Does ANYONE know the format of the 4.0 playoffs? I tried to search the HTA website, but that always seems like a fruitless endeavor for me. Early in the year, someone told me that there would be two wild card teams, based on percentage (of lines won? of games won?).
Anyway, one of the more interesting results from last night was the Unicorns 3-2 win over a bad Sugar Creek team. One of the Unicorn lines lost was due to retirement. With the Hurricanes' 5-0 win over Chancellor's last night, the Unicorns are most likely competing for a Wild Card spot, and still have a tough match with Chancellor's on the schedule.
Teams in the hunt for the Wild Card right now include:
Shock n Awe 21-4
Thors 19-6
JCC Dudes 19-11
WS Warriors 25-10
Unicorns 24-11
Chancellor's 23-12
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Pretty sure the format for 4.0 is this (no guarantees):
ReplyDelete- 8 teams in the playoffs, divided into two round-robin flights of 4 teams each
- the 8 teams will be the 5 flight winners, plus 3 wild cards
- the 3 wild card teams will be the second-place teams who have the highest percentage of lines won
Yes a searchable HTA website would sure be nice...
Thanks. However, aren't there 6 4.0 divisions? That would leave only 2 wild cards in an 8 team playoff format.
ReplyDeleteoops numbers never were my strong suit. You're right, 6 winners and 2 wild cards.
DeleteDoes that mean the Hurricanes lost last night and that is an issue?
Delete4.0 won. 4.5 match with Seinna will be reported in December so that nobody notices.
DeleteNow what will the scores be? Does Freeman report tanking scores for Sienna or close scores for the Hurricanes? Is he already planning for next year or still trying to make a run this year?
DeleteIs that Phil talking or Unicorns talking? We all already know Hurricanes will have to beat Gooder Guys to advance in 4.5. No one can stop Hurricanes 4.0 this year.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Hurricane homer (and also a pessimist) but I don't think any of the 4.0, 4.5 or 5.0 versions of the Hurricanes have much of a chance to make a big impact at Sectionals this year even if they do get there.
DeleteAs a Dallas player, I can tell you we have nothing either, This may be a year Austin, San Antonio or some other city breaks through. Fort Worth has more than Dallas
DeleteEven if Houston and Dallas are a notch below their usual standards, that's still a notch or two above most other places. There are a couple of dark horses in 4.0 this year however. Corpus Christi has two unbeatable singles lines, at least in Corpus. One is a current super champ, who has turned in virtually identical scores every match. San Antonio (Blossom) was a semifinalist last year, and picked up a couple of ringers from the Laredo tankers last year, and fired their captain. Both of these teams, as well as the best from Dallas and Houston should be in the mix.
Deletehow do they have a current super eligible for 4.0?
DeleteI can assure you Dallas is not very good. They are mediocre at best. Fort Worth is the actual Dallas team to beat.
DeleteI'm sticking with my Austin pick in 4.0. Fort Worth 4.5 league is interesting. Two really good teams ended in a virtual tie. They each have 25 players on their roster. I have no idea what the playoff format is in Fort Worth.
Delete@9:09-Dallas 4.5 has JCC. This team is pretty good. They are on par with Fort Worth. As for 4.0, Dallas is pathetic and I mean pathetic. They have been that way for about three years.
DeleteJust looked at the 40s rosters and teams. I'm not 40 so not sure why I care but it appears the season starts Monday and almost no teams have a full roster. From. My 40 year old friends, are they putting the season off or something? Some teams have zero players on their roster.
ReplyDeleteNice work HTA
You're not kidding. Some have zero on their roster. Even the great Hurricanes only have four. This league just needs to go away and the USTA needs admit it made a horrible decision.
DeleteHurricanes have 8. Aces & Spinners of LLTC have ZERO players while Ace & Spinners of a Sugar Creek have a big roster... Hmmm, I wonder if the HTA realizes they screwed that one up pretty bad? I can't believe the HTA can really be this stupid. Every time I think they have reached the bottom, they prove me wrong.
DeleteI'm not sure if the timing of the Leagues works that well. I don't think they should run concurrently with Men's League (and Mixed). It's a lot to ask of family men to give up 2 or 3 nights a week for League play.
