Wait - what exactly do the rules say? Run Ratio & League Standings

For as long as I have been involved in this league, we have always had a statistic displayed prominently in the league standings.  SOM's 2015 regular season Runs Scored / Runs Allowed ratio of 4.680 holds the modern day record, and rightfully is a source of pride for an outstanding championship team. 

BUT..... Just when you thought you understood how the league standings work, you read the rules again (for the umpteenth time), and there it is spelled out in front of you:

It turns out the overall season ratio is NOT what is used to determine tie breakers!  Instead it is the ratio "for only those games played among those teams that are tied".  Woah.  So for those of you trying to follow along at home, the famous "ratio" on the standings page has absolutely no effect on the final standings.  Yikes.  If you are one of the teams that are tied (and in 2016 there will be at least 3 of these such teams), ignore the overall ratio.  Focus instead on the ratio of only the games you played against teams with whom you are tied.  And by "focus", I actually mean calculate manually, since there is nowhere on the website that actually displays this :)

What does this mean? For one thing, the website is not accurate in how it handles tie breakers (it currently shows in order of overall season ratio).  For another thing (and obviously related to the first one), this writer now has some work to do on the underlying code that generates the standings.

Anyone want to buy a round of beer?

Spector Group Softball has Arrived....Wins 1st game of season (That we actually played)

Coming into the 2016 season, Spector Group Architects (SG) was invited to the Softball League Apres Modern .....otherwise known as. S.L.A.M.   As all of you know, SLAM is a softball league made up the world's top renown Architecture and Design firms. So on behalf of SG, it is an honor to be included as the 10th team of this prestigious and successful Architecture League of 37 years.

As the SLAM season opened Spector Group was notified of its inclusion on March16th and with training camp opening in 2weeks …Co-managers Ryan "thinks he's as cool as Ryan Reynolds" Porter, Keribeth "The CFO"Rokeach and Simon "formerly known as the Panda" Yeung had the tough task of putting together a competitive roster that could be respectable in this league. There was a long line for try-outs around Madison Ave of would-be potentials who wanted to be a part of team SG but at the end Spector Group had finally put together a team of the best Architects and designers…… who had a little somthin somthin of softball skills too.

On opening day, the newly formed Spector Group team with their newly minted navy blue and white jerseys looked sharp … you couldn't tell that theses were the new kids on the block playing former 2 time champion HMRAMSA, but sadly SG didn't play as good as they looked as it lost its first ever game. All was not lost though as the young rookie team was competitive for most of the  game with the exception of one bad news bears inning. There was hope for this team and lots of promise.

Ready for the second game of the season SG was scheduled to play against GS/HH……a newly merged team in the league but it was over before it started as GS/HH was not able to make the game so team SG had its first win under its belt due to a forfeit. It wasn't the way we pictured it but a win is a win.  Beers all around!

Now with a record of 1-1 in the league, team Spector loses its next 3 games (TPG , GA, PEA) One of which is under review by the commissioner and umps over a misunderstood rule.  Things were not looking so bright  and a few adjustments were needed to the new team.

Still Confidence was never lost with this team as it entered the game against KPF, SG knew how to play but just needed to put it all together.

Leading off the game was David "Speedy" Beauchamp (2-3) who has continued his hot hitting as one of the best lead off men in the league. Hits followed from Jared "not Fogle" Morganstein (2-4, 2b), Joe "Taking candy from his little sister" Carretta (1-3), Chris "mr.perfect" Thibodeau (1-3, rbi) and Brian "The Magnet" Chernick (3-3, rbi, 1 run)which led to an early 2-1 lead.

The game stayed close till the 4th when the middle of the lineup started to hit its stride led by Scott "the undercover boss" Spector (2-3, 2 runs), Lauren "my brother used to steal my candy"Carretta (2-3, rbi) and Dan "mr Gardner" Setnikar taking the lead 5-1.

The true highlight and bright spot came in the 7th when the thrift shop crew, Karen "the workaholic' Fung and Lauren "the Alcoholic" Gardener combined for the much needed 6th insurance run.

Solid defense all around and Great pitching by Ryan "Porter Potty" Porter (1-3, triple, rbi) who threw for 7 strong innings allowing 1 earned run.

Final score a 6-2 victory by Spector Group. Hats off to KPF for a great competitive game.

