Monday, September 22, 2014

Off To The Races


 
Sorry, but I can’t really bring myself to get interested in any sports this fall except for college football.  And while this may be closer to the NASCAR Chase series than the new College Football Playoff series (really original name by the way), I thought we might take an eliminator approach to fall USTA.  This is done mainly to limit the amount of research I have to do on flights I don’t care about and new players I don’t know.  We’ll roll it out and you can see what you think.  Instead of a match by match, flight by flight review, we’ll just focus on who is in the lead to make the fall playoffs each week.  This list could change a fair amount as the season goes, but it’s something different.  Just going to talk about the week to week contenders, not drag us through the mud of the also rans. 

4.5 Playoffs – looks like a six team playoff this year

1.            JCC/Reiman – not the spring team, but quality none-the-less.
2.            Lakes/Way – always in the mix, these roster sizes in 4.5 scare me a little but there are some freebies in this flight so it shouldn’t hurt them.
3.            Greenhill/Rossouw – enough familiar names to make a go of it this fall, but a tough flight at the top.
4.            Greenhill/Rossow – see above.  With two pretty big fall rosters it will be interesting to see if he has two spring teams as well.
5.            Brookhaven/Harlee – another perennial contender. 
6.            Huffines/Bogle – always interesting to see new teams in the mix but I’m hard pressed to see them making it all the way.     

 
4.0 Playoffs – I’m going to guess this is an eight team playoff again

1.            Canyon Creek/McHugh – solid roster, good depth, not too much baggage.
2.            Garland/Sisk – some of these guys look like they’ve returned to form.  They have a quality top eight they can get out.
3.            Fretz/Noel – good top eight but some baggage at the bottom.  If they can make the playoffs they should be tough.
4.            Huffines/Ratcliffe – their lineups don’t scare you but they seem to find a way to win.
5.            Fretz/Jayaram – got some guys back and added a few new ones.  They are a perennial fall contender.
6.            McKinney/Peterson – solid roster but there are so many guys do they lose a few trying to get everyone matches?
7.            Eldorado/Browning – solid lineups but a lot of firepower, more work to do to get to the playoffs.
8.            Huffines/McIntosh – what is it with the Huffines teams?  Another group that just finds a way to win.

47 comments:

  1. Huffhines is better than you think. Levi is the best singles player in 4.0

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    1. They always seem to turn out better than people think. Will be a good team to watch as the season progresses.

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    2. They are from the age of the dinosaurs.

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  2. Where is 5.0 prediction

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    Replies
    1. I predict they are too good for me

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  3. Murray - you are correct about the playoff formats. DTA released the info today.

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  4. Where is Mr. Clean? No more comments on the blog? Has he finally learned?

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    Replies
    1. Maybe he's too busy managing 50 guys on two rosters.

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  5. need more 5.0 talk..this 4.0 and 4.5 blabbering is like ladies gossip

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    1. village/tbar/springpark. village takes it in the end. all the other teams are no good.

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  6. None of us are "good" except the Village. They should roll through undefeated. Not much to talk about.

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    1. Come on Coredawg. Don't be so defeatist.

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    2. Haha well my team has already lost to them so I can't change that.

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  7. Seriously lol can you say french mentality.. hey everyone heres my white flag and a croissant

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    1. One Le Coq Sportif tennis racquet for sale on e-bay... Never swung, dropped only once. Coming from Dallas... Coincidence?

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  8. In other news... Flores Open team just beat a team that had bogomolov and delic on roster. Vegas Nationals.

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    1. I'll take Ryan Harrison if they play Austin

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    2. The team they beat has 7 7.0s. Talk about underachieving. Ryan Harrison is playing? Lol.

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    3. Don't know if he's playing but he's on the Austin roster. Some guys will do anything to go to Nationals.

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    4. Oscar's team lost their second match.

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    5. No Ryan Harrison in the first match. They won. Maybe, he isn't strong enough?

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  9. Austin still hasn't figured out a way to get Ryan a match. Tough captain.

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    1. Strong team if he can't get playing time.

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    2. Austin in the final without Ryan playing. Not bad.

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    3. I've decided to recruit him for my 5.0 team. Working with Todd on an appeal. Looks promising As he couldn't even get playing time and his Grand Slam results aren't very good.

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  10. Why would ryan harrison play nationals?

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    Replies
    1. Trying to get bumped down to 6.5

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    2. His results this last year looks like he may be in the appealable range.

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  11. I see Kelly lost an easy match in the Brookhaven tourney. I guess those tri-athlons are taking their toll.

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    Replies
    1. He is running the same one Wozniacki is in. She will easily better his time by 30 minutes I bet.

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  12. thought his 4.5 team played McKinney this week? How was he able to play tourney as well? I think u were looking at a tourney from last year.

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    Replies
    1. No rule against tanking both matches.

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    2. It was a double up weekend. Lose Saturday in tourney and lose Sunday in league. He's looking like dead weight heading into tri-level.

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    3. Actually there is a rule.

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  13. Anyone want to wager he plays every single Tri level Match? Or does Sisk put him on the bench after some tough losses this weekend. He lost to a resilient player in Holt and a relentless Josh Snyder. Vote below simply inputting "all trilevel matches" or just "one trilevel match".

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    Replies
    1. Id say he can rest against Alzuro

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  14. I talked to the fellow that beat him in Brookhaven tourney. He said he flat out beat Kelley, no question. Said Kelley was unable to handle his pace or serve.

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  15. Maybe not. 1:19 below sounds like he was talking to Alzuro

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  16. I am on Alzuro roster. I will guarantee we win the 4.5 line.

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    1. Sisk will play his A lineup against Alzuro and it might not be enough. We will see Sisk's money lineup right there.

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    2. I'd take Alzuro's 3.5s to beat his 4.0s

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  17. "all trilevel matches". First time long time.

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  18. They have Kingsley. Why do you even need Kelly?

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  19. Because they have Kingsley

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    Replies
    1. Anybody tell Sisk that Vince can't anchor a 3.5 line?

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  20. I talked to the fellow that beat him in 4.5 league. He said he flat out beat Kelley, no question. Said he was unable to handle his pace or serve.

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