Location, Location, Location
written by Commissioner Gallaway
They say it’s everything in real estate, and nothing is more real than the real estate problems that continue to face the Potomac Wiffleball League since we were unceremoniously evicted from our birthplace along the Potomac River in early 2008.
For those of you new to the saga, a quick refresher.
From 2005 to 2007 the first five season of the PWL were played at Gravelly Point, the recreation area just north of National Airport. In fact, we were right in the landing pattern and planes would come right over our heads and some players even claimed the jet wash affected the ball. The first year at Gravelly we were totally cloak-and-dagger and operated without a permit. For the next four seasons though, we were legit. The National Park Service (NPS), specifically the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) park division, welcomed us to the banks of the river where we watched the planes and entertained the Duck Tourists as they exited the river. Then…things totally crashed and burned.
The NPS GWMP notified us that “athletic events” on the “athletic fields” at Gravelly Point would be limited to the hours of 6 AM to 9 AM on weekends. Not a type-o. The “athletic fields”…
Read the full entry - Color Commentary - posted 2010-03-17 00:38 in News
OFF SEASON MOVES: Roster Shake Ups Rumored
written by TWIF
3/12 – 7:00 PM – Current Official Team and Player List
- Mike Lemaire has announced he won’t be returning to the best named team of 2009, Joe Buck Yourself. Lemaire will join the Canvassers, the first free agent from another team to sign with the World Champions.
- The Clubber Lang dispute with the Summer 2010 MVP is reportedly around playing positions. Clubber who had both the Cy Young Award winning pitcher and the MVP, traditionally given to the best hitter, seemed to have their playing positions worked out. However…
Read the full entry - Color Commentary [13] - posted 2010-03-12 20:06 in News
No Consensus on Strike Zone Yet; Deal Reached on Recruitment
written by TWIF
Commissioner Gallaway hosted the first of what is expected to be several demonstrations and conversations of possible strike zone technology this past Sunday at Ft. Reno. The ground was still snow covered, but seven players representing five teams from last season participated in the summit.
The group, dominated mostly by pitchers, were in full agreement on a strike board, possibly one as large as three feet wide and eight feet tall. Commissioner Gallaway steered conversations closer to the 20 inch wide by 30 inch tall board that was used during Weeks 1 and 2 of the Summer 2009 Season.
The main focus of the tests was to determine an appropriate speed limit on pitchers if the new board is in place. It is widely agreed…
Read the full entry - Color Commentary [13] - posted 2010-03-08 22:10 in News
Statement by the Canvassers Organization
written by Commissioner Gallaway
From the Desk of Chris Gallaway, Manager, Canvassers, 2009 Summer World Champions
Read the full entry - Color Commentary [2] - posted 2010-03-01 23:52 in News
REGISTER NOW: Spring 2010 Season
written by Commissioner Gallaway
Sign-up is now open for the 2010 Spring Season!
 | Join us as we celebrate our 10th season this Spring.
DEADLINE FOR TEAM SIGN-UP FOR SPRING 2010 SEASON: Tuesday, April 6th Individuals who do not have a team (a/k/a Free Agents) are welcome and will be assigned to a team.
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To sign up yourself, or your teammates, pay your registration fee today using a credit card or through PayPal.
Just choose your uniform (shirt) size and enter your team name, or enter “free agent” if you want to be assigned to a team.
What does your $30 registration fee get you?
- 14 scheduled wiffleball games and an option for post-season
- PWL T-Shirt
- Individual Player Stats for the Season
- End of Year Awards Dinner Invitation
- Voting Each Week for Player of the Week (and maybe winning a keychain)
- Weekly Subscription to TWIF (This Week in Wiffleball) during the season
To sign-up, register today!
MANAGER’S MEETING
The managers are the Board of Directors of the PWL. The Managers for every team who has at least 4 PAID PLAYERS, will have a conference call on Thursday, April 8, 2010, at 9:30 PM EDT with the following agenda:
- Adoption of Schedule
- Drawing for Team Divisions
- Drawing for Schedule Spot
- Adoption of Rules Changes
- Free Agent Draft
Join today!
Color Commentary - posted 2010-02-27 00:46 in Join
Spring 2010 Registration Open 2/27
written by Commissioner Gallaway
Registration for the 2010 Spring Season will open Saturday, February 27, 2010.
Teams and players will have until late March to register.
Color Commentary - posted 2010-02-26 10:08 in News
Snow, Freezing Cold, Wind: First Pitch in 64 Days
written by TWIF
Today the Capital is getting blanketed with snow and sub-20 degree temperatures. But wiffleball fans can hold on to hope because just nine Sundays from tomorrow is the first pitch of the Spring 2010 season.
The PWL will celebrate its 10th season as 2010 league play kicks off on Easter. The Commissioner’s office has been careful not to imply any connection between Opening Day and the return of wiffleball to any other resurrection. However, quietly, unnamed sources close to the Commissioner have heard the phrase “bigger than Jesus” more than once.
Offseason talk has been dominated by the usual debate over rules changes (the strike zone), free agents, teams, and where in the hell we are going to play.