 Game ball goes to The entire SG team because we haven't given up and for always staying positive.  Season is far from over………

Earl Weaver Once Said....

....“The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers.”  Game 5 against TPG arch rivals, Gensler, proved yet again that sometimes you don't need the most athletic or the strongest person to carry the team, but rather unity, bravery, and energy will do just fine to get the win.

Half way thru the season, TPG is undefeated and creating a buzz around the league and on Twitter. Fans from around the world are coming to Central Park to watch the talent and the dynamics that each week brings. 

From the bleacher creatures on the bench cheering and booing, to the NYPD’s beautiful officers making sure no one got out of control or maybe even reliving childhood magic at the field of dreams, to Hernan "Yo Momma" Graziano wanting to rip Patrick’s “Mini Danny” head off for throwing a wild ball to the outfield that almost hit the hot dog stand guy, GAME 5 of the season proved that you could be a kid for as long as you want when you play and watch softball.

Gensler started off with several quick runs but TPG hung in there by chipping a run at a time like the great Billy Beane would have coached. Small balls can win games and championships.  As the sun was setting, TPG kept looking up at Gensler like the Giants that they are in the League. It almost seemed that Gensler once again would destroy TPG’s dreams and hopes and send us to the bar to drink and forget.  The very nice umpire (yet wouldn't give me the low strike, whatever) notified both team coaches that due to getting dark TPG would have its last change at the bottom of the 6th to either tie or go home crying to its family or dogs.  Some players’ heads were down, some up, and some looking at the LIRR schedule, as the bottom of the order was getting ready to bat.  The bench was going bananas, creating the energy that once in a while is projected to the batters. Being down by 2 runs didn’t scare Chase "The Mack Truck" Hodge. He finally learned NOT to swing at the first pitch. Yay! He once again used his speed to run and slide to first in which he almost injured the first basemen. The science of sliding is that you slow down not gain speed (just saying).

 

Erin "Marathon" McCarthy followed and delivered a power shot that barely passed the pitcher but caught everyone by surprise and miss played it. Next up was Chelsea “Turtle” Cheng. Gensler was going for the double play as "Turtle" hasn’t shown her true talent this season. As the ball was pitched the bleacher creatures were yelling, “Smack it out of the park!”, “Turtle” swung and the breeze of the bat caught the ball. Using her speed she outran two missed plays and barely reached first base. Oxygen tanks were provided in order to try to keep "Turtle" in the game as no other girl was available to pitch run for her.

 

Bases loaded, no outs, and Norman “Cricket” Ha is thinking he will be the hero of the game and get carried on player’s shoulders, but no!  Gensler’s first basement made the best play of the game by jumping 4 feet off the ground and catching "Cricket’s" line drive. Chris “The Walker” Gutierrez took Hernan "Yo Momma" Graziano's advice and walked. He may have been punched if he swung at a 3-0 pitch. His selflessness allowed a key run and put the pressure on Ben “D-Train” Saltzman.  "D-Train" seized the opportunity to close out the game with a winning line drive that drove in Erin and "Turtle".  "Turtle" rounded 3^rd base as though the LIRR train was closing its doors on her.  All you could see is dust from "Turtle’s" cleats and a roar that sounded like choo-choo. As her feet touched home plate everyone ran to the field like the 96’ Yankees. No horse riding was allowed as Central Park has strict rules but the inner kid in all of us went crazy, tears were shed, high fives, hugs and chest bumping occurred.   Final score 8-7, as TPG establishes themselves as a contender this season and ready to put a stop to championship 4-peats.

Written by Hernan Graziano of TPG.

TPG's Anticlimactic (sort of) Season Opener

The season for TPG started by having its season opener postponed due to the umpire not showing up. Glad both teams had a full squad to at least practice and get the rust and spider webs out. I would like to thank the umpire that didn't bother telling us he wasn't going to show up for our season opener but at least the practice allowed us to see the rookies and put a new game plan into affect for the 2016 season. 

Last week's practice paid off as we cruised past FXF this week, in 4 innings. Batters 1 thru 5 were unstoppable, using legal softball bats to hit rockets and powerful speed to run the bases. Steve A. "the Freak" continued to lead off, getting on base at no cost. Chris finally showed his softball skills and hit the ball well and continued his leadership in the outfield. Andreas "The Athlete" continued to stumble as he ran the bases and showed how not to slide to second (dude, invest in longer shorts PLEASE). Tony hit nothing but triples and allowed Hernan to drive him in at every bat. 

