Category: Previews

2018 JMS Season Preview – Draft Edition

Things to look for heading into the draft

Rookie Captains

Kumail Megani makes his long-awaited return to JMS and is already being touted as being the best player in the league; and he hasn’t even swung a bat yet! Along with Salim Chagani, the best dressed player in the league, they are looking to build a team mixed of skill and good dressers.

The rookie captain combination of Vick Vij and Umair Ali look to be a dynamic pairing that could easily end up being the top skilled captains in the league. Still unproven in a leadership capacity, they are picking 7th overall and should be able to land some highly touted talent at that pick with names like Bobby Bharwani, Maysum Jaffer and Mahmood Kara expected to fall in their lap.

Abbas Nasser and Shane Worthington who’s rookie captain expedition started off with a bang. Unable to land the 1st overall pick, they traded their 3rd overall pick for the 4th pick an a series of other exchanges to get them better draft positioning throughout the draft. Most pundits are saying they won that exchange with the Eagles.

The trend of the best player in the draft getting selected 2nd overall looks like it will continue this season as another rookie captain pairing, Hussien and Abbas Allidina, will likely try and keep the band together for another season as they are expected to draft Miqdad Jaffer with their first pick, leaving Ali Manek, the perennial #2 pick, to return to the Falcons.

The Ratansi Project

Last year’s surprise 1st round pick by the Wolves was Mikael Ratansi.  And the project at SS would have worked if Aman Nasser didn’t struggle in his first full season as pitcher. But Ratansi reminded us in the playoffs that it all comes down to pitching as he led the Wolves to their 2nd straight championship.  Some of the big pitching names that are expected to get drafted early are Tarik Kamel, Riaz Champsi, Altaf Champsi, and newcomers Sebastian Gianino and Azad Najfi.

Big Field, Big Bust

It has become very apparent (Minhal Jaffer, Zane Hussain) that players are better when we play on small fields. That was the sticking point for Abbasali Kermali in a recent interview where he reminded viewers that he hit 6 homeruns at the small diamond during Al-Wahda. Abbas is a top 8-overall hopeful this season but with rumours of a larger diamond in the mix, names like Irfahn Khimji, Mohammed Abdalla, and Muzammil Jaffer all are possible to be selected ahead of him.

How important is Defence?

The big field, and softer balls does negate the importance of power hitters.  Players with big batting averages and OBP are what let the Wolves to their 2nd straight championship and the Lions to a nearly perfect season last year.  That means a strong defence should be even more valued going into the draft. Some of the strongest defensive players in the league heading into the draft are Raheel Rajwani, Maysum Jaffer, Kabir Molu, and Minhal Jaffer and although the brutal ankle injury suffered in the final weekend of the season last year will keep him out of the lineup to start the season, Nadim Rahemtulla can easily be added to that list. 

Not Ready To Pass The Torch?

Winning a batting title is no easy feat – but that’s exactly what one of the most experienced men on the field did last season. Imtiyaz Kara led the league in average and walks.  However, he was playing with a massive chip on his shoulder after getting drafted 17th overall last year.   It’s safe to assume that he wont go that low this year.  In fact, in a recent unofficial ranking, Imtiyaz was ranked 4th overall suggesting that he could go to either the Falcons or Eagles unless news of his secret off-season knee surgery leaks out.

The unofficial player ranking calculated by weighing 2017 batting stats along with ability to play multiple defensive positions resulted in the following top 14 rankings:

  1. Ali Manek
  2. Miqdad Jaffer
  3. Imtiyaz Kara
  4. Daanish Jaffer
  5. Irfahn Khimji
  6. Muzammil Jaffer
  7. Nadim Rahemtulla
  8. Abbas Kermali
  9. Hussein Champsi
  10. Kabir Molu
  11. Hussain Habib
  12. Abbas Fazal
  13. Mikael Ratansi
  14. Muhammed Abdalla

2017 – Week 7 Preview

To end the season, we are examining the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the JMS 2017 Draft. 

