(02-21-2022 09:26 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 09:16 AM)truEMU07 Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 07:02 AM)emu steve Wrote:  As regular readers of this forum may have picked up, in the mid-70s, EMU went to the college World Series behind a few future MLB pitchers.

So we are talking about what has changed in almost 50 years? I can tell you that in 1975 I had not yet taken my first airplane trip.

Did athletes back then say, "Sure I'd like to play at EMU but I live a thousand miles and the cost of a flight home isn't cheap." Did most kids stay close to home? Do the top Midwest talent stay close to home today? Or would they fly off to the SEC and warm weather given the relative cheap cost of air travel. (I can fly between DTW and DCA for roughly the same price today as 40 years ago).

As much as the ease of travel plays into things I'd say there are two factors involved here.
1) the information superhighway (internet) has made seeing quality players no matter where they live possible. Ergo, the opportunities at those SEC schools are more now than before, PLUS more kids are getting drafted out of high school because of internet + travel ball / showcase circuits.
2) our facility hasn't been updated since those same teams in the 1970's. Oestrike is a dump. It was a dump when we won the MAC when I was there, and it hasn't had much of an update since. (though the turf is nice and honestly a necessity in Michigan in order to play a full college slate)

Agree and I have noted a number of times that the Internet has made it easy for schools in other parts of the country to take our local recruits, regardless of sport.

As to what it means:

In CFB Midwest FB (i.e., B1G) compares with any conference (other than SEC) in the country. Top talent can stay home if it wishes. Very good facilites, fan support, TV, etc. etc. November can be iffy weather wise.

In baseball, the SEC is light years ahead of any Midwestern conference. Hence I doubt many top recruits would consider the B1G or MAC for many reasons such as level of competition, fan support, facilities, TV, and weather.

Without raining on Midwest baseball's parade, would a pitcher in April rather pitch in 70 degree or 50 degree weather?

You're 100% correct.

The SEC doesn't view any other conference as its competitor in baseball, but rather minor league baseball.

If a kid from Michigan is drafted say in the 8th round but has signed with Vanderbilt, the pitch from them is "why travel around hours on end on a crappy bus in front of very few fans when we charter flight and play in front of great crowds all season? Play here for a few years, compete for a national title, improve your draft status and have a great experience."

And unless a huge signing bonus is involved, that kid chooses to play in college. That caliber of kid usually isn't playing in the Big Ten. It's SEC (+Texas) by a mile, then the PAC 12, then another few miles, and then everyone else.

(02-21-2022 09:39 AM)truEMU07 Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 09:26 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 09:16 AM)truEMU07 Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 07:02 AM)emu steve Wrote:  As regular readers of this forum may have picked up, in the mid-70s, EMU went to the college World Series behind a few future MLB pitchers.

So we are talking about what has changed in almost 50 years? I can tell you that in 1975 I had not yet taken my first airplane trip.

Did athletes back then say, "Sure I'd like to play at EMU but I live a thousand miles and the cost of a flight home isn't cheap." Did most kids stay close to home? Do the top Midwest talent stay close to home today? Or would they fly off to the SEC and warm weather given the relative cheap cost of air travel. (I can fly between DTW and DCA for roughly the same price today as 40 years ago).

As much as the ease of travel plays into things I'd say there are two factors involved here.
1) the information superhighway (internet) has made seeing quality players no matter where they live possible. Ergo, the opportunities at those SEC schools are more now than before, PLUS more kids are getting drafted out of high school because of internet + travel ball / showcase circuits.
2) our facility hasn't been updated since those same teams in the 1970's. Oestrike is a dump. It was a dump when we won the MAC when I was there, and it hasn't had much of an update since. (though the turf is nice and honestly a necessity in Michigan in order to play a full college slate)

Agree and I have noted a number of times that the Internet has made it easy for schools in other parts of the country to take our local recruits, regardless of sport.

As to what it means:

In CFB Midwest FB (i.e., B1G) compares with any conference (other than SEC) in the country. Top talent can stay home if it wishes. Very good facilites, fan support, TV, etc. etc. November can be iffy weather wise.

In baseball, the SEC is light years ahead of any Midwestern conference. Hence I doubt many top recruits would consider the B1G or MAC for many reasons such as level of competition, fan support, facilities, TV, and weather.

Without raining on Midwest baseball's parade, would a pitcher in April rather pitch in 70 degree or 50 degree weather?

You're 100% correct.

The SEC doesn't view any other conference as its competitor in baseball, but rather minor league baseball.

If a kid from Michigan is drafted say in the 8th round but has signed with Vanderbilt, the pitch from them is "why travel around hours on end on a crappy bus in front of very few fans when we charter flight and play in front of great crowds all season? Play here for a few years, compete for a national title, improve your draft status and have a great experience."

