Episode 1 - Let's Get It Started

Episode 1 is hosted by Emad Ahmed with guests Riyad and Faisal to discuss the draft and early parts of the season.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:04

As salamu wa alaikum warahmatullahi wa barakatu. We are live for the new season of the Brotherhood Softball League. Welcome everybody to the first episode of this season's podcast. I am your host, Imad Ahmed, and joined by me, we have fellow longtime Brotherhood veterans Riyad Ramjan and Fessil Khan. Salam alaikum boys. How's it going?

SPEAKER_00 0:32

Doing well.

SPEAKER_02 0:34

Amazing. We've got lots planned today on our agenda. We're going to do a little bit of administrative talk and talk a lot about the draft and do some analysis of all these different teams. But first things first, we gotta introduce our sponsor. The first episode sponsor is Human Appeal. Human Appeal is our league charity, and all proceeds from the league will be given to BSL's campaign towards Human Appeal. Visit launchka.com slash BSL Ramadan26 for more information on our campaign. Human Appeal is a fantastic charity. Very happy to be partnering up with them this year. And uh guys, like how's it going? It's it's been it's been a few months. We haven't talked. I just want to see how you guys are feeling going into the new year. Ree, we'll start with you.

SPEAKER_01 1:14

Alhamdulillah, it's good. It's uh it's just it's crazy to know that the the the league starts this weekend, right? With the exhibition games. So looking forward to that, just being out there with with the brothers and um hopefully we all have a good season.

SPEAKER_00 1:29

Inshallah, inshallah, Faye any words before we start? Yeah, you know what? Once once the the weather starts to get better, you get the itch, right? Softball, you know, it's it's in our blood now. We we can't wait for this time of the year. So absolutely excited for this year. Um, inshallah, we start our preseason on on Sunday, as Riyadh mentioned, and you know, really looking forward to a fun season.

SPEAKER_02 1:51

Inshallah, hopefully it's gonna be a really, really good season. We'll get into the meat of draft day and uh all the different picks in the team analysis very, very soon. But we want to talk a little bit about the administrative things first. Uh Faye and Ree are both on the management and operations team for Brotherhood, so they have some things to add. Ree, I want to give the floor to you. Tell us about some of the uh you know updates from the operation side. Are there any changes, any changes to the season or things to look forward to this season? Give me the whole scoop and rundown.

SPEAKER_01 2:21

Yeah, so um not much has changed. Um uh the timing is gonna be the same. Um, the two diamonds. Um one of the big changes that we are doing though is the new pitch pinch runner for the pitcher rule. So now with two outs, pitchers will get a courtesy that doesn't count against the team courtesies. Um, that courtesy player will be the last uh person out. Um, and this is only if the pitcher wants it, but uh we are giving that option to pitchers. Um, we do promote safety, so pitchers do gear up a little bit more, so it does take time. So to kind of speed up the game as well, that's gonna be one of the big changes. Um, and then then the the last big change is the uh updated playoff schedule. So typically on the championship Sunday, the uh the team from the loser bracket has to play a game in the morning, and then they go on to play potentially two games against the team from the winning bracket, so the totals three games for them. Um that seemed like a daunting task. We we've ran it two years now. Um, we see that that team does get gassed out. So um the championship will be determined by the Saturday now, and uh two teams will go in fresh on the Sunday to play for the championship. So that's a big change. Um, and that's it, those are the two big changes. Uh, in terms of updates, um, we are running uh the VSL Fantasy. Um, so if anybody hasn't signed up yet, please do so. We have some great prizes. We have 17 prizes in total this year. Um, I think there's five bats, um about 20 almost $2,500 worth of prizes. So please join. Anybody who does join will get a custom BSL towel. Um, and then the last update is uh one everybody loves free food. Uh yes, I will be providing uh free food for the first five weeks this year. We love that of the season. So we're gonna go straight into right up until the mid-season break, and then we'll also have free food the week after, and then that'll take us right into the summer. So amazing. Those are the updates.

SPEAKER_00 4:35

Yeah, that that fantasy pool, these prizes are unbelievable, man. Just like when you look at it, first of all, you know, Peak Health gifts gift certificate. Um, you know, the great guys out there at Peak, uh Blue J tickets, bats, even a wall clipper, like hair clippers. Like, this is this is a great set of prizes, man. Great, great job on this.

SPEAKER_01 4:53

Yeah, and and uh and uh yeah, shout out to all our sponsors, uh Ali Hadi from Peak Health, uh helping us out. Um I'm I'm not 100% sure, but I I'm almost certain I know where that wall buzzer comes from. Uh faded by Reese um company.

SPEAKER_00 5:09

Um good man.

SPEAKER_01 5:11

Um shoppers drug smart, human appeal, and then uh just the operations team. We uh we just made sure that we had a lot of prizes this year. Um, so yeah, thank you all who uh helped out.

SPEAKER_00 5:26

Shout out to Kalala for the Blue Jay tickets, too, man. He's keeping it going. Yep.

SPEAKER_02 5:32

Shout out to all the sponsors. We're gonna give them plenty of air time this season on the podcast and throughout our social media posts and whatnot. Now I want to get into the nitty-gritty, uh, probably what everybody is here to listen uh this podcast, this episode of the podcast podcast for. Uh, we're gonna talk about the draft. First of all, how was draft day? I actually wasn't there for the first time in many years. I was traveling, but uh I'm sure you guys graced your presence there being GMs. Uh, how was it? What were the vibes like? Tell me about it, and uh, you know, relieve some of my FOMO.

SPEAKER_00 6:03

We're we're gonna we're gonna give you some more FOMO. You know what? The the vibe was actually great. Like I I think you know, the the brothers all getting together, everybody, you know, you may not have chat had a chance to see each other throughout the year. Uh and it was really nice to to see all the guys, the vibe. Again, you know, we had Masraari, so the free food was there. Um, there was some excitement in the air. Like it was, it was it was a good time. It was a it was um it was a great draft. I actually really enjoyed going to it this year.

SPEAKER_01 6:28

Amazing. The draft is always fun. It creates such uh excitement and buzz. Um, and just seeing everybody is just so much fun.

SPEAKER_02 6:39

That's amazing. And um let's let's talk a little bit about your GM experience. Both you guys are GMs. Uh obviously, Riyadh, you're the GM for the Muggles. Fessel, you're the GM for the Sultans. Um, what were your strategies kind of going into the draft fessel? We'll start with you. You had the first pick, um, you had back-to-back picks in several rounds. Uh, give us like give us your thoughts that the draft was very, very deep this year. Um, so some guys went early, some guys went late. And and I just want to hear a little bit about your strategies, uh, Fessel, man. Amy.

SPEAKER_00 7:09

Yeah, man. So, you know, it with the with the first pick overall, I mean, obviously you're getting a stud, but it it's such a it's such a hard thing because you gotta play you got you gotta play for uh pick 16 and 17, right? Like that that's your next pick. So ultimately you're getting you know one of the best players um in that first pick. And by no means was there one single player that came to mind about that first pick, right? Like, you know, you look at uh Hamid Shabir, you look at Jabron, you look at Fasil Said. Um, you know, these are all natural first overall picks, right? But you know, when I look at Amir Uskri, he's he's the human cheat code. You know, we've we've been family friends for God knows how long. We played in basketball tournaments together, uh, we know we've we've done a bunch of things, but we've never really played softball together. So for me, that was my natural choice, you know, just being someone that who I've known for so long and just the the absolute athletic athleticism and skill set that this guy carries. Um, you know, he he was that natural first pick for me. But it's like then you got to wait 16 picks, right? You see so many good brothers coming off the board, right? Pitchers, outfielders, uh infielders. And you know, like as they come off, you you know, the that plan that you had, who you thought you were gonna get at 16 or 17 goes out the window, right? And when when that 15th pick is there and you're sitting at 16, 17, you're just thinking, holy crap, like what am I gonna do here? Like, who am I gonna take? And you know, at 16, for me to get somebody like uh Rahan Ahmed was fantastic. Like the season this guy had last year was outstanding, right?

