Box Scores: Wednesday July 27, 2005

Game 1
Player of the Game:
J. Cooper: 3-4, 3R, 3RBI, BB, 2HR(20, 21)

Game 2
Player of the Game:
N. Kaltsas: 2-5, R, RBI, 2 3B, GW 3B in the 6th inn off O. Lam

The Race For The Sweet Pea Johnston Award?

Everyone, even grade school kids, know that "BALCO" Remetta won the best pitcher of the year award in 2004. Since then, the award has been named the Remetta Award. However, is that honor justified?

This reporter dug up the old stats of 2004 and found that there were only 5 pitchers with an ERA+ greater than 100. An ERA+ is a measure of a pitcher's ERA normalized to the league average. A score of 100 is average, while a score of 110 means that pitcher is 10% better than average. ERA+ and OPS+ are good tools for comparison across time frames where players, equipment, and fields differ.

2004's ERA+, from highest to lowest (over 100):

"Sweet Pea" Johnston - 170
"BALCO" Remetta - 166
"Poodles" Janik - 159
"Redfoot" Lam - 122
"Just Tom" Cadigan - 111

If judging by that, "Sweet Pea" Johnston has a legitimate gripe to be heard by the League Office. He posted a lower ERA than "BALCO" and had a WHIP lower than 1.00!

It is obvious that the committee picked Remetta over Johnston due to his superior record of 7-1 to "Sweet Pea"'s 4-4. However, the win-loss record should be regarded as a faulty gauge of how "good" a pitcher is. A win is not solely determined by a pitcher's skill; it's also a by-product of said pitcher's offense.

Did "Sweet Pea" get a raw deal? Should it be the Johnston Award? Is there a conspiracy?

Other notes:

- Is anyone else shocked by Redfoot's 2004's ERA+ of 122 (compared to this year's 76)? Where did his pitching go?

- Despite the absolutely binoculars of a season by N Kaltsas, his OPS+ of 209 pales in comparison to "Poodles" Janik's 2004 OPS+ of 227.

- "Hot Sauce" Cometa is on pace to break the single season at bat record of 252 set by Janik.

Photo's from Bluefish Game

Check out the rest of the Bluefish photos here.

Around the Horn: July 27, 2005

Here are some comments from some of your favorite MLWM superstars:

Kwan and Joe comment on the last game

Cooper's disappointment of his bullpen

Cooper's shout-out to his fan from Madrid

Kwan and Cooper on the Cadigans

Janik comments on Mr. Cadigan

Next Game: Wednesday July 27th @ Meadowside

Get there early, and bring the Big League Chew.

5:30 - Meet & Greet with Fans, Reporters
5:40 - Long Tossing, Batting Practice, Infield Drills
5:45 - Stretching
5:50 - National Anthems
5:55 - Ceremonial First Pitch
6:00 - Actual First Pitch

The Coach's Corner

If any of you guys are looking to improve your pitching, here is a little thing I found that might help.

Wiffleball Pitching

See you on the field,

George
MLWM Wiffleboard

The Ball is Juiced

While there has been many questions about steroid use by certain players this year, the one thing that is easy to see is that homerun totals are up. Just Tom is already 10 up on his pace from last season. Rookie Nick Kaltsas has pummeled whopping 31 homeruns with one week to go in the season. Many veterans have already passed their career highs, and On "The Walkman" Lam has mashed 5 homers this season after going homerless in his career prior to this year. This has made many fans skeptical about the legitimacy of these homerun totals, so I decided to look for possible answers as to why the homerun totals are up.
The obvious answer would be that the Wiffleball Commission slipped human growth hormone and other froms of steroids into the players water supply, but because of a lack of testing, no evidence can be provided to prove this theory. The next possibility is that bigger bats allow players to hit the meatball pitches of Keeler(31 Homeruns Allowed), Cooper(24 HRA), and Cometa(23 HRA) harder and further. Ironically, it was Ryan Keeler who introduced a new, bigger bat to the league a month or so back. Its safe to say that many of the league's pitchers were happy to see that bat break. I'm not even sure the Wiffleball Commission officially approved the bat. Along with the bigger bat and meatball pitchers, the answer may be found in the fact that the ball is JUICED this year.
I believe the ball is being Juiced, and i don't mean the kind of juice you get from oranges, by the Wiffleball Commission to attract more fans. As Just Tom said in an earlier article, "chicks dig the longball." Has it seemed a little funny that George and Joe are constantly asking people to bring new wiffleballs? Sure, some balls are casualties of battle, but others have been oddly disappearing. My first thought was that the gnome is George's trunk was taking them, but then I began to see the all the softer balls were the ones disappearing, and gnomes only like the hard plastic wiffleballs. Then, it became clear what was going on: The Wiffleboard Commissioner was trashing the softer balls and having people bring in newer, hard wiffleballs in order to boost homerun totals to draw more fan interest. Everyone knows the hard balls travel further, but wiffleball purists will tell you that no balls should be wasted until the contain a moderate sized crack because a little softness in the ball never hurts anyone.
This reporter, this meatball pitcher, this wiffleball purist, this knight of the keyboard would like to insist the Wiffleball Commission keep the softer wiffleballs until they are officially dead and not toss them away because they are a little soft. Also, a ban on the bigger bats wouldn't hurt either!

