Selection Sunday

Selection Sunday is underway for the NCAA D-III Hockey Tournament. We should know the tournament field and seeding late tonight with an official announcement coming tomorrow morning at 9am. Here's what we know now and here's who I think will get in.

Locked in (Pool A: Automatic Qualifiers):

ECAC East: Norwich

ECAC Northeast: Curry

MCHA: Adrian

MIAC: Hamline

NCHA: St. Norbert

NESCAC: Bowdoin

SUNYAC: Plattsburgh

Predicted (Pool B):

ECAC West: Elmira

Predicted (Pool C):

Oswego

Castleton

Neumann

Exhibition Games

The Mets host the Cardinals today at Digital Domain Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida at 1:10 PM.  This game will be televised on both SNY and the MLB Network.

And Now We Wait…

Oswego State Laker fans will be scanning the web Sunday night (Selection Sunday) in anticipation of the D-III NCAA Hockey Tournament bracket release. Oswego will have to rely on an At Large Bid into the tournament due to a heartbreaking 2-1 OT loss vs. Fredonia in the SUNYAC Playoffs. The Lakers are in great shape to get an at large bid, ranked number one in the nation most of the season, and now sitting second in the latest USCHO Poll. But there are no guarantees, the selection committee has snubbed us before, it is not outside the realm of possibilities.

Let’s take a brief look at this year’s selection committee: Bruce Delventhal, Plattsburgh (chair); Timothy Bald, St. Norbert; Michael McShane, Norwich; and Mark Ostapina, Milwaukee School of Engineering.  Already we see a potential bias (i.e. Plattsburgh), and clearly this is not an impartial panel, all four schools they represent are ranked inside the top ten.  


I am confident that the committee will make the correct decision and put Oswego into the dance. Their seeding however is up in the air and will depend of conference championship outcomes this weekend. I predict a tournament field similar to last season, four teams from the West and seven from the East. Here are my thoughts on who’s in, out, or on the bubble.

Pool A (Automatic Qualifiers):

ECAC East: Norwich

ECAC Northeast: Curry

MCHA: Adrian

MIAC: Hamline

NCHA: St. Norbert

NESCAC: Williams

SUNYAC: Fredonia

Pool B (Conferences without an Auto Qualifier):

ECAC West: Elmira

Pool C (At Large Bids):

1.    Oswego: Should be a lock.

2.    Castleton: Currently ranked 4^th, it’s looking good.

3.    Milwaukee School of Engineering: Should have an edge over Wisconsin-Superior.

On the Bubble:

1.    Plattsburgh: Must win SUNYAC to get in.

2.    Bowdoin: Must win NESCAC to get in.

3.    Neumann: Must win ECAC West, still may have a chance, but it would be a shame.

4.    Wisconsin-Superior: Must win NCHA to get in.

Write them off:

1.    Geneseo: Done, the SUNYAC won't get three teams in.

2.    Utica: And Done, sorry Utica Townies you'll have to find somewhere else to drink.

This Week's USCHO D-III Hockey Rankings

The Oswego State Lakers fell one spot into a tie for second with Norwich after losing to Fredonia in the SUNYAC Playoffs.  St. Norbert has reclaimed the number one spot earning 16 of 20 first place votes.  Oswego's chances for an NCAA Tournament at large bid are very much alive.  We will be waiting for the NCAA Rankings to come out within the next week to see where Oswego may fall in tournament seeding.

1. St. Norbert (16)

2. Oswego (3)

2. Norwich

4. Castleton (1)

5. Adrian

6. Plattsburgh

7. Elmira

8. Bowdoin

9. Milwaukee School of

10. Geneseo

11. Hamline

12. Williams

13. Utica

14. Neumann

15. Wisconsin-Superior

Courtesy: www.uscho.com

Yankees Bench

Most of the Yankees bench will be made up of returners from last season.

1.  Fourth Outfielder:  The clear front runner here is Andruw Jones.  Jones is a legendary defensive outfielder who hit 19 homers in less than 300 at-bats last season for the White Sox.  In addition, he is guaranteed money.  His direct competition comes in the form of Greg Golson and Justin Maxwell.  Melky Mesa is also in the competition for the job.  Austin Krum is a long shot candidate to win the job.

2.  Utility Infielder:  Ramiro Pena is in line to reprise his role from last season.  He's competing with Eduardo Nunez for the role.  Reegie Corona is also competing for the role.  Ronnie Belliard and Doug Bernier long shot candidates to win the role.

3.  Reserve Catcher:  Francisco Cervelli is in line to reprise his role from last season.  Jose Gil, Kyle Higashioka, Gustavo Molina, Jesus Montero, and Austine Romine are long shot candidates to win the role.

4.  Right-handed Bat:  There really isn't a front runner for the role.  The favorites in the dead heat are Nunez, IF Brandon Laird, IF/OF Kevin Russo, Golson, and Maxwell.  Mesa is also in the competition for the role.  Gil, Higashioka, Molina, Montero, Romine, Belliard, Bernier, 1B Jorge Vazquez, OF Daniel Brewer, and OF Jordan Parraz are long shots to win the role.  But in this mess don't be surprised to see the veteran Belliard win the job.

Beltran Concedes

OF Carlos Beltran has conceded the battle.  After discussing the matter with manager Terry Collins, Beltran has decided to move to right field.  The decision is final.

After undergoing a running program in camp this season, Beltran decided that he was no longer fit to play center field.  He will make his debut as a designated hitter next week but will not be ready to play in the outfield at that time.  He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in January 2010.

OF Angel Pagan will take over as the team's center fielder.  Beltran sought the advice of several people in making his decision.  He informed Collins of his decision early Monday morning.

Right field at Citi Field will not be easy to man.  It's one of the deepest in the league, particularly the Mo Zone which is covered by the over hanging Pepsi Porch.  In addition, the right center field gap extends well beyond 400 feet.  Beltran won't have much time to make the conversion.  He will become a free agent at the end of the season.

If his legs are healthier from less wear and tear at the end of the season he'll have a better chance of getting another multi-year deal in the off season.  LF Jason Bay, Pagan, and Beltran should form one of the best defensive outfields in the National League. 

Beckett Concussed

RHP Josh Beckett has suffered a concussion after being hit in the head by a ball during batting practice.  Beckett was sent home by the Red Sox and his status is currently unknown.  He went down to one knee after being hit. 

The ball that hit Beckett was batted off of a fungo bat of instructor Ino Guerrero.  He made his first exhibtion start on Sunday against the Twins.