#BetweenTheSheets: Rankings System Slip Up
New system, same problems?
Trust me loyal follower, you are not alone. I grow tiresome of this on-going topic as well.
It may seem like I don't because it is talked about so much but I really do.
Why can we not just figure this out, make it simple and move on already?
It REALLY is not that difficult!
Many curling athletes and fans noticed a special announcement put out by the World Curling Federation on Monday September 5. Here is the exact message from the WCF website:
"After further review upon implementation of the changes made to the World Curling Team Ranking System, it was determined that additional differentiation was necessary for events. Therefore the event Strength of Field Multiplier will now be rounded down to the closest .5 interval. These changes will retroactively be adjusted for all events in the 2022–2023 season."
You can already imagine the head scratching reaction from many within the sport.
Why are we making this "rounded down" change 5 weeks into the season?
When this "new ranking system" was developed and unveiled in the off-season, could this not have been discussed/considered?
What exactly was happening during those summer months?
And yet another reason why this Strength of Field Multiplier factor is more a hinder to the sport than helping.
Look, I am sure there is some logical rationale being made at a board room table somewhere for this decision. And, honestly, I do not even think the decision itself is the issue here.
It is the timing more than anything.
Why now? Why after the season started? And why at a time when a #GSOC qualification cut off date looms?
It all comes across sketchy with a lack of transparency.
Could this move cause a ripple effect to GSOC qualification? Meh, maybe, maybe not. On paper it seems minor...but it might not be.
In watching the US Open (tennis) over the past two weeks, one thing I love about the sport is you know going into a major event which player(s) has the chance to take over the #1 ranking before the event starts.
The ranking points are fixed. The system is fixed.
Even players not in contention for the #1 ranking still know where their ranking may rise (or fall) to based on their results. Seems simple!
The argument always being made for curling is the fields per event fluctuate and are not always even.
Ummm, do you think every tennis event week in and week out has the same strength of field either?
Who is the system not being "fair" to? You control your own points. You set your schedule. Win and reap the ranking reward. Lose and enjoy the tumble down the mountain. It is what it is.
But making ranking system changes after the start to the season just makes the sport look like an episode of Goof Troop.
We can only hope this is a small slip up along the sliding path...but the trust (and transparency) is starting to fall flat once again.
Alas, we cannot harp on the negative and things we have no control over my fellow rock heads.
How about we focus on the positive and celebrate some the successes of the season?
Already early into the season we are seeing some familiar and consistent names in championship finals.
We see you Team Retornaz, Team Tirinzoni and Team Grandy!! What a start to the season.
Here is what you may have missed last weekend.
#TheRunback
Men
🥌 Adelboden International - Team Retornaz (ITA) def. Team Schnider (SUI). Retornaz went 6-0 to claim the title.
🥌 Curling Stadium Martensville International - Team Schwaller (SUI) def. Team Yanagisawa (JPN). Schwaller went 6-1 over the weekend, revenging their only loss in the RR to Yanagisawa in the final.
🥌 Oslo Cup - Team Edin (SWE) def. Team Walstad (NOR). Edin finished the weekend 7-0 and handed Walstad their only loss of the tournament in the finale.
🥌 U25 #NextGen Classic - Team Mooibroek (ONT) def. Team Purcell (NS). Mooibroek went 6-1 on the weekend and wore the #StealPants in the playoffs. They stole 10 straight points in the SF (def. Kleiter) and stole another 6 in two ends to close out the final.
Women
🥌 Curling Stadium Martensville International - Team Grandy (BC) def. Team Tirinzoni (SUI). Grandy went 7-1 en route to the title, including avenging the loss to Tirinzoni in the final last weekend in Quebec.
🥌 Oslo Cup - Team Hasselborg (SWE) def. Team Lawes (MB). Hasselborg finished the weekend 6-1, avenged their RR loss to Swedish rival Wrana in the SF and handed Lawes their only loss of the tournament in the final.
🥌 U25 #NextGen Classic - Team Gray-Withers (AB) def. Team Ackerman (SK). Gray-Withers went 5-2 over the weekend and avenged their opening game loss to Ackerman in the final.
And how did the blog do in the predictions from last week's post?
Accurately predicted the final teams and result at the Oslo Cup, men and women.
