July 28th, 2010 · Posted By: Black Sox · No Comments
Greetings, Glover Park Co-ed Softball faithful!
Andrew Gordon here, AKA GPCSL’s “Mr. Facebook,” with an exclusive report. With tournament weekend right around the corner, I was able to chat with closet Glover Park Co-ed Softball fanatics and musical icons Madonna and Lady GaGa the other day. If you’re wondering why you never see them at actual games, it’s because they’ve been up in the super secret Whole Foods press box (as it would turn out, divas hate rats). Given our diversity of players (read: Generational Gap), I’m happy that these two icons were able to take some time out to talk softball.
Before we get to their take on each team heading into the big weekend, I thought I’d provide a quick recap of our season. In short, this league came down to one thing: whoever screws up less will always win. Easier said than done of course, but with the absence of The Breakers’ powerhouse, this league has been wide open – that said, it all comes down to fundamentals: consistent hitting, consistent pitching, smart defense.
Anyway, Madonna and Lady GaGa are thrilled to share their thoughts on the season that was, and provide us with a musical parallel to each team’s performances thus far and their chances this weekend. For those in need of some Madonna/GaGa education, YouTube links to each song have been provided. Unless your boss is a big fan of either, I’d suggest checking them out while away from the office.
Madonna is absolutely thrilled by this team, and all of its song possibilities – “Papa Don’t Preach,” “This Used to Be My Playground” – but with the whispers that this is Crash’s last dance, we know that come nightfall Sunday we might be saying “The show is over, say goodbye…” if these rumors are, in fact, true. This is the strongest Misses team we’ve seen, possibly since I’ve been born (I’ll refrain from saying the year…), and they know the pressure is on…and Lady GaGa doesn’t think they can handle the pressure of being the statistical favorite. All the notoriety, fame, and history might put the team at a serious disadvantage – will the flashing lights of the field, all of the media attention, and repeated screenings of Ready to Play psych this team up or do the total opposite? Maybe, to quote Ms. GaGa, Crash’s mantra of “I won’t stop until that [championship trophy] is mine” will ring true all weekend long.
The rainout this past weekend was the best thing that could have happened for The Misses, as a 2nd place finish or lower would have had me making a bold prediction – and I’m pretty sure the Crescenzos would be hanging effigies of me on Calvert Street, but here it was: The Misses don’t make it to Sunday. I’m glad they won’t have to prove me wrong, but if recent history and key injuries to some of their most clutch players (The Hummers, DeCarlo) are any precursor, we may be helping ourselves on Sunday to a day-long dose of Old Style and CoCo Caray on the mic after 10:00AM - great for the league, but not for The Misses. Whether they make it all the way, or make an early exit, they’re an easy crowd favorite despite being in first place (when was the last time the league has seen that?). WOOAAHH NELLLLYY!! Odds: 7-1
Every year, we encounter the same question…and we have the same answer. Which team, win or lose, has the most fun during the tournament? It’s The Kids. Lady GaGa had these guys in mind when writing the lyrics to “Love Games” (“Let’s have some fun…”), but she hopes it’s that very song that tells the Kids that despite having the most fun, win or lose, it’s time to WIN. And they can do it.
Arguably, this was the most consistent team during the season. Combined with youth (Gomersall), experience (Gomersall), quality pitching (umm…Gomersall?), and well-tuned fundamentals, The Kids were the class of the league for a few weeks with good reason. Ciagne was killing the ball and playing a killer SS…even with a busted nose during one game! The GPCSL hall of fame has made a call out to his family for the shirt from that game, but haven’t heard back – perhaps it’s the rally shirt? The team made some key additions during the off-season, including rounding out a potent, well-skilled crop of females – Smalls still remains one of the league’s top female hitters, and Roach is playing a great 3B with some good offensive pop.
Madonna put it best, “Everybody, come on, dance and sing…” and root for The Kids. You better believe any casual GPCSL fan (and player) will want them to bring the Parker Hayes Championship Trophy to Parker Hayes’ team. Do they have the endurance to make it to the final game? We saw The Kids’ machine run out of gas (a thrilling, but heartbreaking loss to the 39ers) last year, coming one win shy of the Final Four, but as long as they’ve got their guys well rested (and Ritter does enough conditioning to prepare for frantically patrolling the outfield), they’re an easy pick for the Final Four this year. Odds: 7-1
It was tough getting the girls to stop laughing after this exchange:
Me: “Well, what are your thoughts on my team?”
