Big League WIFFLE Ball News

It is nearly August.  This is an exciting time for WIFFLEball.  Qualifiers for the bigger year-end tournaments for various leagues are heating up, the championship season is around the corner and there are plenty of results to analyze.   This article will briefly discuss some of the major happenings in the WIFFLE world as well as offer some midseason power rankings and awards.  As always, your comments are welcomed and desired, but please keep them positive and clean.

 

BLWB NEWS:

For those of you who don’t know, Benas and Euro J-Rod have been hard at work in an effort to expand the WIFFLEball opportunities in New England and bring the format to other parts of the country.  While much of their hard work will likely manifest itself next year, it has still been a banner year for BLWB.

 BLWB took the show on the road to Wisconsin a couple of weeks ago, and you can see the smiling faces of the WIFFLE warriors of the Midwest in the results section.   BLWB has many more national events planned over the next year, ensuring that the game and the format will continue to grow.  While it is likely that the players from new regions are not ready to handle to incredible talent of the New England region, it would be interesting to see some matchups.  Wiffle-Up has made an effort to determine a true national slow-pitch champion for years, but heavy last-minute tournament cancellations, player complaints regarding format and management, a tendency to force slow-pitch teams to play fast-pitch with no warning and other problems have haunted the organization.   BLWB appears ready to fill the void going forward.  But a big congrats to the winners in Wisconsin.  I hope that next year we can all get together and see what region can dominate the medium-pitch WIFFLE ball world. 

 

Wiffle In the Olympics

 Due to tireless work by Benas and Euro J-Rod, WIFFLEball made its first appearance at the Nutmeg state games this year.  For those of you who don’t know about the Nutmeg games, it is an Olympic-themed celebration of sports in Connecticut complete with opening ceremonies and medal presentations.  I wasn’t expecting much because the tournament was in direct competition with NEWA Stoughton, but the turnout was very good.  Veteran squads Doom, Absolute Gunners, Krusty’s Kids, Bronx Iron Lungs, Night Wiffs and Lou’s Diamonds were all there, as were a healthy number of new teams with considerable talent.  At the end of the day, the Blue Razors snuck past Lou’s Diamonds 1-0 to advance to the medal round and take bronze.  Doom dealt another heartbreaking loss to the Absolute Gunners, taking the final 9-8. 

This tournament was about more than results.  It was exciting to play new teams, many of which were much better than expected.  The Nutmeg Games officials on site and the beautiful Olympic-style medals for winning teams gave the event a very serious feel, and I know all of the teams, mine included, were busting their tails to take one of those shiny medals home.  As usual, the Diamonds were one game away from the goal, and the cream rose to the top with a Doom/Gunner final.  Also present was a professional sports photographer who got some unbelievable shots.  I got a chance to see some of them on site, and his work was absolutely top-notch.  Keep your eyes open for these photos.  The man was so good he even had the Animal looking like an actual athlete (okay, closer to an actual athlete).  In my opinion, this event was the best BLWB has ever held, and it is sure to grow next year, further evidence that BLWB is really hitting its stride.

 

And now for my midseason review.  These rankings and awards were compiled by secret ballot.  In fact, the ballot was so secret only I knew about it.  If something in this review bothers you, I invite you to post a response.  I will then respond to your response by calling you a moron and we will all be better for it.

 

MIDEASON POWER RANKINGS

5.  NIFF

 Rob “Wiffman” Piervananzi has been making the trip from New York, where he is already a WIFFLE legend, with regularity this year.  Playing with various partners,  Wiffman has shown a mastery of the strike zone when pitching and a terrifying bat when at the plate.  Niff has been on the Fast Plastic circuit for some time and has competed at the national finals in Texas.  This year, obviously recognizing the strength of the New England region, Niff has been spotted playing numerous BLWB tournaments as well as the world-famous Goldenstick fast pitch league, and the results speak for themselves.  Niff has taken money in several tournaments, winning two by my count.  Members of the squad have also become key components of successful Goldenstick teams.  Niff playing a more complete New England schedule makes the tournaments more difficult for everyone, but we are a better region for it. 

 

4.  The Ego Squad

 At the first tournament this year, the Diamonds advanced to the second round of the playoffs only to lose a tight game to a group that we thought was a new team.  We beat ourselves up pretty badly over the loss, bemoaning the fact that we had wasted a “good draw.”  Well, as it turns out Ego Squad is neither new nor a good draw.  Pitching ace Ryan of the Squad informed me that they have been playing intermittently for years but have only committed to a full schedule this year.  It looks like they made the right choice.  The can bash the ball, field with the best of them and Ryan’s pitching can be shut-down nasty.  Their results have been spectacular, and the cashes are starting to add up.  On top of all of that, they are gentlemen to play against and playing them is always fun.  With a full year or two under their belts, the sky is the limit for this team.  Look for them to make some noise at the NEWA finals this year, at least until they meet the Diamonds who are ready to avenge their 0-2 record.

 

3.  Absolute Gunners

 It has been an interesting year for these WIFFLE mainstays.  They spent a good deal of the last half of last year stumbling around without an identity after their ace pitcher, Junker (who used to share a truck with McHugh-  hmmmmm) moved down south to learn what it felt like to be the smartest person in an entire state.   To say that the team has rebounded is a disgusting understatement.  Pitcher Matt McHugh had a label of choking under pressure and removing himself from close games late, even after so little as a single walk.  Knowing he had to improve his stuff and his ability to compete under pressure, McHugh came out with guns blazing this year.  The entire WIFFLE community expected McHugh to be a massive failure as an ace pitcher, but he has proven them wrong.  He has shown he has the stuff to take it deep into tournaments.  At the plate, the Gunners are a nightmare to deal with.  Merrifield has long been a solid lefty power hitter, and the addition of Gerry Calca, formerly of DWPH has really made the difference.  The Gunners have been in seemingly every final 4 this year, winning a  couple and posting numerous runner-up finishes.  They have undoubtedly cashed more this year than in their entire history.  However, if the Gunners want to crack the top two on this list, they have to prove that they can win the big games against the big teams.  The Gunners have squandered several championship opportunities, including two over the past two weeks, dropping the gold-medal game to Doom 9-8 and losing to lightly-regarded Plastic Jihad in the HRL finals (a loss that they avenged yesterday).  If this team starts winning more of the many finals they reach, they could potentially top this list.  Any way you slice it, this season has been a banner one for the Gunners, and it has to feel satisfying considering how many doubted their merits.

