FP Writer's Poll
August 19th, 20081. Golden State Wifflers (PHX) - Finally lost a regular season game. Still perfect 6 for 6 in tourney titles.
2. Phenoms (NE) - Best team in toughest region. 2006 Champs added two studs in Boomer and Stoop. Will 5-man batting hurt them at the NCT? It hasn't in New England.
3. 603 Allstars (NE) - Just a notch below Phenoms. Adding Leahy and Dons is paying dividends. With Hickey on the mound, might be the best in the nation.
4. Hitsom (NJ) - Won back to back New Jersey tournaments. Both were the largest FP tourneys of the year. Best hitting team in the nation. Jay, Sarno, Elvin, and Benson round up this allstar team. Look for them to stay in top 5 through October. Not many would rather have someone other than Elvin toeing the rubber in a big game.
5. FinDaddys (FL) - The veteran Floridians have had another stellar year with a 21-2 record and 3 titles in 4 tourneys. Mickey Perez is back playing full time to give them yet another big stick and another good pitcher.
6. Vipers (PHX) - Have spent most of the year losing to GSW in championship games, but they have the firepower to go all the way. Any team with Balian and Hyde is a threat.
7. Remember The Name (NE) - They got off to a shaky start this year, but went down to the last NJ tourney and won as a 2-man. O'Shea is still nasty on the mound and Griff can mash. Throw in Morey and Parks and you will see this team playing on Sunday in Texas. Watch out, they are on all cylinders right now.
8. Swingers (NJ) - Don't forget this team won the 2004 NCT. Most teams in FP have either merged or broken up, but these are the same three guys from 2004. Give them a ton of credit. They will make some noise in Texas. Anthony Balacich is one of the best overall players in the country.
9. Oakland Mariners (NCal) - Mostly unknown on the east coast, the Mariners have been very strong out west. Rich Ewald gives them one of the best all time hitters and veteran leadership, while Sylvie Serrano gives them a legit top pitcher.
10. Doom (NE) - The 4th best team in any other region wouldn't have a chance to make the top 10, but New England is that good. With three solid starters and pop at the plate, Doom is very dangerous. And of course they have the leadership of the veteran Togg.
11. Niff (NY) - Niff can pitch and hit with the best of them. Most teams can only do one or the other. Wiffman is one of the top pitchers in the country. Niff thrives on momentum.
12. EC Wiffle Crew (SD) - Proved they could play with anyone in their first year at the 07 Nationals. They haven't done anything out west to prove they can't do it again.
13. Las Vegas Wifflers (SD) - Didn't fair as well at the 07 NCT, but they handed GSW their only loss this season, and they have been one of the best teams in California all year. These guys are big hitters.
14. Gunners (SD) - Surprisingly the Gunners don't have a title in 2008, but they have a couple nice finishes. They will no doubt bring their A game to Texas.
15. Ball Bustaz (CHI) - 15-1 record without O'Shea. Ball Bustaz still own the Chicago region.
16. Wiff Inc (NY) - An up and coming team with a mix of veterans and young guys new to FP. Rob Hoffman is one of the hardest throwing pitchers in the country, but they lack big bats. Their pitching will be there, but they need timely hitting to be successful.
17. EC Wifflebrawlers (NJ) - As a five man team they will be a force at the NCT, but they never play as a five man team. Paul McBride is one of the most underrated players in the country, and also one of the oldest. Can Scott Bragg bounce back from a poor performance at the 07 NCT with Unarmed?
18. Run Factory (FL) - Can't get past FinDaddys in Florida, but won two of three title games in Georgia. Have been without Troup most of the year, which has put a heavy workload on Banjo. Troup's arm looked much healthier in the last Georgia tourney, which should be very good news for the Factory.
19. Ragin Cajuns (DAL) - Impressive record in a less impressive region. History is on the side of the Cajuns. They are very good veteran hitters and have impressed in previous years.
20. A-Team (MD) - They are the new kings of Maryland with the Old School Risers taking all but one tourney off this year. Their top pitcher is tall and legit. Haven't done too well in Texas, but they are still a quality squad.
21. CF Sun Devils (FL) - In their first full FP season they have become a force in the Florida and Georgia regions. They won their first FP title at the final Georgia tournament in a high scoring victory over Run Factory. It looked like they had edged past the Factory as the 2nd best team in the south until their 8-1 playoff loss at the final Florida tournament. Alex Unger is a Scott Bragg type pitcher who might have a little more velocity.
22. In The Box (NY) - The always tough and changing Box roster might be without would-be wiffle hall of famer (if it existed) Tom LoCascio. There is a rumor floating around that Lanigan and Russ might pick up a former Team Trenton member for the last two New York tournaments. Lanigan is a solid pitcher who would love another shot to pitch in the big game at Nationals.
23. Upper Deck (AUS) - Not much is known about this team from Austin except that they are running through the region. Their only loss this year was in a title game against TC35. We will know how legit they are after facing the best teams in the country at Nationals.
24. Big East (NJ) - One of the best hitting teams in the country. Matt Venty, Kevin Kane, and Steve Cavico are three lefties you will have a tough time getting out. The question is whether their pitching is good enough to put them over the top. They have big wins over Niff and Wiff Inc to go with close losses to Swingers, Remember The Name, and Hitsom. They have 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place finishes in the very tough New Jersey region.
25. Caught Lookin (LA) - Rob Brunner equals respect no matter what their record. They can ride his arm very far at Nationals. Even with overall numbers down in California, Caught Lookin's record is a testament to the quality of the competition.
26. DGA (CHI) - They have had a Jekyl and Hyde year in 2008. They handed Ball Bustaz their only loss this year in a title game and had an early season win over CF Sun Devils in a title game. But they also got hammered by Dream Police, High Heat, and Ball Bustaz in playoff games. Finished in last place at the 2007 NCT. Which team are they?
27. C-Jacks (UT) - They are having a good year in Utah and did well at the 2006 NCT. Would like to see them back in Texas.
28. Gashouse Gorillas (NE) - Don't be fooled by their record. They played most of their games in the New England and New Jersey regions. Had a huge NJ #4, pitching two no-hitters and a perfect game, and beat Remember The Name and Hitsom. They should make some noise in Texas.
29. TC35 (AUS) - The young guns of Texas have had another good year in their return to FP. Their poor playoff performance at the last Austin tournament almost dropped them from the top 30.
30. Livingston Lancers (NJ) - This team gets better every year. They have three very solid hitters and a very solid pitcher. They have played well in every NJ tournament this year.
Also received top 30 votes... Wiff a Vengeance (NE), Shoeless Joe's (UT), and Troopers (NE)
back to top