 

16 – Lions – Damien Ramnauth (Traded for #17 Imtiyaz Kara)
13 – Bucks – Sarfaraz Karmali
8 – Falcons – Irfahn Khimji (Traded for #12 Hussain Habib)

The Bucks came into the season hot off the trade market that many thought on paper put them ahead of the pack and landed them one extra 2nd/3rd round pick. However, flipping 1st and 3rd round picks in both cases have not worked out for them at all. Abbasali Kermalli’s spiral to insignificance has been well documented this season but as Imtiyaz Kara has flourished with the Lions, the same cannot be said for trade partner Damien Ramnauth. Defensively, he has found it hard to find a home and has moved around both infield and outfield. He even dabbled into pitching where he has a 17.78 ERA. However, with a .409 Average places him 11th on the Bucks.

With their own 13th pick, the Bucks banked on a strong pre-draft performance in Sarfaraz Karmali and while he has been a solid pitcher, he has been the least effective offensive player on the Bucks. His average of .353 has him at the bottom of the Bucks roster but with a potent offensive team, he wasn’t needed for that. His pitching record of 5-2 has him 1 win shy of the league lead. He’s tied for 1st in Strikeouts and has a respectable 3.28 WHIP. His 7 Home Runs allowed is solid and minus 4 in one game from Ali Manek, he would be leading the league in this category for a pitcher with nearly 40 innings of work.

Irfahn Khimji was picked up by the Falcons to play the infield however after acquiring Ali Manek, getting Hussain Habib from the Bucks already packed outfield gave the Bucks one of the biggest steals of the season. 2nd in the league and leading the Bucks in RBIs (15) and Doubles (7), Khimji is 1st or 2nd in all major offensive categories for the team and amongst the top 7 in the league in all major offensive categories. He has proven to be a key cog in the Bucks offensive that currently leads the league with 113 runs scored and they will finish 2nd in the standing this season. Defensively he has proven to be versatile as he has moved around the field and played strong defensive around the field. At 12th overall, he is easily the best draft pick of 2017.

11 – Eagles – Hussein Allidina

The Eagles eventually lost their 3rd round pick in the trade that brought Miqdad Jaffer to reunite with his brothers. So with only one pick in the 2nd and 3rd round, they went with Hussein Allidina. With Allidina representing both picks, he has not lived up to the expectations. Although he has been a solid 1st baseman, at that part of the draft, teams are looking for impact bats or strong pitching – neither of which Allidina has provided the Eagles. With only 2 wins on the season, there are many fingers to be pointed however a lot of them are at #11 overall. His .385 Average and .407 OBP are 7th and 9th on the Eagles. However, the predictions have all been that the Eagles will be playoff ready and going 2-5 in his last two games, maybe Hussein is climbing back up to prove he was a worthy investment in the 2nd round.

7 – Tigers – Nadim Rahemtulla
18 – Tigers – Mehdi Nasser

Going into the last week of the season, the Tigers are looking to secure 3rd place – a feat that was unthinkable a few weeks ago as they struggled out of the gate. #7 draft pick Nadim Rahemtulla leads the team with a .619 Average and is 2nd on the team in Hits (13), OBP (.652) and Slugging (.762). Defensively he has always proven to have a strong glove at Shortstop and this season has been no different.

Mehdi Nasser on the other hand drafted at 18th overall is being considered a draft bust. He’s only got 7-at-bats this season and while it’s clear that when he is there he is good, but because he isn’t, he’s just isn’t contributing. While the Tigers can’t blame an absentee for their start to the season, if he returns to form for the playoffs, nothing else to this point will matter. This week the Tigers need to tie or win to secure their 3rd place finish.

10 – Wolves – Mikael Ratansi
15 – Wolves – Muzammil Jaffer

Many assumed that Mikael Ratansi was drafted as a pitcher however that was a trick up the sleeves of the Wolves captains. When he started the season at shortstop, there were a lot of questions and he delivered. Defensively he was solid and the Wolves picked up former Ramadan Tournament MVP Aman Nasser to pitch so Ratansi was able to settle in. However, the Wolves quickly spiraled towards the basement of the league in some part to Ratansi’s .407 average and .467 OBP. With Aman and Ali Merali not getting the job done pitching, they have brought in Ratansi to finish off the season so the book is still out on the decision to take Ratansi at 10th.

Muzammil Jaffer was a surprising choice as a rookie to go 15th however he has proven to be a solid pick at that spot. His power was a total unknown but he is tied for the team lead in Home Runs (3) and is in the top 5 of each offensive category. His spot at Rover has proven to be perfect for him as he’s taken away a lot of base hits from players with stellar defense in a very potent defensive outfield. Safe to say he was a steal at 15th overall.

 

12 – Bucks – Hussain Habib (Traded for #8 Irfahn Khimji)
14 – Eagles – Salim Chagani (Traded for Abbas Chagani)

The Falcons didn’t draft either of their 2nd or 3rd round picks but a series of trades landed them two solid contributors. The Habib/Khimji trade made a lot of sense for both clubs. Habib’s average is too low for someone drafted so high (.400), but he has played some solid defence all season as he and Chagani quarterback the outfield – and he did show his power with a no-doubter home run two weeks ago. He is also 2nd in the league in triples (2) this season. If he has found his swing going into the playoffs, this pickup could be vital for the Falcons. Salim Chagani came over

Salim Chagani came over in to help balance out the widely regarded, lopsided trade involving Ali Manek and Miqdad Jaffer. Salim has been a great defensive player for the team, however, his .333 average and .481 OBP has been a disappointment for a guy who many are saying was drafted based on how well he dresses as opposed to how well he plays. Despite his low OBP, he’s still batting in the heart of the order and has the opportunity in the next week to prove that his pickup at #14 was well warranted. The Falcons end the season as the last obstacle for the Lions to finish the season with a perfect record. We expect them to leave it all on the line this week as a victory and a Tigers loss would put the Falcons in 3rd place.

9 – Lions – Riaz Champsi
17 – Bucks – Imtiyaz Kara (Traded for #16 Damien Ramnauth)

Clearly, with a chip on his shoulder, Imtiyaz Kara has been playing like a man possessed this season. One of the big reasons the Lions remain undefeated going into the last week of the season. He currently leads the league in average with .750 and an .OBP of an insane .846. But despite the crazy OBP and average, he is still 3rd on the Lions in runs scored and RBI’s leaving no question as to why the Lions have been so dominating. Defensively, he has regressed from his Gold Glove days and shifted to 2nd base this season where his ability to manage the infield and outfield is still in full effect.

Riaz Champsi getting picked at 9th overall surprised a lot of onlookers but with a perfect season in tow, the Lions clearly knew what they were doing. Solidifying pitching in the early rounds has proven to be a tremendous asset at Champsi leads the league with a 6-0 record, 10 strikeouts and a WHIP of 2.32. But the biggest stat is his 16 walks in over 38 innings pitched which is by far the lowest walk ratio in the league this season. Offensively he is a liability and but, because he like so many other Lions, is not afraid to “not” swing the bat in men’s recreational softball, his OBP is respectable at .600. However, his grade comes from his pitching and the Lions seem to have done everything right.

2017 – Week 6 Preview

If the Falcons are going to end the season by staying in 3rd place, they will rely on getting on base.  They almost beat the undefeated Lions in a tight 16-13 ball game, but could have been a different ball game if the 2nd and 3rd batters Arif Gulamhusein and Salim Chagani didn’t go 0-5.  With only two game remaining, the Falcons need to secure a victory this week and it’s time for some quite bats to get them over the edge.

X-Factors: Abbas Nasser is stuck hitting .333 on the season but played his best game of the year against the Lions.  He his team leading 4th double of the season and the high scoring offence of the Falcons have to be hoping that he has finally made the turn as we approach the playoffs.

Word is that Nabeel Naqvi hit one out of the ball park in practice and can’t remember what bat he used to do it.  Trying to find that home run magic, he went a respectable 2-5 last week.  If Naqvi figures it out and can start hitting above .500 to end the season, the Falcons will be flying.

The Tigers scored 30 runs last week. Their first two wins of the season came in a big way.  Aadil Jaffer went 4-4 against the Eagles and Ali Jessa seems to be getting back into the mix hitting .500 last weekend. The Tigers come into this week looking to stay out of the basement and keep moving forward with solid team play.

X-Factor: Shahid Rahemtulla finally got his swing back this week going 4-7 with 4 RBI’s bringing his average to .375 on the season.  So long as he isn’t a 1-and-done home run hitter, the Tigers might be able to surprise some teams in their last 3 games.

