Early Season Top 5 Pitchers

		Coffee Time
		by Carl Coffee

5. – Trey Jardine

(Oakland County Onanism)

The most important asset a team can have is a steady ace pitcher who can throw strikes. Teamed up with Kiefer Haffey, the two Onanism pitchers have given the mostly rookie expansion squad a nice 5-3 early start. Trey is responsible for three of those wins, which is tied for the league lead. Trey has a unique pitching technique as he pitches from the stretch instead of winding up. He is also a rare lefty pitcher. Trey will be given the opportunity to pitch every other game for the Onanism, and if he continues his hot start, he should easily be in the Ringler pitcher All-Star conversation.

4. – Brandon D'Agnese

(Flying Squirrels)

It is probably not fair to put a pitcher who has only thrown one game on this list, but when that one game is 18 innings long and he had 41 strike outs and allowed no runs, that pitcher deserves to be on this list. The non-Constanti lookalike D’Agnese is the ace pitcher the Squirrels desperately needed in order to be competitive. His one game was truly a game for the ages, as Brandon went toe to toe against another stud rookie pitcher, Stephen Farkas. We will know a lot more about Brandon in the upcoming weeks as the Squirrels play eight games the next two weeks, and if everything falls into place, he will get four of those starts.

3. – Craig Skinner

(El Diablos)

All Craig has done this season is go 3-1 with a 0.68 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP, and that puts him at #3?!? Yep. We have seen some outstanding pitching performances in the league, and Craig has once again shined early in the season. The reigning Clown Shu and El Diablos ace has picked up right where he left off in 2013, and I don’t ever expect him to fall off of this list for the next two additions. The Garcia division is no longer the pushover division it used to be, so Craig will really need to step up and carry the load if the ‘Blos want to repeat as division champs.

2. – Austin Bischoff

(Wicked Aces)

Mr. Reliable, Austin Bischoff, remains on the list to no one’s surprise. The Aces only play four games in the first five weeks, so we have a very small sample size for the defending champs in the early season. The games Austin did play were very windy, but he managed to go 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. His six walks in only 7 2/3 innings is high for Austin, but it’s probably due to the wind. Like Craig, Austin will stay on this list all season unless his arm falls off, but where on the list is the real question? We now have the reigning Clown Shu at #3 and the National Pitcher of the Year at #2. #deargoodness

1. – Stephen Farkas

(Belgian Wiffles)

Belgian’s ace rookie has video game stats, and I always have to look at them 4-5 times to make sure they are real. In three games he already has 82 strike outs and has a WHIP of 0.30. That means on average it takes over three innings for him to allow a runner to reach base. The reality though, Farkas is currently riding a back-to-back perfect game streak where he has struck out 35 of 36 batters. Farkas does have a loss, as he gave up a home run in the 18 inning marathon game vs. the Squirrels, but to his defense he did pitch 17 scoreless innings prior to the homer. Farkas is a unique guy with silly antics, but when he is on the mound it is all business.

Preseason Top 5 Pitchers

		Coffee Time
		by Carl Coffee

Back in 2011 I used to only rank the Top Five pitchers in the league. Pitching dominance at that time was so rare, guys like Maclin Malloy and Joe Seto would be on the list. Then for the next two seasons I changed it to a Top Ten list. I had no trouble including everyone who deserved to be included. I could once again go with ten, but I think the best way to have any sort of debate or controversy is to go back to only five.

As the Power Ranking Czar of WSEM, I get bored limiting it to just the teams. My hope for the 2014 season is to release the Top Five pitcher rankings four times throughout the season: preseason, two in the midseason, and after the season.

5.  Chandler Phillips  –  El Diablos

Everything that RJ Fisher is as a #2, Chandler is the exact opposite. He doesn’t fly under the radar, he isn’t quiet, and he is the face of the Fighting Chickens, which isn’t an easy task since the team has both the MVP and the Clown Shu. Chandler doesn’t have a single award, but he is still a feared pitcher. He knows Skinner is the ace, and excels as a #2. Even though I didn’t take this into account, all he did in the NWLA Tournament as the youngest player there was finish 2nd in ERA behind Ryan Bush. I expect Chandler to be in the Top Five all season. He is only going to get better.