At Harbor Yard

Talking about Steven A. Smith's show, Larry Brown, and the Knicks.

Bluefish Game: Tuesday July 26

6:00pm - Redevous at Meadowside rally point
6:10pm - Ammunition and firearms check
6:35pm - Board Action WiffleChopper
7:00pm - The game at Harbor Park
7:05pm - Jimmy "Boom Boom" Cooper throws out the first pitch

Box Scores: Sunday July 24, 2005

Game 1
Player of the Game:
O. Lam: CG, 3H, 0ER, 5SO, W(1)

Game 2
Player of the Game:
J. Janik: 5-5, 3R, 5RBI, 3B, 2 HR(27, 28)

Game 3
Player of the Game:
T. Cadigan Jr.: 2-3, 2RBI, 3 3B; 4IP, 4H, 2ER, SO, W(8)

Game 4
Player of the Game:
C. Figueroa: 3-3, R; 4IP, 6H, 3ER, BB, SO, W(3)

CHICKS DIG THE LONG BALL!

Prior to becoming nicknamed "Just Tom," the wiffleballer Tom Cadigan was really just Tom to the ladies. Tom was a shy, somewhat lonely kid walking around the mean streets of milford. To the ladies his nickname was becoming "Whodat" because nobody ever really new who the hell he was. It was as if he was hibernating but all year round and the only times he showed his face to the public was when he needed essentials to living (food, drink, pody, beer and clean underwear). A little over a year ago Tom joined the Major League Wiffleball of Milford and as he gave it his all out on the field people began to take notice. His fellow wiffleballers acknowledged his rookie success by awarding him the rookie of the year award. More importantly he finished second in home runs for the year and this is where girls from all over began to take notice. He got his very own fanmail after that first season, and even went on a couple blind dates with a few ladies just hoping to be swept off their feet but that was just the beginning. Currently Tom is now known as "Just Tom" and with his current nickname and his home run totals reaching an astronomical 29 so far, girls from all over cant seem to get enough of the young wiffleballer. Its becoming so bad that the press is pondering the thought of changing his nickname to "Just cant get enough of Tom." Tom does not really know what to say except that he now has become a believer in the phrase "Chicks dig the longball." The professional wiffleballers can be seen Tuesday night as special guests showing their support for the Bridgeport Bluefish. Tom claims he has three lady friends who will be accompanying him so it appears as though chicks really do dig the longball. You can only imagine how many women league leader in home runs Nick Kaltsas (31) will have accompanying him to the game. For more news on the MLWM, keep posted to the website.








... lets help Joe sell all those tickets for the Bluefish game, I really did get 3 girls to buy tickets so I believe there may be 4 left. It should be a fun evening!

Update on T-shirts

Hey Guys,

I ran into a situation concerning the t-shirts. Apparently, the quote I was given earlier did not include some setup fees and after crunching out the numbers, the shirts came out to $15 per shirt. I'm going to order the shirts today and front the money. I have to collect $3 from people who already paid. If this is a problem for some people, we'll work something out. My bad guys. The T-shirt business is a strange one.

See you guys at the BF Game

George
MLWM Wiffleboard

Next Game: Sunday July 24 @ Meadowside

Get there early, and bring the Big League Chew.

