The Commish: Predictions - Spring 2006
Well…we’re 72 hours away from the first pitch of the 2006 Wiffleball Season at Gravelly Point. That’s right kids…the plastic flies in three days.
I guess it’s time for the Commissioner to take off the official league hat and make some predictions about the season.
Of course, some of you have raised issues of appropriateness with having the Commissioner as the owner/manager of one of the teams in the League. I say, what’s good for Major League Baseball is good for the Potomac Wiffleball League.
And since that isn’t an issue, my commentary on the games as a player and participant is clearly also in order. (Also, since I own the fences and the URL…you’ll have to indulge me.)
Let’s take this division by division…since…for the first time, we have two…and the top two teams in each will move on to the playoffs.
Eastern Division
We’ve got one returning team, and three new ones in the Eastern Division, but honestly more veteran players here than in the West. Three former players of other teams are now managing their own teams. (Borg, Hot Sundaes and Gabello’s Team) FieldWorks Canvassers return under the same management.
Borg – two of the Borg (Lewis and Ben) put some time in on the FieldWorks team from ’05…but they weren’t the reason FieldWorks made the World Series. If Ben can stay healthy, and if the Sudanese don’t ramp up their exterminations, look for the Borg to put together a couple of wins. Their secret weapon is a new player who was once recruited for college softball. Now, we all know that recruited, and played, are two different things. At the end of the day, these smokers will be ashed out and won’t make the post season, finishing in last place. (3 wins / 7 losses)
FieldWorks Canvassers – this team has only gotten better since ’05, added some speed, some consistency, and should run away with the Eastern Division title. Can they beat the Filabusters this year? Only time will tell…but look at them to run rule a few of the newbies to welcome them to the league. As they say in The Natural, “welcome to the majors Mr. Hobbs.” (8 wins / 2 losses)
Hot Sundaes – largely a new team, but with some promise. Kevin Hyde is a solid player, if by solid, I mean, slightly below average. With only 5 extra base hits in ’05 Kevin knows you don’t have to hit the long ball to play this game. Look for the Hot Sundaes to middle-of-the-pack-it with Gabello’s Team and fight for second place in the division to make it to post-season. I think they’re going to want it more than Gabello’s Team, and in this game, sometimes heart will get you that extra run even though talent wouldn’t. (5 wins / 5 losses)
Gabello’s Team – Dominic is hoping that his managing in ’06 won’t be as streaky and slumpy as his playing in ’05. He’s put together a rag-tag bunch of players not only trying to do the impossible in Wiffleball…make it to the World Series…but also to do something that hasn’t happened since 1841, get a Virginian elected President. Look for them to compete in their division, but to end up in 3rd place, just locked out of post-season. Practice those 3rd place finishes guys, you’ll need that experience for ‘08. (4 wins / 6 losses)
Western Division
The Western division has the one true wildcard in the whole league, the Masterbatters. They also have the Filabusters among their numbers, which means bad news for everyone but the Filabusters. Look for this all to be a competition for second place…and depending on the first looks at the Masterbatters, maybe not much of one for that.
Filabusters – the returning champs are back. After not losing a game all last season, and having most teams in the league forfeit to them, how will they return? There is no reason to think they won’t be up to peak performance, but this is a different year, and a different league, and it’s not going to be handed to them on a silver platter. They’ll be in the World Series…but can they win it again? And…they won’t shut out the league this year. No way. Someone will pull off a win. (9 wins / 1 loss)
Gallaway’s Team – this team is a combination of parts of two teams from last year. They are rumored to have some ringers who can come in…but consistency is going to be the key. Can they keep a good team on the field for 5 weeks? The answer to that question is no, they can’t. Nor will they even try. A good game or two does not a season make. They will end up in the cellar in the West, but have a decent time doing it. (2 wins / 8 losses)
Just Look at Yourself – oh yes…JLAY is back. But, you won’t have Mike Smaha to kick around anymore. Unless you’re playing against them that is. The team is under new management and Chris Lucas is an able skipper, and a good player. Is he the magic component that this team needs to come together? He will no doubt have less team spirit than Smaha, but can he dig down and pull the talent that his team so often squandered in ’05. They have some big bats, and some real players. But…will they come with their game faces on? Time will tell. My gut says they’re a 2nd place team trapped in a 3rd place body. (3 wins / 7 losses)
Masterbatters – never seen them, never heard of them, have barely have exchanged emails with the manager. I’m picking them for second place and assuming they’ll get whalloped by the Filabusters in the playoffs. This prediction really says more about the other teams in this division than the Masterbatters. Oh wait…I just got that…Masterbatters…hilarious. (6 wins / 4 losses)
The All-Star Game
Will be a new feature for the league this year and will take place April 30th unless the celebration of Easter becomes a league issue and forces us to play a regular schedule that day. One player from each team…presumably the best player…will represent their Division in a one-game All-Star game against the other division. On the line: bragging rights, and home field advantage for the World Series. The two World Series managers from last year will manage their Divisions and also serve as the 5th rostered team member in the games. Look for the Western Division to win this in a slug-fest. Hope for wind in from center or this one could take all day.
The World Series
It looks like it just can’t be anybody except the Filabusters and FieldWorks again. FieldWorks is really going to have to game up to win the trophy this year. Barring any unforeseen changes, it’s the Filabusters winning it in a forced final game by a walk-off David Crain homer.
Really??? The Filabusters again?
I know…they’re like Duke, the Yankees, and whoever else you hate all rolled into one. Maybe David Crain will pull his groin early in the season and the chinks in the armor will show. Let’s hope. Sweep the leg…sweep the leg.
That’s all for pre-season predictions…you can blog along with me all season at www.potomacwiffleball.org.
See you Sunday!
Love,
The Commissioner
Dominic, Mar 31, 09:58 PM:
Me thinks the “Commissioner” doesnt know what he is talking about. If he thinks his team is upgraded, he has something else coming. I cant wait to watch them go 4-6 and JUST miss the playoffs.
Chris Gallaway, Mar 31, 10:07 PM:
You put Commissioner in quotes? You should only use quotes when there is some question of validity. For example, Dominic is a “manager”. When it’s beyond question, like my commissionership, you should find someplace else for the quotes. Perhaps upgraded?