The countdown has started, and Draft Day is right around the corner! In less than a week, all the players will be drafted to their respected teams, and when the dust settles, Asad Hussain and Ali Manek will still be playing on the same team. I have no clue how we let this happen, but it did, and it’s time to face the music. To try and keep up with our counterparts at TSN and Sportsnet, we will focus today’s article on predicting the first round of this draft.
For those of you who aren’t aware, the draft order has been confirmed, and here it is:

1. Tigers – Captain: Vick Vij Assistant Captain: Mahmood Kara
2. Wolves – Captain: Imran Virji Assistant Captain: Mikael Ratansi
3. Owls – Captain: Kumail Meghani Assistant Captain: Noor Zia
4. Bucks – Captain: Ali Raza Nasser Assistant Captain: Nadim Rahemtulla
5. Eagles – Captain: Ali Manek Assistant Captain: Asad Hussain
6. Falcons – Captain: Umair Ali Assistant Captain: Ali Merali
7. Lions – Captain: Miqdad Jaffer Assistant Captain: Imran Nasser

Each team clearly has their strengths, and they have some glaring weaknesses as well. Fortunately, the draft gives them the opportunity to fill these holes in their roster, and their selections can make or break their team. With a quick look at each team, we can forecast who’s going to be taken with the first 7 picks of this draft.

 

 

 

Captain: Vick Vij

Assistant Captain: Mahmood Kara

Synopsis: Vick had the last pick in the Assistant Captain Draft, and he couldn’t have done much better than Mahmood Kara. They have natural chemistry from playing with each other last year, and they feel that this is their year (not like the Toronto Blue Jays of 2015, more like the Chicago Cubs of 2016). Power seems to be the theme for this team, and there are a lot of players available who fit that criteria.

Prediction: Looking to keep the team’s average age over 40, the Tigers will select Abbasali Kermali with the 1st overall pick. He seems like the clear option for this team, and as per his official statement, Abbasali is sure of it too:

I batted .650 in the last 6-7 games and I’m awesome in the playoffs and I’ve been training all off season. Whoever skips me will feel mega wrath during the year.

A bold statement from Abbasali, as he wants to ensure that his abilities should not be discounted.

 

Captain: Imran Virji

Assistant Captain: Mikael Ratansi

Synopsis: Imran decided on Mikael with his 4th overall pick, and that pick can be one of the biggest sleepers in the Assistant Captain Draft. Mikael is a highly talented pitcher with tons of confidence and leadership skills. Now Imran will be looking for an infield commander who can swing for the fences. There are not many players available who match what they are looking for, but fortunately there is the perfect player available for this team.

Prediction: With the 2nd overall pick, the Wolves will take Minhal Jaffer. Minhal is exactly what Imran and Mikael are looking for with this pick. A shortstop with an above-average glove and home-run power, Imran should feel very happy if he were to land Minhal.

 

Captain: Kumail Meghani

Assistant Captain: Noor Zia

Synopsis: Kumail and Noor have a simple philosophy with their drafting strategy: pick the best player available. They have no regard for drafting based on position, as versatility is the trait they are looking for. Kumail is trying to bring a new wave of softball to this league, as he wishes to try new things to win ball games:

Like the trend in the NBA, we will attempt to play position-less baseball. The draft strategy will be to draft versatile players while also trying to draft the best available player. In the end, a catcher with the ability to call the game, frame pitches and throw out baserunners will be top priority. We also plan to use a 6 or 7 man infield or outfield – just because.

All jokes aside, there is a clear option, and they would be hard-pressed not to pass up on him.

Prediction: The Owls will use their pick on Irfahn Khimji, a shortstop who can punish you both defensively and offensively. Irfahn played with Kumail and the Owls last season, so it is a very real possibility that they come together and try for a championship once again.

 

Captain: Ali Raza Nasser

Assistant Captain: Nadim Rahemtulla

Synopsis: Fresh off of a championship last season, Ali Raza and Nadim are looking to repeat. Ali Raza will try to show that it wasn’t his brother Imran who led the team, but rather it was him who rallied the team to victory. On the other hand, Nadim will try to show glimpses of his old self by commanding the infield at shortstop. There is a lot of talent to choose from, but ultimately the Bucks will not stray too far from their comfort zone and take any risks.

Prediction: Ali Raza and Nadim will try to replicate their triumph from last season, and what better way than to draft Kabir Molu, an outfielder with whom the Bucks had success with last year. He is a calming presence on the grass and a steady hitter at the plate. This is a low-risk, high-reward option for the Bucks, and we don’t see them doing anything risky.