Correct on a men's (Schwaller) and women's (Tirinzoni) finalist in Martensville, just mixing up the result on which would win the title and which would finish runner-up.
And hedged the bet on Retornaz winning in Adelboden and correct on all 6 playoff qualifiers.
Maybe the blog still has it with these predictions after all this time off from COVID?
With a few weeks of tour action under the slider, time to update the Power Rankings.
The number in parenthesis refers to the #TwineTime pre-season Power Rankings for the women and the men.
#PowerRankings
Women
1. Team Tirinzoni (6) - New team? Same result! The world champs may have a new line-up but the end game is the same. 2 events. 2 finals. 1 tour title. 11-2 overall, including an 8-game winning streak to start their season. Both losses to Grandy though so could a mild rivalry be building here?
2. Team Hasselborg (1) - 1 for 1 thus far. 1 event. 1 tour title. Can't complain with that start to the season. They only drop from the top spot because of how strong Tirinzoni has played this season.
3. Team Grandy (NR) - A B.C. super team ready to take on the world? So far, so good. 2 events. 2 championship finals. 1 tour title. 11-3 overall. And losses to Tirinzoni, Team Duncan and Team Jones are not "bad losses" either. Watch out for this team!
4. Team Gim (NR) - Rebounded from the loss in the Korean Championship final with a tour championship win in Leduc followed by a SF appearance last weekend in Martensville. They have one of the busiest schedules to start the season as they play 5 events between now and the end of October, not including the possibility of qualifying for the #GSOC BOOST National Thanksgiving weekend.
5. Team Lawes (8) - Solid opening start to the season for a new team, going undefeated and reaching the final in Oslo. Nothing to hang your head about when losing a championship final to Hasselborg either.
6. Team Einarson (2) - We patiently wait for the Canadian champs to hit the ice for the first time this season at the PointsBet Invitational in two weeks. They only drop in the rankings due to lack of play and the stellar play of those above them.
7. Team Fujisawa (3) - They played their 1st event of the season last weekend at the Argo Graphics Cup, finishing the RR with a 3-0 record but losing the SF and winning the 3rd place match. They are back on the ice this weekend at the Advics Cup in Hokkaido.
8. Team E. Kim (4) - We only saw them at the Korean Championships in June, where they suffered the "surprise" loss to Team Ha in the SF and ended up with a 4th place finish. They are not scheduled to compete until October in Swift Current.
9. Team Roervik (NR) - This may be an unconventional pick but 2 events down, 2 qualifications, 1 championship final appearance and a 4th place finish for the Norwegian team. Regardless of competition or strength of field (blah, blah, blah), this is a solid start to the season. And losses to Lawes, Team Jentsch and Team Wrana are not bad losses.
10. Team Homan (5) - We get our first look at the new team this weekend in Edmonton. But they sure are killing it on social media!
Hon. Mention: Team Jones, Team Jentsch, Team Carey
Men
1. Team Retornaz (10) - Back-to-back tour titles in Scotland and Switzerland and a 12-game winning streak puts the Italians atop the mountain. After opening their season with a QF appearance in Baden, they have not lost and they have a Points For (PF) / Points Against (PA) ratio of 7.6 / 2.75. They are not just winning, they are in full control of their games right now. And couldn't happen to a nicer guy on tour than skipper Joel!
2. Team Walstad (NR) - 3 events. 2 championship finals. 1 tour title. 1 QF finish. Solid start to the season for the Norwegians. Overall record of 15-4 with losses to Whyte (x2), Dropkin and Edin. Thomas Ulsrud would be proud to see another team from Norway excel this early into the season.
3. Team Edin (2) - Remember the 1-3 record in Baden? Neither do the world champs. They won the title in Oslo and are on a 7-game winning streak, outscoring their opposition to a PF/PA ratio of 8.3 / 2.7. Safe to say Baden was just a little Olympic/World champion hangover to start the season.
4. Team Whyte (6) - 3 events, 3 QF results, 10-4 overall. Solid start for the young Scottish lads. They should be playing their way into regular #GSOC territory. Now they just need to get over the QF hurdle going forward.