SPEAKER_02 8:41

Like this dude's an MVP, so on on the card, he's a first he's a first overall pick on paper, right? And you got him at the end of the second round, which is absolutely insane. I do not know why Rahan keeps going late. I think he is just a stud. Uh, and it just boggles my mind. Like he proves us wrong every single year that he is an MVP, he's one of the best hitters in the league, one of the best pitchers in the league, and he should be going a lot earlier. And congratulations on making a fantastic pick, man.

SPEAKER_00 9:09

Yeah, getting him at pick 16 was was was awesome. Like that would that was a no-doubter. I actually didn't think he would be there, right? But for him to be there at 16, like that that's a no-doubter. He's a team guy, right? He's a guy that you want there. And then you talk about the the back-to-back pick, and what do I do there? Um, you know, I've I've only been a GM for uh for a few years, but having uh Umer on my team that that first year was was a blessing. Like, what a good individual, what a what a what a kind heart and what an athlete, right? Having him in the outfield that first year, um, you know, playing with Suf as well, giving him that guidance, giving him that coaching, uh, and just seeing how he is with everybody and you know his his demeanor and his his personality. He's he's definitely somebody you want on the team. Now, granted, he's not gonna be there for a lot of the season. I mean, Alhamdulillah and Mashallah, he's gonna be going for Hajj. So, you know, great great for him on that. Plus, you know, his obligations in the US. So he'll make the minimum amount of games, maybe a couple more. Um, that's gonna be a big gap for us. But somebody like with that talent going into the playoffs, you definitely want to have him there.

SPEAKER_02 10:09

Yeah, kind of it kind of makes a little bit of sense how he kind of went into the third round. I was I was coming into this with a lot of question marks with with regards to America Jabbar, somebody who has, I think, gone first or second overall in previous drafts before. Um, but seeing him go into the in the third round is just a little bit of a shock. Like, how can you pass up on a guy like that in the third round or whatever? But it makes a lot of sense just because of the attendance uh issues per se, um, which is interesting um to see. The one thing I want to ask, I know you can you can talk a lot about a lot of players on your team, uh and you can keep going and talk about how every single guy is great on your team, but I I have one uh question mark that I have, um, and uh it is Suf. And you picked him fourth, uh fourth round. Um, and I'm just gonna you know throw you in in a little bit of hot water here and and throw you a little bit of curveball. Would you say that you reached a little bit for Sue? I know he's your son, I know you want to play with him, I know you uh like he's a stud in in center and he's got a lot of potential, but you passed up on a lot of uh a lot of guys in terms of you know people who have uh been you know good veterans in the league, previous all-stars, uh guys who have won gold gloves, uh guys who you know have consistently hit well over 550, 600 batting average. What was the kind of the rationale behind uh picking him? Was it a confidence thing? Was it uh you just fully believing in him and his ability, or was it just you have to ride to the games together?

SPEAKER_00 11:38

Carpool is one thing because I told anybody who wanted him, you gotta pick him up. Even if we're playing at the same time, he's not my ride. You either got an arranging an Uber for him, or you gotta pick him up. But look, I'll I'll I'll be honest. Like, uh, so there was one point in time where um where Shamel came over to me and he said, Look, I'm probably gonna take Suf um early. And um scared the crap out of me, right? Because you know, two seasons I played with him, and I love playing with them. You know, this is father and son time. But at the same time, I told any GM, if you want him, go get him, right? If he's available, go get him. Um I and and anybody who's played on my team before knows I draft my team based on defense, right? My defense is what I want to set up. So naturally you got you got the cheat code playing shortstop, or he can go outfield, right, with Amor Escri. Ray, Ray's keeping it infield, but he can also go outfield. But at third, he's he's a gem, right? Then you have Umer, who's who's a part-time outfielder, and I really needed to find somebody who I felt confident with, um, who who can kind of man that left center field, left field position. Um, and I think that's him, right? And and and quite honestly, like you look at the first three guys we picked. We have speed, we have bats, we have defense, uh, and I wanted to include him there. Uh, I had the back-to-back pick there. Um, and you know, I included Sufian and Shaheen. Sheheen's my brother, love playing with him. I'm glad he's part of this squad as well. Uh, but you know what? And some say I may have reached. Uh, he he, in my opinion, he would have gone in in the fifth round. I wouldn't have got him back if if uh if this came back.

SPEAKER_01 13:09

I would have taken him.

SPEAKER_00 13:10

Yeah, like I look at Mike, I look at Zhan. Um hang on, am I looking the right way? Yeah, like I mean, or Lukman, I'm looking for Basir, Revaz, even even Imran Lucken Paul, who had a great season last year, great third baseman, right? But you know, I thought about Imran at that position, but I have Ray at third, right? There's there's a few players who I could have gone, the big bat of Tamur, big bat of Riaz, uh, even Basir, leadoff hitter, outfielder, Lukman, a lot of great and imad. Even you're you're there, right? But there's something about playing, you know, with your blood, but there's also that you know, I trust his outfield. He's somebody I can't yell at players, but I can yell at my son, right? If I need to get it out, I can give him what I want. That's that's a crazy statement. I'm not even gonna lie.

SPEAKER_02 13:52

That's a crazy statement. I mean, I can vouch for Souf. I played with him fall ball, and he led my team to a championship. So um he's definitely a rock in the in in center field. He can definitely hold it down there, but it will be interesting to see. I'll tell you that. I'm gonna stop you right there because we're gonna go into some analysis for the team uh later on. I'm assuming Fuzzy's gonna be your pitcher. Is that right?

SPEAKER_00 14:11

Sales are our our guy, man. That's that's who we're going with.

SPEAKER_02 14:14

We'll get we'll get into it later, but Ree, I want to hear about you. I want to talk about uh about your strategy. What what what was it uh you know, what was your what what what were your thoughts thinking uh picking Samir first round, first and sixth overall, you know, you had the option between guys like Daher and Hasan Chaudhri, even Imran Merchant, who you took in in the second round, you know, Saf, uh Ahmed Ahmad, even Zahid, like there are a lot of great picks here, but you went with Samir. I want to hear about uh about your rationale behind taking Samir and Imran first and second, and then your your subsequent picks where you decided to kind of what it looks like stack the outfield. So, what was your strategy kind of going into the draft?

SPEAKER_01 14:54

Honestly, my strategy is the same every year. I picked the player that falls to me, and I pick based on my gut. Uh I knew when the draft order got sent, I was like, you know what? This is probably gonna be the year I get to play with Sammy. Um, I didn't get to I haven't played with Sammy since year one. So we played year one, and then it's been uh different teams uh ever since. So I was really excited to get Sammy at that pick. Um the Imran pick was a was a shocker to me, I'll be completely honest. I didn't think he would ever fall back to me. Um I already had my my uh pick for another player. I was ready to go. Um, and when all the other players kind of went uh prior, like Osman, Hassan Chodri, Ali Choudri, um all went, and Imran was still there, it it just kind of altered everything, and I was like, you know what? Umran fall into me, it was is a blessing. So I was I was happy with yeah, I was happy with that. Um the subsequent picks, uh you say I uh you know stacked the outfield. Um next pick was my boy, was Ali Hadi, right? Like uh I love that guy. That was a no trainer. I just see my you you know my you know my injuries, right? So having Ali with me helps. Um, and then it was just you know, Mike was the next logical pick. He was the best player on the draft, and then we started picking based on me, right? Imran Luck and Paul, like you said, he was on my team last year, so I know what kind of a stud third baseman he is. Um Isa, he's just gonna shore up the outfield, the ad speed, and I think you know, I I think his batting is gonna come even better next year. Um so yeah, uh the team was just it's just players who just fell to me. And this went all the way right down to the end, where I honestly don't even believe that RF was available to me at the end. So I was happy, I was happy with this whole draft from top to bottom.

