# Episode 205

**Source:** NYC PinPod  
**Type:** podcast_episode  
**Published:** 2021-10-19  
**Duration:** 10m 46s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-205--47038705

---

## Analysis

NYC PinPod Episode 205 covers competitive pinball leagues in New York City for the week of October 11–17, 2021, including match results across multiple Pinball NYC divisions (Upper Playfield, Left Flipper, Right Flipper, Right In-Lane), tournament standings at the season's halfway point, and a brief interview with Jennifer Babcock from team Parliament about the venue experience at The Wallace.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Intermission Dolores has officially disbanded and all teams will receive automatic forfeit wins against them. — _Eric Sweetland, host of NYC PinPod, reporting on Pinball NYC Left Flipper Division standings_
- [HIGH] At the halfway point of the season, the Mutants lead the Upper Playfield Division with a 5-0 record and 56 points. — _Eric Sweetland, official standings report_
- [HIGH] Special When Lit leads the Left Flipper Division at 5-0 with 56 points. — _Eric Sweetland, official standings report_
- [HIGH] Adam Kane won Strikes Nine on October 13th, a two-strike tournament with 15 players over 7 rounds. — _Eric Sweetland, tournament results_
- [HIGH] Adam Kane won the combined Stern Army Sunday Match Play tournament with 80 total points across two events. — _Eric Sweetland, tournament results_
- [HIGH] Jennifer Babcock reported that The Wallace venue has good food and is packed on Monday nights. — _Jennifer Babcock, interview at The Wallace venue on October 11, 2021_

### Notable Quotes

> "Word has it that Intermission Dolores is officially kaput and all the teams who have or will play them will receive a 12-0 forfeit win."
> — **Eric Sweetland**, ~3:30
> _Signals dissolution of a league team mid-season and the procedural handling of forfeits._

> "I really like this venue. So the last time I was here was like the week of the shutdown, and I was getting all into the season, and then the season stopped, as we all know. So I was glad to come back."
> — **Jennifer Babcock**, ~25:00
> _Reflects on pandemic disruption and the resumption of competitive pinball in NYC._

> "It's always bouncing here at The Wallace."
> — **Eric Sweetland**, ~25:30
> _Commentary on venue popularity and consistent foot traffic for league play._

> "My travel was actually pretty easy. I thought I was going to be late, and I was, but not by that much. It only took me an hour from Crown Heights."
> — **Jennifer Babcock**, ~22:00
> _Notes on travel accessibility and logistics for league players attending events._

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Eric Sweetland | person | Host of NYC PinPod, tournament organizer, and competitive pinball player in NYC leagues |
| Jennifer Babcock | person | Competitive pinball player, member of team Parliament in Pinball NYC |
| Pinball NYC | organization | Team-based competitive pinball league in New York City with multiple divisions (Upper Playfield, Left Flipper, Right Flipper, Right In-Lane) |
| NYC Flipper Sport Association | organization | Competitive pinball league organization in NYC welcoming teams to venues |
| The Wallace | venue | Pinball bar/venue in upstate Manhattan hosting Pinball NYC matches |
| The Mutants | organization | Pinball team leading Upper Playfield Division at 5-0 with 56 points |
| Special When Lit | organization | Pinball team leading Left Flipper Division at 5-0 with 56 points |
| Parliament | organization | Pinball team in NYC leagues, 0-5 record in Upper Playfield Division at season midpoint |
| Adam Kane | person | Competitive pinball player, winner of Strikes Nine and Stern Army Sunday Match Play combined tournament |
| Intermission Dolores | organization | Disbanded pinball team in Pinball NYC Left Flipper Division, forfeited all matches |
| Jack Bar | venue | Pinball venue in NYC hosting Wednesday Night Strikes tournaments and Stern Army Sunday Match Play |
| Nitzan Gabai | person | Tournament director for Strikes Nine, also competitive player (3rd place finish) |
| Tim Lawrence | person | Tournament director for Stern Army Sunday Match Play alongside Eric Sweetland |
| Travis Rosenberg | person | Competitive pinball player, finished 2nd overall in Stern Army Sunday Match Play combined scoring with 78 points |
| Nitzan Gabai | person | Competitive pinball player, 3rd place in combined Stern Army Sunday Match Play scoring with 64 points |
| Coyote Club | venue | Pinball venue in NYC hosting an ongoing Tops tournament on machine 24 |
| Kettles of Fish | venue | Pinball bar/venue in NYC hosting Pinball NYC league matches |
| Buttermilk Bar | venue | Pinball bar/venue in NYC hosting Right Flipper Division matches |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Competitive pinball league structure and results in NYC, Team standings and season progression, Tournament formats and player rankings (Strikes Nine, Stern Army Sunday)
- **Secondary:** Venue management and player experience, Team logistics and travel to league events, Post-pandemic resumption of competitive pinball, League administration and forfeit procedures

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.75) — Generally upbeat tone covering competitive pinball community engagement, successful tournaments, and venue experiences. Neutral-to-positive commentary on league operations and match results. Pandemic recovery theme adds hopeful undertone.