4.  RJ Fisher  –  Whiteford Wicked Aces

I want to put Sam Hatt here, but it doesn’t appear he will get to the 30 inning mark, which is what you need to be eligible for the league leaders. Instead, I put a guy here who only pitched 21 1/3 innings last year. RJ was the #2 pitcher for the champion Wicked Aces last season and quietly was dominate. He only went 3-0 in five starts, but I expect him to pitch a lot more in 2014. He should be around 8-10 starts, and could very well win each of them. RJ in my opinion is the most underrated player in the league and probably hates being ranked this high. He will no longer fly under the radar though, and expect him to have an All-Star caliber season.

3.  Will Mundel  -  Islanders

This one was tough for me, especially when you look at Mundel’s stats from 2013. However, you can’t look at his 2013 stats at all if you want to fairly evaluate him. It was on the job training for Mundel last season as he was found playing catch on Belle Isle before an Islanders game. Those first few starts for him at their windy home field were disastrous. The more he pitched, the more accurate he got. He still earned an All-Star spot and pitched very well in the All-Star game. For this season, you may still see a lot of walks from Mundel because like I pointed out earlier, he plays on one of the windier fields in the league. So you probably won’t see his WHIP dip below the 1.00 mark. He will however be up there in strike outs and wins, and could very well be in the Clown Shu conversation.

2.  Craig Skinner  –  El Diablos

2013 was the year of Craig Skinner. In 11 starts, Skinner went 9-2 with a 0.37 ERA and a 0.72 WHIP. The new bats and the three extra feet had zero negative effect on El Diablos ace, as he took home the Clown Shu. Skinner is expected to once again get a lot of work on the mound this season, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him close to 12 starts. Skinner has the best chance to take the #1 spot away from Austin, and could be our first two-time Clown Shu winner.

1.  Austin Bischoff  –  Whiteford Wicked Aces

Nobody is going to be surprised with the first two guys on this list, but I still have to rank them. Austin is the ace on a team full of aces. He is extremely unselfish which ended up costing him the Clown Shu last season. He won’t be close to 14 starts in 2014, but will probably be in the 8-10 range. Austin is very dominant at home where he benefits from an inclined mound, but also can shut down teams on the road. Austin has made a name for himself on the national stage as well, winning the National Pitcher of the Year Wiffy Award in 2013. If Austin wants to stay at #1 all year, he can, he just needs to be a little more selfish.

Honorable Mention:  Evan Bischoff (Whiteford Wicked Aces),  Dennis Pearson (Holy Balls),  Evan Bortmas (Westside Warriors)

What Makes the Best Pitcher?

		Your Junk my Happy Zone
		by Brandon Corbett

There are a lot of good stats you can go with to tell you who the best pitcher is. Most commonly these are ERA, WHIP, and even strike outs, now that innings are controlled by the rotation in WSEM. If you want to crunch numbers a bit more to see exactly what a pitcher is doing, stats like strike out-to-walk ratio (K/BB) and strike outs per inning (KPI) may get tossed into the mix. K/BB is beautiful, because it speaks to a pitcher's command. It does not say much about his stuff, though. KPI, on the other hand, tells of dominant stuff. However, when used alone it is flawed in that a pitcher could strike out three batters an inning, which looks phenomenal, but then walk six and give up four runs at the same time - which is the opposite of outstanding.

It is also true that strike outs are not the only arrow in a pitcher's quiver. Many pitchers are good at getting batters to roll over on a pitch for harmless ground outs, or catching batters out front for lazy pop flies. These are not skills to be ignored, but when you talk about "the great pitchers" - the ones you want to run out in the big game - you know you want the guy who will take the game into his hand and mow down batter after batter. The pitcher who puts the ball in play for his defense may get the job done, but he gives the offense a chance with that; the pitcher who strikes out just about everyone does not give the offense any chance.

This is why KPI, despite its blind spot, is a valid stat: intimidation and dominance. There is also a way to erase that blind spot. WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) is the exact counterpoint to KPI: balls out of the zone and balls put in play, unable to be fielded. Therefore, using the simple formula KPI - WHIP does not punish a ground ball or pop fly pitcher (much), while it does bolster the impact of the strike out. Basically, this boils down to: number of unhittable or deceptive balls vs. poorly thrown or well hit balls. It is a way to simultaneously measure "filthiness of stuff" and command.

Zero (0) is even: KPI = WHIP. A "minus" (negative number) is more walks and hits than strike outs per inning. A "plus" (positive number) is more strike outs per inning than walks and hits. Additionally, a KPI - WHIP over 1.00 is considered a "super-plus"; there are seven WSEM pitchers who fall into this "super" category. Let us compare the top ten pitchers of 2012 by KPI - WHIP to Coffee Time's traditionally ranked 2012 top ten pitchers and see how things line up.

