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Move Over Joe, Nitto Sets Scoreless Inning Record

Written by - Posted 2013-05-03 22:18 in Blog

In the Summer 2012 awards voting, a rookie right hander who sometimes rocks an almost submarine delivery style did something that shocked most of the wiffleball world…he won the Cy Young Award.

It wasn’t that his numbers didn’t deserve consideration for the award given to the best pitcher in the league, he led in ERA (.31) and OBA (.137) and was fourth in strikeouts (56). It was that he upset the incumbent holder of the award; the four time winner who was the odds on favorite for a fifth Cy, Joe Thaman. Thaman, in addition to winning four Cy Youngs, had also won four MVP’s over the same time span. For his own double dip in the awards, Nitto claimed himself a Rookie of the Year trophy.

Some question the value of the year end awards, citing voter turnout and popularity more than stats as determining factors. After all, Thaman won the World Series that same season, eliminating Nitto’s Gumballers in the DCS. A DCS in which Thaman outpitched Nitto in ERA (0.53/1.06) as well as OBA (.175/.209) and in K’s (40/13), not to mention in the most important “team” category, two game wins to one. (NOTE: Postseason performance doesn’t factor into the awards, they’re voted on before that.)

During the past week the sophomore Nitto did something else to push the veteran out of the way, and this one can’t be attributed to anything other than his performance. He broke a record thought to probably be unbreakable, by throwing 78 consecutive scoreless innings. Thaman, the previous record holder, had set the “unbreakable” mark in the spring of 2011 at 73. The previous high mark before then had been 53, by Tony Ragano.

“The scoreless inning streak is certainly amazing,” Commissioner Gallaway said. “This is a game where we have a home run every 17 at bats. To consider that he has faced 10 times that many batters over this time and not given one up, let alone a run of some other kind, it’s simply remarkable.”

In fact, during the streak, Nitto has only allowed four doubles, and sixteen singles. It’s hard for runs to get scored against you when no one ever reaches scoring position. He’s also blessed with an above average fielder, Don McClintock who keeps a lot of balls in front of him with his speed and range. Through 11 games in Summer 2012, and the first two of this season, McClintock was error free behind Nitto. He did commit two fumbles this past week, a rarity for him, but still only one runner even reached second base in the two games.

Nitto’s mark isn’t without controversy of course. His streak is split over two seasons, with his first 56 innings coming in his rookie year, and 22 carrying over this season. Thaman’s mark was in one season, but streaks carry over. In between those two seasons, Nitto got tagged for eight runs in the postseason, but those games don’t count. This season, he didn’t pitch in games Week 2 against Superman’s Wheelchair (who got to him for those eight postseason) or Scared Hitless, who sometimes can score runs. (Nitto faced Hitless twice last season, giving up three runs in his league debut game, but holding them scoreless early in his streak for the second meeting.)

Don’t let the naysayers get to you though, the four-time Player of Week certainly isn’t going to. When presented with his keychain for winning his fourth award during Week 1 this season, Nitto feigned surprise with a wry smile and said he was sure that Matt Gagnon was going to win.

The question now, is how long can the streak go. Nitto’s Gumballers have two games on the Red field this week against the Canvassers, who are hitting about 60 point below the league average, and Oedipus who by all measures are the worst hitting team in the league. The wind is also supposed to be blowing in, pretty stiff, so a home run might be tough to come up with. Week 5 he draws rookies Porkchop Sandwiches and the light hitting Natty Brohs. It’s not hard to see a possibility that this streak gets to somewhere close to the century mark.

Of course, it’s just as possible that a guest player who’s never had a hit in his life knocks a ball off the foul pole in the first inning to make this next “unbreakable” record capped off, and ready for the next guy to take a run at. That’s why we play the games.