5. Team Schwaller (8) - A SF appearance in Baden to start the season followed up with a tour title in Martensville has the new-look Swiss team on a roll and looking strong. Lets see what they do in Leduc this weekend riding a 6-match winning streak.
6. Team Gushue (3) - Canadian champs have yet to step on the ice this season and will not do so until Fredericton in two weeks. Normal scheduling from Gushue though, who usually starts his season a bit later than most of his competition. No concerns, no worries, no problems.
7. Team Gosgens (NR) - Early feel good story of the season? A final appearance in Baden and SF appearance in Stirling had the Dutch Boys on a roll. 2-2 in Oslo last weekend actually dropped them down these rankings but they still debut in the Top 10.
8. Team Yanagisawa (NR) - The Japanese champions opened their season with a final appearance last weekend and a 5-3 record overall. What makes the story better is their ability to rebound after losses. They lost to Team Laycock and Team Flasch in the RR only to turn around, learn from the loss and beat them both in the QF and SF. They ran out of steam in the final vs. Schwaller but solid start here. Watch out?!?
9. Team Flasch (9) - Baden was a tough go to start the season, going 1-3, but they rebounded nicely on home province ice last weekend going 5-0 in the RR. Unfortunately they fell in the SF to a hot hand Yanagisawa team. It happens in sports. Can't win them all. But still a team looking like a regular Top 10 fixture...for now?!
10. Team Dropkin (NR) - Dangerous up and coming team who are using momentum from their 4th place finish at the world championship last season to fuel the fire for this season. Season opening QF in Baden followed by a championship final appearance in Stirling. They are back on the ice this weekend in Leduc.
Hon. Mention: Team Mouat, Team McEwen, Team Jeong
It is still early in the season and many top teams have yet to hit the ice so the Power Rankings are a bit tough to fairly assess at this point.
However, the blog still rewards results. And you all remember the theme: consistency, consistency, consistency!
Could this weekend's results shake up the mountain?
And, in keeping with the newly introduced #PopcornMatch theme, bring on the weekly previews and predictions.
#TourLifePredictions
MEN
Curling Stadium Alberta Curling Series Major
Leduc, AB
2021 Champion: New Event
Format: 24 team triple knockout with 8 qualifiers.
Top Teams Entered: Team Schwaller, Team McEwen, Team Carruthers, Team Epping, Team Dropkin
#Fav:
Fresh off one Curling Stadium win last weekend, why not make it back-to-back?
Switzerland's Team Schwaller seems to have found the glue to stick this team together into a championship threat.
Plus, why bet against a team on a 6-match winning streak? The confidence is high and the wins are piling up already.
#TeamUpset:
There are quite a few teams who could surprise the field in Leduc: Team Gauthier, Team Adams, Team Kleiter, Team Sturmay, Team Hess, Team Wiebe.
There is a strong #NextGen contingent ready to make waves.
But perhaps the team most people should watch out for and a team who may fly under the radar against those "bigger" names is Team Sluchinski.
They already have a Curling Stadium Series tour win under the sliders, winning the event at the end of August.
And where did that event take place? Leduc. Hmmm, perhaps sliding down some lucky ice this weekend as well?
Skipper Aaron Sluchinski delivered a bomb with his final rock in the championship final to claim the title. Maybe that is why his twitter handle reads @Slybomb?
The team is on a 4-match win streak and won in Leduc already. Can lightning strike ice twice?
#W2W4:
There are a few new teams making their debut this weekend. Many eyes will probably be fixated on the new marriage of Reid Carruthers and Jason Gunnlaugson.
We saw what a strong pairing can be in the past when Carruthers joined forces with Mike McEwen. They became THE team in Manitoba for a few seasons before the train ran its course.
Can this new back end tandem find quick success?
And what about Darren Moulding?
Moulding is from Lacombe, AB. Not too far of a drive from Leduc. It is a bit of a homecoming tournament for him and his new team out of Northern Ontario, Team Horgan.
He has partnered up with one of the brightest #NextGen stars, Tanner Horgan, and it will be interesting to see how their partnership works.
Both of these teams have tremendous fan support. Can both live up to expectations this season though?