Traditional Measure
1.	A. Bischoff
2.	Hatt
3.	Bortmas
4.	E. Bischoff
5.	Constanti
6.	Skinner
7.	Cosby
8.	Pearson
9.	Corbett
10.	Phillips

KPI - WHIP
1.	A. Bischoff	+2.07
2.	Skinner	+1.84
3.	Bortmas	+1.78
4.	Hatt	+1.56
5.	E. Bischoff	+1.51
6.	Phillips	+1.28
7.	Pearson	+1.04
8.	Cosby	+0.72
9.	Hughes	+0.70
10.	Shore	+0.69

Overall, the lists are similar. Eight of ten pitchers show up on both. The most interesting part is who moves where. Craig Skinner jumps from slot 6 on the traditional list to number 2 under KPI - WHIP. Another Belgian-now-Diablo, Chandler Phillips, is also a big mover from 10 on the traditional scale to 6 under KPI - WHIP. Might having played for a "small market team" have effected their four-slot differences? Just asking... Big shifts in the other direction include Sam Hatt, going from 2 on the traditional list to 4 in KPI - WHIP, and Mike Constanti completely disappearing from the KPI - WHIP list ¹, while in the fifth slot on the traditional scale.

Many do stay close to home, though. Number one, in every sense, Austin Bischoff holds the first spot on both lists. Evan Bortmas, also, occupies the third slot for both. Dennis Pearson and Adam Cosby flip slots 7 and 8, while Evan Bischoff comes in just one spot shy on KPI - WHIP from his traditional scale rank of number 4.

There is also some vindication in a player like Justin Hughes making his way onto the KPI - WHIP list. Hughes had a great 2012 season, but was overshadowed by his teammates for awards, All-Star votes, talk, and even top ten lists. When it comes down to numbers alone, he finally gets some recognition at number 9.

ERA is an important number to look at, no doubt. It is not going anywhere, and like AVG for hitters it will always be a "go to" stat. It does not tell the entire story, however, and that is why new categories keep popping up to shortcut determining the best. KPI - WHIP is not a "be all, end all" by any means. It does, however, take an intriguing stat in WHIP and add the "dominant stuff" factor into it. Who is the best pitcher? Will stats will ever really tell us that? Or will it all come down to the moment and who rises to the occasion to provide that answer? We will - and should - always try to determine that beforehand, and pinning dominance alongside command is as good a bet as any in determining who is the best of the best.

¹ He is at number 11 with a +0.47

End of the Season Top 10 Pitchers

		Coffee Time
		by Carl Coffee

Before the season started, I put together pre-season Top 10 pitchers and hitters rankings. It is always fun to go back and see how I did, but usually it just proves how pointless pre-season rankings are. For this list, I decided to only use regular season stats to make things fair. In an upcoming week or two, I will also rank the Top 10 hitters. Great job to all the players who made this list!

10. Chandler Phillips  –  Belgian Wiffles
Chandler was a part of the three-headed monster of solid young pitchers for the Belgian Wiffles this season, joining Castle and Skinner. Chandler ranked near the top in strike outs with 131, but struggled to get in the win column. He managed to only win two games for Belgian and also had control problems at times. His 51 walks and 1.22 WHIP hurt, but his 0.67 ERA and 13 hits allowed give you reason to believe that he could be a future All-Star.


9. Brandon Corbett  –  Flying Squirrels
Corbett became the Squirrels #2 pitcher this season after losing Merlo, and he excelled in that role. He was a workhorse for them, throwing 64 innings this season. Corbett is a contact pitcher who excels at hitting the corners and making batters take off-balanced swings. He went 7-4, with a 0.94 ERA and had a 1.06 WHIP. Corbett also struck out a very respectable 93 batters. After a rough 2011 on the mound, Corbett has solidified himself once again as a Top 10 pitcher.


8. Dennis Pearson  –  Thunder Ducks
Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Dennis had an incredible 2011 season, but failed to carry it over to 2012. Sure he made the All-Star team as a pitcher in the weak Garcia division, but it sure did not feel like he had an All-Star season. Dennis still has powerful stuff, and showed that with 128 strike outs and a 6-3 record. However, the former Clown Shu finished the season leading the league in walks with 61, had a very average 1.12 ERA, and a terrible WHIP of 1.57. Dennis did his best when people doubted him, and struggled after he was praised. Maybe this doubt will again motivate him in 2013? We will have to wait and see.


