Wednesday night preview

Jacoby v. Lapine

Jacoby’s dismantling of the superhot Team Applebaum was shocking, even to those who think Jacoby is the team to beat this year. Lapine has enough offensive firepower to score 20 runs tonight, but I can’t make the mistake of picking against the best team in the league.

My prediction: Jacoby

Mike Ferrarese’s pick: Lapine. Our guest columnist also says, “Lapine will be a #1 power rank within 3 weeks”.

Wallman v. Randell:

Randell might be the team better suited for Union Hill, but I think Wallman is the better team. Yes, I know these are words that will come back to haunt me. Before the season most(including myself) felt Wallman had one of the two or three best squads in the league, and perhaps Sunday’s defeat of the tough Team Beilis will serve as the turning point in their season.

My Prediction: Wallman

Mike Ferrarese’s pick: Randell

Week 7 Power Rankings

Week 7 Power Rankings:

Last week’s rankings in ():

1. Jacoby (1)
2. Beilis (2)
3. Goldfarb (5)
4. Applebaum (3)
5. Carlin (7)
6. Lapine (4)
7. Wallman (9)
8. Randell (6)
9. Bykofsky (10)
10. Feldman (8)
11. Pollock (12)
12. Granese (14)
13. Harris (16)
14. Mamone (11)
15. Younger (13)
16. Marrone (15)

Week six picks

Quick Thoughts on today’s upcoming games:

Predicted winner in bold

Harris v. Feldman- Harris is finally in the win column, but I don’t thik they’ll ride the momentum. Team Feldman has been a surprise offensively.

Younger v. Carlin- Tough game to pick. Early season results suggest Carlin, but I think Younger’s team is better than what they’ve shown.

Marrone v. Bykofsky- Team Marrone has lost four games in a row, each by 10 or more runs. I wish we could Elias to find out when the last time that’s happened.

Beilis v. Wallman- A possible “upset” game that really wouldn’t be too big of an upset. If Wallman’s team wants to start living up to the pre-season hype, they’ll win this one. However, I think the storyline will end up being that Team Beilis is for real.

Mamone v. Pollock- Our first game with the defensive alignment that we should see for the rest of the season. Hopefully it’ll feel like a brand new start to the season.

Goldfarb v. Lapine- Lapine’s team has scored 43 runs in their last two games. Looking at that team, it sounds about right.

Applebaum v. Jacoby- The game of the week. If Marlboro Softball was a league that had national prominence then right about now Peragine, Schefkind, Applebaum, and Sarcona would be on the cover of Sports Illustrated cover with some kind of “Fab Four” caption. I think Jacoby’s a great team, but right now Applebaum’s squad is gelling like no other.

Randell v. Granese- Team Randell can score runs. Team Granese can not.

Week 6 Power Rankings

 Week 6 power rankings:

Previous week’s ranking is in parenthesis:

1. Jacoby (1)
2. Beilis (2)
3. Applebaum (5)
4. Lapine (7)
5. Goldfarb (3)
6. Randell (8)
7. Carlin (4)
8. Feldman (9)
9. Wallman (6)
10. Bykofsky (10)
11. Mamone (11)
12. Pollock (12)
13. Younger (13)
14. Granese (14)
15. Marrone (15)
16. Harris (16)

Sunday's picks

Quick picks for this morning’s games:

 Predicted winners in bold

Goldfarb vs. Younger

Randell v. Harris

Pollock v. Jacoby

Bykofsky v. Wallman

Mamone v. Applebaum

Granese v. Feldman

Lapine v. Carlin

Marrone v. Beilis

A few notes:

I’m making Mamone over Applebaum my upset special of the week. Feelings towards Applebaum’s crew is at its peak right now, and they’re due for a comedown game- especially when they’re missing Peragine.

Upset Special Part 2: Elsewhere, I think Younger is going to beat Goldfarb in a case of “just too much offense"

Stat of the week:

So far the captains of the four semi-final teams from last year are 4-10 this year.

The captains of the teams that won 8 or fewer wins last year(including Team Aplebaum since they have both Schefkind and Sarcona) are 13-6.

Wednesday Night Preview

Applebaum vs. Goldfarb:

I like both teams, but I’m more impressed how Goldfarb has done with a very tough schedule to begin the year. On paper, Goldfarb also has more players who are “UH hitters”, and since these two teams are so close talent wise, that could make all the difference. So far Goldfarb is only averaging 7.7 RPG(4^th lowest in the league) but I expect a bit more offense tonight.

