WSEM and the Johnny III Truckers have parted ways. Their guys had second thoughts about committing to the drive from Linden and West Bloomfield, and after considering a couple possibilities to minimize their mileage we were incapable of coming to an agreement on a solution that was in both of our best interests. WSEM is not comfortable splitting the league into divisions in our inaugural season: we want each team to play a schedule with the same competition, get the same experience, and most importantly develop a comradery and unity across the league. Dividing the league before everyone has that experience with our game would run the very real risk of the two divisions beginning to call rules differently, skew the game play in different ways, and result in the the divisions growing apart from each other... quite literally "dividing" the league. We did consider expanding to 10 teams, to accommodate the northern teams with more series close to home, and some southern teams offered to play a couple series up there to bring their mileage even lower.
Our final decision to stick with the 8 team, 28 game* season, and 3-round playoff came because that plan has been carefully put together since November, checking with other leagues around the country, and has been determined to be the most viable format for a first year league to be successful. To change our game plan this close to preseason activities would be a rash, impulsive decision that would result in confusion, likely mistakes, and a detrimental experience that would be unfair to those of you who have committed to playing with us this year, and those of you who have been wiffling with us over the last two years. Giving you players the best wiffleball playing experience we can is our first priority. Now, that the 8th team slot is open again, filling that team slot is not a move we can afford to make in an act of desperation; it must be a move that improves the quality and competition of Wiffle in Southeast Michigan.
* The number of games may be adjusted at the winter meeting, based on a vote of the players after.
