Quasi-Live Blog, Winter Meeting

Starring Sal, Seung, and Ian. Since this went over like a led zeppelin last time, we're trying it again!

Sal-Another meeting come and gone, and some interesting rules were discussed and voted on. More on those later, first a thank to to Anne and Gil for hosting a great event. Now to the awards...

Ian-We had a bit of confusion between me and Havelock-- each one thought the other was printing up the ballots, so there weren't any. Hav hand-wrote them at the beginning of the meeting. You could vote for anyone you wanted to, except rookie of the year, where the choices were Laura Stoeth, Eric Schulman, Sam Magnus, Ken Walker, and Solomon Sarway. I thought this worked well-- most of us play several different positions anyway-- but it did definitely influence the results.

Freddie Melendez took home gold gloves for pitcher and third base, as well as the Havelock Award. He went 17-9 on the mound, and I thought his defense at third was solid.

Sal-It was definitely the year of the Freddie. He brings so much more than on field talent to the game, and anything the guy wins is fine by me. He is the very definition of the salt of the earth. I voted for him on all of these except for pitcher gold glove, where I voted for Ian. His skill there have been honed so well, that I think now hands down, no one fields this position better.

Ian-Josh Balsam got the gold glove at catcher. This year's awards
featured a lot of Riverpudlians, who are taking over the game with an endless supply of Tony Connor-trained young athletes. Not to take anything away from Josh's achievement, but I should mention that Mike Palma also had a good year behind the plate.

Sal-I remember Mike Palma playing well there, too, but I voted for Josh who I've seen play rather well there. I'd like to mention that Havlock is a very good catcher as well. I feel very good when he's back there. I think the fact that he pitches so much blinds folks to the fact he plays there alot as well, and willingly. Maybe next year.

Ian-Marvin Cohen won for first base. I voted for Tony Connor, and you could have made a good argument for Brooklyn's own Sal Cipriano.
While Marvin's selection was controversial, he won in a landslide, and he certainly is identified more closely with the position than anyone.

Sal-Did Tony play there much this year? I wasn't around save for some cameos during the summer, but I don't recall him there, and honestly I can not remember too many folks who did save for Marvin, Josh, and the aforementioned kid from Brooklyn. That said, I'm glad I didn't win for last year. While I've sporadically played there before, I only really started coming on towards the end.

Ian-Laura Stoeth won the second base gold glove. Sue Kostner also received a vote, despite not having played with us in
over a year.

Sal-I voted Laura. That's her position. If she's there, she plays 2nd, and you feel good about that.

Ian-Phil Ciccone won for shortstop. Phil showed a lot of grit in coming back from a badly broken ankle in the fall of 2009, and was his old, dominant self again.

Sal-I voted Ken Walker. He's sick there. Sure he doesn't get to play much in the summer there, but he's a fall/winter hero that's second to none.

Ian-There were 5 gold gloves in the outfield-- Bill McLaughlin and Brian Hernandez tied for the last one. Brian didn't play a lot this year, but when he does play, his defense is memorable. McLaughlin proved to be a dependable flycatcher with an accurate arm. Zach Nilva, Eric Schulman, and Alex Rivera got the other three. Those Riverpudlians again, doing their part to keep everyone's batting averages lower. I should mention that no one voted for me in the outfield, though I definitely threw everyone at the meeting out on the bases at least once this year.

Sal-I voted Alex, Zach, Eric, and Bill, so I'm good with this. Ian, you were excellent there as well, but I think you get viewed at as an infielder and that blocks people's memories..

Ian- Did Don Weiss get screwed again?

Rookie of the Year was split between Eric Schulman and Ken Walker.
Both players were brilliant this year-- Walker hit a little more, but Schulman played more, and I think a tie is quite reasonable.

Sal-I had a rough time with this, couldn't decide between Eric and Ken, but I went Walker in the end. If he played a full slate of games, he would a major vote getter for MVP. He is a beast like none other.

Ian-I took home the MVP. Havelock had a trophy made, which I thought was a terrific gesture. It has the names of every winner since 1986 on it, and Hav did this little comedy bit where he pretended to carve my name on it with a plastic fork. I wonder what he would have done if Zach or Freddie won it. Did he have two more trophies out in the car?
Anyway, I agree with the results of that voting, though it must be
mentioned that Freddie, Zach, and Alex Rivera all turned in
MVP-quality seasons as well.