3:55 - Meet & Greet with Fans, Reporters
4:00 - Pregame Show On The Radio
4:05 - Long Tossing, Batting Practice, Infield Drills
4:10 - Stretching
4:15 - National Anthems
4:20 - Ceremonial First Pitch
4:25 - Actual First Pitch

MLWM News and Announcements

Hi Everyone,

The schedule for this week's wiffleball action looks like this:

Sunday, July 24: Sunday night Wiffleball, Game time at 4:30pm (Meadowside)

Tuesday, July 26: Bridgeport Bluefish Game at Ballpark at Harbor Yard, 500 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604. First pitch is at 7:05pm as The Lancaster (PA) Barnstormers visit the Bridgeport Bluefish. Tix will be handed out this Sunday's game for those of you are going, but there are still some left. I think we will be car pooling there or taking a train, more details to follow during Sunday's game.

Wednesday, July 25: Wiffleball Game time at 6pm (Meadowside).

I will be ordering the T-shirts on Monday to have them ready for the Aug.14 playoffs. The shirts are $12 and I'm going to collect money this Sunday. So please bring your money, or you don't get a shirt.

See you on the field,
George
Wiffleboard

Diamond Notes

- Is there a worse time for "Poodles" Janik and "El Gringo" Veilleux to miss playing time than the current offensive explosion in the league?

- This year's home run race is going to be one to tell your grandchildren about. It looks to be a 3 horse race to the end.

- "Senor" Cadigan's moonshot was estimated at about 150ft. While "Just Tom" Cadigan's was about 135ft. A new steriods controversy? I'd look into Mrs. Cadigan's role in this. Is she the real steroids mastermind? It should be noted that "Tom's Sister" Cadigan has a background in gymnastics; an industry notorious for steroids abuse.

- Since lifting his .169 average to the more respectable mid-.220s, Redfoot has talked less about retirement and more about finishing out the season strong. It is conceivable that he can somehow finish with the same average as last year, around .250.

- With a new influx of talent, the playoff field could be expanded to 20 players with 4 teams of 5. However, it's still best for everyone to get there atbats in.

- In the spirit of the World Baseball Classic, MWLM has been mulling a Connecticut Coast Classic where Milford takes on the world. Quote Redfoot: "I hope we burn that (Stratford) bridge so them Stratfordeianers can stay on that side"

- There is only about 7 to 8 days left of games in the season.

Contraversy emerges: left to fans to decide Player of the Game

We want you to decide between these 3 players who should be the Player of the Game for Wednesday, July 20, Game 3. Use the Box Score and the following information below:

J. Cooper: 2-3, R, 3RBI, 3B, HR(14); 4.2IP, 6H, 4ER, 3SO
G. Cometa: 3-4, R, RBI, 2 2B, 3B
M. Williams: 4-2, 2R, 2RBI, 2 3B

Here is the 7/20 Game 3 Box Score to see the stats: Game 3

Also here is the criteria for POG:
1. You have to be on the winning team.
2. Bat over .500
3. Give up 3ER or less as a pitcher.
4. Perform the turning point play of the game, ie: Sumner's 2R HR off On in Game 1.

Post a comment below on your choice for July 20, Game 3 Player of the Game. The winner chosen will win, basically...well, nothing.

George
Wiffle Board

Box Scores: Wednesday July 20, 2005

Game 1
Player of the Game:
S. Johnston: 1-3, Game deciding 2R HR(16) in the 4th inn off O. Lam

Game 2
Player of the Game:
T. Cadigan Jr.: 3-4, 3R, 4RBI, 3 HR(24, 25, 26); CG, 2ER, 3SO, W(7-2)

Game 3
Player of the Game:
M. Williams: 2-4, 2R, 2RBI, 2 3B

Next Game: July 20 @ Meadowside/Underhill

Get there early, and bring the Big League Chew.

5:30 - Meet & Greet with Fans, Reporters
5:40 - Long Tossing, Batting Practice, Infield Drills
5:45 - Stretching
5:50 - National Anthems
5:55 - Ceremonial First Pitch
6:00 - Actual First Pitch

Box Scores: Tuesday July 19, 2005

Game 1
Player of the Game:
T. Cadigan Jr.: 4-4, 4R, 5RBI, GS(19), HR(20)

Game Notes: Highest run total in MLWM History (24). Most HR in a game in MLWM history (12). Two Grand Slams in one game: T. Cadigan Jr. (off R. Keeler) and J. Cooper (off R. Miller).

