This... is my Boomstick! Comparing Offensive Stats from 2012 to 2013

		Your Junk my Happy Zone
		by Brandon Corbett

Feliz Dia de Los Muertos! Let us talk about things that have come and gone. A lot was made of the bat switch this past season, and a lot of fun was had with the bat switch this past season. But what exactly did the bat switch mean when all was said and done?

The trick to comparing 2012 and 2013 stats from WSEM is that you cannot take the numbers at face value. Since, the two seasons featured a different number of teams playing, and thus a different number of games played, you must first account for that by dividing the "counting" stat categories by the number of teams involved: 8 for 2013, 10 for 2012. After doing that you will see that the number of hits per team saw a modest increase of 15.6% this season. That is just about exactly what we were looking for with the switch. It led to a league-wide batting average of .263, which falls just north of the MLB average of .253. For comparison: the WSEM average in 2012 was .226.

Stat	% change from 2012-2013
H/team	115.6
2B/team	142.0
3B/team	62.5
HR/team	171.4
TB/team	132.5
BB/team	178.0
R/team	196.7
AVG	116.4
SLG	133.5
OBP	128.7

Stat	WSEM '12	WSEM '13	MLB '13
AVG	.226	.263	.253
SLG	.360	.481	.396
OBP	.355	.457	.318
R/G	2.43	4.78	4.17
PA/R	8.61	4.92	9.13

The power numbers are where things really took off. The .037 (16.4%) increase in league batting average led to more than triple that for slugging percentage, with a league-wide jump of .121 in that stat: an increase of 33.5%. Bolstering that inflation were the number of doubles per team increasing by 42%, while the number of home runs per team saw a staggering 71.4% increase. Obviously, the bigger barreled bats account for part of the boom, but can we really find them solely responsible for the power surge? After all: "band boxes" and "tail winds" were things evidently. The fact that triples per team decreased by 37.5% this past season seems to back up the shared role that smaller fields other factors also played in the slugging increase. Now for a related, but irrelevant, fun fact: there were only 7 triples hit in the 2013 season, and each came from a different player.

One more place the bat switch was hugely successful, and my favorite stat boom to see from 2012 to 2013, is how runs per team nearly doubled this season! That 96.7% increase moved home plate from the desert littered with 15+ inning 1-0 affairs to much more fertile tracks of land. Another way to look at the run production boost is how many plate appearances came between there were per run scored. In 2012 this number was 8.61, and it dropped sharply to just 57.1% of that in 2013: 4.92. Bringing a run around to score every fifth batter instead of every eighth or ninth certainly makes for much more exciting action for the 75% of the league who are not pitchers. Plus, when you look at the minimum number of plate appearances in a game (15 for WSEM, 27 for MLB), having our PA/R be a little over half the MLB makes it much more analogous.

One thing here that does not make the game more exciting, unless you are the Mayor or Billy Beane, is the big 78% jump in walks per team. Much like the HR/team numbers and overall slugging percentage, though, the big change in this one stat only corresponds to a league-wide on-base percentage increase of 28.7%, slightly less than double the increase in league batting average. In the spirit of full disclosure, I find myself quite responsible for the large increase in walks: in 2013 I had 46 walks, which perfectly matched my number of career walks from the previous two seasons combined.

The inflated walk total seems to be something that is already remedying itself. Pushing the mound back three feet was something we knew would make pitchers adjust, and those adjustments seemed to be made as the season went on: i.e. pitchers found the zone with more practice from 48'. Figuring I needed some facts to back that statement up for this article, I ran the numbers for five random pitchers. I took their walk totals over their first five games in 2013, then compared that to the rest of their season. All but one of those five pitchers saw a decrease in walks per inning as the season went on. These four all saw double-digit percentage decreases in their walks: 13%, 17%, 25%, and a Jim Price "wow!" worthy 67%. In addition, two of them were giving up less than one walk per inning over the second half of their season. The takeaway here? Pitchers are only continuing to get better from 48', and walks will settle down.

