| IRON HAND |
The Mendoza Line
 |
|
How many games will rookie Fernando Mendoza start in Las Vegas is the BDFL's "Mendoza Line" |
The BDFL's proverbial "Mendoza Line"
TITLETOWN
- The "Mendoza Line" in baseball jargon is used for referencing a
batting average below .200 which is a threshold of batting futility. Named
after the journeyman infielder Mario Mendoza, falling below this line
implies a player is underperforming, usually making them a liability in
the lineup despite their defensive skills. In an ironic twist,
Mendoza had a lifetime batting average of .215 during a nine-year MLB
career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers.
Mendoza claims that the term was invented in 1979 by his Mariner
teammates Bruce Bochte and Tom Paciorek. Bochte and Paciorek would tease
Mendoza about his low batting average, as he struggled to hit .200 for
that season - and throughout his career, finishing below .200 five times
in his nine seasons in the big leagues including the 1979 season when Mendoza hit
.198. The "Mendoza Line" phrase was overheard by George Brett of
the Kansas City
Royals and he used it in an interview in
1980 during his pursuit of a .400 batting average. He reportedly stated,
"The first thing I look for in the Sunday papers is who is below the
Mendoza Line." The reference caught the attention
of ESPN announcer Chris Berman, and the "Mendoza Line" became part of
popular culture. Brett went on the record later to praised Mendoza's defensive
abilities, claiming Mendoza robbed him of sure base hits on several
occasions with his exceptional defensive skills. In the BDFL, "The Mendoza
Line" now refers to how many games will Las Vegas Radiers rookie
quarterback - Fernando Mendoza start during the 2026 NFL season. Some
have the BDFL's "The Mendoza Line" at 10 games while the BDFL media
experts have it at eight games. Anyhow, it really only affects the Druid
City Blitz in this upcoming 2026 NFL season.
Walk The Line by Johnny Cash (Live 1957)
|
2026 BDFL Pony Draft Results |
||
 |
#1 RB-Jeremiyah Love ARI In a bit of a surprise, the Texas Armada took Love with the first pick of the 2026 BDFL Pony Draft passing over the proverbial Mendoza Line. He could get hurt bad in Arizona. |
 |
 |
#2 QB-Fernando Mendoza LV Da Blitz earned the #2 overall pick on the 2026 BDFL Pony Draft with a strong showing in the Big Mullet Bowl and used it to take Mendoza, then successfully predicted he'd go to Vegas. |
 |
 |
#3 WR-Germie Bernard PIT The Bullets reached taking Bama's Bernard with his predictible Pony Draft "homer" pick. Now headed to the Steelers, this should be a good pick for the Bullets and Bernard. |
 |
 |
#4 RB-Jadarian Price SEA Why didn't the Irish win the Natty with the proverbial "Two Horsemen" in the backfield last season? The Vulcs were not sabotaged in the Pony Draft as you can see clearly with this pick. |
 |
 |
#5 RB-Mike Washington LV The Mayors earned a notch up the Pony pecking order with a big March Madness contest win and went off the grid taking the former Hog with the 5th overall pick. He'll be a back-up in Vegas. |
|
 |
#6 RB-Jonah Coleman DEN The PowerSleds like to be unconventional in the Pony Draft. However, they value running backs and took the dependale Jonah Coleman and he should do great in Denver. |
 |
 |
#7 WR-Carnell Tate TEN The Gamblers usually draft wildcards from Mississippi in the BDFL's annual Pony Draft. However, this year they couldn't pass up the next gifted Buckeye WR who's headed to Tennessee. |
 |
 |
#8 WR-Makai Lemon PHI In the 8th hole, the Bandits took the talented Lemon out of USC. Many have him as the best of this wide receiver class. However, he may have to stand in line to catch passes in Philly. |
 |
|
|
#9 TE-Kenyon Sadiq NYJ Sadiq may be best tight end in this draft class according to the media experts. We think Eli Stowers is better. The Freebirds picked another bird, but he could crash with the Jets. |
|
|
|
