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)

Pitching FTW

		Coffee Time
		by Carl Coffee

There are few certainties in wiffleball. The wind can turn a game into a slugfest or a marathon pitcher’s duel. A batter can stick his bat out with his eyes closed and knock it over a short porch. A below average fielder can even throw out a runner at home from 80 feet away with a peg to the strike zone. However, after three seasons of WSEM I have learned one thing: pitching wins.

Pearson dominated in 2011 and led Git r’ Done to a championship before the rotation rule was set. The Bischoff brothers did the same in 2012 for the Aces. 2013 saw Evan Bortmas as the Aces #4 pitcher, so guess who won that year? I am not shocking anyone here with earth shattering scientific analysis, this is common sense stuff. It is simply tough to win it all if you do not have a deep, dominant pitching staff.

Can you still win with good, not great pitching? Yes, look at the Holy Balls last season. Chris Paquin stepped in as the ace with a revolving door of #2 pitchers and they won 18 games. Can you have great pitching and still lose? Yes, look at the 2012 Mattseals who had a 1.66 team ERA and finished in 6th place.

Not every roster is set for 2014, but you can plainly see which teams are set at pitching and which teams have question marks. I look at the ten teams and can break them all into three categories: ‘Scary Good’, ‘Could be Good’, and ‘Who Knows?’ I also ranked each team’s top 3 guys, and also gave them a grade. It is January though, so don’t take anything too seriously.

Who Knows?

Onanism These guys epitomize the ‘Who Knows’ category. In 2013, a lot of really solid pitchers didn’t reach the 30 inning mark which you need to qualify for league leader categories, so when it was all said and done Kiefer Haffey finished 3rd in ERA. He isn’t a top 3 pitcher nor is he a top 10 pitcher, but he is a solid #2 or #3 option on a competing team. In judging their top 3, I just picked out two rookies to join Kiefer. Top 3 1. Kiefer Haffey 2. Dan Simms 3. Nick Hool Grade: Incomplete

King Friday I do have a pretty good idea that King Friday’s pitching situation will be less than good, but they do have some question marks that could surprise us. 75% of the roster took 2013 off after playing in 2012, so maybe a year off has helped guys like Tristan Birotte or Ryan Hurd Jr. Also, they did sign a rookie named Rich Beach who is very enthusiastic about playing this year. He could be lightning in a bottle. Top 3 1. Rich Beach 2. Tristan Birotte 3. Ryan Hurd Jr. Grade: D-

Belgian Wiffles Belgian lacked an identity on the mound in 2013, but for the upcoming season they will rely on a nice combination of proven veterans and hopeful rookies. No one knows how good Travis Strojny and Stephen Farkas will be, but they will be given a lot of innings early in the season to show their worth. Nick Braden and even Josh Nagorski will also get a lot of innings on the hill. Top 3 1. Travis Strojny 2. Stephen Farkas 3. Nick Braden Grade: C-

Flying Squirrels Much of what I said about the Belgian Wiffle pitching can be said about the Flying Squirrels. They have rookies and veterans and it is unknown if they will mesh. One thing is different though, their rookies did pitch in the Flying Squirrels invitational and one of them (Kevin Doby) pitched well. Doby will join Jason Hewlett as their expected 1-2 punch, and I assume newly acquired Zac Adams will also be in the mix. Top 3 1. Jason Hewlett 2. Kevin Doby 3. Zac Adams Grade: C

Could be Good

Wolfpack The Wolfpack have some of the most athletic players in the league, but can those athletes pitch? I am very curious to see who will emerge as the team’s ace in the upcoming season. Mark Brannan has the most pitching experience and tied for 2nd in strike outs in 2013. Andrew Piasecki is being hyped up and Nicco Lollio is going to get his chance as well. There were some rumors they might sign a rookie or two to pitch, but those rumors have fizzled out as of late. Top 3 1. Mark Brannan 2. Andrew Piasecki 3. Nicco Lollio Grade: C+

Islanders The Islanders are capable of winning any game Will Mundel starts, but when he is absent or when their #2 pitches, they are usually the underdog. Alex Linebrink always seems to find new guys, and he is rumored to have found some in the YMCA league his team won over the fall. Right now Linebrink and Murtha are penciled in as the #2 and #3, but I have a feeling they will find a rookie stud to pair up with Mundel. They could be really dangerous. Top 3 1. Will Mundel 2. Alex Linebrink 3. Matt Murtha Grade: B-

Holy Balls You can call Dennis Pearson an ace, but he is now a borderline elite guy. He will still get his wins and strike outs, but walking in runs is always a concern with him. With that said, did the Holy Balls improve in pitching? Of course. Let’s just imagine this scenario. The Holy Balls reach the #4 vs. #5 one game playoff and Dennis Pearson is on the mound. He gives them a chance to win against anyone. The rest of the roster is filled with guys who can pitch if needed, and Phillip Morris is rumored to complete their roster. Paquin is the obvious #2, and Corbett, Lewis, and Dylan Braden have all pitched well in the past. Top 3 1. Dennis Pearson 2. Chris Paquin 3. Brandon Corbett Grade: B

Scary Good

Westside Warriors This isn’t an article about player’s availability, but of course that is on everyone’s mind when talking about the Westside Warriors. Bortmas and Hatt are reunited and you cannot forget about their historic 2012 season where they went a combined 20-2. Bortmas could have a chip on his shoulder after the Aces demoted him to their #4 pitcher in 2013. Hatt came back from injury last year and was his dominant self. David Castle is a very nice #3 and will no doubt be called upon a lot. Top 3 1. Sam Hatt 2. Evan Bortmas 3. David Castle Grade: A-

El Diablos I do believe El Diablos have the best 1-2 punch in the league, but after that there’s a huge drop off. Luckily for them, Chandler and Skinner have always been very committed and do not miss many games. The dominant duo had a combined 21 starts in 2013, and if they are near that number in 2014 they will be at or near the 20 win mark. Dakota LaDouceur went 2-0 last year and will probably start a few games this upcoming season to give Chandler and Craig some rest. Top 3 1. Craig Skinner 2. Chandler Phillips 3. Dakota LaDouceur Grade: A

Whiteford Wicked Aces The ace of this team was just named the best pitcher in the entire country and doesn’t need an introduction. Little E is arguably the most underrated pitcher in the league and keeps getting better. RJ Fisher is another underrated guy who I believe is a top 5 pitcher in the league. When you play the Aces you never get an easy game. Crozier and Hughes aren’t slacks either and will get some innings. Wicked Aces sure is a well suited name for the two-time defending champs. Top 3 1. Austin Bischoff 2. RJ Fisher 3. Evan Bischoff Grade: A+

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

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