Prediction: Goldfarb 12 Applebaum 10

Bykofsky vs. Feldman:

After finally winning a game on their third try, I can start to feel a little bit better about my pick for the sleeper team of the year. I think Team Bykofsky will pick up where they left off and pick up a W against a Team Feldman who has surprised me so far. The spotlight tonight will be on Phil Lipomi, who looks well on his way to having the type of breakout season that will make him a first rounder next year, and Michael Lazzaro, who is the head of an incredibly deep rookie class this year.

Prediction: Bykosky 14 Feldman 9

Power rankings- Week 5

To celebrate the first Wednesday night games of the season, here are the power rankings:

Note: The rankings are based on a combination of factors. Tangible evidence such as records and run differential are part of the process. My personal opinions also play a role, especially in the beginning of the season when a team’s winning percentage could be so heavily influenced by fluky circumstances and early strength of schedule. And while the power rankings are generally based on what has happened so far, news that would alter a team’s future performance (i.e. players returning from injury), may factor into the formula as well. This is my way of saying there may be cases where Team A is ahead of Team B in the power rankings even thought they have the same record and Team B beat Team A head-to head. 

 Power Rankings for Week 5:

1. Jacoby
2. Beilis
3. Goldfarb
4. Carlin
5. Applebaum
6. Wallman
7. Lapine
8. Randell
9. Feldman
10. Bykofsky
11. Mamone
12. Pollock
13. Younger
14. Granese
15. Marrone
16. Harris

Week 3 Predictions

Two weeks into the season and it looks like one of the storylines for this year is the Strong Rookie Class of 2013. Offensive Player of the Week honors have already gone to Frank Dukes, Michael Lazzaro, Dan Difidele, and Joe Spoto. It’s unusual for rookies to have such an immediate impact in our league. Most captains recognize the risks of drafting rookies. Through my own draft analysis, rookies, on average, tend to perform at roughly one round lower than where they were drafted. There is, however, one fact that speaks volumes for how important of a role rookies can play on a team’s ultimate quest to win a championship. As I pointed out before the season, the last three championship teams have all features at least two rookies. This is great news for Jacoby, Harris, Beilis, Lapine, and Mamone. In fact, two weeks into this season, it looks like Jacoby and Beilis are two of the strongest teams in the league. Will the rookies trend continue?

Onto this week’s picks:

Instead of listing matchups as they appear on the website, I want to group them based on similarities:

Marrone vs. Carlin

Wallman vs. Lapine

Beilis vs. Goldfarb

Randell vs. Jacoby

If I were to do a power rankings this week(the first in-season power rankings will be done next week) I’d have in some order Marrone, Wallman, Beilis, Jacoby as my top 4. In each of these matchups they are playing teams who are also either off to starong starts or can very conceivably break into the elite group at some point this year.

In Team Carlin’s case, they must feel pretty good about the fact they got to squeeze two wins out of games where they’re team batting average was a .286(!). The big bats will wake up and eventually they’ll win games the normal way, but this week is going to be a reality check game against a very strong Team Marrone.

Like Team Carlin, I don’t think Team Randell is going to be a top team despite their quick 2-0 start. Right now they’re benefiting from playing at a field tailor made to their strengths. Therefore, it wouldn’t shock me if they take advantage again and start out 3-0. I just think Team Jacoby is rolling on all cylinders and will prove why they’re the best team in the league.

Team Lapine has to deal with a devastating injury(get well soon, Dave)and so I think it will be a couple of weeks before they land back on their feet. When they do, they’ll be ready to make a lot of noise. For now, I think they’ll lose to a Wallman crew who is still looking to assert its dominance. 

P.S. This prediction might be different depending on whether or not Lapine gets an adequate replacement in time.

In their first three games, Team Goldfarb has to play Beilis, Marrone, and Wallman- three of the top four teams in the league. That’s why a 1-2 start shouldn’t hide the fact that they’re a very strong team. At least they are when all is present. If they are missing Adam Greenspan this week then Team Beilis will be too much for them. But watch out for Goldfarb as the season moves along.

Harris vs. Mamone

Bykofsky vs. Younger

These two matchups feature all four winless teams. In both cases I’ll go with the teams who have shown significantly more offensive abilities so far.

Granese vs. Applebaum

Feldman vs. Pollock

Two games that are hard to pick. One I can’t pick because I’m on the team, the other because I think the two teams are close in ability. Granese is better defensively, but Applebaum is better offensively. Because this is the year of the Rookie I’m going with the team that has one.