The game ball wasn't handed to any of the first 5 batters, even though they contributed 10 of the 15 runs in the game.  Instead, it was handed to our all-star second basewoman, Erin "Marathon" McCarthy. She used her swift speed, hitting a triple and a single and had 3 big RBI's that put the nail in the game coffin. 

Thank you FXF for your sportsmanship and to all of TPG players for playing your butt off.

I'm glad to be one of your managers and let today's game show you that all it takes is a team playing together and having fun. Sometimes you don't need all of your best players to show up, but players playing their best, supporting each other and having fun. 

 

This blog is written by TPG's new co-manager and esteemed pitcher, Hernan Graziano, whom we are proud to welcome in our management team. Well said, Hernan!  We couldn't agree more.

WE TALKIN PLAYOFFS……..TPG battles back to tie Playoff Series 1-1

It's that time of the year again everyone….…..It's the SLAM LEAGUE PLAYOFFS…..yes WE TALKIN PLAYOFFS Ladies and Gentleman!….

…..We are finally here after a long season in which Team TPG has had its fill of ups and downs.  It has been a tumulus journey for the new TPG 3-headed management group, as this co-manager admits that we have had growing pains as a team.  However... ultimately all our hard work and dedication has proven with some positive results.  I can honestly say that the management group is very proud of the team to be where we are today.   The team at the beginning of the year was made up of rookies that out numbered the veterans of the team and so team chemistry was a big concern.  However at the end of the day Team TPG showed that no matter who puts on that uniform, Team TPG puts it all out on the field and win or lose…..We play as a team.  

TPG headed into today's playoff game in a bit of a slump as the #6 Seed playing against arch rival and #3 Seed, Gensler.  TPG had played Gensler in the regular season finale with results not favoring this side of the  plate.  Maybe it was nerves, maybe it was inexperience but Game 1 of the playoffs found the TPG team with the same results as the last match up in an 11-0 slaughter at the hands of the mighty Big Red Machine.  This would mark 14 consecutive innings that TPG has not scored a run at the hands of Gensler's starting pitcher, Joe.

Now with our backs to the wall….Game 2 was win or go home for Team TPG.  However this team still had some fight left in them and Team TPG regrouped and made some adjustments.  The first inning was promising as lead off hitter, Norman "Still the best Aussie in the game" Ha (3-3, RBI, 2 runs) and rookie SS, Joe "The energizer bunny" Carretta (2-3, RBI, 1 run) began the game with back to back singles but much like the past two games found ourselves without a run scored and that followed with another zero in the second inning which meant 16 scoreless innings for this slumping line up.

That's when Chase "The Mack Truck" Hodge decided that enough was enough and in the bottom of the 3rd inning lead off with a rally beginning single….followed by Steve "I found the ballpark" Dargo with another single.  So with two on and Norman "the best Aussie in the game" Ha up, drove in the 1st run in 17 innings for Team TPG which opened the flood gates of scoring for TPG as then Joe "the energizer bunny" Carretta followed suite with another RBI single.  Ed "The skyscraper" Baust (2-3, 3 RBIs, 2B, 3B, 2 runs) then flexed some 6'-10' muscle by following with a 2 run triple to open up the game.  FINALLY some life into the lineup in which TPG scored 5 runs.

TPG added 4 more runs in the bottom of the 5th lead by LF, Hernan "The marathon man" Graziano (2-3, 3RBI, 1 run) who showed some endurance after pitching an exhaustive 5 games in 3 day while giving birth to his second child then running into a burning building to save a cat, dog, 3 hamsters and the baby's crib.

Heading into the top of the 7th, TPG up 9-5 had some scare put into them as the big red machine rallied and showed that they weren't just going down so easily and scored 3 runs to make the deficit just one run.  At the end of the game, team TPG prevails 9-8 and pushes the series to a 1-1 tie.

Solid pitching from Steve "the Greek Freak" Aspiotis, Great defense by Chase "where did we get this guy" Hodge and our super 2B, Allison "the real deal" Stadnyck.

Hats off to the team for showing resiliency, heart and for fighting back after some rough beginnings…..Game ball goes to everyone on Team TPG… Also special Thanks to TPG partner-in charge, Jim Doherty for showing up and always supporting the team....….See you all on thursday - Game 3!

