by Ben Kapsner
2/21/2017
2/21/2017
Welcome to the MNWA’s first multi-part series! I have been tasked with creating a “Player Rankings” series, in which I will attempt to quantify the best players in the MNWA. In order to prepare I have traveled across the globe, met with wiffleball legends, and broke down hundreds of hours of tape (please note that none of this actually happened).
Each player has been ranked on a scale of 200 points. I have broken down the rankings into four distinct criteria:
Full disclosure, I will be ranking Buxton players. As manager of the Buxtons there obviously is a conflict of interest, but I will be as objective as possible. Finally, please note that these rankings are meant to be complimentary, and not in any way critical. If you have any issue with any rankings please talk with me directly. This five-part series will disclose the top 10 rankings of Fielders, Offensive Players, Pitchers, and Overall MNWA Wiffleball players (20-11, 10-1). We will start with the most subjective category, the top ten fielders.
Top Ten MNWA Fielders:
The fielding category as a whole is worth 25 points. I have broken down the fielding rankings into five categories each worth five points:
9: Garrett Grage
Each player has been ranked on a scale of 200 points. I have broken down the rankings into four distinct criteria:
- Pitching (90 points)
- Offense (75 points)
- Fielding (25 points)
- Intangibles (10 points)
Full disclosure, I will be ranking Buxton players. As manager of the Buxtons there obviously is a conflict of interest, but I will be as objective as possible. Finally, please note that these rankings are meant to be complimentary, and not in any way critical. If you have any issue with any rankings please talk with me directly. This five-part series will disclose the top 10 rankings of Fielders, Offensive Players, Pitchers, and Overall MNWA Wiffleball players (20-11, 10-1). We will start with the most subjective category, the top ten fielders.
Top Ten MNWA Fielders:
The fielding category as a whole is worth 25 points. I have broken down the fielding rankings into five categories each worth five points:
- Range
- Arm
- Ground Ball
- Fly Ball
- Awareness
- Range: 5, Arm: 4, GBF: 4, FB: 4, Awareness: 3, Fielding: 20
- Awards: None
9: Garrett Grage
- Range: 3.5, Arm: 5, GB: 3.5, FB: 4, Awareness: 4, Fielding: 20
- Awards: 2014 Fielder of the Year
8: John Cronin
7: Sam Essen
6: Jordan Johnson
- Range: 4.5, Arm: 4, GB: 4, FB: 4, Awareness: 4, Fielding: 20.5
- Awards: None
7: Sam Essen
- Range: 4, Arm: 4, GB: 4, FB: 4.5, Awareness: 4, Fielding: 20.5
- Awards: None
6: Jordan Johnson
- Range: 3.5, Arm: 4, GB: 4, FB: 4, Awareness: 5, Fielding: 20.5
- Awards: None
5: Ben Kapsner
4: Zach Bussmann
3: Andrew Johnson
2: Jay Zimmerman
- Range: 4.5, Arm: 3.5, GB: 4, FB: 4.5, Awareness: 5, Fielding: 21.5
- Awards: 2015 Fielder of the Year
4: Zach Bussmann
- Range: 3.5, Arm: 5, GB: 4, FB: 4, Awareness: 4, Fielding: 21.5
- Awards: 2016 + 2017 Fielder of the Year
3: Andrew Johnson
- Range: 5, Arm: 4.5, GB: 3.5, FB: 5, Awareness: 4, Fielding: 22
- Awards: 2013 Fielder of the Year
2: Jay Zimmerman
- Range: 4.5, Arm: 4.5, GB: 4, FB: 5, Awareness: 4.5, Fielding: 22.5
- Awards: 2012 Fielder of the Year
1: Peter Monsrud
- Range: 5, Arm: 4.5, GB: 4, FB: 5, Awareness: 5, Fielding: 23.5
- Awards: None