SPEAKER_02 16:59

That's great. That's great. I can't wait to hear some more um analysis. Uh, and let's go into that right now. We're gonna do a team-by-team breakdown. Um, instead of just going through every single player, what position everybody's playing, we're just gonna have a general discussion. This is the consultant in me coming out. Um, we can we're gonna do a little bit of a SWOT analysis. We're gonna do strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Strengths, what are the pros of the teams, weaknesses, what are the cons of the teams, what are opportunities, who's gonna break out, all that kind of stuff, and threats, like what like is it injuries, is it attendance, all that kind of stuff, all these variables. We're gonna talk about all those different things. We'll try and keep it pretty short uh for for each team, maybe like five to five to ten minutes max. Uh, and then we're gonna start uh with Fessel, your team. We're gonna we're just gonna go in the draft order. So we're gonna start with the Sultans. Um, we've got Amr, Rehan, Omer, Sufian, Shaheen, Shobi, his brother Saad, Faye, you, you got Amr Aslam, Fuzzy, uh Muqtar Hadi, and Sood Ramjan. That's the full team. Um Riyadh, I'll start, I'll start with you, and then I'll chime in with my analysis, and then Faye, maybe you can kind of give us an uh an idea of where you agree with us or disagree, uh disagree with us. So, Ri, why don't you why don't you start off with your analysis of the sultans? We'll start with the strengths. What do you think are the strengths and then the weaknesses, and then we'll talk about opportunities and threats. Give it to me one by one.

SPEAKER_01 18:24

Their strength is is is their batting, in my opinion. Um, that lineup is scary. Amr, Rey, uh, Shaheen, um, Fay, all right, Amr Aslam, Suf. Like it just it doesn't stop Shobi, Saad. Like it, it's just a it's a it's built on power and hitting. Um I I think one of their weaknesses, um, Suf's gonna have to babysit this retirement home. Um, like it looks like everybody looks like there's about four or five guys turning 50 or close to 50. So I don't know about that and longevity, but um this is a team to uh to watch out for. Um, I have them really high on my uh ranking. Um, if not at the top, they're probably second. Um yeah, I I think it's gonna come down to how much time Umer misses and uh the adjustments that they make in the outfield. Um, you know, Suf and Shaheen are studs in the outfield. Um Shoby can hold himself, but you still need another person out there. Um so I think that's where it it it's uh my question is there. Once their whole team is back full time in the playoffs, that's a scary team, though. 100%.

SPEAKER_02 19:48

Um honestly, I I had to ask about Fazail earlier because I didn't know if Rahan was gonna be the pitcher or if Fazel is gonna be the pitcher. Faye, can you give us an idea of where uh where Rahan is gonna play? Has that been figured out or is that gonna be a surprise for the season?

SPEAKER_00 20:01

No, I'll I'll I'll be open and honest with it. So Ray will not be our pitcher, right? So Ray has dedicated himself. I mean, he'll come in if he needs to, but he's dedicated himself to uh third base and outfield. Um, you know, he he's got a lot of strengths there with with Fazel. I mean, you know, he's one of those guys where when you get him into that pitching mindset, he can do some damage, right? Uh we we do have a few backups, uh, but I I think Ray's gonna kind of focus on third base and outfield. Amazing.

SPEAKER_01 20:30

So I actually had to chime in here. I just want to uh clarify the there was a rule change that that may I I didn't bring up earlier.

SPEAKER_02 20:40

Um, unless you um declared yourself as a pitcher, uh you can't pitch in the league this year, unless there's an emergency or unless it's like your first or your second position or something like that.

SPEAKER_01 20:54

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 20:55

Okay, so that's a very that's a very important rule. So you can't just have somebody claim to be a pitcher, pitch one inning, and then he he assumes the role of a pitcher and then he gets to be pinch run or whatever it is, right? So there's no working around that. That makes a lot of sense. Um back to the analysis. I actually thought Rihan was going to be your pitcher when I was kind of looking at the way that you drafted this team, and fuzzy was gonna kind of be like more of an infielder slash uh some guy coming off the bench. Um, but that I I actually had pitching as one of your strengths because Rihan was a great pitcher last year. Um Fuzal, again, like he has potential to be a fantastic pitcher. Uh it's uh it's really about putting him in that pitching mindset and um you know having that consistency. So I think one of the question marks is actually your pitching. So let's see if Fazel can, you know, meet the mark and actually come through as a bona fide pitcher. Um your strengths are definitely you're hitting. I think this is a very balanced uh defense. Um I think your weaknesses can be there are some there are a little bit of holes in the in the defense, but I feel like that it is fairly balanced. Um He has a track record of being a really good on-base hitter. So let's see how he can mesh well back into the into the league. I think that's a little bit of a question mark. And then of course, like there's going to be availability issues for sure. I think, you know, you dealing with uh Omer and his schedule, uh guys like Sood, like who have missed you know several games in the past uh consistently, like it's gonna be a little bit of a question mark in terms of how you're gonna feel the team, how many games you're playing with nine guys or ten guys. I think that's gonna be a big question mark. Um, and then I I think you're gonna have issues with uh with some injury as well. I think you know we talked a little bit about how your your team is uh is aging a little bit. I think Shelby's coming off an injury, Fosel has had some injuries in the past. So it's gonna be interesting how you guys manage all those different uh uh injuries throughout the year. Uh Faye, I'll let you chime in and and and you know what's your kind of feedback of what we both had to say.

SPEAKER_00 22:54

Yeah, I you guys are spot on, right? Like it wasn't until I finished the draft that I looked at it. I'm like, damn, we're old. Right? We're we're we're definitely an old squad. But uh, you know, if you look at my if you look at the top seven, right? And even bypass me, go to Amr Raslam. This is a fast team, right? All these guys got wheels, all these guys can run. So, you know, as long as we're hitting the ball, we're advancing, we're moving, right? As as nerve like to say, station to station, like these guys are going to be moving, they're going to be hustling. So I think from a speed perspective, we're good. Hitting perspective, we're good. Age potential uh injuries, yeah, it's a liability. Um, you know, Fazel's got to pick up his game, right? Like, you know, he's he's manned up, he wanted this role. It's his role, it's his game to win, it's his game to lose, right? Uh, you know, having uh Mukhtar Hadi, uh brother of um Ali Hadi, he he played great for us as a stand-in at third and second, so high IQ. Uh but yeah, I agree with you guys, right? Age is gonna be the big issue here.

SPEAKER_02 23:49

100%. Let's move on, let's talk a little bit about the Abbasids. This is Ahmed Butt's team. Uh, we've got Hamad, Zaid, Horam, Omar Jabbar, Lukman Arshid, Rangers, Imran Mughal, who's new to the league this year, Ahmed Bhat, Amar Rahim, Akiflahid, Numer, and Zayd Ramjan. Um, Faye, if you have some analysis, uh I would love to hear it.

SPEAKER_00 24:12

Sure. So uh look, you you got Zaid on this team. Zaid's never gonna let this team fail, right? He's always gonna push as hard as he can and he's gonna make things happen. If the team is is lacking in something, he's gonna book a field, he'll get everybody out, and he'll do his best to uh to get everybody on the same page. But like, you know, Hamid Shabir, stud athlete, right? You got Zayed, Kurum, all great players. Um I I don't know like uh Rangers. I saw him in in the um in the uh in the in the batting and yeah that we did, combine that we did. Uh and he looks solid. Um, you know, this this team's definitely gonna compete, right? Like they've definitely got the players to compete. Uh I think it's a wait-and-see approach, though. Riyadh, any thoughts?

SPEAKER_01 24:57

Um Abbas, yeah. I think they're good. I think they're good defensively. I think they lack a power hitter outside of Hamad. Um I think Butt was really high on like new players. Like, I don't know if he knows something that we don't, but like Rangers, like we know him, he's good. Uh I don't know who Imran Mogul is uh or Numer Aslam. Um so I think those are the X factors.

SPEAKER_00 25:22

Um we just don't know enough about him, but he hits hard.

