Looking at the field and the games that have taken place the last two weeks, I thought I'd take a stab projecting the bubble teams who made it in the back door for the tourny. There was actually quite a bit of turnover in the 40-50 range, and some in the later 30's that could have an impact. But before I get to that, here are my Top 4 seeds:
1 - FDA
2 - Big Lebowskis
3 - Texas Republic
4 - DGS
Clearly deserving of those spots given their regular season success.
As for the other end of the bubble, here are my last nine in:
#40 - Hoosier Daddy's: staying dormant over the last part of August didn't hurt them save to knock them out of the 30's into the 40 spot. (the Great Lakers take their previous spot in the Top 40, moving up from 45)
#41 - Raucus Caucus: a big final win over another bubble team and some upheaval in front of them bumps them up the chain.
#42 - Liberal Agenda: dormant, but they gain a spot.
#43 - The Mastadons: dormant, they gain 3 spots.
#44 - Ctrl, Alt, Dlt: loss to the hired guns knocks them down a couple spots, but they're safely in.
#45 - License to IL: going 1-1 over the final two weeks drops them a few spots, but they make the dance.
#46 - The Natural Disasters: a big W moves them off the bubble and into the show.
#47 - The Gipper: another 1-1 team over the final two weeks, the Gipper gains one spot.
#48 - No Talent AZ Clowns: much discussed team on the boards, these Congressional League cross-overs make their first tourny appearance as the last team in.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
What a Difference a Year Makes
If there was any question as to how competitive this league can be, you need look no further than the Top 20 teams currently ranked in the league and the Top 20 teams from last year. Half of the teams from last year are not in the Top 20.
Vito Power, Keystoners, Capitol Punishment, License to IL, The Saints, Harrys Full Disclosure, the Homers, and Owego Fire Department have all been replaced. While some have only fallen just out of the Top 20, others have plummeted. The Keystoners went from 9 last year to currentl 39 this year with Harry's full Disclosure dropping an impressive 41 spots from 16 to 57, they lead the way of those teams banned from grace. Capitol Punishment is right on their heals, falling 23 spots from 11 to 34. OFD dropped 9 spots, Vito Power is close to making a return at #21, and the Homers and Saints just up and disbanded.
But for every team that falls, a new team rises. The UN Do's crack the Top 20, joined by I'd hit That, Bases Loaded, Scared Hitless, and the KGB's and the 24sixers. Making the biggest jump of all? Well, that would be the Suspicious Packages, clocking in at #18 up from #62.
For some of these teams, they've simply figured out how to put together the right schedule, the UN Do's figured it out, playing only two Top 20 teams but taking care of business with 10 mid-level crews. For others, they've been helped by some marquee wins, that's how Scared Hitless rose from #33 to #5, by beating 3 Top 20 teams from 2010, and the Packages win over the Dragon Slayers is the lynch pin to their Top 20 ranking.
Whatever the reasons for the turnover at the top of the rankings, the fact remains that there is always room at the top for new blood, no matter how bad you might have looked the year before. And while the mainstays will always be there (TR, DGS, Sliders, Big L, BIJ, Pot Fever, etc.) you can find a home with the leaders if you put together a good enough season, but that also means you need to be ready to defend your ground, because someone else is looking for their turn.
Vito Power, Keystoners, Capitol Punishment, License to IL, The Saints, Harrys Full Disclosure, the Homers, and Owego Fire Department have all been replaced. While some have only fallen just out of the Top 20, others have plummeted. The Keystoners went from 9 last year to currentl 39 this year with Harry's full Disclosure dropping an impressive 41 spots from 16 to 57, they lead the way of those teams banned from grace. Capitol Punishment is right on their heals, falling 23 spots from 11 to 34. OFD dropped 9 spots, Vito Power is close to making a return at #21, and the Homers and Saints just up and disbanded.
But for every team that falls, a new team rises. The UN Do's crack the Top 20, joined by I'd hit That, Bases Loaded, Scared Hitless, and the KGB's and the 24sixers. Making the biggest jump of all? Well, that would be the Suspicious Packages, clocking in at #18 up from #62.
For some of these teams, they've simply figured out how to put together the right schedule, the UN Do's figured it out, playing only two Top 20 teams but taking care of business with 10 mid-level crews. For others, they've been helped by some marquee wins, that's how Scared Hitless rose from #33 to #5, by beating 3 Top 20 teams from 2010, and the Packages win over the Dragon Slayers is the lynch pin to their Top 20 ranking.
Whatever the reasons for the turnover at the top of the rankings, the fact remains that there is always room at the top for new blood, no matter how bad you might have looked the year before. And while the mainstays will always be there (TR, DGS, Sliders, Big L, BIJ, Pot Fever, etc.) you can find a home with the leaders if you put together a good enough season, but that also means you need to be ready to defend your ground, because someone else is looking for their turn.
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