7. Adam Cosby  –  Mattseals
Adam Cosby had a very solid season, but I don’t think many people even know that. Cosby seemed to fly under the radar for the Seals, but after everything was said and done, his stats rank right up there with the other elite pitchers in the league. In 55.2 innings pitched, Cosby only allowed seven runs all season giving him a 0.63 ERA. He also had great control on the mound giving up only 22 walks. His WHIP of 0.90 was better than both Hatt and Bortmas of the Punchouts, so why was he so overlooked this season? Maybe his mediocre 4-2 record is one of the reasons, or maybe it is because he pitched in the Ringler Division which is loaded with pitching talent. I don’t think Cosby will be overlooked for much longer, and this prized free agent will be a giant pickup for whichever team he lands on in 2013.


6. Craig Skinner  –  Belgian Wiffles
Skinner came out of nowhere for the Belgian Wiffles, and dominated in the limited playing time he had. Skinner only pitched 33 innings, but sure made the most in those innings. He only allowed four hits, had 81 strike outs, and finished with a 5-2 record. If Skinner had more innings on the mound, I believe he would have been in the Clown Shu discussion. His 0.45 ERA and 0.61 WHIP, rank among the best in the league. Much like Cosby however, he was overlooked in the pitching dominant Ringler Division.


5. Michael Constanti  –  Flying Squirrels
Constanti was predicted to have a good season, being #3 in the pre-season rankings. He did not disappoint, and did an extremely nice job as the Squirrels ace. In 45 innings pitched, Constanti only gave up five runs earning him a 0.56 ERA en route to a very impressive 7-2 record. His biggest win came at Manchester when he beat Bortmas head to head in a 1-0 victory. Much like Corbett, Constanti hits the corners of the strike zone, and can win a game even without relying on the strike out. He still finished the season with 79 K’s, and was named the Garcia Division All-Star starting pitcher.


4. Evan Bischoff  –  Whiteford Wicked Aces
Evan Bischoff has the misfortune of sharing the last name with his older brother, Austin. It wasn’t until the season ended and all the stats came in when people saw that ‘Little E’ finished the season without giving up a single run. Also, the Wicked Aces have a deep pitching staff, so even when Austin wasn’t pitching, Evan still had to compete with other teammates like Crozier and Hughes to get on the mound. In 33 innings pitched, Evan only allowed six hits and 14 walks giving him a 0.61 WHIP. His 4-0 record and 70 strike outs are nice, but nothing looks better or is more impressive than seeing 0.00 in the ERA column. Maybe next season the league will take notice of the “other” Bischoff.


3. Evan Bortmas  –  Manchester Punchouts
It is crazy to think after seeing Evan’s stats, that he isn’t the best pitcher on his team. Also, Evan’s offensive greatness is often what you link him with, but he is absolutely no slouch on the mound. All Evan did was throw 50 innings, gave up 13 hits and seven runs, giving him a 0.70 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. His 10-1 record ties him with Hatt for tops in the league, and his 136 strike outs rank him third. It is safe to say that Evan was the best #2 pitcher in the league this season.


2. Sam Hatt  –  Manchester Punchouts
No one would have flinched if Sam had won the Clown Shu this season, but in the end he barely lost out. Although Sam had the same record as his teammate Evan going 10-1, his other stats are more impressive. In 55 innings pitched, Sam only allowed three runs giving him a 0.27 ERA. His 138 strike outs rank him second in the league. The only negative thing you could possibly say about his pitching would be the 39 walks he gave up, but he still finished the season with a 0.95 WHIP. Sam’s dominance on the mound earned him a spot on the Ringler Division All-Star team as a pitcher.


1. Austin Bischoff  –  Whiteford Wicked Aces
If there were Vegas Odds before the season started for who would win the Clown Shu, it is a safe bet Austin would have been the heavy favorite. Austin took the league by storm in 2011 when he joined the Flying Squirrels late in the season and was very dominant. Now with his own team and a whole season under his belt, Austin proved he could handle the pressure of being an elite pitcher. On a team with four solid pitchers, Austin would sometimes skip his spot in the rotation to see his teammates get some work in. He only started in nine games, which makes his stats even more impressive. Austin led the entire league in strike outs with 141, had a microscopic WHIP of 0.68, and what impresses me most about him is his control. In 51.1 innings pitched, Austin only gave up 27 walks. Along with winning the Clown Shu, he was voted in as the All-Star starting pitcher in the tough Ringler Division. We all know what happened to Dennis after he won the Clown Shu, but I do not expect the same to happen to Austin in 2013.