And unless a huge signing bonus is involved, that kid chooses to play in college. That caliber of kid usually isn't playing in the Big Ten. It's SEC (+Texas) by a mile, then the PAC 12, then another few miles, and then everyone else.

What you indicate so well is that being top tier isn't an ACCIDENT or strike of good luck.

It is virtually impossible for the B1G to go head to head with the SEC in baseball, no matter what they try and how much they spend.

Just a quick O/T point: In the Midwest, March isn't good for high school baseball but why not spring FOOTBALL (spring ball)?

Why does Texas have top notch spring high school baseball and spring high school football? What am I missing? If they can, why not MI?

(02-21-2022 07:02 AM)emu steve Wrote:  As regular readers of this forum may have picked up, in the mid-70s, EMU went to the college World Series behind a few future MLB pitchers.

So we are talking about what has changed in almost 50 years? I can tell you that in 1975 I had not yet taken my first airplane trip.

Did athletes back then say, "Sure I'd like to play at EMU but I live a thousand miles and the cost of a flight home isn't cheap." Did most kids stay close to home? Do the top Midwest talent stay close to home today? Or would they fly off to the SEC and warm weather given the relative cheap cost of air travel. (I can fly between DTW and DCA for roughly the same price today as 40 years ago).

The world has changed dramatically since Bob Welch, Bob Owchinko and for that matter, Ken Bruchanski pitched at EMU. Basketball has done the same, Earvin Johnson today does not today play his senior year at his local high school. Let's, also be honest the last time a snowplow state won an NCAA baseball title was in freaking 1966! EMU second in the NCAA would be utterly unthinkable today.

In our baseball "golden days" Welch, Owchinko, Bruchanski, Gulliver, Sheridan and Clutterbuck were ALL from SE Michigan. Today those guys are heading south where they can train and play more games in good weather. I can't blame them. Given the early season start, southern schools have a HUGE advantage.

Finally, Oak did something that would not be tolerated in the NCAA today. He had a team in the summer Adray Appliance League that was essentially the EMU team, so he was developing athletes year-round. The world is indeed different today.

(02-20-2022 05:51 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(02-20-2022 10:04 AM)dansplaining Wrote:  do they sell beer at baseball games? follow up question - how easy is it to sneak a beer into the baseball games?

As usual from Dan, a very pertinent question.

They have not sold beer at any of the games I have been to.

I have not tried to sneak any in, but I suspect it would not be hard if one were to occupy the area along the first base line. You find a nice warm day in Spring, and I would be receptive to testing such.

Jerry,

I have had a few cold ones sitting on the little hill on the first base line along with a bag of peanuts, no one has ever said anything to me. The only problem is it is usually too cold to drink beer!

(02-21-2022 08:55 PM)EMU 83 Wrote:  

(02-20-2022 05:51 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(02-20-2022 10:04 AM)dansplaining Wrote:  do they sell beer at baseball games? follow up question - how easy is it to sneak a beer into the baseball games?

As usual from Dan, a very pertinent question.

They have not sold beer at any of the games I have been to.

I have not tried to sneak any in, but I suspect it would not be hard if one were to occupy the area along the first base line. You find a nice warm day in Spring, and I would be receptive to testing such.

Jerry,

I have had a few cold ones sitting on the little hill on the first base line along with a bag of peanuts, no one has ever said anything to me. The only problem is it is usually too cold to drink beer!

Valuable info for sure! Thanks! Alas your weather comment is spot on as well.

(02-22-2022 05:36 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 08:55 PM)EMU 83 Wrote:  

(02-20-2022 05:51 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(02-20-2022 10:04 AM)dansplaining Wrote:  do they sell beer at baseball games? follow up question - how easy is it to sneak a beer into the baseball games?

As usual from Dan, a very pertinent question.

They have not sold beer at any of the games I have been to.

I have not tried to sneak any in, but I suspect it would not be hard if one were to occupy the area along the first base line. You find a nice warm day in Spring, and I would be receptive to testing such.

Jerry,

I have had a few cold ones sitting on the little hill on the first base line along with a bag of peanuts, no one has ever said anything to me. The only problem is it is usually too cold to drink beer!

Valuable info for sure! Thanks! Alas your weather comment is spot on as well.

Never too cold for a cold beer

(02-22-2022 05:47 PM)dansplaining Wrote:  

(02-22-2022 05:36 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(02-21-2022 08:55 PM)EMU 83 Wrote:  

(02-20-2022 05:51 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(02-20-2022 10:04 AM)dansplaining Wrote:  do they sell beer at baseball games? follow up question - how easy is it to sneak a beer into the baseball games?

