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Men's 55
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| June 26, 2018 Crusher23 | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: WORLDS AND NEW 4 DAY FORMAT An extra day in Vegas? Sounds like absolute torture... |
| June 26, 2018 Crusher23 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Playing Different Class Teams I think it's great that lower classification teams have the opportunity to play up to the next class. This allows them to get their feet wet at the next level ahead of what should eventually be their next step. I agree with everything Tim stated about the gap between levels, it is very real and the equalizer rules are fair to compensate for that gap. However, I do think that in addition to the five run (or extra fielder) equalizer the lower rated teams should always have the option to play the game at the higher rated teams rules, if they wish. I play on a major team that when we come up against a major plus team we will always offer to play up to their rules. Sometimes the turny says OK, but sometimes they won't allow it. What I'm saying is that this option to play up should be written into the SSUSA rules so it universal among all SSUSA events. |
| May 21, 2018 Crusher23 | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: 2018 LVSSA/SSUSA WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS schedule vent So I'm 57 year's of age this year and I have been playing 50+ for several years. This year I was also fortunate enough to hook up with a 55+ team so I am able to play in both age levels. Lovin it. Damn, I love my softball! I was looking forward to going to worlds in Vegas for both teams and then I saw that the 50's and the 55's are scheduled TWO WEEKS apart from each other. This sucks, I can't afford to fly out to Vegas and then stay there for two full weeks, especially after blowing a ton a dough in Louden this past weekend and having nothing to show for it. This is a royal bummer, now I have to choose to play for only one of these teams - the one I don't choose will disown me. Just great. I know that putting a schedule together for 600 teams or so is no easy task, but I know that there plenty of guys out there in the same position as me that play in both 50 and 55 and will now be faced with the same decision of having to pick one team over the other for financial reasons. Hek, there's probably plenty of guys that are playing both 55 and 60 and they're screwed also, since both of those age groups are playing the SAME weekend together. Pick one team over the other. Bummer. I would suggest for next year that perhaps the scheduling committee take into consideration that many of us play in two adjacent age groups and try to schedule all the adjacent age groups one weekend apart from each other. The way I see it, this could be accomplished by alternating every other weekend on the schedule for each 5 year jump in age group - Put the 50's, 60's,70's & 80's together on one weekend, then the 40's, 55', 65's, 75's & 85's together for the next weekend. No one would have to be faced with having to choose one team over another, nor would they have to stay out there longer than back to back weekends to play on both teams. I'm sure that SSUSA will tell me that the numbers of teams in each age group don't make it possible for a balanced schedule like I suggest above, but I'm sure something very close could be arranged. OK, I feel better now. Thank you all for letting me vent. |
| April 13, 2018 Crusher23 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: 1-1 count and new ball HEAR, HEAR OZ40! Crusher, it just makes sense to me. If hitters are dominating the game they'd be putting up 5 x 6 + open inning = at least 30 runs a game....if I'm spending 2-3 hundred bucks for a bat, and especially if it's a close game, I would like the option to relax and be comfortable in the box, maybe take a pitch in lieu of possibly a better one. I want my team to be my top priority, not speeding up the game for the next team waiting to play. As teams we all pay just as much entry fee and just as much hotel costs, just as much gas costs, food cost & travel time as any other team. Why players accept the hurry up and get the hell back home thanks for your money don't the door hit you in the a$$ on the way out treatment is beyond me. Oh well, JMO |
| April 11, 2018 Crusher23 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: 1-1 count and new ball OZ, you are spot on again. Some people just don't get it... |
| Feb. 27, 2018 Crusher23 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: WOULD YOU QUIT PLAYING? Dilly Dilly! |
| Feb. 27, 2018 Crusher23 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Is it time for Full Time Screen? No. Not in tournament play. |
| Feb. 23, 2018 Crusher23 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Ratings Hey Dave, you guys do a tremendous job of running this organization. Most impressive is how you navigate through all the clutter (code for whining). With regard to the team ratings; in addition to posting the guidelines and procedures on this site like you already do, have you considered posting a list of all the SSUSA teams and their associated ratings, similar to how SPA does it? It would be cool to not only see all the teams and their ratings, but to be able to drill down into the rosters as well. Thanks for listening. |
