[MAW] 2020 Backyard Brawl Tournament Preview

Not everything is so different in 2020.

Heading into the 2019 Backyard Brawl Tournament – then, like now, the finale of the Mid Atlantic regular tournament season – three teams (Longballs, Juggernauts, Shortballs) were within one-and-a-half points of each other for the regular season title. This year, the regular season title boils down to a similar three-horse race. 

The Juggernauts (60 pts.), Longballs (57 pts.), and ERL (52 pts.) all posses a reasonable chance of leaving York this Saturday as regular season champs. The difference between the eight points that separate the Juggernauts and ERL and the 1 ½ points that separated the Longballs and Shortballs a year ago might seem like a major difference, but because of the new point system the gap is not as big as it appears. For example, last year the Shortballs needed to finish two full spots ahead of the Longballs and one spot ahead of the Juggernauts in the 13-team tournament to get to the top of the standings. The reconfigured point system makes it so ERL may only have to do the same this year to reach the top of the standings.

Here is one possible scenario. Assume that all loses are earned in regulation. The Juggernauts are eliminated in the quarterfinals on Saturday with a 2-2 overall record and a 5th place finish. They would earn 11 points for the tournament, giving them 71 points for the season. The Longballs lose in the semi-finals with a record of 3-2, which earns them 16 points, a 3rd place finish, and 73 points for the season. ERL finishes 2nd in the tournament with a 5-1 record and 23 points. That brings their season point total to 75 points – enough to win the regular season title outright. While the gap separating the top three going into Backyard Brawl might appear more significant than last year, in reality it is very similar. This year the race will once again come down to three teams, the final tournament, and likely just one or two games.

For completeness sake, it should be noted that POC, Shortballs, and Dragons all also have a shot at the regular season title. However, it would take very poor showings by the three teams ahead of them to even turn it into a real possibility.

One thing that is different this year over last is something you might not expect. A condensed tournament calendar would seemingly result in a more chaotic season with much left to be decided at the final event. That has not exactly been true of the 2020 MAW tournament season. Going into Backyard Brawl, only one Championship Tournament spot is potentially up for grabs. With a good tournament and a slip by Stompers, Risers or the Yaks, the OG Goon Squad could steal the final spot. Otherwise, the 10 participants for September’s double elimination shootout are essentially set. 

That stands in stark contrast to the 2019 season finale. A year ago, the outcome of Backyard Brawl could have drastically reshaped the postseason picture. ATF vacated their modest point total in order to add Ty Wegryzn and Kevin Norris knowing that they could automatically qualify for the Wild Card tournament by finishing first or second at Backyard Brawl. POC added Vin Lea to their roster for the final event banking on Lea, Johnny Costa, and Dan Whitener to pitch to them to an automatic post-season bid. The Yaks and the Blueballs would have been the losers in a scenario where POC and ATF reached the finals, but that was not to be. ATF fell just short of the elimination round, while POC was sent home in the quarterfinals when Sean Bingnear and the Longballs walked it off. Despite the eventual outcome, the threat of POC and/or ATF crashing the post-season party – given the sheer amount of talent on both rosters – was very real.

Going into the final Saturday of the 2020 season, the likelihood of a team crashing the party – either by the automatic bid (reduced to just the tournament champion in 2020) or by points – is less likely than it was a year ago. Of the fourteen teams competing on Saturday, the Wiffle Stiffies, Dirtballs, Waves, and OG Goon Squad are on the outside-looking-in at the Championship Tournament. The Stiffies and Waves would likely need a tournament win to get to September 26th. The Dirtballs have an outside chance at getting there on points but would need to combine a run of their own with a three-and-out by the Risers, Stompers, or Yaks to have a chance. The Goon Squad stands the best chance at sneaking in as they are just seven points behind the Risers & Stompers for the 10th and final spot. Even then, they would also need one of those three teams ahead of them to cooperate.

The relatively set Championship Tournament picture has not stopped teams from shaking up their rosters – similar to what ATF and POC did last year – prior to this year’s Backyard Brawl.

The New School Risers are expected to have Jason Capobianco back in the fold this weekend. Dave’s younger brother and one-time teammate on the Old School Risers will be making his second MAW/New School Risers appearance. Jason gives the Risers another big bat – he had game winning home runs off Jarod Bull and Gino Joseph in his only other MAW tournament last June – and is a candidate to work a pool play game.

POC will be shorthanded on Saturday – just Dan Whitener and Tim Beck of their normal five-man squad are expected to play – which has prompted the team to bring in a mystery third man for the final tournament. Ray Lutick’s name has come in rumors for several teams throughout the summer. Could he be joining his former Lemonheads/POC teammates? Or speaking of former Lemonheads, could we see Matt Crispe spin knuckleballs across the plate this weekend? For all we know, the mystery man may have no prior affiliation with the Lemonheads/POC at all. POC has its spot in the Championship Tournament locked down but would love to keep their fourth seed or improve on it. With the Shortballs breathing down their necks (just two points separate the teams), this mystery player might be crucial in POC’s quest to maintain or improve their postseason positioning.

The Dragons and Stompers are also a little short-handed this weekend, prompting each team to grab a former or inactive player for the tournament. The Dragons will be without Rob Longiaru so they have enlisted their old teammate from their Palisades minor league days, Brandon Shadood, for Backyard Brawl. Stompers’ founder Tim Cooke has sat out this season so far in order to give the team’s younger players more reps. With two of the team’s regulars inactive for Saturday, Tim is expected to get his first at-bats of the season alongside Brice Clark and Gino Joseph.

The Dirtballs’ post-season prospects are a longshot at best, but they will have reinforcements in the form of young flamethrower Ethan Pecko. Coincidentally, Pecko’s only prior MAW appearance came last year at this same event. Pecko’s got a big-time arm and will be a player to keep an out eye on come Saturday. 

Speaking of new or returning faces, one team will be nothing but new faces as the Wiffie Stiffies make their Mid Atlantic tournament debut on Saturday. Playing out of Horsham, Pennsylvania, these guys are no strangers to Wiffle®Ball. They have hosted a tournament in their hometown for many years. Like with any new team to MAW, their chances their first time in are anybody’s guess. Regardless, the Stiffies are excited and eager to compete and its always great to see fresh faces at these events.

That leaves us with just one of the fourteen teams in the field that have thus far gone unmentioned – the NY Meats. The Meats are not competing for the regular season title on Saturday. Their playoff position in the middle of the pack is more or less set at this stage. They aren’t shorthanded – they are expected to have their full, normal four-man lineup – nor are they are making any late season additions. They are – as they have been all season – flying a little under the radar coming into the tournament. It has been a frustrating year for the Meats. They have reached the elimination stage in all three events but have exited in the first round each time. The smart money is on them reaching the playoff round once again and if they can get that first-game monkey off their back, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if they ended up winning it all.

There will be a lot to keep on an eye on this Saturday in York as this strange yet familiar MAW season wraps up. As always, games will be streamed on the MAW Facebook page and updates will be available on Twitter and Instagram throughout the day from the official accounts if you wish to follow along.