The next YBL Meeting of Members will take place at 7:30 on Tuesday April 8 at the Freeport Tavern in Dorchester. The Board of Directors will meet at 6:00. All franchises must be represented.
Divisions and Seeding Finalized for 2014
(*Edited 3/31/14 – Medford Maddogs are now Malden Maddogs)
The 2014 division alignment for the Yawkey Baseball League has been finalized. The divisions will be as follows:
Ted Williams Division
Brighton Black Sox
Brighton Braves
Brighton Minutemen
Malden Maddogs
Revere Rockies
Somerville Alibrandis
Stoneham Sabers
Carl Yastrzemski Division
Al Thomas Athletics
East Boston Knights
McKay Club Beacons
Savin Hill Dodgers
South Boston Saints
South End Astros
West Roxbury Nationals
Playoff seedings will be determined by the following:
#1 seed is the division champ with the most points
#2 seed is the other division champ
#3 seed is the 2nd place team with the most points
#4 seed is the 2nd place team from the other division
#5-#8 seeds are wildcards, by order of point totals
Filed under YBL News
Player Profile: Chris Foundas
Over four seasons in the Yawkey Baseball League, Chris Foundas has posted a 24-7 mark in the regular season, and even more impressively, has gone 10-2 with a 1.10 ERA in playoff action. The Alibrandis have won the championship all four years that he has been with the team. In 2013, he tied for the league lead in wins (8), was 2nd in K/IP (1.33), and was 4th overall in strikeouts (61). Chris throws one of the hardest, meanest fastballs in the YBL, but he is also one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet.
Nickname: Foundy
Position(s): Pitcher & 4th String Catcher just waiting for my opportunity
Bats/Throws: R/R
Club(s) Played for in YBL: Somerville Alibrandis (2010-Present)
Where did you grow up?
Needham, MA
Where do you live now?
Framingham, MA
Where do/did you go to college?
Bryant University
When is your birthday?
April 2nd, 1987
What baseball awards / honors have you won in your life?
Bryant’s 10th Player Award 2009, NSPBA Second Team All-American 2011
How many YBL championships have you won?
4, Consecutive
What years have you been an All-Star in the YBL?
2011, 2012
Favorite MLB player of all time?
Nolan Ryan, cause he could probably tell people what was coming and they still couldn’t hit it, hence the 7 No Hitters.
Who is the most underrated player on the Alibrandis?
Bobby Barrett, has come up in the clutch many of times and doesn’t always get recognized
Who else on the Alibrandis would make for an interesting interview?
Teddy Dziuba. He always has something to say!
Who have you most looked up to in the YBL?
I may be biased, but this decision is easy, Marc DesRoches. The guy just loves the game of baseball and has respected it more than anyone I know.
Who is the toughest pitcher to face in the YBL?
Jon Klein, I don’t know him personally, but the guy just knows how to deal, keeps batters off balance and just goes out and competes his butt off.
Who is the toughest hitter to face in the YBL?
Lefties, especially Tom Englehardt (hopefully returning this summer) & Teddy Dziuba, they are so disciplined and compete every single pitch, not giving a single at bat up, it’s as if they are one step ahead of every pitcher trying to get them out.
What was the most exciting moment you’ve had in the YBL?
As a team achieving 30 wins in the regular season, and then going on to win our 4th straight championship.
Who is the most influential person(s) in your life?
My family as a whole. My Parents and two older brothers raised, guided, and supported me in everything I have done, and have always been there for me no matter what.
What drives you to keep playing ball every summer?
“Isn’t it obvious? For the girls.” In all seriousness, the moment you think you have this game figured out, it has no problem putting you right back into your place. This game is built around failure, and the player/team that overcomes these failures are the ones that are going to succeed, and there is no better feeling than accomplishing that ultimate goal: WIN. One last quote, “Its supposed to be hard; if it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great!”