| Jan. 18, 2018 Crusher23 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Drum Roll thread closed ? I echo the sentiment of the last two posts here by OZ and mck. Both posts very well said and I couldn't agree more, especially with these two statements: "I still say we're changing a part of the game that if we took some personal responsibility we wouldn't have to. In my opinion through the poll/vote, limited as it were, we have basically said: we as a group are lazy and even though we are playing this game for among other reasons some measure of exercise we don't want to up the tempo going on and off the field so we can get in 7 innings of exercise, we'd rather you penalize us while we're in the batters box." and "Like you I am ok with 6 QUALITY innings vs 7 hurried ones". Personally speaking, I would much rather play six true, quality innings rather than 7 hurried ones, which is what most of the goal appeared to be with the 1-1. |
| Jan. 11, 2018 Crusher23 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Drum Roll...the Starting Count decision results. There goes OZ again, making more sense. Very refreshing. |
| Jan. 10, 2018 Crusher23 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Drum Roll...the Starting Count decision results. The SSUSA does an outstanding job with everything. I commend you on all your efforts and I very much appreciate the fact that I have this senior venue with which to play ball with/against my peers. I do not take this opportunity for granted and I try to remember that every day. Once again, a big thank you for all you do. Even though I personally disagree with the 1-1 count (I do believe that at the more competitive levels you're all going to see an increase in missile shots hit up the middle, it's inevitable) I respect the process and will move on. Life is too short. Good luck to all the pitchers this year. |
| Jan. 10, 2018 Crusher23 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Drum Roll...the Starting Count decision results. The 0-0 count was something that made Senior ball special, it was a nice perk. Now, we are just like everyone else. We may as well just go play ASA and Utrip. Ho hum... |
| Jan. 10, 2018 Crusher23 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Drum Roll...the Starting Count decision results. OZ is a wise man. His prediction will hold true. |
| Jan. 7, 2018 Crusher23 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: 1-1 or 0-0 Count OZ, you and I are on the same page about a lot of things. I've read many of your posts and am in agreement with you on everything. Would be nice to meet you sometime and shoot the shit. Any chance you'll be in Tampa for the ISSA TOC? |
| Jan. 7, 2018 Crusher23 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: 1-1 or 0-0 Count A few observations to stir the pot, as I had lots of time on my hands this am: 1) I have seen it posted many times by those in favor of the 1-1 count that “the intent is not to speed up the game”. I disagree, that is exactly the intent, whether conscious or not. The overwhelming desire appears to be to get an entire game in within the time limit as there have been countless posts claiming that the intent of the 1-1 count would be to “get more at bats” within the allotted time limit for a game, or to “go the full seven innings” – well, the only possible way this can happen is if the game moves faster within the allotted time! It’s simple math. So the net desired effect here is indeed to speed up the game, no matter how anyone attempts to spin it. 2) Speaking of that possible one extra precious at-bat per game; since a 1-1 count is perceived as mitigating some of the hitters advantage (which has been posted many times here) it should result in a few less hits & walks per game, meaning less runs and more outs – and thus, actually result in fewer at bats. Hmm… 3) Regarding many claims that the games need more action, insinuating that they are slow and boring. I don’t see it - I play at 50 major level and have played at some 55 as well and these games are anything but boring. I suppose at other levels or age groups this might be the case. 4) The overwhelming sentiment from those that are in favor of the 1-1 count is that the pitcher is currently at some tremendous disadvantage with an 0-0 count. There are many scenarios that can play out that would either support or refute this. For example: I have seen many pitchers go 3-0 on a batter and come back to throw 2 strikes to take the count to 3-2. If that happened with a 1-1 count the result would have been a walk. Yeah, the at-bat was sped up alright, but not the game. 5) The quality of play matters. No matter how you slice it, if your pitcher can’t pitch, or your fielders can’t field, the game will drag and take forever. There’s no way around it. A weak hitter would be an even weaker hitter with a 1-1 count. I bring this up because at the more competitive levels the speed of the game, or any perceived “lack of action” is not an issue – we routinely go at least 6 innings if not 7 and it doesn’t seem to bother us. 6) A first pitch strike makes all the difference in the world, no matter what the starting count… 7) Yes, it is a hitter’s game. Let it be. Sure pitching and defense are important parts of the game, but let’s call a spade a spade – the overwhelming majority of us play this game because we like to hit. Let us hit. 8) If I’m a pitcher I’m not sure I want the 1-1 count - when a good hitter is in a hole where do you think they hit the ball? Yeah, at me! Example, when I play utrip and the starting count is 1-1 that’s all you see is everyone driving the middle. I do not want to pitch in utrip. Is that really what we want to promote in senior ball? 9) Let good hitters use the field – With an 0-0 count the better hitters use the entire field, we rarely hit the middle, even if we’re out of home runs. It’s a safer game this way, and yes, it’s fun. 10) As a follow up to the above, if I go in a 1-2 count in an at-bat, or feel on the defensive in an at-bat (such as a 1-1 count might promote), you can bet that I’m going to drill the next strike up the middle – it’s simply the easiest place to get a hit. Is this the kind of game we want to promote by going to a 1-1 count? Because that is exactly what will happen. 11) Pace of play issue: Two things affect this the most: Lack of hustle, and lack of preparation. Improve on both of these and you’ll be amazed at how much quicker a game progresses. Disclosure: I did vote in the survey. I did not send an email to the SSUSA office on this topic. I don’t play just to play (but I do understand that many people do). I compete to win. I pitch, and I hit. |