### Signals

- **[competitive_signal]** Comprehensive mid-season standings across four Pinball NYC divisions showing competitive balance and team progression (confidence: high) — Detailed results and point totals provided for Upper Playfield, Left Flipper, Right Flipper, and Right In-Lane divisions
- **[competitive_signal]** Two-strike tournament (Strikes Nine) and match play tournament (Stern Army Sunday) formats being used in NYC competitive scene (confidence: high) — 15 players in Strikes Nine, 11 players in Stern Army Sunday Match Play, combined scoring methodology noted
- **[venue_signal]** The Wallace venue reported as consistently busy and well-regarded by players (confidence: medium) — Jennifer Babcock praised food quality and noted surprise at high Monday night traffic; Eric Sweetland stated 'always bouncing here'
- **[community_signal]** Competitive pinball leagues actively running in NYC after pandemic shutdown (confidence: high) — Jennifer Babcock referenced 'week of the shutdown' and expressed relief at returning to venue play
- **[personnel_signal]** Tournament directors and league organizers including Eric Sweetland, Nitzan Gabai, and Tim Lawrence actively running events (confidence: high) — Named directors for Strikes Nine and Stern Army Sunday Match Play events
- **[community_signal]** Intermission Dolores team dissolution mid-season indicating roster/team stability challenges (confidence: high) — Team forfeited all matches and was officially declared 'kaput' with automatic forfeit wins issued to opponents

