Archive | July, 2011

Blose Named PBR Wiffler of the Week for Week 1 of First Round Playoffs

21 Jul

Only one week after being named the Week 10 PBR Wiffler of the Week, Blose has again been named Pabst Blue Ribbon Wiffler of the Week, this time for the first week of the first round of the EWL playoffs. He is now the only player in league history to accept the honor three times, and the only player to win the award in consecutive weeks. In the past 8 days, Blose has been named Wiffler of the Week twice, a Field Master, an All-EWL Team member, and the EWL Wiffler of the Year.

Blose started the playoffs by picking up where he left off in the regular season, taking games over at the plate. He led the Fish Sticks to a Game 1 win over the Dentists by going 3-5 with 2 home runs. The Fish Sticks lost a heartbreaker in game 2, but Blose continued to excel. He was 3-5 for a second time, again with 2 home runs. Like the regular season, he led almost every offensive category after the first week of the playoffs. For the week, he went 6 for 10 with 4 home runs, 4 RBI, and 8 put-outs. He also made an incredible catch in deep centerfield, scaling the fence to record an out.

Blose is now a three time PBR Wiffler of the Week

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Blose Gets Top Honor: 2011 EWL Wiffler of the Year

19 Jul

2011 EWL Wiffler of the Year

No one made more of an impact on the 2011 EWL Regular Season than Blose of the Fish Sticks, and he has capped his dominant season by winning the EWL Wiffler of the Year award for 2011. Earlier this week he was named a Field Master and a member of the All-EWL Team, and now he can add the EWL’s most prestigious award to his resume.

Blose ran away with Wiffler of the Year voting, as he was the only player in the league to receive more than 1 first-place vote. His combination of 13 first and second place votes was five more than any other player. No player was close to him in total league votes, and the gap grew even further after the commissioner vote. He was in a tier of his own in terms of league-wide respect from voters.

Blose led the league in 9 offensive categories, an unbelievable feat. He set single-season EWL records for batting average, slg %, runs, hits triples, home runs, RBI, and total bases. He holds three single-game records, two of which he accomplished on two separate occasions, and he is the only player in league history to hit for the cycle. He was one of 5 players to play in all 20 games of the regular season, and hit safely in 19 of the 20 games. He had three different games with 5+ hits and four multi-HR games, including two games with 4 home runs. Defensively, he set a single-season record with 96 put-outs, and was one of the best fielders in the game. He was the only player to record a save during the entire 2011 season, and he netted 3 of them.

He was the most feared batter in the league, capable of going deep on any given pitch. He was a vacuum in centerfield for the Fish Sticks, gobbling up fly balls and ground balls and making difficult catches look routine. He was clutch, and the Fish Sticks often rode his back to wins. The 2011 EWL season will be remembered for Blose’s incredible performances, and his season will be the measuring bar for greatness for years to come.

Morrison of the Caucasian Vaginas finished second to Blose in league voting and remained in second following the commissioner vote. His 7 second-place votes were by far the most, as no other player totaled more than 2. His 11 total votes were third most among all eligible players. For most of the regular season he went neck-and-neck with Blose in most statistical categories, holding leads in some heading into the final two weeks of the season. Blose surpassed him in all categories, but Morrison’s season was nearly as dominant. There was no doubt that he and Blose were the two biggest stars in the EWL this season.

Joey of the Fish Sticks finished third in voting, and his 14 league total votes were the most received by any player. His 5 third-place votes were a league high, and his total of 11 third, fourth, and fifth-place votes was by far the most in the league. He finished slightly behind Morrison in league voting, and the gap grew after commissioner voting. Morrison and Joey were in a second tier of vote-getters behind Blose, followed by a sizeable gap for fourth-place.

Guthrie finished fourth in league voting and remained in fourth after commissioner voting. He was one of three players (Morrison and Joey) to receive at least one vote for every place. There was a large gap between Guthrie at fourth and the rest of the eligible players.

Ron was the only player to not make the All-EWL team to receive a first-place Wiffler of the Year vote. Frosty and Les were the only players to not make the squad to receive a second-place vote. Dinger received a league-high 4 fifth-place votes and was the only player not to make the All-EWL team to receive a vote from the commissioner.

