The Podcast About Division-III Baseball

Welcome to Episode 14 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. Three automatic bids have been clinched, and more conference tournaments are on the way. With the first regional rankings finally being released, we wanted to take an early look at the postseason picture. Here's what we've got:

• New Top 25 quick hits (at 1:42)
  • Wooster #1 lol what a world
  • UW-Stevens Point OUT; Webster IN
  • Adrian and Southern Maine jumping up a bit more
  • Franklin still climbing
  • North Central and Otterbein: on the edge but still out
• A quick disclaimer (at 3:00) before reviewing the first regional rankings
  • Central (at 4:47)
    • Parsing why Carthage was ranked over Webster
  • Mid-Atlantic (at 7:37)
    • How many bids could the NJAC rack up?
    • Why Johns Hopkins is the real wild card in this region
  • Mideast (at 10:08)
    • Why Case Western was ranked over Wooster, and why we assume it will change very quickly
    • The OAC is loaded like old times -- could they get 3 teams in the tournament?
    • La Roche and W&J really need to win their conference tournaments
  • Midwest (at 14:32)
    • Concordia-Chicago has the huge edge in SOS -- that's why they are #1
    • How the WIAC could shake out with so many cancelled games, and how it will affect the Pool B race
  • New England (at 18:02)
    • Why we felt best about this ranking
    • No big surprises, but a clear top 3
    • Why Southern Maine could be sleeping giant
  • New York (at 21:35)
    • St. John Fisher over Cortland shouldn't actually surprise us all that much
  • South (at 23:07)
    • Three elite teams and then somewhat of a mess
    • The ODAC will probably get at least two bids; we know Randolph-Macon will be one, but who is the favorite for the other one? Could they still get three in?
    • Shenandoah...? *thinking emoji*
    • No LaGrange even after winning the USA South tournament
  • West (at 26:16)
    • Discussing why Concordia (TX) was ranked over Texas Lutheran
    • Is there a scenario where the SCIAC gets 3 bids?
• Quick shoutouts to the two latest automatic bids (at 29:45)
  • Willamette's impressive NWC tournament run
    • Connor Bailey: D-III HR leader
    • Matt Steindorf is legit
  • Rhodes making noise again -- back-to-back SAA titles
• Wooster and WashU update (at 31:00)
  • Wooster
    • #1 for the first time in over a decade
    • Arguably the worst they've played all year but still grinding out some big wins; testament to how good they actually are
  • WashU
    • SO YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S A CHANCE

Then we say goodbye. Thanks for listening!

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod and @CespedesBBQ.

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759

Welcome to Episode 14 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. Three automatic bids have been clinched, and more conference tournaments are on the way. With the first regional rankings finally being released, we wanted to take an early look at the postseason picture. Here's what we've got: 

• New Top 25 quick hits (at 1:42)
  • Wooster #1 lol what a world
  • UW-Stevens Point OUT; Webster IN
  • Adrian and Southern Maine jumping up a bit more
  • Franklin still climbing
  • North Central and Otterbein: on the edge but still out
• A quick disclaimer (at 3:00) before reviewing the first regional rankings
  • Central (at 4:47)
    • Parsing why Carthage was ranked over Webster
  • Mid-Atlantic (at 7:37)
    • How many bids could the NJAC rack up?
    • Why Johns Hopkins is the real wild card in this region
  • Mideast (at 10:08)
    • Why Case Western was ranked over Wooster, and why we assume it will change very quickly
    • The OAC is loaded like old times -- could they get 3 teams in the tournament? 
    • La Roche and W&J really need to win their conference tournaments
  • Midwest (at 14:32)
    • Concordia-Chicago has the huge edge in SOS -- that’s why they are #1
    • How the WIAC could shake out with so many cancelled games, and how it will affect the Pool B race
  • New England (at 18:02)
    • Why we felt best about this ranking
    • No big surprises, but a clear top 3
    • Why Southern Maine could be sleeping giant
  • New York (at 21:35)
    • St. John Fisher over Cortland shouldn't actually surprise us all that much
  • South (at 23:07)
    • Three elite teams and then somewhat of a mess
    • The ODAC will probably get at least two bids; we know Randolph-Macon will be one, but who is the favorite for the other one? Could they still get three in?
    • Shenandoah...? *thinking emoji*
    • No LaGrange even after winning the USA South tournament
  • West (at 26:16)
    • Discussing why Concordia (TX) was ranked over Texas Lutheran
    • Is there a scenario where the SCIAC gets 3 bids?
• Quick shoutouts to the two latest automatic bids (at 29:45)
  • Willamette's impressive NWC tournament run
    • Connor Bailey: D-III HR leader
    • Matt Steindorf is legit
  • Rhodes making noise again -- back-to-back SAA titles
• Wooster and WashU update (at 31:00)
  • Wooster
    • #1 for the first time in over a decade
    • Arguably the worst they’ve played all year but still grinding out some big wins; testament to how good they actually are
  • WashU
    • SO YOU’RE SAYING THERE’S A CHANCE

Then we say goodbye. Thanks for listening!

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod and @CespedesBBQ. 

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759 

Welcome to Episode 13 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. The first regional rankings are rapidly approaching and we've already got one automatic bid clinched, so we check in on some of the teams finding their stride at the right time as the postseason nears. Featured in this week's episode:

• Top 25 deep dives:
  • #11 Shenandoah (at 2:26):
    • We thought they'd have some of the best starting pitching in D-III; instead, the pitching has been solid and the offense has been elite
  • #19 Salisbury (at 5:02):
    • We knew how talented this team was coming into the season; now they are really showing it and getting hot at the right time
    • Several All-American candidates in Jack Barry, Connor Reeves, and Austin Heenan
  • #22 Franklin (at 7:19):
    • This team boasts a loaded lineup and the best record in the country, but a poor SOS makes us concerned based on recent at-large precedents (in case they don't win the HCAC tournament, which they obviously could)
  • #23 Southern Maine (at 12:56):
    • One of our Appleton favorites heading into the season, the Huskies are finally starting to put some big wins together
• Our first automatic bid winner, LaGrange (at 15:33):
  • 1 team is in; only 57 to go!
  • How the Panthers defended their USA South title and who has performed during their impressive second half
  • Now they just have a month off...???
• Shouting out some players at the top of the leaderboards -- early Player and Pitcher of the Year candidates (at 18:41)
• Wooster update (at 21:53):
  • They probably have the best offense in the country (11+ runs per game, lol), but the pitching depth has been the most impressive part of the season so far
  • Strong chunk of their schedule coming up soon
• WashU Update (at 23:02):
  • With a top-notch SOS, what will it take for the Bears to sneak into the tournament?

Then we say goodbye. Thanks for listening!

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod and @CespedesBBQ.

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759

Welcome to Episode 13 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. The first regional rankings are rapidly approaching and we've already got one automatic bid clinched, so we check in on some of the teams finding their stride at the right time as the postseason nears. Featured in this week's episode:

• Top 25 deep dives:
  • #11 Shenandoah (at 2:26):
    • We thought they'd have some of the best starting pitching in D-III; instead, the pitching has been solid and the offense has been elite
  • #19 Salisbury (at 5:02):
    • We knew how talented this team was coming into the season; now they are really showing it and getting hot at the right time
    • Several All-American candidates in Jack Barry, Connor Reeves, and Austin Heenan
  • #22 Franklin (at 7:19):
    • This team boasts a loaded lineup and the best record in the country, but a poor SOS makes us concerned based on recent at-large precedents (in case they don't win the HCAC tournament, which they obviously could)
  • #23 Southern Maine (at 12:56):
    • One of our Appleton favorites heading into the season, the Huskies are finally starting to put some big wins together
• Our first automatic bid winner, LaGrange (at 15:33): 
  • 1 team is in; only 57 to go!
  • How the Panthers defended their USA South title and who has performed during their impressive second half
  • Now they just have a month off...???
• Shouting out some players at the top of the leaderboards -- early Player and Pitcher of the Year candidates (at 18:41)
• Wooster update (at 21:53):
  • They probably have the best offense in the country (11+ runs per game, lol), but the pitching depth has been the most impressive part of the season so far
  • Strong chunk of their schedule coming up soon 
• WashU Update (at 23:02):
  • With a top-notch SOS, what will it take for the Bears to sneak into the tournament?

Then we say goodbye. Thanks for listening!

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod and @CespedesBBQ. 

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759 

Welcome to Episode 12 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. We have now reached April which means the season has actually started and we can start taking things seriously. Lots to cover this week...here's what we've got:

New Top 25 quick hits (at 2:10):

• Roanoke keeps winning; the ODAC is gonna be wild in late April
• UMass-Boston slipping a little bit but hey they're probably fine
• Methodist dropping a mid-week test to Randolph-Macon
• Baldwin Wallace hanging on to the #25 spot despite being swept by Mount Union
• Other teams making a push for the Top 25

Top 25 deep dives:

• Christopher Newport (at 5:45): One of the most balanced teams in the country has impact talent on both sides of the ball; can they make a run at the CAC title?
• Wisconsin-Oshkosh (at 10:00): Should the WIAC even be allowed to have another team this good?
• Redlands (at 13:00): The best from the west get the respect they deserve

Recapping the dope Trinity (Texas)/Texas Lutheran series (at 16:30)

A brief discussion on the new D-III RPI -- link below (at 21:01)

Following up on our confusion about the WIAC (they do *not* have an automatic bid) and discussing the seemingly completely ignored fact that this year's tournament will feature 58 teams instead of 56 -- link to pre-championship manual below (at 23:30)

Our D-III hypothetical of the week at (27:45): what would a Division III baseball program do with unlimited funds? This was an extremely hilarious and enjoyable conversation.

Wooster Update (at 35:51): they won and it snowed AKA the story of every start to a Wooster season

WashU Update (at 36:16): We saw the Bears IN PERSON vs. NYU; our takeaways and Jake's emotional status after watching his old team compete without him

Then we say goodbye.

Thanks for listening!

Nick Herfordt's D-III RPI: http://www.eephuspit.ch/ncaa-d-iii-rpi-rankings/

2018 Pre-Championship Manual: http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/2018DIIIMBA_PreChampsManual_20180302.pdf

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod and @CespedesBBQ.

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759

Welcome to Episode 12 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. We have now reached April which means the season has actually started and we can start taking things seriously. Lots to cover this week...here's what we've got: 

New Top 25 quick hits (at 2:10): 

• Roanoke keeps winning; the ODAC is gonna be wild in late April
• UMass-Boston slipping a little bit but hey they're probably fine
• Methodist dropping a mid-week test to Randolph-Macon
• Baldwin Wallace hanging on to the #25 spot despite being swept by Mount Union
• Other teams making a push for the Top 25

Top 25 deep dives:

• Christopher Newport (at 5:45): One of the most balanced teams in the country has impact talent on both sides of the ball; can they make a run at the CAC title?
• Wisconsin-Oshkosh (at 10:00): Should the WIAC even be allowed to have another team this good?
• Redlands (at 13:00): The best from the west get the respect they deserve

Recapping the dope Trinity (Texas)/Texas Lutheran series (at 16:30)

A brief discussion on the new D-III RPI -- link below (at 21:01)

Following up on our confusion about the WIAC (they do *not* have an automatic bid) and discussing the seemingly completely ignored fact that this year's tournament will feature 58 teams instead of 56 -- link to pre-championship manual below (at 23:30)

Our D-III hypothetical of the week at (27:45): what would a Division III baseball program do with unlimited funds? This was an extremely hilarious and enjoyable conversation.