Surprisingly, Bobby Bharwani moved up the walks leaderboard into 4th place after picking up 4 walks in 2 games. Leading by example seems to be working as the team got it’s first two wins and his .600 OBP is right where it needs to be to allow the big bats to help rack up runs.

Until the Eagles start fielding an entire team, they are going to struggle.  But putting up 11 runs against the leagues best team certainly has them moving in the right direction.  With number 1 overall draft pick Miqdad Jaffer coming back this week, expect them to be playing with a lot more focus and poise to get out of the basement.

X-Factor: At the beginning of the season it was easy to guess that Murtaza Amarsi would be leading the team in OBP and 3rd in average.  Granted he has 8 at bats to go along with 4 walks, but if Amarsi can be a leader in the clubhouse and more Eagles follow suit, the leagues worst offence might start moving in the right direction.

The Eagles are also the leagues worst defensive team but without Raheel Rawjani and brother Komail Rawjani, it’s hard to expect the team to do a lot defensively.  If Raheel is back this week, the team could finally start to gel as the playoffs are only a few weeks away. It’s now or never for the Rawjani brothers.

The Wolves 4 game loosing streak have them all spiralling into the depths of the bottom of the standings quickly.  Hoping to find some magic against rival Altaf Champsi didn’t work last week as their losing streak continued. But having 3 extremely qualified pitchers will prove to pay its dividends as Ali Merali is expected to make his first JMS start at shortstop this week with Mikael Ratansi moving back to pitch. Although it should be noted that Ratansi only has 1 hit in the games he has pitched in this season including going 0-2 against the Falcons last week.

X-Factor: Has Aman Nasser pitched his last game of the season? Maybe coming off the bench to pitch will get him going again but if the Wolves are going to move forward, Aman has to be a bigger contributor.  He’s currently sitting at .200 average but without the pressure of pitching, we’re expecting to see him break out this week.

Abbas Fazal is off to a good statistical start to the season but he was once talked about as being a huge draft steal. Last week he was 0-2 and did not play a factor in the game.  If he goes back to his .556 average that he’s sitting at this season, the Wolves will be able to snap their losing streak.

 

Losing to a team with zero wins on the season doesn’t mean that the Bucks are trending downwards.  But there are some signs to suggest that their 6-2 record might be over inflated.  The reigning MVP, Ali Raza Nasser is not having a repeat year and has been struggling by his own lofty standards.  Still in the top 10 of all meaningful offensive categories, Ali Raza is a power hitter with only 1 home run and someone needs to pickup the power game for the Bucks if they hope to finish 1st. The wind wont push Imran Nasser’s balls over the wall anymore.

X-Factor: Nadir Virjee defensively has been a strong addition to the team in the infield.  If he can keep that going, the Bucks can live with his .409 average.  But if Nadir can continue to consistently hit the ball to all sides of the park, he should be getting on base more than his .458 this season.

Hussein Jiwan is confusing.  He’s hitting .500 in his 10 at-bats this season but can he keep that going.  He has only scored 1 run all season on the most potent offensive team in the league. Do they have him batting in the wrong place? Has he proven himself to move up in the lineup?  Either way, he needs the opportunity to contribute.

The Lions still sit undefeated at the top of the standings and they just seem to be doing everything right every week.  Their defence has been strong; their offence is not overwhelming but is getting the job done every week.  The only surprising outlier is Zane Hussain who’s .417 is the lowest batting average amongst league captains this season.  But even with him struggling to find his rhythm, the Lions are showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

X-Factor: Hasanain Panju is back! He went 5-8 last week to lead the way with 6 RBIs and has his average up to .381. That’s still a far cry from what we expected from him, however, if he can repeat this week, a once forgotten cog in the wheel will have found his way through and should play a huge role for the team heading into the playoffs.

Sometimes playing with too many coaches (Imtiyaz Kara and Zane Hussein) could negatively impact some players.  Muhammad A. hasn’t been able to get it together this season and while everyone is moving on all cylinders, Muhammad has been trying to find his place.  With every team gunning to dethrone the Lions, they could really use him to get it going as the playoffs quickly approach.