HOT STOVE: Long Winter

Written by - Posted 2013-03-31 15:22 in Blog

3/27/2013Current Teams and Players

  • Roster signings have been slow the last couple of weeks but are expected to pick up as we enter the home stretch. Nine teams have officially filled the minimum five players needed. With contraction talks in the air, more roster spots should get filled soon.
  • In what is being described as an even exchange by no one, the Janitors have replaced the lost Kevin Higman with former Have Fun manager Scott Abrahams.
  • Todd Ogg joined Superman’s Wheelchair to help in their offensive pop department. But, didn’t they really need a backup pitcher?

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A Face Made for Podcast: Gallaway Talks to WSEM

Written by - Posted 2012-12-28 14:29 in Blog

Commissioner Gallaway was a recent guest on Wiffle in Southeast Michigan’s (we know, weird name?) second annual Christmas Podcast.

WSEM, who was a co-host along with the PWL and KWL of the NWLA Tournament last July, does a monthly podcast which is then put on their blogspot website (we know, blogspot?).

The usual topics are league news, but they have branched out to cover national wiffleball fare, including an infamous preview of the NWLA tourney, and an interview in November with Brian Meyers, commissioner of the Kalamazoo Wiffle League.

Commissioner Gallaway talked about the PWL, NWLA, taking over the wiffleball world, and posed a question for the second guests of the podcast, the Freaky Franchise the best wiffleball team in the country.

You can listen to the podcast (seriously, you can do video over the web now right with a $5 camera?) right here.

Hard Knocks: DC Twits

Written by - Posted 2012-08-31 10:36 in Blog

About the Author: Andrew Johnson is an above-average hitter for and legendary manager of the Ha’chi Mountaineers. A former card-carrying member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, he now spends his time blogging about television, movies and sports when he isn’t working. He is one of the top 5 most talented people named Johnson in the PWL.


Unlike the National Football League, the Potomac Wiffleball League doesn’t require you to have a premium cable subscription to get unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to one of its best teams. There’s no DVR necessary either.

Nope, all you’ll need to get an inside look at the DC Twits – the reigning Western Division champions – is an Internet connection and the ability to tolerate someone other than Harry Kalas (may he Rest in Peace) doing the voiceover work, a task that’s taller than it seems at first.

Hard Knocks: Potomac Wiffleball League is the brainchild of Twits manager Greg Hudson, who says he came up for the idea during his first season in the PWL.

“It is a very overwhelming entrance [to the League],” says Hudson. “Walking into [Gravelly Point] is very cinematic with planes overhead, D.C. in the background, the Potomac [River] right there, and then these actual fields.

“When you take a step back and realize you are playing wiffleball on a stage like this, it is pretty insane … and a bit ridiculous. So what better way to capture it than this.”

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He's Baaaaaack! Filides Returns

Written by - Posted 2012-08-27 22:54 in Blog

Alex Filides, the most hated person in the history of the Potomac Wiffleball League is coming back.

After weeks, which seemed like days to all of us, away from both the PWL and the national capital region, Filides is bringing back his…well, whatever it is he has.

In a shocking move he’s spending the rest of this season with arch rival Scared Hitless. It’s dogs and cats living together kids, the end can’t be far away.

The next thing you know Dreyfus and DiCrosta will leave Scared Hitless to join the Canvassers and win their only World Championship rings of their long careers. Strange stuff is going on here folks. Buy a helmet.

The complete statement issued by Scared Hitless:


STATEMENT BY SCARED HITLESS MANAGER MATT DREYFUS

Scared Hitless agreed to terms today with free agent Alex Filides on a one-season contract. A physical will not be conducted.

Despite being on the opposite ends of an often heated rivalry, circumstances had developed where the two sides could each satisfy a need. Hitless had recently purchased the contract of Ryan May from Triple-A Gaithersburg, but still found the roster woefully thin.

“I know we’ve had bad blood in the past, but we are all veterans with the same goal – to win a championship” stated Hitless manager, Matt Dreyfus. “It may be strange at first, but I’m confident we will be a better club for the remainder of the season – especially if this move prevents me from ever pitching again.”


Contact details are still emerging, but early word is Filides will be expected to comply with Hitless’ uniform code of wearing a t-shirt.