DeleteGood point but since when did the HTA care about the players? They are so busy trying to keep the best teams in the same flights and finding ways to make life easier on themselves.
DeletePutting those teams in the same flight was all Freddie's doing with Harold's help.
DeleteHas anyone from the HTA came up with an explanation how the flights were made? It is ridiculous. Do they think they will somehow make it to a nationals? Or are they happy with a chance at a wildcard to sectionals?
DeleteThey still aren't good enough. I hate all of this socialist league BS. First the ridiculous new move up/split up rule and then the local leagues try to lump the best teams together.
DeleteHey, how good are self-rates Paul Kasal and Ignacio Sturla for Westside? Kasal's junior record doesn't look that impressive and he hasn't played any heavyweights yet. Sturla looks to be from Argentina...I'm guessing he's a clay court type?
ReplyDeleteKasal is solid but beatable. Haven't seen Sturla but South American self rates are usually pretty good.
DeleteEvery foreigner that self rates at 4.5 or higher is usually good. If they play for the Hurricanes, it is really ridiculous.
DeleteDoes anyone know how many playoff teams for 4.5?
ReplyDeleteNobody knows anything about the playoffs. What a joke.
DeleteIt is the HTA. Have they ever been helpful?
DeleteDepends on your team name. They help their own teams often.
DeleteWho won last night Sugar Creek vs. Little Balls?
ReplyDeleteSC won 3-2
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised it was that close. Yellow balls is awful.
DeleteThat must be a really crappy division since YB only had one loss going into the match - and that was losing to the Hurricanes 3-2 in their first match of the season.
DeleteLooks like Ronnie Kwan decided to show up after all. Of course he tanked his match 3-6, 1-6. Way to go Ronnie, just a matter of time for you to get bumped down!
ReplyDeleteRonnie shouldn't be 4.5. I'm not sure why Freeman takes him on his 4.0 teams much less him competing at 4.5.
DeleteHe gets Freeman the Asian connection.
DeleteRonnie is no good but his son was a SuperChamp. Sometimes you got to recruit the Dad to get the son. See Ed and Danny Manning.
DeleteAhhhh, the family plan.
DeleteThose losses are probably for real if he is that bad.
DeleteHis probably are but his son's losses aren't real.
DeleteWho are these guys? I looked them up and their record sucks and they are on a suck team, in last place. I see that Ronnie played dubs with Rochelle. Have you seen this guy play? Ugly tennis. I don't think anyone could have won with Rochelle. Neither of them should be playing 4.5. How did this happen? Lets move on and talk playoffs.
DeleteSuck team in last place usually means tank team trying to get back down.
DeleteThey are not in last place any longer.
DeleteAny predictions on 4.0 wildcards?
ReplyDeleteWon't be Chancellors or Unicorns. Freddy guaranteed that.
DeleteI looked up the teams and it looks like Copperfield Shock and Awe and Westside Warriors have the highest chance of getting the two spots.
DeleteUnicorns or Chancellors COULD clinch the 2nd place wildcard spot if one team wins 4-5 lines vs the other in their final week and Warriors under perform slightly.
Total bullshit the way they did the flights.
DeleteNot so bad if you just beat all your opponents.
DeleteHillbilly Numbers Guy MF Kerig had something to do with it also.
DeleteHahaha! Looks like someone is a little touchy. If Hillbilly can get you off, then you must have been beaten pretty badly from all the Asian boys from 3.5 and up.
ReplyDeleteWhat logic is that, which Asian team won. Your probably one of the bench bitches crying about being in the wrong division instead of winning.
ReplyDeletelooks like westside and jcc dudes shit the bed last night. looks like chancellors or the unicorns is going to get a wildcard.
ReplyDeleteNot so sure. Westside kept it close and has an easy one left. I think it's individual lines not team matches that count so the wild card is:
DeleteLakeside 27-8
Unicorns 29-11
Westside 32-13
Chancellors 31-14
Cobra Kai 24-16
HRC 29-16
Pin Oak 28-17
If you assume remaining matches have the same results as the original matchups, then the standings are:
Lakeside 32-8
Westside 37-13
Unicorns 35-15
Chancellors 34-16
HRC 33-17
Pin Oak 32-18
Cobra Kai 27-23
I think chancellors is screwed no matter how you slice it. Unicorns still have a small chance with only 11 losses. But they'll need to sweep sienna this time (possible) and win 4-1 vs Chancellors (tough).
