Safety at First Likely to Become Permanent

We also had no problems with the extra base during the playoffs, thanks to the familiarity teams gained with the bag and its rulebook quirks over the 16-game slate.

We didn’t, however, anticipate another problem that reared its head on Day 1 of the Playoff Championship Series—the anchored bags at Cabin John Regional Park. Three female players suffered badly sprained ankles after hitting a bag hard and expecting it to give like our tie-down bases do. It got to the point where one frustrated player implored the league to use tie-down bags in the playoffs; they’d be “safer,” this player insisted.

Uh, no. Anchored bases are much safer than a tie-down bag flopping all over the place. It was probably no coincidence, though, that the injured players were on teams new to the playoffs, and thus new to the regional parks and the anchored bags. Giving inexperienced playoff teams a primer next year on the regional parks and their features—anchored bases among them—would probably be a good use of time.

In other injury news, Washington Post 3B Natalie Diebel suffered a torn ACL in a particularly gruesome injury that had teammates, including husband and Post SS Rich Campbell, and spectators a tad squeamish. Diebel, the ball and a Washington Times player converged on a close play at third, and Diebel twisted her knee as her foot slipped over the bag. At last report, she was in good spirits, facing a long rehab but thankful her kneecap wasn’t broken as originally feared.

Also: Another rule suggestion that will get serious review this offseason is using a strike zone pad at home plate. It’s a plastic mat the size of the strike drop zone that lies behind home plate and aids the umpire in calling balls and strikes. Some other Montgomery County leagues use them, to good reviews (that we’re aware of, anyway). We’ll have to research their cost and availability and huddle with the Men in Blue for their insights.

And: The nationally growing idea of using a second home plate (like all seniors programs) to avoid collisions doesn’t do anything for the commish. In this format, which is gaining popularity, especially among church leagues, a second plate is about 8 feet to the left of the existing plate. When there’s a play at home, the runner must go to the alternate plate and the ball is thrown to the catcher at the standard plate. The runner’s fate is determined by whether the ball is caught by the catcher before the runner touches the alternative plate—in short, like a play at first base without the contact.

Are we at that point yet? Nada.

LOOKING AHEAD: With the 2007 season in the books, it’s time to look ahead to 2008 and exactly what the Metropolitan Media Softball League will look like. Even with the loss of NBC News Channel and Townhall.com this season, we once again fielded 24 teams but the fact remains in many ways that 20 teams is the ideal size for the MMSL.

Four less teams would make the league easier to schedule and administer, obviously. And we’re faced with the very real prospect of losing one of our sites, Layhill, in the next few years with the construction of the Intercounty Connector highway. Returning to Norwood in downtown Bethesda is possible but, as The Retired One once mused, “Norwood makes Wheaton Forest look like Camden Yards.”

That’s a fairly incriminating testimony in itself. In an ideal world we’d love to dump that swampland known as Wheaton Forest but keep Layhill. If the MMSL drops to 20 teams that’s a possibility until construction of the ICC demolishes Layhill.

Otherwise, finding a viable sixth site with two softball diamonds within easy traveling distance for the Virginia-based teams will be a tall order because the county and other localities around the country are plowing precious parks and rec resources into soccer fields and other infrastructure that generates revenue. Softball does not top that list, as seen with the plans for Layhill’s replacement—not a diamond in sight.

This year the league underwent the biggest divisional realignment in some time. Some sites and teams were rejuvenated while in other divisions the balance fell out of whack.

Another realignment is not out of the question, though that depends on how many teams we’ll have in ’08. The Express was a great addition to the league this season and splitting the two Allbritton squads drew kudos from both sets of players and coaches.

But a couple of teams again struggled with turnout week-in and week-out; if they lose a key advocate inside their respective news organization, their prospects for returning would dim significantly. And we already know we’re faced with the prospect of losing City Paper. The alternative newsweekly was purchased by Atlanta-based Creative Loafing. Layoffs and staff defections could decimate what was already a thin roster.

THREE-PEAT? Here’s what the present-day commissioner said in the 2003 preseason, reflecting on the failed bid of his Gazette team to win an unprecedented three straight MMSL championships the year before:

“We were actually pretty relaxed last year as far as defending the title and going for three straight.”

Confession: it's all a lie! The pressure ratcheted up significantly; accomplishing something never before seen in the MMSL will do that. And that message was conveyed to USA Today coach Mark Hayes and some of his players over pizzas and beers at Ledo’s after their championship victory.

Yes, this is a rec league but our competitive sides would take a lot of pride in winning three straight titles. It’s how much fun you have while on the quest that’s key.

AOLIEN INVASION? Based on what we saw during the Playoff Championship Series, the Office is ready to anoint AOL a team to beat in 2008, likely to the chagrin of coach Matt Sampson.

We know, not really going out on a limb there. And sure, the AOLiens finished in third place, same as last year. But Sampson’s group took a step forward this season and during the playoffs in talent, execution and demeanor.

They ran up a 12-4 record during the season and won the tough Burning Tree Division, which includes league champ USA Today and the crafty Washington Times, which returned to the playoffs this year after a one-year absence. One of AOL’s losses was by forfeit, and Sampson struggled with turnout some weeks—it wasn’t uncommon to mosey up to a park this season and see AOL playing five men and five women.

