2007 AsburyPark Press Final Top 10 Baseball Poll
1. Colts Neck (22-7) - last poll No 4. As the No. 8 seed roared through the Shore Conference Tournamentclipping No. 9 Rumson and then knocking off the No. 1 seed (TR North), No. 4 Ocean, and then No. 2 CBA in the final. Overall, won 11 of last 14 to claim its first Press final top 10 No. 1 ranking in season of many firsts.
2. CBA (25-6) - last poll No. 1. Class a North Non-Public champs fell into puzzling batting slump for most of its final five games but salvaged its post season with win over wall in Monmouth County final.
3. Wall (21-8) - last poll No. 2. The epitome of a team. No superstars, relied on fundamentals and pitching. Won the Class B North championship.
4. Ocean (24-7) - last poll No. 3. Probably hoped for a little more especially after a dominating 21-1 spurt. Won the NJSISAA CJ III championship only to suffer a bizarre defeat in the state semifinal.
5. Toms River North (24-6) - last poll No. 5. Mainly relied on pitching led by Chad` Geran and Zach Brebner to claim sole grip on first place in Class A South for first time since the early 90's.
6. SJ Vianney (19-8) - last poll No. 6. Solid all year, led by ace Paul Bacigalupi. Lost two tough games to CBA in its final week.
7. Jackson (20-8) - Last poll No. 7. Took the regular season measure of TR East and TR South in Class A South, no small feat.
8. TR East (20-7) - Last poll No. 8. Season ended early for Ocean County champs.
9. Toms River South (21-8)- Last poll No. 9. Appeared poised to unleash some major late season damage but instead lost three 1-0 games.
10. St. Rose (19-5) - Last poll No. 10. Had hoped for a longer post season, but will start 2008 with a 32 game Class B Central winning streak.
Dropped out: none. Some others being considered: Rumson (15-6).
My ranking criteria
1. Latest results, trends.
2. Overall body of work.
3. Head to head match ups.
4. Perceived team abilities.
2. CBA (25-6) - last poll No. 1. Class a North Non-Public champs fell into puzzling batting slump for most of its final five games but salvaged its post season with win over wall in Monmouth County final.
3. Wall (21-8) - last poll No. 2. The epitome of a team. No superstars, relied on fundamentals and pitching. Won the Class B North championship.
4. Ocean (24-7) - last poll No. 3. Probably hoped for a little more especially after a dominating 21-1 spurt. Won the NJSISAA CJ III championship only to suffer a bizarre defeat in the state semifinal.
5. Toms River North (24-6) - last poll No. 5. Mainly relied on pitching led by Chad` Geran and Zach Brebner to claim sole grip on first place in Class A South for first time since the early 90's.
6. SJ Vianney (19-8) - last poll No. 6. Solid all year, led by ace Paul Bacigalupi. Lost two tough games to CBA in its final week.
7. Jackson (20-8) - Last poll No. 7. Took the regular season measure of TR East and TR South in Class A South, no small feat.
8. TR East (20-7) - Last poll No. 8. Season ended early for Ocean County champs.
9. Toms River South (21-8)- Last poll No. 9. Appeared poised to unleash some major late season damage but instead lost three 1-0 games.
10. St. Rose (19-5) - Last poll No. 10. Had hoped for a longer post season, but will start 2008 with a 32 game Class B Central winning streak.
Dropped out: none. Some others being considered: Rumson (15-6).
My ranking criteria
1. Latest results, trends.
2. Overall body of work.
3. Head to head match ups.
4. Perceived team abilities.
posted by Tony Graham at 9:06 PM
17 Comments:
Other then ranking Wall ahead of Ocean Top 10 looks good.
But there's no way that Wall finished ahead of Ocean. I understand they split the season series 2 to 2. However, Ocean beat Wall in the SCT and also are the Group 3 champs. Wall won the B North only because of the slow start that Ocean got off to. They lost in all other tourney's. Plus if you just watched the games you could see that Ocean was a better team. Deeper, more effective rotation and had clearly a better 1 - 5 in the lineup.
Wall vs. Ocean, a tough call to be sure.
Wall won Ocean's division, Class B North. That rates high - in my opinion - as a tie-breaker in this case. You can't out of hand dismiss Ocean's slow start in this matter (at least I can't). It's part of the overall picture
Ocean ousted Wall in the SCT and also won CJ III.
Then Wall beat Ocean and knocked it out of the MCT and reached the MCT final.
The fact Ocean did not have its better pitchers for that MCT game was not my problem. In my opinion - it's all about results.
Both teams lost three of their last four games.
Had Ocean defeated Seneca it would have been at least No. 3. Heck, it might have gone on to win the Gr. 3 championship.
Then who would have been No. 1? Colts Neck or Ocean?
Hmmmmmmm...
Ocean did appear on paper to be a better team than Wall, but also appeared to be the best team - for reasons you state - overall, in the Shore Conference.
But you still have to do it on the field.
Ocean/Wall - Both very good teams. To say Ocean is better than Wall is just wrong. On any given day either team could beat the other. Wall is much better defensively than Ocean. Ocean better 1-5? maybe, but only Tuna and Rosenkrantz are big time hitters, with Hinkle as their 3rd best offensive player. Wall's offense is deeper 1-9 and Logan, Pinero, Otterberg, Debonis and Comano can play on anyone's team. Otterberg is defintely a player that gets overlooked by those who do not see Wall, and Hughes is no slouch on the bump.