Next tie breaker is maybe games. Last time out westside lost only 8 games total for all 5 lines vs their final opponent. I don't think Unicorns will win that tie breaker.
Another factor could be westside has 1 win by default (5/15) and 1 win by dq (4/24). Do these count?
If not then with only 2 Unicorn losses they would be ahead of westside at 37-13 vs 35-13.
Individual defaults count, it's only full-team defaults that don't count. Have there been any full-team defaults yet this season?
DeleteUnicorns swept sienna
ReplyDeletego corns!
DeleteSienna got cornholed
DeleteWho won the big match last night hurricane vs sugar creek
ReplyDeleteHurricanes 4.5: How is Ryan Vogl 4.5 computer rated? Played for Tech recently. Appeal people. http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-tennis/mtt/vogl_ryan00.html
ReplyDeleteAppeal what? I hate when people post and they have NO clue what they are talking about.. Ryan Vogl has had a 4.5 rating for years now. Way before he got to Houston.
DeleteBesides, pretty sure you mean grievance. If his appeal was granted, he would be a 4.0.
DeleteCan you imagine the teeth gnashing if he appealed to 4.0?
DeleteThanks Hillbilly Numbers Guy Phil Kerig
DeleteYes thanks again Hillbilly.
DeleteHillbilly!
ReplyDeletebig playoff implications tonight in 4.0 for chancellors and unicorns. projecting a 4-1 win for unicorns assuming there A lineup shows up.
ReplyDeleteAceKings don't lose at home. Bet the farm.
ReplyDeleteLost to the Hurricanes...
DeleteThats true i forgot it was at chancellors which give them a bid advantage. Still think the unicorns will win just probably 3-2 now.
ReplyDeleteIs wild card based on percentage of lines won?
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have calculated, only the 2nd wild card is up for grabs between Westside Warriros and Unicorns. I don't think Chancellors has much of a shot of making the 2nd wild card.
I have Warriors at 32-13 (71.11%), and they will probably win 5-0 for 74% or 4-1 for 72% in tonight's match.
Unicorns and Chancellors I have at 34-11 (75.56%) and 31-14 (68.89%) respectively. If Unicorns win 3-2, they are at 74% which ties if Warriors go 5-0. If Unicorns win 4-1 or better, I don't see any way Warriors can catch up. That said, I think this match will be extremely close and it will fall 3-2 to one team most likely.
Westside is screwed. The Corn Holers brought out the broom tonight.
DeleteChancellor's captain is a scrub.
ReplyDelete-FatTwat
hurricanes and unicorns got out of there division. The rest of the houston area will get the hammer. Write these two teams a check to sectionals. If they can beat chancellors 5-0 and 4-1 respectively. no other team has a chance.
ReplyDeleteWho are these new player's on the Hurricanes?
ReplyDeleteYou have to admit that Freeman always find a way to recruit good talent. He added 3 self-rates.
DeleteAlexis Narvaez, Colin Hodge and Biola Kuku. Looks like he is adding some younger talent to the middle age team. Hope the young guys will pan out.
Biola Kuku looks interesting. He is beating up on some solid 4.5 in tournaments. He must be one of the ringers. Too obvious that he self-rated well below his talent.
DeleteThe new 4.5 guy is more interesting.
DeleteIf they do the playoffs the same way they did last year then it appears the 4.0 and 4.5 playoff teams are set.
ReplyDelete4.0
Division I - Copperfield
Division II - CR Comets
Division III - Thors
Division IV - The Good Guys
Division V - Ace N Spinners
Division VI - Hurricanes
Wild Card 1 - Lakeside
Wild Card 2 - Unicorns
4.5
Division I - Westside
Division II - The Good-er Guys
Division III - Hurricanes
WC - Sugar Creek
Who won the match?
ReplyDeleteSo what scores do we expect to be made up for the Hurricanes and Sienna?
ReplyDeleteWhat does it even matter? They will be first no matter what and Unicorns have already locked in the wildcard as well.
DeleteGet over it hillbilly
DeleteSpeaking of getting over it...
