Out of Left Field League/Playoff Article

Josh, thanks for the kind words and observations in your lengthy post.

You're right about the Hennas. They are a fun, respectful, and talented team. We were two pitches away from having a Dupont Hennas/Jabronis series. That game three was incredible to watch. I still don't know how you and Mike Lenchak were able to throw so well for so long.

I have been trying to get pitchers to use scuffed balls all season. It is the only way to get great movement, and your movement was nasty on Sunday.

I covered the issue of the yellow bat in one of my "Out of Left Field" columns. In summation, most yellow bat leagues have close fences and no base running. With the size of our field, our developing pitchers, and our 70mph limit, it would be very difficult to be successful with the yellow bat.

Sometimes you have to adapt your style of play to the rules. For instance, Beau and I do not want to use pinch runners in the SRL, but we recently played at Modrovsky and used pinch runners. It would be foolish to not take advantage of an opportunity that our opponents enjoy just because it's not our way of doing it.

While I agree that it would be nice to play each team twice a season, I'll write later in my reply to Roger why the twenty game schedule as we have it is perfect for us. Since we did not know any of the teams this year, Beau thought it would be fun to create regional divisions.

To build more rivalries while preventing a good team from being stuck in a great division, Beau is creating a rotating schedule. The formula is not completed, but basicly, a first place team from this year will be in a division next year with a second place team from a different division, and the third place team from the other. This will provide new opportunities with new rivalries while preventing all the best teams from ending up in the same division or all the weak ones as well. The wildcard keeps the opportunity for a great second place team (like the Hennas this year) to compete in the playoffs.

One way to get to know everyone better is to hang around the field and make a day of it. Trust me, it's fun, and the more the merrier. I'm looking forward to all of the activities this Sunday including the home run derby and All-Star Game. Thanks to you and Hank for initiating those ideas.

Nobody, including us, expects the Washout to go 20-0 next year. With us being beatable, and with the Pink Flamingos out of the league, it is going to create a whole new level of competition where any team could beat any team on any given day. I can't wait!

Our narrow loss to the New Guys was really our only exciting moment of the regular season. We did not have Rish for that series because he had an ankle sprain, but that would have not been an excuse if we lost. Injuries are part of the game, although he sprained his ankle playing softball which is a clear violation of his contract.

If we had lost to the Jabronis or if we lose to you this Sunday, Dan's absence is not an excuse. When you have a player on your team, you take the bad with the good, kind of like how you accept that Hank will swing at a pitch he can't reach at least once in every at bat. With Dan, we know we are getting an amazing player who will not be there for the postseason. It's just something we accept, although it is a bit selfish of him to pursue higher education when we have a Wiffleball series to win. Knowing the competitor you are, Josh, you probably wish you could face off against him this Sunday seeing as though he makes for a talented opponent, but he attends dreaded Notre Dame.


I would also like to clarify something I wrote in your series MVP commentary where I called you a one-man-show. I did not mean to slight your teammates. In addition to you and Hank, Holly and Kade both had an excellent series, and Jon had the key RBI in game three that enabled it to go to extra innings. On the mound you were a one-man-show, though, recording 41 of your 45 outs by strikeout while giving up only six hits.

Once again, I look forward to our showdown this Sunday, and thanks for all of your comments.

Doesn't Wade Boggs own the MLB career record for the most meaningless hits?

I would just like to congratulate Young Birds on winning the inaugural SRL Championship over the Westside Washout in 3 well played games. Both teams should be proud of what they did this season and as a fan the series was fun to watch.

And where is Curtis? He never shuts up in person, but doesn't write on the forum!!!!! I can't tell you what I am doing right now Curtis, but I can tell you it has to do with an inside joke we have!

Hank,
Well Hank I would've told you righties couldn't see the ball out of Beau's hand but I'm lefty so I haven't seen it from a righty's perspective. It's pretty hard to see even when you're batting lefty but I didn't think it was impossible to see. It just has crazy movement I really haven't seen from any other pitcher.

Thanks Hank that's what I strive for

LMFAO

Good article as usual Bill,

I will miss reading them every Tuesday. It was a good break from reading ancient, medieval, and early christian history. See you at the Modrovsky tourney and hope your first week back at school goes well.