HOT STOVE: Summer Lovin'

Written by - Posted 2012-07-31 23:12 in Blog

7/31/2012 11:00 PMCurrent Teams and Players Signed Up

  • Have Fun Out Theres return and become the 16th Team, TEAMS ARE FINALIZED
  • Canvassers pickup a free agent as Nicholas West returns to the team after a season on his own sqaud, and Kris Garcia flirted with Scared Hitless but decided to stay married to the Canvassers for one more season.

7/30/2012 11:00 AM

  • 15 Teams have had players officially signed as of today. 16 is a very nice even number so we’re hoping for one more, and one more only.
  • DEATH WATCH: It seems likely that we’re losing Sex Panthers, Most Interesting Men, and We’d Hit That. Though, no confirmations as of right now.
  • NEW TEAMS: Blatz and TBA are signed up as the 2nd and 3rd new teams and should be filling out rosters soon.

7/18/2012 10:00 PM

  • Register Today
  • 8 Teams have had players officially signed as of today, but we know a lot of standards will be back.
  • Welcome to the first new team for summer, the Gumballers.
  • All Star Kevin Higman despite being courted by several teams will return to the Janitors. Rumor is they have signed a second hitter, Todd Ogg, formerly of NWO, but it’s not confirmed yet. That will give them a total of two hitters.
  • DEATH WATCH: Looks like we’ll lose Have Fun Out Theres, NWO, and Natty Brohs. A couple of teams on life support, We’d Hit That and Most Interesting Men.

The Filides Forecast: World Series Predictions

Written by - Posted 2012-06-23 17:18 in Blog

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.

Barnburners win series 2-1.

The wind is projected to blow from the SSE at around 8-10mph for Sunday, which means it will be blowing out on the blue and green field. Barnburners
definitely have the advantage here. Ty Fletcher is the key ingredient to solidify the Barnburners rotation, in fact he could be their best pitcher. Gannon is just
as good as an ace and Tomko isn’t bad for a 3rd option. As mentioned, last week Hitless needed a 3rd hitter to step up, which was Davis, however in this scenario, it has to be the better hitters in the Shannon brothers, if they can’t figure out Thaman, then the whole team is in trouble offensively. A very underrated defensive alignment for a team that has been noted for their offense, Gannon and Shannon as good as they come in the field.

Superman has Thaman on the mound, it is our belief that he will need to keep the Shannon brothers not only from…

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The Filides Forcast: Round 2 Predictions

Written by - Posted 2012-06-16 23:09 in Blog

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.

Scared Hitless vs Barnburners

Not exactly your typical 1 vs 4 matchup. It’s not rocket science here, Nicholas DiCrosta needs to stay in the game and focus his attention on what he needs to do, instead of talking to everyone around him. Brian Ford has pitched very well in his last outing and has pitched decently against the Barnburners in the past, but the Barnburner bats may be too much if DiCrosta gets ejected, sometimes one run is all you need in these types of games.

The Barnburners have just about the whole package…

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Commish's Playoff Predictions

Written by - Posted 2012-06-07 19:36 in Blog

With just a week left to go there is a lot of talk from the sub-500 teams who haven’t been eliminated yet that they may still be playoff bound if they can win out. We’d like to just shoot them and put them out of their misery now.

If you’ve played 12 games and you’ve only won 5, go ahead and book that weekend trip to the car wash for next weekend because you’re not going to the playoffs. Sure, it’s mathmatically possible, but a .500 team hasn’t been in the playoffs since the Spring of 2009 when we had 8 teams and 4 of them (that’s half for those teams who haven’t won half, so don’t know that) made it to postseason.

Yes, the expansion of the playoffs to 8 teams up from 6, puts us at 40% of the teams making it to the postseason. Not exactly the cream of the crop, but it’s going to take a little better than .500, or it should.

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BREAKING NEWS: Alex Filides to Retire at End of Spring Season

Written by - Posted 2012-05-24 10:57 in Blog

Alex Filides of NWO to retire after Season, ending consecutive GP streak close to 95 games, and never winning a World Series.