 

Captain: Ali Manek

Assistant Captain: Asad Hussain

Synopsis: This team has generated a lot of buzz, with quiet leader Asad Hussain teaming up with notoriously loud Ali Manek. Ali went viral with his video following the Assistant Captain Draft Lottery (follow our Instagram @jmsleague to see), boldly proclaiming Asad as his first overall pick. Needless to say, he did not divulge who he would pick with his 5th overall pick in this draft. There has been a Ali Manek vs Miqdad Jaffer duel brewing over the past couple of seasons, and Manek seemed to have won the last battle by getting the first pick in the Assistant Captain Draft. Knowing the competitive nature of Ali, he might be looking to deliver the knockout blow in this first round by selecting a player whom Miqdad undoubtedly wants.

Prediction: Manek and Asad go for Maysum Jaffer, as he is a player who ticks off many boxes for this team:

1. Speedy outfielder capable of leading the outfield
2. Above average lead-off man for Manek and Asad
3. Related to Miqdad

If you thought the Eagles looked dangerous before the draft, they are gonna be outright scary afterwards.

 

Captain: Umair Ali

Assistant Captain: Ali Merali

Synopsis: Umair made a solid pick, going for Ali Merali, and he has some tough choices to make with his 6th overall pick. With Umair taking control of the infield, and Ali taking over the outfield, we believe that the Falcons will take the first pitcher in the draft.

Prediction: The Falcons will select veteran pitcher Hussein Allidina, an ex-captain who knows how to rally his team. He is extremely reliable, especially late in games, and he is able to land the ball on the plate with accuracy and spin. Umair and Ali can breathe easily knowing that they will have a great pitcher and a great leader.

 

Captain: Miqdad Jaffer

Assistant Captain: Imran Nasser

Synopsis: At first glance, it might look that Miqdad and Imran got unlucky with their pick in the first round. However they do have the next pick as well, and with lots of talent available, these picks are crucial. With none of his brothers available, Miqdad will look to another familiar face, someone who is extremely versatile and skilled.

Prediction: Miqdad and Imran will draft Imtiyaz Kara, a veteran in this league who can play a lot of different positions. He is able to get on base consistently, as his career OBP of .701 can attest to that. The Lions should be happy if Imtiyaz is available at the 7th overall pick.

 

This concludes our first round predictions. Let us know in the comments what you think is going to happen, and make sure you tune in on Saturday to see if we predicted correctly!

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Get excited and get ready for the Fifth Anniversary of Jaffari Masumeen Softball League!

Spring Training is well under way and the all new JMS League Assistant Draft Lottery has taken place!

This preview will look at what it takes to be an assistant captain and take some guesses as to who will be the best pick for each team.

In case you missed it, here is the draft order along with the team captains:

1. Eagles – Ali Manek
2. Lions – Miqdad Jaffer
3. Falcons – Umair Ali
4. Wolves – Imran Virji
5. Bucks – Ali Raza Nasser
6. Owls – Kumail Meghani
7. Tigers – Vick Vij

One important key to note this year is that the player draft lottery (Tuesday, February 26, 2019 @ 9PM – Private to Captains only) odds will be determined by the combined salary of the captain and assistant captain.  The tandem with the lowest combined salary gets the best chance to get their pick of where they want to draft. Will this factor into their decisions? While JMS does not post salaries, you can do your best to speculate.

Also, please remember to visit our sponsors websites.  Thanks to them and the volunteers who spend countless hours in making sure we all have a great time!

 

The question you are all probably asking is, “What does it take to be an assistant captain?”  A key difference for this year is that assistant captains are not bound to any responsibilities.  Unlike previous two and three-captain systems, assistant captains can be traded. So really, while an assistant captain this year is a glorified first round pick, it can be very important to have a strong first pick that can help mould the rest of the team.  Either that, or a captain can just stockpile the best available talent so no one else can get them!

Here are some traits that we think should go into the selection of the assistant captain:

First: Trust

The first thing that any captain is looking for from their assistant captain is trust.  The assistant captain will be entrusted with bouncing key ideas for the draft, positions, and batting lineup.  These are very important factors to selecting an all-star roster for the upcoming season.

Second: Organization

Some of the captains are extremely organized, whereas others need a bit of help sorting things out.  An important quality of an assistant captain is being organized enough to help get practices scheduled and booked, have lineup cards done well in advance of the Sunday games, and make sure not to forget the bases.

Third: Skill

In prior years, some captains would team up with the best player they could get their hands on just to keep them off the draft board.  The holder of the first pick in the Assistant Captains draft might not have the first pick in the player draft, so drafting good talent is going to be key.

Fourth: Experience

Some sports pundits say that if you’ve been there before, it’s a lot easier the next time around.  There are some things one can only learn by going through it. Having a former captain to lean on is not necessarily a bad thing.

Fifth: Family

One theme that has always been maintained throughout the years in JMS is that the family BBQs need to remain friendly.  Passing over a brother or cousin could hurt the family dynamic. It helps if you have an MVP caliber brother, but some picks happen just so you don’t get a phone call from your grandmother.