Wooster Update (at 35:51): they won and it snowed AKA the story of every start to a Wooster season

WashU Update (at 36:16): We saw the Bears IN PERSON vs. NYU; our takeaways and Jake's emotional status after watching his old team compete without him 

Then we say goodbye.

Thanks for listening!

Nick Herfordt's D-III RPI: http://www.eephuspit.ch/ncaa-d-iii-rpi-rankings/ 

2018 Pre-Championship Manual: http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/2018DIIIMBA_PreChampsManual_20180302.pdf 

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod and @CespedesBBQ. 

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759 

 

Welcome to Episode 11 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. The 2018 season is well under way, and we have TAKES, folks (but mostly we are just excited to have real things to talk about instead of speculating wildly). We covered a lot in this episode, including...

General Top 25 quick hits (at 1:30):

• Methodist & Maryville: racking up the dubs
• Christopher Newport/Case Western/Redlands/Catholic: all impressing early
• Spalding: surprising in the SLIAC; anything is possible with Jimi Keating
• Johns Hopkins/Southern Maine/Salisbury/St. Thomas: talented teams off to slow starts

Some deeper dives into a few Top 25:

• Rowan (at 7:01): They've got arguably the best resume in the country, and a few standouts on both sides of the ball
• Wisconsin-Whitewater (at 9:54): OMG THEY FINALLY STARTED THEIR SEASON oh and also they are very good again, surprise surprise
• Concordia-Chicago (at 11:28): One of our preseason contenders is looking strong in the early going
• Texas Lutheran (at 13:00): Behind two aces and the dude with the most hits in the country, this team is on fire

A look at a possible return to glory for the OAC (at 16:29):

• Mount Union and Otterbein looked like the favorites heading into the season, and they've been solid...but the usual suspects (Marietta, Baldwin Wallace, and Heidelberg) are also back in business.

Two fantastic e-mails (at 21:04):

• Yet another story about a regional team consuming insects for rally purposes; this time from Rhodes
• The incredible story of what was almost the greatest comeback of all time in a 2011 DePauw/Emory game (links below)

Our traditionally biased updates on our respective schools:

• WashU update (at 29:10): An impressive Florida trip, John Howard is DEALIN' and Ryan Loutos is the truth
• Wooster update (at 32:38): The pitching has been great; Dan Harwood is still slugging over .900 lol

Then we say goodbye.

Thanks for listening!

DePauw/Emory game story: http://depauwtigers.com/sports/bsb/2010-11/releases/depauws-11-run-ninth-not-enough-in-loss.html

DePauw/Emory box score: http://depauwtigers.com/sports/bsb/2010-11/boxscores/20110322_w0b7.xml

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod and @CespedesBBQ.

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759

Welcome to Episode 11 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. The 2018 season is well under way, and we have TAKES, folks (but mostly we are just excited to have real things to talk about instead of speculating wildly). We covered a lot in this episode, including...

General Top 25 quick hits (at 1:30):

• Methodist & Maryville: racking up the dubs
• Christopher Newport/Case Western/Redlands/Catholic: all impressing early
• Spalding: surprising in the SLIAC; anything is possible with Jimi Keating
• Johns Hopkins/Southern Maine/Salisbury/St. Thomas: talented teams off to slow starts

Some deeper dives into a few Top 25:

• Rowan (at 7:01): They've got arguably the best resume in the country, and a few standouts on both sides of the ball
• Wisconsin-Whitewater (at 9:54): OMG THEY FINALLY STARTED THEIR SEASON oh and also they are very good again, surprise surprise
• Concordia-Chicago (at 11:28): One of our preseason contenders is looking strong in the early going
• Texas Lutheran (at 13:00): Behind two aces and the dude with the most hits in the country, this team is on fire

A look at a possible return to glory for the OAC (at 16:29):

• Mount Union and Otterbein looked like the favorites heading into the season, and they've been solid...but the usual suspects (Marietta, Baldwin Wallace, and Heidelberg) are also back in business. 