---

## Transcript

Hello, Pinfolk. It is Monday, the 18th of October 2021, and this is NYC Pin Pod, in which a dude talks competitive pinball in New York City. My name is Eric Sweetland, and I run and play in tournaments locally. On this week's podcast, I'll run down local competition results and have a brief chat with Jennifer Babcock. Let's get started. Let's talk about this week in pinball competition in New York City. In Pinball NYC on Monday, October 11th in the Upper Playfield Division, the Mutants hosted Chillers Only at Solid State and got a 10-6 home win. Our New York City Flipper Sport Association welcomed Parliament to The Wallace. Our association wins 13-3. Team Is the Shit traveled to Kettle of Fish to face the Cartel, and the Cartel got the 9-7 home win. Balls of Steel and Terrorists played at Jack Bar and Terrorists win 11-5. Also on Monday, in the Left Flipper Division the Colliders traveled to Commonwealth to see Intermission Dolores or not, because Intermission Dolores forfeited again. Word has it that Intermission Dolores is officially kaput and all the teams who have or will play them will receive a 12-0 forfeit win. The Deluxe Horses, who were scheduled to play them twice, got 12-0 forfeit win the first time they played them, and will receive a 9-0 forfeit win for the second meeting. Special When Lit went to Greenpoint Beer and Ale Company to see the Deluxe Horses. Special When Lit win a 10-6 away victory. The Lesser Players went to Bar Great Harry to see the Aristocrats. The home team win 11-5. The Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers hosted the 2-for-1ers at Brookland. The home team win 14-2. And Tilty Pleasures visited the Pin Pals at Skylark. The home team win 9. On Tuesday October 12th in the Right Flipper Division Balmy Maybe went to Solid State to visit No Moving Parts. The home team wins 11. Penister 6 hosted Neptune's Treasure at Boat Bar. Neptune's Treasure picks up a 10-6 away win. The Schlubs and the Butterballers played at Buttermilk. Butterballers win 10-6. And Danger Danger traveled to Jack Bar to see the Ball Drainers. Danger Danger get a 10-6 away win. Also on Tuesday, in the Right In-Lane Division, Dead Rabbits went to Bar Great Harry to see Trolls. Dead Rabbits 9-7 away. You With a Face hosted Tied for Last at Midway. You With a Face win 10-6. The Pin Babes and Kettle's Hand Grenades played at Kettle of Fish. It was a tie break. The home team wins 8-8. And the Monroe Falcons traveled to the Coyote Club to see Jersey Jack and the Jackpots. The Monroe Falcons picked up a 9-7 away win. At the halfway point of the Pinball NYC season, the standings look like this. In the upper play field, the Mutants are on top 5-0 with 56 points. The Terrorists and our New York City Flipper Sport Association are both 4-1. Terrorists have 55 points, and we have 51. At 3-2, the Cartel have 32 points. Balls of Steel are 2-3 with 38 points. Chillers Only and Team Is The Shit are both 1-4. Chillers Only have 39, Team Is The Shit have 27. Parliament is winless at 0-5 with 22 points. In the Left Flipper Division, Special When Lit is 5-0 with 56 points. The Pin Pals are 4-1 at 45. Tilty Pleasures and the 2-for-1ers are both 3-2. Tilty Pleasures have 45 points. The 2-for-1ers have 35 points. The Aristocrats and the Lesser Players are both 2-3 with 41 points. The Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers are 2-3 with 40 points and the Colliders are 2 and 3 with 39 points. The Deluxe Horses are also 2 and 3 with 38 points. Intermission Dolores, winless with no points. In the Right Flipper Division, Danger Danger has 5 wins and 59 points, while Neptune's Treasure has 5 wins and 55 points. Ball Drainers and No Moving Parts are tied at three wins and two losses with 42 points. The Butterballers are 2 with 34 points. Balmy Maybe has one win with 32 points and Schlubs have one win with 26 points. Penister Six is winless at 30 points. In the Right In-Lane, the Monroe Falcons and Kettle's Hand Grenades are both undefeated. The Monroe Falcons have 57, Kettle's Hand Grenades have 50. At 2-3, four teams. Jersey Jack and the Jackpots have 40 points. The Pin Babes and Tied for Last both have 37 points, and You With a Face has 32. With one win and four losses, Trolls have 33 points. Dead Rabbits have the same win-loss ratio with 30 points. Wednesday night Strikes 9 was held on October 13th at Jack Bar. Fifteen players battled over seven rounds of this two-strike affair directed by Nitzan Gabai. In the end, Adam Kane survived strikeless to win. In second place, Adam Robinson. In third place, Nitzan Gabai. And tied for fourth, Morgan Zilm and Josh Waltz. Sunday, the 17th of October, saw the second half of October's Stern Army Sunday Match Play at Jack Bar, directed by Tim Lawrence and myself. Eleven players, ten returning from the first half, battled over seven rounds of match play. In the money were Adam Kane at 45 points, Travis Rosenberg at 37, and Wes Ulfig at 31. In the combined scoring of the two events, Adam Kane came up on top with a total of 80 points. Travis Rosenberg finished second with 78, Nitzan Gabai had 64 for third place, and in fourth was Conor Kalista with 60 points. A Tops tournament is ongoing on the machine 24 at Coyote Club, running until October 19th with a $100 starting pot. As of last week, player Jade had posted the high score at 50 million. Looking ahead to this week's NYC pinball calendar, on Monday and Tuesday, it's the bye week for Pinball NYC, so teams won't be traveling. On Wednesday, October 20th, Jack Bar Presents Wednesday Night Strikes 10 will be held. This two-strikes affair begins at 8 p.m. sharp with a $6 entry fee. What follows is a brief conversation I had with a member of the team Parliament when they visited us on Monday, standing on the sidewalk on Broadway. I had hoped to work this up into a longer opinion piece but instead I just going to dump this unedited mess right here. It's Monday, October 11th, and I'm outside at The Wallace in upstate Manhattan. And I'm joined by Jennifer Babcock, who's traveled up to face NYCFSA. Jennifer, how was your travel tonight? My travel was actually pretty easy. I thought I was going to be late, and I was, but not by that much. It only took me an hour from Crown Heights. And, you know, it was easy for me because it was like two train, then one train, and then, bam, just short walk here. Yeah, that's nice. It's not that bad off the subway. So what was your opinion of coming to The Wallace tonight? What do you think of the venue? I really like this venue. So the last time I was here was like the week of the shutdown, and I was getting all into the season, and then the season stopped, as we all know. So I was glad to come back. The food is really good, and I'm surprised that it's Monday night and this place is packed. It feels like a Saturday for real. It's always bouncing here at The Wallace. And our team, NYC FSA, was really happy to host your team Parliament to come up here to play against us. I don't know. That's all for this week's pod. I'm Eric Sweetland. My initials are HIP, and I write an occasional blog post at noonewancetotalkaboutcompetitivepinball.com. I made this podcast with the help of Jennifer Babcock, Benjamin Furiga, and Lauren Berner-Lawrence, and, hopefully, a growing number of you in the NYC pinball community. Please send me your competition results, questions, comments, observations, beefs, or calendar invitations to your pinball events to nycpinpod at gmail.com. Like the podcast on social media at nycpinpod. On next week's podcast, I'll run down this week's local competition results, and hopefully more. Between now and then, eschew needlessly gendered bathrooms, and happy flipping.

_(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

---

*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 4d21e192-b0e4-4513-82ca-444b478d695c*