That is essentially what we expect heading forward: the offense had an up year last year with the changes, now - with no sweeping rule changes - pitching will start to counter. Managing the quality of competition in a Wiffleball league is a balancing act. Pitching will always be the centerpiece of Wiffleball; pitching prowess is the reason the ball exists, after all. But with the majority of players in the league never toeing the rubber, it is nice to see the pitchers take a slap across the face once in awhile.

NWLA Tournament Wrap

		Coffee Time
		by Carl Coffee

Wiffleball is a tricky sport, and sometimes you can do everything right, be 100% prepared and you will still lose. I brought a team to Ohio this year that I felt had a great chance at winning, but we didn’t even come close. In fact, the WSEM flag was the first one to come down. Disappointment is a word I could use, but since I had such a great time once again at the NWLA tournament, any disappointing feelings quickly go away.

The 2012 tournament was groundbreaking, and although it was nice to walk across the street to the fields from our hotel, I believe the 2013 tournament blew 2012 out of the water. This year’s tournament had a very authentic feel at the Soccer First Complex in Dublin. The fields had better grass, the loudspeakers and jumbotron added a great feel, and the Friday night festivities were awesome. I hope next year we are able to play at the exact same location.

This year was also neat because five new leagues joined us. Unfortunately Washburn Wiffleball League had to cancel last minute because of a tragedy, but the other seven leagues from 2012 all came back. 2012 was a bit awkward since we really didn’t know many of the other leagues, but 2013 was the polar opposite. It was like a wiffle homecoming and I saw many leagues including my own talking and having fun with rival leagues like we’ve known them for 10 years.

I could go into detail on how much I enjoyed my time hanging out with each league, but I think then this article would end up just dragging on and on. The Wiffle brotherhood is a strong bond, and the NWLA tournament is really building into something special. I want to thank Chris Gallaway for his hard work to put on this event. I know a lot of the behind the scenes logistics to put this event on, but he is still able to shock me with some of the stuff he does. For example, I had no idea the jumbotron was going to be there. Thank you again to Chris and his staff and even the umpires for helping make the 2013 NWLA Tournament one to remember.

I wasn’t the only one who had a blast; here are some quotes from Big Wood players and coaches.

Favorite part of the weekend would definitely be how professional the tournament felt. From the jumbotron, to the HR derby and all-star game, to all the fields being right next to each other, it felt like the tournament was really worth something. Had a feel of a wiffleball convention with a tournament involved. - Austin Bischoff

I really loved how outgoing and friendly most other leagues were. I had a great time talking to other players about their leagues. Even as Freaky Franchise got beat by TBW they had fun with it. - Joel Crozier    I had a great time hanging out with everyone else. I liked how everyone from our different teams through the league came together and supported everyone. We were able to set aside our competition with each other and try to channel it on beating the other leagues. Too bad we fell short. - Chris Paquin    Every team was just as friendly as competitive, haha. Everything was organized to a tee, and the setup including everything from the jumbotron to the camcorders really made it feel like a big stage. - Dakota LaDouceur    The overall feeling of camaraderie among all people at the event was indescribable. Everybody from players to managers to umpires to workers were all very friendly, even during some of the most intense Wiffleball games. Even on the biggest stage, everybody had fun. - Evan Bischoff

This is the weekend I have been anxiously awaiting to arrive for just over a year. With the thoughts of how amazing the event was last year on my mind, I could only imagine what was in store for this year. It was an awesome experience to welcome in the four new leagues, and reconnect with all of the wiffleballers around the country from last year. The HR Derby and All-Star events were both great events to meet and greet the other teams. This weekend is the perfect mixture of competitive nature and having fun in a game in which we all enjoy. My favorite part of this weekend was the twelve-inning duel between Ryan Bush and Austin Bischoff, easily two of the best pitchers in the country. Although we fell short of our own expectations, the atmosphere of this weekend was absolutely unreal. The NWLA tournament always will be one my favorite weekends of the year. I can’t wait to see you all again next year, let the 362 days of preparation begin now! - Alex Shore

