The Filides Forecast: Round 1 Predictions
written by Alex Filides
About the Author: Alex Filides is the guy most of the league hates for no reason, and some of the league hates for very good reasons. He’s aggressive in the game, eats, sleeps and breathes wiffleball, and left the winning run in two postseason series stranded on third base.
Hai’chi wins series 2-0.
This is an easy call, especially with William McNally out for the playoffs. Not that McNally was Greg Maddux on the mound this season, but this just magnified their pitching troubles. The other decent…
Read the full entry - Color Commentary [2] - posted 2011-10-21 02:32 in Blog
Forfeiting the Triple Crown
written by Commissioner Gallaway
Forfeits this weekend could possibly affect the outcome of the playoffs but are also making the Batting Triple Crown race more interesting.
Joe Thaman led in the three categories almost all season but a stand out performance from rookie William McNally of Suns Out Guns put Joe trailing by 70 points in Batting Average heading into the final week. McNally has no games this weekend, with both being forfeit wins. Thaman has one game, with one forfeit win for Wheelchair.
The Wheelchair game is against playoff hopefuls Sex Panthers. Thaman has been averaging 5.5 at bats per game this season. To raise his .541 to tie McNally’s .611, he’d need to go 11-for-11, and 12-for-12 for the outright lead. Both of those scenarios are unlikely with a single game, even if it went extra innings.
However, not all hope is lost for Thaman. McNally, who won’t get another at-bat, is sitting at 36 at-bats. The minimum to qualify for the regular season records is 3.1 AB’s per game, times the “forfeit factor”. Assuming we have no more forfeits besides the four we’ve already put on the books this weekend, we’ll end up playing 95 of the 112 scheduled games this season. That means to qualify for the stats this season, McNally would need to have 36.8 at-bats, which would round to 37.
Read the full entry - Color Commentary [1] - posted 2011-10-07 16:12 in Blog
No Such Thing as Perfect
written by Commissioner Gallaway
With the four perfect games this past Sunday this season has now passed Spring 2009 for the most no-hitters in single season.
The ball display case at the PWL Hall of Fame has run out of room. Joe Thaman is considering giving his future perfect game balls to a recycling plant so the plastic can be used for other purposes.
There were only 49 games played in the Spring 2009 season, a no hitter every 6.1 games. With 15 games left to be played this season we’d need five this Sunday to beat the “per game” record. Given that we’ve gone three, three, four the last three weeks, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. And remember, that record was set without a strike board.
So, what’s the deal? Are the pitchers that much better? Are the hitters that much worse? Should we add an innings limit so teams have to use a pitching rotation? Do we need to make the strike board smaller? Move the mound back more? Add the dreaded W-word…walks? Ban Joe Thaman from the league?
The winter meetings this off-season will no doubt look for solutions to increase offense in 2012. After all, chicks dig the long ball.
| Season | No-No’s | Fields | AVG | AB/K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Summer | 10 | Gravelly Point | .280 | 3.35 |
| 2011 Spring | 6 | Gravelly Point | .287 | 3.32 |
| 2010 Summer | 4 | Gravelly Point | .274 | 2.91 |
| 2010 Spring | 4 | Gravelly Point | .274 | 2.93 |
| 2009 Summer | 5 | Ft. Reno | .315 | 5.57 |
| 2009 Spring | 8 | Ft. Reno | .315 | 7.11 |
| 2008 Summer | 2 | Ft. Reno | .352 | 8.88 |
| 2008 Spring | 0 | Ft. Reno | .325 | 9.18 |
| 2007 Summer | 0 | Gravelly Point | .363 | 10.59 |
| 2007 Spring | 1 | Gravelly Point | .381 | 10.30 |
| 2006 Summer | 0 | Gravelly Point | .391 | 10.10 |
| 2006 Spring | 2 | Gravelly Point | .396 | 9.04 |
| 2005 | 0 | Gravelly Point | .430 | 15.10 |
NOTES:
- The mound was moved from 30’ to 33’ starting in 2011.
