Hello all! ATVL has decided to run its own March Madness here on this site, but instead of basketball teams, we’ll do a 42-man bracket of the top hitters ever produced by the league!

The way it will work is this:

• Each day, hopefully in the morning, ATVL will post the matchup for the day.
• Voting will be done on Twitter: You can see the page here.
• The top vote getter will move on.

What are we voting on? It would be pretty clear-cut (and boring) if we did something like “the better major league player,” or something like that, so to inject a little doubt into the situation, we’ll say it’s whomever you think should move on, whether he’s the better player, or from your favorite VBL team, or better looking, or Joe Deck’s favorite (Brett Gardner), or whatever you decide is important.

If this works, we’ll do a pitchers’ bracket, and potentially a modern-day bracket?

By the way, if the voting ends up in a tie, ATVL will hold the deciding vote.

So let’s learn a little bit about the VBL’s past, and have a little fun in the meantime.

TODAY’S MATCHUP!!

Pat Kelly vs. Kevin Kouzmanoff

• Pat Kelly played in Staunton in either 1986, 1987, or 1988. He was a 9th round pick of the Yankees in 1988, and ended up playing in the majors for nine years, for the Yankees, St. Louis Caridnals, and Toronto Blue Jays. He scored three runs in the 1995 ALDS against the Mariners, and led the American League in sacrifice bunts in 1994 (with 14).
• Kevin Kouzmanoff played in Winchester in 2002. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 6th round in 2003, and spent seven years in the majors, with the Indians, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Oakland A’s, and Colorado Rockies. He led the National League in fielding percentage by a third baseman in 2009, and hit 23 home runs in 2008.

Go to twitter.com/JohnATVL to vote! (Closes tomorrow morning)