In the Cards '13 - #2: David Castle

David Castle came into WSEM in 2012 as part of an incredible class of rookies. Sharing a lineup card with three more of these future stars caused many to overlook the good season he had. David hit 60 points higher than the league average of .226; his 19 RBI tied for ninth in the league, and was just one behind teammate, RotY Tomlinson; David also was sixth in the league in doubles with 5. For 2013 he has switched from one of the last original 'modern era' teams to the other, and he is using that aggressive style on the basepaths to make a name for himself with the Ducks. In four games Castle has 6 stolen bases! Triple the number of any other player! He is yet to be caught, and is strutting around with all the swagger of Willy "Mayes" Hayes. It looks like the inaugural Great Lakes Stealer (name pending) is all but David's too lose; the better question may be, "will Castle ever be caught?"

Career Stats
Batting	AB	H	BB	2B	3B	HR	SF	R	RBI	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
* 2013:	13	4	6	1	0	0	0	6	0	6	0	.308	.526	.385
2012:	141	40	10	5	0	1	0	17	19	-	-	.284	.331	.340
* As of 5/9/2013

Week 1 Twatter Power Rankings

		Coffee Time
		by Carl Coffee

1.		El Diablos	(2-0, t-1st in Garcia)
		Skinner/Chandler is looking like the best 1-2 punch in the league. Oh yeah, this team also absolutely crushes the ball.
2.		Whiteford Wicked Aces	(0-0, t-1st in Ringler)
		Aces don’t play until week 3, but you know these guys are keeping an eye on the standings and should never be overlooked.
3.		Ducks	(1-1, 3rd in Garcia)
		Ducks have a sick rotation 1-4, and can rest Pearson/Constanti to keep them fresh in the late season.
4.		Holy Balls	(1-1, t-1st in Ringler)
		Paquin looked impressive in his first start, and may just be the ace this team needs.
5.		Westside Warriors	(0-0, t-1st in Ringler)
		First four games are against King Friday and the Islanders. If they aren’t 4-0 after week 2, Shore will be disappointed.
6.		Belgian Wiffles	(2-0, t-1st in Garcia)
		Captain Buhr did a fantastic job managing Belgian to a 2-0 start after Mark Brannan went down. Speaking of Mark, he looks like he could be the ace of the staff, if he can stay healthy.
7.		Islanders	(0-2, 4th in Garcia)
		Jason Hewlett was impressive in the preseason, and looked just as good on the mound and at the plate in week 1. [Ed. Note: Had Jason been able to stay to finish game two, Islanders would likely be 1-1.]
8.		King Friday	(0-2, 4th in Ringler)
		Yes, a lot of teams would lose both games to El Diablos, but I am guessing they would also have more than one total hit. Mike Myers was impressive on the mound though.

In the Cards '13 - #1: Jason Matt

"I'm not going to be the worst player in the league anymore," Jason Matt went on record saying at the first satellite tournament. So far he is delivering on that promise made to his new teammates and himself. In his first game with Belgian he has already reached one-quarter of his previous season high for hits, bettered that for RBI, and doubled his number of career doubles. His week one offensive performance has him tied for third in the league in average (.500), tied for fourth in OBP (.667), and fifth in slugging (.750). Additionally, he took the mound in relief and earned his first career win, while striking out five in three innings pitched. Looks like J-Matt is following through on leaving the bottom of the league behind. Next step: that first career home run!

