Major League Table Tennis (MLTT)

[pongfugrasshopper]

So the Crocs last year traded their 1st round pick and Kaden Xu to the Blasters for Andy Pereira. The Blasters used that pick (#6) to get Huang Yan Cheng, a 22 yo from Taiwan whose wins include LJK, Aruna, and China young star Huang Youzheng. Blasters offloaded Kaden to expansion draft team, NY Slice. That's a really lopsided trade in favor of the Bay Area Blasters. Crocs offloaded a major weakness at the female position last year, Matilda Ekholm who went to the LA Spinners with the last pick. Crocs used their top pick (#16) on a 24 yr old female player from China, Peiyu Zhu. So at least that fixes the major weakness. But just imagine if Crocs had Huang Yan Cheng to go along with Pitchford, Duran, and Gorak.

 

[NextLevel]

So the Crocs last year traded their 1st round pick and Kaden Xu to the Blasters for Andy Pereira. The Blasters used that pick (#6) to get Huang Yan Cheng, a 22 yo from Taiwan whose wins include LJK, Aruna, and China young star Huang Youzheng. Blasters offloaded Kaden to expansion draft team, NY Slice. That's a really lopsided trade in favor of the Bay Area Blasters. Crocs offloaded a major weakness at the female position last year, Matilda Ekholm who went to the LA Spinners with the last pick. Crocs used their top pick (#16) on a 24 yr old female player from China, Peiyu Zhu. So at least that fixes the major weakness. But just imagine if Crocs had Huang Yan Cheng to go along with Pitchford, Duran, and Gorak.

The way through MLTT works is very often personality and relationship based at this time, not entirely sure they are being as coldly calculating as you are in assessing them. I think the coach for Florida is Cuban and that the club location as well would make Andy Pereira easier to work with. That was probably the primary consideration over the tactical value of the pick. So far the incoming players have been an improvement on Legacy players so if next year maintains that trend, trading any picks is probably a bad idea asef on player strength though it has been used so far to improve team chemistry as well.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

The way through MLTT works is very often personality and relationship based at this time, not entirely sure they are being as coldly calculating as you are in assessing them. I think the coach for Florida is Cuban and that the club location as well would make Andy Pereira easier to work with. That was probably the primary consideration over the tactical value of the pick. So far the incoming players have been an improvement on Legacy players so if next year maintains that trend, trading any picks is probably a bad idea asef on player strength though it has been used so far to improve team chemistry as well.

Frank is from the DR not Cuba I believe. Relationship-based or not it was a horrible trade especially when Pereira's visa situation was a well known obstacle across the league so his unavailability was very predictable. Plus a first round pick on top of all that.

On the topic of trades, I find the Portland/Carolina trade for S. Naresh and Wang Wei interesting. Wang Wei look mostly washed up from what I saw and Sid was standing out in doubles often even with Angles as his partner.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

level + fit for team (singles/doubles/lefty/womens etc) + availability.
and the fit between coach and player is important too.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

I wonder why Koki Niwa was not selected #1. Yuya Oshima and Koki Niwa are both born in 1994 so it's not an age thing. Koki has the stronger credentials. Maybe availability?

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I wonder why Koki Niwa was not selected #1. Yuya Oshima and Koki Niwa are both born in 1994 so it's not an age thing. Koki has the stronger credentials. Maybe availability?

possibly
its no use selecting a super star and then can't pitch.
zero of USATT 3000 is still zero

 

[Brs]

@Brs 's favorite player is coming to the MLTT...

Choi Hyojoo?!

 

[Brs]

Holy shit! It's her!

 

[Brs]

Where do I get tickets?

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Interesting that Min Hyeok Kim (#3 Portland Paddlers) went before Cho Seungmin (#4 Princeton Revolution). Cho Seungmin has some great results in WTT including wins over China: LSD, LJK, Xiang Peng, etc. He's only 26 and might turn out to be the best player in the draft.

With the importance of doubles in the Olympics, lefty Choi Hyojoo is a legit contender for the 3rd spot on S Korean team. That speaks to the quality of this draft as well.

 

[TTTT]

I wonder why Koki Niwa was not selected #1. Yuya Oshima and Koki Niwa are both born in 1994 so it's not an age thing. Koki has the stronger credentials. Maybe availability?

Koki Niwa's availability should be pretty good - he just got banned for 6 months by the Japanese federation due to illegal online gambling, so he won't be able to play in T-league or domestic tournaments. Welcome to New York!

 

[rbtitco]

How much do they pay these guys? Wondering why Aida didn't come back.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Interesting that Min Hyeok Kim (#3 Portland Paddlers) went before Cho Seungmin (#4 Princeton Revolution). Cho Seungmin has some great results in WTT including wins over China: LSD, LJK, Xiang Peng, etc. He's only 26 and might turn out to be the best player in the draft.

With the importance of doubles in the Olympics, lefty Choi Hyojoo is a legit contender for the 3rd spot on S Korean team. That speaks to the quality of this draft as well.

