Snow, Freezing Cold, Wind: First Pitch in 64 Days

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.

- posted 2010-01-30 11:44 in News

Comments

  1. Alex Filides, Jan 30, 01:38 PM:

    How about a scoring system instead of a voting system for MVP and POTW awards?

  2. Nick DiCrosta, Jan 30, 02:56 PM:

    I don’t know…after the numbers I put up last season I might take you bitches to arbitration. I’m listening to offers…

  3. Jake Tomko, Jan 31, 04:05 PM:

    The offseason has been too long. Barnburners are counting down the days till first pitch to make our run for a 2nd trophy.

  4. '09 ROY, Jan 31, 05:38 PM:

    we will win. again. we will go undefeated. again.

    and this strikeboard idea needs to get rolling.

  5. AF, Feb 1, 11:40 AM:

    Still waiting for that Shannon vs. Shannon fight. What happened there?

  6. AF, Feb 5, 03:39 PM:

    I’m ready for a Barnburners vs. Clubber Lang snowball fight in DC this weekend. Wonder if Gallaway will be down with his tent keeping stats. A video of the event would be nice as well.

  7. brian ford, Feb 17, 06:26 PM:

    I’m in.

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