1/9/2013

"OLD SCHOOL" Team Review

Preview: We are in our 17th week in, and we're placed 5th with 36.5 wins and 26.5 loss record. As of now we are 4.5 games back from the 1st place team. Note that I made a mistake last week stating it was our 17th week, but it was actually our 16th week therefore this week is our 17th. Also, last week we lost 3 games to a tough team, which leads to the big question, "can we rebound?"

Summary: This week was not easy at all. In fact I would have to go as far as saying we came from behind and finished strong while holding the lead, winning it 3 games to 1. Not bad at all.

June Wei (Avg: 107)
Scores: 75, 114, 109
Overall Grade: B-
Review: Best way to summarize June's performance: Hands-me-down of Roum's. Because last week's performance was June's best thus far, she has a lot to work on and her inconsistencies show, which is why she got a "-" and not a B. Towards the end of game 3, she started to add little spin to her throw as seen below's vid (sorry about the bad quality, might use Russ's phone next time if he has the slow motion feature). Overall, lots of potential, high-ceiling, which helps because once she has it all down, let's just say she can definitely enter the women's sweeps with a high chance of winning especially with her HC.

Russ Overton (Avg: 157)

Scores: 179, 159, 194
Overall Grade: A+
Review: What can I say about the star of the week? Albeit, there were a few spots Russ can really work on like hitting those easy spares in the second game; other than that, amazing performance and something we should all imitate, embody, mock, etc (you get the picture) as much as we can. The only and I'm really stressing "only" part Russ could really work on for his game is doing better during the middle of the games that is best put, mediocre.

Henry Wei (Avg: 153)
Scores: 137, 148, 181
Overall Grade: B-
Review: Terrible start, mediocre 2nd but strong 3rd. Again, I had a hard time finding the lanes, but once I found it, I was able to hit my strikes (5 in a row in the 3rd). For some reason, I was not able to focus in the 1st game and needed buckle down and really try hard in order for me to finish anywhere close to my average (minus 16 pins). Focus is key to helping me either reach or better my average, which is something I'll be working on next week. I gave myself a B- instead of a B (even though I got 2 pins above my average) due to the fact I under-performed compared to last week.

Roum Evangelista (Avg: 168)
Scores: 136, 181, 169
Overall Grade: B
Review: "Rocky" Part III. Scores might not reflect it exactly; however, just like in the movie, Rocky was down in the beginning, but he came back and won it. Roum took a beating in the 1st game with a 136 score, but he came back with 2 great games, and must I add, helped hold the lead at the end of the 3rd game to fight off Jumanji's comeback. STILL, the first game hurt his average, which leads me to give him a B and not an A. Needs to really work on finishing off the 2,4 spares and the 6,10 spares. STOP dropping the ball! Much better performance this week than last, 2 thumbs-up Rocky!

Team's Overall Performance: Between B+ and B
I'm having a hard time deciphering what grade to give either a B+ or a B so I decided to give between there. I'm definitely proud of the way we bowled; in fact, I'll be honest as saying I thought we were going to lose all our games based on how we bowled our first. But, we stood our ground, bowled decent in the 2nd with the help of the opponent not getting their spares and strikes. It's really our 3rd game I'm most proud of; we held off not one but 2 (!!) bowlers who happened to score above 200. In our history, we were never able to do that, and for us to do that today, better now than later. Still though, we all need to find our lanes and stick with it. Can't lose focus otherwise we'll be in a deep rut and that's something I don't want us to be in. It's easier and puts less pressure on us trying to hold a lead than coming back let's say 100 pins down. Can't say enough on how proud I am of our team, great effort guys.

Post Notes: I like the lineup change, I think it was long overdue, but for some reason I really thought the first lineup could pull through (gave way too many chances, just way too many). Russ and I will continue to be aggressive while Jiyoon will keep learning to spin the ball. As for Roum, he needs to be a better anchor; in game 1, Russ was our anchor more than anything =P. Next week, we will be going against the last-place team. They only have 3 bowlers with a total HC of 247 (not including this week's scores). Based on our avg of last week, our HC is a combined total of 215 so right there we are 32 pins down if both teams HCs stay the same. So be prepared and let's go kick some @$$ (mind the swearing but I'm pumped).

