MNWA Free Agency Recap
12/6/2014
by Trent Steffes
MAPLE GROVE, MN -- As I write this in the office of the sports dome in which I work, the world of Minnesota wiffleball is in a state of frenzy. Our "younger brothers" from West St. Paul, formerly the Bonfire Wiffleball Association are now known as the Shed Field Wiffleball League. They even had a new league logo full of meaning. Our fore-fathers in the Home Run League are all dealing with forum trolls, a new commissioner, and a historically controversial opening of free agency. So what's going on with the MNWA? In the Minnesota Wiffleball Family dynamic, we're the 20-something college student that's coming home for the holidays to a younger brother that's going through puberty, and a father who is newly divorced. Not much is going on, but it's all seemingly overshadowed by other things going on, which is fine. We don't mind, but just in case someone were wondering what's going on with those German Gophers, I'm happy to oblige.
We're still struggling for a format for our season. We're officially considering doing the Skibbe Method, and the method we have been doing forever. The decision on the season will be made at our Winter Wiffs event, which is in a few weeks. Speaking of Winter Wiffs, this year's event promises to be more fun than any other year, with expected representation from all four teams, and even a select few HRL players, who played in Dublin this past summer. So look forward to a podcast previewing that event, and other happenings in our league. But our biggest news items are most definitely the free agency transactions that have happened. Free agency opened October 1st, and several signings have been made since then. From here, we will break it down team-by-team highlighting the completed transactions, potential targets, and any other speculation surrounding this team.
Bad Company
Signings:
P Garrett Grage (10/1/14)
P Matt Newell (10/1/14)
OF Andrew Johnson (10/1/14)
Summary:
Manager Trent Steffes wasted no time in free agency, in filling up his roster with talent. Upon the opening of the market, he officially inked two pitchers and a speedy outfielder. P Garrett Grage and Steffes are former teammates form 2012 and the MNWA Gophers team. "I saw such a huge improvement form Garrett at the championship tournament and Wifftoberfest that I needed him on my team," is what Steffes had to say about his presumed #1 starter. Pitcher Matt Newell was also signed, in order to give Garrett a break from time-to-time, and provide a good bat in the lineup. Then, addressing his team's glaring weakness of needing speed, Trent signed the 2012 Rookie of the Year, Andrew Johnson, who showed at the Final Tournament, that he can still field with the best of them, and can still smack the ball.
Outlook:
As far as potential targets go, Manager Trent Steffes has gone on record on numerous occasions stating that he is saving his fifth and final roster spot for a game changing rookie. Where this rookie may come from remains a mystery, whether it's a totally green player, or a rookie with wiffleball experience. The main focus he must have in filling his roster is finding another clutch bat to put in his lineup.
Big B's
Signings:
P Auston Steffes (10/1/14)
OF Chris Polzine (10/18/14)
OF Ethan Fabel (10/22/14)
Summary:
Zach Bussmann was the other manager to be active in the month of October. The rookie manager inked vetern manager and teammate from the 2014 Champion Elites, Auston Steffes. This is a good signing, becuase the two had great chemistry together last year, and Auston can flourish at the plate with the mentoring of Zach Bussmann. The other two signings are both similar to the Steffes signing, in that manager Bussmann has the chance to mold tow great players. Ethan Fabel is a MNWA veteran who has not played the last two year. He had a historically low average in 2011 and was not great on the mound. Polzine is another green prospect that Bussmann will be able to mold into a good ball player. Chris is a rookie, and unfortunately, he will not be going to the Winter Wiffs event. The scouting will have to be done as spring comes around.
Outlook:
Bussmann really is making this team his own. From naming it after his favorite MLB team, to signing malleable prospects, he has a chance to build a dynasty. As of now, there aren't many guys on the Big B's radar, but one guy to always be careful for when picking a team is former championship teammate Jordan Johnson. Reports say he is looking for a team not managed by Bussmann, but one can't totally trust this speculation.