TPG Welcomes Something old, Something new……….TPG vs MGA

The TPG softball team had a welcome surprise coming into today's game vs MGA, which was none other than ex TPG manager and Mr. Controversy himself Josh "Shuffle foot" Ginsburg, who happened to be in the neighborhood traveling from the west coast on business (in other words he was busy golfing).  Josh's return in the office signified old times as it was like turning back the clock to the day when he used to roam the TPG hallways with nothing to do but stalk every player on the team on game day asking "so are you playing, are you playing?"and for a few hours it seemed like nothing had changed.

However this is not the same team, this is a different team than the one Josh used to manage last year.  There was a new aura and personality this year with the 14 new rookies in the mix and new management system.  The new players had heard of the legendary coach named Josh but thought he was just a myth like big foot, the lockness monster or that Princess is really 5'-0" tall (kidding..kidding but she is 4'-10").  With all that is different, one thing remained the same..TPG still had the same old attitude of having fun and winning as a team!

The start of the game was delayed a few moments due to some officiating issues so TPG had some extra time to warm up and prepare for the match up vs MGA but for starting pitcher, Hernan, he had other things on his mind.  It was rumored that he had to fill out a Hall pass permission slip in advance to play in today's game from his wife (Thanks Mrs. Graziano).  What we didn't know was that Hernan has the "BEST WIFE IN THE WORLD" who did allow him to play today's game while expecting a phone call from the doctor about welcoming their second child into the world.   We knew with a seconds notice or with a loud vibration in his pants (from the phone of course) that he may have to leave the game to attend to his wife.  So we really needed to get this game started.

Once the umpire arrived and coin toss complete which TPG elected to be the home team, Hernan with cell phone by his side, was all business.  He pitched lights out softball throwing a perfect game into the 3rd inning while allowing 1 run through the top of the 4th inning.

The TPG's offense didn't skip a beat either by scoring 15 total runs with 9 of them in the second inning lead by Andreas "The official self proclaimed Super Athlete" Karales who had 4 RBIs (2-3, HR, 3B, 2 runs) and Hernan"I have the best wife" Graziano with 3 RBIs (3-3, (2)2B, 1R).

At the end TPG steam rolls ahead to a score of 15-1 in a 3.5 inning mercy victory.  Hats
off again to the team for sharp hitting, solid defense and an overall well played game.

Game ball goes to……who else but Mrs. "Da Italian Stallion" Graziano!

On another note…..

I would like to introduce to YOU……..

 TPG's NOT SO TOP BUT FUNNY PLAYS OF THE GAME
(courtesy of Chelsea "Queen of Fresh Meadows" Cheng")

Now these blogs have always highlighted elite performances and showcased TEAM talent so I thought we could share with you some of the not so top but very funny plays of the game.

Starting with #4 TPG Not So Top Play of the Game
Chase "I stop for NO ONE" Hodge rounding 3rd Base to I don't know where. 
(click on video below)

#3 TPG Not So Top Play of the game...
SORRY boss....Damien "more golfer than softball swing"
didn't get that RBI you asked for. (wonk wonk wonk...)
(click on video below)

#2 TPG Not SO Top Play of the Game.... 

Great hustle play by Jon "sly like a" Fox showing us how to use your head!

(click on video below)

 

 

AND THE #1NOT SO TOP PLAY!…… 

Is Andreas Faster than…….. Dirt??? 

(Click on video below)

Again Congrats to the TEAM on a great game.  

Sophomore Slump?

At the end of the 2013 season, the league found SOM back on top for the first time since 2009, meaning the commissioner from the  infamous 2010 season would be back in charge in 2014 (Side note - please read one of the Original Founders of SLAM's history piece on the league website to see how the structure changed from a constant commissioner to a rotating "based-on-who-won" commissioner).  During the 2013 awards party, every manager expressed concern - led by OJ, the head umpire of our prestigious league.  "Do you really want to be commissioner again?  Do you remember how bad 2010 was?  You don't?  It was bad.  etc, etc, etc".