 

2.  DOOM

  MY GOD!  How could I not put the boys of DOOM in the top spot?  Could it be a personal vendetta?  Maybe?  could it be that I am trying to stir up controversy?  Perhaps.  But in reality it is none of the above.  I have not lost my mind.  There is no WIFFLEball team in the region, perhaps in the country with the history and pedigree of DOOM.  DOOM has won over 75 tournaments.  DOOM has the best players in the region lined up waiting for a phone call from Trotta to join the team for a day, a week, or a career.  Trotta knows every trick in the book, Dallas Mall is as outstanding a pure athlete as you will see out there, and absolutely nobody wants to look at the draw and see DOOM in their half.  Be that as it may, it sure seems like we are watching DOOM take the Walk of Shame to the parking lot more frequently this year.  Not only has DOOM failed to qualify for the playoffs at least once, but they are losing more divisional games than ever before.  Sure, it must be tough to keep firing at 100% in every round robin game when you have been winning as much as they have for so long, but if you want to top this list that is precisely what you need to do.  Perhaps DOOM is a victim of unrealistic expectations given all they have done in the past.  After all, they have won many tournaments this year, and any team not named DOOM would be thrilled with the season.  But breakout performances from younger teams highlight DOOM’s age, and as with any sport there is going to be a small slip as the body just doesn’t respond like it once did.   DOOM even lost an elimination playoff game to Lou’s Diamonds this year.  It is safe to say that that wouldn’t have happened 2-3 years ago.  Doom is also heavily involved in many slow-pitch formats, tournament organization, multiple Goldenstick teams and Fast Plastic.  It could be that they are stretching themselves too thin given their age.  It wouldn’t surprise me in DOOM follows its gold medal performance with a string of tournament victories, and if they do DOOM will be right back on top.  For now, though, they are number two.  To see the gap closing, likely because of age, must be painful for Trotta, but like I said, they are by no means done and they are still scarier to face than any other team.  And number two isn’t bad at all.

 

1.  Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum

  It is finally time for the Yo Ho men to stand tall at the top of the WIFFLE mountain.  This is a team that knows how to close the deal.  After winning several times at the end of last year and placing 3rd to DOOM’s 8th at the Wiffle-Up World Finals, Yo Ho has been giving the WIFFLE world a pounding.  Russ is a top-level pitcher who can take them deep in any tournament.  Kyle is a HUGE lefty bat and is also the most athletic fat person I have ever seen.  He can run, field, and pitch, but he is a hitter first and foremost.  His bat is so scary that Trotta intentionally walked him five times at the recent DOOM random pitch exhibition tournament.  That’s right, 5 intentional passes at an exhibition.  Trotta won the game, but may have lost much more by showing weakness to a team that is chasing, and, in the opinion of this reporter, caught his own.   Having played against him numerous times, I can attest to the fact that there is no pitch Kyle can’t hit hard.  Most importantly, Yo Ho knows how to close the deal and win tournaments when given the chance.   There are many specialist teams in Wiffle today.  Many teams are successful in a NEWA-style foul ball K yellow bat tournament but wilt under the increased demands of a broader format.  Some only win in metal bat tournaments.  Some can’t win with unscuffed balls.  When interviewing Kyle, the Yo Ho characteristic of which he is most proud is their ability to win over all formats.  They play anyone, anywhere by any rules, and they prove themselves the better team time and time again.  Yo Ho are also great sportsmen.  Kyle’s laid-back attitude belies his fiery competitiveness.  It is a pleasure to see someone play the game with such skill and with such class.  Many of the younger teams could learn a thing or two from him.  I congratulate Yo Ho Ho on the top spot in these rankings as they certainly deserve it.

 

DISAPPOINTING TEAMS

 

Whitey Whackers

 The Whackers have been on the scene for some time, and anyone who has been around knows that they can play.  Star pitcher Andy Grady has led them to some incredible results in the past, and can be one of the best pitchers in all of medium pitch at times.  I know this because he moonlights as a pitcher for Lou’s Diamonds occasionally and has been spectacular.  His teammates can pound the ball and give him all the runs he needs.  Sadly, this has been a down year for the Whackers, mostly because they have been playing without Grady.  A brutal Goldenstick schedule has caused shoulder problems for the ace, and marriage plans have caused further unavailability.  The rest of the Whackers have fought bravely in his absence, but despite their offensive ability, they simply aren’t a threat to win without Grady.  the highlight of the year so far has been a spectacular runner-up finish at the penultimate NEWA tournament, where Grady pitched through the pain and the Whackers put up runs at an impressive rate.  Sadly, we would expect even more from a full squad at full strength.  This has been a tough year for the Whackers, but if Andy comes back from his injury and rededicates himself to the medium-pitch circuit, they could be a top-5 team.  A final note:  While it may be a down year for the Whackers, it is still an up year for Andy Grady.  His fiance is a pleasure and tricking her into marrying him is more impressive than winning 100 WIFFLEball games in a row.  Well played, Andy.

 

Waaaaayback!