Madonna: “Umm, YOUR team?”
Lady GaGa: “You actually PLAY in this league?”
Me: “Yeah, I’m on the 39ers.”
::evil laughter::
Once their bellies and my ego recovered we broke things down. Madonna had a valid point – when the 39ers are doing all the right things, winning looks so easy…but when they mess up, yikes. As noted before, if they can string together the right hits, especially with their power arsenal from both sides of the plate; keep getting consistent play out of SS extraordinaire Maas and 1B delight Nuge, and keep solid communication in the outfield; and get the battery of Gabe and McGeehan throwing strikes, this team can find it’s funk and “Get Into the Groove,” and prove their love to GPCSL championship glory.
But the better question is, courtesy of Lady GaGa, can the team play it cool? Can they make the right moves, handle the tough plays, and get the winning hand? “Russian roulette is not the same without a gun,” but when it comes to pitching, the 39ers will need to be shooters out there and throw strikes – or else it will be their downfall. We may not be able to read their Poker Faces, but if this team plays to its potential (and keeps me on the bench!), good things can happen…if not, the polar opposite. Odds: 6-1
Everybody sing it with me now: “Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah! Rom-mah-rom-mum-mah! GaGa-oo-la-la!” Surprisingly, to my knowledge, these are not new GP Softball addition Baby Bultman’s first words – however, GaGa is convinced this will be the rally call for the Free Agents as they hope to plow their way through the competition. Having been mercy-ruled in the championship game two years in a row, they want it all. With their nemesis no longer participating, many picked this team to be the 2010 Champion before the start of the season. Manager Bultman matched GaGa word for word when asked about the Agents’ desire to win this year’s tournament: “I want your ugly…I want your drama…I want it bad.” The Agents, quite often anger-driven (as evidenced by their pitcher’s intensity), want revenge! Unfortunately for GaGa, it is yet to be seen if they want both your loving in addition to revenge, but the Agents and a 2010 Championship would not necessarily write a Bad Romance – if anything, it’s almost a perfect match.
Madonna feels similar about them, but took a more technical approach. She points out their strategy has been squeezing runs out of teams for years: keep running and force the other team into making mistakes. Mistakes = runs. Runs = wins (usually). Madonna wrote “Ray of Light” after the birth of her daughter, and with so many toddlers and new-borns wandering around by the Agents’ dugout, it’s a great fit for the team. Plus, as the broadcast booth will say quite often this weekend during their games (like in Tournament’s past): SPEED KILLS. Are they still “quicker than a ray of light?” Can Fong fly his way around the bases like in tournament’s past? Can Braun bash his guys around the bases? Will they have enough diapers without having to make a Safeway run? The only thing working against this team is time and age. Sure they’ve been there before, recently AND often, and are still young…but you still have to wonder if maybe, just maybe, they’ve lost a step. Will that one step keep them from scoring the winning run(s)? Doubtful. Odds: 4-1
Madonna remembers the day like it was yesterday: Tournament Sunday, 2007. Bathed in mud, blood, and sweat, the Justice League of America celebrates their tournament championship victory. As the league’s de-facto reigning champions, the team had a lot of questions entering the season…and have even more with the tournament just days away. Can this team “repeat” despite being the same team that lost their shortstop (and Latin heartthrob) J-Franco (vs. the 39ers) and had the league bear witness to the first forfeit loss in nearly a decade (vs. the Beech Bums)? “Just like a dream, you are not what you seem.” They’ve still been swinging hot bats, with league favorite Joey JoJo nearly hitting the first GPCSL Guy Mason over-the-fence homerun the other day. Their fielding has taken a hit with the loss of Franco, but they’ve had some key people filling-in it SS, and with a solid outfield led by Jeremy and his deadly arm, along with great pitching, they’ll still keep a good amount of runs off the board. Can they summon the right power, whoever/wherever they may be, to keep their season alive through Sunday night?
