Tottenham Oldtimers Slo-Pitch League

I can't believe that we're already 5 weeks into the season!  Worse than that, every team has already played more than a quarter of their schedule.  The season is too short, we should probably play every day.  

One of the reasons that we're deeper than normal at this time is that we've completed 58 of the 59 scheduled games thus far.  One of the games from our sole rain out night has already been made up.  This coming Monday's weather looks a little dicey, but if we get by that, it looks to be another great week ahead!  

Everyone know this guy?

This is Joel Hodge who is in his 3rd year in the league.  He's played with the Hurtin' Units, Grisslies and is currently with the Draft Kings.  In a very short time Joel has made an impact in league as a supportive team mate, a reliable sub, a participant in the leagues many charitable ventures, and was co-captain of the Grisslies, along with Darren Ford, for 54 1/2 hours while Rob and I were out of the country.  

I'm very sorry to report that Joel's work is taking him North to Huntsville and out of reasonable commuting range for baseball. He's informed the Draft Kings of his resignation effective this week and we'll secure the next person on the waiting list for the squad.  

Hopefully Joel will be able to join us for the Help The Kids Play and August TOT tournaments, his community spirit and quiet support will assuredly be missed.  All the best Joel.  

The week that was in baseball.  

First off, lets clear up a little something about the standings.  The sliders, who are enjoying a nice run winning 4 out of their last 5, are the first team to 12 points.  That's awesome, but its not 1st place.  First place still remains with the Draft Kings who withstood the heartache of losing Joel Hodge to have a 1 and 1 week and remain in 1st despite the fact that they have the same GBL (games behind leader) as the Sliders and fewer points.  

Why?  Okay, I'll tell you.  #1.  They have a higher winning percentage (.786 vs. .667) and more importantly, #2. If both teams were to go undefeated for the rest of the season, the Draft Kings would finish at 24-1-1 with 49 points; the Sliders would finish 23-3-0 with 46 points.  The Sliders are playing great, but at this point in time with all things being equal; the math says that they simply aren't equal.  That could change in a week.  

In addition to the Draft Kings and Sliders establishing themselves among the leagues elite, we also had a clash of the titans game between the Rusty Rebels and the Dusty Cleats.  Both teams came into the game having won 4 in a row and with the Rebels owning the Beer Cup.  It kind of looked like this game fizzled with the Rebels ahead 16-6 with the Cleats batting in the bottom of the 7th.  But the baseball gods decided to smile on the Dusty Cleats and 11 runs later they completed their startling come back to win 17-16.  Wow.  

Rounding up the week, your teams that went 2-0 are:  Sliders, Dusty Cleats, Hurtin' Units. 

The 1-0 teams: Sons Of Pitches, Beer Bros.

The 1-1 teams: Rusty Rebels, Gruesome Devils, Inglorious Batsters, Dodge City Rounders, Draft Kings

The 0-1 teams: Master Batters, Grisslies

The 0-2 teams: Tap Masters, Hot Tub Woody's, Dog Catchers 

Housekeeping....

Plays at 2nd base are becoming a bit of an issue.  To be clear, base runners are expected to try and beat the fielder (or the ball) to the bag at second and make their best effort to be safe.  However, there have been a number of situations where the base runner has been out by 3 or more strides, yet continues to run aggressively at the 2nd baseman or short stop. 

As an executive, we've discussed this and want to eliminate this action, primarily due to the potential for injury.  Therefore, we are asking players who are obviously forced out, to veer to the outfield side of the baseline to get out of the way of the throw OR slide with the intent of stopping AT the bag and not sliding through. 

If you have any questions about this please speak with your captain.     

Beer Cup..........

The Rusty Rebels were the first team to defend the Beer Cup.  They must have liked it because the did it again, holding off the Gruesome Devils 11-8.  But in their second game of the week the fell hard to the Dusty Cleat who now own the cup!

The Cleats will potentially have two opportunities to defend this week, facing the Tap Masters & Sons Of Pitches.   

Beer Cup Games Defended. 

2  Rusty Rebels

Beer Cup Games Played. 

1  Grisslies

1  Gruesome Devils

1  Dusty Cleats

1  Sons Of Pitches

2 Dodge City Rounders

2 Hurtin' Units

2 Tap Masters

6 Rusty Rebels