  This is a team that has been disappointing only because of the number of tournaments they have played.   Rumor has it that this veteran squad will be breaking up this year as its members disperse about the country teaching physics and righting wrongs.  Given that, we were hoping to see more of them this year.  What we have seen has been more than impressive.  Waaayback made the finals of the massive Wifflerock tournament with a display of precise pitching and timely hitting that would impress anyone.  They followed that result with a final 4 appearance at NEWA Stoughton, cementing themselves as a constant contender.  However, the team seems to have decided that they are a foul ball strikeout specialist team and have played a reduced schedule.  Given that they have been a New England WIFFLE mainstay for years, it is disappointing to have seen so little of them, particularly given the quality of their results when they play.  When Waaayback puts down the yellow sticks for good, it will be a sad day for the WIFFLE community.  Very few teams are as well-liked and highly regarded.  It is truly a pleasure to play them every single time.

 

Aggrocrag

 The Crag exploded onto the scene last year and put together an incredible rookie campaign.  This year, a reduced schedule and some uninspired performances have been disappointing.  I still believe that they are a top team and will do major damage in the future, but their lack of a truly outstanding result this year stands in stark contrast to their numerous money finishes last year.  I still expect them to survive the sophomore slump and return to greatness.

 

Lou’s Diamonds

 As much as it pains me to put my own team on this list, it can’t be avoided.  After struggling for 2 years doing very little impressive work, the Diamonds had a breakout season in 2007.  2 tournament victories and two other finals gave notice to the WIFFLE world that the Diamonds had made the transition to become a top team.  Perhaps the key to the downfall of the Diamonds can be traced to the 2007 WiffleUp World Finals.  Against a truly elite and stacked field, the Diamonds found themselves one out away from playing in the Championship game and accomplishing more than we had ever expected.  A heartbreaking extra-innings loss there combined with another last inning, come from behind loss to Yo Ho Ho in the third place game sent the Diamonds into a tailspin from which they have not yet recovered.  It is hard to diagnose the problem.  I feel like the Diamonds pitch better than ever before and hit better than ever before.  But you can’t argue with the results, and the Diamonds have yet to make it to a final this year.  While we have posted wins over numerous top teams this year, consistency over the course of an entire tournament has been a problem, and, and they say, “It don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got that bling.”  No bling equals big disappointment.

 

Purple Haze

 I have played these guys maybe ten times over the last 3-4 years, and they simply ooze talent.  The have the bats and they have the arms.  It is simply unacceptable for a team of this caliber to have zero finals this year.  While they have played a reduced schedule and occasional internal conflict has led to them splitting up for certain tournaments, when these boys get together they can do it all.  A team like this should be expected to break through a couple of times a year, and we just haven’t seen it from them yet.

Lawnboys

The Lawnboys are not on this list because they aren’t playing well.  They have, in fact, been tearing up the fast pitch circuit both in Fast Plastic and Goldenstick.   But judging from their results from last year, including an impressive win at the NEWA finals, they are just too good to sear off medium-pitch entirely.  A team with their talent and their charisma needs to be visible in all formats.  Playing the Lawnboys is a pleasure both because of the quality of their play and their sportsmanship.  They are another of the established teams that realizes that WIFFLE can be competitive and fun, and that choosing not to be hostile or obnoxious is not tantamount to choosing to be mediocre.  They are class guys that let their WIFFLE do the talking, and talk it does.   They make this list because they have played fewer medium-pitch events this year than ever before and the game needs them both to elevate the quality of play and to serve as an example to young teams coming up who are heavy on talent but lighter on sportsmanship. 

 

Teams To Watch Out For

 

Blueberry Yum-Yums

  The Yum Yums used to be that team you were praying were in your division.  Simply put, they showed up all the time and they lost all the time.  Things are different now.  Ace pitcher and hitting machine Erik Andersen has grown stronger and smarter and is playing at such a high level that he has been openly courted by the likes of DOOM.  Erik is also tearing up the Goldenstick league and is ranked as one of the top pitchers in the fast-pitch format.  If Erik can continue to improve and if he stays true to his original teammates rather than running off to be a fill-in for a dynasty team, I see a number one ranking in this team’s future.

 

Blue Razors

 I got my first taste of the Blue razors in the quarterfinals of the Nutmeg Games.  They are outstanding, especially considering their lack of experience.  They cruised through the field to a well-deserved bronze medal.  I am hesitant to predict huge things for them just yet as it appears that their bats are going to be an issue.  Once they hit the quarters and were facing the top teams, they managed only one run against Test of the Diamonds, zero runs against Doom and only 3 runs against a mediocre pitcher in the bronze medal game.   Regardless of how they hit, however, their ace is truly an ace.  While Trotta was able to solve the mystery, undoubtedly drawing on his decade of experience, the rest of the field couldn’t.  I know for sure that he mesmerized the Diamonds with what seemed to be 35 different pitches that he could throw for strikes.  At the end of the day, this game is about pitching and they have it.  As a journalist, I feel compelled to mention that several of the Razors wore face paint at the tournament, and it was decidedly…let’s be diplomatic… uncool.  Stick with the WIFFLE and avoid the sideshow and the Razors will be a force in the coming years.

 

Beantown Boys

 The Beantown boys didn’t make the best of introductions, slamming yours truly on a message board for an obvious joke, but while their sense of humor might need work, their WIFFLE game is already there.  When they proclaimed themselves an up-and-coming young team, it many of the regulars took it with a grain of salt.  After all, many young teams have declared themselves the future before only to wilt under pressure from the big boys.  Well, there was no wilting going on at NEWA Stoughton on Saturday, and the young team with big aspirations took the first step toward greatness with a huge tournament victory, beating several accomplished teams on the way.   Let’s be clear here.  You don’t win a tournament as big as NEWA Stoughton with as many good teams as were there unless you are the real deal.  While they will need to back up their win with further solid performances, particularly in formats where foul balls aren’t strikeouts, they are undoubtedly on the scene and their win on Saturday speaks more loudly than any message board post.  Great job guys!

 

Plastic Jihad

  To say that Plastic Jihad isn’t the most beloved WIFFLE team out there is an understatement.  In fact, I found it difficult to find a former opponent that wasn’t rubbed the wrong way by them.  Many complained of excessive and unnecessary celebration, questionable rulings and questionable pitch speeds.  However, WIFFLEball isn’t a popularity contest (or the Diamonds would top the power rankings).  Jihad looked down and out in an HRL tournament 3 weeks ago, barely squeaking into the playoffs as one of the last teams to make it.  From there, it was Cinderella stuff.  Jihad took home the trophy after startling and impressive consecutive wins over  Ego Squad and Absolute Gunners, two teams in the top 5 of the power rankings.  And just to show it was no fluke, they lost a close one to the Gunners in yet another HRL final on Sunday.  This team has announced its presence with authority and now we need to sit back and wait to see if their success translates into other formats beyond HRL. 

 

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

 

 

Most Valuable Pitcher-  Adam Trotta (DOOM)

  I know that my teammates are going to groan when they see this, but to me it makes perfect sense.  If you watch Trotta pitch, it does not appear that his stuff is electric.  In the batter’s box, Trotta has a way on getting you to pop up or ground out seemingly at will.  Every single time you feel as if you are all over him and that eventually you are going to pound him.  Eventually never comes.   He has just enough late movement to keep you from squaring up on the ball, and his control is far and away the best in slow-pitch WIFFLE.  He can set you up and even pitch around you if you are hot because he knows that he will never walk anyone unless he wants to.  He constantly pitches from ahead in the count and the batter is forced to adapt to him rather than the other way around.  So many pitchers with nasty stuff could learn from Trotta.  Pound the zone first and work from there.  DOOM has won 75+ tournament titles and probably over a thousand WIFFLEball games, and I am guessing that Trotta’s pitching was integral to many of those titles.  He gets the job done week in and week out.  There may be several pitchers who can outpitch him in a given game, but over 25 or 50 games?  No way.  Winning WIFFLEball begins with solid pitching, and Trotta’s results speak for themselves.

 

Most Valuable Hitter-  Gerry Calca  (Absolute Gunners)

  Notice that the award is most valuable hitter.  Were we looking for the best hitter, Dallas and Kyle could give Gerry a good run for his money.  But Dallas plays for DOOM and they can score in other ways.  Kyle is the best slugger on Yo Ho Ho, but they too have a potent lineup.  Calca (with a nod to McHugh’s improved pitching)  is the primary reason that the Gunners have made the jump from good team to elite team.  McHugh is a good lead-off type, looking to walk first, slap the ball second, and Merrifield is a very solid lefty bat, but it seems like a disproportionate number of game-winning hits for the Gunners have come off of Gerry’s bat.  This is Gerry’s first full year with the Gunners.  After his initial team, DWPH, folded, Gerry split time last year between the Diamonds and the Gunners.  We saw first hand how scary a hitter he is.  He is rarely overmatched and he has outstanding power.  He was so good that we made a big push to sign him full-time this year, but the Gunners won that battle.  And it is hard to argue with Gerry’s choice at this point.  He has contributed to the best season in Gunner history, picking up hardware and cash in the process.  To understand his full impact, one need only look at Gunner results.   As good as McHugh has become, he is still not the pitcher that Junker was before he left.  Despite that, the addition of Gerry has turned the Gunners into a top 3 team.  The Gunners are better than ever before, and I have to give Gerry a large part of the credit.  On top of all that, he is a hilarious guy and a true sportsman.  He has a “Sweep the Leg” shirt and not only does he choke out his girlfriend in MMA exhibitions-  she likes it.  What a stud!

 

Most Valuable Defensive Player-  Andrew “Test” Morse  (Lou’s Diamonds)

 This is obviously the most difficult category to judge.  Most teams have a guy who they think fields better than anyone.  But they are wrong.  I have been at this for years and seen thousands of games, and in my opinion there is nobody even close to Test in this area.  When we started, he couldn’t even hit the ball but we kept him because he was making 10+ outs a game for us.  He can certainly hit now, but that hasn’t made him any slower in the field.  He routinely makes five or six of the best ten defensive plays in a tournament.  He has no regard for his body and he can make diving plays at full speed with astonishing regularity.  But that isn’t even what sets him apart.  What makes him different from the other fast guys out there is his first step.  Test seems to be flying toward a ball before it is even hit.  As a result, his range is seemingly limitless.  There is no doubt in my mind that having him in the field is worth more than 2 runs per game to us on average, and, for a team that sometimes struggles on the mound, his ridiculous effort in the field keeps us in games we don’t deserve to be in.   Adam Trotta knows about Test’s defense first hand.  In his random team tournament, Trotta, playing with Test, gave up a potential game-losing bomb.  Trotta didn’t even seen the explosively-acrobatic play that kept the ball in the park because his head was down, sure he had given up the home run.  Test made the play and they went on to win the title.  This is a common storyline for the Diamonds, apart from the title part, of course.  I get a chuckle every time he makes a play and the players watching ooooh and ahhhhh.  He can’t impress us anymore, because he makes just about every play humanly possible.   In formats (unlimited fouls) where fielding is a key factor to success, I have no doubt in my mind that his fielding is as valuable as a big hitter’s swing or a big pitcher’s arm.  I am also amazed that he hasn’t put himself in the hospital yet given his disregard for his own body.  His skill is something that you truly need to see week after week to appreciate.

 

 

So that is the lay of land as I see it through the first half-plus of the year.  If you didn’t get a mention, please don’t hate me.  This article is already a novella, and there simply wasn’t space to write about everyone who is doing big things out there.  Also keep an eye-out for my second-half studs and duds.  Keep doing work out there.  With championship season rapidly approaching, most of the big stories are yet to be written.  Teams that are on top can fizzle and early disappointments can become opportunities for glorious redemption.   This year has featured the best overall level of competition I have seen, and I have no doubt in my mind that there is no place on earth with better medium-pitch WIFFLEball than New England.  Thanks to everyone for making it so competitive and fun. 

 

 

 

If you’ve ever seen the Devil’s Advocate you’ll remember Pacino at the end, “Vanity, it is my favorite sin.” I reference it here because many wiffleball teams playing competitively these days are so wrapped up in themselves, that they often fail to appreciate the efforts of others. At tournaments like Wifflerock, there are many teams there who have never played before, or who may never win a Championship. Their main goal is just to have fun. For the rest of us, it’s win at all costs. Lose and feel destroyed mentally. Anger and disappointment consumes us as we ponder what might have been. And while we’re all caught up in our own plight, we fail to celebrate the achievements of our opponent.

 

During prelims last Saturday DOOM played a game vs. a team I’m sure many of you have never heard of. Come the bottom of the 6th inning their underrated pitcher had held us to only 1 run. To that point, I had yet to give up a hit and in talking to maybe the least talented kid on their squad their expectations of winning were minimal. But that doesn’t mean they were just going through the motions. They had every desire to win, and when their pitcher hit a solo to tie it up, the stage was set for the so-called “least talented” player (maybe in the whole division) to step into the box and make his mark on the game. A few seconds later he lined a ball up the middle and off Dallas’s outstretched hand, for the walk off game winning HR. Even though we were disappointed in losing the game, how could we not be happy for that kid and his team? Forget the fact, they just beat DOOM, the #1 ranked team in the tournament, but they also just hit 2 HR’s to win a game against a picther who was throwing a no no. An unforgetable accomplishment. And the kid who hit the walk off was the MOST unlikely of heroes, but to have his teammates rally around him and celebrate with him, that’s a feeling we all hope to experience.

 

Those of us who are in it to win it, fail sometimes to appreciate the other sides perspective. We fail sometimes to appreciate the true love of the game and how it can be found even in defeat> so long as our vanity doesn’t block our ability to see it.

 

WFFLE ball tournaments and leagues like GSWL, are breeding grounds for people with common interests to get together and form realtionships with one another. Some of my best friends are WIFFLE ball players. I see them almost every weekend. They have in turn become part of my extended family. Over the years I’ve come to appreciate more and more the value of having these people in my life.

 

Being part of this ever growing WIFFLE community, has been an honor and a privledge and I hope this article helps to inspire others to think less about themselves and more about the joy that comes from the experiences we all share together. Happy 4th of July!

Okay, let’s make this clear at the outset:  I am not here to bash Wifflerock, although there are many in the WIFFLE community that do.  I don’t know the inner workings of their tournament.  I will not publish conjecture and I will not make unsubstantiated conclusions.

 

That said, I just paid $100 to sign up for Wifflerock.  Every year, I tell myself I won’t, and then every year I do.

 

Wifflerock is one of the largest tournaments in New England.  Their website boasts that they have held tournaments of close to 200 teams.  So why is it that Wifflerock can draw 180 teams and BLWB can’t?  I think we need to seriously examine that issue if we are going to grow this format, because, frankly, the value for the money isn’t there at Wifflerock.  It has to be the marketing.

 

I hate it when people rip the tournaments for not returning enough prize money.  Most of the time, the comments don’t account for field costs, insurance and other hidden costs associated with holding a tournament.   But the payout structure at Wifflerock is ridiculous by any standards.  Let’s say they get 180 teams averaging $100 per team.  That means $18,000 in entry fees.  While some text on the Wifflerock homepage states, “$2,000 in prize money aren’t bad either,” unless we value a box of Twinkies at $100, the actualy number is closer to $1,900.  That means that about 10.5% of the entry fees are returned to the players in prize money, resulting in a house hold of 89.5%.  A slot machine in Vegas is illegal if it has a hold of more than 17%.  And this is a tournament with multiple sponsors.  I assume that these sponsors pick up some or all of the costs of holding and advertising the tournament. 

 

It should be noted that the website claims that some money raised by the tournament goes to charity, and I think that is wonderful.  Perhaps a majority of the $16,000 in profit goes to charity.  If that is the case, I congratulate those who run Wifflerock for their service to the community.  However, I would also recommend that if they are raising $16,000 or more for charity every year they should make that point clear on their website to eliminate some of the confusion in the community regarding where all of this extra money goes. 

 

So Wifflerock returns 10.5% in prize money.  NEWA is regularly bashed for returning a number much higher than that, and BLWB leads the region, often returning 80%, 90% and even on occasion more than 100% of the money to the players.  Yet people rush in droves to play Wifflerock while BLWB is still struggling to grow.  Why?  The organizers of Wifflerock do a competent job, but, frankly, they run one tournament a year and they are not nearly as adept at keeping the player happy as are Euro J-Rod and Benas.  Moreover, the format is designed to get games completed as quickly as possible, not to identify the best WIFFLE ball player/team (although the year Dallas won as a one-man team they probably did both).  Tiebreakers are arbitrary and confusing.  Teams advancing to elimination play are required to return on sunday morning for what might amount to one game.

 

Considering the size of Wifflerock and their realtive inexperience (one tournament a year), the organizers do a passable job.  However, the tournament offers horrible value from a financial perspective, and the format is certainly less than ideal.  So I ask again, why do they draw 180 teams while other more player-friendly tournaments struggle?  Clearly they are capturing the casual WIFFLE ball player at an impressive rate.  It absolutely has to be the advertising, because there is simply no other explanation. 

 

The organizers of other formats like BLWB need to figure out what the folks at Wifflerock are doing and copy it.  If they can draw 180 teams, imagine how many BLWB could draw with the same advertising, offering players free drinks, doughnuts, sandwiches, shirts, calendars and 80+% return in prize money.  The choice between BLWB and Wifflerock should be clear.  If they continue to draw better than BLWB and other formats, it can only be because they are playing the advertising game more intelligently.

 

And before I get inundated with support emails for Wifflerock, I want to make it absolutely clear that I don’t know what they do with the money, and, indeed, all of it might go to charity as far as I know.  My only motivation was to draw a comparison between the different formats and examine their ability to draw record crowds.

 

On a side note, and by way of follow-up on my last article, I would like to congratulate the Hustlers on their first Goldenstick victory last Sunday.  In fact, the boys were 1 run away from going 2-1 on the day.  After the jamboree experience, I was expecting it to take weeks to get a victory.  I now have hope that we might not humilate ourselves too badly.

 

For those playing Wifflerock this weekend (and clearly most of you are), good luck.  For those who are playing Wifflerock and haven’t yet tried BLWB, give it a shot.  You will be amazed by the difference.

 

It was only 3 short years ago that the Diamonds made their debut on the WIFFLE scene in Haverhill, MA.  Having dominated our pick-up game for several seasons, we were thrilled to discover an actual WIFFLE tournament with prize money.  Now we wouldn’t have to force our friends to play every weekend.  We could get some recognition and even a little cash.  Easy money. 

 

But there was a slight problem.  We overestimated our ability a little bit.  We also grossly underestimated the quality of play one might expect at a tournament.  We had no idea that there were so many WIFFLE freaks out there spending countless hours mastering the movements of a ball that sometimes seems to defy the ordinary laws of physics.  Our first ever playoff game was against WAYBACK, a solid team.  It lasted all of 6 minutes and we were off to the car wondering how the hell we could lose 10-0 so fast.  We also wondered how they made the ball do what they made it do.

 

Well, fast forward a few years and we can now make the ball do a few things, and we can even hit it when it is doing some funny things.  In fact, with wins over most of the top teams out there at one time or another, a couple of tournament wins and several finals, we could probably even be considered a good team at this point.  Not a great one, but a good one.  I think that’s fair. 

 

Some of our best moments have come while playing with Andy Grady of the Whitey Whackers.  When he needed a team for the Goldenstick prospect division, we jumped right in.  Now, we knew that the level of play there was pretty good, and we heard the stories about this guy who can throw 90 MPH and this other guy who hit 3 HRs in one game with the bat in his mouth.  We knew those guys could play, but we figured we could jump right in and compete in this elite fast-pitch league.  After all we play many of those guys on Saturdays, and we have had more success than failure recently in medium pitch tournaments. 

 

Well, it would seem that we were a bit unrealistic once again.  Much like that first tournament 3 years ago, our first Goldenstick experience did not work out well at all.  We didn’t hit much.  We didn’t pitch at all.  We dropped fly balls.  We booted grounders.  We forgot the rules.  By any reasonable standard, it was a horrific disaster.  But you know what?  I left that place with a big grin on my face.

 

It was really fun to step in there against a guy who was throwing so hard that it actually hurt to get hit by the ball.  It was fun to learn the new and complicated rules.  It was fun to play against incredible athletes with no restrictions on their play.  I left that field 100 times more impressed with many players than I was before.  I have a new respect for what they can do.   Sure, there were a few too many bare chests and you could actually taste the combination of testosterone and ego in the air, but man was it fun.

 

We went 0-4-1 on the day.  It has been a very long time since we played 5 games without winning one.  Were we a bit humiliated at times?  Absolutely.  Were we disappointed that we didn‘t perform better?  Sure.  Are we discouraged?  Absolutely not.  If we weren’t willing to take a beating and then sign back up to take another beating in another town we never would have made it this far.  Everyone can get excited about winning a tournament and a trophy and some cash.  But every weekend there is one winner and dozens of losers.  Most of the teams that play every week don’t win that many tournaments.  What keeps teams like them (and us) coming back?  I think that what we really love is a challenge to attack.  Climbing the mountain from the bottom is fun and rewarding.  It gives you a true appreciation of each step that you take as a team and as an individual.  

 

And that is the beauty of WIFFLE ball.  It is accessible to everyone.  If you have the willingness to learn, work hard and take the occasional beating, there is not much to stop you from succeeding.  I could bust my ass for 10 years and I couldn’t play middle linebacker for the Patriots.  It just isn’t in my DNA.  But I can, and have, experienced some great WIFFLE success, even on 2 horrible knees.  We can all experience the sense of accomplishment that comes from working our way from pathetic to respectable to successful. 

 

I write this because every week I see a few new teams at the tournaments.  Most of them get hammered.  Most of them don’t come back.  Maybe they think that there is no way they can get as good as the teams that have been doing this for years.  We were tempted to think that too, and now as I look back I am very happy that we didn’t take that route.  The inexperienced teams should set modest goals and keep working, and I am positive that they will see improvement every week.  Nobody ever got a feeling of accomplishment by virtue of backing down from a challenge.   It may be cliche, but it is true that things worth having are things worth working for.

 

Believe me when I tell you that if my team can work itself up the ranks, so can yours.  And in my opinion, it is a very worthwhile pursuit.   Handling disappointment, working toward a goal, winning with class, losing with class and confronting and overcoming obstacles are just a few of the things one can learn from this game, and I for one am going to keep learning.

 

As for Goldenstick…  Those guys are better at that game than I am right now, but maybe I was getting too comfortable with the game anyway.  I am excited to start at the bottom again and work my way up.  I am willing to take a few welts and I know my teammates are willing to swallow a few losses, because I know that we will have our eyes wide open just like we did the first time.  We will see what they do and how they do it.  And hopefully, I will be writing 3 years from now about the first time we played, how terrible we were, and how far we have come since then.  Whether we become Goldenstick champions or not, I am certain that the journey will be satisfying and worthwhile.  I hope that some of the teams that have had a rough first experience with BLWB will feel the same way.   Coming out to BLWB Manchester this weekend with only a $10 entry fee is a great way to keep climbing the ladder.

