The Clown Shu is WSEM's equivalent of MLB's Cy Young. Why the weird name? Well, wiffle is weird for one. Also, Cy Young never played wiffleball. The Clown Shu is named for the Clown Shoes, a tournament team from the 2009-2010 Downriver Wiffle days that is credited with introducing the hard-throwing pitching style into our lives. The spelling was changed since Shu reads a bit more like a name than "Shoe," a la Cy Young. Rumors of us once upon a time intending to hand out golden clown shoes to the winner are almost certainly true, although a dream we quickly forgot about ever seeing through.
A different player won the Shu each year over the first four WSEM seasons before Stephen Farkas became the first to repeat in 2015. Here's a rundown of all the Clown Shu winners and the numbers it took to claim the prize:
A different player won the Shu each year over the first four WSEM seasons before Stephen Farkas became the first to repeat in 2015. Here's a rundown of all the Clown Shu winners and the numbers it took to claim the prize:
- 2011 — Dennis Pearson: 1.30 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 17.3 K/6
- 2012 — Austin Bischoff: 0.49 ERA, 0.68 WHIP, 16.5 K/6
- 2013 — Craig Skinner: 0.37 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, 16.0 K/6
- 2014 — Stephen Farkas: 0.27 ERA, 0.35 WHIP, 16.9 K/6
- 2015 — Stephen Farkas: 0.32 ERA, 0.42 WHIP, 16.4 K/6
| PLAYER | BRIEF | ODDS |
|
On this list because he's thrown down the gauntlet; said he will win the Shu this year. He throws hard and his career numbers - admittedly based on short seasons - can put him in the discussion: 0.60 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 14.9 K/6. If he can keep that up over a season of 10+ games pitched, he has a shot.
|
15:1 | |
|
Posted a 0.52 ERA and 0.68 WHIP over the final 81.1 IP of the 2015 season (from May 3 - July 25). That performance, which covers 98% of his season, earns him a spot on the shortlist of candidates. What decides whether or not he stays there? Whether or not he can avoid another blow up with the other 2%.
|
9:1 | |
|
2013 Shu. Never posted a season ERA higher than 0.69; his career 0.58 is #3 all-time. His 0.76 WHIP is even better, putting him #2 all-time in that category. Also, #2 all-time in perfect games thrown with 4.
|
6:1 | |
|
Entering his sophomore campaign may provide an inside track: a second-year pitcher has won the Shu 3 out of 5 times. One of the hardest throwers in WSEM, his rookie campaign numbers (0.82 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 15.0 K/6) are a bit inflated after he helped the Cox tank their final series. His "real" ERA may be half that.
|
5:1 | |
|
2 years in the league. 2-time Clown Shu. And he's done it with lower ERA and WHIP numbers than any other pitcher. Number-one all time in those two stats (0.30 and 0.39, respectively), as well as K/6 (16.7) and perfect games tossed (5).
|
2.5:1 | |
|
2012 Shu. Always in the discussion. Career 0.35 ERA (#2), 0.79 WHIP (#4), and 16.5 K/6 (#2). Expect him to carry his roster on his arm. X-factor: Comes into the season with the advantage of nobody having seen him pitch in 600 days.
|
2:1 | |