Commissioner Note: Similar to Pitch King voting, one voter voted only for first-place, so there are only 14 votes for second through fifth place. Also similar to Pitch King, some of the voting here was very hard to explain. I don’t understand how Blose only got 13 votes, meaning two people left him off their ballots completely. Similarly, Morrison received only 11 votes; 4 people thought he wasn’t one of the top 5 players in the league. I have no idea how someone could have played 12+ games and voted in this way. Regardless, I think the Wiffler of the Year, All-EWL Team, and all awards were voted fairly, the right people were chosen, and the winners are deserving.

Inaugural All-EWL Team Named, Caucasians and Fish Sticks Selected

19 Jul

The 2011 All-EWL Team

Blose and Joey of the Fish Sticks along with Morrison and Guthrie of the Caucasian Vaginas have been named to the first ever All-EWL Team, recognizing the top all-around players throughout the 2011 regular season. The four players received a significant portion of the votes, enough to separate the four from all other finalists.

Blose was dominant offensively and defensively throughout the 2011 season

It’s no surprise to see that Blose has been named to the All-EWL Team. He was an unstoppable force at the plate throughout the majority of the regular season, and carried his team defensively as well. He set single-season league records in nearly every offensive category, led the league in put-outs, and was the only player in the league to record a save (3 of them). He was the only two-time Pabst Blue Ribbon Wiffler of the Week, taking home the award for weeks 3 and 10. He won the batting title by 11 points, finishing the year at .490, one hit away from a .500 season. He slugged over 200 points better than any other player, due in large part to hitting 20 home runs, 4 more than any other player. He led the league in RBI with 30, and won the EWL Triple Crown, a feat that was not anticipated and may not occur again soon. He came through in the clutch, and at times was the only player on his team producing. He was an EWL star from week 1, and the 2011 season will be remembered for his statistical achievements and great plays.

Guthrie was clutch at the plate and unhittable on the mound

Guthrie, the 2011 EWL Pitch King, can add another badge to his 2011 season, as he is now a member of the All-EWL Team. Guthrie made his name on the mound, shutting down opposing teams as the Caucasians rode his arm to the pennant and #1 seed. But he was no slouch at the plate either. He finished in the top 10 in almost every major offensive category, but finished in the top 5 in only one category, GWRBI. That stat, however, best describes his offensive performance in 2011. When the Caucasians needed a big hit, Guthrie was there to deliver, often putting them over-the-top for the win. He hit safely in all but two games that he played in, and had three multi-HR games, including a game with 5 RBI. He missed six games this year, and had he have been able to play a full 20-game schedule, his offensive numbers surely would have been more impressive and competitive. When he was in the lineup, he was a tough out at the plate, a rock solid fielder, and the best pitcher the game has seen. His presence was crucial to the Caucasians success in 2011.

Morrison was an elite player and a model of consistency in 2011

No EWL player was more consistently productive throughout the course of the regular season than Morrison of the Caucasian Vaginas. Morrison hit safely in all but two of the nineteen games he played, and had 2 or more hits in 16 of the 19 games, a remarkable total. He had at least one home run every week of the entire season and didn’t strike out a single time, totaling by far the most at-bats of any player who didn’t strike out. Morrison was in the top 3 in every offensive category except doubles and triples, and was ranked 2nd or higher in an incredible 10 different categories. His 7 GWRBI were two more than any other player in the league, showing how regularly his performance at the plate led his team to victory. He finished 24 points higher in batting average than everyone in the league except Blose, he was one of three players to slug over 1.000, one of two players to hit over 15 home runs, and would have won the triple crown if not for Blose. He totaled 91 putouts, and was the foundation of the Caucasian defense. Morrison took the league by storm and turned the Caucasian Vaginas into the championship favorites.