 

For me, Goldenstick could never replace the Saturday tournaments.  I love the medium-pitch tournaments that create a more relaxed atmosphere and allow more diverse teams to be competitive.  But I feel like I am going to learn to love the fast pitch game as well, which features great players with nothing holding them back from competing to the best of their abilities.  In my view, there is plenty of room for both in the WIFFLE world.  After all, the weekend has 2 days, doesn’t it?

 

How does that song go? 

 

Nobody said it was easy……..

I’m going back to the start.

 

Sounds like fun to me.

 

 

This past weekend BLWB held their 4th tournament of the year. It was also FP’s second. The turnout for both tournaments was small. FP drew 13 teams where BLWB only drew 9 teams. The most notable difference, was in the prize money awarded. FP paid out $500 to 1st, while BLWB gave away a remarkable $1300 to the top 3 teams.

 

It is truly a credit to Nick and Jared that despite being a new format, they are willing to go deep into their own pockets to ensure each event, regardless of turnout, lives up to the hype which promoted it. This format continues to prove it is an up and comer and ready to challenge all other formats for player appreciation. 

 

 

The rumor coming out of Wiffle-Up Hopkinton was that the veteran squad, Yo Ho HO and a Bottle of Rum called for the radar gun to detect illegal pitch speed in the playoffs. 

In  this age of selfish competition and win-at-all-costs mentality, it showed incredible sportsmanship for the members of Yo Ho to finally step up themselves to stop Russ, their own pitcher, from throwing so freaking hard.  Having heard the complaints that have mounted over the years, Yo Ho Ho stood up and did the right thing, caring more about the integrity of the game than the outcome.  In so doing, their chances at the sportsmanship award have increased almost as much as Russ’ ERA now that he has to throw 38 MPH.

 

 

 

After reading everyone’s comments, most recently Merrifields, I’ve come to the same conclusion about the best possible rule changes.

- 5 balls, 2 strikes

- scuffed balls

- unlimited fouls

- 35 mph

- no S&M or 1&D rules

There is no right or wrong answer on the swing and a miss/one and done debate. Everyone has their own personal preferences. To accomodate that best, eliminate both rules from the format. Batters will gain an advantage, but to combat that ptchers will get an extra ball to escape an influx of walks, and they’ll still be using a scuffed ball which increases movement.

As for the speed limit, I think it should still be lowered, b/c we don’t want speed deciding outs. It should be placement and movement. In WIFFLE ball, that’s what sells. Plus, given that it is suppose to be a Gentlemens game, umpired by those playing, making the speed limit more obvious to identify is what’s best. The rule is simply, if it’s too fast to make contact, it was faster than 35mph.

 

We also talked about making the game more 3-dimensional. To get defense more involved you have to be putting the ball in play more. These new rules will do that. To add incentive and drama to the defense you add double plays. BLWB says you can turn two on any pop up or ground ball, but only if someone is on base. That’s already more than most formats, but if games are running too long b/c of the new rules, then one thing to look at is being able to turn two on anything, even if no one is on base. If nothing else, it makes every put out more exciting. Only thing I wouldn’t like is a DP off of a weak grounder 10 feet in front of the plate. Nor do I like the idea of winning a game on a ball that stops 10 feet from the plate. Nothing generates more arguments then, it stopped! No it didn’t!

 

Keep your comments coming. I’m not the one who decides the rules, Nick and Jared are and this post should give them something more to think about.

So first off it was a fantastic day in Bedford on Saturday, and I have to say this it is truly amazing to see that many teams in one place playing at such a high level.  I am going to do a writeup of all of the action giving credit to the outstanding play of several teams and individuals, but I wanted to wait on that for a couple of days because I think that the issues Trotta raised in his entry should remain front and center for the wifflers to weigh in on.

 

To me it is really simple.  It isn’t about how many people were having fun Saturday.  I feel like most of us who drive all over New England (and sometimes beyond) every Saturday after working all week at some god-awful hour to do something that almost always results in some sort of pain, be it physical, psychological or both have to be having fun or it just doesn’t make sense.  I mean, it isn’t as if we can walk into a bar and say, “Did you know that I am a member of the 5th ranked Big League WIFFLE Ball team of all time, and that I once pitched 11 consecutive scoreless innings in Goldenstick league play?  We have shirts with real logos and hats.  I wear 5 knee braces at one time and I am pretty sure I need Tommy John surgery.  Would you like to be making sexy time with me now?”  Probably not.  It might work for guys like BLWB co-founder Euro J-Rod, who wears sunglasses indoors with tight jeans and a tighter shirt, but it probably won’t work for you.  My point is that ego can only be a small part of it, so there has to be some fun or we are all just mentally ill.

 

Some people really enjoy the competitive aspect of it, and get their kicks from trying to play at the highest level possible.  That’s admirable.  Hell, if my team didn’t have that attitude, we wouldn’t win any games at all, being that 2/3 of us struggle with basic mobility and none of us were ever identified by the national baseball development program, assuming that such a program exists.   I am sure every team out there has envisioned themselves winning some national title on some car trip to Hopkinton at some point.  It should be that way.

 

Above said, however, Trotta is dead on with his main point.  The goal of this thing is to make it bigger.  For the same reason that playing BLWB Bedford last weekend is more fun than playing some pick up game in the back yard with whatever warm bodies you can snag from the neighborhood, playing in bigger tournaments with bigger money and bigger draws and more potential glory and more bells and whistles would be even more fun. 