Wide Mouth Frogs
Signings:
OF Ben Kapsner (12/4/2014)
Summary:
For two months, manager Kevin Knutson made no impact on free agency. He admitted he tried to get to Garrett Grage, but Grage has alreayd decided at that point. But this Thursday, Kevin finally made a signing that while expected, makes a lot of sense. He signed his 2013 teammate Ben Kapsner. Kapsner only played two games in 2013, but he turned heads, as he hit over .600 and he is a wiz in the field. Not to mention that he has all kinds of baseball IQ that will easily transfer to wiffleball. If Ben can make the dates this year, he could have an MVP-like season.
Outlook:
Another prospect Knutson is expected to ink is 2014 Rookie of the Year, Peter Monsrud. Peter turned everyone's head at the Final Tournament with his big bat and speedy presence. It will remain to be seen how he will adjust to higher level pitching more often this season, but one should expect he will make the transition to a higher level seamlessly. However, if the Wide Mouth Frogs have any sort of chance at winning this year, Knutson must do all he can to ink Jordan Johnson. Speed, hitting, and fielding can only get you so far if you can't pitch at a high level. In order to compete in this league, the WMF need a pitcher they can ride all season. If it's not Johnson, then Kevin must look to other sources to fill that void.
Dragons
Signings:
none
Summary:
Devin Nelson was handicapped at the start of free agency by the state of the league. At the time, a different idea was still in consideration that would split up the talent pool, but that was axed and now Devin Nelson is left staring at a free agent pool diluted by Ashby-based players. Not that that is a terrible thing.
Outlook:
One would assume all the signing Devin makes would be centered in Ashby. Jay Zimmerman is a lock, and one would assume Andrew Lindor, Bryce Paulson, and Ryley Nelson would sign on, too. But one thing that still looms is the potential signing of Jordan Johnson, by Devin Nelson. IF this were to happen, it would give Devin the chance to slid back into the role of clutch hitter, which really suits him. Devin can pitch at an elite level in MNWA, but letting someone else take that burden could allow him to flourish. So within the coming months, you can expect to see a rash of signings by Nelson as he crafts a roster that can join the Big B's and Bad Company in the MNWA Title Conversation.
by Trent Steffes
MAPLE GROVE, MN -- As I write this in the office of the sports dome in which I work, the world of Minnesota wiffleball is in a state of frenzy. Our "younger brothers" from West St. Paul, formerly the Bonfire Wiffleball Association are now known as the Shed Field Wiffleball League. They even had a new league logo full of meaning. Our fore-fathers in the Home Run League are all dealing with forum trolls, a new commissioner, and a historically controversial opening of free agency. So what's going on with the MNWA? In the Minnesota Wiffleball Family dynamic, we're the 20-something college student that's coming home for the holidays to a younger brother that's going through puberty, and a father who is newly divorced. Not much is going on, but it's all seemingly overshadowed by other things going on, which is fine. We don't mind, but just in case someone were wondering what's going on with those German Gophers, I'm happy to oblige.
We're still struggling for a format for our season. We're officially considering doing the Skibbe Method, and the method we have been doing forever. The decision on the season will be made at our Winter Wiffs event, which is in a few weeks. Speaking of Winter Wiffs, this year's event promises to be more fun than any other year, with expected representation from all four teams, and even a select few HRL players, who played in Dublin this past summer. So look forward to a podcast previewing that event, and other happenings in our league. But our biggest news items are most definitely the free agency transactions that have happened. Free agency opened October 1st, and several signings have been made since then. From here, we will break it down team-by-team highlighting the completed transactions, potential targets, and any other speculation surrounding this team.
Bad Company
Signings:
P Garrett Grage (10/1/14)
P Matt Newell (10/1/14)
OF Andrew Johnson (10/1/14)
Summary:
Manager Trent Steffes wasted no time in free agency, in filling up his roster with talent. Upon the opening of the market, he officially inked two pitchers and a speedy outfielder. P Garrett Grage and Steffes are former teammates form 2012 and the MNWA Gophers team. "I saw such a huge improvement form Garrett at the championship tournament and Wifftoberfest that I needed him on my team," is what Steffes had to say about his presumed #1 starter. Pitcher Matt Newell was also signed, in order to give Garrett a break from time-to-time, and provide a good bat in the lineup. Then, addressing his team's glaring weakness of needing speed, Trent signed the 2012 Rookie of the Year, Andrew Johnson, who showed at the Final Tournament, that he can still field with the best of them, and can still smack the ball.
