- Welcome to the Hot Seat Saad. Please briefly tell us about yourself. How many years in SASL, what you do outside of softball, your other hobbies, favorite TV show etc. Let’s get to know you a little bit.
I’m a 6 foot 2 male I enjoy long walks on the beach and Burn Notice is my guilty pleasure. This is my 13th season in SASL.
- What is your fondest memory of SASL and why? What has been your worst memory of SASL and why?
The 2018 championship run easily. I think its pretty self explanatory. No other team has done or will do what we did. Please don’t mention NL accomplishments, sorry Prince and FORCE. My worst memory? Between this season and choking the 2012 finals to the ballers after wrecking them in game 1.
- What is the biggest difference between Ducks of 2018 and 2019? Has the division improved too much or Ducks having championship hangover?
I think its simply championship hangover. In my opinion, the division really hasn’t improved much if at all. Savages’ outfield got better with TK which is huge but they’re pretty much the same team. We’ve had a revolving door of players this year but that’s still no excuse we’ve still had the talent to beat any team on any given Sunday it just sucks when you’re trying to build chemistry and momentum which was our recipe last season.
- Every team in the AL improved dramatically in terms of recruitment and upgrading their rosters, why didn’t the Ducks make any changes? Added Steve but lost Bones.
Why would a team that went undefeated and won the chip find a need to change anything? Our talent isn’t the issue. It has been the drive. Guys got complacent after what we accomplished last season, myself included. Championship hangover is real brotha. Bones was a huge loss because we suffered at multiple positions and defense was always our bread and butter, don’t get too excited Anwer. That 2018 combination of the outfield and infield has never and will never be touched by another team in SASL. We built a smart balanced team within the cap without any crazy superstars with amazing depth to the point where we broke the cap system and the league had to unnecessarily revamp the cap system because we did things the way they’re supposed to be done. Let’s punish the balanced teams and start favoring the top-heavy teams.
- What makes SASL different than any other league you play in? What are some opportunities of change you can think of that you would like to see a change in SASL?
The rivalries, the trash-talking, and the familiarity with players and teams. I personally think the whole cap system is stupid, to begin with. Many people blame “super teams” for the death of the upper-division. I personally disagree and just think it’s cyclical. Interests comes and goes, there needs to be an infusion of new blood every few years. In my opinion, the cap has caused way too many politics and problems between friends and agendas. We’re headed for another down season next season even with the cap so what does that tell you?
- Tell us a bit more about the championship run of 2018. What were the X factors? You guys went undefeated in the regular season and seemed like you guys won almost every game in some type of clutch fashion.
Our defense and timely hitting. It seemed like the stars literally aligned for us. I keep saying this but our defense was second to none. If you looked at our offensive numbers on paper they were nothing crazy but beyond the stat sheets it didn’t show when the hits were coming and when we had runners in scoring position etc.. We were also great at getting in the other team’s head. Just ask all the teams that want to fight us for a little friendly trash talk. Apparently, if we say errors are coming the next logical conclusion is “I’m going to mess you up in the parking lot.” What happened to the good old days where people would dish it back or talk with their bat?
- What are some tips you can give to the teams seeking their championship this year, from your experience? You won after many years, and now as a champion, what are the key ingredients?
I mean this season is not exactly the season to be asking me. We’re an SNL team. But if you had asked me last season I would say depth, team players, defense, IQ, 2 or 3 big bats, and a good clubhouse atmosphere. Trust me, not that hard to find……………….
- As we play the final game of the 2019 season approaches, what you thoughts on the overall 2019 season? Who’re the favorites to make it to finals?
The Savages obviously and Heavy HittaZ but its a brand new season records mean nothing and the Ducks are that team that some teams don’t want to see in the playoffs. I’ve been a part of the only 8 seed upsetting the 1 seed in SASL history. Wolfpack vs The Desert Eagles in 2013. They were the Golden State Warriors of the era with a bunch of ring chasers (Harp, Kunal, Akh, John, etc…) they smacked us a few times in the regular season we took 1 or 2 from them in the regular season we didn’t think they were special. We tanked from the 6 to the 8 seed just so we could see them in the playoffs at Mitchel field on an open field because we knew it would be a favorable matchup and we delivered on what we set out to do. We beat them in 3 close games and broke that franchise up (now known as the Deserted Eagles). Bunch of “grown men” got yelled at for about 3 hours by another grown man in the hot sun at the field after the game. Long story short, don’t count any team out.
- Predictions: in your opinion who should win the AL MVP, ROY, Manager, and Cy Young?
AL MVP – TK or Charley depends on your definition. Charley’s numbers are insane but TK has good numbers and clearly solidified that outfield.
