Jupinka Grinds Out Well-Earned Title In NY League 4
Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2004 2:57 am
For Stephen Jupinka, the end result made the often-tumultuous journey totally rewarding. Locked in a tough New York League 4, Jupinka and the other owners spent the majority of the season in a tough battle for the league prize with several of the teams locked in the competition for the overall prize as well.
It was that tough of a league.
Ultimately, Jupinka prevailed to win the league title with the season coming to an end just in time as far as he was concerned.
“It’s a good thing the season ended on Oct. 3 because I probably would have been in fourth on Oct. 4,” said Jupinka, a 39-year-old controller for Coffee America USA Corp who lives in Waldwick, N.J.
“It was a long, tough slog. The owners in New York League 4 were really a cut above as you can see in the overall league standings. At one point, we had four of our teams in the Top 10 overall. Too bad none of us ended up higher than 8th overall. We just started cannibalizing each other.”
Jupinka, who is married with three children, had one Draft Day strategy. Unfortunately, his co-manager (Jim Doherty) violated that plan.
“No Mets,” Jupinka said, recalling his strategy. “I head out to the (bathroom) and come back and he drafts Braden Looper.’
Although Jupinka may not have been thrilled with that selection at the time, as it turned out Looper played a key role in the league championship.
“By himself he got us three save points which was the difference at the end,” Jupinka said. “My partner is a genius.”
Besides those valuable points from Looper, Jupinka’s team had quality offensive balance, thanks in large part to solid free-agent pickups such as Brandon Inge, Chone Figgins and Wily Mo Pena. That proved vital given some season-long pitching problems.
“The pitching was a pain,” he said. “We couldn’t find another closer if our lives depended on it and if we had our top four starters (Josh Beckett, Brad Penny, Matt Clement and Cris Carpenter) pitch in the same week it was a miracle.”
With a league title under his belt, Jupinka said he enjoyed the NFBC immensely.
“It was a blast,” he said. “It’s run like a local league but with out the trading headaches, yet rewards nailing a season on a grand scale. It throws everyone in there – industry guys and the like – and if you were lucky to do well then you really did beat the best.”
It was that tough of a league.
Ultimately, Jupinka prevailed to win the league title with the season coming to an end just in time as far as he was concerned.
“It’s a good thing the season ended on Oct. 3 because I probably would have been in fourth on Oct. 4,” said Jupinka, a 39-year-old controller for Coffee America USA Corp who lives in Waldwick, N.J.
“It was a long, tough slog. The owners in New York League 4 were really a cut above as you can see in the overall league standings. At one point, we had four of our teams in the Top 10 overall. Too bad none of us ended up higher than 8th overall. We just started cannibalizing each other.”
Jupinka, who is married with three children, had one Draft Day strategy. Unfortunately, his co-manager (Jim Doherty) violated that plan.
“No Mets,” Jupinka said, recalling his strategy. “I head out to the (bathroom) and come back and he drafts Braden Looper.’
Although Jupinka may not have been thrilled with that selection at the time, as it turned out Looper played a key role in the league championship.
“By himself he got us three save points which was the difference at the end,” Jupinka said. “My partner is a genius.”
Besides those valuable points from Looper, Jupinka’s team had quality offensive balance, thanks in large part to solid free-agent pickups such as Brandon Inge, Chone Figgins and Wily Mo Pena. That proved vital given some season-long pitching problems.
“The pitching was a pain,” he said. “We couldn’t find another closer if our lives depended on it and if we had our top four starters (Josh Beckett, Brad Penny, Matt Clement and Cris Carpenter) pitch in the same week it was a miracle.”
With a league title under his belt, Jupinka said he enjoyed the NFBC immensely.
“It was a blast,” he said. “It’s run like a local league but with out the trading headaches, yet rewards nailing a season on a grand scale. It throws everyone in there – industry guys and the like – and if you were lucky to do well then you really did beat the best.”