| Nov. 22, 2017 Crusher23 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: 1 and 1 count More observations on pace of play: I'm pretty sure that in general USSSA, and ASA for that matter do not have a 5 run per inning rule (outside of senior ball of course) so the potential for 1/2 long inning is very real so those organizations definitely need some sort of external factor like 1-1 to speed up the game. There's no denying that a shortened count like this certainly helps. However, when I first started playing senior ball I figured that the 5 run per inning limit would be enough to speed up the game - and in theory it should. Hek, how long can it take to get 5 runs in? The answer is it shouldn't take long at all. From what I've seen, a huge contributing factor towards slowing down the pace of play is the abuse of the courtesy runner rule - this particular luxury is totally abused and wastes tons of time every game. I see it consistently across the board in Senior ball. Sometimes it seems like EVERY batter/runner is getting a courtesy runner when it is clearly not necessary at times. A total time waster. And then it seems that the courtesy runner process in general is never accomplished in any kind of a timely fashion as replacement runners are often not prepared to be running for someone. More wasted time, multiple times, every inning. And then there are those way too often instances when in the middle of an at-bat someone calls "time-out" and says something like "Hey, shouldn't we get someone to run for Fat Joe on second base? Who wants to run for him? Common, somebody run!". Then someone begrudgingly lumbers out to second base and of course Fat Joe walks his a$$ in to the bench. I guarantee you that if this rule is modified that you'll see many more games go the distance. All we need to do is perhaps tweak somethings like: if going to run for someone it has to be done before a pitch is thrown to the next batter. Perhaps we limit how many runners can be used each inning - I mean really, do we really need to run for EVERYONE each and every inning? That' ridiculous. Jut my 2 cents. |
| Nov. 17, 2017 Crusher23 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: 1 and 1 count It would seem to me that more first pitch strikes would solve the issue. |
| Sept. 25, 2017 Crusher23 | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Bad experience for a Class Tournament - Worlds Just out of curiosity, what is the rule number that states that one cannot dive over the scoring line? |
| July 21, 2017 Crusher23 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: weight training My two cents: I typically lift heavy in the off-season and then curtail the weights during the season. My body simply does not recover fast enough for me to continue the heavy weight training into the season. I tried continuing my lifting program into the season once, long ago, and I simply could not swing the bat - I was bulky and slow and was frankly embarrassed. However, this year I made such good strides in the gym this off-season - gained strength, lost weight - I was so stoked that I decided that I was not going to stop lifting during the season this year. I was determined to make this work. All I did was change my routine and it's been working like a charm (knock on wood). I have not lost any strength (my goal during the season is not to gain strength, but to keep what I worked so hard for in the off-season) and I still feel real good and athletic on the field and am hitting the carp out the ball. I follow three rules: 1) Never lift the day of, or the day before a game - yeah, this can limit my time in the gym because I play in a lot of leagues, but I manage to work around it - rain outs are opportunities for an extra workout session :) 2) Each workout is a full body workout, no splits. (This way I am not totally exhausting any one particular body part that might interfere with my overall muscular balance on the field) 3) I still go heavy, but only 3 or 4 sets each exercise. 3a) Always be stretching... It sounds simple, but it works and is a tremendous conditioning workout as well. I am still able to get in squats, bench, deads, etc... I don't sacrifice any power movements. I'm able to get to the gym twice a week, maybe three if I want to push it by going after a weeknight game. I have found that 2-3 times a week is enough time in the gym during the season to maintain my gains. We are all different and our bodies all react differently to different stimuli. So what works for me may not work for you. This is simply what I have found that works for me and I wanted to share my moderate success story with you guys. |
| Nov. 28, 2016 Crusher23 | Topic: Bats Discussion: A Question 4 U Bat/Math Geeks My apologies. I need to read my test questions more carefully. It did indeed state "2 bats of the same make and model with the only difference being one bat is 28 ounces and the other 26 ounces" It's going to be a rough next couple of decades for me if this keeps up... |