Top 5 Pitchers at the Halfway Point

		Coffee Time
		by Carl Coffee

With most teams at or near the half way point of the season, it is time for new Top 5 rankings! Well, before the season even started I ranked both the Top 5 pitchers and the Top 5 hitters. Those rankings were based on past stats and the potential I saw in those players. These rankings will be a lot easier, since I have actual stats to base the rankings off of. Looking at the new rankings: I was more wrong than right. But hey, who takes preseason rankings seriously? Enjoy!

#5 - Chuck Weiler - Belgian Wiffles

Preseason Rank: Not Ranked

When I ranked the Top 5 pitchers, I had no problem figuring out the first four, #5 was tough though. It was a toss up between Cliff Comstock of the Wiffling DeLoppes and Chuck, but in the end I had to give it to Chuck. Even though the Belgian Wiffles have only played eight games, it is obvious that Chuck has the stuff of an ace. If I had to put money on it, I would even say he will move up in the Top 5 rankings when I do them one last time at the end of the season. Chuck leads the league in ERA, and as the season progresses, he will be right up there in strike outs and wins too.

#4 - Michael Constanti - Ass Kickers

Preseason Rank: Not Ranked

No, this is not a typo; Michael is now the better pitcher of the two Constanti brothers. No one fell farther from my preseason list than #1 ranked Brian Constanti, and no one on the new list surprised me more than Michael. With rumors of Brian holding back his best stuff, Michael has not been shy to bring it. His 69 K's rank 3rd, while his 2.06 ERA ranks 4th. The Ass Kickers are very fortunate Michael has performed this way, and I am very curious to see if he can keep it up.

#3 - Joe Seto - Campus Commandos

Preseason Rank: Not Ranked

Joe Seto has put the Commandos on his back and carried them to a shocking and very impressive start. Joe eats up many innings for his team, and you have to wonder if he will hold up. Joe leads the league in innings at 38, but yet, only has walked 11 batters. He also is 2nd in K's at 74, and many of those come at clutch times. Joe won't over power you with lightning stuff, but it doesn't seem to matter.

#2 - Chad Hoppe - Wiffling DeLoppes

Preseason Rank: #3

Oh hey, one of my preseason ranked guys made this list! Is Chad Hoppe the ace of the Wiffling DeLoppes? Yes. Is Chad Hoppe the reason for the DeLoppes impressive start? Kinda. The Wiffling DeLoppes have a deep roster with two starting pitchers (C.Hoppe, Comstack) and two relief pitchers (B. Hoppe, McDonald). I make these points not to downplay anything Chad has done, but to praise him for his superior managing skills. Now lets talk about his own pitching talents. Chad is second in the league in ERA at 1.43, and 4th in K's at 63. I have no doubt when the playoffs start, Chad will even take his stuff a notch or two higher, and that will be frightening.

#1 - Dennis Pearson - Git r' Done

Preseason Rank: Not Ranked

I was skeptical to put Dennis in my preseason rankings because of his wild throwing. He is much improved in that category, and his 37 walks compared to 82 K's is why I put him at #1. You can also look at his 2.32 ERA which ranks him 5th and ask, how that is #1 worthy? Well in the opening weekend, Dennis was injured from pitching too much in our April tournament and was pitching at probably 50%. He got knocked around by the DeLoppes and the Mattseals but he is back at full strength now. One reason why he is back at full strength and staying healthy is he has given Dylan Braden 23 innings. When Dennis is on, he is unhittable, simple as that.

Well, I got 1 out of 5 right. Mendoza lined it. The four pitchers who dropped from my rankings are: #5 Dylan Braden (GD), #4 Maclin Malloy (WW), #2 Brandon Corbett (FS), and #1 Brian Constanti (AK). It has been a very unpredictable half season and if that is any measure to how the rest plays out, the next rankings could change just as much.

Coffee Time: Top 5 Pitchers

		Coffee Time
		by Carl Coffee

My first "Coffee Time" article for The Skinny will focus on the most important player on any wiffleball team: the pitcher. From when we first started hosting wiffleball tournaments in 2005 to this past year, every winning team road the coattails of a hot pitcher. David Negele, Joe Emery, Eric Falletich, Brian Constanti, and Brandon Corbett all were the reasons why their teams won their respective tournaments. We currently have six teams signed up for our inaugural season, so this will rank the top 5 pitchers in the league from those teams. I am going to use past stats, personal experience hitting off of these pitchers, and future potential. Enjoy!

#5 Dylan Braden [Git r Done]

Dylan of Git r Done is one the youngest and most talented players in the league. His team shocked everyone in the 2010 Flag-a-Palooza by reaching the finals. This young gun was the reason for their success that day. He won 3 games for his team with a 2.83 ERA while striking out 36 batters, which included 4 first pitch strike outs. Dylan is only going to get better this season and in my opinion is a potential MVP. Although he made this list at #5, he may not even pitch much this season. Teammate Dennis Pearson appears to be his team’s number one pitcher. If that's the case, then Dylan will easily be the best number two pitcher in the league.

#4 Maclin Malloy [Westside Warriors]

Maclin Malloy is next on the list at four, but ranks first in the league for coolest name. When the Warriors made their debut at the Flag-a-Palooza last year it appeared they used trial and error to find their number one pitcher. After watching Whelan, Woods, and Shore all try their hand, Malloy took the mound and ran away with the job. He pitched 21 innings that day: winning 3 games, striking out 26, including 4 first-pitch K's, and had a 1.43 ERA. Malloy wasn't able to play at the Hoppes September tournament, so I haven't been able to see that much of him, but his stats do not lie. I expect big things from him this summer.

#3 Chad Hoppe [Wiffling DeLoppes]

Although Chad Hoppe ranks in at #3, in my opinion he is the poster boy for pitchers in our league. There isn't a team out there who depends more on one player. With that said, I have to rank him here because in the three tournaments his team has played in he hasn't been to a championship game. The one thing that is stopping Chad from being #1 is run support. When you see Chad on the mound, you think to yourself "I can hit this guy", then before you know it he hangs a curveball on the first pitch that somehow hits the corner and you are out. In the three tournaments Chad has played in he has put up some incredible stats. His three ERA's have been (1.54, 1.56, and 1.38) and he has a combined 98 Ks! I've gone to bat against Chad many times and you definitely have to be on your toes. Along with his pitching he is also one of the best defensive pitchers in the league, and always knows where to be when the ball is in play. I may regret putting him at #3...

#2 Brandon Corbett [Flying Squirrels]

I've been playing wiffleball with and against Brandon now for over six years and it is crazy to see him dominate at pitching like this. When we first started playing competitive wiffleball in 2005, this guy wasn't even a pitcher! It wasn't until 2009 when we put together a team and realized none of us were pitchers that he jumped on the mound and quickly learned the role. You can easily notice the improvement Brandon has made if you look at the stats from the three tournaments he has pitched in. First case in point, ERA: (2.94, 1.11, 0.26). Second case in point, Ks: (13, 17, 20). Third and final case in point, Wins: (1, 2, 4). In every single tournament Brandon has gotten better. At the Hoppe's September tournament he only gave up one earned run in 19 innings! Getting about one per inning he doesn't rack up the strike outs like Chad does, but as his short stop I know what he does better than anyone in the league... get ground ball outs. Brandon is a very accurate pitcher which means the batters take a lot of defensive swings against him. Defensive swings equal ground balls, which equal easy outs. It is going to be tough to improve on his last pitching performance at the Hoppes, but I wouldn't bet against him!

#1 Brian Constanti [Newport Ass Kickers]

I had a tough time deciding whether or not to rank a player at #1 who has only pitched in one tournament over two guys (Chad, Brandon) who have pitched in three. I thought if over and then I reread Brian's stats from the 2010 Flag-a-Palooza tournament; at that point my decision was easy. Much like the Warriors, Brian and team Kickass did not know who their pitcher would be at the start of the day. Once Brian took the hill, they found their guy. Brian won an amazing 5 games for his team that day, and only allowed 2 runs in 29 innings (0.34 ERA). His fastball had so much late movement, it was virtually unhittable. Brian struck out 42 batters in the tournament and easily won the MVP award. When I found out that his team was joining our league, (Newport Ass Kickers) it got me very excited. Having the chance to bat against great pitchers is an exciting challenge, and there is nothing more satisfying than getting a big hit off them or beating them on the field. If he can continue to pitch like he did in the Flag-a-Palooza, Brian and his team will be a favorite to win it all.

I hope you enjoyed my rankings. When the season gets underway and we start playing some games, I will adjust the rankings every month or so. I look forward to hitting against all of you!

-
Carl Coffee, 18, SS
Flying Squirrels Captain
Commissioner of WSEM