Inside the GBL 2017 - Episode 19 - Game Fucking Seven

Everything will be on the line tomorrow night. Game Seven. Taka vs Gashouse Part Two. Take a break and let T.Walk catch you up on what happened.

Inside the GBL 2017 - Episode 18 - The Champs May Finally Fall

After a brief hiatus, T.Walk is back to break down the World Series between the Taka Drivers and GasHouse Gorillas.

Inside the GBL - Episode 17 - The Series That Never Ends

After a week break, T.Walk is back with another episode of Inside the GBL! This week he discusses the crazy Taka Drivers and Nighttime Ninjas series and breakdown both possibilities of the World Series. 

Inside the GBL 2017 - Episode 16 - Get Your Brooms Ready?

After an intense start to the playoffs, T.Walk, breaks down the action and what is in store for the rest of Round One.

Inside the GBL 2017 - Episode 15 - Playoff Preview & Week 10.5 Recap

This week your host, Tyler Walk, breaks down what happened in Week 10.5 Part 2. Then, he recaps the All Star Game festivities and previews the first round of the playoffs.

Inside the GBL - Episode 14 - Week 10.5 Part Two and GBL HR Derby & All Star Game

*Correction - Buzea hit solo shot in Game 2 against GasHouse.

GRIFFLEBALL WEEK 10 POWER RANKINGS

1. GasHouse Gorillas 15-3

Even with a split with their rivals, GasHouse continues to hold the top spot in the rankings. They are one victory away from clinching the best record and the number one seed throughout the postseason. Their pitching as been historically great giving up only 16 runs in 18 games.

2. Taka Drivers 16-4

In Ryan Voges' first full year as manager, he has led his team to its best overall regular season record. This year the Taka offense has exploded as they are first in home runs and first in runs batted in. If their offense continues this in the playoffs, it may be time to crown a new champion.

3. Nighttime Ninjas 10-8

The Ninjas are in the playoffs once again and this team they are looking to double their playoff win total (currently at one playoff victory). Jeffrey Holden has added another arm to their rotation as he looks to take the pressure off Kubacki and Krucek. Once again their offense has been superb as they lead the league in team batting average.

4. Ducks on the Pond 8-10

The Ducks on the Pond have clinched their first playoff berth in franchise history. Chris Diehl has been a man on a mission as he is the only Duck with double digit home runs and RBI's. If they want to make any noise in the playoffs, they need someone else to step up.

5. Digger Dudes 5-15

The Digger Dudes have had their share of moments throughout the season but, it wasn't enough to secure a playoff spot. Brandon Burnell was a standout and should be a bat to watch for the future. On the other hand, the Dudes need pitching as they allowed 124 earned runs in 94 innings.

6. Bird Gang 2-16

It has been a tough year for the Bird Gang. They have had a different roster of players every week and therefore nobody was able to get in a groove. The Bird Gang were atrocious on offense this season as they have only scored 17 runs in 18 games. Maybe they can play spoiler as they decide who will be the one seed in 2017.

GRIFFLEBALL WEEK 10 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

HITTER OF THE WEEK

Jeffrey Holden

.400 AVG 4/10 2 HR 6 RBI

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Chris Diehl

1-0 4 IP 1 HA 1 K 1 BB

Inside the GBL 2017 - Episode 13 - Griffleball Playoff Scenarios and Power Rankings

GRIFFLEBALL POWER RANKINGS

1. GasHouse Gorillas 14-2

The GasHouse Gorillas took care of business without Ryan Galiher and Caleb Jonkman this week. The duo of Jim Tucker and Jeremy Ratajczyk combined for eight home runs and 22 runs batted in. They are riding a 12 game win streak heading into a showdown for the top seed against the Taka Drivers

2. Taka Drivers 15-3

Even with a split against the Nighttime Ninjas, the Taka Drivers have supplanted themselves as a powerhouse in the GBL. Their offense has had its issues in the past two weeks only putting up seven runs in four games. Yet, they are 3-1 in those contests and pitching/defense are their keys to success.

3. Nighttime Ninjas 8-8

With a victory against the Taka Drivers, the Ninjas have guaranteed a playoff berth once again. Mike Kubacki pitched a gem in the first game and Sammy Krucek's home run was enough to split the series. They will also welcome the return of Jeffery Holden in Week 10. Expect them to be tough to beat heading into the playoffs.

4. Ducks on the Pond 6-10

The Ducks on the Pond have put themselves in a good position to make their first ever playoff appearance. Last week they took care of the Bird Gang behind the arms of Chris Diehl and Zack Duvnjak. They both did not allow a run in two games against the Bird Gang and take on the Digger Dudes with a chance to get into the big dance.