 

To grow we need to focus on the local people- the recreational wifflers.  We need 15 of those teams from Bedford playing in 15 divisions.  And besides, the only way a recreational team can become a regular team is if we get them there in the first place.  This requires, in my mind, two things.

 

The first goes to the promotion of the tournaments themseles.  By traveling from town to town, we have a tremendous opportunity to draw from different local populations, grow our tournaments and gain potential regulars.  I think too much focus is on advertising in the wiffle community and too little is on promoting in the towns themselves.  I believe that if local high schools and colleges and college towns, and YMCAs and athletic clubs were somehow able to get the information at it were presented properly, all sorts of people-  adults, kids, families would be willing to pay $20 a head to give it a shot.  If we give them a good experience, a percentage of that number will be willing to travel an hour or two next weekend to give it another go, and we can add them to the new people we can generate in the new town.  It can grow with every tournament.   What we need are ideas to get this done.

 

The second goes to actually providing them with a good experience.  Euro J-Rod and Benas do a great job with the structure, facilities, equipment, food, drinks, and general people skills, so I think we have that covered.  The question is whether our current format is perfectly-designed to achieve the goal, which is providing a stage where the top teams can play hard, competitive games to determine the best teams, and the newer players can come, have a great time, see some great play but not be so overwhelmed that we scare them away.  I can’t count the number of teams that we have destroyed in the round robin, watched get destroyed by Yo Ho Ho and Whitey WHackers, and never seen again.  These are the teams we need to capture.  And the more of them we capture, the more of them will be at the next tournament, creating more matchups between weaker teams and a greater likelihood that even more of them come back.

 

I think I like his speed limit proposition.  At this point, most of us can hit the ball at 40-45 MPH, but there were still a bunch of low-scoring games that aren’t exactly thrilling from a marketing perspective.  ANd the one team that went 0-4 in our division couldn’t hit it at all, and I wonder if they will be back.  Also, I think it is difficult to judge the difference between a 40 MPH drop and a 45MPH.  35 is not fast.  If the ball comes in fast, it isn’t 35.  Maybe I am wrong about this, but it seems to me easier to judge.  THe pitcher gets scuffed balls so the talented ones will still have the advantage of some nasty movement, and he also gets the advantage of pitching to yellow bats.  The batter gets unlimited fouls and a very manageable speed limit.  I think there will be an overall shift to more balls in play, with a greater emphasis on fielding, keeping the walks down and forcing batters not to give away outs.  Each game can be won or lost by any player on the field.  I think it sounds exciting and I think it will result in more action.  More action means more consistent interest from more people.  I also think the best teams will still rise to the top. 

 

The top teams still have many chances to play fast pitch for high stakes.  If we make this change, they also get the different, but I think equally-challenging opportunity to weave their way to the top of medium pitch tournaments using a slightly different set of skills.  I love playing this game in any format, but how would more people with names we don’t know want to play?  That’s the question. 

 

I really want to hear your thoughts on this.

 

And speaking of slower pitching, I paid $250 to GSWL today to sacrifice my body to the prospect division.  This obviously calls my judgment into serious question.

 

 

After losing to 1-man DOOM in the Finals of this most recent BLWB; Wiffman, Gongman, Boomer and Leahy were found in the parking lot taking out their frustration on the poor 2nd place trophy. It wasn’t that the trophy was undesirable, it’s what it represented….not quite good enough. So instead of going on the mantle, it became a pinata, absorbing blow after blow from the bats of the guys who finsihed second.

 

Has this sport become too competitve? Is winning all that matters? Where did the fun go? Seems like for most teams, fun takes a back seat to success. In a growing format like BLWB, we have to guard against the spirit of the sport being compramised. New teams, average teams, family teams, all play initially for the love of the game. They keep playing, b/c of how much fun they’re having. These teams will eventually make up the majority of BLWB if it’s to succeed.

 

So what do we do to maximize FUN? For me, it’s finiding a way to increase balance within the format. This weekend there were way too many 1-0 games. If the bat must be yellow ONLY, then the options become: lower the speed limit more or make the ball unscuffed.

1. An unscuffed ball moves less and will make pitchers work harder to get batters out. (due to the unlimited fouls rule)  Advantage: Hitter

2. Having scuffed balls with a lower speed limit of 35mph, allows pitchers more movement, and gives yellow weilding batters a better chance of putting the ball in play.   Advantage: Both (good balance)

 

Remember, this is all about the big picture. How do we get WIFFLE recognized Nationally? BLWB is the front runner in making this a reality. To pull it off two things need to happen. It needs to multiply in size and it needs to be marketable.

1. To grow, you must ensure every team equal opportunity to win, b/c winning does matter and to those whom it doesn’t, you still have to make it fun for them so they want to come back. Getting shut out every game won’t inspire that.

2. To be more marketable, the fans need to enjoy what they’re viewing. It needs to be exciting. The pitching needs to be crafty, not over powering. The hitting needs to be frequent, not occasional. And the defense needs to play a significant role, and that only happens when the ball is put in play.

 

To give all three elements their fair shake a rule change needs to be made. Should it be changing to unscuffed balls, or should the speed limit be reduced to 35mph? I think my opinion is obvious, but I look forward to yours.

BLWB is proud to announce its new team of writers. First is Adam “the Franchise” Trotta, Captain of DOOM, and 16 year WIFFLE pro. He will be heading up the “DOOM Blog” — covering anything that matters to WIFFLE enthusiasts. Trotta has led DOOM to 75 Tournament Championships… and shows no signs of slowing down!

Joining him is Dave “the Animal” Morse. Perhaps the most colorful WIFFLE personality in the game. He heads up the WIFFLE ball team Lou’s Diamonds. Dave is best known for his witty rebuttles and insightful observations.

Lastly, the beautiful April Lange. She will bring the charm and charisma along with frequent updates regarding the format.