DeleteWhen does the official format for playoffs come out? How come only 4 teams in 4.5?
DeleteI know one thing, they won't come out until all contending teams have reported their scores.
DeleteNot reporting scores seems to be a strategy nowadays. Don't know why.
Delete8 team playoff for 4.5 this year gentlemen
ReplyDeleteHuh? Details please.
DeleteWhat happened to Htownhacker? He disappear?
Just speculations/rumors; but HTA is contemplating an 8 teams round-robin CWP for both 4.5 and 4.0; what other details do you need?
DeleteThey won't do 8 team round robins.
DeleteThey would complain about the ball costs.
Deletebefore reporting scores in Chancellors 4.0 is having a pow-wow with HTA President and member Jeff Lin on what scores they need for wildcard. causing the non reporting
ReplyDeleteDoes it matter? Chancellors lost 4-1.
DeleteOutlandish statement
ReplyDeleteTrue statement. Why do you think Asian teams don't report scores.
ReplyDeleteDon't think its about the race... Hurricanes and other teams when they are in the hunt for playoffs do the same.
ReplyDeleteYou got that right hillbilly!
DeleteHurricanes 4.5 reports the Sienna scores... Very convenient scores for former Hurricanes that play for Sienna.. Looks like he is getting his 4.0s ready for next year.
ReplyDeleteIt's possible, but that's a pretty strong Hurricane lineup. I wouldn't be surprised if those were accurate.
DeleteI wouldn't be surprised if you weren't a Hurricane or named Jason Freeman. 4.5 Hurricanes playing former and son to be 4.0 Hurricanes with those scores creates some healthy skepticism.
DeleteI've seen all 8 of these guys play, and these two matches shouldn't be overly competitive.
DeleteKwan & Inting vs Baer & Yamaguchi
Rizzari & Boarman vs Waters & Tam
I've known all 8 for a while and not playing those matches is also very likely.
DeleteInting has been injured. Recently had knee or something surgery. At least he is trying to play and not get fat like many of you on this blog.
DeleteYou missed the point. If he is in Europe, he didn't actually play. I hope you're not a brain surgeon.
DeleteHe operated on himself.
DeleteThe Sienna match against The Yellow Balls is so phony.
ReplyDeleteI agree, while the Hurricane one looks possible the yellow balls one is almost certainly fabricated.
DeleteWasn't Bruce Inting in England for Wimbledon on the day this match was suppose to take place?
Inting was in England for the Yellow Balls match and Paris for the Hurricane's match.
DeleteSienna's captain is a fool...Tuan Tran playing singles, we know that's a joke.
DeleteI need to hang out with Inting if he is really at all these slams. Does the guy work?
DeleteSomeone has issues with Sienna. Goodness, get over it. Lets talk about playoffs.
DeleteIf you can prove Sienna v Hurricanes didn't take place or that it took place earlier then I believe Hurricane self rate Aleksa Milojica would not have sufficient matches to qualify for the playoffs.
DeleteAdditionally perhaps there are penalties if you can prove a team is fabricating match scores?
Father of the Year Ronny Kwan isn't the sharpest tool in the shed.
DeleteTuan is actually a good singles player...
Deleteyep, he will sprint sideline to sideline if there are buffet tables on both sides.
DeleteLittle balls strikes again.
ReplyDeleteSomeone also has issues with Tuan. Get over it. This is recreational tennis, what we do to relax.
DeleteI agree, let's talk about the playoffs. Is the schedule out yet?
DeleteNice subject deflection.
DeleteIt doesn't matter if those guys get bumped down to 4.0. Most of them will be riding the pine come playoffs.
ReplyDeleteNo kidding
DeleteCity Wide Playoffs will now include 12 teams.
ReplyDeleteLee LeClear Ace N Spinners
Memorial Park Thors
Copperfield Shock n Awe
Cinco Ranch Westside Comets
Lee LeClear Hurricanes
Memorial Park The Good Guys
Lakeside CC
Westside 4.0 Warriors
Lee LeClear Unicorns
Pin Oak Falcons
Memorial Park Cobra Kai
Jewish Community Center Dude
Chancellors are at least as good as most of that group. Thanks HTA for keeping the best teams together. Hate the HTA.
DeleteFuck you Kerig
DeleteGet over it Chancellors, if you didn't get out of your division you didn't deserve it.
DeleteWe get out of all other flight.
DeleteWhat happens when you get out of the other flights? We already know there's 2 teams in the playoffs that will defeat you. You had your shot and blew it. Time to let the other teams have their chance.
DeleteChancellor's did split with the Unicorns. I don't think there's much doubt that they got screwed.
Delete4.0 playoff flights are out. Four flights of 3 teams each.
ReplyDeleteFreddy lost in 40s to a bottom feeder team? Bwahahahahaha
ReplyDeleteCouldn't happen to a nicer guy.
DeleteSo other than Unicorns/Hurricane's who's got a shot in 4.0's?
ReplyDeleteHere's how I'd rank them:
1) Hurricanes - yeah, done deal
2) Unicorns - Put Mohan back in singles and I think you take sectionals this year. With him in doubles it's a coin flip.
3) Thors - This is my sleeper pick, watch out unicorns - this team isn't as bad as it looks. As a team the average here is pretty poor. But it looks to me like a team where the lower end players are pretty bad and the quality of their best players is actually pretty good. Cathcart/Moon/Peterich/Kelvin/Steinfeld all make for competitive matches. Cathcart may be the #1 doubles player in the playoffs. If Freddy's boys have a good day and Unicorns don't bring it then it could happen.
4) Copperfield - Seems to have one good singles player - John Flores. He's good enough to be competitive with most of Hurricane/Unicorn singles guys, but not sure he'd be favored. I don't see their S2 being competitive at all. Their top doubles isn't too spectacular either, but they are able to put out 3 lines at roughly the same level. I think this gets close 3-2 wins vs most opponents, but they probably lose about 4-1 or 5-0 vs unicorns or hurricanes.
5) Good Guys - Your team's not bad. But it's the same as last year and that didn't work. Maybe they were missing some guys for playoffs last year that hurt their chances. Should be a good match with copperfield, I see that one going either way. X factor here has to be the sandwich blaster, but I think he gave up on making the ATP tour and instead started focusing on his Rapping career so his form is probably poor. But the blaster brings the emotional leadership the team needs - solid for line 3 dubs.
6) Lakeside - Looks pretty similar to the old lineup they've proven for several season now won't make it out of city playoffs. Not a bad team, just not great. No answer to good singles and doubles isn't strong enough at top lines but deep.
7) Ace N Spinners - Pretty nice record. Scrappy team, with not so traditional style. Dangerous match up for lakeside for sure, but not so much for the top teams.
8) Cinco Ranch - Come back next year when you have some singles players. Seem to fall apart around line 3 doubles as well.
9) JCC - Good news, you won a lot of matches 3-2 in regular play. Bad news, playoffs is full of better players and none of the matches are indoors. Probably get a line here or there, but nothing to worry about.
10) Westside - Well, you made the playoffs! But you got a bitch of a draw. Team isn't horrendous, but not competitive in their flight.
11) Pin Oak - You made it to the city playoffs! Bye now.
12) Cobra Kai - I thought pin oak was the worst until I saw your team.
12) Cobra Kai - I thought pin oak was the worst until I saw your team.
DeleteLMFAO
Maybe a new blogger? This guys got humour
DeleteHere's my rankings for the 4.5 playoffs.
ReplyDelete1. Hurricanes - At the start of the season I thought it was finally time to pass the city champion onto the GGs, but I think late season recruiting for the Canes got them over the hump. GGs didn't add anyone and Cane's picked up a few all-stars. I think with a lineup like this, Canes split singles 1-1 with GGs and take 2 of 3 in doubles:
S1 - Waters
S2 - Milojica
D1 - Tam/Vogl
D2 - Baer/Morris
D3 - Mertz/Foster
2. Good-er Guys - They won their division handily, and are the team to beat in their half of the playoffs but they have some problems. For starters, they don't have a very large lineup. If anyone's out of town they start running into problems pretty quick. Marnitz + Brice/Hirvela makes for 2 pretty scary lines - not unbeatable, but tough for other captains to go straight at them. After that I guess you put Shroff in singles and maybe Reneberg/Farmer + Rodriguez/Cabato in doubles? They need players to step up and strong captaining that gets them favorable match-ups. Should be a couple of tight ones with both Canes and Titans, I'd love to watch Waters v Marnitz and Brice/Hirvela v Tam/Vogl. I think singles parity is large enough that they don't have a lot to worry about vs Hulks or Yellow Balls.
