Forfeits, postponements and rapidly running out of summer
Unfortunately in British Baseball, forfeits are part and parcel of having so few teams spread so far and wide across the country. But few expect that at the top level of the game in the UK for forfeits to take place.
Yet they do, because like other clubs, teams in the NBL have responsibilities outside of baseball. And with two of the ten teams based at military airfields, when work comes calling it’s often very difficult to try to change shifts, the punishment likely ending up being a Court Martial!
The Lakenheath Diamondbacks had to forfeit their matches against the Southampton Mustangs this weekend. There were playoff connotations here; the Diamondbacks will almost certainly win Pool B, but Pool A now becomes a little tighter between the Mustangs and Richmond Flames. What the reasons for the forfeit are, only a few people will know, although it is the longest journey any team has to make in the NBL.
And in AAA South, the Richmond Knights had to pull out of their trip to the Essex Redbacks, the second time the Knights have forfeited a weekend this year.
Forfeits automatically hand a one-run-per-inning loss (either 7-0 or 9-0 depending on whether it was a double-header or single game) to the side unable to complete their tie. In addition, for every two forfeits, a win is deducted; the 7-0 or 9-0 scorelines would otherwise seem appetising in divisions where matches routinely end up 22-8 or worse. And determining the final position between teams with tied records first comes down to forfeits they have had in the season before then looking at the runs conceded throughout the year, rather than the other way around.
So with that in mind, the Lakenheath Diamondbacks now drop to 14-5 for the season, with the London Mets and Southern Nationals each having six and four games in hand respectively. Should results go their ways, Pool B again becomes interesting, although you would still have to fancy the Diamondbacks to win the league with so few weekends available to play baseball remaining.
Similarly, in AAA South, the Bristol Badgers and London Metros won’t complete their full schedule in 2011 as they have 12 and 11 games left to play with four weekends available. The Essex Redbacks and Oxford Kings are set to take advantage having got their games in through the season.
AA South sees more forfeits than most divisions – double-headers for teams with smaller rosters often become difficult to fulfil, especially on long journeys, meaning the true strength of the leagues is hard to determine. However, the Croydon Pirates and Latin Boys will represent Pool A in the playoffs, while it’s still all to play for in Pool B.
And the London Marauders and Old Timers will finish second to the Southampton Mustangs II and Cambridge Royals in single-A after the Royals beat the Guildford Mavericks II 7-3 on Sunday in the tightest game in the division all season. Every team will complete their schedule in the bottom league.
As will the teams in AAA North, AA North and AA Midlands, as the travelling and double headers have only taken the toll on the Menwith Hill Patriots, who had to concede their position in the league rather than continue to forfeit.