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Gameday Previews #1 (2002)
This is a preview of the opening weekend of wiffleball for what will
be our (say it with me) NINTH season! What a great opening sentence,
huh? For those who are not in the know (and really, only half the
fantasy users are in the know), the weekend consists of a doubleheader
between the Horsemen and Wiffolution at The Byrd House and a doubleheader
between the returning champion Holy Whites and the Longballs (formerly
the Young and the Restless) at The Sac.
Two intriguing matchups, if you spin it correctly. Hell, you can make
any game in this league intriguing if you just try. Now it's my
turn!
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Horsemen vs. Wiffolution 51 (Byrd House, doubleheader)
These teams have had plenty of close, competitive games. They match-up
really well, the Horsemen having the edge in the pitching, Wiffolution
getting the nod from a hitting standpoint. Their most recent battle
was just that, a three-game war to see who would face the Holy Whites
in the playoffs (which the Horsemen won). However, a little has
changed since then.
The
Horsemen are a noted pitching team. With Clint Wattenberg leaving
though, and Eric Christensen possibly being around for most of the
season, the Horsemen took a step down. Captain Joey Creighton tried
to fix that by picking up John Deatrick in the 2002 draft. John's
batting prowess is suspect, but his arm looks possibly lethal. He
has smoke and accuracy, and could immediately jump in with Joey
and Seth Yoder in the "sub 3.00" club. Hitting-wise, Joey
should once again strive for .400. If Seth can raise his batting
average and subsequently his OB%, this team will hurt you. Eric
and John need simply to play "role hitters" as Dean Evans
did for Wiffolution last year. Just try to get on base.
Wiffolution
was as much known for it's weak pitching as it was for its great
hitting. Two thirds of Wiffolution's main rotation finished with
an ERA above 6.00. Three fourths if you include EVERYONE. This is
exactly what captain Casey Sylvester addressed in the 2002 draft,
picking up 6'4 fireballer Hart McKenzie who should bolster a pitching
staff that needed the lift. Also, Jeff Morrison is seemingly improving
everyday from what was a bad shoulder problem. Remember, Jeff once
WAS a very good pitcher, and it wouldn't be out of the question
to say he could be there again someday. At the plate, this team
will make you pay. Jeff and Dean Evans get on base, and Casey is
as good as they come at bringing them home. What role Hart will
play is not known as of now, but should become clearer after Saturday.
By picking up Hart, many people are looking at Wiffolution as possible
"championship" fodder this year.
Holy Whites vs. Longballs (Sac, doubleheader)
A year ago, this would have been a huge mismatch between the champion and
god-awfully powerful Holy Whites and the perfectly mediocre 4th-place
Longballs. However, it's a new season. All players are back to zero
and slates are wiped clean. Then again, it could still be a mismatch.
One thing is for sure though; the Longballs are a tad more powerful
than last year.
Gone are Jordan Lockhart and Greg Creighton. In their place is Bob Banos
and Joey Holt. Bob should be no less powerful than Jordan was, and
Joey should be a great deal more powerful than Greg was. Throw in
James Vassar (28 HRs in 2001) and Derek Byrd (25 HRs) and you have
a respectable lineup. From the mound though is where it gets rather
ugly. James is honestly the Longball's only quality cannon and he
can't pitch every inning. Lefties are relatively unsuccessful against
Byrd, but you notice I say relatively, meaning they still hit him
hard. Bob has the potential to join Aaron Kemper's small club of
ERAs over 8.00 unless he lucks out and players for one reason or
another can't hit slow, inaccurate pitching. Joey Holt, last we
saw him, was not a pitcher by any stretch of the imagination. Picture
games that wind up 10-8 or the like. The Longballs will be involved
in plenty of those. Actually, picture the 2002 Texas Rangers. Yeah...now
you're getting it.
The Whites on the other hand, were the best hitting AND pitching team
of 2001, although most of that can be attributed to Scott Carmichael
alone, who hit 56 homeruns and finished with an ERA of 0.59. Mike
Walsh showed that he was a huge power threat, giving the Whites
a powder-keg of an offense that could ignite at any given moment.
Ian Byrd, last year's surprisingly strong rookie returns for season
#2 and Kyle Archibald steps into the league for his first season.
Kyle is a switch-hitter (though he should mainly be hitting from
the left side) who has shown some some above-average speed from
the mound to go with a tendency to keep the ball down. You can call
Kyle the sleeper choice for Rookie of the Year, as if the Whites
really need the talent that badly.
And AFTER all that...
Horsemen vs. Holy Whites (Sac, 1 game)
We get a rematch of the Series at the Sac championship here as the
Horsemen trek across Chico to take on the Holy Whites in the nightcap.
These two teams have quite the rivalry going, thanks largely to
the "Joey vs. Scott" quotient and the fact that the Horsemen
have been the only team that could tame the wild bats of the Whites.
Most of their games are close battles, and I see no reason for an
exception here.
Wiffolution vs. Longballs (Byrd House, 1 game)
Another rivalry of sorts, but this one is due mainly to the polar opposite
each team is of the other. Wiffolution plays team ball, the Longballs
don't. Wiffolution has one guy going for homeruns, three others
trying to make that homerun a grand slam. The Longballs are looking
for four solo shots. Should be some good offense in this game, unless
the rust stays on for a tad too long.
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In any event, the weekend is packed. Hopefully Mother Nature cooperates
with us and we get a decent day of sun. Last year's opening day
was marred by wind and rain (especially in the final game at the
Byrd House, a 3-2, 9-inning nightmare between the Road Warriors
and the Horsemen). Check back Sunday evening for news on all the
haps. With this many rookies in the league...well...let's just say
I'm very interested in how this season winds up.
Opening days rule!
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