Game 2
Player of the Game:
S. Johnston: 2-4, R, 3RBI, HR(15); 4IP, ER, SO, W(6-2)

Box Scores: Sunday July 17, 2005

Game 1
Player of the Game:
B. Verrault: 2-6, 2R, 3RBI, 2HR (3, 4); 4IP, 2ER, SO, W(1-0)

Game 2
Player of the Game:
G. Pasco: 4-6, 3R, 3RBI, 3 3B, 2 HR(8,9)

Game 3
Player of the Game:
K. Lam: 2-4, R, 3 RBI, 3B, HR(10)

Box Scores: Wednesday July 13, 2005

Game 1
Player of the Game:
J. Bresnan: 4-5, 2R, 3 3B

Game 2
Player of the Game:
Father/Son Duo:
T. Cadigan Jr.: 2-4, 2R, 3RBI, 2 HR(15, 16), WG
T. Cadigan Sr.: 3-4, 2R, 4RBI, 2 HR(8, 9); 5IP, 3ER, BB, SO, W(2-0)

Game 3
Player of the Game:
S. Johnston: CG, 4H, ER, SO; 1-5, HR(14)

Box Scores: Tuesday July 12, 2005

Game 1
Player of the Game:
T. Cadigan Jr. : 3-3, R, 3RBI, 3B, HR(12); 5IP, ER, SO, (W, 5-1)

Game 2
Player of the Game:
G. Pasco: 2-4, RBI; 5IP, 4H, ER, 5SO, W(5-4)

Buy Our Things So We Can Buy Things

Today, MLWM sold Derek the Donkey for USD$30 in order to finance the cost of new wiffleballs the league needs.

Derek had been with the league for over 4 years and served mainly as transportation for the league members.

To save Harry the Horse and Ulysseus the Unicorn, please support our league by purchasing official MLWM gear here. Only YOU can prevent them from being glue!

Next Game: July 19 @ Meadowside/Underhill

Get there early, and bring the Big League Chew.

6:00 - Meet & Greet with Fans, Reporters
6:10 - Long Tossing, Batting Practice, Infield Drills
6:15 - Stretching
6:20 - National Anthems
6:25 - Ceremonial First Pitch
6:30 - Actual First Pitch

A Pretty Big Deal

This, this, and this must be the biggest news ever in the history of mankind.

Next Game: July 17 @ Meadowside

Get there early, and bring the Big League Chew.

4:00 - Meet & Greet with Fans, Reporters
4:05 - Pregame Show On The Radio
4:10 - Long Tossing, Batting Practice, Infield Drills
4:15 - Stretching
4:20 - National Anthems
4:25 - Ceremonial First Pitch
4:30 - Actual First Pitch

MLWM Tshirts

I am in the process of ordering team shirts for our league. I have not decided on a logo for the front side, but the back side will have your name and player number of your choice. I'm not sure on prices, but the more people are interested, the lesser the price per shirt. In the mean time, I need to know who is interested in a shirt, and the following information:

a) shirt size
b) player number, if you have one. If not, pick one dammit
c) name on the back of the shirt (last name, nick name)

Please email this info to me if you havn't done so already: Georgeg229@hotmail.com

I want to have this, if possible, for the Bluefish game so we can represent and recruit. See you guys sunday.

Next Game: July 13 @ Meadowside/Underhill

Get there early, and bring the Big League Chew.

6:00 - Meet & Greet with Fans, Reporters
6:10 - Long Tossing, Batting Practice, Infield Drills
6:15 - Stretching
6:20 - National Anthems
6:25 - Ceremonial First Pitch
6:30 - Actual First Pitch

Next Game: July 12 @ Meadowside or Underhill

Get there early, and bring the Big League Chew.