AL ROY – TK
Manager – Whoever bought Heavy HittaZ bats
Cy Young – All the pitchers willing to pitch against Heavy HittaZ bats
- Tell us the first thoughts that come to your mind:
- Best teammate: Shane
- Most Overrated SASL player: Harpreet and all pitchers.
- Worst SASL rule: Cap System
- Worst SASL jersey ever: 2012 McSpartans Jersey
- Best SASL jersey ever: 2011 Wolfpack Monster Sponsored Jersey
- Best three SASL franchises of all time: Hate to say it but Ballers, Ducks because what we did will never be done again, then a toss-up between the over-achieving SWAT and the Golden State Spartans.
- Another team player that you would like to be teammates with: Pragnesh Pavy or Charley
- Best SASL trash talker: Zee followed by your boy. Yasar likes to think he’s up there but we all know he has a team of writers.
- Beast beard in SASL: Beast beard? I’m assuming you mean the best beard. I mean do you have to ask? Say Mashallah. Alhamdullilah.
- You have been part of a few contentious games against HeavyHittaz this year. What happened there?
Hate to beat a dead horse but simple. They’re using shaved/rolled bats, 3 umpires have pointed it out but they said they can’t do anything until someone God forbid gets hit, the league clearly won’t do anything even though they can overrule ASA.
Say all you want about “wind” but 10 balls being hit into Mitchel’s stadium (i know HH you claim 8 balls now you’re just playing semantics) something that never even gets done in UTRIP with better bats and balls let alone ASA and higher levels of play. Guys that previously could barely/only clear Eisenhower D all of a sudden are clearing a technically fenceless field and Cantiague A by a mile within a season? Pitchers 1 hopping the fence at Mitchel?
Slap hitters hitting the fence at Cantiague A? For guys like me that have been playing long enough its obvious enough. Exit velocity off the bat, pop-ups that keep going, balls off the hands of the bat that go for home runs. And it’s not like it’s 1 or 2 guys in their lineup it’s their entire lineup crushing the ball. Scrubs and slap hitters. Yeah, magically the entire roster revamped their career the same season and the bat owners are refusing to turn the bats over for testing. No receipt of where you bought the bat from or anything. People usually hang on to those when they buy a new bat for warranty purposes you know. Not shady at all. Their team’s track record speaks for itself.
HH leadership in 2016 received a lifetime ban as captain for fudging stats and flying in an illegal player for the finals proven with photographic evidence and somehow that ban was uplifted this year not sure why. Sorry Scooby’s but they did it first lol. Former ballers player who smashes a ball in a puddle during rain delays to kill it for the other team along with a whole list dating back to 07/08 of other antics. Not to mention they have players who were previously accused of using funny bats. Yeah, this is the team with integrity that wouldn’t dare use a shaved bat. HH representative to the committee messages a committee chat before the seasons starts and says some HH teammates have played with Savages guys and knows they are using shaved bats and if the league is going to do anything about it? First off that’s complete crap because they’re not.
Secondly, if you’re gonna call someone out man up and call them out not in some committee chat and don’t be ambiguous about it “SOME OF MY TEAMMATES HAVE PLAYED WITH SAVAGES GUYS”. NAME NAMES if that’s how you feel. Your supposed teammates that played with supposed guys on these teams that used shaved bats won’t even come forward yet you’re sitting here making accusations? I don’t know. Seems like HH rep was feeling the league out for the antics HH was gonna pull on the league for the season to come. Everything I’ve said regarding their history and them complaining about Dex last season and accusing Savages before this season started is 100% true but I’m the whiny sore loser? Please. Give me a freaking break.
SASL handle your mans before other teams start taking note and we turn into UTRIP. I offered to let HH use the Duck’s bats, didn’t seem good enough for them. For playoffs, I suggest league supplies HH with Two bats of their choice with stickers to make sure no funny business goes on. End rant.
- Most of Ducks players have accomplished a lot and last years Championship run may have been the greatest run in SASL history. What is in the future of the Ducks players?
MAY HAVE BEEN THE GREATEST RUN IN SASL HISTORY!? What in the name of Daler mehndi kind of stupid statement is that!? I have no idea what’s in store for the future. We’re focused on the troopers. They already took one from us this year.
- Growing up, who were your role models?
Pavy Badwal, Haaris Din, Ahmed Ghumman, and Siddique Farooqi.
- What professional teams do you follow in Baseball, Football, NBA and Hockey?
Mets, Giants, Bulls and petty much all NBA teams, Rangers.
- Ideal date with Saad, Dinner, and movies or Batting cage and Wendy’s thru at 3 am?
She pitches me 3 buckets of balls, shags the balls, I take her to gyro spot for 2 for $5 burgers, we go watch john wick 3 and cap the night off with McDonald’s soft serve.
- Is there an NL team that you would like to play on in 2020 and Why?
Please don’t ask me this question.
Thank you Saad, you’re now off the HOT SEAT.