SPEAKER_02 25:31

So I actually think like if if if I I think this is personally speaking one of the weaker teams. Um prove me wrong, but I think I like the way that you put it, Faye. I think there's just a lot of question marks here. Uh for me, I think Zahe's always gonna hold it down from a pitching front, but you can't just rely completely on pitching. Personally, I feel like there are some holes defensively. I mean, you've got guys like Lukman and Horam, and I don't know where Hamad is gonna play, if he's gonna play shortstop or if he's gonna play a right center field role or uh or a left field role or a left center field role. Um, but regardless, if like how I have it down on paper is Hamad, Khorum, and Lukman in the outfield. So having those three guys there actually makes you pretty solid. Apart from that, um I think their infield is going to be a little bit of a liability based off of what I have on paper here. And I actually think this is like not one of the deeper lineups compared to other teams. So um I feel like they're gonna have a little bit of a tough time stringing hits together, and a lot of the load is going to be on guys like Zahid at the top of the lineup and and Hamad to clear the basis. So we saw Hamad more in a role last year where he was batting second on the team. I think he's going to be in a role where he's batting either third or fourth on this team. He's going to definitely be the RBI guy. He's going to be in a little bit less of a traditional Hamad role and more of like a traditional cleanup or power hitter role. And a lot of the pressure is going to be on him for that. So maybe there could be an approach change from him where he's going to be slugging a little bit more rather than going for those base hits and placing the ball, um, and more of a focus on on clearing the bases. So I think there's just a lot of question marks with this team, personally speaking. Um, but high potential, uh, but also um there's a there's a low floor as well. Any thoughts on that?

SPEAKER_01 27:21

That's fair enough. Yeah, I I agree with you.

SPEAKER_02 27:25

Okay, great. Hopefully nobody gets pissed off at me for saying that, but uh it is what it is. Next team is uh Hamza Wahid's team, the uh Ubits. We've got Jibran, uh Hassan Shabir, Abdullah Ufter, Ish, uh Basir, we've got Brit, we've got Momo, uh Ways Noori, Iran Qureshi, Hamza and Gashit Fahid, and Saad Ansari. Uh Faye, I'll start with you here.

SPEAKER_00 27:47

So uh pitching. So Ish Ish, um he was my pitcher last year, and uh I watched him throw these hierarchying, you know, balls that just fell so hard. And for me, I always said uh I never want to have to face that, but this year I'm gonna have to face it. So really looking forward to that challenge. I will tell you, like, you know, what when you when you got Jabron, uh Hassan Shabir, uh Abdullah Akhtar, great hitters, great, great fielders. I think it's gonna be up to that middle of the order, right? Where you have, you know, what can Ish bring? What uh Basir, uh Britt, can he can he have a comeback season? Oase, like these are the guys that are gonna make it. If that middle of the order can come and produce, this team will compete. Ayyubids will be okay. Riyadh, how about you?

SPEAKER_01 28:32

I like this team. I think Homza drafted well. Um, my only question mark is um they're they're they're outfield. They they have my outfield from last year, Abdullah and Brit, which is great. But um, outside of that, you have maybe Momo, and then I don't know who the fourth one is. Um, maybe Basir.

SPEAKER_02 28:53

Um you got Basir, you got Hamza, you got Sadin. Sorry, these guys can all play outfield.

SPEAKER_01 28:59

Okash if it's there. I like this team. I think Hamza built a proper team, it's balanced, it's got it's hitting, it's got batting, it's got defense. I have no complaints with this team. I I think this team is gonna perform really well. Um it does come down to in like Kay said, I think to their pitching. If it does throw that high-arcing pitch, it does you know mess with guys, but also when he loses it, um, like every pitcher does, um, for a brief time, uh, he gets in his own head. Uh and that that could be that could make or break the team, right? So um yeah, that's I I think overall though this is a good team.

SPEAKER_02 29:40

I think that's a really good point. I think um pitching could be a very, very big plus, and it's always interesting to face a pitcher who is who will get into their head, like all pitchers do a little bit if they were to you know give some walks up or give some home runs or some hits up, and it's always interesting to see how how pitchers come back. I've played with Ish before. Uh I have seen both sides, so high potential in terms of just literally allowing one hit in a game versus also just just allowing a ton of runs. But the the main advantage that he has is is his height. Uh, he's also a great bat as well. So I think you've got a a great hitter in the hitting pitching combo there. Um, it in my opinion, I think this is also one of the weaker teams out of all the teams. Um, I think that their defense is relatively average. Um, I don't think that there's anything like really, really crazy about their defense. I think Abdullah Akhtar is going to have to hold it down in center field. Momo is definitely a good fielder as well, but you know, we've yet to see him play someday, so we'll see how it kind of um how it translates. And then you got Jibs and Hassan Shabir uh playing shortstop in third base, likely. So seeing them together will be will be will be good. I think Hassan Shabir is still pretty good defensively. I think I was talking to him at the draft yesterday. He said that you know his defense isn't there, but I think he's actually a fairly good third baseman and infielder. Um, but apart from that, I think their their team is going to be a little bit top heavy. They're going to rely on guys like Basir to get on base, Abdullah to clear the bases. Uh Jabron and Hassan like are like have no option to get out, I feel. Um so I think that this team will struggle to string hits together, personally speaking. Um and it's going to be interesting to see. So uh prove me wrong, but personally speaking, I think this is one of the weaker teams compared to the other teams. And we'll get to into the analysis of the other teams shortly. Any thoughts from you guys?

SPEAKER_01 31:35

We're good.

SPEAKER_02 31:38

Okay, moving on to the Nasrids. Uh, this is uh Javs team. Fessel, Safwan, Sami, newbie to the league, Nerv, Rayaz, Fiji, Fahim Sheikh also new to the league, Idris, Jav, Baraz Alvi, Bilal Merchant, Archie, and Amar Husseini.

SPEAKER_01 31:57

Reed, we'll start with you. This is the polar opposite of Fay's team. This is the babysitter's club. Uh we have a lot of speed on this team. This feed is this team is young, it's fast, um, but there's a lot of unknowns as well. I think um I've we've heard how good Sami Khan is. Um, I think some of us have seen him uh briefly at Salam Kop, but how that translates to Sunday, I don't know. Um so that there's gonna be question marks there until he proves us wrong. Um, and I think the biggest uh question mark for the Nustrids is um potential attendance issues, right, with Kessel and SAF. Um, I know they had uh they had uh specific requests um you know to the family uh priorities that um they need certain times and and dates. Um this was we try to accommodate as best as you can, but it it's hard to just say, okay, well, you're gonna get the exact schedule that you'd like. So I think that's the axe factor um is how how good their attendance is and how good this this new kid is, Sammy Khan. Nerf's gonna hold it down on the mound. That's a no-brainer. I'm a huge Rayaz fan. Um and I like the kids, I like Idris and Vilal. They were both on my team last year. I know what they can do. I think they're only gonna get better. Um, it's just yeah, just a couple of unknowns, especially with attendance.

SPEAKER_02 33:39

Hey, what about you?

SPEAKER_00 33:40

Yeah, I I think Jab picked a safe team here. Like with uh with obviously with Fasil Saeed, no pitcher likes to face him. And you know, as an infielder, we just watched that ball sail out, right? It's not coming into the infield, you know. He goes up there with an agenda, and what do you get in the last year? 19 home runs, something like that, 20 home runs. So, mashallah, that guy's got a bat. Uh Saf, obviously, that guy's a freak athlete. He can he can make anything happen for him to be there at 13. Uh for Jab was great. Uh Sammy, who where did Sammy play in the slump cup? Who which team did he play for?

SPEAKER_02 34:10

He's a shortstop. He played for Kashgar. He was actually, I'll I I add some some of my analysis on Sammy a little bit later, but he actually played for my team two years ago.

SPEAKER_00 34:19

Okay, and then you know what? Jab made a smart choice, getting the general uh Nirvan. Obviously, a very safe pick, great, great pitcher. Uh Riaz is also a big bat, a great first baseman. Uh, and as as Riad said, he's got he's got the young guns in there, he's got some some fresh legs, uh, some some veteran skill in Faraz. Um, this this should be a good team, right? I again I I feel they'll compete if if they're all there, and you know it's it's it's a safe pick.