3. Titans - One of the keys to success here is getting Ford good match-ups. He got killed by Marnitz and Waters in the last few outings, but has torn through a lot of other very tough competition. Day/Burmann is formidable, as is Marco/Wedderburn. Nguyen is tough and versatile. I still like the GG/Cane all-stars over the Titan all-stars. Titans are strong enough to take both their division and the city championships, but like the GGs will need strong outings and good match-ups. Seems like they are about 1 singles player away from winning it all.
4. Westside - Questions in singles. Not sure how strong Sturla is or if the self rate will hold if he is really good. Maybe something like Sturla & Kasal in singles with Dasprez/Schoeman, Western/Oliva, and Hale/Jordan in doubles? Mixing in Western/Schoeman in singles. Dangerous, but not favored.
5. Yellow Balls - I guess Tuan is playing singles now? Sounds...well unsustainable. This team has found a way to win a lot of 3-2 matches in close tie-breaker situations. I don't see them pushing it that far vs the top teams though. I think they put out their best lineup (something like the deucebags lineup + work Hedge in there) vs GGs but lose because of lack of talent 4-1 or 5-0. After that I think everyone gets playing time and they end up less competitive and probably lose all their matches. If they played the Hulks first, I think it's a match they'd win. Good season and something to build on.
6. Hulks - They brought out their best lineup vs GGs 2x and lost 5-0 both times. I see both the Titans and GGs matches going that way again. Close one vs YBs but 3rd in the division isn't close enough for Freddy to 'expand' the competitors to allow they to move on. Freddy's getting there in 4.0, but still a ways off talent-wise for a competitive 4.5 team.
7. Deucebags - a 4-4 team made the playoffs? What's next, we're the NBA and a team with a losing record gets in? Cane's beat them 5-0 first time out, but there was a lot of close matches. I liken them to the Hawks, might make it interesting but not interesting enough to get the job done. Will give westside trouble.
8. Gypsies - Good news, you were in a weak division and made the playoffs. More good news, one time you kept it close with Westside and only lost 3-2! But bad news - that was because one of their lines didn't show up and 3 of 4 lines were slaughters. Since the other teams will almost certainly field 5 lines every time in the playoffs that's going to make it tough to get to the level of 'close losses'. Even though your matches will likely be short, remember to lock your cars your Williamsburg moxy doesn't carry much weight in the ghettos around LLTC.
Excellent previews of both 4.0 and 4.5. If you'd like to do this professionally, email me at houstonleaguetennis@gmail.com. You will receive the same salary that I do and I will promise anonymity if you so desire.
DeleteI agree with Brandon Mei, no one thought Yellow Balls would make the playoffs. They are a .500 team at best. This goes for Westside, Hulk, and Deucebags too.
ReplyDeleteI like a bigger playoffs. Mo' Tennis = Mo' Fun.
DeleteLooks like Hunter Lee Emmott found his game just in time for playoffs. I sure am glad to see he will be alright when all of those regular season pedestrian results had me worried.
ReplyDeleteIt was only going to take time to find his strokes. He may not move as well as before but he still has his pounding forehand. Great job Freeman and Emmott to get him appealed down to 4.0!
DeleteI have an idea. Hit it to his backhand.
DeleteDo you really think a backhand bothers a former 6.0 player?
Delete^^^ Good point. Nothing like a national top 50 player playing 4.0. And he ain't 60.
DeleteAnybody who thinks he tanked the match he lost is crazy. Hurricanes needed that one.
Delete4.5 playoffs results are as expected. the bottom feeders all lost 4 to1. yellow balls, deucebags, gypsies, and hulk
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if Houston got a wildcard for the 4.5 division?
ReplyDeletePretty sure they do.
DeleteDespite this blog's precipitous decline in traffic, this post is now the third most viewed in blog history.
ReplyDeleteIt helps when you don't put up a new post for a month and a half, I guess.