#PopcornMatch:
Triple knockouts are tough to predict as there are countless possibilities at play. But if we are looking to grab some popcorn in the first round, look no further than:
Team Brunner vs. Team Yanagisawa - The Japanese champs are coming off a final appearance last weekend in their season opener. Team Brunner will be playing their 4th event of the season and are still trying to complete the puzzle as a new look team. Both teams have a high ceiling for potential.
If we want to get caught looking ahead, how about these potential matchups:
Team McEwen vs. Team Carruthers - They could meet in an A-qualifier or elsewhere along the way.
Team Dropkin vs. Team Horgan - Korey vs. Tanner could be a fun rivalry between two of the best up and coming skips in the game...plus who doesn't love a little USA vs. Canada battle?!
Team Epping vs. Team Kleiter - If Kleiter is going to start becoming a real threat on the men's tour, the boys need to start taking down some of the bigger names. This is a perfect opening round matchup to see if they can do it.
Qualifiers: Team McEwen, Team Dropkin, Team Schwaller, Team Carruthers, Team Yanagisawa, Team Sluchinski, Team Sturmay, Team Epping
Championship: Team McEwen def. Team Schwaller
WOMEN
Saville Shoot-Out
Edmonton, AB
2021 Champion: Team Gim
Format: 20 team RR with 4 pools of 5. Top 8 qualify.
Top Teams Entered: Team Homan, Team Gim, Team Scheidegger, Team Carey
#Fav:
Korea's Team Gim has picked up this season right where they left off last season. Gim ended last season as the runner-up at the season-ending Champions Cup.
This season they have played in the Korean Championship final, won a tour event in Leduc and reached the SF last weekend. They are playing deep into every event and have quietly become one of the strongest teams on tour.
They are playing in Pool B, drawing Korean rival Team Ha, Japan's Team Kitazawa and Canada's Team Martin and Team Sturmay.
This is a strong pool. Perhaps, on paper, the #PoolOfDeath for this competition.
But would you want to play against a team burning up the ice right now?
#TeamUpset:
Could home ice advantage come into play at Saville?
If so, keep your eyes on recent U25 #NextGen Classic champ Team Gray-Withers.
The University of Alberta Pandas team is riding the hot hand right now after their victory last weekend in Edmonton. After losing their opening two games, they won five straight to take the championship.
Of course this weekend will be a much stiffer test, pairing up against the likes of Team Scheidegger, Team Carey and Team Jones.
Whether they qualify or not, this will be a good litmus test for the young team and they could surprise a few of their opposition.
#W2W4:
The scheduling is always interesting with some of these tour events.
This weekend each team will play five games. Four of those games will be against their pool opposition and one game will be against a team from another pool.
It is always interesting to see how those "other pool" games factor into qualification. A luck of the draw type of scenario almost where you could draw a team on fire and playing lights out in another pool or a team struggling.
From a games perspective, awesome! Who doesn't love more curling and each team playing five games is more bang for their buck. Although five games in just over 24 hours does seem heavy.
From a competition perspective, unsure! This is where more TB scenarios come into play and qualification can get VERY messy.
If the format is to just play the teams in your own pool, with a Top 2 in each pool qualification system, you know what you have to do. Win at least 2 games and you stand a chance. Win 3 and you are probably good to qualify.
But with the added wildcard game against a team from another pool, the path to playoffs is a bit more convoluted. A 2-3 record could, in theory, still keep you in the running for a playoff spot. Not likely, but still possible.
And while curling fans may love TB games (sometimes), if you can eliminate those possibilities and keep the competition format simple, why not?
If teams end up tied with 3-1 or 2-2 records in their pool, the Head 2 Head should be the deciding TB.
I know it is never "simple" to develop a tournament format. And, as mentioned, it is always great to see more games for the players and the fans.
But sometimes, a simple format is just more fun to follow and makes the pool games have a bit more meaning behind them.
Curling does enjoy the "Top 8 overall" qualification format and, for some events with smaller fields, I get it. But for these events with larger fields and more pools in play, the simple "Top 2 in each pool" advance formula can make sense.
If pools are designed based on rankings, which they really should be to make it fair, the system rewards itself. Upsets can happen. Favourites get early "perceived" scheduling advantages.
But maybe I am out practicing on the Sheet F here while all of you are enjoying the competition on Sheets A - D?