5. Digger Dudes 5-13

Most thought (including me) that the Digger Dudes would not even be in playoff contention at all. But, they have found a way to win a few games and if a few things bounce their way they could be the four seed. The lesson here is to never count anyone out, ever. Especially, when they have former Gold Hands winner, Nate Bryan, and rookie standout, Brandon Burnell, on the squad.

6. Bird Gang 2-14

At this point in the season, the Bird Gang are the first team eliminated from playoff contention. They have only mustered 11 runs in 16 games this season. They even had to recruit the help of myself to field a team. When that happens, your season is not going well. They will have to regroup and find a way to get back to it next season.

GRIFFLEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

HITTER OF THE WEEK

Jim Tucker

.444 AVG 8/18 4 HR 13 RBI 6 BB

ALSO

(2-0 6.5 IP 10 K 3 BB 2 HA 1 ER)

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Zack Duvnjak

1-0 5 IP 0 ER 1 HA 2 K 0 BB

WIFFLE OUT!

Inside the GBL Episode 12 - Back to Griffleball and GBL Power Rankings

GBL POWER RANKINGS

1. GasHouse Gorillas 12-2 

After losing 2 of their first 4 games, the GasHouse Gorillas have won 10 in a row. With the addition of Caleb Jonkman from Leroy, the Gorillas have added to an already stacked roster. They also bolster the league's best pitching has they have only allowed 11 runs all season.

2. Taka Drivers 14-2

Taka has ran a buzz-saw through the rest of the league's teams not named GasHouse. Everyone on the team is hitting for more power this year as they lead the league in home runs. And their pitching staff is just as good as in year's past. Their sights are set on another return trip to the World Series,

3. Nighttime Ninjas 7-7

It has been a rough few weeks for the Ninjas as they are 2-4 in the last three weeks. It is not enough to move them out of the number 3 spot. They split their games with the Dudes and Ducks but, were swept by GasHouse. The pitching has been suspect of late but the offense can hang around with anyone.

4. Digger Dudes 5-11

The Digger Dudes were able to jump back into the fourth spot in the playoffs with a sweep of the Bird Gang. Nate Bryan found his stroke as he hit three home runs. And with the addition of Cole Felde, they add another arm to the starting staff. Don't look now but the Dudes may find themselves in the playoffs.

5. Ducks on the Pond 4-10

After being swept by the top team in the GBL, the Ducks are looking to bounce back. They have the tools to get into the playoffs, as Chris Diehl is one of the league's best players. But, their offense continues to falter to as they were shut out for the fifth and sixth time this season. Yet, they are still in the mix for the last playoff spot.

6. Bird Gang 2-12

It has been a long year for the Bird Gang offense as they have only scored 11 runs in 14 games. They also have the league's worst ERA and the Bird Gang are in danger of missing the playoffs. The Bird Gang have six games to figure it out before they will be watching the playoffs from the sidelines.

GBL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

HITTER OF THE WEEK

Nate Bryan

.444 AVG 4/9 3 HR 7 RBI 1 BB

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Caleb Jonkman

1-0 5 IP 0 HA 0 ER 7 K 1 BB

Inside the GBL - Episode 11 - NWLA Tournament Predictions

T.Walk is joined by Jeremy Ratajzcyk, Ryan Voges, Jim Tucker, and Jackson Buzea to preview the NWLA Tournament next week. WARNING - This podcast may go off the rails a lot.

In case you do not make it past the predictions, the GBL Power Rankings go as followed.

1. GasHouse Gorillas 10-2

2. Taka Drivers 12-2

3. Nighttime Ninjas 7-5

4. Ducks on the Pond 4-8

5. Digger Dudes 3-11

6. Bird Gang 2-10

Inside the GBL 2017 - Episode 10 - NWLA Regional Recap/Griffleball News with Ryan Voges

This week on Inside the GBL, T.Walk is joined by Ryan Voges to recap our regional performance, discuss the news from the league, and recap what happened in Griffleball since we've been gone.