Their season has truly been a voyage of self-discovery, but to quote the epic movie Cool Runnings: “Feel the rhythm, feel the ride, get set, it’s tournament time!” JLA doesn’t have to rely on mere faith to make a splash - the beat lives on each tournament with this crew, and Lady GaGa’s catchy “Alejandro” sets the mood for this team. If they keep doing what they do and don’t forget to keep up the heat, JLA could seriously over-achieve this weekend. Who’s picking them to win it all, though, for the “second time in row?” I’m with GaGa on this one: “Don’t call my name…” Odds: 7-1
Nothing dominated the pop music scene like when Lady GaGa and Beyonce collaborated on their masterpiece, “Telephone.” Nothing dominated the GPCSL like when the women of the D2s collaborated on crushing the ball, driving in runs, making great defensive plays, and at times, putting the whole weight of the team (and quite often, that was a lot!) all on their shoulders. Will the D2s of yore answer the call? With the commish himself back on the hill, adding consistency to their defensive approach, they can make some serious damage. We’ll see them Sunday, but Lady GaGa doesn’t know for how long.
One of Madonna’s favorite groups is the Spice Girls, and why not? Any role models that can encourage “Girl Power” to sweep the nation, let alone the globe, is deserving of props. She agrees with GaGa that the female veterans, but especially the new-additions will need to step it up big time if they have plans of sticking around. Will a new name emerge amongst the GPCSL women elite this weekend? We’ve seen it in tournaments past with Draper (Breakers), Ver Ploeg (Assets), and Childers (39ers). “Who’s that girl” for 2010 – will it be a D2? If the D2 men’s speed and bats we’ve come to know and love (Baker, Driscoll, Feinberg) carry them through, it may just be the veteran gals (Brown, St. Martin) after all. Odds: 8-1
Warning, high seeds: Objects in the rear-view mirror are closer than they appear. GPCSL Nation needs to take into account the tumultuous first few weeks of the season where Gary’s was without their mound stalwart, Jimmy K. Reportedly “Out for the Season,” Jimmy K, troublesome knee and all, was forced back into action. While Jimmy and Gary’s recognize the risk, as well as limited mobility from the mound, it has paid off with Gary’s making a very strong run to close the season. With consistency back on the hill (bump? Rubber slab?), the mashing (Dathon, Hughes) and the defense (TA, Quinn, Mike G) re-emerged.
Much like in the marquee music video “Express Yourself,” you can see a full head of steam coming from the Gary’s machine – in short, I would NOT want to play these guys in the first round. I guarantee you, this team “[w]on’t go for second-best, baby.” Even with last year’s early exit and this season’s early woes, they’re now playing their game and have put themselves in a great position (opening against the Beech Bums) to start tournament weekend.
What’s working against them? Talk. Based on what Lady GaGa and I have seen this year, Gary’s has definitely been the loudest team, and I don’t just mean with their bats and the league’s answer to Maria Sharapova (the power-grunt is a fan favorite…and boy does she kill that softball!). Whether barking at the umpire(s) or barking at each other, we’ve heard a lot of noise coming from Gary’s in the wrong form. If they stay “Speechless” and focus on the task at hand, they’ll leave us spectators in very much the same way. As proven in their season finale against the 39ers, if they take a line from Teddy Roosevelt – “Speak softly and carry a big stick…” – they will go far. A sleeper? Perhaps. Odds: 6-1
Hey, do you remember that time The Misses traded away one of their most consistent performers to Chico’s for pre-chewed sunflower seeds and broken bats? Remember that next season when that same player almost single-handedly booted The Misses out of the tournament on Saturday afternoon? Madonna and I present to you the tournament’s X-Factor, D. Booth. Still burning bright in Madonna’s mind from last year’s tournament is the yellow tanktop-clad Booth, circling the bases…again…and again…and again, until he and his team were finally stopped. Chico’s is often counted out early in tournaments, but manage to stick around a lot longer than people intended – and hey, they’re a great team to root for! Will the team’s collective “Lucky Star” shine bright again? Outside of Madonna’s X-Factor, they’ve got sensational, ageless pitching talent, as well as the league’s most well-studied manager in Mr. Foley. Also, who doesn’t love that orange bat?