- Rules Changes: Radar guns, strike boards, underhand pitching…the debate over the strike zone will never end. The Commissioner has promised a Winter Summit on the strike zone to test options, and scrimmage with some new models. Look for that in March.
- Free Agents: The biggest news free agent wise last off-season led to a return to World Series form for the Canvassers as they picked up Nick DiCrosta and Matt Dreyfus from the defunct Scared Hitless. Will the Canvassers be able to hold onto these two stars, or will the building of their trophy display cause mirror the rebuilding of the franchise? After the Alcoholics drank themselves out of the playoffs last season their nitwit pitcher Andrew Martin declared himself a free agent for any teams looking for a decent pitcher who hits a buck eighty. Even if your GM doesn’t want to sign him, check him out on eharmony.com to make him feel better. Two former stars are rumored to be considering returns to the PWL this season. Steve Dubois, a staple of the London All Star team, has been retired from the league since Spring 2008 when he dominated at the plate, missing out on the triple crown by a ground ball with eyes. He is thought to be up for grabs with no team loyalty and the best offer might get his services. Only one guy in league history has won more Player of the Week Awards than Tony Cani, and while that guy isn’t coming back, the rumors of Cani’s return after a year and half in rehab have been fierce. A career Canvasser who won three World Series titles, he had a falling out with Commissioner Gallaway after his disastrous final season. Is there still room for him on the Canvassers with the new talent, or is he up for grabs as well?
- Teams: The Barnburners squeaked by with a World Championship in Spring 2009 but disappeared for the summer season, settling many opinions that they were one-hit wonders who couldn’t really build a franchise. They have pledged to come back and face the critics this spring. Former Gnats manager Kathryn Poindexter, who played on the only team in history to go winless, has been working secretly to bring in some fresh talent to take the cellar dweller title away from the Rossi Posse this season. After building an annual contender, Kris Garcia’s inability to keep a team name became an inability to win games. Will he be back at the table, and if so, with a playoff team, or whatever it was he had last season?
- Field Location: The Commissioner met with officials from the DC Parks and Recreation Department in November and did a tour of the new facilities at Ft. Reno Park. No details were finalized, but the Commissioner was cautiously optimistic that the newly completed fields might be made available for the Spring 2010 Season.
Color Commentary [7] - posted 2010-01-30 12:44 in News
Champions Dinner: No Surprises Except the Snow (Su09)
written by Commissioner Gallaway
Margaritas flowed freely at the 2009 “Summer” Season Champions Dinner hosted by the World Champion Canvassers Monday night. Year end awards were given out, but there were no upsets from the vote leaders following the nomination round.
- Alexander Filides of Clubber Lang won the MVP award by the skin of his teeth.
- Jesse Contario of Flaglove had better luck in the Rookie of the Year Voting than he did in the batter’s box during the World Series to claim the hardware.
- Tony Ragano picked up the Cy Young Award, after not being nominated for it last year in a controversial decision from the league office.
- Gold Glove Awards were given to Matt Dreyfus for Fielding, John Bernard for Catching, and Kris Garcia for Pitching.
In addition to picking up three of the six year end awards, Clubber Lang also had two Triple Crown winners who were recognized, in absentia; Tony Ragano for Pitching and John Bernard for Fielding as a Catcher. No one from Clubber Lang made an appearance at the dinner, leading some to believe that they confused it with the World Series, thinking they had no reason to attend.
Turnout was low compared with previous dinners, which previously have taken place before the first snowfall of the season, and not ten weeks following the regular season’s final pitch.
League leaders in each of the nine statistical categories were honored with certificates, and the Canvassers officially took possession of the Commissioner’s Trophy. The trophy, presented for the first time this year, will be given to the World Series Champions each season.
Potential rules changes as well as an update on the Ft. Reno playing field situation were discussed, as well as the Commissioner’s two week trip to Europe to attend the World Wiffleball Federation meetings in Prague.
117 days until first pitch of the Spring 2010 season.
Color Commentary - posted 2009-12-07 23:56 in Awards
Champions Dinner (Su09): Don't Call It a Holiday Party
written by Commissioner Gallaway
The Canvassers formally request your presence at the 2009 Summer Champions Dinner.
- Monday, December 7, 2009
- 7:00 PM
- Guapo’s Restaurant, 4515 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
The dinner will include the presentation of the brand new World Series Trophy (officially Commissioner’s Trophy) to the Canvassers, but will also recognize other league leader and award winners.
The leader in each of the “league leader” categories will be presented a PWL certificate. Awards will also be presented to the winners of the six awards that were voted on online.
- Most Valuable Player
- Rookie of the Year
- Cy Young Award
- Gold Glove Award
Color Commentary [1] - posted 2009-11-19 13:58 in News
Complete Game Videos (Su09): World Series
written by Commissioner Gallaway
Complete game videos from the 2009 Summer World Series featuring the Canvassers and Flaglove. The World Series was played at night, under temporary lighting for the first time in league history. The home plate camera angle was filmed in HD, and a seperate commentary track by Brian Ford (formerly of Scared Hitless) will be posted with the batter/pitcher camera angle.
Read the full entry - Color Commentary - posted 2009-11-19 10:34 in News