Griffleball Week Six Power Rankings and Recap

You're probably saying to yourself, "Wait, what happened to the week five rankings?" My response is to listen to last week's Inside the GBL to find out. The league as a whole was crunched for time in week five because that Saturday, the Griffleball Paw Chests went to the NWLA Regional aiming to qualify for the national tournament (SPOILER: We did). Griffleball finished 3-1 and ended up winning the regional and securing a spot in the NWLA National Tournament. After the long trip to Minnesota, the league still had games the next day (which included the whole roster for the national team) and the heat/wind followed us home. Week Six felt a bit like the regional tournament as most of the players and myself were trying to dodge the sun. On the other hand, the wind (how many times have I mentioned wind since 2015?) made our poly molded wiffleball carry a bit more than usual. Griffleball saw a season high (no need to fact check this one) 38 home runs hit in week six, THIRTY BLEEPING EIGHT. The GasHouse Gorillas swept the Ducks on the Pond (including the make-up game) powered by last year's MVP, Jeremy Ratajczyk. After a rough start to the season, Rat crushed seven home runs in week six and drove in fifteen runs (I think his average is over the Mendoza line now). On the other hand Ratajczyk's teammate, Ryan Galiher continues his MVP worthy season by only giving up one run over six innings pitched (also had three home runs and six RBI's). The next series saw the Taka Drivers (in their awesome new threads) sweep the Bird Gang. It looked like the series could have been in question because the Bird Gang were having trouble finding a second eligible player. In an interesting turn of events, Matt Zurawski made a last minute trade for the Digger Dude's Jeremy Camp and the series would go on. Camp would not help as much as expected as the Taka Drivers hit a combined sixteen home runs and scored twenty seven. After a long weekend for most of the league, it was finally time for Sunday Night Griffleball between the Nighttime Ninjas and Digger Dudes. Both games would end up being a back and forth affair making this series the most compelling of the day. The Ninjas would end up taking the first game backed by two three run bombs from Mike Kubacki. The second game came down to the wire as the Ninjas were looking to complete a two game sweep but, the Dudes found a way to sneak one by Nighttime. Only clinging to a one run lead, Peter Sepulveda hit a grand slam to give his team the lead and the victory in the second game. This was a tremendous win for the Digger Dudes as they now have the same amount of wins as the Ducks for the last playoff spot. With only four weeks (and possibly four makeup games GasHouse/Bird Gang and Ducks/Ninjas) to go, the fourth spot in the playoffs is wide open. It should be an interesting back half of the season as the top three fight for home field and the bottom three fight it out for the last playoff spot.

GRIFFLEBALL POWER RANKINGS

1. GasHouse Gorillas - 8-2 

I don't know why I always worry about GasHouse early in the season. They always turn things around and find ways to continue winning. Even without one of the best pitchers in the league, GasHouse showed their force as they won three games against the Ducks. Ryan Galiher continues his amazing 2017 campaign as he shut down the Ducks bats. While last year's MVP, Ratajczyk, found his stroke by crushing seven home runs. They have now won seven straight and they do not look like they will slow down anytime soon.

2. Taka Drivers - 10-2

Rocking their new threads, the Taka Drivers embarrassed the Bird Gang. They outscored their opponent 27 to 3 in Week Six. They continue to have the highest run differential in the league standing at plus 45. They even had a fourteen run inning in one of the games and they hit sixteen home runs as a team. They are still holding the top spot in the standings and they look to secure it before they see GasHouse at the end of the season.

3. Nighttime Ninjas - 6-4

The Nighttime Ninjas continue to play without the arms of Kuna, Arvay, and Holden. Even without them the Ninjas have only given up fourteen runs in eight games played (two forfeits). Yes, twelve of them came in the series against the Dudes but what else is there to say. They are within striking distance of first place because of the performances of Sammy Krucek and Mike Kubacki. Expect them to have reinforcements come playoff time.

4. Digger Dudes - 3-9

Even without four of their six players this week, the Dudes were able to secure a win from the Ninjas. Both Derek Revis and Pete Sepulveda played well enough to possibly win both games. Sepulveda hit his first career home run and crushed a grand slam in the last game to give his team the win. With the fourth, fifth, and sixth place team all with three wins and less, the Digger Dudes continue to stay in the race.

5. Ducks on the Pond - 3-7

The Ducks on the Pond ran into a buzz-saw in week six. They do have better hitting and pitching stats then the other two teams around them but it has yet to translate into more victories. With Brian Brilmyer possibly out for a few weeks, his team is going to have to pick up the slack. They have the talent to get them into the playoffs with the likes of Diehl, Blount, Duvnjak, and Blount. It will be interesting to see how their season unfolds.

6. Bird Gang - 2-8

The Bird Gang have only scored nine runs all season and are struggling to keep a consistent roster. Even with their low offensive production they find themselves only one game out of the win column for the last playoff spot. If Matt Zurawski can find a way to get Andy Felde and Luke Baker back to the field, the Bird Gang may sneak into the last spot. For now, they need to find a way to drive in runs or risk staying at the bottom of the standings.

GRIFFLEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

HITTER OF THE WEEK

Jackson Buzea

2 Games .785 AVG 11/14 7 HR 12 RBI 1 BB 1 K

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Ryan Galiher

2 Games 2-0 6 IP 1 ER 2 HA 9 K 9 BB

GRIFFLEBALL SCOREBOARD

Week 5 June 4th

3 PM - Nighttime Ninjas 9 Bird Gang 0 WP - Kubacki LP - Ma. Zurawski

4 PM - Nighttime Ninjas 5 Bird Gang 1 WP - Kubacki LP - Ma. Zurawski S - Krucek

5 PM - Ducks on the Pond 8 Digger Dudes 7 WP - Duvnjak LP - Sepulveda

6 PM - Ducks on the Pond 9 Digger Dudes 5 WP - Diehl LP - Burnell

7 PM - GasHouse Gorillas 2 Taka Drivers 1 WP - Tucker LP - Voges (Tucker No-Hitter)

8 PM - GasHouse Gorillas 1 Taka Drivers 0 WP - Galiher LP - Buzea S - Ratajczyk

NWLA Regional

Game One - Brew City 6 Griffleball 0 (0-1)

Game Two - Griffleball 8 Home Run League 4 (1-1)

Game Three - Griffleball 11 Shedfield 2 (2-1)

Game Four - Griffleball 9 Bemidji 7 (3-1)

(Minnesota Regional Champs- Griffleball Heading to Nationals in July)

Week 6 June 11th

2:30 PM - GasHouse Gorillas 2 Ducks on the Pond 0 (Week 1 Makeup) WP - Ratajczyk LP - Diehl

3 PM - GasHouse Gorillas 13 Ducks on the Pond 1 WP - Galiher LP - Brilmyer

4 PM - GasHouse Gorillas 6 Ducks on the Pond 2 WP - Galiher LP - Diehl

5 PM - Taka Drivers 11 Bird Gang 2 WP - Bartley LP - Ma. Zurawski

6 PM - Taka Drivers 16 Bird Gang 2 WP - Buzea LP - Ma. Zurawski

7 PM - Nighttime Ninjas 10 Digger Dudes 5 WP - Kubacki LP - Revis S - Krucek

8 PM - Digger Dudes 7 Nighttime Ninjas 4 WP - Sepulveda LP - Kubacki

Week 7 June 25th

3/4 PM - Taka Drivers (10-2) at Digger Dudes (3-9)

5/6 PM - Ducks on the Pond (3-7) at Nighttime Ninjas (6-4)

7/8 PM - Bird Gang (2-8) at GasHouse Gorillas (8-2)

WIFFLE OUT!

Inside the GBL - Episode Nine - NWLA Roster Breakdown/Preview and Week Five Recap

NWLA Regional Roster Preview

#47 - Jeremy Ratajczyk
Age: 27
Bats: L
Throws: R
GBL Experience: 8th Season
Jeremy's name is always mentioned among the greatest hitters at the NWLA Tournament. But the last two national tournaments have been a huge disappointment for the slugger. Could Jeremy be on the decline offensively, or where the last two seasons just abberations? When he is at his best, he has the ability to hit .400 at these tournaments, and if he can re-discover that swing from earlier in his NWLA career, the GBL offense will thrive.

#18 - Ryan Galiher
Age: 26
Bats: R
Throws: R
GBL Experience: 6th Season
NWLA Experience: 4th Tournament
Ryan has been a GasHouse Gorilla in the GBL with his teammate Jeremy Ratajczyk since the league's conception in 2010, and that duo has always been known as one of the best offensive 1-2 punches in the league. After a slow start to his NWLA career at the 2015 regionals, Ryan turned his game up a notch with two solid national tournaments in 2015 and 2016. Ryan is also one of the league's most athletic players and fastest sprinters from home to first.

#34 - Jim Tucker
Age: 27
Bats: R
Throws: R
GBL Experience: 7th Season
NWLA Experience: 2nd Tournament
Ever since Kyle Lidster retired (for all intents and purposes) after the 2012 season, Jim Tucker has been the best and most consistent pitcher in the league. He struggled in his lone NWLA appearance at Nationals in 2014, but coming off back to back Cy Young awards in the GBL in 2015 and 2016, he is primed and ready to make a big stride at the tournament this year. Historically, the GBL has seen huge improvements from their pitchers in their 2nd season of NWLA play (referencing Kyle Lidster's jump from 2012 to 2013 and Matt Kuna's jump from 2014 to 2015). Jim Tucker is expected to make a similar improvement this year.

#5 - Jackson Buzea
Age: 26
Bats: R
Throws: R
GBL Experience: 4th Season
NWLA Experience: 3rd Tournament
Jackson has been one of the toughest outs in the GBL as a hitter ever since he came into the league in 2014, and he displayed that same ability in NWLA play last year. He also emerged as one of the NWLA teams' best pitchers last year, and he is expected to carry that momentum into this year. Jackson was one of the best strike throwers, statistically, last year in NWLA play, and the GBL hopes he can pound the zone again this year.