Of course, AOL’s female players are really, really good. Always have been. But Sampson also has new anchors at key spots in his lineup. Kevin Godfrey has developed into a first-rate pitcher, OF Irfan Yousufi is a nice addition, 3B Jay Crissman can hit, and we love his old-school yellow Pirates cap.

And two vets are both as reliable as ever: SS Brad Parker makes all the plays, while OF Jimmy Lynn is consistently on base out of the leadoff slot.

AOL knocked CNN and WTTG—two tourney favorites—into the loser’s bracket early on Day 1 before succumbing to eventual champion USA Today. Coming back on Championship Sunday, the AOLiens lost to a CNN team with a game already under its belts on Championship morning. The AOLiens had fun and played loose throughout.

But let the 2008 prognosticating begin. Post your anticipations about the MMSL’s 18^th season on The Yak.

MMSL.net 2008: The website hit count was down quite a bit this year in great part due to the loss of yakking from Townhall.com. But the other and more serious factor is the incredible time required to build content and update the site. The power of the words and photos is what drives traffic but the content and design takes time and manpower.

The league badly needs volunteers to step forward and help with the site. This offseason we have things we really want to add for 2008, like updating the league history, adding interactive photo galleries, links to individual team websites and a really cool Flash display for the Solly Award and its history.

We need design, content and programming help. We know you're out there. We know you have the skills. We know you love the league. Will you not offer your skills for here and there on the website?

Something to ponder by next year.

HIGH FIVES: A few shout-outs are in order now that a successful 17^th MMSL season is in the books. Andy Fish at the county recreation department was once again a huge advocate for us, even at times when our zeal to play on a rainy day perhaps overshadowed our better judgment. And he’s been endlessly patient helping break in a wet-behind-the-ears commissioner.

Chris Cicatelli and the field spotting crew again performed selflessly and expertly. The league simply couldn’t exist without the contributions of these fine folks. As for that one controversial Saturday, we’ll work on fine-tuning the checklist of things to consider when field spotting. But make no mistake: it’s a hard job and it requires a very, very quick decision and an objective appraisal of the situation in the snap of a finger.

AOL’s Matt Sampson (also a field spotter) has also become the league’s unabashed Stats Guy. He crunched a bunch of numbers for us this year, tracking overall records, strength of schedule and runs differentials, among some other helpful and fun charts. His facility with Excel generates a lot of website content and gives us all a lot of enjoyment during a season.

Once again the seasonlong weather updates by Channel 9's Howard Bernstein are incredibly valuable and accurate. For four or five years now Howard has volunteered his time and energy to give the league a forecast that is specific to Montgomery County. Howard has long been a friend of the MMSL and likewise, and we challenge any league in the country to have its own personal meteorologist blogging the week of games.

And The Retired One was again an invaluable sounding board, doing small things in the background that help a lot with the tiny nuts and bolts. He grouses and groans but as we have learned over the years, if he’s grousing, groaning and complaining he’s pretty happy.

HITS, RUNS AND ERRORS: You really had to be there at Cabin John Fields 5 and 6 to fully feel the festive vibe generated by the WTTG cheering section on Day 1—the pictures on the website don’t do it justice. Station management wanted to hire a caterer for the day but were rebuffed over Park permitting issues, so they organized a potluck spread of hot dogs, fruit, salads, drinks and chips. Tables and a tent were set up and everyone settled in for a day of fun. They had 30 to 40 supporters out cheering them the Fox Trotters. . . . Comcast’s Adam McKenzie—yup, he played college ball, at Radford—had a down playoffs. Sure he jacked three taters on Day 1, but not one of them flew through an open sunroof of a parked car, like last year. . . . Natalie Diebel’s injury aside, the Post had a great time at the playoffs, its first appearance since 2000. They went 1-2, whipping the rival Washington Times, 23-10, in their victory. The Post entered the playoffs with the worst runs differential among the 12 teams but finished with the best of the weekend. Go figure. . . . . USA Today OF Dan Shomo is among the converts to the wood bats. The slugging lefthander, who plays in a Northern Virginia league that hits with aluminum, says swinging with wood brings more strategy to the game, and they definitely are safer. . . . The Office of the Commissioner heard no complaints about wood bats this season, in fact, and no reports of broken lumber either. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take care of your bats during the offseason. Don’t just throw them in the basement all winter and then pull ’em out in the spring and start swinging away. These softball bats are not given the layers of shellacking that pro model wood bats receive, so drying out from the winter is common and chances are one might snap. . . . How lucky were we with weather this season? We finished with a rain date in hand, giving us a week off between Final Day and the playoffs. No one seemed to mind the layoff. . . . Got a rule change suggestion from the head of the umpires association. Nope, it had nothing to do with wood bats or safety bases or the co-ed walk rule. He thinks we should change the wording “slaughter rule” to “mercy rule.” Definitely sounds, well, nicer. . . . Is there any doubt: Chris Ciccatelli knows how many days until Opening Day ’08, even though we have no clue what the actual date will be. Cicatelli just knows.