- The strike board was introduced starting in 2010, prior to that the only strikes were swinging strikes.
- The league rules from 2005 to 2010 stated that pitches must be “slow” and “have arc” on them. This was mostly followed from 2005-2008, then was ignored for four seasons, leading to the addition of the strike board, radar gun, and change to an official “medium” pitch speed league.
Color Commentary [2] - posted 2011-10-04 13:03 in Blog
Tomko Congratulates Thaman On Breaking Record
written by Commissioner Gallaway
Jake Tomko, formerly of the Blandsford Barnburners, issued a statement today on Joe Thaman breaking his record for consecutive perfect innings pitched. Tomko set the record at 20 innings in Spring 2009, his rookie season.
Thaman came close to breaking the record this Spring, falling just a half an inning short at 19.5 innings.
STATEMENT FROM JAKE TOMKO
Congrats to Joe Thaman on his impressive accomplishment.
I am proud of my rookie season record, but it seemed only a matter of time until Joe broke it. He’s continually one of the best pitchers out there and this helps solidify that.
The Barnburners will happily bring an end to any of Joe’s streaks and I hope I can one day take my record back, but until then all I have are my sincerest congratulations to Joe.
Tomko is expected to return for the Spring 2012 season.
Color Commentary [2] - posted 2011-10-03 11:51 in Blog
Wiffler's Digest Magazine: Yep, It's a Real Thing
written by Commissioner Gallaway
In case you haven’t been following along in the wiffleball world we wanted to make sure you were checking out the new Wiffler’s Digest Magazine.
The second issue was just released online and we’re hosting PDF copies of both editions for you here. You can also see image files of the magazine online at their website.
Wiffler’s Digest Issues
As you can see the second issue features a story from Josh Smith about the London Wiffleball Tournament which we send teams to each year.
If you’re interested in submitting articles on behalf of the PWL, or content to the National Wiffleball League Association or even writing for this website, contact the Commish.
Color Commentary - posted 2011-09-12 19:13 in Blog
Are you Watching?
written by Commissioner Gallaway
We only really have video engagement data from the first two weeks of the season. But with the long break, we assumed some people might be catching up on their scouting. Don't forget, just because a video with a team was watched, doesn't mean it was the team watching themselves. It could just be that EVERYONE else in the league wants to watch My O's Face play. 10+ hours worth.| Team | Views | Viewed Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| My O's Face | 75 | 714 |
| NWO | 66 | 599 |
| ThunderCats | 54 | 410 |
| Ha'chi Mountaineeers | 46 | 363 |
| Janitors | 47 | 340 |
| Garbage Plates | 35 | 258 |
| Upskirt Fingerblasters | 28 | 257 |
| Superman's Wheelchair | 42 | 249 |
| Scared Hitless | 29 | 163 |
| Canvassers | 24 | 138 |
| DC Twits | 18 | 122 |
| Suns Out Guns Out | 20 | 119 |
| Biebs Feevs | 12 | 103 |
| Have Fun Out Theres | 13 | 79 |
| Master Batters | 9 | 60 |
| Sex Panthers | 6 | 57 |
| All Videos | 262 | 2015.5 |
Color Commentary - posted 2011-09-12 18:43 in Blog
PWL Archives: Washington Post Feature
written by Commissioner Gallaway
Monday night’s game at Nationals Park was a semi-reunion of sorts for some PWL alums. Catching the game with the Commissioner were Tony Cani, the career leader in strikeouts (not the good kind as a pitcher), and the more well liked O’Grady, Kyle’s brother, Colin.
After the game the Commissioner bumped into Les Carpenter ( @lescarpenter ) who wrote the feature in the Post about the PWL in 2009.
Les left the Post shortly after the story (not as a result, we don’t think) and now works at YahooSports. He mostly writes about football, but also covered the Roger Clemens trial, and was at Nats Park working on a feature about Diamondback’s Manager Kirk Gibson.
That got us reminiscing of the Ft. Reno days when Les joined us for a few weekends and somehow turned it into a full two page spread in the Sunday paper.
