In an unexpected edition of ‘The Scorer’s Table,’ Imran and Miqdad take on a CRAZY weekend and look forward to JMS’ future, one that doesn’t include them.

It’s been a whirlwind of a weekend, we had rain and a soaked field, then we had a few games salvaged and playable – all of this was followed by a day of 6 games that saw both the Owls and Eagles get eliminated. Were any of the results surprising to you and how do you think this new playoff format compares to the previous one?

I: I wouldn’t say I was surprised by any of the results, but two games that intrigued me the most were the Tigers-Wolves and Bucks-Eagles. As I told multiple Tigers players over the weekend, that game was their path to the finals and possibly the chip. They needed to rack up as many wins early as possible to keep their days short, and they weren’t able to do it. They came out flat and that disappointed me a bit. But it’s entirely possible they ran into a team of destiny. A lot of love for the Wolves on my end (Aadil should’ve gotten more love for MIP, btw) so I definitely wasn’t mad at the result.

While the final score didn’t surprise me, I was a little shocked that AR’s Bucks came out flat to start the playoffs. I thought losing Irfahn Khimji and Arif Hirji would hurt them later in the day, but after they were gearing up to play the day before, I expected better. The rest of the day, they didn’t disappoint with more than a few video game plays (shout out to AR for making my Instagram post a reality).

I’ve always been one to advocate for a playoff system that would leave a team(s) out of it from the start, so I’ll never be the biggest fan of a seven-team playoff. But moving forward, I see this majorly affecting the way a team drafts. Get handed one loss on playoff Saturday and you could be playing for a while. So I see the draft strategy shifting to younger players, even if they’re inexperienced.

M: I was most surprised at the way the Falcons and Wolves game started. That was a chance for Ali Reza Merali, the alpha wolf to really show his old squad what it took to win. They were tied going into the top of the 6th inning, but then just imploded. It showed that the Wolves could come back from a deficit, albeit small, but felt it was an opportunity the Falcons let slip from their fingers. They recovered nicely in their matchup against the Eagles, another surprise victory for some. I think they’re the team you don’t want to be matched up against, it’s easy to overlook them, and by the time you realize what’s happening it’s already….almost….too late. The Wolves woke up and responded, but the Eagles never could.

On paper the other game that was surprising was the Eagles vs Bucks, where in the first game they handled the Bucks, but in the second – 4th of the day for the Eagles – they never really looked like they were in it. Bucks will counter with the fact that they were in that first game with the Eagles for 4 innings, but couldn’t get their bats sorted, but how much stock can we really put into that. In real life, that Eagles team was depleted – Hussain Habib picked a fight with the fence, Shane Worthington hit a left handed single because of back problems (still pulled it), and Asad Hussain wasn’t able to stay until the end of the day. The Eagles seem discombobulated from the word “play”, and I’m not sure they really had a chance to survive at the end. So while it is surprising, watching it in person, I wasn’t surprised at the result.

The new playoff format is amazing and I hope it is here to stay. Judging by some of the videos making their rounds, it’s clear that the stands are full, people are engaged, and even team’s that have lost early – Tigers – still have just as much a chance to win it all as ever. It’s worked out better than anticipated and it’s nice that going into next week, 5 teams are still in it.

The winner’s bracket has largely formed the way most would predict, with a showdown between the Wolves and the Lions. While the bottom of the bracket has been unpredictable with the Bucks (even as the higher seed) eliminating the Eagles, and the Falcons were the ones that sent the Eagles to that eventual elimination game. The time off allows teams to be rested, have their injuries somewhat healed, and ready to play. With some players not accounting for the extra week, do you think the time off will hinder or hamper some of the teams?

I: Does it suck that we won’t see everyone at full strength? Yes. Were we extremely blessed this year with no other rainouts? Yes. Were all the players missing next week warned ages ago about the makeup day? Sadly, also yes. So while I don’t feel bad about a team missing players, it does suck to watch from the stands.

The team that had the most to benefit from the extra week was the Tigers; as I mentioned before, that was wasted away. I don’t see the extra week helping anyone else, honestly. While an extra week of practices helps out, it’s also another week of possible injuries and possible plans that were overlooked. Rumors are already swirling that the Wolves could be down a major player next week, someone they would’ve had for the entirety of the playoffs if not for the rain delay. Some players are already looking at contingency plans for their booked vacation plans; and others who planned ahead are gonna be watching from the sideline.

We’ll truly see which team/captain was more prepared and organized with their scheduling, since the makeup week was announced prior to the season. And sadly for all the other captains still alive in the race, we all know that title goes to the guy answering after me.

M: Hamper. Definitely hamper. People planned travel, and even though my team snap says that 14 players are available (it’s said that for months), we’re still missing one. I won’t say who, gotta let people discover that one on game day. The other part that I don’t really love is that two teams may feel like there’s no reason for them to show up anymore because they’ve been eliminated. I’m still hoping they’ll make it to the diamond for the environment.

There are cases where the time off will help, but I think the age argument is probably getting old (pun intended). While, it’s clear that the kids have more energy and can play longer – see Bucks vs. Eagles part II – I still think a team like the Tigers is now, more than ever, well equipped to keep their players in good shape for their run, but they’re going to need to win 5 games in a row to pull it off – so they need to be as fresh as they can be. However, even a team like the Wolves can benefit from the time off, as some players weren’t available but now will be. Perhaps the same could be true for others as well, I’m sure the Falcons will love the fact that Hasnainali Walli has a week to recoup from getting a throw in the back. He currently leads the playoffs in SLG % and is a perfect 5 for 5 at the plate. Maybe next week, Ali Reza Merali will have healed his black eye and it won’t look like Umair Ali and he have been going through a rough spell.

Anything is possible, but the argument can be made either way.

The matchup against the Wolves and Lions has been one that many people have been talking about and looked forward to. The current theory is that in the last time these two teams played, the Lions won, but did so only because of injuries sustained to both Minhal and Irfaan Jaffer. Whenever these two teams played during the season, the Lions came out on top. How do you see this one playing out and is it something you’re looking forward to? Do you think either of these two teams is the eventual champion or do you see another team making a push?

I: My motto for the playoffs: ABC. Anyone But Chuds. And really, I’m sure it’s the motto of more than half the league. But honestly, it’s looking like it’s his to lose. The Lions look like and are a well-oiled machine. Just by the simple fact that 14 players replied on Team Snap; that’s a tough feat in itself. Kaunain Taki looked like a Gold Glove in the outfield, Moe Abdalla and Ahsan Raza got their bats going, and Miqdad Jaffer didn’t do a damn thing defensively. If you can rely so little on your captain and still win heavy stakes games, you’re doing something right.

There’s just something about these Wolves that’s not letting me rule them out. Now if the rumours are true and that star player is out for next week, then all bets are off. But the energy and camaraderie that this team plays with is infectious. You can’t help but root for them. It almost feels like the Patriots-Eagles Super Bowl from a couple years back. The rigorous, professional, by the book team vs. the fun-loving and joking group of brothers. Do I expect the same result as that Super Bowl? I have no idea, but when in doubt, ABC.

P.S. I still got mad love for the Bucks. Watch out.

M: The Falcons and Tigers need 5 straight wins to win the championship. The Bucks need 4 straight wins to win the championship. The Wolves and Lions can do it in 2 straight or a loss followed by 3 straight wins. Now, I’m not saying it’s not possible, but whoever wins that 10AM game has the best chances to be the eventual champion. They would have the flexibility to lose once in the potential final.

I don’t think the Tigers have 5 straight wins in them – on what would be a day of back to back games, with an aging roster that has an average age of 40+. I have also heard rumours that they may not have either of their pitchers available. I don’t know if the Falcons have the ability to do it either, they didn’t even get 5 wins out of 14 games in the regular season. The Bucks, I won’t rule out – they have young legs and 4 wins in a day is not impossible. I worry because the margin is so tight, but any team that gets hot could theoretically come out victorious.

I can’t pick a winner, I’m one of the two teams that I believe have the best odds. I will say that if one of the others win it, they hands down deserve it – but it’s one heck of an uphill climb.

With the season wrapping up in just another 6 games, having been a part of this for 5 years – what do you think the future will hold now that you’re both not going to be a part of it?

I: There’s some things I won’t miss. Getting asked how many hits a player got… four hours after their game. Telling me I can’t score correctly. Running back and forth to grab lineups. Daily reminders about how I drove a truck through Maysum Jaffer’s face. But there’s too many I will miss. The trash talk. The brotherhood. The laughs. Seeing every player every week. The fact that I suddenly know 100+ more guys, just from some league that was a dream five years ago.

Coming back as a player, or maybe not even at all, will be an insane change. And I think that’s also what future players have to be ready for. When you lose someone like Miqdad and, to a lesser degree, myself, there’s always going to be a drop off. Every organization starts at the top and we’ve had a fearless, organized leader from the get go. But I have complete faith in the returning members of the admin and the new guys to bring in fresh and new ideas, as well as change a bit of the existing norm. All I ask is that you guys help them. We wouldn’t have been able to do half the things we did over five years without support, so continue to show that love.

Do I expect a more relaxed league next year? 100%. Do I think it’ll be more professional? No. But that might just be the fun of it. It may be better, it may be worse; but it’ll definitely be different.

M: I worry about things, it’s my natural state, it drives some people insane, but it’s what has made us as a team able to react and pivot as quickly as we have. As much as worrying is my natural state – I don’t worry that the team taking over will be able to handle 2020 and beyond, they can. I don’t worry that the players from this year and the ones who sign up for next will want to support the new team, they will. I don’t worry that the new team is capable of doing better than I ever did, they are. I don’t worry if the league will be fun and enjoyable for everyone, it will.

What I do worry about is that people will compare things. It took 5 years to get to where we are; it’s not going to go back to what it was 5 years ago, but it will look and operate differently and that’s ok. They will do some things much better, other things may be worse, and that too is ok. The hardest part about this role wasn’t the job or the work to do. It was the constant undermining that happens behind the scenes, the plethora of opinions after the fact, the consistent second guessing, it can be exhausting. I’m asking you from the bottom of my heart to give this team a chance to make mistakes. If you do, what happens next is a chance to have a league that our children and grandchildren can one day take over and point to as a beacon of what brings and keeps them together on the path of Islam and the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). If you don’t, then…well…I worry.