Chris Foundas (right) with teammate Teddy Dziuba
Filed under Player Profiles
YBL Meeting of Members – Next Monday 2/17
Location: Freeport Tavern, Dorchester
BOD meets at 6:30, General Membership at 7:30.
Filed under Announcements
New Protocol for YBL All-Star Events
The Yawkey Baseball League’s All-Star Committee, with approval from the Board of Directors, has issued the following protocol by which it will govern the league’s three All-Star events in 2014:
YBL All-Star Game at Fenway Park
Objectives:
* To give players the chance to play at Fenway Park.
* To represent the Yawkey Baseball League in one of the most revered parks in baseball history.
Rosters:
* Each YBL team manager will nominate their own players who will participate in the game.
* The 6 teams that failed to make the previous year’s playoffs may send 2 position players and 1 pitcher.
* The 6 teams that were eliminated in the first two rounds of the previous year’s playoffs will be allowed 1 additional position player for a total of 4 players.
* The 2 teams that made it to the previous year’s YBL Finals will be allowed to send an additional pitcher and position player for a total of 5 players per team.
* This makes a total roster size of 26 players per conference (max. 16 position, 2 DH, and 8 pitching–depending on whether the semi-final losing team decides to send a pitcher or position player)
Management:
* Managers representing the teams with the best overall record in their conference will manage their conference in the All-Star Game.
* Additional coaching for each team, consisting of 1 bench coach and 2 base coaches, will be provided by the remaining playoff teams in each conference, with managers of the remaining 6 teams as the bench and base coaches for each conference’s All-Star team.
EMass Classic
Objective:
To win.
Rosters:
* There are no requirements stating that each team must be represented, however the All-Star Committee will do its best to ensure as diverse a YBL representation as possible.
* The All-Star Committee will develop a bank of YBL players from which each team manager will be asked to vote for a starting roster.
* This bank of players will be compiled after a review of each player’s:
1 – current season performance
2 – career YBL performance (weighted more heavily towards recent seasons)
3 – prior All-Star / Select team performance
4 – career YBL attendance numbers
5 – availability to participate
* The managers will vote for a starter at each field position, a designated hitter, 3 starting pitchers and a closer (**managers may NOT vote for a player from their own teams).
* The remainder of the team will be selected by the All-Star Committee, culminating in a set number of pitchers and position players (as yet TBD)
Management:
* The manager of the previous year’s YBL Champion will be the default manager for this event.
* Additional coaches for the tournament, consisting of 1 bench coach, 2 base coaches, and 1 pitching coach will be selected by the manager in cooperation with the All-Star Committee.
* If the manager of the reigning YBL champion can not attend, the All-Star Committee will select the manager after discussion with the Board of Directors.
Military Game
Objectives:
* To show respect and support for our armed forces.
* Provide a competitive and fun baseball game.
* Win.
Rosters:
* Any player with a military service record will be given the opportunity to dress and participate in the event.
* Each YBL manager will again be asked to submit a starting lineup (**again, no selections from their own team)
* The All-Star Committee will fill out the rest of the roster, ensuring that each team is given ample opportunity to be represented in the game.
Management:
* The manager of the previous season’s 2nd-place team will be the default manager for this event.
* Additional coaches for the game, consisting of 1 bench coach, 2 base coaches and 1 pitching coach, will be chosen by the manager in cooperation with the All-Star Committee.
* Should the manager not be able to attend, a replacement will be selected by the All-Star Committee and the Board of Directors.
Filed under YBL News
Former YBL Pitcher Rich Hill Signs Again with Red Sox
Former YBL pitcher, Rich Hill, has been signed by the Red Sox once again to a minor-league deal. The 6’5″ lefty from Milton, who was recently inducted to the YBL Hall of Fame, was a member of the Al Thomas Athletics prior to being drafted by the Cubs in the 4th round of the 2002 amateur draft. He spent three previous seasons with the Red Sox (2010-12) and spent last season playing for Terry Francona in Cleveland, where he made a career-high 63 appearances.
Filed under YBL News