1/2/2013

"OLD SCHOOL" Team Review

Preview: We are in our 17th week in, and placed 5th with 35.5 wins and 24.5 loss record. Since this is my first post, I would like to say how proud I am of our team at this point to be in a situation where we can actually be able to contend for first place.

Summary: Overall today, we had an above average performance. Any other night, we sure would have won if not 4 then at least 3 games; however, we ended up losing 3 and only winning one measly game. To summarize how I feel: not happy in the slightest.

Russ Overton (Avg: 156)
Scores: 170, 179, 192
Overall Grade: A
Review: Nothing really to complain about. Bowled very consistent and got the strikes when needed. Great starts and finished quite strong; however, still lacked focus during the middle of the games. Also, needs to work on getting the 7-8 spare and the 9-10 spare. Other than that, great game and should be able to continue to bowl strong especially how there are no bye weeks.

Roum Evangelista (Avg: 169)
Scores: 209, 172, 109
Overall Grade: C+
Review: "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". Fabulous bowling the first two games; however, noticed during the middle of the second game, Roum started to struggle but was able to pick himself back up and finished strong. The third game, the score speaks for itself. I gave him a "+" because of how well he was able to bowl the first two otherwise I would have given him a plain C so credit was given there, but when we needed him the most (third game), Roum was not able to pick himself back up; therefore bowling 60 pins below his avg. Roum needs to work on not over thinking things too much and try not to force the ball to get his strikes; two face.

June Wei (Avg: 105)
Scores: 126, 113, 156
Overall Grade: A+
Review: The only person to bowl better than Russ, not due to the scratch total, but mainly due to her best performance up to date, and how she was able to overcome her bowling woes and become consistent all throughout. She still is not spinning the ball, but she is starting to get the idea of hitting the pocket or getting brooklyns. Also, June tends to over think that makes her let go the ball either too early or too late which is why the ball either goes too far to the left or the right. One thing she can do is try flinging the ball in the air and flick the wrist a little harder to apply the spin; something to consider about. Other than that, great performance and couldn't have asked more out of her.

Henry Wei (Avg: 152)
Scores: 194, 142, 157
Overall Grade: B
Review: Although I was able to start off strong, I was not able to find the lanes all throughout the second and third game. Some of the strikes I'll even go as far as saying I got lucky on them. Need to really work on getting the 3-6-10 spare as I keep knocking down the 6-10 pins, but leaving the 3 pin standing. I tend to really over commit to the right side and when I'm not feeling confident hitting the pocket I consistently release the ball more towards the left, which leads me praying for brooklyns than the pocket. Need to find the lane quick in order to have good games = not very good and something to really work on.

Team's Overall Performance: B-
Again, as a team we bowled one of our finest games in our team's history so we shouldn't feel too bad about the 1-3 loss (I'm still pissed). BUT, could it have been better? Definitely! It goes without saying, we all have things to work on and in time, we'll be able to overcome those mistakes and I feel confident we will end up in tip-top shape ready for sweeps when Vegas comes rolling along. Russ made an excellent point on us needing to show more urgency on adapting to the lane conditions. As a team, we just simply suck when it comes to us trying to figuring out the lanes as the games goes on. In fact, one thing I noticed is we take an avg a game and a half to start bowling consistently when we have trouble finding our lanes from the get-go. That just does not cut it, and it puts us in the position to come from behind when it becomes clear it's too late; it's definitely something we all need to work on. One last time, thanks for a good game and yes, we did lose 3 games, but seeing how we are starting to bowl better as a team is definitely something to build on.

Post Notes: As you are already aware, I have changed the lineup. My explanation is quite simple, in the beginning I wanted Roum and Russ to be the aggressors for our team and help us get a substantial lead so that June would not have to feel the pressure to bowl great every single night. That has not happened thus far and out of the 17 games we have played thus far, only a handful of times when we did not need her scores to win matches. So I've decided to switch the lineup having Roum go back to the anchor position and apply the pressure on him to bowl consistently every night. Jiyoon will bowl first and hopefully she'll set the tone early and help us get the lead. Russ will bowl second and I'm sure he'll excel in that spot. I will move to third and be more aggressive while Roum will back all of us up to make sure where we fail as a team, he will help pick those pieces up. Sorry, Roum ;P.