#25 - Ryan Voges
Age: 25
Bats: R
Throws: R
GBL Experience: 3rd Season
NWLA Experience: 2nd Tournament
Ryan is easily one of the best all-around players in the GBL, and he is also one the most competitive players. The Paw Chests are hoping that he can be the same lights out pitcher at the NWLA Tournament that he has been in the GBL. He didn't get much of a chance at Nationals last year to prove himself at a pitcher, and he really resents that missed opportunity. He has been chomping at the bit to show his NWLA teammates that he can be a true ace, and he will get that chance at Regionals.

#21 - Sammy Krucek
Age: 28
Bats: R
Throws: R
GBL Experience: 6th Season
NWLA Experience: 1st Tournament
When people talk about the greatest hitter in GBL history, Jeremy Ratajczyk is usually the first name that comes to mind. But Sammy Krucek can make a pretty good case for himself. Since joining the league in 2012, Sammy has the highest batting average of any hitter at .517, and his 82 home runs and 166 RBI are both the 2nd most in that span. Sammy is expected to be a huge offensive addition to a team that was no-hit once and one-hit twice in last year's national tournament.

#7 - Chris Bartley
Age: 25
Bats: R
Throws: R
GBL Experience: 3rd Season
NWLA Experience: 1st Tourament
Chris will have big shoes to fill while wearing the same jersey as GBL NWLA legend Kyle Lidster, but Chris is ready to fill those shoes. Chris has earned his spot on the roster by posting All Star caliber seasons the past two years in the GBL. Chris' bat has had some big swings in it during his GBL career (including two game-winning home runs in last year's GBL World Series), and his teammates are hopeful that he can do the same in his NWLA debut.

#10 - Mike Kubacki
Age: 27
Bats: R
Throws: R
GBL Experience: 7th Season
NWLA Experience: 3rd Tournament
This will be Mike's 3rd NWLA Tournament and also his 3rd Regional. Having never been invited to Nationals, he will once again be playing with a chip on his shoulder this year. But rumor has it that this could be the year that he gets the invite to Nationals. Mike displayed at last year's Regionals that his bat should not be taken for granted, as he had some big games offensively. Mike is also expected to be the team's vocal and emotional leader.

Griffleball Week Four Power Rankings and Recap

After four weeks, it appears that the World Series Runners up, the Taka Drivers, are putting the wiffle world on notice. Even if they did not play last week, their record now stands at 8-0 (two wins via forfeit from Ninjas) and they have a commanding lead in the standings. They have established themselves as the team to beat in 2017. With a showdown with the GasHouse Gorillas coming in a few days, they have their chance at revenge from the last two seasons. Speaking of GasHouse, they bullied the Digger Dudes as they got back in track with a sweep. Now at 3-2, GasHouse continues to look up in the standings (something they are not accustomed to) and has a chance to chip into the Taka choke-hold on first place. Even with the biggest series in 2017 on the horizon, we can't forget about other teams who look to make a push to the World Series. The Nighttime Ninjas are looking to rebound after some unfortunate circumstances forced them to forfeit their last two. They have the potential to be considered a title contender but, each week could result in a new lineup. Which can result in the timing and rhythm of a lineup. Looking at the bottom half of the standings, the Ducks on the Pond got their first win of the season in a series split between the Bird Gang. In that series we had two 2017 debuts by Brian Brilmyer and Andrew Felde that fed into the excitement of Sunday Night Griffleball. As mentioned earlier, the Digger Dudes were swept by the champs and still have trouble scoring. If they don't figure out their offense fast they could be stuck at two wins for the rest of the year. It seems (as most predicted) to be a three team race at the bottom of the standings for that last spot in the playoffs. Here are the Power Rankings after for weeks of action.

GRIFFLEBALL POWER RANKINGS

 1. Taka Drivers 8-0 (--)

Even without playing last week, Taka still made a tremendous impact by adding two more wins to their record. As a team, they lead the league in batting average (.337) and on base percentage (.488). And on the mound, they have an 0.16 ERA in 32 innings pitched. They are ready for a series with the champs.

2. GasHouse Gorillas 3-2 (Up 2)

GasHouse has bounced back nicely after being swept by the Nighttime Ninjas. They found their offense in week four by crushing five home runs and scoring fourteen runs. That is the kind of offense we are used to from the champs. They will have their hands full next week as they rematch with the Taka Drivers.

3. Nighttime Ninjas 3-3 (Down 1)

Hard to imagine just a few weeks ago that the Ninjas swept the GasHouse Gorillas. They added two losses to their record because they could not field a team. It was the first forfeit losses since 2015. What it is even more surprising is seeing that they have three losses and they have not given up an earned run (so that's a positive). Griffleball can be crazy sometimes.

4. Bird Gang 2-4 (Up 1)

The Bird Gang split another series with their opponents after being swept during opening day. They may not have an offense that can hot for power (0 home runs) but they find ways to win. Manager Matt Zurawski has been their best hitter (.261) and gives his team plenty of base-runners (OBP .485). He just needs a bit of help on the offensive end as they struggle as a team to score.

5. Ducks on the Pond 1-4 (Up 1)

The Ducks notched their first win a little earlier this season compared to 2016. Brian Brilmyer made his debut and pitched exceptionally as he took a no-hitter into the fifth. Their offense finally cam around last week as Shawn Siokis clubbed his first home run of the season (grand slam). Let's hope another slow start to the season does not hinder them during a playoff push.

6. Digger Dudes 2-6 (Down 3)

The Dudes have had a major problem at the plate. They have hit .116 as a team and only getting on base at a .208 clip. Overall, last week was not kind to the Digger Dudes but they do have a few things going well. Nick Bobowski has an 0.88 ERA in 17 innings and Brandon Burnell is hitting .250 with 2 HR and 2 RBI. It is not all doom and gloom quite yet.

GRIFFLEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

HITTER OF THE WEEK

Ryan Galiher

2 Game .529 (9/17) 4 Home Runs 12 RBI 3 BB 2 K

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Brian Brilmyer

1 Game Started 1-0 4 IP 1 HA 0 ER 2 BB 4 K

GRIFFLEBALL SCHEDULE

WEEK FIVE (June 4th)

3 AND 4 PM - Nighttime Ninjas (3-3) at Bird Gang (2-4)

5 AND 6 PM - Digger Dudes (2-6) at Ducks on the Pond (1-4)

7 AND 8 PM - Taka Drivers (8-0) at GasHouse Gorillas (3-2)

NWLA REGIONAL (June 10th)

9:30 AM - GBL Paw Chests (19-21) at BCW Keg Crushers (1-12)

10:30 AM - HRL All-Stars (27-11) at GBL Paw Chests (19-21)

12:30 PM - SFWL Loons (3-6) at GBL Paw Chests (19-21)

1:30 PM - GBL Paw Chests (19-21) at BWB Bombers (0-0)

WIFFLE OUT!

Inside the GBL 2017 - Episode 8 - Week 4 Recap and NWLA News

This week T-Walk brings you the recap of all the action (and some of the non-action) that occurred on the Griffle Grounds. He also has a few NWLA tidbits about what he will be doing in the upcoming regional.

Inside the GBL - Episode 7 - Week Four Preview and Way Too Early Award Predictions

Inside the GBL 2017 - Episode Six - NWLA Regional Roster & Week Three Recap

In the latest episode of Inside the GBL, T.Walk announces his regional roster for the NWLA Tournament. He also recaps all the action in last week's games.

Griffleball Week Three Power Rankings and Recap

After three weeks of Griffleball, runs have been hard to accumulate. In this week alone there were six shutouts in six games. Actually, there has been only one game this season that both teams scored a run (Week One - Taka and Bird Gang). There are many factors that could play into the slow offensive start for most teams. For starters, the new strike board may have a major impact on the hitters. It is significantly easier for pitchers to paint the corners and the board is at most hitter's shins. The weather as also been suspect (I feel like I say this every week, whether windy, cold, or humid) and this week was no exception. The wind combined with the cold temperature made it difficult to generate offense. My final reason is that many of the pitchers in the league have improved and the strike board may benefit them even more. Needless to say, the teams and players still have to compete no matter the circumstances (weather, bad calls, new elements, etc.) Week three started with the Digger Dudes and Bird Gang splitting their series. Brandon Burnell for the Dudes hit his first career home run in extras to give his squad the win. Then, the Bird Gang answered back by scoring the winning run via a base on balls. This would not be the first time this week that would happen. The Taka Drivers continued their undefeated start (jinxed it) by sweeping the Ducks on the Pond in the evening series. They won the first game by a walk off walk (since my last name is Walk, I think this is awesome) and then took the momentum to the next game to win 6-0. Finally it was time for Sunday Night Griffleball between the Nighttime Ninjas and GasHouse Gorillas (Capitalizing the H just looks stupid but apparently it took 3 years to correct it). To me this was the surprise of the night as the Ninjas swept GasHouse by two walk off home runs from Sammy Krucek (I thought at best a split). The Ninjas sweep has definitely affected this week's Power Rankings. Just keep scrolling down to see where all the Griffleball teams stand.

GRIFFLEBALL POWER RANKINGS

1. Taka Drivers (6-0)(--)

No surprise here as the Taka Drivers are clearly out to prove to the league that they are the best in 2017. After watching them for three weeks, they continue to impress by finding ways to win. They have a run differential of plus 24 and only allowed just one run. They have scored the most runs and are tied for allowing the fewest. Which seems to be a good recipe for success. They are going to continue to stay in the top spot unless they falter.

2. Nighttime Ninjas (3-1)(Up 1)

If you sweep the five time defending champs you are always going to move up in the rankings. If you do it without half your team, you deserve it. Without the arms and bats of Arvay, Kuna, and Holden, the Ninjas put the league on notice that they can beat you with anyone. With Krucek's bat and Kubacki's arm the Ninjas have put themselves in a good spot moving forward. If and when their offense heats up, look out.

3. Digger Dudes (2-4) (Up 2)

How many people expected the Digger Dudes to be playing this well this early (show of hands, yeah I thought so). They may have a losing record but they have been in every single game (but one) this season. It seems that they have the pitchers capable of throwing a ton of innings (Bobowski and Sepulveda). I like the way they are playing and if they keep it up they could make  push for the playoffs.

4. GasHouse Gorillas (1-2)(Down 2)

We have seen this story before. In 2015, GasHouse struggled in the first half of the season. Then they turned their season around and eventually won another championship. They have all the pieces to be the best team throughout the regular season but they usually do not play their best until needed. Their biggest concern is finding their historically great offense. They have not score a run since the first inning of their first game. That is 18 completed innings without a run (including the postponed game).

5. Bird Gang (1-3)(Up 1)

The Bird Gang finally broke through for their first win after dropping the first three. With a full roster this could be a tough team to play, but they are still looking for Shimala and Baker to make their 2017 debut. It is going to take some effort from those two if the Bird Gang want to make another push to the playoffs. From what I have seen, it could be hard for the Bird Gang to find a rhythm as they rotate their roster each week. 

6. Ducks on the Pond (0-3)(--)

The Ducks on the Pond are putting themselves in the same position as last season. This time they have yet to score a single run but their pitching as held up for a few games. They have the potential to be one of the better power teams in the league but that has not come to fruition so far. They need their bats to come around before they face the same hole they were in last year.

GRIFFLEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

HITTER OF THE WEEK

Sammy Krucek

2 Games .417 - 5/12 - 2 HR 3 RBI (Two walk off home runs)

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Nick Bobowski

1 Start - 1-0 7 IP 7 Strikeouts 0.00 ERA 1 HA 4 BB (Threw 5 1/2 innings of no hit in first game)

GRIFFLEBALL SCOREBOARD

3 PM - F/6 Digger Dudes 1 Bird Gang 0 - WP - Bobowski LP - Matt Zurawski

4 PM - Bird Gang 1 Digger Dudes 0 - WP - Matt Zurawski LP - Bryan

5 PM - F/7 Taka Drivers 1 Ducks on the Pond 0 - WP - Bartley LP - Blount

6 PM - Taka Drivers 6 Ducks on the Pond 0 - WP - Buzea LP - Diehl

7 PM - Nighttime Ninjas 1 GasHouse Gorillas 0 - WP - Krucek LP - Tucker

8 PM - Nighttime Ninjas 2 GasHouse Gorillas 0 - WP - Krucek - LP - Ratajczyk

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

May 21st

3/4 PM - Taka Drivers (6-0) at Nighttime Ninjas (3-1)

5/6 PM - Digger Dudes (2-4) at GasHouse Gorillas (1-2)

7/8 PM - Ducks on the Pond (0-3) at Bird Gang (1-3)

WIFFLE OUT!

Inside the GBL 2017 - Episode Five - Week Two Recap and Week Three Preview

This week your host, Tyler Walk, dives into multiple topics. He seems to get off track quite often in this week's episode. He recaps week two, previews week three, gives you a 2017 GBL jersey ranking, and multiple other news and notes. Enjoy it Wiffle Nerds.

Griffleball Week Two Power Rankings and Recap

Griffleball would not let a little bit of rain (little bit = downpour) cancel Sunday Night Griffleball in week two. Even though the early games were canceled, it was still showtime for the Taka Drivers and Digger Dudes. Under the bright lights, the Taka Drivers took care of business despite the horrendous conditions. The first game of the night turned out to be a pitchers duel between Nick Bobowski and Jackson Buzea. With the rain causing the grip on the bats to be non-existent, neither pitcher allowed a hit until the last frame. It also turned out to be one the quickest played Griffleball games in recent memory, ending in under twenty five minutes of video time. It looked like we could have been here all night with both teams searching for a hit. Then, Chris Bartley stepped up and continued his early power surge by crushing a walk off home run. That was the push that Taka needed to get their offense going in the next game. Taka would win game two 9-0 by scoring three runs in three different innings and completed their sweep on Sunday Night. Hopefully next weeks weather will comply with the week three schedule (seriously Indiana weather is the worst). With only two teams playing on Sunday, the Power Rankings still need to be seen by the wiffle world. Take a look below to find out where your team stands.

GRIFFLEBALL POWER RANKINGS

1. Taka Drivers (4-0)(Up 1)

The Taka Drivers have started the 2017 season just the way they envisioned. They have only allowed one run in four games and have score eighteen runs. I would consider that a dominant start to any season. It definitely feels like every game they play has the atmosphere of a playoff game. They move up to the top spot heading into week three.

2. Gashouse Gorillas (1-0)(Down 1)

Gashouse has had four games scheduled and have only completed one. From the action we have seen from them so far, the league knows the champs are primed and ready for another postseason run. I think this could be the season where they face some adversity. This can be contributed to the likes of every team in Griffleball playing their best when they see Gashouse on the schedule. They move down a spot due to Taka's ferocious start.

3. Nighttime Ninjas (1-1)(--)

The Ninjas have more weapons this season than in years prior. With the return of Arvay, the addition of Kuna, and the surprise from Holden last season, the Ninjas can be one of the most dangerous teams this season. They did look a bit rusty at the plate to start the season but, their offensive numbers always seem to climb throughout the year. Don't sleep on the Ninjas, they may sneak up on you. 

4. Ducks on the Pond (0-1)(--)

The Ducks on the Pond are in the same situation as Gashouse. They have only completed one game in two weeks. Even without Brilmyer playing (managing for now) for most of the season, the Ducks have the tools to make it to their first season. I am confident in their ability to hold opponents to a few runs but, it is the offense that is concerning. I believe they will find some offense but they need to do it now before risking another win-less start (did not win a game until mid-season in 2016).

5. Digger Dudes (1-3)(--)

I did not expect much coming from the Digger Dudes in 2017 but, it looks like they will be competitive throughout the season. Their record can easily be 3-1 instead of 1-3 if they were able to score. Nick Bobowski is looking like the same CyBo from last season and if he keeps it up, the Dudes could be fighting for the last playoff spot by the end of the year. Also, Nate Bryan in the field has taken away a number of hits and will probably continue to throughout the year.

6. Bird Gang (0-2)(--)

Before the season I believed the Bird Gang would tumble into the bottom of the standings. As of right now, I am correct on making that assumption but it is a long season. They dodged a tough start by the rain washing out their games with Gashouse and they can look forward to a few winnable series. It should be interesting to see if Baker and Shimala will make their debut this week. It should tell us a lot more about their squad when they do.

GRIFFLEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

HITTER

Jackson Buzea

5 Hits in 9 AB 1 HR 5 RBI 2 BB

PITCHER

Ryan Voges

2-0 3.5 IP 6 Strikeouts 0 ER 1 HA 1 BB

WEEK THREE SCHEDULE

3 PM / 4 PM - BIRD GANG (0-2) AT DIGGER DUDES (1-3)

5 PM / 6 PM - DUCKS ON THE POND (0-1) AT TAKA DRIVERS (4-0)

6:45 PM (IF POSSIBLE) - RESUME DUCKS AT GASHOUSE (BTM 5 0-0)

7 PM / 8 PM - GASHOUSE GORILLAS (1-0) AT NIGHTTIME NINJAS (1-1)

GRIFFLEBALL SCOREBOARD

WEEK ONE

4/23/17 - Taka Drivers 4 Bird Gang 0 - WP - Bartley LP - Felde

4/23/17 - Taka Drivers 4 Bird Gang 1 - WP - Voges LP - Mike Zurawski

4/23/17 - Digger Dudes 1 Nighttime Ninjas 0 - WP - Bobowski LP - Kubacki

4/23/17 - Nighttime Ninjas 2 Digger Dudes 0 - WP - Arvay LP - Revis

4/23/17 - Gashouse Gorillas 4 Ducks on the Pond 0 - WP - Tucker LP - Diehl

4/23/17 - Gashouse 0 Ducks on the Pond 0 Bottom 5th (PPD)

WEEK TWO

4/30/17 - Nighttime Ninjas at Ducks on the Pond (Series PPD)

4/30/17 - Gashouse Gorillas at Bird Gang (Series PPD)

4/30/17 - Taka Drivers 1 Digger Dudes 0 - WP - Voges LP - Bobowski

4/30/17 - Taka Drivers 9 Digger Dudes 0 - WP - Voges LP - Bryan

WIFFLE OUT!