Lady GaGa brought up a valid point – with the retirement of Breaker 88 himself, Chico’s big Tim is the sure pick for most dangerous lefty slugger in the league. Not only does he habitually pulverize the ball, but he plays a mean 3B, any lefty’s dream. There are other big bats, especially from an improved core of women, and if they all click at the same time, well, they’ve created a MONSTER. Never known as a tournament juggernaut, you cannot underestimate this crew – check under your beds when you go to sleep at night, or else you might find yourself a spectator on Sunday. Odds: 8-1
“If you gave me half the chance you’d see…” the Assets are no pushovers. People have already forgotten this team provided GPCSL Nation with one of the most thrilling tournament games of all time – a pre-Final Four showdown against The Breakers, featuring some of the greatest defensive plays of all time. They’ve still got their veteran core of savvy pitchers/fielders (Nick P, Rowand) and big bats (Ricky, Ver Ploeg, Collins), so don’t “choose to look the other way.”
Lady GaGa, however, can use some convincing. She thinks that while the talent is still there, this season the team has struggled to find momentum, and in turn, its identity. This is no jubilant Bruce Springsteen “Dancing in the Dark,” as we’ve seen this team stumble its way through a few games, desperately trying to find the light switch. They’ve got the pieces, and as long as they play smart (and keep a flashlight handy) they’ll grind out some good wins. Odds: 10-1
If this season has proven anything, it’s experience’s dominance over youth. Big time. I agree with Madonna that this team has been a great addition to the league, and while this may not have been their year, I see big things in the future. At this year’s tournament, they’ll be “touched for the very first time,” and perhaps that shot of adrenaline leads to an upset. The first time is always the roughest, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. The Beech Bums should be damn near invincible next season, having endured a number of gruesome injuries, both on and off the field.
I share Lady GaGa’s sentiment – revel in the moment. “Just dance…” Seriously, you’re all “gonna be okay,” and you’ll be making your first mark in GPCSL Tournament history – a moment you can look back on years from now, perhaps as you hoist the championship trophy. Have some fun, make some new friends, and remember that you’ll all be back here next year. Showing up is half the battle. I’m personally looking forward to seeing how these guys pan out this weekend – they’ve got the talent, especially from their women: a gold-glove, hard-hitting 1B and an OF with range and speed reminiscent of…well…there’s no basis for comparison. Perhaps a Femme-Fong? Either way, the Beech Bums’ youthful exuberance has been a delight for the league, and we’ll all be pulling for them. Odds: 27-1
Well, that’s it from me, folks. If you made it this far, congratulations…and my most sincere apologies for ruining any productivity you may have had at work!
July 28th, 2010 · Posted By: ChicoInfieldHitter · 1 Comment
Be like T.A. You too can beef up your softball performance from eating the best peaches, pastries, cheeses, veggies and other locally-grown yummy foods.
Lauren Biel of the Glover Park-Burleith Farmer’s Market provided us with a nice pile of $2 off coupons for any purchases at our neighborhood’s non-profit market. Coupons are for GPCSL players and fans.
Grab a coupon from the back of the backstop and head down to the market when you’re taking a break. Coupons will be placed there some time during Tourney Game #1 on Saturday. Limited supply (40 coupons).
The Farmer’s Market is across from Social Safeway (Wisconsin Avenue @ 34th Street). Open Saturday 9am - 1pm.
Disclaimer: Not all players who eat organic foods will look, act or perform like T.A. His results are not typical. Consult your physician before ingesting large quantities of healthy food or otherwise trying to become like T.A.
Normally at this time of the year I do my famous or infamous tournament preview in which I analyze each team’s strengths and weaknesses using the latest tools of the sabermetricians such as OPS, VORP, UHZ, HGH and all that crap in order to construct a fair assessment of a team’s chances in our tournament such as making it to Sunday; being in the FF and wining it all. Over the last 12 years this in-depth analysis always has me predicting the Breakers as the team with the best chance to win it all. Now in fairness I didn’t always follow my predictive tools when betting on the tournament and of course I hardly ever wanted them to win but I always predicted them to win despite the paranoia/bias expressed about my preview from the Breaker camp particularly Husker88 and AC. But this year, my last in the League, I am leaving predictions in the far more capable hands of those who have written already like MW, JL, and the soon to be published Lady Gag/Madonna chronicles. First of all what could I add and second of all the published tomes have been brilliant. So I will chat about things and the nuances of all the teams and let the chips fall may they will.