He was in disbelief that Tony Ragano quit the league. After reading the story, you might be too.
PWL Website – 7/18/2009
Les Carpenter (2-5, 1 R, 2 RBI) of the Washington Post spent a few weeks hanging out with the Potomac Wiffleball League during our Spring 2009 season. (I guess that’s what NFL reporters do in June and July.)
A feature story, video, and photos ran Sunday, July 19.
- Photo Gallery
- Video Story
- Feature Story on the Post Website
- Post Transcript of Online Q and A on Wiffleball Article
Part III: ‘Just’ Wiffle Ball? Not a Chance
Tony Ragano Lets His Competitive Fire Burn on the Fields at Fort Reno Park
By Les Carpenter
Washington Post Staff
Saturday, July 18, 2009 1:57 PM
On a gentle Sunday morning, with the sandstone castle towers of Fort Reno Park rising behind him, the most competitive player in the adult, co-ed, slow-pitch Potomac Wiffleball League tugs on a Camel Light and swears.
Tony Ragano loves statistics. But more than statistics he loves his strikeouts, which he gets in great abundance in Wiffle ball thanks to his two favorite pitches: a knuckle ball that dances as if it has been unleashed in a hurricane and a slider he deems to be “unhittable.”
Read the full entry - Color Commentary - posted 2011-08-23 12:28 in Blog
POLL: Best New Team Name
written by TWIF
Sometimes we do best new team name, sometimes we do best new team and wait for week 1 to be over. Since we now have an official year end award for best new team, we think we’ll stick with best new team name.
Though, we realize it could be over pretty quickly this season.
Best New Team Name (Su11)
Janitors
Color Commentary - posted 2011-08-05 19:05 in Blog
HOT STOVE: Summer 2011
written by TWIF
August 1 – 10:45 AM – Current Teams and Players Signed Up
- NWO re-signs Craig Mann, so apparently there is at least one person who can stand Alex for more than one season.
- The Nick West sweepstakes is over, and despite his desire to make his choice into an hour long TV special, he informed his fans over Facebook. He’s a Canvasser.
July 31 – 11:45 PM – Current Teams and Players Signed Up
- Someone named Eamon Murray signed a contract with Scared Hitless, but there are rumors it’s not a real deal, or maybe even the real person. In other news, Matt “Big Cat” Dreyfus becomes the third Hitless manager in three seasons, and a groin pull is going to keep Tony Ragano out for this season.
- NWO finally has a second player, Brian Burrell of the Natty Brohs who are out for the summer signed a one-season deal. Expect Brohs broh Lois Goodman (David Bransfield) to possibly join him, but no official word other than Bransfield has been cleared to play.
- New Canvassers manager Tony Morin hasn’t re-signed top Rookie of the Year Nominee (but not final winner) Danny Bessette yet, but is expected to soon. Morin also thinks he’s in the mix and has almost finalized a deal for the top free agent get Nick West.
- Other players not on the Free Agent list from teams that aren’t coming back for Summer, unclear if any are available, who were over the PWL’s Mendoza line (.300) are: James Lenihan (.333/.513/0), Andrew Martin (.500/.1.333/3), Matthew Cunningham (.375/.500/0) and the Barnburners.
Read the full entry - Color Commentary [4] - posted 2011-08-01 10:37 in Blog
Breaking down the upcoming Scared Hitless vs. Barnburners series
written by Alex Filides
About the Author: Alex Filides is the guy most of the league hates for no reason, and some of the league hates for very good reasons. He’s aggressive in the game, eats, sleeps and breathes wiffleball, and left the winning run in two postseason series stranded on third base.
Breaking down the upcoming Scared Hitless vs. Barnburners series
Hitting: Advantage Barnburners – After arguably their best hitting season in the 3 years they’ve been in the league, the 2011 edition of the Barnburners have the edge here. They have power and can hit for average. Jim Shannon coming off a career year .581 14 HR’s.
Read the full entry - Color Commentary - posted 2011-06-24 19:27 in Blog