As usual from Dan, a very pertinent question.

They have not sold beer at any of the games I have been to.

I have not tried to sneak any in, but I suspect it would not be hard if one were to occupy the area along the first base line. You find a nice warm day in Spring, and I would be receptive to testing such.

Jerry,

I have had a few cold ones sitting on the little hill on the first base line along with a bag of peanuts, no one has ever said anything to me. The only problem is it is usually too cold to drink beer!

Valuable info for sure! Thanks! Alas your weather comment is spot on as well.

Never too cold for a cold beer

I drink a lot of beer, but I'm with '83, Oestrike can just get too cold for me. You are indeed a soldier Dan!

They did it in hill in the outfield as well. No I don't drink. First home game is March 22nd.

In preparation of the home opener I rebuilt the picnic table by third base. The top as pretty much all rot. I couldn't get any 2x10x8 and 2x10x10 wouldn't fit in my car. So I had to use 2x8x8. It is very sturdy the legs are in great shape and should last a few more years.

(03-05-2022 03:11 PM)emussuperfan Wrote:  In preparation of the home opener I rebuilt the picnic table by third base. The top as pretty much all rot. I couldn't get any 2x10x8 and 2x10x10 wouldn't fit in my car. So I had to use 2x8x8. It is very sturdy the legs are in great shape and should last a few more years.

That’s cool — nice work katman.

After willing a series 2-1 with Butler baseball is currently 5-11.

The guys take two from the Zip's 10-9 and 18-6 !

(03-25-2022 06:39 PM)emussuperfan Wrote:  The guys take two from the Zip's 10-9 and 18-6 !

This is good. Giving up way too many runs though

Saturday's game first went like yesterday's a good win but the second was tough. We fielded poorly mostly at first base. The first baseman kept leaving his area and the pitcher couldn't cover it. This cost us 3 runs given up and the game. Also people were wondering why we played back to back doubleheader's? The voted to play even though it was very cold. The reason is so many games from here on out are canceled. There is no chance of playing make ups the way the season is laid out. So you play games as weather permits. It was cold but still playable. I remember one year when softball only played 3 home games nine were canceled because of weather. You have no chance of making in the tournament when that many games are canceled.

(03-27-2022 07:21 AM)emussuperfan Wrote:  Saturday's game first went like yesterday's a good win but the second was tough. We fielded poorly mostly at first base. The first baseman kept leaving his area and the pitcher couldn't cover it. This cost us 3 runs given up and the game. Also people were wondering why we played back to back doubleheader's? The voted to play even though it was very cold. The reason is so many games from here on out are canceled. There is no chance of playing make ups the way the season is laid out. So you play games as weather permits. It was cold but still playable. I remember one year when softball only played 3 home games nine were canceled because of weather. You have no chance of making in the tournament when that many games are canceled.

Team is now .500 in conference

(03-27-2022 12:10 PM)emu79 Wrote:  

(03-27-2022 07:21 AM)emussuperfan Wrote:  Saturday's game first went like yesterday's a good win but the second was tough. We fielded poorly mostly at first base. The first baseman kept leaving his area and the pitcher couldn't cover it. This cost us 3 runs given up and the game. Also people were wondering why we played back to back doubleheader's? The voted to play even though it was very cold. The reason is so many games from here on out are canceled. There is no chance of playing make ups the way the season is laid out. So you play games as weather permits. It was cold but still playable. I remember one year when softball only played 3 home games nine were canceled because of weather. You have no chance of making in the tournament when that many games are canceled.

Team is now .500 in conference

Pretty sure Akron is still non-scholarship, so winning the series with them should come with a handicap of some sort... But glad they team has won two straight series.

Might have to come up this weekend for the Western series.

Baseball tomorrow! Against Western Michigan! Should be an alright day weather wise.

Looks like the game today is going to be broadcast... Anyone know if it is a legitimate video stream? I remember listening to the Eastern Insider guys but don't believe there was video in the past.

Either way I'll be tuned in, just wondering if anyone knows.

Game day! Kinda chilly a little snowy as well some wind. Dress warm

(04-01-2022 09:27 AM)truEMU07 Wrote:  Looks like the game today is going to be broadcast... Anyone know if it is a legitimate video stream? I remember listening to the Eastern Insider guys but don't believe there was video in the past.

Either way I'll be tuned in, just wondering if anyone knows.

Answer: it is Steiner and Jewell with a two-camera feed.

So not a full-fledged production but a definite improvement over the single camera behind home plate they've had in the past.

We're lucky to ahve a media team that puts in this effort. It is certainly not this way everywhere.