From one coast to another, from legends to the legend, last Sunday, July 27, was a formative day for all ballplayers.
On one side, a maestro at the plate — Ichiro Suzuki — received his due flowers at his Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York. At least one of our fellow leaguemates was there, and given the impact that Ichiro has had on the city of Seattle, this humble writer wouldn’t be surprised if at least one other had made the journey to the Hall.
But far more consequentially, back here in the Pacific time zone, Seattle Wiffleball saw its playoff field finalized, setting up these last two weeks for an end-of-season sprint and, ultimately, helping one team meet its SW Hall of Fame journey. (By the way: If you’re interested, we're always open to a seven-figure donation that will help us buy a permanent home for the WiffleHall. I’ll DM you my Venmo.)
This week’s games:
Swingdome @ 100% Real Juice
With a pair of 10-4 teams going at it, this doubleheader could be the difference between a first-round bye and a tough matchup. For Swingdome, perhaps the most dangerous hitter in the league, Alex Hatch, will attempt to statistically qualify for season numbers; his current .579/.644/1.342 slash line dwarfs anyone else who has played more than four games. The ‘Dome also boasts the second-best pitching lineup in the league. Of course, 100% Real Juice’s big strength is its depth — seven of its hitters are at least above SW average.
Bilabial Stops @ Sheryl Crows
Enough time has lapsed since Paul Rogers’s stunning departure from the Crows that both teams have settled into their own identities. The Stops run their small lineup to pick up more at-bats for their best hitters, with Rogers and “Downtown” Eddie Brown serving as prospective All-Stars. On the other hand, the Crows would love to steal a game and keep their dreams of a top-3 seed alive. They’ll boast a smaller team this week than normal; will that strategy make an impact on this doubleheader?
West Coast Washout @ Chicken n Wiffles
While neither of these teams are in playoff contention, the pure hatred is palpable. It’s easy to imagine a flurry of beanballs and dozens of glares, if not outright brawls. Matt Pearson is the all-time walk leader, but his eephus could be devastating against the right hitters, and the Washout might be the ones to fall victim to it. (Hence all of the vicious bloodletting, etc.)
August 10th also boasts some important games. For the second straight week, the Stops and Swingdome will play doubleheaders against playoff teams, this time head-to-head. The other games (Wiffle House going for an undefeated regular season, West Coast Washout hoping to collect its first victory of the season, and Chicken n’ Wiffles potentially playing spoiler vs. the Dreams) should have their own levels of intrigue. We’re getting close to the end of the season…it’s time to finish out the regular season and get us to the 2025 playoffs. Mazel tov!