Joey was the Robin to Blose's Batman for the Fish Sticks

Joey’s 2011 season was bookended by stretches of terrific offensive performances, with a dry spell in the middle, and solid pitching throughout. He started off the season on a tear, only to return to Earth midseason, and heat back up in time to help lead the Sticks to the #2 seed as the regular season schedule concluded. Joey carried a 14-game hitting streak into the final third of the season, and hit safely in 18 of 20 games. He finished in the top 5 of every single offensive category, over 12 different stats, and led the league in doubles. He finished 3rd to Blose and Morrison in five different categories including hits, runs, HR, RBI, and total bases. He was one of 5 players to hit over .400, and hit 20 points better than the next best player. He was the only player to hit double digit singles, doubles, and home runs, and his 4 GWRBI were third most in the league. He set a league record with wins on the mound, totaling 8, and finished with the league’s 5th lowest ERA. He was solid in the field, netting only 43 putouts but rarely committing an error.

The full vote tally will be posted tomorrow, as the same vote was used to determine Wiffler of the Year. Stay tuned.

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Guthrie Tops Voting, Named 2011 EWL Pitch King

17 Jul

The 2011 EWL Pitch King

Guthrie of the Caucasians Vaginas has been named the 2011 EWL Pitch King after receiving an overwhelming majority of first-place votes. The Pitch King award recognizes the best pitcher throughout the EWL regular season.

Guthrie utilized the ClawBall to consisently confuse batters throughout the 2011 season

Guthrie, master of the ClawBall, dominated the second-half of the regular season, carrying the Caucasians to the 2011 EWL Pennant. He started 9 games, winning 7, losing 1, and getting 1 no-decision. He went (7-1) on the season with a 1.48 ERA. His total of 7 wins was second best in the league, and his .875 winning percentage was the best in the league. He gave up only 38 hits in 46 IP for a 0.83 WHIP, second best in the league. He led the league in strikeouts with 7, had the second best K/9, and he gave up only 11 home runs, the lowest of any Pitch King contender. His opponents hit .297 off him, the second lowest in the league. He didn’t give up more than 4 ER in any appearance this season, and holds the league record for consecutive shutout innings at 13. In his only loss of the season, Guthrie gave up only 3 ER and was outdueled 3-2. He went 3-0 in his final three appearances of the season, giving up only 5 ER on 9 hits in 15 IP. The Caucasians led the league in almost every pitching category, in large part due to Guthrie’s dominant performance on the mound.

Guthrie secured 8 first-place votes, by far the most, and 12 overall votes, second most in the league. He finished second in league votes, but moved to first in overall voting after the commissioner vote was placed.

Joey, of the Fish Sticks, finished second in Pitch King voting. He received 7 second-place votes, 4 third-place votes, and 14 overall votes, all league highs. He led the league in wins with 8, had the fifth lowest ERA in the league, and gave up the second fewest HR among Pitch King finalists. He finishes with the most league votes, and finished second to Guthrie after the commissioner vote was included.

Chris, of 4 out of 5 Dentists, finished third in overall voting. He had the second highest first and second place votes, at 3 and 5 votes, respectively. He took the league by storm, starting 6-0 in his first 6 starts before finishing with a loss and no-decision in his final two starts, two costly games for the Dentists. Chris finished 6-1 on the year, and was second in winning percentage at .857. His 5 strikeouts were good for second in the league, and his 1.71 ERA was third in the league. Opponents hit only .281 off of him, the lowest opposing batting average in the league, and his 0.78 WHIP was tops in the league as well.

Guthrie, Joey, and Chris received a majority of the Pitch King votes and were in the upper tier of vote-getters. Ron of the Dentists, who finished fourth, and Dinger of the Fish Sticks, who finished fifth, were in a second tier of vote-getters before there was a large drop-off. Ron tied for second most overall votes at 12, and his 4 fourth-place votes were the most in the league. Dinger tied for the third most overall votes with 11, and his 6 fifth-place votes were the most in the league. Gaurav was the only player not in the top five in voting to receive a first-place vote.

Commissioner Note: I don’t understand how Guthrie or Chris were left off any ballots. 3 people didn’t place a vote for Guthrie, and 4 didn’t place a vote for Chris. They were by far the two best pitchers in the league, with Joey in the conversation, but barely. It makes me wonder if these voters paid attention to any games or statistics. Also, someone voted only for first-place, meaning there were only 14 second, third, fourth, and fifth place votes. This also happened for Field Masters and Wiffler of the Year.

