This year, we have twenty-two teams that will be competing for the elusive M Street Cup. The top six teams from each division will qualify for the playoffs with the top two teams receiving a first round bye. Also, the pitching rules were ironed out at the end of last season and we're anxious to have a full season of play where we are all on the same page - no sling and pitchers cannot bring their pitching arm above their head on the back swing.

M Street is more of a hitter's league at the moment but clutch pitching performances and strong defense is the key to winning the championship. There was some talk about bringing back the sling/fast pitching this season where dominating pitching performances were common but with two of the six "A" teams dropping out all together, there just wasn't any interest. The door will always be open to having a fast pitch division.

One will need a league program to keep track of all the team changes for this season. First off, the MJS Braves, Loco Pirates, L Street Tavern, Dirty Fungo's, and DRT will not be returning for the 2024 season. Layla's American Tavern is a new entry that will be joining us - welcome to the league boys! Along with the departures and entrant we also have quite a few name changes. PowTown is now sponsored by Shea's Tavern - the Frozen Ropes are now known as the Chemist Cocktail Club - SLS is now known as Sam Adams - STATS is now known as the Clock Tavern Sluggers - and the Stew Jays are now sponsored by Loco and will be called the Loco Stew Jays. With all that team movement the divisions had to be realigned. They are as follows:

Sam Moran Division

• Pat Simpson Club
• Loco Stew Jays
• Shea's Tavern
• Broadway
• Seapoint Slammers
• Publico
• LaFamilia
• Silkworms
• Chemist Cocktail Club
• The Greatest Bar
• The Spot

John Feeney Division

• Lincoln Tavern
• Big Ballers
• Playwright Shamrocks
• Shamrock Pub
• Shannon Tavern
• Layla's American Tavern
• Clock Tavern Sluggers
• Telegraph Hill
• Sam Adams
• Fat Baby
• Roza Lyons

Several pitchers have also found new homes - Jimmy Pinkston has hooked on with the Pat Simpson Club - Chris Pope will be throwing strikes for the Clock Tavern Sluggers, the steadily improving, Greg Bosse has joined the Fat Baby squad, and Brian Pacheco will bring his arm and softball wisdom to the championship driven Loco Stew Jays. Details are still being worked out for a few other pitchers who are hoping to be on the M Street mound this season. I'm sure there are several other positional players along with a great group of rookies who will be making their league debut.

The two-time defending champion, Lincoln Tavern will tell you that they won't be as competitive this season but as we have seen in the past, when the bright lights are on, this squad IS still the team to beat. It all starts this Monday at M Street as the league will open with a week of 6pm games (no lights).

In closing, we lost one of the most talented pitchers to ever take the mound at M Street. Rafael Ramos, who mostly pitched for the Boston Braves, brought his blazing 70 MPH fastball to M Street for the 2021 season and was a sight to see. Anyone who ever stepped into the batter's box will tell you that the man could throw softball as hard as anyone. When Ramos was on the mound it was "helmet night" - that's how hard he threw. His loud grunt after each release could be heard all throughout the park. Although he wasn't on the most talented teams, he still led the league in strikeouts and instantly made the Braves a serious contender. The details of Ramos' passing are dark and we won't get into them here - readers seek help if you are struggling in your life (work pressure, relationship issues, money, etc). Please talk to someone.

Rafael Ramos