6:00 - Meet & Greet with Fans, Reporters
6:10 - Long Tossing, Batting Practice, Infield Drills
6:15 - Stretching
6:20 - National Anthems
6:25 - Ceremonial First Pitch
6:30 - Actual First Pitch

Word to the Wise

I have been checking the news articles and the comments and the stats and have sat back quietly. I have even forgone the all star game to give another soul the opportunity to win the gracious award of all star mvp. But I check the website today to see that I am ranked a mere 8th. The potential cy young award winner and a descent power hitter and defending rookie of the year is ranked a measly 8th in the league. GROSS. Im a competitor and im a winner! Tomorrow you guys better hope you are not batting against me cuz your averages will just go down. Need I remind everyone that I have posted the only no hitter in wiffleball history. I guess everyone forgot. I dont have an ego but I am just posting this message cuz I demand some respect and cuz I happen to be drunk. So get ready for tomorrow cuz you all will recognize that I am at least an elite player in this league. I have said my peace, and if you dont like it prove me wrong bitches!!!

El Gringo Abducted, By Aliens. Put On DL

This reporter has learned that "El Gringo" Veilleux, the rangey second year man has been abducted by aliens. Mexican aliens.

At approximately 3:30am local time, a band of hoodlums hired by the President of the Mexican League kidnapped El Gringo and transported him across the border. This was a result of the inability of MLWM and the Mexican League to agree on the terms of a trade revolving around El Gringo. MLWM wanted 5 wiffleballs in exchange for him while the Mexican League was only offering 3.

You might wonder if El Gringo is actually worth 3 wiffleballs. With his sensational outfield play, dazzling knucklers, and a mighty bat; some say he might even be worth 4 wiffleballs.

MLWM is expected to open negotiations in hopes of bringing El Gringo back. More as the story develops.

Box Scores: July 10, 2005

Game 1
Player of the Game:
T. Cadigan Sr.: 3-4, 3R, 4RBI, 3HR(4, 5, 6); 3IP, 3ER, W(1-0)

Game 2
Player of the Game:
J. Veilleux: 4-7, 4H, 3BRI, 2HR (9, 10); 4IP, 4R, 3ER, SO, W(6-1)

All Stars Shine, Rookie Lew Earns MVP

Box Score

By Joe "Poodles" Janik
The Commissioner of Wiffleball

Milford, CT - It seems this past weekend women were trying to prove themselves in a sport dominated by men. Of course, I am referring to Michelle Wie and Leslie ‘Lew’ Weidel. Both in their teens and already in organized professional sports, these young athletes face constent pressure everyday.

Wie, who is a golf prodigy at the age of 15, failed to make the cut this pat weekend at John Deere Classic. It was her second attempt and failure to make a cut at a PGA men’s tournament. It is amazing that a girl 3 years into her teens is already competing with men. It is also amazing that two years ago Wie became the youngest-ever winner of the U.S. Women's Amateur Publinx.

However, Wie chooses to compete with men. While being dominate with her own sex at golf, Wie has yet to prove she can play with men. Sure, she is young and this weekend managed to score better than 54 men who play golf for a living, but has nothing to really show for it.

Lew can not choose what sex she competes against. She is in a sport when there is no women’s division. Being a rookie at the age of 18 where she plays on a field with wiffleball legends that carry the names ‘Cooper’ and ‘Lam’ is just as intimidating as it is imagined to be.

Coming into this past weekends MLWM All-Star game, Lew was batting .311, the highest batting average by any female midway through the wiffleball season. This put her on the ‘A-Team’ at the All-Star game, the first women in MLWM history to do so. Lew passed many rookies on her way to the team, such as Carlos Figueroa.

During the game, Lew was electric. She went 3-5 smashing 2 homeruns and driving in 4 RBIs. Though All-Star stats do not count in league stats, in one game Lew has doubled how many homeruns were hit by females ever (Marcea Williams; 1 in 2004). Lew earned the 2005 All-Star MVP and will become the first women to be the recipient of an award in the MLWM during the awards ceremony after the playoffs.

Judging the rest of their entire careers based on this weekend, this reporter says Wie wont rock you, but Lew will.

Next Game: Sunday July 10 @ Meadowside

Get there early, and bring the Big League Chew.

