Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Wild Cards

Per Diana/HTA website: The Wild Cards for Sectionals have been determined. In the Men's Leagues, Houston received a Wild Card only in the 4.0 division. Houston's ladies received wild cards in 3.5 and 4.0.

Of course, there are occasions where teams drop out of Sectionals or where leagues don't "make", etc., in which case some slots may open up. (Anyone remember the Mob Squad fiasco from last year????)

However, at this time it puts even more of a premium on each and every match during city playoffs. In the 4.5 division, unfortunately, we will see some teams basically eliminated after their first two matches. I'm sure the captains and players will be classy enough to continue to play hard even if they're "out of it".

47 comments:

  1. There is also Little State in Waco for 3rd place (and maybe 4th place) 4.0 teams as well as 2nd place 4.5 team.

    I bet Houston will get a 2nd wildcard in 4.5 before it is all over with and we may not know it until after the city championships. If a team losses early I would pack it in, you never know.

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  2. there's no motivation for anyone or team to show up on the weekend on a hot day, if they are eliminated. there should be a wildcard in 4.5

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  3. Then that team shouldn't be allowed in the playoffs to begin with.

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  4. Houston probably lost the wildcard in 4.5 because of Mob Squad. Who in their right mind want to play at little sectional. They should call it "loser" sectional.

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  5. How do they figure there are 12 4.5 leagues in the state?

    Dallas
    Fort Worth
    Corpus Christi
    Austin
    Houston
    San Antonio
    Amarillo

    Others:
    SE Texas - 3 teams are signed up (although 2 of the teams consist entirely of 4.0 & 3.5 players)but no matches have been played.
    Waco - 3 teams are signed up but no matches have been played. 1 of the teams does not have enough players.
    NE Texas - 3 teams are signed up but no matches have been played. 2 of the teams do not have enough players.
    Abilene - 1 4.5 team. Normally this means they have to go play other 1 team cities for the right to advance to sectionals.

    I can't find 12.

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  6. This practice of smaller cities scrounging up 1 4.5 team and 2 punching bag 4.5 teams composed of 4.0 & 3.5 players needs to stop. It just cheats the bigger cities out of wild cards. Places like Waco, NE Texas, etc should have to play each other for the right to go to sectionals.

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  7. if there's no wildcard in 4.5, then there should not be a round robin format.

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  8. Reminds me of the OLD days of the NCAA basketball tournament when only the conference champions were invited. The ACC second place team was better than the vast majority of the field.

    Very interesting matchup in Austin in light of this news as Old School and Austin Wild butt heads again. With the two teams tied in lines won, it's virtually winner take all. Supposedly Juan DeKruyff is not gonna' play, perhaps due to Chad Case's antics. See Austin Blog for details.

    I'm not sure that the second best Houston team would do much damage this year anyway, but you never know.

    I agree with the other poster regarding these ridiculous sham of leagues. SE Texas 4.5 league has been a joke for years. Sounds like Waco, Tyler and some others are not much different.

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  9. If they are not going to have at least 2 teams from Houston play at sectionals then they shouldn't have a 50-mile rule.

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  10. Ha ha, looks like Torres will be sitting at home during sectionals.

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  11. Also if there is only 1 going to Dallas we shouldn't probably play Round Robin style because I see people putting in their weaker players too.

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  12. I don't know - Think back to our founders. Shouldn't little RI have a say in things. Midland 4.5 Women went to Nationals last year. Why should they be left out just because they are smaller and can't form a league.

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  13. They aren't left out genius.
    They just have to go play the other small cities for the right to play sectionals. Abilene did it last year and was very strong at sectionals.

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  14. Way to go Greg. It's all your fault from last year.

    You guys should have let Kudrick have that 5th line and Houston would have had 2 teams going in 4.5!

    Yes, the little cities should have a team, but if you look at 4.0 there are >30 teams from Houston. It is a LOT HARDER to come in first or second out of 30 then it is to win a small podunk league that has 5 teams.

    Yes, the comment earlier about scrounging one 4.5 all star team and two more punching bags is true. That happens in SE, NE TX and other regions every year.

    The only way that midland made it was a bunch of college ringers on their 4.5 ladies' team BTW.

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  15. I'm glad there are 2 4.0 teams going. This way another team can join Sienna.

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  16. Anyone remember the old days when they had a 16 team draw for the 4.5league ? I wonder why the USTA has decided that only 12 teams can play, don't they have larger draws for some of the other levels ?

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  17. Participation at 4.5 level is down in the smaller cities. League fees are too high now.

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  18. I may have missed it but did one of the other big cities get the wildcard??

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  19. No wild cards in 4.5 were issued

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  20. Even with the BS "mini leagues", I still only count 11 teams.

