BREAKING NEWS!

ID IS SOOOOOOO IMPORTANT.

The league will use ID spot checking throughout the playoffs. You need to have a picture ID (Driver's license) and one other form of ID WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES DURING SATURDAY.

So, put a pay stub, business card, work ID, etc...in your glove right now. If you don't bring it, you won't be able to play.

Now, here's the email I received from the Commish about the playoffs. Read on if you like:

Coaches,

Congratulations.You've made the 2008 MMSL playoff field. Next Saturday (good Lord willin') you'll step on the finest fields you've probably seen in some time. You'll compete in a double-elimination tournament that will highlight your team's spirit of camaraderie as well as its competitive streak. When you're done playing, you'll file into the nearby Ledo's Pizza for food, drink and reminiscing. You'll (hopefully) buy a round for your opponents. When you're eliminated, you won't be able to wait to get back. Should you win it all, you'll talk about it for years, and have a pretty cool memory to share with your colleagues.It's what you weathered a washed-out May for, why you scrambled some weeks to barely field a roster and then thanked your lucky stars when you pulled out a split that week.

OK, I'm waxing a tad rhapsodic here ... well ... because I miss it! The playoffs are fun, and should be celebrated for the great achievement they are.So again, congratulations to all of you.OK, on to business. As coaches, there are a lot of housekeeping details you'll be responsible for overseeing this week.

The protocols for the playoffs are different than what we use in the regular season. I'll be hitting you with e-mails this week dealing with things like player conduct, the inclement weather procedure and the like, so check your inbox. Tonight I'm going to touch only on two things: your playoff roster and your homework assignment.Attached is your official 2008 playoff roster. Fill it out COMPLETELY and fax it to me NO LATER THAN THURSDAY JULY 10 AT NOON. Please be aware this is a drop-dead deadline. I'm planning to be out of the office Friday so if I don't have your roster by the time I leave Thursday, your team won't be permitted to take the field Saturday. Please don't ask me to shoot you an e-mail with a confirmation I received your roster; if you don't hear from me, assume we're good to go. If I don't see anything from you come Wednesday, I'll be hollering.

Please also be aware that your roster sheet will be used in a roster check during the tournament. EVERY TEAM will be checked at some point. The use of an illegal player is a serious offense and will result in a forfeit. Don't even try it. Review in detail with your players the identification they'll need WITH THEM ON THE FIELD next weekend for the roster check. Now to the fun part, your homework.

Please fill out the following questionnaire for a series of playoff previews we'll be posting all week. Shoot to get them back to me by Tuesday close of business. Answer fully and honestly; don't worry about bulletin-board material, it's softball!Thanks, I'll be hitting you again soon. Here's your homework:

Team:
2008 Record (PCS seed):
2007 Record:
Coach(es):
Key Returning Players:
Valuable New Additions:
Key To Success This Season:
Likely Key to Success in the Tournament:
Team Other Than Your Own You Think Will Win the 2008 Tourney: