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(04-26-2021 09:16 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  Three out of four this weekend vs. Wichita State to take yet another series. Our Bearcats are climbing steadily in the American and finish with a dozen games at home.

I get the feeling they are going to be in the hunt for an AAC Championship again after winning it all in 2019.

ECU is head and shoulders above the rest of the conference...but baseball is the most random of all sports, so you never know.

Even if you look at Googins’ XU teams, they always starts out slow out of the gate but play their best ball later in the season. This is what we did when we won the AAC tournament in 2019.

(04-26-2021 09:30 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 09:16 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  Three out of four this weekend vs. Wichita State to take yet another series. Our Bearcats are climbing steadily in the American and finish with a dozen games at home.

I get the feeling they are going to be in the hunt for an AAC Championship again after winning it all in 2019.

ECU is head and shoulders above the rest of the conference...but baseball is the most random of all sports, so you never know.

History doesn't really bear that out. In the Conference's history, UConn has been the heavy, with Houston coming next. ECU, for all their bluff and bluster about being the "baseball power" of the conference has won the Regular Season conference once, and the tournament twice.

And this year, TULANE is on top of the standings at 10-1 (Conference)/ 21-13 (overall), a half-game ahead of ECU at 10-2 (Conference)/ 28-7 (overall). Tulane is also riding a ten-game winning streak as of this morning.

UC is currently in 5th place, at 8-8 (Conference)/ 19-18 (overall), a half-game back of Wichita State at 8-7/20-13, with UCF in 3rd at 9-7/19-21. So the Conference standings are really pretty close right now.

(04-26-2021 10:13 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Even if you look at Googins’ XU teams, they always starts out slow out of the gate but play their best ball later in the season. This is what we did when we won the AAC tournament in 2019.

This tends to be the case with "Northern"/Cold-weather teams. Maybe it's part of the fact that "cold-weather" teams struggle to get a lot of outside practice in during February and early March, doubtless it's also a fact-of-life that the "Northern" teams spend a HUGE chunk of the early season down in the South playing road games in warmer climes. The "Southern" schools have some inherent advantages...especially early in the season.

(04-26-2021 10:15 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 09:30 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 09:16 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  Three out of four this weekend vs. Wichita State to take yet another series. Our Bearcats are climbing steadily in the American and finish with a dozen games at home.

I get the feeling they are going to be in the hunt for an AAC Championship again after winning it all in 2019.

ECU is head and shoulders above the rest of the conference...but baseball is the most random of all sports, so you never know.

History doesn't really bear that out. In the Conference's history, UConn has been the heavy, with Houston coming next. ECU, for all their bluff and bluster about being the "baseball power" of the conference has won the Regular Season conference once, and the tournament twice.

And this year, TULANE is on top of the standings at 10-1 (Conference)/ 21-13 (overall), a half-game ahead of ECU at 10-2 (Conference)/ 28-7 (overall). Tulane is also riding a ten-game winning streak as of this morning.

UC is currently in 5th place, at 8-8 (Conference)/ 19-18 (overall), a half-game back of Wichita State at 8-7/20-13, with UCF in 3rd at 9-7/19-21. So the Conference standings are really pretty close right now.

Truthfully, I wasn't talking about history...just this season. ECU is far more talented than any other team in the conference this year as far as Baseball Prospectus is concerned. We can nip them once if given the opportunity, but shot for shot they are much more talented than we are (which is about the same as when we won the AAC Tourney a few years back).

(04-26-2021 10:44 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 10:15 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 09:30 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 09:16 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  Three out of four this weekend vs. Wichita State to take yet another series. Our Bearcats are climbing steadily in the American and finish with a dozen games at home.

I get the feeling they are going to be in the hunt for an AAC Championship again after winning it all in 2019.

ECU is head and shoulders above the rest of the conference...but baseball is the most random of all sports, so you never know.

History doesn't really bear that out. In the Conference's history, UConn has been the heavy, with Houston coming next. ECU, for all their bluff and bluster about being the "baseball power" of the conference has won the Regular Season conference once, and the tournament twice.

And this year, TULANE is on top of the standings at 10-1 (Conference)/ 21-13 (overall), a half-game ahead of ECU at 10-2 (Conference)/ 28-7 (overall). Tulane is also riding a ten-game winning streak as of this morning.

UC is currently in 5th place, at 8-8 (Conference)/ 19-18 (overall), a half-game back of Wichita State at 8-7/20-13, with UCF in 3rd at 9-7/19-21. So the Conference standings are really pretty close right now.

Truthfully, I wasn't talking about history...just this season. ECU is far more talented than any other team in the conference this year as far as Baseball Prospectus is concerned. We can nip them once if given the opportunity, but shot for shot they are much more talented than we are (which is about the same as when we won the AAC Tourney a few years back).

ECU swept us in a four game series in Greenville back in early April. Got that. Beyond that point of reference, I still am not seeing ECU distinguishing themselves as "head and shoulders" above the rest of the Conference. Their road going forward will say more about "who" this ECU team is than what has gotten them up to this point (IMO): They kick off a four-game set AT Wichita on Friday, then they get Conference leading Tulane in Greenville, then they have to travel to Cincinnati after that.

Leading up to that point they played the overwhelming majority of their games AT HOME, with a trip to Statesboro Georgia, as the glaring exception...where they lost 1 of their 3 games against Georgia Southern. They haven't had to actually face anyone of note outside of their home confines...yet. Even UCF, who's in 3rd right now in the Conference, split ECU at home 2-2.

I'm not saying that "UC is equal to, if not better than ECU" in baseball. I'm just saying that I don't see a giant here. Of course Conference titles are not won in the Baseball Prospectus...they're won on the diamond. So, only time will tell.

(04-26-2021 01:13 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 10:44 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 10:15 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 09:30 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(04-26-2021 09:16 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  Three out of four this weekend vs. Wichita State to take yet another series. Our Bearcats are climbing steadily in the American and finish with a dozen games at home.

I get the feeling they are going to be in the hunt for an AAC Championship again after winning it all in 2019.

ECU is head and shoulders above the rest of the conference...but baseball is the most random of all sports, so you never know.

History doesn't really bear that out. In the Conference's history, UConn has been the heavy, with Houston coming next. ECU, for all their bluff and bluster about being the "baseball power" of the conference has won the Regular Season conference once, and the tournament twice.

And this year, TULANE is on top of the standings at 10-1 (Conference)/ 21-13 (overall), a half-game ahead of ECU at 10-2 (Conference)/ 28-7 (overall). Tulane is also riding a ten-game winning streak as of this morning.

UC is currently in 5th place, at 8-8 (Conference)/ 19-18 (overall), a half-game back of Wichita State at 8-7/20-13, with UCF in 3rd at 9-7/19-21. So the Conference standings are really pretty close right now.

Truthfully, I wasn't talking about history...just this season. ECU is far more talented than any other team in the conference this year as far as Baseball Prospectus is concerned. We can nip them once if given the opportunity, but shot for shot they are much more talented than we are (which is about the same as when we won the AAC Tourney a few years back).

ECU swept us in a four game series in Greenville back in early April. Got that. Beyond that point of reference, I still am not seeing ECU distinguishing themselves as "head and shoulders" above the rest of the Conference. Their road going forward will say more about "who" this ECU team is than what has gotten them up to this point (IMO): They kick off a four-game set AT Wichita on Friday, then they get Conference leading Tulane in Greenville, then they have to travel to Cincinnati after that.

Leading up to that point they played the overwhelming majority of their games AT HOME, with a trip to Statesboro Georgia, as the glaring exception...where they lost 1 of their 3 games against Georgia Southern. They haven't had to actually face anyone of note outside of their home confines...yet. Even UCF, who's in 3rd right now in the Conference, split ECU at home 2-2.

I'm not saying that "UC is equal to, if not better than ECU" in baseball. I'm just saying that I don't see a giant here. Of course Conference titles are not won in the Baseball Prospectus...they're won on the diamond. So, only time will tell.

Good analysis and conclusions. ECU appeared to be the runaway favorite earlier but many who follow college baseball know the American is a top 5/6 conference currently, and often, ranked above the B10 in RPI. There are quality teams in the top half of the AAC. UC's tournament championship in 2019 was an unexpected surprise. Following that up with a win over reigning champion Oregon State in the first NCAA tournament game was a win for our 'Cats and the AAC.

When the Varsity Village project was being planned I think we need to give Bob Goin some credit for being committed to building a best in class type baseball stadium. And then to Mike Bohn for hiring a coach away from X who was proving to be a winner.

The bottom line for me is baseball really matters in the ACC and the B12 and a strong, consistent showing on the field and with fans in the stands bodes well for UC being a more complete expansion candidate when realignment resumes. Most importantly though, it's great fun watching a game on campus on a sunny spring day with a cold beer in hand. Go Bearcats!

I still think ECU is the best team in the conference by a decent margin. Tulane is next.

UC is in that next group. Which is great for UC and in baseball they could absolutely find a way to win the conference tournament.

Swept the opening DH against Houston...starting pitching was the key here:
17IP, 14Hs, 4BBs, 2ERs, 9Ks

They are now 23-20, 12-10 in the AAC. This is a good UC team with very good hitting and a much improved pitching staff since the start of the season.

I don't like baseball but I am happy the Bearcats are winning.

Checked their schedule. I counted 6 one run losses.

Imagine pulling those out and being 29-14.

Bearcats win today 10-3 at UH, taking three out of four from the Cougs.

(05-09-2021 03:51 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Bearcats win today 10-3 at UH, taking three out of four from the Cougs.

Ha. I wonder what pesik's excuse is for that!

(05-09-2021 04:35 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  

(05-09-2021 03:51 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Bearcats win today 10-3 at UH, taking three out of four from the Cougs.

Ha. I wonder what pesik's excuse is for that!

Houston is having an awful season by their standards, 17-26 (5-15 in conference). Next to last just one game ahead of Memphis.

(05-09-2021 04:35 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  

(05-09-2021 03:51 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Bearcats win today 10-3 at UH, taking three out of four from the Cougs.

Ha. I wonder what pesik's excuse is for that!

I think he still denies that DeJon Jarreau bit Keith Williams.

Oh so close to a four game sweep. But 3 of 4 on the road in conference we'll take anytime.

Our Bearcats now have eight straight at home to close out. We'll see the best the AAC has to offer in #13 ECU and a capable Tulane squad. I'm going to catch as many of those games as possible if our rainy spring turns dry soon. If you haven't caught a home game yet, now is the time. This team has developed some great hitters; can score runs in bunches and is seeing some great pitching of late. I believe they have the ability to compete for the postseason again in 2021.

Updating the area conference RPI rankings, the American is now #5, the B10 #7 and the Big East #17. Is UC the best college baseball team in Ohio?

ECU will be a tough opponent this weekend.

Stephen Igoe
@StephenIgoe
·
57m
ECU is up to No. 11 in this week’s D1Baseball poll. Pirates are 12th in Baseball America.

It’s worth noting with just two weeks left in the regular season that ECU has not lost consecutive games all season, nor has it lost a series.

(05-10-2021 07:08 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  Oh so close to a four game sweep. But 3 of 4 on the road in conference we'll take anytime.

Our Bearcats now have eight straight at home to close out. We'll see the best the AAC has to offer in #13 ECU and a capable Tulane squad. I'm going to catch as many of those games as possible if our rainy spring turns dry soon. If you haven't caught a home game yet, now is the time. This team has developed some great hitters; can score runs in bunches and is seeing some great pitching of late. I believe they have the ability to compete for the postseason again in 2021.

Updating the area conference RPI rankings, the American is now #5, the B10 #7 and the Big East #17. Is UC the best college baseball team in Ohio?

Wright State is 25-11. The school is broke and bleeding enrollment, but the Raiders have had a very good baseball for the past 30 years or so.

UC Clermont is ranked #1 and is the 1 seed in the small college world series.