    Houston
    Dallas
    Austin
    SA
    Fort Worth
    Corpus
    Amariloo
    Waco
    NE Texas
    SE Texas
    Abilene-San Angelo QT Winner

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  21. I read that Austin gets the 3.5 wildcard.

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  22. Everyone who is playing a match will play hard. But captains whose teams are out of it (2 or more losses in an 8-team round robin) will play everyone, rather than milking their best players. It's natural, that's what any of you would do, and it's foolish to vilify them for that. That's why an 8-team round robin is a bad idea, whether one team or two goes to Sectionals. You'll see.

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  23. It's a six team round robin.

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  24. On the 4.0 side, does that mean that Houston is going to send 3 teams to Sectionals?

    Or just 2? Last year the 2 teams in finals went. So is it finals plus a wild card?

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  25. There are 20 4.0 spots at sectionals so the big cities like Houston and Dallas get (1) Winner + (2) Wild Card each year.

    The teams in the city finals will go to sectionals.

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  26. There are 20 teams in 3.5 at Sectionals too, but Houston has not gotten a wild card the last two years. Houston and Dallas do not get automatic wild cards in 4.0. Each city gets one entry "in the hat" for each four teams it has in its league.

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  27. Houston and Dallas do get automatic wild cards in 4.0 based on participation. The other 2-4 wild cards are drawn at random with each city getting more chances based on their participation (it's a lottery).

    Houston 3.5 does not have as good participation as 4.0. I have not looked at the numbers but I would think we really don't distinguish ourselves from other cities.

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  28. Just got an email from Cheryl. Good news! Houston has now gotten a wild card in the men's 4.5 division.

    This makes the city playoffs really wide open and exciting. After tonight I'll try to figure out who has the edge for that second spot (still can't see the Hurricanes NOT making it)

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  29. And Dallas w/ the biggest # of teams gets hosed...

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  30. With Houston having a 4.5 wild card, the playoffs will be more interesting.

    This is where having a smart captain will help the team. I am sure each line up will be discussed in small detail before submission, then second guessed after the match is played.

    Teams with playoff experienced players will have an edge.

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  31. Let's discuss player injuries and how it may affect teams in the different divisions.

    Anyone know of impact players with injuries that may limit or not allow them to play?

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  32. We now know 7 of the 8 4.0 teams and 5 of the 6 4.5 teams.

    In 4.0 it seems like Bear Creek and the Hurricanes are the top 2 teams. 4.5 is not so clear. I'd say Hurricanes are #1 but #2 could easily be any of the remaining 5 teams.

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  33. Why is Bear Creek considered the top team? Not many tourney players and they all just talk shit on the blog under anonymous.

    The only reason that Copperfield is not in first is b/c they had to forfeit a line b/c Joe Lewis pulled a hammy.

    Freeman always brings a solid squad of ringers, but Bear Creek hasn't been to city EVER.

    Put them under a little pressure out at Lee Leclear on a Saturday and lets see what happens.

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  34. Poor Safina. She just got killed.

    I think I could at least take a single game.....

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  35. Bear Creek is the top team. All of those unknowns are 4.5 players or above.

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  36. no you couldn't Chris, quit dreaming

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  37. Bear Creek has a couple of players that are deadly and could beat any 4.0s out there. Copperfield had their shot to show how great they are and didn't rise to the occasion.

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  38. Well if Joe Lewis pulled a hammy then he is not conditioned to win. In Houston weather; it not your weapon or strokes but your stamina/mentals to endure the heats. HTA shuffling of teams around the division to give some underdog team a chance for playoff. I say they are just lamb for the slay during playoff. (hint hint: bearcreek).

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  39. Last year people were saying the same things about Siennas. "Easy Division". We will see.

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  40. Chris would pull a hammy in warm up against Venus

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  41. Bear Creek took care of business! Copperfield stop crying you guys lost!

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  42. Probably, maybe she could help me out with the pain afterwards.....

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  43. Lance Loken thinks his team is the shit. Can't wait to see Sam Ahn playing singles on Saturday afternoon. Paramedics!!!!!!

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  44. love that Houston gets the wild card in 4.5. Didn't y'all screw that up last year.

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  45. Sound like someone in Dallas that know he can't beat Branch. Houston team cancel (on time) last year but Austin took place.

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  46. none of this matters. Austin is going to win and go to Vegas. Go Austin!!!

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  47. Huge crowd out to watch Miguel and Sarosh. All of the Deucebags, Hurricanes and Sugar Creek are out there. Even Charlie and Ann Smith made a trip out to check out the drama.

    Didn't make it out there, but got the play-by-play from Red: Miguel took Sarosh down by a 10-7 count.

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