Career Stats
Batting	AB	H	BB	2B	3B	HR	SF	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG
(*as of 5/2) 2013:	4	2	2	1	0	0	0	1	2	.500	.667	.750
2012:	97	7	20	0	0	0	0	7	4	.072	.231	.072
2011:	103	8	11	1	0	0	1	2	7	.078	.165	.087
Pitching	G	IP	R	H	BB	K	W	L	S	ERA	WHIP
(*as of 5/2) 2013:	1	3	2	4	3	5	1	0	0	3.33	2.33
2011:	12	38.2	61	88	30	34	0	8	1	7.89	3.05

Divided We Stand

		Your Junk my Happy Zone
		by Brandon Corbett

The knee-jerk reaction at the Winter Meeting to the 2013 divisional draw was that Ringler would again be the elite division. I remember a similar stirring about the other division, Garcia, in 2012 and look at how that turned out. Yes, one of the strongest Garcia teams left mid-season; so, let's assume they would have gone 6-2 in their remaining games against Ringler teams. That still would have seen a 39-21 advantage to Ringler. Closer? Sure. Close? Nah.

What's the point of this revisionist history lesson? Obviously, we'd never make it as fortune tellers. No matter how many nipples we had. We are terrible at predictions [unless you're talking about Commissioner Coffee on Opening Night]. Still, though, the "Ringler is the better division" mentality is running strong. Having been the second team drawn into Ringler, King Friday posted this on their Facebook wall Sunday:

"King Friday lands in the Ringler Division. Joining them are the 2012 Champions, Whitefor(d) Wicked Aces. Also, the Westside Warriors and Holy Balls are in the Ringler. It once again appears to be the tougher division, awesome....."

Note the extra two dots on that ellipsis for emphasis. That's a long, deep sigh. I also asked around a bit for people's expected W-L record between the two divisions in their upcoming 64 games. The most common response is for a 38-26 Ringler victory. The average slides marginally toward the middle at 36-28; advantage Ringler.

I'm not sure I buy this "dominant Ringler" idea, though. At least one person is with me, predicting an even 32-32 split of the series. In his words, "I actually went through each matchup individually and fully believe that it will be 32-32. These divisions are fairly even." I cannot echo that perfectly even sentiment. However, I actually see Garcia having a slight advantage.

There are two teams on that side who I can see winning a few series 4-0 and possibly taking all but one series 3-1: Ducks and El Diablos. In 2012 the Ducks took things easy during the season, knowing they'd easily make the playoffs with home field in the first round. With only four teams getting in this season, they will not be sitting back. They have also improved their rotation with the Constanti and Castle signings, and have as dangerous a hitting lineup as ever with Pearson, Dylan Braden, Nagorski and Castle. El Diablos are heavily underrated, and I think the overlooking of them is what is driving the "Ringler dominant" train. Having the bats of Tomlinson and, rookie signing, Lollio along with Skinner and Chandler Phillips on the mound makes for a very strong lineup. I fully expect El Diablos and the Ducks to be neck and neck for the Garcia pennant. Similarly to El Diablos, I think the Islanders and Belgian Wiffles are being very underrated.

On the other side, the Wicked Aces are clearly the favorites across the league to defend their championship. However, I am already eating crow on my bold ass prediction that the Warriors will win the Commissioner's Cup. The loss of Hatt and hearing the extent of uncertainty about what will be put on the field has not only stopped me from drinking the Kool-aid, it has made me spit it out all over the floor. I do not see this team as a power anymore. They now join the Balls and Friday as teams fighting to be over .500, and what results is a hand dealt to Ringler 2013 similar to that held by Garcia 2012.

I do not see it being anywhere near as one-sided as last season, but I do see Garcia chipping away at the all-time head-to-head record; going 36-28 against Ringler in 2013.