Cho is close with some players and owners of Princeton so it is possible that his participation in the league was dependent on playing for them. There have been situations like this in past seasons.

 

[NextLevel]

Frank is from the DR not Cuba I believe. Relationship-based or not it was a horrible trade especially when Pereira's visa situation was a well known obstacle across the league so his unavailability was very predictable. Plus a first round pick on top of all that.

On the topic of trades, I find the Portland/Carolina trade for S. Naresh and Wang Wei interesting. Wang Wei look mostly washed up from what I saw and Sid was standing out in doubles often even with Angles as his partner.

You have better insight than I do into what is driven by tactics vs relationships. My main point is that a lot of picks and trades in the MLTT are very hard to explain by looking at the logic of picking the best talent etc. It is often something under the hood that ia not divulged that is driving many things. For example, the idea that Cho Seungmin or Huang Yan Cheng doesn't go #1 is really weird to me. Unless someone has T-League stats for Oshima or Niwa or any players that I am not privy too. Or people think Niwa is box-office. So I am not sure if the Pereira trade is best evaluated by its impact on the picks etc. I am just speculating on what is not seen. Maybe the alternative was just not having Andy in the league.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

You have better insight than I do into what is driven by tactics vs relationships. My main point is that a lot of picks and trades in the MLTT are very hard to explain by looking at the logic of picking the best talent etc. It is often something under the hood that ia not divulged that is driving many things. For example, the idea that Cho Seungmin or Huang Yan Cheng doesn't go #1 is really weird to me. Unless someone has T-League stats for Oshima or Niwa or any players that I am not privy too. Or people think Niwa is box-office. So I am not sure if the Pereira trade is best evaluated by its impact on the picks etc. I am just speculating on what is not seen. Maybe the alternative was just not having Andy in the league.

Oh yeah, definitely true.

Regarding availability, I believe availability of players is made known to all coaches (if not, most of the coaches find it out for themselves) so that is just one thing that plays a big role in the decisions. I believe Oshima is supposed to have good availability and Huang may miss several matches but @Tony's Table Tennis can chime in on that if he wishes. Also part of the reason why players like Yiran Wu and Ge Chi went earlier than expected.

But yes, many factors at play besides for just pure player strength.

 

[pongfugrasshopper]

Oh yeah, definitely true.

Regarding availability, I believe availability of players is made known to all coaches (if not, most of the coaches find it out for themselves) so that is just one thing that plays a big role in the decisions. I believe Oshima is supposed to have good availability and Huang may miss several matches but @Tony's Table Tennis can chime in on that if he wishes. Also part of the reason why players like Yiran Wu and Ge Chi went earlier than expected.

But yes, many factors at play besides for just pure player strength.

When Tim was interviewed by Evan/Sean, he mentioned availability was a big factor because in season 2 there was a time when 4 out of 6 matches they had to use free agents due to lack of availability. So I have to assume that Huang would have good availability.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

When Tim was interviewed by Evan/Sean, he mentioned availability was a big factor because in season 2 there was a time when 4 out of 6 matches they had to use free agents due to lack of availability. So I have to assume that Huang would have good availability.

He is probably mainly referring to having to take Ge Chi early since Lily may again not be available often, but would be curious to hear what Tony has to say about Huang.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I can't comment on Oshima's availability. There is All Japan in January, He would likely need to skip the whole of Jan MLTT. or rather, All the Japanese in MLTT needs to head back to Japan

Not sure if he will still play T-League next season.
here is his current result
https://tleague.jp/ranking/player.php?player=10013&year=2024

Koki Niwa didn't play this season, had 8 matches last season

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Taiwanese players also have domestic commitment, so have Koreans and both of them take up a lot of time.

Its been a challenge to work out availability in my placement of players in Europe.
so I am mostly mixing 2 of the 3 countries of players for 1 club, to reduce the risk of unavailability

Imagine a time where all the Koreans are away, or Taiwanese are away, or Japanese are away.
Then you have WTT/ITTF scheduling too.
luckily there is free agency

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

He is probably mainly referring to having to take Ge Chi early since Lily may again not be available often, but would be curious to hear what Tony has to say about Huang.

all active WTT/ITTF players will have availability challenges.
The higher they are ranked, then there are smash and champions etc

There is a lot of good WTT points up for grabs in Sep ~ Nov, and I suspect a lot of active higher ranked players will be unavailable

there are many older Asian players that are no longer playing internationals, so that is also likely important for the coaches.

The more international stars you have, the more availability problem you would get.

PS, I allowed the players to discuss with coaches directly (since many of them have no language barrier). I at most, was just behind the scene advisor.
I am also eager to see how the players pitch for most of the league matches. I actually think some of them are inexperienced in this regards and will have an interesting time ahead - especially WTT/ITTF/domestic schedules can change. I have enough worries with almost 20 clubs in Europe already

 

[NextLevel]

Any chance of Boll for MLTT? He fits the washed up prescription that many here tout...