Category: Previews

2019 Assistant Captain Draft Preview

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

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

 

2018 Playoff Preview

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages!  At long last, after a season of aches and pains, sweat and tears, blood and swelling, the moment you have all been waiting for is finally here!  The trash has been talked, the practicers have practiced, the butterflies are swirling, THE PLAYOFFS ARE HERE!

Here is your 2018 JMS Playoff Preview!

Quarter Final 1 – (4) Eagles vs (5) Owls

Going way back to the draft, the Captain Allidina brothers had the luxury of selecting both first and third.  After firmly deciding to select Ali Manek first overall, the choice in the third pick was extremely difficult as they narrowed their selection to an aging slugger in Abbasali Kermalli or the Owl’s first draft pick, Irfahn Khimji.  The ultimate decision came down to veteran leadership (but really it was an inspirational video that inspired even Ali Raza Nasser’s son, Kaiden) and the final results will come down to this matchup.

The Owls have dominated the season series winning both head to head matchups 11-5 and 8-4.  One consistent theme is the fact that Asad Nasser gets under the skin of most of the Eagles players.  Nasser takes pride in keeping sluggers like Manek and Kermalli subdued, which should be much easier on the large playoff diamond so look for the sluggers to adjust their swings to find open grass in the opposite field.

On the other end, Captain and starting pitcher Hussein Allidina will look to subdue a hungry Owls lineup.  Abbas Fazal will be looking to repeat his four inside the park home run performance from the last time the Owls played at Bayview Reservoir, while Captain Kumail Meghani is excited to get his first taste of JMS Playoff ball since 2015.

This game is going to come down to which team can keep their egos in check both on the offensive side of the ball not trying to go for home runs, as well as during the constant trash talking sure to be heard between Nasser and the Eagles bench.

Prediction: 11-8 Owls

Quarter Final 2 – (3) Tigers vs (6) Wolves

This game is probably the most difficult one to preview.  On one hand, it is very difficult to count the Wolves out, yet on the other hand, they have not shown up all season.  In previous years, Captains Ali Merali and Imran Virji have gone into the playoffs strong and simply dominated. This year, however, it’s the Tigers who are red hot entering the playoffs.  Both Captains Vick Vij and Umair Ali, along with first round pick, Mahmood Kara, are melting the face off the softball.

In addition to this, the Tigers have dominated both head to head matchups this year winning 14-6 and 12-9.  With Mikael Ratansi batting so well this year, his pitching seems to have taken a back seat, so look for the middle of the Tigers order to continue to take advantage.  One saving grace for Ratansi and the Wolves will, again, be the large diamond. The Wolves boast one of the best defensive outfields in the league, so the added space should give them plenty to work with if the Tigers continue to mash the ball.  

Hopefully the Wolves have spent this break practicing, because they are going to need all they can get going into what could be their final game of the season.

Prediction: 13-8 Tigers

Quarter Final 3 – (2) Bucks vs (7) Falcons

The best thing about the playoffs, for the Falcons at least, is that the season doesn’t matter anymore.  Everyone’s statistics reset, and it’s just about winning that first game. Way back at the beginning of the season, the Falcons did just that: they won the first game of their season.  If there is any message from Captains Abbas Nasser and Shane Worthington to their team, it’s that it doesn’t matter what position you enter the playoffs, it’s where you end it! (In the case of their first round draft picks, they ended the season on different teams.)  

The Bucks, meanwhile, progressively beat up on the Falcons more and more as the season went on beating them 7-6, 11-5, and 15-2.  If we look back to see what kept the Falcons in that first game, it was pitcher Riaz Champsi. When the Falcons can field a full team, they can be a formidable opponent.   If there is one pitcher that can extinguish the fire in the Captain Nasser Brother’s eyes, it’s Champsi.

With the Bucks in a slump entering the playoffs for the second year in a row, a rookie pitcher in Sebastian Gianino entering his first JMS playoff combined with Worthington starting to find his batting stroke, this could spell yet another early exit for the Bucks.

Prediction: 9-8 Falcons

That’s it for our quarter final review, but just to keep things interesting we’re also going to predict the rest of the playoff bracket.  Share your bracket prediction using the comment area below or on comment on our story on Instagram (@jmsleague):

2018 – Week 9 – Previews

At long last, here we are nearing the finish line. They say it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon! After 162 games, or what felt like it at least, we are at the last week of the season. This week will not be without drama as lots can unfold: teams jockeying for position, players looking to cement their status as the league leaders. Outside of the Lions likely finishing in first place and the Falcons finishing in last, anything can happen! Here is your Week Nine Preview! Once again we will be having two make up games on Friday night, which won’t get re-previewed. However, since it is the last two games of the regular season that the Wolves are playing, they will need to win both combined with two Tigers losses on Sunday or they will finish in sixth place.

Game 1 – Owls vs Tigers

In their last meeting, the Tigers were on a hot streak and the Owls were short handed at Bayview Reservoir. With three of the Owls players living close to Nobleton, this one feels like a home game for the Owls. However, with this being an 8:30am game, we are very sure that Asad Nasser will not be showing up for this one. How will the Owls fair? Will Kumail Meghani be able to both pitch and hit? Will Irfahn Khimji and Shane Nasser keep up their hot streaks? It will take some wins, and loses by the Bucks and Eagles, coupled with some long division to figure out if the Owls can move up.
Prediction: 16 – 15 Owls

Game 2 – Eagles vs Bucks (Round 1)

In the first of two, our writers (in the MVP Watch article) have made a big announcement claiming that the Eagles will win both games to take second place as well as have Ali Manek hit at least three home runs to pass Asad Hussain for the home run lead. With Sebastian Gianino giving up the fewest home runs among qualifying pitchers, Manek has his work cut out for him. With Gianino pitching the way he is, this could be the first year in JMS history that Abbasali Kermalli goes an entire season without a home run. Will Hussein Allidina be able to go pitch for pitch with Sebastian?
Prediction: 6 – 5 Eagles

Game 3 – Tigers vs Falcons

With pride on the line for the Falcons, they will be looking to get into mid season form in the last game of their season. Fear not Falcons, the playoffs are a time for everyone to start fresh! In the meantime, though, look for the at least one half of the bash brothers Vick Vij and Mahmood Kara to continue feasting on pitching for what could be the final blow out of this 2018 season. With Vij  needing three home runs to catch Asad Hussain for the league lead, this could have been an interesting finale to their season – but captain Vick will be notably absent from this finish! We don’t think that will be a problem for the Tigers.
Prediction: 17 – 5  Tigers

Game 4 – Bucks vs Eagles (Round 2)

While Ali Raza Nasser has his SMH face on, we can hear Imran Nasser already, “Okay guys, just settle down and play the way we played those last two innings. We got this.” If there is anything we’ve learned this season, it’s that the Nasser brothers play well under fire. However, if we are correct and they’ve already lost their first game to the Eagles, they really have nothing to play for at this point. This is where the experience of Minhal Jaffer and Nadim Rahemtulla take over. Look for these two to finish strong and lead the charge into the playoffs.
Prediction: 16 – 14  Bucks