SPEAKER_02 34:46

Yeah, so this this is a really good team. I think this is one of the top teams on on paper in my books. They have great speed, which you need on the big fields, they have great defense, they have a very balanced lineup. Um, if you're missing your top, I like in Fessel and Safan, you're gonna have a hard time winning a game, personally speaking. So if you guys mentioned a little bit of those attendance issues, if they're not there, you're probably lost. That's that's my prediction, personally speaking. If Fessel or Safuan are not there, or even both, like you're not winning a game, personally speaking, because those guys are very, very big pieces in this lineup. I think the biggest thing is like on Jav's shoulders is definitely the lineup construction here. How can you extract maximum value out of Safuan and Fessel, right? Fessel is gonna be a guy to clear the bases. I think he mostly batted in the third spot last year. So maybe if he's batting maybe a fourth or a fifth, is that going to change you know how many runs the team drives in? Uh guys like Reyaz, you know, he's got crazy pop. And then you've got like several leadoff type hitters in in uh in Fiji, in the Drees, in Sammy. Uh, I I think figuring out where exactly they land in the lineup is going to be like an important thing on Jav's shoulders. He's gonna be tweaking his lineup quite a bit, I feel, just to try and maximize the uh value out of all the players. And I think the biggest conversation here is who is Sammy? Uh how good is this guy? Was he worth take playing taking in this in the in the third round? Me personally, having played with him, he has a he's very, very high potential. I would I would consider him similar to like a Lucas uh in terms of how he feels. Very, very flashy, like just a very sexy player when it comes to defense. Like he's he's a baseball player, uh, it shows he's got a fantastic arm. He's uh you know, some someone who you know talks and gets the team uh riled up. He's a little bit more on the quieter side and soft-spoken side, but he he definitely has experience coming from the baseball front. In my experience playing with him and seeing all the other guys in the league, I think you have a top two shortstop, feeling-wise, like in the in the league in Sami, 100%. And that might be a little bit of a stretch with me saying that, but I've played with him before. Uh, I've played with him on my Salam Cup team. He is a rock solid shortstop. And he I like that.

SPEAKER_01 37:07

Compared to other players. Sorry, go ahead. I met Akib last night and he told me the exact same thing. He's like, he's gonna be the top shortstop in the league.

SPEAKER_02 37:16

100%, in my opinion.

SPEAKER_01 37:19

Because there's Jibron and there's Amr and Sammy and whatever, but I mean I I think I think his baseball experience is gonna show.

SPEAKER_02 37:26

Well, he you just look at him and you look at like a Lucas when you see them both playing shortstop, their technique is just impeccable. Like it's just it's just on point. It's not like a typical short, like I feel like uh a softball shortstop where they've kind of just picked it up and and figured it out. Like, no, they have been they've been trained, they have arms, they know how to take proper routes to the ball. Uh there might be a little bit of an adjustment with like just like the the field, and the ball might bounce a little bit differently, and they might just have to adjust a little bit. But I think he's a he's a top, top one, top two shortstop defensively for sure. Question is the bat. I've seen him pump the ball to the fence, no problem. Um, but he is uh not the I don't think he's the tallest guy, but he's probably around my height. Um so if he if he's if he's been hitting the gym, I'm sure that he can hit the ball pretty far. But he there's there's definitely big upside to to Samby. I think he's more of like a similar to like a Lucas.

SPEAKER_00 38:21

Hardball pedigree is is a big thing, right? You can see the the swag in in infielders who played hardball. And um if if if that's what you're saying he's like, then it'll be really exciting to watch him play.

SPEAKER_02 38:33

Yeah, very excited to see these uh these four teams play. Let's get into the next four teams and let's just keep powering through this. Uh, we've got the Mamluks, that's the next team, Raza's team. We've got Daher, double A, Atik Sayyid, Zishan Alam, Damur Sheikh, Umar Khattab, Yasir Khan, Razah Zahur, Samir Alam, Ali Jabbar Hamid, Malik Shahan Salim. Uh, which one of you guys want to take the analysis first? This is an amazing team.

SPEAKER_01 38:58

Riyadh, how about you? This is a team to beat, in my opinion. Um the the the hitting is just unbelievable. It it just keeps going. Um and you don't really see a weakness. The only uh the only two question marks I have for this team is one, unfortunately. Um you know, we're praying and hopefully, but Zhan's uh health is a big question mark um coming into the season. Um I know he was he had a bad injury last year and he was recovering from it. Um he had a setback just recently. Um, so that's a question mark. Um, and I think uh they're pitching, I'll leave him, but he's gonna miss a lot of time as well. Um I think he's going for Hudge. Um, so there's those are the two big question marks. But other than I mean, if they're all there and Z's healthy, this is this is the team, in my opinion, to be who's their backup, do you think?

SPEAKER_00 39:57

Like looking at that lineup, who's their backup pitcher? Who can we see?

SPEAKER_02 40:03

That's a very, very good point. I have absolutely no idea. Maybe like a Samir Alam. I have no idea. I've never seen anybody else pitch. I've seen Attic pitch in practice as a joke.

SPEAKER_01 40:12

I was gonna say Attic, but he's just gonna mess around.

SPEAKER_02 40:17

That's uh that's that's a big loss, and like if you're not if you don't have a Legion Bar, I think. But yeah, I think anything for you for you to add in terms of your analysis before I get into mine.

SPEAKER_00 40:28

You know what? Yeah, I I don't know Rez is gonna feel about this. I don't know if this is one of the strongest teams. Um, again, you take the picture out of the equation, who comes in, right? You you have a lot of you you had a you have a lot of great uh leaders on this team with Daher, Crazy, you got the glamour boy, uh Attik uh Said. Zhan's a big question mark. Um uh you know, you got like Tamur, great third baseman, big bad. Uh but who who steps up here, right? Uh pitching is to me is gonna be one of the big uh spots for these guys, but who who really steps out outside the the top four picks? That's that's gonna be the question.

SPEAKER_02 41:04

It might even be like Tahir.

SPEAKER_01 41:07

Well, my other question is outfield, right? Um you have crazy and you have I assume Attic. I don't because I'm just assuming that Tahir's gonna play four stops for them. So outside, I I like I don't I don't see Resist Servants.

SPEAKER_00 41:25

He's a good left field. He's a good left fielder. I mean, look, if Z Sean's healthy, he he's a he's a he's a great outfielder, right? For a big man, that guy can hustle, right? But he's got that knee's got to be good, right? Because there's a lot of potholes and divots out in that outfield, so he's just gotta be mindful of that. If he if he's good, that outfield is alive with Zhawn. Is Z Sean's gonna play outfield, do you think?

SPEAKER_01 41:47

Z Sean is a stud outfielder.

SPEAKER_00 41:50

He's yeah, amazing. Amazing at outfield.

SPEAKER_02 41:53

I I I mean, I I've only ever really seen him, I've only ever seen him play, I think, like third base or shortstop. So I haven't really I can't really say much about that. So on paper, I kind of had him as a third basin baseman. I had Optik or Bahair playing shortstop or left center field. Then you guys you gotta have Ahmed Amad playing center field as well, personally. Some guy who's gonna really command and just you know be the voice of the outfield. Like you kind of have to have him in a right center field position, and then Fatab as well is going to be one of your corner outfielders, and then I I had Tamor as uh as a first baseman and Yasser as a second baseman or a third baseman. Um, I think that this is Hamid too. Yeah, they have Ahmed. Yeah, they they they have options, like they have some positional flexibility for sure. I think personally, hitting-wise, on paper, this is the best team in the league, 100%. It's very, very, very deep. You got Tahir, double A, Athek. Imagine facing Atik as your leadoff, then seeing Tahir, then seeing Ahmed the Mad, then seeing Zhan, a healthy Zhan, then you've got Tabor to clear the bases, and then you've got Khattab who can also clear the 300 foot fields. That's a ridiculous lineup. Like, personally speaking, like it's it's in it's just gonna be just pop after pop after pop. They've got insane power, they've got decent speed with Athek, with Tahir, with Ahmed Ahmad, with Khatab. Like these guys can can all run towards uh at the top of their lineup. It's going to be a little bit top heavy the lineup. It's gonna be a lot of the responsibility is going to be falling on those guys. Uh and just there's gonna be a lot of shatter around this team in their in their hitting, but their pitching is definitely uh a big weakness. If if Ali Jabbar is not there, um this team is kind of screwed a little bit, in my opinion. And I think there are some holes maybe potentially in in the outfield. Like it might not be the strongest outfield. Um if you have Ahmad Ahmad in center, if you have Khatab, um the only the only way I see this being a really, really like amazing outfield is if you have guys like uh Attik and Daher both in the outfield, or Zijan, as you guys are describing, in the outfield as well. But I think there are some pockets and there are some weaknesses that you can kind of extract from this team when you're facing them. Just Have these guys pop out, and if they don't pop out, then they're gonna be putting at least 10 to 15 runs a game on the board for sure.