#10 WR-Jordyn Tyson NO The Sloth Monsters are savvy when it comes to the BDFL's Pony Draft and they tend to focus on talent, production and projections. So it was no surprise when they picked Jordyn Tyson. |
|
|
|
#11 WR-Omar Cooper NYJ Omar Cooper is a deadly receiver. He kills teams literally, just ask Penn State, Ohio State, Iowa, Alabama, etc. Even when he is covered up, he catches the ball. Great pick for the Jets. |
|
|
|
#12 QB-Ty Simpson LAR Simpson was slipping in the 2026 BDFL Pony Draft and the Grenadiers showed him some mercy. Now they are hoping he goes to the LA Rams and develops behind Matthew Stafford. |
|
|
|
#13 WR-Denzel Boston CLE Dave Loggins' "Please Come to Boston" is what the Wildcats were singing when they made this pick. Boston is big and physical and should be a terror in the red zone like Mike Evans. |
|
|
|
#14 WR-KC Concepcion CLE Concepcion may be the most explosive player in the entire 2026 NFL Draft and the 'Nauts got him in the #14 draft slot of the 2026 BDFL Pony Draft. He'll be handicapped in Cleveland. |
|
|
|
#15 PK-Trey Smack GB Let's face it, kickers are weird. However, kickers are also more valued than ever in the BDFL. With a stroke of genius, the defending champs got the top kicker in the draft anyhow. |
|
|
|
#16 WR-Zach Branch ATL Branch never reached his potential under Mike Bobo at Georgia. He could be a nightmare for defenses in the NFL. The Cheetahs know what they are doing in the BDFL, so beware. |
|
| THE BDFL NEWS |
The Dark Horses
 |
|
Don't be surprised when Kaelon Black's name is called at the 2026 BDFL Genuine Draft in August |
The 2026 BDFL "Dark Horses"
AUDUBON
PLACE -
When the NFL Draft rolls around, you always hear about potential draft
sleepers and super sleepers in the draft that may be surprises in the
fall once the season begins. These our prospects who may have been
overlooked for some reason, but are much better than advertised. The
BDFL has always loved these type players over the years (Pacheco, Purdy,
Nacua, Dell, LaPorta, Vidal, Reichard, Irving, etc.), those who get
ignorded by the media experts, don't get picked in the league's annual
Pony Draft, but somehow find a way onto a BDFL roster in their rookie
season and contribute to their team. The BDFL doesn't like to use the
sleeper and super sleeper terminology to define this group of players,
so we refer to them as the BDFL's "Dark Horses". This dovetails well with
the league's overall Pony Draft concept. With 16 studs above who went in
the 2026 BDFL Pony Draft, the league has identified 33 more of these
proverbial "Dark Horses" who we think could eventually make their way
onto a BDFL roster in the fall. Here's a look at the 2026 BDFL Pony
Draft Dark Horses...
|
RB-Emmett Johnson NEB |
WR-Bryce Lance NDSU |
TE-Eli Stowers VU |
|
RB-Nick Singleton PSU |
WR-Dillon Bell UGA |
TE-Oscar Delp UGA |
|
RB-Kaytron Allen PSU |
WR-Chris Bell UL |
TE-Josh Cuevas UA |
|
RB-Demond Claiborne WF |
WR-Elijah Sarratt IU |
TE-Michael Trigg BU |
|
RB-Darius Taylor MIN |
WR-Brenen Thompson MSU |
TE-Max Klare OSU |
|
RB-Kaelon Black IU |
WR-Aaron Anderson LSU |
QB-Garrett Nussmeier LSU |
|
RB-Braden Jay HU |
WR-Ted Hurst GSU |
QB-Luke Altmyer UI |
|
RB-Curtis Allen VUU |
WR-Chris Brazzell UTK |
QB-Haynes King GT |
|
RB-Eli Heidenreich NA |
WR-Antonio Williams CLEM |
QB-Cole Payton NDSU |
|
RB-Jam Miller UA |
WR-Deion Burks OU |
WR-De'Zhaun Stribling OM |
|
RB-Roman Hemby IU |
WR-Ja'Kobi Lane USC |
PK-Drew Stevens UI |
|
|
|
|
|
Concept, names, logos and designs are all registered trademarks and intellectual property of The BDFL © 2025. TheBDFL.com is a production of Iron Hand Productions © 2026. It is intended solely for the use of the Big Daddy Football League (BDFL). Any other use without the expressed written consent of the BDFL is prohibited. Any re-broadcast, or re-distribution, of its contents can be punishable by law, or by Iron Hand. All rights reserved.
| TheBDFL.com |