4:00 - Meet & Greet with Fans, Reporters
4:05 - Pregame Show On The Radio
4:10 - Long Tossing, Batting Practice, Infield Drills
4:15 - Stretching
4:20 - National Anthems
4:25 - Ceremonial First Pitch
4:30 - Actual First Pitch

Official Press Release July, 7 2005

The following written statement has been submitted to MLW of Milford by Jim "Boom Boom" Cooper's attorneys concerning the alleged shooting of one Ryan Keeler:

My client unequivocably denies any involvement in this incident. With further investigation pending, we have advised Boom Boom to not comment on these events. We have attempted to view the footage from the Wiffleball Action Chopper, however, the footage garnered from the hand-crank camera attached to a remote control chopper is so grainy, choppy, and overall poor in quality that for anyone to pass judgement on who the shooter was is not possible. In fact, we are not even sure shots were fired or that guns even exist. Futhermore, we also believe(based on expert opinion) the alleged bullets shown in the footage were computer generated. Especially since no bullet holes have been seen in Sweet Pea's El Camino. The only part of the report that we have been able to substantiate is that El Camino in English does in fact mean "The Camino".

During our own private investigation, we attempted to contact Keeler in the Massachussetts Hospital. However, the hospital had no record for a Ryan Keeler. This led us to further our search for Keeler, and in doing so, made a startling discovery: Keeler is alive, healthy, has no bullet holes, and is playing wiffleball. We would like to be the first to report to you that Ryan Keeler has been spotted playing wiffleball in the Cape Cod League. Upon learning we were attorneys for Cooper, Keeler declined an invitation to speak with us. It remains to be seen if Keeler will ever return to Major League Wiffleball of Milford.

To conclude, Jim "Boom Boom" Cooper would once again like to declare his innocence. Everyone knows he is both good natured and non-violent(minus one PPV bout versus a Bear). Cooper and everyone in his camp wish for a quick and peaceful end to the actual violence and alleged violence we have seen lately. Boom Boom will see you all at the All-Star Game this Sunday, 4:30 pm @ Meadowside.

Box Scores: July 5, 2005

Game 1
Game 2
Game 3

If you do not have MS Word, you can download a program to view .doc files from this site:

MS Word Viewer

Box Scores: July 3, 2005

Game 1
Game 2
Game 3

Box Scores: June 28, 2005

Game 1
Game 2
Game 3

Box Scores for June 26, 2005

Game 1
Game 2
Game 3

Box Scores for June 21 2005

Game 1
Game 2
Game 3

Box Scores for June 19, 2005

Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4

Wiffleball Feud Boils Over. Keeler Shot.

This reporter has learned that the continuing feud between Boom Boom and Keeler has reached a climax as gunshots have been exchanged at the local 7-eleven.

From the footage gathered from the Wiffleball Action Chopper, it looks like somebody from the Boom Boom crew pulled up to the car Keeler was sitting in and fired 9 shots. It is our understanding that the car Keeler was sitting in was Sweet Pea's El Camino. Sweet Pea is part of Keeler's crew.

For the people out there that don't watch ESPN Deportes, El Camino in English means "The Camino".

Already, there has been statements made on both sides of the line about revenge. Most notable is Keeler's babymama Tara vowing to hunt down Cooper like a dog. Keeler has been transferred to a hospital in Massachusettes for intensive care. He is expected to be out about two weeks and has been put on the disabled list for "assassination attempt".

This reporter can only hope this is the end of Wiffleball violence, however, it seems likely that the worst is still to come.

Wiffleball. It's a hard knock life.


We didn't have a photo of Keeler after the incident. So we hired a child actor, shot him 9 times, to reenact Keeler's assassination.

Next Game: Tuesday, July 5 6:30pm @ Meadowside or Underhill

Get there early, and bring the Big League Chew.

6:00 - Meet & Greet with Fans, Reporters
6:10 - Long Tossing, Batting Practice, Infield Drills
6:15 - Stretching
6:20 - National Anthems
6:25 - Ceremonial First Pitch
6:30 - Actual First Pitch


Check the field at Meadowside first. Then, if that field is being used, promptly report to the field at Underhill.

Next Game: Sunday, July 3rd 4:30pm @ Meadowside

Get there early, and bring the Big League Chew.

4:30 - Meet & Greet with Fans, Reporters
4:40 - Long Tossing, Batting Practice, Infield Drills
4:45 - Stretching
4:55 - National Anthems
5:00 - First Pitch

Fireworks Night!!!