SPEAKER_00 44:08

Any thoughts top heavy? Yeah, it's it's top heavy. I I mean I I love the I love the passion you're putting towards it. I don't know if I really feel the same sentiment, but I hope they prove me wrong.

SPEAKER_02 44:19

Well, that goes to show. I mean, like we haven't we haven't agreed about every single team, so let's let's see what happens. But um Riyadh, we're gonna talk about your team now. Uh Samir, Imran Merchant, Ali Hadi, Mike Arlit, uh Imran Lucken Paul, Isa, who made Sofian Sheikh, who's new to the league. Uh, yourself, Riyadh, EBP, Fay Sidiki, and RF Ikbal. Uh Fay, let's get let's get your analysis, then we'll get mine, and then Riyadh will we'll have you kind of have the share the closing thoughts.

SPEAKER_00 44:47

Yeah, top two picks are great, right? Samir is one of the classiest guys in the league. Uh, I'm glad he's not on my team because I like barking at him and he barks back. Uh, you know, Imran also power hitter, can play multiple positions. Uh, look, from an outfield perspective, this this team is this good defensively. They'll they'll be okay, right? I think pitching wise, they're going with Sofian Sheikh, if I'm not mistaken.

SPEAKER_01 45:10

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_00 45:11

Yeah, okay. Uh, yeah, look, this is a good team on paper, right? It's it's really up for them to prove it. Luckin' Paul at third, I like it. I remember bringing Luckin Paul, picking him first, uh uh, sorry, on our team the the first year he came in, and we pushed him to play third. And when we practiced, he he played so well. When it came to date game time, he he he wasn't all that cracked up to be, but he came in wanting to play first. We we pushed him to play third. Now you look at him at third, he is he's one of the go-to guys at third base, right? So the corner is set for for you there for sure. Um uh I I think yeah, you you guys will have a good season, right? Like when they look at Mike, he he's very dependable in the outfield. Uh, you know, Isa, another young and coming guy. Um, you guys you guys will be okay. I don't know how strong, but definitely you you got you guys will be in there. You'll you'll definitely compete.

SPEAKER_02 46:03

Um I will before I kind of hop into my analysis, is Imran Lucken Paul your first baseman or is he your third baseman?

SPEAKER_01 46:12

He is my third baseman. Okay, he's my third baseman last year and gold glove third baseman. Amazing. He was a null-brainer for me when he was there.

SPEAKER_02 46:21

So I actually had him and I and I had like thought about this, but I actually had him as your first baseman um because I personally feel, and this is just my philosophy, that like your first base is just so much more important than your third base. And I think Imran is also just like a lock at first base as well. Like he's a fantastic first baseman, but let's see how how your season pans out. I think your team is really, really good defensively. You got Mike in left, or Ali Hadi in left center, or Imran Merchant sharing center field duties with him, and you've got guys like Disa and even like Faye Sidiki, like I think that's a very, very competent outfield for sure. Um, you know, guys like Samir and Imran holding it down on that side of the field, yourself Riyadh, like I think this is a very, very good defensive team. I think there's a little bit of question marks around first base now that you're mentioning it, uh, personally speaking, but I I I do think uh from a weakness perspective that your offense will be slightly streaky, personally speaking. Like you've got you have good contact hitters uh in in Mike and Ali uh in Imran and Samir. Like I think this is the this is a this is a good team, and it's uh but like the bottom is a little bit long, and I think uh if your top is struggling to s to to to string hits together, then you're gonna find yourself leaving a lot of people on base. That's my analysis personally. And the other thing I have to say is you know, Imran's a fantastic leader, right? But um I think I think this is a position where he's going to be uh also tested as a leader because he's going to be with guys like Sam, uh guys with like Sammy. I don't know how well they mesh together or if they played together in the past and stuff like that. And then you've got you know EBP, who's a pure energy guy. Will there be any sort of clash there in terms of personality or will it mesh really well together? And and will this be one of the funnest teams to play on this season? Let's see what happens. It's all it all comes down to Riyadh and how you manage the team and how you kind of showcase your your your GM capabilities and whatnot. But that's our analysis. What do you what do you have to say?

SPEAKER_01 48:22

Yeah, um obviously I love my team. Um, I I think we're built properly. I think defensively we're rock solid, and we may not have the big big bats like uh some of the teams, but everybody in this team hits everybody on this team hit 450 or higher last year. Um so you know, it's just like one base at a time. Um, and uh we'll shut it down defensively. Uh in terms of gelling, my teams have never had issues gelling, you know. Gotta remind everybody, this is still at the end of the day, it's a rec league, it's for fun. We're out there, there's bigger issues in the world. The fact that we get to go out and and enjoy ourselves on a Sunday morning is a blessing. So, you know, put all that crap aside, have fun. When you have fun, good things happen.

SPEAKER_00 49:18

I feel like you got the most gold glovers on your team, right?

SPEAKER_01 49:22

I had seven. I had seven last year.

SPEAKER_00 49:24

I'm talking this year, but you still have quite a few. Like Sammy's got it. Umran, Ali Hadi, Mike, Imran Paul.

SPEAKER_02 49:31

Your top five picks are guys that that have gold gloves, and then you got RF as well, who's got a gold glove catcher. And Riyadh, do you have a gold glove as well? There you go, man. There you go. Uh, that's the Mughals. We've got two more teams to go. We've got the Ottomans. Uh, they're next. Shams team. We've got Ismail Kara, uh Osman Batar, Nabil Alam, Amir Multani, myself, Imad, Gasim Maleg, Atif Khan, Zia Beg, Sham, Mokala, Neil Erfan, and Sean Chaudhry. Uh Ri, I'll let you start, then Faye, you go, and then I'll kind of give my own analysis on my team.

SPEAKER_01 50:06

I don't know how to explain this, but this is a typical sham draft. It's a good team. This is you looking at the players, I could tell without even looking who the GM was, this is a Shams team. Um, it's it's built properly. I think uh pairing Kara and Osman is is um I don't think it's happened in this league. So that'll be uh fun to watch. I think outfield, you guys are good. Nabil, Imad yourself, you're there. Um I don't know where Multani will play, but he he can hold himself pretty much at any position. Uh Neil is there. This is a good team. Um I think some question marks that I have. Um can Nabil replicate what he did uh last year, um, being taken that high. Um can cost him replicate what he did last year with the bat. Um I'm a big Doc fan. I think I think your pitching will be fine. Doc is solid on the mound. Um yeah, this is an overall good team. Um that's it, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 51:17

Okay, yeah, I like this team. I uh this is this is one of the teams I like, and I I think uh Riad put it best, like uh Shamil picks a safe team. Uh somebody like Esmalkara, you know, the habits he has, the eating, you know, you know, big tall guy, a little bit on the heavy side, and I I say this to his face. He shouldn't be doing the things he does at shortstop, right? The diving, the the leaping, like just unbelievable at shortstop, right? So having him there is is great. His bat is solid. Uh with with Osman, like you're you're getting a vet, right? Like, you know, after I watched him drop the gloves in the in a hockey game one day, I'm like, I have a whole new respect for this guy. Um, but yeah, he he he's a tough guy. Nabil Alam, I got a chance to, he was a blue mister for us uh this season. Um and he he's a great, he's a great hitter, Amr Multani, right? I gotta give a shout out to him because he's TD. But I mean, like, you know, he's um he's also a great player, Imad yourself. Like the first five picks are great picks, right? And but as you go down, he's got players who are very serviceable. Zia's gonna be on the hot plate, you know, ensuring that he can throw that ball and and uh and get the outs needed. But I'm I'm kind of high on this team, man. I think this is a team that can make some noise.

SPEAKER_02 52:28

Yo, first thing that first things first, go Ottomans. We out here. That's the privilege of being the podcast host. Special shout out. Um, but uh all things just sad, I'm very excited to play for this team. Like we had a batting practice already, like it's just the vibes are there. Like it's gonna be a fun team, like everybody's smiling, it's gonna be good, good leadership, uh, you know, mature people. Um, it's there's gonna be some goofing off a little bit as well. Um, it's it's it's a good team, it's a very good team. Uh Doc's a fantastic pitcher. Doc every year is underrated, and last year he was like neck and neck, neck and neck with um with Zaid with when it with when it comes to most of the pitching stats and stuff. So I think he's a fantastic pitcher. Uh normally I wouldn't see him go this high in a draft, but I think there was just a little bit of what looks like just like a little bit of a like a like a grabbing contest for some pitchers going on at that point.

SPEAKER_01 53:24

There was only eight pitchers that put primary as their pitcher. So there was really only eight starting pitchers. Yeah, so when I see what there was a rule, the gentleman's rule between all the GMs that uh if you take a pitcher, you can't a primary pitcher, you can't take another one. Um, but if they're all if you haven't taken one by round nine or s or something like that, um, then it's fair game.

SPEAKER_02 53:50

Yeah, fair. Okay, that that that makes a lot of that's that's great insight. But um I was gonna say, like, I think a lot of how well a team does throughout the year depends a lot on their bottom, and I think we have one of the best bottoms in the league for sure. I think um Sham is a guy who's who can rip it for sure. Um Mokala is a guy who we've seen hit high average in the past. Uh Neil is somebody who who, if he doesn't get in his head, he can hit pretty well, he can actually spray the ball. And Sean Choudri, I he we saw him last year. Like he can hit balls over the fence uh on the small field, like no problem. And I saw him, he's a young guy. He has pop. He lost a whole bunch of balls during that batting practice. So we've practiced on a small field. He's definitely not a last rounder, personally speaking. He's you know, he's eager to learn the game, he's a great bat, and I think that's an absolute steal having him uh at the uh at the uh at the taking it and taken at the 12th round. Um, I think it's a very balanced lineup. I think you know you've got a good amount of power, you've got a good amount of speed defensively, it's very, very solid. Um, I wouldn't say it's the most mobile infield. You've got Gasan Malik at third, who's got an insane pop. Uh Mokala's I think previous gold glove first baseman, correct me if I'm wrong. Yeah um and then you know I have maybe Moltani at second base, I'm not sure, and then Kara at at short. And if you have Moltani at second base, then you have a fantastic second baseman as well. Rihanna you're gonna be competing with somebody for for a gold glove. I think Moltani's basically got it on lock. Um so and then you've got guys like me and Batar, we've played in the outfield before, um, Nabil Alam, and then you've got Sham, who's fairly serviceable as well in the outfield. So uh you've also got you know Sean and Neil. Uh I think this is a very, very, very balanced team. Uh biggest question mark has got to be Nabil. He was taken, I think, by consensus, slightly high. Um he did have a really, really good season last year, but he was also on the best hitting team last year, right? So, how well those stats are going to translate onto this team? Let's see exactly what happens. Let's see how people adjust. Will he have a higher average? Will he still hit for a high slugging? I don't know. We'll see. Um, but I do see this team struggling to sometimes string hits together. I think we will oftentimes find ourselves in a situation where we'll be begging for like a double, but we'll only get a single. So I feel like our team is going to be a team that leaves a few guys on base. Um, and I've been given the role as a leadoff hitter, so a lot of it is also going to be on me for setting the tone. So I'm gonna take that pressure onto myself as well. Um, and we'll see how like a lot of it kind of depends on that as well. So um let's see what happens. Any final thoughts on this team?

SPEAKER_00 56:31

Who's you who's your infield?

SPEAKER_02 56:34

Uh I I believe it's Goss and Mullik at third, Mo Kala at one, uh, and then Kara and Multani up the middle. Personally, I think that's that's that's what it is. I don't know, uh, but that's what I have on paper. Okay, which I think is great because I think Gossim Mullik is a fantastic first baseman, and uh, I'm sure it'll translate to third base.

SPEAKER_00 56:54

Okay, interesting. I know Mo wanted to play third, I just wasn't sure whether uh you guys had him there. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 56:59

I have I have no idea. I'm missing the exhibition game, so is Mo. So I will I will literally come back right when the game starts, and I will find out what the what the lineup looks like. So let's see what happens. But I think it's a very balanced team. Like you can't really go wrong with a lot of these picks for sure. Alright, last team, uh Sel Jukes. Uh we've got uh Nabil Jabar's team, which is Ali Chori, Hasan Choudri, his brother, Kizar Channa, Omer Sheikh, Yasser Malik, Mozam Sheikh, Omer Sheikh's brother, uh Hanan Upal, Saki Ahmed, Nabil Jabbar, Adnan Habib, Owais Malik, and Zaki Zahur. Fain, we'll start with you.

SPEAKER_00 57:37

All right. Win or lose, this team's having a great time. These guys are all boys, they're all friends. These guys are having a great time, right? They're they're really gonna enjoy it. That that could really play a pivotal part in the in their wins and losses, right? So if they're vibing as a team, if they're vibing as friends, hey man, they they could do all right. Like getting the Chodhari brothers, huge, right? Like, uh, first of all, both of them can pitch, and I think they they signed up as pitchers uh as their secondary position. Plus, you have Hanana as your pitcher. So this is a team with three pitchers, right? Which is fantastic. Uh, you know, but you you have great players in in Ali Chuadhri and Hassan Chodhari, right? Hassan is he's not the cheat code, he can play anywhere, right? He'll pitch for you, he'll play the outfield, he'll play the infield. He's he's great at that, right? Kizar, we know what we're getting with him. Omer, you know, we know what we're getting with him at first base and and uh and at the bat. Yasser is great. Um again, it's it's I you know I hate to say it, but it it's it's a good vibes team. They'll be out there, they'll be having a good time. Um uh and and the the I don't know. I don't I don't I don't want to say too much because this is one of those teams that I looked at and I said, I'm not gonna be able to make an assessment until I see them play. Like we know who they're getting, but it's it's it's a matter of watching them play and see how they how the how the good times translate into actual softball. And it could be dangerous, or it could be you know, it could just be good times. Riyadh, how about you?

SPEAKER_01 59:05

Uh I like this theme too. I I think um chemistry is gonna be their their X factor, and they have plenty of it. I mean, it was like 10 out of 12 guys um play on salam couple teams together, they play basketball together, they hang out, they're they're family friends. Um that's gonna be huge. Um the Children brothers, like Kay said, us in the cheat code, at least just as much a cheat code as well, in my opinion. Um this team looks good. Uh yeah, I guess the only question mark I would say is you know, I know they have three pitchers. Um how effective any of them can be for long stretches uh is yet to be seen. Uman recently transitioned to a full-time pitcher in the last year or two, so he's still learning the ropes. I don't know if he's got any tricks up his sleeves. I I haven't really watch him much last year uh pitching, but um this team, yeah, like Faye said, win or lose, they're gonna have a great time. But you know, most of them have won, you know, they I think they won Salam Cup uh tier two last year, uh with the majority of these uh these players together. So I'm not counting them out. Uh they look they look good and getting Kizzer, uh that third uh third pick is huge. Kizers, I think, very underrated.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:36

I mean, a lot of this a lot of this team, sorry, has has a lot of makeup of the Mamalukes that you were on, Riyadh, right? Like take you know the missing yourself and uh and and Shazad Ahmed. But I mean, like a lot of the makeup is there, and that that was a good vibes team, and that was a team that freaking every team hated playing against because you guys would kick our ass and then go have a barbecue, right? And you guys enjoyed every moment, and that this team could be the same thing, and I'm gonna be a good thing.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:01

I've been on a team like this, right? Where if you're just having and this like I said it again when I said when I spoke about my team, have fun and good things will happen, right? I I know that Mamloops year, everybody, you know, it was a power team, whatever. We were just having fun, right? And I think that that translates a lot into into how guys uh perform. You know, if you're going out there loose, you're like whatever happens, happens. It is what it is. Uh, we're just glad that we're out here with each other. That that goes a long way, and I think this team has that.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:34

