Dragons:

Grade of A 

Record of (12-3-1)

The Rhodes scholars of the class this year.   Adam Johnston has been seen many times shining up the teacher’s apples prior to class.  Talented, determined and hated is a tough combination to beat.  Injuries may play a factor on the chances of the Dragons to capture their first SABL championship.  All teams want to avoid them until the finals.

Royals:

Grade of B+ 

Record of (10-4-1)

The defending champions still look mighty tough, but maybe not as hungry this year as in previous semesters.  Have the best defence in the league.  That alone almost guarantees the Royals a place in the semi-finals this year.  Like the Dragons everyone wants to avoid them until the championship.

Psychos :

Grade of B+

Record of (10-4-1)

The Psychos have been rejuvenated this year and off to a strong start.  Will this translate into a championship run with their beefy 11 man lineup?….only time will tell.  Early season pickup of Soohan Singh has certainly given the team a lift, even though Soolate is seen most times sauntering in from the parking lot well after the start of class.

Red Sox:

Grade of B-

Record of(7-6-1)

Red Sox are in the middle of the class this year and are awaiting another strong finish as they did in 2009.  No Travis Young, but have picked up a young ex-pro in Mitchell Potek has left Texas to lead the second half charge.  Remember the Alamo?

Astros:

Grade of  B- 

Record of (6-6-0)

The Astros are another team that sits in the middle of the classroom and could move to the back with the partiers or make another charge to the smart kids at the front.  Pitching depth is not what it used to be but they Astros still know how to win the big game.  Just ask the Reds!

Reds: 

Grade of C+

Record of (6-7-0)

A change in leadership may or may not take the Reds over the hump to the front of the class this year.  New young blood from Yankee High has improved the hitting and the turnout.  Now all the Reds have to do is play all their makeup games Civic Weekend, and they have a chance of doing some damage in the playoffs.

Mets:

Grade of C

Record of (7-9-1)

The Mets have at times shown the ability to be sitting beside the teacher and polishing apples.  Other times they seem to be in Spanish Harlem.  Somewhere in between is the real team.  They have a chance of getting out of the elimination games if they just win 7 more games.  Then who knows?

White Sox:

Grade of C

Record of (6-8-3)

Rich Singh has again spun some magic to make this team very competitive.  Privately he would rather be smoking weed at the back of the class but this is not about him.  The Sox don’t look pretty all the time, but they seem to win some games and give the kids at the front of the class a scare every now and then.  Nobody really thought they could be as good as they were last year, but they are close.

Jays:

Grade of C-

Record of (4-10-0)

Losing a couple of good pitchers has made it tough for the Jays to put together a decent winning streak this season.  That being said, nobody really wants them in the playoffs either.  They scare you just enough to want to avoid them C- or not.

Greatest of all Time:

Grade of F

Record(0-11-2)

“Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio, The Goats turn their lonely eyes to you.”  The immortal words of Paul Simon could not have said it better if you are a Goat.

The Greatest have been having a tough go of things their first year in the SABL.  But this has not diminished their enthusiasm for the game as most nights they have 14 players lining their bench.  It may be a few years before this young squad is competitive but they have the time.  For now they will have to be content scaring teams with the thought of giving up their first win to the GOATS.

To all SABL players;

It has come to the attention of many in our league that there is no clear cut rule on when to stop running up the score during games(and no mercy rule).

Many believe that the magic number for some mercy on opponents is 7 runs, others believe it is 10.  Still others believe it is whatever score they are behind, then the opposing team should stop stealing or advancing extra bases.  The issue is clouded for sure.

There have been many infamous cases of bad judgment by players that did not know  any better in years gone past.

1.  Mark Cecchetto stealing home while up 10 runs against the Brewers in 2000

2.  Psycho player bunting while up 12 runs against the Brewers in 2006 playoff game(is there a constant here)

3.  Fishfryer and Mike Gemmel stealing bases while being down 15 runs in 2008

And the list goes on and on.  There is always controversy on this issue.

I have therefore devised rules that could be followed when determining whether to stop stealing, bunting or advancing extra bases during SABL games.

The standard cutoff for stopping all stealing, bunting and advancing extra bases in the SABL is up or down 10 runs.   However, there are also common sense rules that should be added to this standard benchmark.  I have listed a few below;

1. If it is a wood bat game (-4 runs)

2. If you despise the other team (+4 runs)

3. If the losing team starts whining like schoolgirls(-2 runs)

4. If the team is ahead of you in the standings (+1 run)

5. If  there are female fans in the crowd that you want to impress (+1 run for each attending  fan)

6. If it is a playoff game (+3) runs

7. If it is the first game of a double header (-1 run)

8. If Fonzie is umpiring home plate (-5) runs. He will expand the zone to the size of Scarborough to shorten the game anyhow.

9. If you are playing at Heron Park (+8) runs

10. If your opponent only has 8 players (-2 runs)

11. If the opposing pitcher is throwing less than 50 mph and always in the full windup when runners are on base(-3 runs)

12. If the opposing outfielders are leaning up against the outfield fence(-3 runs)

13. For each inning after the 5^th inning(-1 run)

14. If the opposing team starts stealing once you stopped(+ unlimited runs until they stop stealing)

15. If you are playing the GOATS (-5 runs).  The will probably just want to call the game anyhow.

16. If you smell team spirit,or the opening of coolers from the opposing team’s bench (-2 runs)

The other solution is to just play the game and not get worked up if the other team is still stealing, bunting or advancing extra bases.  Every team has idiots that don’t know any better, so don’t take it out on the players on the other bench that know better!