Bracketology: London Style
written by Commissioner Gallaway
Let me start by saying I love the London Wiffleball Tournament and I’m going to keep bringing teams as long as I’m able to do so. I like Brian Wheeler and the guys on the Reds, and I know they do a tremendous amount of work with very little support to put on the tournament every year and I’m glad they do.
I don’t want to be one of those guys that complains about things but doesn’t do anything to help fix them. I’ve been on the receiving end of those kinds of complaints too many times to not appreciate that position. That being said, I think that constructive criticism is a good thing, and people who really love things should be able to give the people who run the things they love ideas to help make it better or correct problems that they see.
Read the full entry - Color Commentary [1] - posted 2009-10-11 19:18 in Blog
Playoffs?????
written by Commissioner Gallaway
The playoff picture is usually pretty clear after Week 6, but this hasn’t been a usual season. While the Division Champions Clubber Lang and the Canvassers ran away with their titles, the two wild card spots are turning into really wild races.
Five teams are currently tied for two spots, all with .500 records. Some of that, if not all, will be settled Week 7 as four of the teams tied play each other. However, it is also putting teams like the Rough Riders in a position to play the spoiler role and help knock some teams out.
The league announced today that any ties between more than two teams would be broken with a double elimination tournament, which is going to put even more importance on not only winning Sunday, but running up the score for seeding. (Bracket if the tie breaker tourney were held today)
Here is how it breaks down:
(In order of current playoff tournament seeding based on run differential.)
- Alcoholic Anonymous – The Alcoholics upset Clubber Lang, but have given away at least four easy games. They’ll get an easy win over Balls, but Mr. Party will put up a fight, even if he can’t move because he’s plastic. OPPONENTS: Mr. Party’s Waddle and Holey Balls!
- Flea Bitten Varmits – The Varmits have been inconsistent, but a .500 record is all they have needed to stay in this mess. The Rough Riders aren’t lying down, but the Flaglove game is the must win one and is likely the difference in making it to post-season. Too bad Craig Mann can’t drive himself in every at-bat. OPPONENTS: Rough Riders and Flaglove
- Mr. Party’s Waddle – Waddle has stayed alive because every other 6-6 team has two forfeit losses. They are lucky to be in this position, and have the second toughest Week 7 schedule to overcome if they’re going to play in October. A group of penguins is called a waddle. Get it? OPPONENTS: Rough Riders and Alcoholics Anonymous
- Joe Buck Yourself – Joe Buck had a four game lead in the wild card race two weeks ago and talk was starting about their magic number. With the help of two forfeits they haven’t won a game since then and need to pull off two major upsets to see October. They had a chance to clinch a birth, even if they lost the last two games. That chance is now gone, and they draw the two best teams in the league this Sunday. Sorry guys, maybe next year. OPPONENTS: Canvassers and Clubber Lang
- Flaglove – Flaglove climbed back with important wins down the stretch, but their luck may be running out. They have to beat Flea Bitten, a team they lost to 3-1 during Week 5, to have a chance. OPPONENTS: Canvassers and Flea Bitten Varmits
Despite the last predictions not accounting for ridiculous forfeits, we’ll try again. Joe Buck and Mr. Party go home 0-2. Alcoholics get a guaranteed spot going 2-0. The rest is up to the “F” teams. If Flea Bitten Varmits beat Flaglove, it’s the Varmits and Alcoholics in the postseason and no tie breakers are necessary. If Flaglove upsets the Varmits, the two teams will meet again for a one game tie breaker to see which one of them joins the Alcoholics in post-season.
Of course, anything can happen, but Field 2 at 1:30 PM is the game we’ll be watching.
Also, even if we know who’s in, team schedules are already messing up the playoffs. We may have a Christmas World Series this year.
Color Commentary [3] - posted 2009-09-23 21:40 in Blog
Steak and Egg: 5, Mr. Party’s Waddle: 0
written by Commissioner Gallaway
Unless you spend a lot of time following the PWL, or happen to be a member of Mr. Party’s Waddle, you might not have noticed Sean Coakley. He hasn’t hit any home runs. He’s only batted in four runs all season. You won’t see any spectacular diving catches from him. What he does do, is get on base. Currently, he does this more than any other player in the league. Now, a batting average of .567 won’t make you the career single season batting average champion by a long shot. Long shot = 245 points. (Stephen Zigmund, .812, Summer 2007). But, leading the league in batting average isn’t something to laugh at. (Fielding…that’s what you laugh at.)
Pundits can’t help but wonder why in a critical game situation today, tied with Clubber Lang and going to extra innings, we didn’t see an at bat from the league’s leader in getting on base. After all, Coakley was at the field. In fact, he had arrived at the field two full hours before game time. Thanks to forfeits his umpiring shift and the first scheduled game turned into two hours of free time to scrimmage, take batting practice, and make a trip to local greasy spoon Steak and Egg. Spending three plus hours at the Fort and not taking a single swing of the bat isn’t the norm for league members unless they’re trolling for high school kids to pickup during the week. Is Steak and Egg to blame for him staying on the bench?
Ever since the move to Ft. Reno, Steak and Egg has claimed numerous victims of the PWL who dared to stop before their games, mostly members of the Wackazoids. This got us thinking about the other local spots that people talk about hitting for food before, or after, the games each week. What’s your favorite spot? Who knows…eventually we might even decide to be social and schedule a league happy hour some week.
(By the way, Sean, thanks again for the breakfast sandwich. It was awesome.)
What's your favorite Ft. Reno spot for food after wiffleball?
Steak and Egg (then to the bathroom)
Update: The “other” vote was cast for Tony’s Fish, Beer and Cigar House.
Color Commentary - posted 2009-09-13 20:50 in Blog
Predictions: The Commish Calls 'Em
written by Commissioner Gallaway
It’s been a few seasons since I’ve taken off the Commissioner’s hat and made some predictions. Sure, we’re over half way done with the Summer Season and it might seem a little late. But for the first time, over half of our teams were completely new this year. That left a lot of unanswered questions…until now. Now that I’ve had a chance to see ‘em, I’m ready to call ‘em.
If you disagree…by all means, use the Color Commentary. Be careful though, you still have six games worth of decisions on hits or errors to live through.
Read the full entry - Color Commentary - posted 2009-09-09 22:24 in Blog
Early World Series Predictions
written by Commissioner Gallaway
Sure, it’s early, and October is a long way off. Six more weeks, twelve more games, 1440 more outs. But now that you’ve seen the new talent, you must have some opinion on who is the team to beat.
Which team will win the Summer 2009 World Series?
Alcoholics Anonymous
Color Commentary [1] - posted 2009-08-09 20:20 in Blog
"Wait For Your Pitch"
written by Commissioner Gallaway
“Wait for your pitch.” I remember it like it was yesterday. My little league coach, pulling double duty as third base coach, would yell to me and most of my teammates. “Wait for your pitch.”
I guess I should clarify something before we continue. In Dwight, Kansas (population 350) we didn’t actually play “Little League” (all rights reserved, etc, etc, etc). We were part of the Flint Hills Baseball Association, and my age division at the time, the first in which we pitched to ourselves instead of our dads pitching to us, 10-12 year olds, was called “Juniors”. (A significant step up from the 7-9 year old division which was called “Biscuits”.) So, I use the term little league generically, to indicate all levels and types of youth baseball, and not to mean the gestapo like jackass organization with which I have a love/hate relationship, Little League Baseball, Incorporated.
…
Read the full entry - Color Commentary [1] - posted 2009-07-08 21:17 in Blog
Pass on Grass
written by Commissioner Gallaway
When asked if he preferred AstroTurf over grass, Phillies pitcher Tug McGraw said, “I dunno, I never smoked any.”
In the PWL, we don’t have a choice. We’re a grass only operation. And that grass, in case you haven’t noticed, hasn’t been mowed by the National Park Service in quite some time. It’s so long, we even had our first grass out in league history this season, with games cancelled due to the long stuff. While the bugs have loved it, it’s becoming a bit unbearable for the players.
Sure, the playing field has been ok. Somehow the grass on the playing field has kept a short length, estimated by league officials at 2.5 inches. It’s probably the arsenic in the ground soil keeping it down. But fans, media, and league staff working off the field wade through blades almost up to their kneecaps.
It’s so bad, we’ve have lots of suggestions on how to fix the problem. Guest player from Week 4 Elivn Clapp, known as Cool Papa in the PWL, came up with a top ten list of ideas for us.
Top Ten Ways to Get the Park Service off the Dime and Mow the Field
by Elvin Cool Papa Clapp
10. Call Janet Reno and indicate that the field named in her honor is not being well kept by NPS.
9. Call my buddy Vaughn Baker, Superintendent of Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park, and tell him to pull some strings in D.C. He is Brian’s godfather.
8. Deploy goats to mow the field. They are less likely to have mechanical problems, but watch where you step.
7. Call Georgetown frat boys and indicate there is free grass at Ft. Reno – and bring their clippers.
6. Blame the rain on global warming and get some stimulus money from EPA.
5. Petition NPS to install proper drainage at field and to stop fertilizing the grass – it will grow w/o chemicals.
4. Kick the Nats out of their ballpark and play under the lights. Attendance would be higher. Better yet, move to Chase Field in Phoenix as Diamondbacks are folding fast.
3. Call Sara Palin in Alaska with urgent message that there are “Russians” hiding in grass at Ft. Reno, which she should be able to see from her backyard.
2. Stage a lawn mower race at Ft. Reno, with a first place prize of a pink wiffle ball bat.
1. Stage a Civil War (a/k/a War of Northern Aggression) reenactment. They will trample anything.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Elivin “Cool Papa” Clapp is hitless in five career appearances in the PWL, and resides in Phoenix, AZ. He’s the father of Deputy Commissioner and Rossi Possse Manager Brian Clapp.
Color Commentary [2] - posted 2009-06-11 21:59 in Blog
Were They Perfect?
written by Commissioner Gallaway
The newest addition to the PWL, the Blandford Barnburners, played a one inning run rule game against the The Gnats during week 1, beating them 14-0. In fact, only two of the three batters from the The Gnats made it up to the plate, and both got out.
| Blandsford Barnburners at The Gnats | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score By Innings | 1 | R | H | E |
| Blandsford Barnburners | 14 | 14 | 15 | 0 |
| The Gnats | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
The question is, with a shortened, run rule game, does it count as a perfect game?
Read the full entry - Color Commentary [6] - posted 2009-04-24 16:36 in Blog
Canvassers Can Cani
written by Commissioner Gallaway
The Canvassers announced today that they have released five year veteran Tony Cani, just over a week out from Opening Day of the 2009 Spring Season.
Cani, who has spent his entire career with the four time World Champions , had a disappointing 2008 hitting just .283 and falling out of the league leaders with his pitching. He was also cut from the 2008 All-Star Team that travelled to London, Ohio, to represent the league in the annual tournament.
Cani struggled with the higher altitudes of Ft. Reno after the league moved from Gravelly Point, and routinely complained about this to teammates, league officials, fans, and pretty much anyone who would listen. The home video he made of all of his home runs at the end of each season became so short in 2008 it would even play on his iPhone.
The Canvassers have a gap to fill in the pitching spot, and time is running out, but Manager Chris Gallaway isn’t worried. “We expect to win the World Series every year. And if we don’t win, then something needs to change. I don’t mind a great pitcher who doesn’t hit as well as the fielder. But, when you can’t pitch, can’t hit, and cry in the locker room, it’s time to make a move.”
As the league’s New Media Director for a short time, Cani was responsible for some important improvements including the re-design of the website and for creating the condensed game summary videos. His lasting legacy may be the photo of himself popping out to the pitcher that is one of the rotating banners on the website featuring the caption, “everybody loves the long ball”.
Color Commentary [3] - posted 2009-04-10 10:32 in Blog
PWL Alumnus Breaks Bat, Hearts
written by Commissioner Gallaway
In our first ever, “where are they now” story, the PWL checked-in with former league member Mindie Reule. Reule, one of only three female players in league history to hit an out of the park home run, walked away from a promising career after the 2007 season. Her stats are still among the best in league history for a female and she was named the Spring 2007 Most Valuable Female Player.
After four seasons, three with the Borg, one with the “The Martha Washingtons”, Reule transferred to the fledgling Rocky Mountain Wiffleball League. Unfortunately, the effect of the high Denver altitude, the lack of a fan base, and something known as (redacted), killed the league before it could get off the ground. Disappointed, Reule still yearned for the feel of plastic on plastic action, and like many young stars, turned to all the wrong places for comfort, including…softball.
After abusing it in college, Reule had successfully kicked her softball habit for several years. There was an occasional relapse, and as her career in the PWL started to take off, she became more and more comfortable she could handle it. She even played in a softball “league”. (As if you can call a group of teams who play but don’t keep stats and videos a “league”.)
The moderate summer temperatures in Denver and no wiffleball left her feeling cold and lonely, so she turned back to softball once again, this time, the batting cages. It was at the cages, late last August, where she finally hit rock bottom.
Witnesses described the scene as best they could, but it was not easy to talk about. “She was so hopped up on goofballs, I don’t think she knew what she was doing”, said one eye witness. “I really don’t think she knew that the bat was metal, I think she was too far gone to even realize that”, remembered another.
Reule, in some sort of rage, broke a bat in half.
It wasn’t a yellow plastic bat in her hand, hitting wiffleballs; it was an aluminum softball bat hitting softballs. The handle, shredded, sat in her hands as she wreaked havoc on onlookers.
When asked about what happened, she still refuses to comment. It’s clear though that the moment changed her, and everyone there that day forever.
Reule has since recovered from the episode and returned to her hometown of Montesano, Washington to recuperate. She says she misses wiffleball, but has no plans to return.
Color Commentary [2] - posted 2009-02-19 08:56 in Blog