Taking TA’s theme of the “King is Dead” and a new King will be crowned as well as the idea that the GPCSL is like the NFL this year, that is every team has a “fair” chance to win the tournament, let me just say that makes good copy and good sports talk radio chatter but in fact it is BS. The Beech Bums will not win because in the previous 27 tournaments (there was no tournament in 1982) only one first year team, the Free Agents, ever won it all and they were more like an all-star team than a traditional first year team. So Beech Bums maybe in 2011. Of the remaining teams only JLA nee the Lazy Lawyers (8) and the Free Agents (1) have ever won the tournament. In fact in the history of the League only 6 teams have ever won the tournament: C&P (1); Lazy Lawyers/JLA (8); New Crew (5); Potatoheads (2); Breakers (10) and Agents (1). So history says that the winless streaks of the Misses, D2’s, Assets, Niners, Kids, Chico’s, Gary’s are more likely to continue than to end.
This group of perennial non-winners can be broken down into two categories: the Old Guard and the GPCSL expansion era teams. The Kids were one of the first of the expansion era teams from 1988 when the GPCSL had its ill-conceived venture into a 12 team league. Historically bad the Kids have changed coaches/managers/shirts/sponsors as often as the ML team they have been most like, our own Washington Natinals. The Kids have never played in the Finals but they are not “Larry’s Kids”; any longer. Chico’s an end of the expansion era of the 90’s team has played in the Finals as the sacrificial lamb for the Breakers and remind one of the Colorado Rockies. Gary’s born of hubris from the minds of Chris Hughes, Matt Bixler, John Carpenter, Mike Gummey and Dan (?) are like the Rays close once or twice but couldn’t close the deal. Who is a potential winner from this group? The Kids baby.
In the Old Guard there has been nothing but heartbreak for all but the D2’s. The 2’s, one of the two last original teams, have never played in the finals but spawned the New Crew and the Breakers real powerhouses. The 2’s are distinguished for a roll call of coaches/managers almost as long as the members of Congress currently charged with ethic violations: Bob Emertiz and the Workers Collective, Pete Carlson, Felix, Al C, Bob Byrne, Tony Mason, and Nick C and I am sure I have forgotten a few. Good sometimes and bad other times the 2’s are always interesting. Sorry to say the 27 year drought is not likely to end in 2010. Then there are the Misses, the second of the OG’s and with the last player from 1982 (me baby), the Misses have been under the “family” ownership of the Crescenzo’s since their inception grinding out great parties and profits for the family but never wining it all though they played for the title in 1987 and 1989. Agonizingly close in both those years but couldn’t close the deal falling to the Lords of the GPCSL, the Lawyers, and the two time wonders the Potatoheads in 1989 as the long gone Jerry Sanz made the greatest game saving catch in tournament history.A long history of ups and downs in the tournament with as many 2 and outs as any team. Ownership of the Misses will pass on after the 2010 season but will the curse? Next comes the Assets a team born in 1983 that has played for it all 2-3 times and probably should have a few times more. The Assets remind MCFC of the Giants, a team that has been in the desert a long time but largely due to its own devices. Runner-ups in the mid-80’s two times and once in the 90’s it remains to be seen if they can make noise this year. Now we come to the Cubs of the GPCSL, the Niners, who have come so close but always fell short. Born in 1984 they were contenders by 1985 and in 1986 had the tournament won. Playing as the undefeated team in the old double elimination format the Niners led by the indomitable JJ Dignan (RIP) had the Lawyers, the three time defending champs beaten. But Jimmy Pierce dropped a simple 2 out throw at first and the LL rallied to win that game and the last game and like the Cubs in 2003 the Niners snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. That crusher started a run over the next 10 years where the Niners were the bridesmaid more than any other team. Fortunately for the 2010 Niners no players from those haunted years remain but on the other hand the Niners have been missing from the Finals for a long, long time. So are there any contenders from the Old Guard? MCFC picks the Niners and of course his own team, the Misses who he feels are in an up year.
So all that being said who will win it all? Don’t know but believe the winner will come from this group of teams: Niners, Agents, JLA, Misses, Kids. Is that NFL-like parity? No these were the five best teams in the League this year and one is likely to outlast the other 9 teams. But before I put an end to this Last Round-up a little good natured examination of each team #1-#10.