Outlook:
As far as potential targets go, Manager Trent Steffes has gone on record on numerous occasions stating that he is saving his fifth and final roster spot for a game changing rookie. Where this rookie may come from remains a mystery, whether it's a totally green player, or a rookie with wiffleball experience. The main focus he must have in filling his roster is finding another clutch bat to put in his lineup.
Big B's
Signings:
P Auston Steffes (10/1/14)
OF Chris Polzine (10/18/14)
OF Ethan Fabel (10/22/14)
Summary:
Zach Bussmann was the other manager to be active in the month of October. The rookie manager inked vetern manager and teammate from the 2014 Champion Elites, Auston Steffes. This is a good signing, becuase the two had great chemistry together last year, and Auston can flourish at the plate with the mentoring of Zach Bussmann. The other two signings are both similar to the Steffes signing, in that manager Bussmann has the chance to mold tow great players. Ethan Fabel is a MNWA veteran who has not played the last two year. He had a historically low average in 2011 and was not great on the mound. Polzine is another green prospect that Bussmann will be able to mold into a good ball player. Chris is a rookie, and unfortunately, he will not be going to the Winter Wiffs event. The scouting will have to be done as spring comes around.
Outlook:
Bussmann really is making this team his own. From naming it after his favorite MLB team, to signing malleable prospects, he has a chance to build a dynasty. As of now, there aren't many guys on the Big B's radar, but one guy to always be careful for when picking a team is former championship teammate Jordan Johnson. Reports say he is looking for a team not managed by Bussmann, but one can't totally trust this speculation.
Wide Mouth Frogs
Signings:
OF Ben Kapsner (12/4/2014)
Summary:
For two months, manager Kevin Knutson made no impact on free agency. He admitted he tried to get to Garrett Grage, but Grage has alreayd decided at that point. But this Thursday, Kevin finally made a signing that while expected, makes a lot of sense. He signed his 2013 teammate Ben Kapsner. Kapsner only played two games in 2013, but he turned heads, as he hit over .600 and he is a wiz in the field. Not to mention that he has all kinds of baseball IQ that will easily transfer to wiffleball. If Ben can make the dates this year, he could have an MVP-like season.
Outlook:
Another prospect Knutson is expected to ink is 2014 Rookie of the Year, Peter Monsrud. Peter turned everyone's head at the Final Tournament with his big bat and speedy presence. It will remain to be seen how he will adjust to higher level pitching more often this season, but one should expect he will make the transition to a higher level seamlessly. However, if the Wide Mouth Frogs have any sort of chance at winning this year, Knutson must do all he can to ink Jordan Johnson. Speed, hitting, and fielding can only get you so far if you can't pitch at a high level. In order to compete in this league, the WMF need a pitcher they can ride all season. If it's not Johnson, then Kevin must look to other sources to fill that void.
Dragons
Signings:
none
Summary:
Devin Nelson was handicapped at the start of free agency by the state of the league. At the time, a different idea was still in consideration that would split up the talent pool, but that was axed and now Devin Nelson is left staring at a free agent pool diluted by Ashby-based players. Not that that is a terrible thing.
Outlook:
One would assume all the signing Devin makes would be centered in Ashby. Jay Zimmerman is a lock, and one would assume Andrew Lindor, Bryce Paulson, and Ryley Nelson would sign on, too. But one thing that still looms is the potential signing of Jordan Johnson, by Devin Nelson. IF this were to happen, it would give Devin the chance to slid back into the role of clutch hitter, which really suits him. Devin can pitch at an elite level in MNWA, but letting someone else take that burden could allow him to flourish. So within the coming months, you can expect to see a rash of signings by Nelson as he crafts a roster that can join the Big B's and Bad Company in the MNWA Title Conversation.