Sal-The trophy was a nice gesture, but it would've been insane if you would've lost, not that you deserved to lose. I voted for you. 2010 was definitely your year, hands down. Freddie was my number two followed by Zach.

Seung- If Havelock had been the one counting the MVP votes, there might have been one or two points where he might have started to question his premature engrav.. er, 'fork work'. Zach was ahead early, and *extremely* close for much of the counting until near the very end when Ian's name showed up first in several ballots in a row.

At the risk of another public censure, I will openly state that while Ian clearly won, I saw Zach's name on more ballots. While Zach deserves complete credit for his excellent performance, defense and professionalism, I believe this phenomenon is partly due to MVP fatigue. Just as with Bonds or Pujols, though there is a dominant player in the league, it doesn't mean people will want to give it to that person every year.

I'm curious to see what will happen next year. Will Zach finally be able to dethrone Ian? Will Freddie's triple threat performance lead to an upset? Or will Ian put up another dominant season? I'm sorry that parental obligations will force me to miss most of it, but will look forward to the outcome.

Ian- I thought the dominant player here was Phil Ciccone, it's just that 80 at bats can't get you an MVP.

I left early, so I didn't get to see how the rule change proposals
went. I did notice that Bill got a cricket exhibition on the schedule (not using a regular permit), and that the rules regarding overloaded games were clarified, so that dues-paying players cannot be turned away. I like those both.

Sal-I suggested it be an overall sports/bbq SFLOI summer party thing. Could be fun actually, and produce a big turnout. The rule about the players were major victories on both ends of it, first the one you mention. Paying members have to have precedence and that's that. That was a no brainer, so glad it went as such.

Ian-I heard that Josh Balsam and Freddie Melendez have been added to the grievance committee, which had a quiet 2010, thankfully.

Sal-Two agreeable chaps that can make a difference to any issue. Makes sense.

Ian-I also heard that manager's wins are to be counted as a statistic, which, in the words of Bob Dylan quoting Thomas
Jefferson, neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.

Sal-What? When did this happen? I was there the entire time, I don't recall this? I mean, I'm not opposed either way, but I just recall this.

Ian-I'm not a fan of what I've heard of the other rule changes. Havelock got his way regarding a more pitching-friendly definition of official scoring. Don't care for this at all, and hopefully, like this country's marijuana laws, it won't be enforced too much.

Sal-I don't think any rule was passed here actually. Lots of discussion about it, but I don't think anything firm was set. Maybe I'm having selective memory here because I think scoring is up to the individual's eyes and nothing else. Each play is a unique circumstance with too many variables to have a blanket decision. I don't think anyone is changing their ways here too much either way.

Ian-And the sitting rule was changed to be more democratic-- no one can sit twice until everyone has sat once. Though I admire the spirit of the rule, some exceptions need to be made to allow us to play two seven inning games within our permit time. Also, Havelock is going to have to make the teams a little differently now, I think.

Sal-This was a major victory for the fairness police of which I am a badge carrying officer. Started by Sgt. Geoghan, expounded on by Lt. Rivera, and simplified and motioned by myself. Everyone has to sit once before anyone sits twice, and then everyone twice before anyone thrice, and so one and so forth. We pay money to this pick-up league to play, and we are all equal in that regard. My mind was boggling when Havelock was arguing against this rule.

Ian- Doesn't boggle my mind. I'd rather not say who I'm thinking of, but this rule is going to get tested.

Sal- We also discussed, but not voted on pitching speed, and also I turned in a motion to amend the tree rule to allow home runs to stand in parks that have fences, I lost which I found disheartening. It's not easy to hit a home run in this game, and folks that do so should be rewarded for it, not given another obstacle. Pitchers are ruining this game is what my final thought on the matter. Actually while I'm at it, if I were to make a suggestion that pitchers not be allowed to be team captains that would be swell. Heck lets go one step further, have the team captains choose their teams in a one on one draft instead of Havelock choosing the teams. Hav chooses captains, makes a list of who is at the game, and then gives it to the captains. I think this would go just as quick as Havelock making the teams, and at least a captain is responsible for his picks bad or good.

Ian- That's it from the folks at the website. See you on the field next Sunday!