Three Teams Represented as 2011 EWL Field Masters are Named

16 Jul

The 2011 EWL Field Masters

Luke of Pumice on Slow!, Blose and Vassallo of the Fish Sticks, and Morrison of the Caucasians Vaginas have been named the 2011 EWL Field Masters, an award that recognizes the best defensive players throughout the EWL regular season. These four players played top-notch defense consistently throughout the season, racked up the top four put-out totals, and made the biggest impact for their team in the field.

Luke of Pumice on Slow! was the top vote-getter among Field Masters

Luke was the top vote-getter, finishing 2nd place in league voting by a single vote, and moving to first in overall voting after the commissioner vote. Luke tied for the most first-place votes, and his combination of 7 first and second place votes was the most in the league. Luke finished fourth among fielders in put-outs with 70, averaging 4.3 put-outs per game. He was typically deployed in leftfield for Pumice!, and has the single game league record of 12 put-outs in one game. He routinely made catches out of the tree, scarfed up ground balls, and made difficult fly ball catches in fair and foul territory. He played the ball off the fence incredibly well, and could get to balls quickly enough to retire even the fastest base runners. He was the bright spot on an often shaky Pumice! defense.

Blose of the Fish Sticks led the EWL in put-outs and spectacular plays

Blose led league voting by one vote, and 2nd in overall voting after the commission vote. He tied Luke for most first-place votes and also tied for most overall league votes. Blose led the league in put-outs, setting a single-season record with 96, averaging 4.8 put-outs per game. He often played centerfield for the Fish Sticks, where he captained the Sticks defensive unit. He alone made 3 or 4 of the top 5 defensive plays of the year throughout the league. He showed great range, running to catch fly balls in left, center, right, or the infield, and backed up his teammates, occasionally catching balls they attempted to catch or had missed. He snatched balls off the fence for outs, made one-handed snags of line drives, and was a constant reassurance for the Fish Sticks pitching staff.

Morrison of the Caucasian Vaginas helped lead his team to the fewest RA and lowest ERA

Morrison finished 3rd in league voting and also 3rd after the commissioner vote. Morrison had the most 2nd and 5th place votes, and tied Blose for most overall league votes. Morrison finished second in put-outs with 91, and tied Blose for second in the league by averaging 4.8 put-outs per game. He and Blose went neck-and-neck for the league lead in put-outs throughout the season. Morrison played leftfield for the Caucasians, and was the anchor of the Caucasian defense. He directed where the fielders would be positioned, and regularly called off his teammates on fly balls, sure that he would make the snag. He made difficult catches look easy, and could read the flight of the ball better than any other player in the EWL. If errors and fielding % were stats in the EWL, he would have led the league, as he rarely misplayed or mishandled a ball. He helped lead the Caucasians to the lowest runs-allowed and team ERA thanks to his consistency in the field.

Vassallo of the Fish Sticks had the highest put-outs per game average in the EWL

Vassallo finished 4th in league voting and also 4th after the commissioner vote. He finished with the most third place votes, and second among first-place vote-getters. Vassallo finished third in put-outs with 80, leading the league with an average of 5.0 put-outs per game. He started every game he played in leftfield for the Fish Sticks, and likely would have led the league in put-outs if not for missing several games. He read the ball off the fence, whether in the air or on the ground, better than any player in the league, and he caught balls out of the tree with ease. His range extended far into foul territory, as he tracked and ran down fly balls that most players in the league couldn’t get to. No balls got beyond him, and on the few balls he had trouble with, he kept them in front of him, limiting extra-base hits. He was smart and conservative with the ball, often running it in to the pitcher, preventing the opponent from taking bases.

The league and commissioner voting coincided to select four Field Masters that clearly had more votes than any of the other candidates. Les of the Caucasian Vaginas and Marr of 4 out of 5 Dentists (who received the 5th place commissioner vote) were in a second tier of candidates that separated themselves from the pack in terms of voting. Six candidates finished with 11 votes or less. 4 out of 5 Dentists was the only team not represented by the Field Masters, despite having 4 players finish in the top 12 in voting.

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