ITV: Championship Showdown Edition!

Now you see why I'm umpiring softball instead of painting pictures...

So here we are guys and gals, strolling into Championship weekend like we own the place....or something...and sure, I see some familiar faces -- AAR, the Swingers, Masterbatters, Bayside etc., all have their Championship Weekend Membership Cards firmly in hand, full of so many star-shaped hole punches that I believe this weekend they each qualify for a free Blimpie's Best Sub of equal or lesser value to their previous purchase.
BUT then there's Stiff Competition and the Big Deals -- the new guys. They're standing in line, looking around, squinting at signs, asking stupid questions -- "I've got to take my SHOES off too? What the hell could I hide in my shoes?!"

These two teams, if I'm not mistaken, are completely new to this level of the playoffs, but as it appears that they are playing each other, one of them will advance even deeper. The Big Deals are the DcCityBall equivalent to the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays -- both used the the momentum behind a team name change to spur them into the playoffs. The Devil Rays and Gang Green went nowhere; The Rays and The Big Deals are poised to make history.
Stiff Competition on the other hand are a lot like......I don't know..some other team who is way better this year than last. Make your own damn analogy...lazy asses.

So we've got a pack full of grizzled veterans and at least one Cinderella in the final four. So who comes out of this mess?
Let's see what we're working with here:

Big Deals @ Stiff Competition 10:30am Field 5

Perfect Strangers @ Pour Howzers 10:30am Field 4

Bayside Tigers @ MasterBatters 12:00pm Field 4

A.A.R. @ Swingers 12:00pm Field 5


For the sake of sparing hurt feelings, and also because I don't feel like writing my way through all of these match ups, I'll just flash forward to what I think is the most likely Championship scenario. Let's skip ahead and not get into who beats whom. If I had to venture a guess as to the final game....I'd say we're looking at AAR vs Pourhowzers, if that's possible...NL..AL...who knows...but yes let's go with that.
Why? you ask. Well first off, it's unfortunate that Bloop Single v. AAR had to be played so early in the playoffs...that's kinda the Suns/Spurs match up, and a pretty apt analogue, I think. The flash vs the form, if you will. Which I will.
So AAR apparently won that game, and I thought those two teams had a great shot at the championship. Thus, AAR gets the nod.
The there's the Pourhowzers, DcCityball's own Atlanta Braves. Kings of the regular season, yet not much to show for it. Is this the year?

So we got AAR vs Pourhowzers, theoretically in the championship game. What would keep either team from winning?

AAR -- Consistency. As it's been said before, this team can put up 15 in the first inning of any given game, but often fails to keep their foot on the gas. They seem to let up or become complacent after an offensive explosion and then find themselves scrambling to hang onto wins. That will not do in against the league's best.

Howzers -- Grit. The team has a tendency to wilt a bit in the playoffs against superior competition. They need to go in un-intimidated, even if playing a better team. Championships aren't won against McLovin.

So who wins this game? and how?
Well I'm not actually picking, because I'm officiating this game. So let's just give two scenarios -- AAR scores 7 in the first and never looks back. They win 17-11; Pourhowzers loosen up and play solid defense, forcing AAR to fly out 15+ times. They win 14-10.

I know, you're saying, "Hey what about the Swingers? They won it all in the spring? What about the Masterbatters? They've been there before. What about Bayside? You said you'd never pick against them." I know...you're right. All valid points. The problem is this: only 2 teams can get there, and the number of capable teams grows each season. Any of the teams still standing can win it all, but only one will do so. We're looking at different teams from just a few months ago in most of these situations. I think AAR and Pourhowzers have the best shot, but that will remain to be seen until Sunday of course.


So what now? Well first of all, if you are NOT playing at all this Sunday, come down to the fields and watch a few games. It will be a nice day. Get some drinks, throw on your uni's and watch your league-mates do their thang.
If you ARE playing Sunday, but lose, come to the party. Come to the damn party. It's fun.

Seriously, the party is a great way to get to know your fellow Cityballa's and competitors. Who knows, you may even form a special bond with a rival.

Here is a list of people invited to the party:

-DcCityBall players
-DcCityBall staff members
-Loved ones of DcCityBall players and staff members
- Andrew Walker

Here is a list of people NOT invited to the party:

-Kickball players
-Horse-mounted policemen
-People who swim in the Potomac
-Men who carry change purses, even leather ones
-Men who wear more than one collared shirt at a time
-Anyone that smells like Axe
-Anyone who knows the last names of The Hills characters
-Anyone who calls me Ryan
-Women who punch people when they get drunk
-A sober Jon Macy
-Anyone with a permanently implanted bluetooth earpiece
-Any surviving Golden Girls cast members
-Anyone who thinks I am Dave, and thinks Dave is just a lonely softball aficionado
-Anyone wearing a Mets jersey, post Rico Brogna era
-Anyone who stores a handkerchief up their sleeve, not performing magic
-Anyone who performs magic
-Anyone who thinks tipping the bartenders is optional
-Anyone who plays $20 worth of Bon Jovi just to be ironic
-Anyone on the Shaggers who never showed up for a game
-Sarah Palin

Come to the party folks, my name is Brian.
-Play ball!