But it is written into the league rules, and so it was set.  If you win, you get to be in charge of the league for the next year (as long as you wanted to of course).  And who would possibly turn down a leadership role that is resume-worthy?  I mean, even if every single person in the league thought you should say no, you'd probably still say yes.  I get it.  And with the pressure on in 2014, the leadership from SOM stood tall, and delivered a perfect season with a responsive, thought out approach from the very beginning acquiring the needed permits, all the way to the final trophy awarded at the end of the 2014 season (to themselves of course).  SOM is an outstanding softball team, and Scott Habjan is not just the best pitcher in the league (sorry Solomon), but is probably the best pitcher of our era.

Ahh, but enter the 2015 season.  Clearly SOM had performed in their leadership role in 2014, so the rest of the league didn't give it a second thought.  And then radio silence.  March came, and still no manger's meeting scheduled.  A last minute scheduling threw the managers together, and everything seemed okay except for one small detail:  There was no schedule.  And when the schedule was finally posted, it was only for the first month.  Then the second month was added to the website.  The season started, and teams did not know when the games would be played after May.  A rush to get the games posted, and the obvious happened: mistakes, errors, omissions, and inequalities of who played at what time on which fields. At least one team found themselves playing a doubleheader on two different fields.

While OJ attempted to make sense of all this - and make sure umps would be at each game (which is of course what the league pays him to do) - we got a polite seemingly innocuous email from the commissioner:

"Adjustments to the schedule have been completed to address certain mistakes, inequities and injustices. Please check your schedule asap. The changes are few and far between but they do involve 1 game as early as next Thursday."

So let's ignore for a moment that the league managers were literally trying to schedule their team's games "as early as next thursday".  Let's talk about the schedule itself....  For the past few years the schedule has always had a few built in rain-out dates.  Typically these start in June and are perhaps twice a month.  The theory being that if a team suffered a few early rainouts, they would not have to wait until the end of the season to make everything up at once.  This is an excellent concept, and should continue to be the norm.  However, part of this concept means immediately re-scheduling a rain-out so that all the teams have adequate time to prepare.  So one would think that when the four games were rained out on 4/20 and 4/21, at least one of them would be re-scheduled for the first open rainout date of June 4th.  But alas, this didn't happen, and the June 4th date sat there staring at us as an unused permit.  And of course our next rainout would occur on June 1st.  At which point another loving email was sent to TPG and RAMSA (two fierce rivals who have meet in the playoffs almost every year):

"In putting together the schedule, we built in certain days for make-up games. We have one of those days this Thursday. Granted it is short notice and there is a 50% chance of rain, but if OJ can find an umpire, and in the interest of sparing you the potential of multiple regular season games in a week – I think it would be great if we could reschedule your game for this Thursday 5:30 at Hecksher. Please let me know asap if we can go ahead and do that. OJ please let me know if you and your crew can cover it."

After a lengthy back and forth based on the simple fact that less than 1/2 of each team was available that Thursday, the league agreed to just leave the permit unused.  For those of you who have been in this league for many years, you don't need me to tell you that the success or failure of our league comes down to one thing alone:  Permit Availability.  losing a permit is the worst thing that can happen.

When asked for comment, Commissioner Scott Habjan told this reporter:

"Like the past couple years, we built in some opportunities for make-up games throughout the season (not just waiting until the end.) Unfortunately the only games we needed to make-up were for earlier this week and it was too short notice to make it happen."

Which would be fine if that was indeed the reality of the situation.  This would have been avoided if the 4/20 games were re-scheduled in a timely fashion.

Simon Yeung (TPG Co-Manager) had this to say:

“Due to the rain out on Monday, TPG on short notice scrambled to assemble a team late Monday for a proposed rescheduled game on Thursday vs one of the top teams in the league in HMRamsa.  We were unfortunately unable to get 10 people to commit and therefore we had to respectfully decline playing on Thursday.  This potential game was very important to us and we didn’t want to lose against one of the better teams in a league that has so many playoff implications.”

And even former commissioner and RAMSA Manager David Solomon chimed in:

"my legal counsel has advised me not to comment on the schedule drama from a week ago for fear of facing a heavy fine or possible suspension."

In this reporters opinion, the idea of a rotating commissioner based on who won the last year is a bad, bad idea.  SOM is definitely the best team in the league these past few years, and no one can take that away from them.  But running a league is a completely different skill than winning a game.

Time to get your act together before OJ quits on us.  No more scheduling crazy.  No more drama.  Please.  For the sake of the league we all love.