Does anybody remember second place in a beauty contest. Who cares. # 1 is the only thing that really counts. Wall beat Ocean in a snow storm and when they had their JV pitchers pitching.
Wow. You say that you use the B-North title as a tie breaker? Wouldn't it make sense that the CJ Gr III title and the SCT victory FAR outweigh the division title and a meaningless Monmouth Cty game? Especially considering that Ocean practically conceded that MCT game before the game even started? I understand that you say its not your problem that Ocean didn't have any good pitchers for that game. However, isn't the point of these rankings to show who is the better overall team throughout the season and not who was the better team on that one day? Clearly a mistake was made as Ocean deserves to be ranked ahead of Wall, but the rest of the top 10 seems to be perfect.
Well..thanks for giving me 9 out of 10 anyway!!!
Great job Tony!
Other then the mistake of putting Wall ahead of Ocean it looks good.
I agree with a few of the points made. First Tony is right, it's not his problem that OT didnt have their best for the MCT game. Play the game!
But everyone knows that the MCT isn't taken as seriously as the SCT and obviously the Group Championship. The tiebreaker should of been based on these two and not on the MCT (in which Wall didn't even win) and B North title.
Not to menction Ocean beat Allentown who beat Wall to face off with OT in the group final.
With all that said we are still talking about #3 and last I checked that's two places away from #1.
Seems like the Wall or Ocean or Ocean or Wall is the hot topic of the Top 10, as I thought it might be between two lively and loyal fandoms.
It's sort of a shame we couldn't have a tie for No.3...
Again it seems to me a little unfair on the part of some to dismiss Wall's winning Class B North...
Say what you will about the importance and or emphasis on various post season tournaments, but the conference schedule is played out over 12 games, and Wall did win the B North championship (by one game to be sure) but they did win it.
I think some have also put it in perspective though...No. 1 is what everyone remembers.
why even have a top 10 during the year...all you do is put the winner of the shore as your final number 1. CBA topped CN 6-0 and 6-2 during the year both wins without slate on the mound.
Corruption reaks throughout Ocean Township Baseball program as I am sure in many other townships as well. Please believe me, stats are altered to the coaches advantage to advance his/their careers and please the "right" folks in town. Fielders choices are counted as hits to the "right" players, errors coaches don't record. It is a dishonest program and I have called them out.And no one will change my mind to my grave. Dishonesty is covered up, but too many who have witnessed this mess were not fooled and have good insight. And I mean educated men, not moms. And as far as old man Tony Grahm. He is short sited,from the old school, stuck on "names" and new blood need to replace him as a reporter. His generation is over. One old-man's opinion is almost worth nothing and is not democratic. He is stuck on "names" not performance. Read his blog and see the oppositions and flack he is receiving and well deserved. Sorry Tony, time to retire, you are out of touch. None of this is in mean sprited because we are no longer involved but I will continue to expose the corruption and dishonesty
While I see your point - the SCT final was the ultimate game between two teams that had tied for first place in Class A North...
Winning the SCT does not carry an automatic No. 1 Press ranking with it....but it sure doesn't hurt!
And in this case - in my opinion - Colts Neck became clear cut No. 1.
Re: O Twp. corruption and dishonesty.
So far..all you have exposed is your ignorance and obvious jealousy.
Please send me your detailed files on all those errors that were scored hits..I will be happy to review them..and publish them right here on the blog....
I guess those 30 home runs Weinkofsky hit were really figments of everyone's imagination, or those darn corrupt Ocean scorekeepers.
It so happened I covered - what? 4-6 Ocean games this year - and my scoring agreed with theirs in every instance.
And when I or any Press reporter covers a game the reporter becomes the official scorer for the Asbury Park Press - not either team.
And - by the way- before I retire, could you please spell my name right?
Thank you so much for joining our little blog...
NO jealousy, my son was a player, a warrior and fighter for his team and a dam good one. Keith was a good choice- no problem there. I/we are not ignorant,just experienced and knowledgeabe and observed this situation along with others for a long time, I have no fear of people,though it will cost me for voicing,that's okay.. but hate liars. No accountablity to no one is the name of the game with these two coaches and no one will change what I know..believe me I will take this to my grave, it's been shocking to see corruption in the system. This is two coaches behind the wheel,doing as they please. And Tony sorry you are outdated from the old school, be proud of that.You probably were great in your time, I am too young to know. Times are changing, you need to change with them and not be so neive (ok sp?) as to what it looks like or what you are falsely told.. The spelling of your name is not important at this point,because this is a serious issue. As I said no disrespect. So please do not call me jealous or ignorant, that is an attack without knowing the facts. My son has played all over the state for many years and we are seasoned and aware. Start believing in a not so perfect program as it proclaims. Thank you.
Tony please post my last response to you so the people understand this by no way was a Keith bash, far from it but a OT system failure to the children. This clears up and makes my post sense.
Thanks... arent you a democrate?
Well...it is good to know I was great in my time!!
What a shame that we have people coming on here just to spew lies about things that they have convinced themselves have happen. All this just because their son didn't meet their own expectations. All this just because their own lives haven't met their expectations (or their own parents for that matter) so they try to live through their children only to be disappointed again.
What a shame. Do everyone a favor and stop slandering the names of good men that put their heart and sole into a winning program. And do it with the kind of class and honestly that should be in all HS baseball programs.
And Tony, your doing a great job. Keep up the good work and don't let jealous, bitter people make you think other wise.
To last poster - thank you for the nice words.
I was more amused by that "bitter" poster than anything else.
I think he/she did everything but take out an ad.
It made for some entertainment, and that's about it.
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