Two fantastic e-mails (at 21:04):

• Yet another story about a regional team consuming insects for rally purposes; this time from Rhodes
• The incredible story of what was almost the greatest comeback of all time in a 2011 DePauw/Emory game (links below)

Our traditionally biased updates on our respective schools:

• WashU update (at 29:10): An impressive Florida trip, John Howard is DEALIN' and Ryan Loutos is the truth
• Wooster update (at 32:38): The pitching has been great; Dan Harwood is still slugging over .900 lol

Then we say goodbye.

Thanks for listening!

DePauw/Emory game story: http://depauwtigers.com/sports/bsb/2010-11/releases/depauws-11-run-ninth-not-enough-in-loss.html 

DePauw/Emory box score: http://depauwtigers.com/sports/bsb/2010-11/boxscores/20110322_w0b7.xml 

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod and @CespedesBBQ. 

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759 

Welcome to Episode 10 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. After spending eight podcasts previewing each of the eight regions of the D-III baseball universe, it's time to settle into the regular season and take stock in what we've seen so far. This episode includes...

• 0:55 -- A discussion on the qualities of a good D-III baseball livestream, and why UMass-Boston is the gold standard
• 3:12 -- Reviewing the Cortland/Johns Hopkins déjà vu walk-off dinger, and our thoughts on those two powerhouse teams thus far. What's wrong with Cortland? What makes Josh Hejka so incredible?
• 6:25 -- Is Trinity (Texas) BACK? Is that a dumb question? Probably.
• 8:35 -- Checking in on the Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets, who had a hot start before getting swept at home by Rowan. Then we fall down a Rowan Profs rabbit hole. What is a Prof?
• 11:41 -- A couple teams that we liked heading into the season who have disappointed thus far
• 13:00 -- An appreciation of Frostburg State senior right-hander Greg Schneider's outrageous start to the 2018 season
• 14:32 -- Wooster update: they beat Mount Union and Dan Harwood went crazy! Hooray!
• 15:35 -- WashU update: The upcoming Florida schedule is insane
• 17:11 -- Our D-III hypothetical this week is: Which former D-III player currently in pro ball would make their alma mater a definitive World Series contender if they returned to the team today?
• 23:45 -- A hat tip to the teams who have yet to begin their season, and then we say goodbye.

Thanks for listening!

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod and @CespedesBBQ.

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759

Welcome to Episode 10 of The Podcast About Division III Baseball. After spending eight podcasts previewing each of the eight regions of the D-III baseball universe, it's time to settle into the regular season and take stock in what we've seen so far. This episode includes...

• 0:55 -- A discussion on the qualities of a good D-III baseball livestream, and why UMass-Boston is the gold standard
• 3:12 -- Reviewing the Cortland/Johns Hopkins déjà vu walk-off dinger, and our thoughts on those two powerhouse teams thus far. What's wrong with Cortland? What makes Josh Hejka so incredible?  
• 6:25 -- Is Trinity (Texas) BACK? Is that a dumb question? Probably.  
• 8:35 -- Checking in on the Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets, who had a hot start before getting swept at home by Rowan. Then we fall down a Rowan Profs rabbit hole. What is a Prof? 
• 11:41 -- A couple teams that we liked heading into the season who have disappointed thus far
• 13:00 -- An appreciation of Frostburg State senior right-hander Greg Schneider's outrageous start to the 2018 season
• 14:32 -- Wooster update: they beat Mount Union and Dan Harwood went crazy! Hooray!
• 15:35 -- WashU update: The upcoming Florida schedule is insane
• 17:11 -- Our D-III hypothetical this week is: Which former D-III player currently in pro ball would make their alma mater a definitive World Series contender if they returned to the team today? 
• 23:45 -- A hat tip to the teams who have yet to begin their season, and then we say goodbye.

Thanks for listening!

Follow us on Twitter @d3baseballpod and @CespedesBBQ. 

Send us your best D-III stories or any other comments or questions to [email protected]

Subscribe + rate/review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-about-division-iii-baseball/id1342691759