his son as successor. What could go wrong?

Yeah, but...

https://twitter.com/TonyPaul1984/status/...57575?s=20

He would actually be perfect at Indiana.

https://twitter.com/TonyPaul1984/status/...73541?s=20

This could be a Jeopardy question:

Four MAC teams did not make the 2021 MBB tourney. Three are from MI.

Q: Who are the NIU Huskies?