#1 Misses:
What They Bring to the Party: Cubs corn hole boards; mass quantities of Old Style and PBR; Coco Caray; the team party on Saturday night of the tourney; a blend of youth and enthusiasm and age and cunning; the best #1-2 hitters in the League this year; top of the order speed: 4 one run W’s this year.
Missing from the Tool Kit: Two starters; a recent big time tournament W; LH hitters
#2 Kids:
What They Bring to the Party: Karma from last year’s tourney and this season’s success; deep depth at pitcher; a roster big enough to make a SEC coach proud; great food and micro-brews; youth that cancels out the age of some players; Larry.
Missing from Tool Kit: Consistent defense; a HR threat
#3 Niners:
What They Bring to Party: Bourbon sponsorship; great women players; some big LH boppers; grizzled veterans; Gabe and his band of renown; Whitey.
Missing from Tool Kit: Consistent pitching; a history of tournament pedigree.
#4 Free Agents:
What They Bring to the Party: Speed; LH and opposite field power; Lisa M; good D; tournament confidence; their own personal trainer; lots of babies and dogs; an original member of Oreo.
Missing from Tool Kit: Second pitcher if problem with Nuke LaRoosh
#5 JLA:
What They Bring to Party: Jagger; knee braces; great tournament pedigree; 2008; mental toughness; spray hitters; another original member of Oreo; SeaBass; the Conte kids.
Missing from Tool Kit: Team speed; consistent offense
#6 D2’s:
What They Bring to Party: Big boppers and big flys; Muscles; good women players; Cigars; LH hitters; NickC; good attitude.
Missing from Tool Kit: Baseball IQ; line drives; consistent D; good tournament vibes.
#7 Gary’s:
What They Bring to Party: Gummey; the Kiernan mob; another original member of Oreo; music; most players staying at Savoy; the long ball; D; unexplained cockiness.
Missing from Tool Kit: A second pitcher; small ball; runs/game; big time tournament confidence.
#8 Chico’s:
What They Bring to Party: Confidence beyond their W/L record; TT; LH power; tournament pedigree; great tents; Mitch the Wanderer.
Missing from Tool Kit: Runs/game; overall team speed.
#9 Assets:
What They Bring to Party: Feistiness; big sticks; good women; lots of water; NP
Missing from Tool Kit: Recent tournament success; a second pitcher; consistent D; runs/game.
#10 Beech Bums:
What They Bring to Party: A great name; enthusiasm; the promise of the future; speed; beer drinking ability.
Missing from Tool Kit: Experience; enough talent after the first six or seven on roster; a scorebook; knowledge of rules; a second pitcher.
So there it is folks, The Last Round-up from yours truly.
July 22nd, 2010 · Posted By: ChicoInfieldHitter · No Comments
Those who don’t have the wit to match the prose of joey jo jo shabadoo or the time on our hands to rival t.a.’s game watching marathons can only look at the numbers and hope that something interesting floats to the top.
Is it too early to do the numbers with one game left in the season? Too late?
Anyway, here’s some observations based on a pencil and paper approach to statistics. All mistakes are mine and should result in a thorough flogging in the comments. And, please don’t blame my math errors on Ryan.
Biggest climb in Tourney seed versus last year
Kids: +7 spots (from 9 to 2)
Biggest drop in Tourney seed versus last year
D2’s -4 spots (from 2 to 6)
Gary’s -4 spots (from 3 to 7)
Most runs against top seeded team (Misses)
Agents 18 (still lost)
Chico’s 17 (still lost)
Fewest runs against bottom seeded team (Beach Bums)
July 20th, 2010 · Posted By: joey jo jo shabadoo · 1 Comment
With the greatest show currently on television scheduled to make its return this week, here’s an end-of-season analysis in the spirit of Mad Men. Throw some Swanson’s frozen dinners in the oven for the kids (peel the foil off the cherry cobbler), light yourself a Lucky Strike, mix up a batch of martinis, put a bossa nova album on the turntable and enjoy.
39ers: Don Draper
If you’ve been paying attention this year, this is the team you don’t want to face in the tourney. Calm, cool, collected, stoic, unflappable…but their arsenal can run roughshod over you. They have pitching, defense, and a murderers row of lefty bats. Let your guard down during a three martini lunch and BAM! You’re down 8 runs against this line-up. Just like Mr. Draper, they have assumed a new identity in stark contrast to their early GPCSL life. Dick Whitman is dead. If the Niners keep their focus on the ad business, they’ll be top dog in this new world of Sterling Cooper for a long time. Odds: 4-1
Near Misses: Joan Harris
This old girl has been around the block and knows where all the bodies are buried at Sterling Cooper/GPCSL. Folks look to her for a good time, but make no mistake - she’s all business. The question is, which Joan shows up at tournament time? The silent puppet master who lets you think you’re in control while she orchestrates your demise with a smile? Or the party girl who can go to pieces when passions run high. Odds: 8-1
Gary’s: Betty Draper
Looking at this roster and line-up, this team has it all. Surely, it’s a charmed life full of lunches at the country club, equestrian lessons, tennis, and vodka gimlets during the third trimester. But there’s still that longing for the salad days of fashion modeling and sorority parties. After sleepwalking through the first part of the season, she’s starting to realize all she has and take control of her own life. However, she needs to realize that she often lacks direction without the daddy figure leading the way (i.e., Jim Kiernan). Odds: 6-1
Larry’s Kids: Paul Kinsey
Much like Paul is at a crossroads in his advertising career, this team needs to reconcile its artsy, left-leaning, free love, beatnik, intelligentsia roots with its newfound killer corporate instinct. In the past, they were all too happy for a tournament Saturday retreat to their microbrews, Frisbee, and bluegrass music. However, a few years in the Madison Avenue jungle and a taste of power can turn even the staunchest Marx into a power-hungry Milken. No longer “softball gratia softballis,” this team now keeps score. Odds: 6-1
JLA: Bert Cooper
This GPCSL old timer has done and seen it all. He stays relevant thanks to his savvy, muscle memory, and knowing the game better than anyone. The question is how much he can still call the shots at Sterling Cooper and if he has the gumption to finish his Metamucil, get off his Asian themed couch, put his slipper-cleats on, and get in the mix. Ignore him at your peril, but don’t be surprised if he wears down. Odds: 9-1
Beech Bums: Peggy Olson
It’s always tough for the new girl in the secretary pool, and the Bums are taking their requisite 1st year lumps in the GPCSL. But we’ve seen heart, resilience, and genuine talent as they climb the corporate ladder. They will be the crowd favorites during the tourney and playing with youthful abandon. This year’s shy receptionist who rides the bus in from Brooklyn is next year’s take-no-prisoners woman who lands accounts and occupies the window office. Odds: 35-1
Capital Assets: Harry Crane
Ok, how about some respect here? Harry deserves credit for startign the media/TV department at Sterling Cooper. Similarly, the Assets don’t get the props they deserve for field and logistics management, roster oversight, and keeping the league afloat. So what if Harry’s not as polished as Sterling or Draper? He’s got the talent and the drive. But domestic issues remain the biggest obstacle. Trouble with the Missus often has Harry sleeping on the office couch – and the Assets are known to have a family squabble or two at inopportune moments. Odds: 10-1
Free Agents: Roger Sterling
Just like Roger, this team knows what it’s like to have your name on the front door (or trophy) and will do everything necessary to keep it there. The silver fox can make winning look too easy and the Free Agents will help themselves to an extra base as readily as Roger helps himself to another martini or the new gal in the steno pool. Odds: 4-1
Chico’s: Duck Phillips
There’s no substitute for experience, with that experience comes the learned art of misdirection. Just like Duck is always sizing up the game and throwing red herrings, the Bail Bondsmen will keep you guessing. Think Jim will throw you a fat pitch when you’re ahead in the count? Nope, he’s floating a knuckler away. Think you can shorten up on JD in the outfield? Nope, he’s shooting the centerfield gap. Their weakness? Well, it’s tough to make deals in the ad business when you’re a teetotaler and Duck is at his best when the drinks are strong and abundant. Chico’s offense needs to be similarly potent: more boilermaker than Shirley Temple. Odds: 11-1.
