2023 Season

Hendon Park – Division 4

	GP	RF	RA	RFA	RAA	W	L	T	Pythagorean Win %	Expected W	Expected L	Performance	Season Results
Regular	17	236	156	13.9	9.2	9	5	3	73.24%	12	5	Underperformed
Playoffs	1	9	16	9.0	16.0	0	1	0					3rd Place
Total	18	245	172	13.6	9.6	9	6	3

Facts for 2023:

1. Final record: 9-6-3 (including 0-1 in the playoffs).
2. We had 3 ties this year.  Between 2010 and 2022, we only had 5 ties.  But the ties this season helped us place 3^rd, so I guess that’s good.
3. Speaking of 3^rd place, this is the third year in a row that we did that.  I’m thinking we should change it up for next year.
4. The K-Master Ball.  That damn K-Master Ball.  That raised stitching, easily tearing, mushy ball we used this year.  I did like the closer games, but I really miss the home runs.  Hopefully, the league will rethink these balls for next year.
5. So, did the new ball affect us?  Ah, yeah.  Our runs for average dipped significantly over last year (13.6 vs. 18.9).  That’s a 28% decrease in run production which equates to 77 fewer runs (and we even played one more game than last year).
6. Want to know what else decreased?  Our team homerun production.  We hit 13 home runs this year compared to 71 dingers last year.  That’s over an 81% reduction!  That hurt.
7. Conversely, our runs against average improved by over 24% over last year (9.6 vs. 12.7). This is our 5^th consecutive year with our RAA dropping.  Was it the ball, or have we all become defensive machines?  You decide.
8. Congrats to Bobby, Joel, and Fabian, who had an increase in their BA of 3%, 11%, and 18%, respectively.  As for the rest of us…
9. And congrats to Bobby again, who was the only one to play in every game this season.  In fact, Bobby is on a 58 consecutive game streak since 2019.  Bobby “The Iron Man” Closner?
10. We were much better this year being injury-free, so keep doing what you were doing, except for me (Sheldon) who tore a groin muscle.  Don’t do that.
11. As a result of that injury, Cary stepped up and pitched much of this season with 91 of the 119 innings we played.  That’s 50-100% more than he has had to do in the past.  Nice.
12. Yes, someone yelled and swore at the umpire.  Yes, they completely forgot that the play was still live.  Yes, it might have been me.  But that ump is such an ass, so there’s that.
13. Memorable catches: Liebs catching Ilan’s ball as it popped out of his glove, Adam sliding in to catch a flyball in centerfield to seal the win against the Caciques.
14. Here’s a short tutorial on how to bunt.  Don’t.  There shall be no bunting.