Team Tuesdays: Ducks

by  Will Smith  &  Brandon Corbett   In 2011, the Ducks (then Git r' Done) were out to show us old folks that "Parents Just Don't Understand." Some say they had a sophomore slump in 2012 as the Thunder Ducks, but they were just having fun playing the game this time around: "chillin' out, maxin, relaxin' all cool. And all (playing) some ...ball outside of the where there used to be a school." Now in 2013, the Ducks are poised to "(Get) Jiggy Wit' It" as they ascend to Ali-esque greatness and blockbuster status. While there may be some truth in 2012 being a down year for the franchise, they were successful in winning their second consecutive pennant: this time with the best record in the Garcia Division. The Ducks also held their own against their rival, and eventual 2012 Champions, the Wicked Aces: splitting the regular season series 2-2. However, in the semi-finals they were swept 3-0 and outscored 8-1 by the Aces in an absolute route. While unconfirmed, that dismantling by the Aces pitching staff seems to have set the Ducks' template for the re-assembly of their 2013 roster. The loss of Chris Lewis and, career Git-r'-Duck, Nick Braden to the upstart Holy Balls in free agency was quickly overcome with the pick ups of Mike Constanti and David Castle. The Switch to Constanti (0.56 ERA, 1.29 WHIP in 2012) is an upgrade at pitcher over Lewis (3.55 ERA, 1.42 WHIP). While Castle and N. Braden are comparable at the plate, .340 and .327 SLG respectively, Castle also adds a third pitcher capable of providing a shut down performance on the mound. That option gives the Ducks the ability to keep a dominant starter in during long games and not worry about having to shut him down for two games. Their rotation is now stocked with more arms than the Wild Wild West. D. Braden, Nagorski, and Pearson The returning Ducks - Dennis Pearson, Dylan Braden, and Josh Nagorski - still bring the thunder. D & D are perennial Bad Boys at the dish. Dylan averages 37 H and 11 HR per season; in 2012, 20 of his 39 hits were for extra bases. Dennis is the only player to have consecutive seasons with double digit home runs: 15 in 2011, 10 in 2012. He also has 91 hits over his two seasons, 40 for extra bases. It is no longer "Just the Two of (Them)", either, as Josh Hitched himself on with an impressive 2012: .333 AVG and .489 SLG with 7 2B and 5 HR. The Ducks' problem will be, as it always has been, defense behind their pitchers. True, they do make some damn nice quick reaction plays from time to time, but I, Robot in the field they are not. Consistency on routine plays, good positioning, and team speed are aspects the Ducks notoriously lack. Perhaps the most fascinating footnote in Ducks history is that they are the only WSEM team to take a first round playoff series to three games twice. You can sign your Hancock to that fact, and also that the 2013 Ducks, with their "Brand New Funk," are aiming to end that trend. "I Think I can Beat Mike Tyson" is the attitude I expect out of the Ducks this season. Will they have a third pennant locked up by Independence Day? Maybe not that soon, but come "Summertime" expect nothing other than the Ducks to have reestablished themselves as the elite of WSEM.