D2s: Pete Campbell
Pete is desperate to get that corner office and take his rightful place among the giants of Madison Avenue. He’s Cassius-like in his leanness and hunger and the D2s take several pages from the Pete Campbell book: be opportunistic, find your opponent’s weakness, and strike. They’re always in the running to land the big-time clients, just like the D2s are always in the mix late in the tournament. With the pressure on to live up to everyone’s expectations, is this the year they get Bethlehem Steel or American Airlines to sign on the dotted line? Or is it another year of settling for Clearasil? Odds: 9-1
July 17th, 2010 · Posted By: ChicoInfieldHitter · 3 Comments
A second round of rainouts for the Week 7 games rescheduled for a Week 12 double header means that we will not see that match-up that could have made history: Chico’s vs. Beach Bums. The unpredictable Chico’s team looked at this game to break what has become a six-game slide. The Beach Bums were chomping at the bit for a shot at their first (non-forfeit) victory. Thanks to the rain, this match-up will not happen.
With the officially shortened season, each team only has two weeks until the Tourney. The home stretch is in sight and therefore it’s time to revisit Ryan’s “Mid Season Tournament Odds” from June 16th.
At this stage in the season, momentum and wins against top teams mean everything. Tourney seed, season record and runs per game are all overrated stats in this sports analyst’s world.
The teams to watch purely based on momentum during the past four games are the Niners and Gary’s with four victories apiece, along with the Misses and JLA each earning three victories. At the other end, Chico’s and Beach Bums have lost their last four, while Agents and Kids each lost three.
What really sets apart two teams from the rest is only apparent when you look at who each team has played during the past four weeks. All wins are not created equal. Victories against “Top Five Teams” (Misses, Agents, Kids, Niners, JLA) show that a team can win tough games. Niners and JLA are the teams to watch. Niners boast three victories against tough teams (JLA, Kids, Agents) during the past four weeks. JLA has beat two top teams (Kids Agents, Misses). These two teams look like they can slay any higher-seeded dragon, even if Niners and JLA don’t walk into the Tourney as the top seed.
Notes for this week:
There’s big potential for upsets this weekend as teams shuffle rosters to ensure that enough players qualify for the Tourney. Three out of five games have a “Top Five Team” playing a below-.500 team.
Game to watch is clearly the opener: Misses at Agents. Both teams are coming off one-run decisions. Niners edged Agents (6-5) and Misses outlasted Chico’s (18-17).
July 13th, 2010 · Posted By: ChicoInfieldHitter · No Comments
The weekend had a Tourney feel to it with two days of games scheduled, a pair of umpires, a case of fancy new softballs and a special appearance from a big Breaker alum.
Looks can be deceiving. Mother Nature told the Commish that it wasn’t the time for Saturday games… yet. The umpires’ calls were not twice as good, especially once Umpire Mark pondered aloud whether certain calls could get him home in time for a new episode of “Real Housewives of New Jersey.” The bright yellow softballs, freshly driving up the US trade deficit with China, were mushy as Rocklands corn pudding. And, attention was drawn away from the Breakers guest appearance now that the battle-hardened Beach Bums are barely a few years off from taking the Breakers’ place in the record books.
All four predictions from last week’s posting were laced with some truth. España ganó, pero solamente por un gol. Niners vs. Agents turned into the grudge match of the week with the Niners earning a split series for the season after a 6-5 victory. JLA is back on the path to greatness with strong momentum, beating the D2’s by five runs (12-7). Per the prediction, we got more than our share of scattered showers on Saturday.
Assets and Gary’s, with solid victories, clawed upward in the battle out of the bottom four seeds. Assets continued to hold off the Beach Bums’ quest for a first victory (16-5). Gary’s posted an impressive drubbing of a “top four” team by knocking off the Kids (12-7).
The unexpected action for the week started at 8:20 pm with a Crash-less Misses taking on the up and down Chico’s. The Commish and umpires huddled to verify that Crash could call plays into the game from a secure offsite location using a sophisticated NFL-style intercom system. Ryan tweaked the batting order and mustered all the Chico’s bats for the highest run total of the year. In the end, the Misses won (18-17) with a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh.
Big changes in the standings came out of the weekend:
Misses earned sole possession of first place.
Niners broke away from the Agents and Kids for a solid second place.
JLA joins the Agents and Kids in a tie for third place.