#PopcornMatch:
Team Gim vs. Team Ha (Draw 4, Saturday) - A rematch of the Korean championship final and, perhaps, the next chapter of a developing new rivalry out of Korea.
Team Scheidegger vs. Team Moore (Playoffs?) - Should both teams qualify for the playoffs, former teammates could square off. We know the players are still friends off the ice but who doesn't love a little battle of former teammates?
Qualifiers: Team Homan, Team Gim, Team Scheidegger, Team Jones, Team Galusha, Team Martin, Team Carey, Team Brown
Championship: Team Homan def. Team Scheidegger
Gord Carroll Curling Classic
Whitby, ONT
2021 Champion: Team Murphy
Format: 12 team RR with 2 pools of 6. Top 8 qualifiers.
Top Teams Entered: Team Howard, Team Ladouceur
#Fav:
Trivia time: What is the team name of the University of Waterloo?
Answer: The Warriors!
Waterloo may be unleashing their own warriors on the ice this weekend in Whitby in the name of Team Ladouceur.
And after the strong results to the early season, the team name is fitting.
Team Ladouceur has already competed in two events this season and has reached the SF both times.
They were semi-finalists in Leduc at the Curling Stadium Alberta Curling Series event at the end of August and recently reached the SF at the Curling Canada U25 #NextGen Classic in Edmonton.
Their overall record for the season may be a modest 6-4 but losses to a Top 10 team (Team Gim) and Top 25 team (Team Sturmay) are nothing to lower your head over. Plus, last weekend they fell victim in the SF to eventual champions Team Gray-Withers.
They are now ranked #43 in the world and on the rise. A strong weekend could propel them to the Top 40 or Top 35.
And they are playing with some confidence and momentum while most of their opposition will be making their season debut.
#TeamUpset:
Lets keep with the uni theme, shall we?
If one is looking at the Teams listing for this event, they may notice TMU Curling.
What is TMU Curling you ask?
TMU stands for Toronto Metropolitan University.
The TMU women's curling team is led by sisters Courtney and Cayla Auld. A familiar family name as their mother is competitive Ontario curler Cathy Auld.
These #NextGen athletes also are looking to make their mark on the sport but not on family name alone.
This will be a good opportunity to see how this team stacks up with some of the top Ontario curling teams.
Wondering what the TMU team name is? Rams!
Lets find out if these Rams are ready to lock horns and bulldoze their opposition this weekend.
And if you interested in knowing more about the sisters, check out the article posted by TMU back in March this year.
#W2W4:
As the old sports motto goes, "Anything can happen!"
This is a wide-open field.
We have a few teams who have already competed this season. We have a few teams ready to make their season debut.
And we have a few teams ready to debut their new teams.
Consider this event a litmus test for each of the teams to get the early-season read on where they stand in the province.
Team Homan will be the overwhelming favourite in Ontario once again and Team Duncan has already showed themselves to be the main contender.
But, from this event, could a surprise challenger emerge ready to take both on in the future?
#PopcornMatch:
Team Howard vs. Team Ladouceur (Draw 1 - Friday) - The two highest ranked teams in the field were not only drawn into the same pool (how is that possible?) but they draw one another in the opening game of the event.
Team Inglis vs. Team Mann (Draw 5 - Saturday) - Two teams who have drawn lots of support as dark horse challengers for the Ontario Scotties this season. They will face off in the final RR game with possible playoff implications on the line.
Qualifiers: Team Howard, Team Mann, Team Ladouceur, Team Inglis, Team Froud, Team Wasylkiw, Team Deschene, Team Burns
Championship: Team Howard def. Team Inglis
Note the Advics Cup is also taking place this weekend in Hokkaido, Japan. This is a men's and women's tour event. The competition is already underway so it would not be fair to include a full preview and predictions. My apologies.
However, you can follow along with all the action at the event website HERE.
As well, select games will be streamed live on the "Hokkaido Curling Tour 2022" YouTube channel HERE.
Special shout out and thanks to Kero-chan on twitter for sharing these resources.
#StayTuned
Will the results of the weekend impact the Power Rankings? Will we see a team move up? Move down?
Keep your eyes peeled to the results and step back into the #TwineTime house next week for an update.
Good luck and good curling...
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