In the next section, we shall take a look at a few players who check off these boxes and could be key contributors as assistant captains.

Can’t Miss Picks

Asad Hussain – The perfect blend of skill, experience, leadership, and organization.  With this being the first draft that he is not a captain, look for Asad to not be available at the player draft.

Ali Merali – A great leader, skill, championship pedigree, and the experience of being a JMS captain for multiple years, Ali is definitely going to be off the board.

Great Options

Riaz Champsi – Riaz has led multiple teams in various sports to championships but has yet to taste JMS victory.  With a few seasons under his belt and a key eye for talent, look for Riaz to be a great assistant as well as one of the top pitchers in the league.

Nadim Rahemtulla – Nadim has great skill in setting defences and hitting open spots with his bat.  His injury history puts him at a bit of a risk but he can definitely be a great asset as an assistant captain.

Hussein Allidina – As another former captain, Hussein has the experience to help run a team.  In addition to that, his position versatility will be highly sought after. Look for a captain to take a chance on someone who should thrive without the official captain pressure.

Imtiyaz Kara – No matter what team Imtiyaz has played on he has always been looked to as a leader.  While not as quick as he used to be, his cool demeanour and experience would be a welcome addition as an assistant captain.

Dark Horses

Abbasali Kermalli – With his skill level in decline the last two years, Abbasali  is definitely a dark horse to be picked up as an assistant captain.  He has experience running a team, very organized, and can impart his wisdom on younger hitters.  

Imran Nasser – Another candidate with previous captain experience, Imran can definitely add speed and some pop in from his bat to the leadership core of a team.  The big question will be if he can contribute on a team that doesn’t have his brother on it. Nasser family BBQs will be a lot more interesting if Imran does not get drafted onto the Bucks.

Bobby Bharwani – Bobby has plenty of experience and a keen eye for the game.  He proved last year that he still has game left in the tank. His organization and positive attitude can definitely add to the leadership core of any team.  

Irfahn Khimji – While always eager to motivate his team, Irfahn has yet to prove he can perform in the playoffs.  His athleticism, skill, and constant analyzation of lineups and defensive matchups can be helpful if he can handle the grind of the 14 game season.  Whatever team drafts him should give him the “Kawhi” treatment.

Pick Predictions

First Pick: Eagles – Ali Manek

After finally being the first overall pick last year, Ali Manek is back as captain of the Eagles.  Basking in the glory of winning this draft, some are calling foul play. Manek brings skill, grit, and experience as one of the best players in the league.   With a swagger that’s bordering on an ego problem, this preview thinks Manek will pick himself first overall! However, since that’s not allowed we think he will go with the safest no-brainer in the history of JMS.

Prediction: Asad Hussain

 

Lions – Miqdad Jaffer

After taking a hit last year by not being drafted first, Miqdad Jaffer had a rough start to the season.  By moving to captain he no longer has to worry about where he will be drafted. With that, Jaffer already has skill, organization, and the knowledge of the game that it takes to be an excellent tactician.  Look for him to take the second no-brainer of the draft.

Prediction: Ali Merali

 

Falcons – Umair Ali

Umair brings power and grit in his second year as captain of a team.  However, being a quiet leader, look for him to draft an assistant captain that can motivate a team to victory.  

Prediction: Abbasali Kermalli

 

Wolves – Imran Virji

Imran’s athleticism, leadership, and experience as part of the leadership core of previous championship teams allows him to take an alternative approach to picking his assistant captain.  Look for Virji to be willing to use his pick on someone with some additional championship pedigree.

Prediction: Imran Nasser

 

Bucks – Ali Raza Nasser

Coming off his second championship, Ali Raza Nasser has no problem being the sole captain of a team.  When asked to comment on his thoughts of a repeat, Nasser was unable to as he has gone all the way to Africa to channel his inner Masai Ujiri.  Look for Nasser to use this positional advantage on a pitcher.

Prediction: Riaz Champsi

 

Owls – Kumail Meghani

Once (self) dubbed as too good for JMS, Kumail Meghani got a taste of just how competitive this league is after captaining the Owls last year.  When asked to comment on his draft strategy he said, “The only surefire way to championship in softball is a strong catcher.” Therefore, look for Meghani to shore up by drafting someone with experience and vision of the game.

Prediction: Imtiyaz Kara

 

Tigers – Vick Vij

With the final pick and one of the biggest power bats in the league, Vick Vij’s draft record shows he likes to pick the players he knows well.  While this could be advantageous for chemistry and the family BBQ, history has shown this has not translated well on the field.

Prediction: Bobby Bharwani

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Agree with our picks? Who do you think each captain will pick?  Get in on the chat by commenting below.