Equipo el Martes: El Diablos

by  David Buhr   Don't let the "El Diablos" name fool you. They're Spanish for fighting chickens all extremely nice guys. And though they're nice guys, this team will be a mighty force to be reckoned with in the 2013 season. During the offseason, El Diablos were formed by four former Belgian Wiffles and is being Captained by Mark Phillips. Mark played a few games in the 2012 season as a part of the replacement team, Seamen. Mark's numbers may not have been great in that period of time, but after playing against him, I see some serious potential for him to be a threat as both a hitter and a pitcher. Although four Wiffles were originally forming El Diablos, one left during the offseason. Losing David Castle's bat and pitching arm seems like a harsh blow to any team, but El Diablos had already been quick to pick up Dakota LaDouceur. LaDouceur provides the lineup with serious power and a consistent bat as he batted over .300 and tied for the league lead in Home Runs with 20 in the 2012 season. And though El Diablos don't necessarily need another pitcher, Dakota provides as a good backup pitcher. I had the privilege of playing on the same team as three of the players on El Diablos during the 2012 season and was sad to see them leave, but I truly enjoyed the 2012 season. Let's look at that talent. Starting with CJ Phillips, we see a kid with a power arm on the mound and some pop at the plate. All he needs is more consistent plate appearances and he'll be hitting for average too. CJ's accuracy on the mound at times was lacking, but I expect him to hone in on his control skills and to be one of the top 5 pitchers in the league next season. Craig Skinner is another great pitcher, in fact, one of the best. I believe he will definitely be the ace of El Diablos team next year. With a 7 inning perfecto against the Squirrels, another near perfect game against the Donkeys (not even going to a 3-ball count on anyone until the 5th inning!), and an ERA under 1.00 in 2012, Skinner was easily one of the top 3 pitchers in the league in 2012 and I expect he'll be better in 2013. What Skinner lacks at the plate, he more than makes up for on the mound. He has more than just a couple pitches coupled with speed and accuracy. He is my favorite to win the 2013 Clown Shu, though there will surely be some stiff competition. Along with such great pitching, El Diablos have a major force in their batting lineup in Kyle Tomlinson. Kyle seems to live by former President Teddy Roosevelt's mantra, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." That's just what Kyle did in 2012. We have a lot of talkers in WSEM, including CJ and Skinner, but Kyle quietly gets the job done. He batted .346 with 6 Home Runs as well as a great OBP and several walks helping to earn him 2012 Rookie of the Year honors. Though his offensive numbers are impressive, what often gets overlooked is Tomlinson's defensive prowess. He saved many a would-be-hit or Home Run that never seemed to get caught on film, but I saw him do it. Look out for Kyle to vie for MVP honors next season alongside Dakota LaDouceur. Overall, El Diablos is going to be a team you don't want to mess with in 2013! With potential MVP and Clown Shu candidates, I expect them to be one of the top 3 teams in the league!

Sizzlin' Griddle: Fire it up

		Offseason Sizzlin' Griddle
		prepared by  The Swedish Chef

Quintin Berries logo (2013)This year's griddle got greased during the For the Thrill festivities. The Mattseals franchise folded, Chris Paquin and Greg Franzen formed the nucleus of a new squad that played as the Quintin Berries. After an undefeated run to the Thrill championship, we now know that those two have a new franchise by the same name that will join the league in 2013. Speculation is that the other members of that one day roster - Nick Braden, Chris Lewis, and Brandon Corbett - may also return to play for the Berries in 2013. As per a league tweet from August 19th:

"The 1st move of the off-season is all but officially done. Can't be announced until 10/1, but all 3 parties involved are on board. #HugeMove"

No further developments or confirmations have been (nor can be) made public, but - if real - this sounds like it could be the deal to set the tone for the remainder of the offseason.

Corbett refuses to allow any public comment on roster moves until October, so we cannot confirm what the tweet pertains to - or even if it is legit; he has been overheard saying he hopes to make this offseason a circus, after all. It is known, however, that Corbett himself is fielding offers from multiple sources including his latest team, Belgian Wiffles, the newly formed Berries, and the Commandos. Two other big free agents are Joe Seto and Matt Murtha from the disbanded Donkeys. Likely landing spots for them include following Shore to the reformed Warriors, or joining up with the Squirrels as the team moves to Farmington.

Never one to be outdone on the open market, Carl Coffee made a statement regarding the aforementioned tweet: "Huge shake up in Squirrel town. It will make people not even notice (that move)." Asked about Seto and Murtha, Coffee responded, "much bigger than that." Our best investigative reporters have since been trying to figure out what this shake-up entails. Presently, signs indicate that Coffee will step down as team captain after two fourth seed finishes in two seasons. It is not yet known who is taking the job, but this "mystery captain" may also have a direct line to new talent for the Squirrels' roster.

Perhaps the most exciting news on the sizzling griddle are the happenings in Detroit. Alex Linebrink, 2012 All-Star and Most Improved Player, has left the Commandos to form the Belle Islanders. Word is that late season add, Andrew Mott, will follow Alex along with Daniel Egan, returning from the U.P. in time for the 2013 season. The three of them form a good nucleus for a team that can contend in the middle of the pack. More importantly than that, the idea of a "Renaissance Series" next season in Detroit is entirely exciting!

That is the news for now. We will keep our ears open, and keep you updated with all the new and evolving rumors that float our way.