You know what? No one's gonna cheer for you more than your boy. And if you look at this team, most of these guys are boys, right? So it's it's gonna work out for them. Somehow or another, it's gonna work out. Nabil, you may have pulled one off, buddy.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:46

I'm gonna add my analysis here. I think the glazing needs to stop. I don't think this is uh a fantastic team. Personally speaking, sorry guys, like I don't think this is, I think you guys uh we'll talk about power rankings after. Uh and maybe in the meantime, if you guys don't have your power rankings ready, get your power rankings ready because we're gonna discuss that right after, and then we're gonna end the podcast. But personally speaking, I'm not high on this team at all. Their number one strength, their only strength personally, is the power of friendship. Uh, I think that goes far for sure. Chemistry goes far. They're gonna have a hell like we're gonna look at this team. The the only person I feel like needs to be on this team is EVP because he would just, you know, make this team like extra, extra, extra fun, personally. Um, but you know, these guys are all boys, like the all these guys are all friends, they've they've won championships together, they you know, see each other on the weekends and on the weekdays, and they play basketball and they play softball on their the Tuesday leagues or whatever it is. They're friends, they play together. Um, but strictly just speaking, like from a draft perspective, Nabil could have done a better job, personally speaking. I think every round he could have made um like an arguably better pick when it comes to just statistics. Um, I think one guy he got pretty late is Tucky, my brother-in-law. I'm a little bit of a glazer for him because he's my boy. But I think um he's a he's a great bat, and he's a great bat to have pretty much like that that late in the draft for sure. But I think it's a long bottom. I think their um pitching is going to struggle a little bit. I think Hanan, you're my you're my guy, you're my boy, dude. But I think last year he got into his head a little bit, and then he had one of the highest batting averages against. So um still not quite there, I think. I think if he practices more, he can prove me wrong or whatever. But I don't think um they have the best uh pitching because if you're using Ali Chori or Hasan Jodri as a pitcher, I feel like that really just kind of um defensively handcuffs you a little bit if they're not playing in a in a in a premier position, like if Hassan Jodri is playing a left center field and if Ali Jodhri is playing a shortstop, like if they're out of position, I think um like this night this this this won't be the best defensive team. Um they also lack a little bit of power, personally speaking. Like, I don't think that I think they have more base hitters than you know because there's a guy who consistently hits doubles, and so does Hassan Jodri and Ali Jodhri. But apart from that, like I don't know if you can count on a guy consistently to get extra base hits in this lineup, personally speaking. Um, but hey man, prove me wrong. Uh it is what it is, but you know what? Like, you know, we've seen we've seen teams that go into the season very low on the podcast hosts uh list and then end up winning the championship. And we've seen the complete opposite. We've keep seen teams that look great on paper just completely flub, but um, yeah, I'm I'm not gonna glaze this team too much because I personally am not too threatened by it. Personally speaking, sorry guys. Um, you guys ready to go? Power rankings? Riad, let's hear your power rankings first. Uh I'll let Say go first. Okay, yeah, he's not ready. No, I'm ready. I'm ready. I'll I'll go. No, no, no, no. I'm saying Riyad's not ready. That's why he doesn't go first. Yeah, all right. Well, no, no Nuzzer intended, but I'm gonna say start start start from eight and go to one.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:51

Start from eight and go to one? Yeah, okay. Well, uh and again, this this is all based on you know just what we see. Obviously, your natural talent, your ability to win.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:01

Don't don't take anything personally, please.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:03

There we go. That's that's not that deep.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:05

It's not that deep. It's not that deep, guys. Just go out there and play softball.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:08

So uh I'll say at number eight, we got the Selyukes. Uh at number seven, uh I got the Ayyubids. Uh at number six, I got the Mamluks. Uh at number five, I got the Nasrids. Uh number four, I got the Abbasids. At number three, I got the Sultans. And uh at number two, I got the Ottomans. And no Nuz are intended, but at number one I got the Mughals.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:39

Okay, okay, okay. Very interesting. Riyah, how about you? Eight to one.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:44

Very very completely different for me. Uh eight. I have the Abbasid. Seven, I have to tell you. I have the Ayyubid. Five I have the Nathrans. I'll put myself at the four of the Mughals. Ottomans at three. There's two teams left. Oh, uh the Sultans at the two, and I have the Mamluks at one.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:20

That's very interesting how you guys Yeah. That's very interesting. Fessel had Mamluks at six. I have Selyukes at eight, Ayyubits at seven, Abbasids at six, Mughals at five, Ottomans at four, Nasrid's at three, uh Sultans at two, and then Mamluks as one. So there's a little bit of difference here. That's okay. But the only thing we all have in common is the Sellyukes at eight. So no, I had the Abbasids at eight. Oh, you have the Abbasids at eight? Oh my bad, bro, I'm just throwing extra shape to the cell uks. My bad, Mabil. Don't take it personally. Um, but yeah, that's the I that's you know what? I think that's that's very interesting. Uh we've we've done the analysis. You can go back into the podcast and listen to it and see what what Faye thinks about the Mumlo's. Obviously, Riyadh, you and I are very high on them. It's there is no hate. It's just it's just I'm putting them at the bottom of my power ranking.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:19

The only reason I'm putting the Abbas, there's a lot of unknowns.

SPEAKER_02 1:07:22

Yeah, and I think that's fair. I think that's fair.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:25

Right. And to have uh Hamad as your power uh as your big bat, and then your second big bat is Z. Um there. Yeah, but I don't know. We'll see. Prove me wrong.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:46

It's it's week one, right? Like any any any anything could happen in week one. So yeah, you know what? Hey, it's it's it's fair. I I don't know how you guys put the Mamluks at at one, but hey man, I I hope they prove me wrong.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:58

This is all contingent on Z's health, by the way.

unknown 1:08:02

Right?

SPEAKER_01 1:08:02

I have the Mamluks at one. As long as Z is healthy. If Z is not healthy, then I'll put the Sultan, the Sultan's at one.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:12

Hey, yo, maybe we can have Tacky come on one of these podcasts and then he can give his loba analysis to see who's actually number one and who's actually number eight. Let's see, let's see what he has to say. Uh Atik's gonna take over in the next uh the next podcast. So we're definitely gonna get some some some goofiness on the next podcast and stuff. So I think it'll be nice to see some different opinions. I think we've got some very uh you know seasoned and mature opinions in this one, with you guys being GMs and me doing the analysis that I did as a podcast host or whatever. But um, it'll be nice to get some personalities on the podcast as well. Boys, anything uh else to kind of add um with regards to draft analysis, uh looking forward to the season, all that kind of stuff. Riyadh, I'll start with you.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:56

Uh yeah, just everybody have a great season. Hopefully, everybody stays injury free. Um, any issues with anything in the league, you know, feel free to reach out to myself, Mo Zaheed. Um, we'll do our best to help out. Um, if you haven't signed up, please sign up BSL Fantasy. Um we're gonna close it uh early next week so that we have time to upload it to the website before the league starts uh on May 10th.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:26

Hey, any last thoughts?

SPEAKER_00 1:09:27

Yeah, you know what? Uh as I was gonna plug the fantasy as well. It's a lot of fun doing it. So let's try to get as many guys out there doing it. It's a lot of good prizes that are uh that have been uh given to this fantasy. So please, please do play it. Um looking forward to the season. Like uh, you know that that free food piece brings a lot of people together, it creates a lot of uh friendship and just conversation within the uh under the under the shelter where we normally eat. Uh let's have fun this season, right? Looking forward to it. A lot of great players, a lot of great teams. Uh it's it's gonna be a fun season. Really looking forward to to our next uh next season. Inshallah.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:04

Well boys, that leaves it. I think this podcast ran pretty much over an hour and 20 minutes. But hopefully you guys enjoyed uh watching this and and listening to this on whatever app that you guys are listening on. Uh may Allah bless you guys and may Allah keep us all healthy, safe, and you know, in good moods and with in keep the camaraderie and the brotherhood going. Uh let's go into this with uh with a clean heart and clean intentions. Let's uh forgive everybody and uh let's let's let's hit the the field on Sunday with some smiles on our faces. Mr. La Boys, have a fantastic season. We'll see you guys on the next podcast. Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu.