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Online now: 0 members ; 8 anonymousDetails for Bruce M
Real name:
Bruce MacLaren
Location:
North Bend, WA
Division:
Men's 55
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| Jan. 5, 2024 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Bell Park (Legacy Cares) gets new life As many know, Legacy Cares Park in Mesa Arizona filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy just 16 months after opening. "Mismanagement" was one of the causes claimed in the court filing. Blame was being tossed back and forth a lot. Looks like the park has now been sold. The new owner, AZ Athletic Associates LLC, a company founded by San Francisco-based private equity firm Burke Operating Partners LLC and Rocky Mountain Resources, closed its $25.8 million acquisition of the park on Dec. 14, 2023. With the transaction complete, the park has been renamed and rebranded as Arizona Athletic Grounds at Mesa Campus, or AAG. (Apparently, they wanted to keep the "Bell Park" name, but the bank no longer wanted its name associated with the failed enterprise). It would be interesting to know the root causes for the failure. I'm hoping other investors can learn from the mistakes that were made. Looks like a great park. I'm hoping to play there one day. It appears to have 2 Quads of Softball/Baseball including a stadium. The astroturf was intended to be state of the art. It's reported the park has reservations through 2030. I'm rooting for its success. |
| Dec. 24, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: Bats Discussion: New rule on shaved bats I pray for the pitcher that had to leave the field after being hit by a softball launched from a shaved bat. The batter, hopefully, has agreed to pay for all medical costs he caused through his negligence. If not, I would expect the pitcher to seek litigation against the Mr. Underwood. SSUSA has made it abundantly clear that they will not tolerate this behavior. I agree 100% with the way SSUSA has handled this. The rules have my full support. I also fully endorse naming the name of the team as well as the cheater. Steve Mummert's website is a travesty. It is not exactly a secret. The Website offers shaved bats of almost every major bat. For example, he advertises Mike Macenko's Big Cat SSUSA 2024 Gamer Series for $344.00...shaved at 25% or more This includes being rolled. That makes me sick to my stomach. Keep in mind, though, that shop would not be in business if people were not buying altered bats. SSUSA did the right thing by banning him for life. This is worse than just cheating. It's extremely dangerous. There is no room in this sport for people who put fellow players in serious danger. I can't think of anything more narcissistic. My hope is that any folks thinking about using such bats would re-think their decision. There is not gray area in this. It's just plain wrong. |
| Dec. 19, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Storing Your Glove Hi Jurpru - No such thing as a dumb question. Thanks for bringing this up. I clean my glove. Next comes the conditioning. I use Nokona glove conditioner. I always place a softball in the pocket. I wrap it with Hot Glove Deluxe Glove Wrap. I then store it in a dry, cool place. |
| Dec. 19, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Batters Box & Batting Position Hi Gary - I think the batter's box matters for a variety of purposes. One is to level the playing field and keep it consistent. Everyone has to start within a pre-defined common area. Second, it encourages a level of skill. I've seen plenty of people, who do not know how to hit to opposite field properly, start and/or stride way outside of the box on the side. They think they have an "oppo swing", but in reality, they are just continuing to pull the ball by adjusting the angle. Another version of this is the person who tries to pull the ball by stepping way out of the side of the box. The batter's box helps alert the defense and the umpire that the batter is ready to receive the pitch. There are three components to that: 1. the pitcher has possession of the ball and is ready to pitch. 2. the umpire has somehow indicated the pitch may be thrown. 3. the batter is standing in the box and looking at the pitcher. I wouldn't be surprised if there were other purposes in addition to these. |
| Dec. 18, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Batters Box & Batting Position Hi Bruce - I think there are two relevant positions: 1. Initial Stance. 2. Stance when the bat contacts the ball. In both of those positions, both feet must be within legal bounds. What happens after the bat contacts the ball is not governed by this rule. In the very rare cases where the batter is actually contacting the ball whilst the lead foot is in the air, it remains a judgement call. The "happy Gilmore" batters fall into that category. |
| Dec. 9, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Batters Box & Batting Position THANK YOU! (yes, that's a shout!) SSUSA, for addressing this in the recent rules committee on December 7, 2023. This demonstrates that you are listening to the players. To the players out there: See? This is SSUSA addressing a much-debated topic. They do listen. Change does happen. My point of view: I think this is a very wise change. §1.5 • BATTERS BOX & §7.3 • BATTING POSITION – There were multiple proposals presented by both public and committee membership regarding changes to the batters box rules. For the sake of consistency across all venues where SSUSA plays, the committee adopted, generally, the USSSA Rule 1, section 5, as follows below: “The batter must take an initial position with his back foot no further forward than a line defining the front edge of home plate. The batter will be called out if he hits the ball when the back foot is completely further forward than the line defining the front edge of home plate. NOTE: All other illegally batted ball infractions regarding the side and rear lines of the batter’s box, along with stepping on home plate, remain in effect.” • PASSED: 12-0-0 |
| Sept. 25, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Batter out of the box Hope the folks that want to change the rule listen carefully to Dave's guidance. This forum isn't the place to get rules changed. You need to submit something in writing (email)...or better yet, attend the rules conference. Other organizations have altered their batter's box rules. If you want SSUSA to consider it, please follow the proper channel. Suggest you state the rule...your argument...and your suggestions to improve it above....but through the proper channels. "Info@seniorsoftball.com with "Rules Committee" in the Memo Line or snail-mail" |
| Sept. 7, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: What do 12 and 6 foot arcs really look like? Yes, Dave, that is why I did the video on a basketball court. Hope it helps. :=) |
| Sept. 7, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: What do 12 and 6 foot arcs really look like? Here is an attempt to demonstrate them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSLcVbcAZt8 |
| Sept. 6, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: 90s East vs West I think this would be a huge win for SSUSA to video tape this game and put it on Social Media. In what other sport does an association have 24 plus players 90+ years of age competing against each other? It's a terrific story. |
| Aug. 10, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: BAT HEAD SPEED As usual, I agree with Bogie. I don't think bat speed is as important as exit speed. The general rule of distance potential is 4 feet for every mph. So, an exit speed of 90 mph is a potential of 360 feet. If you want to light up a radar gun, you need to hit line drives or grounders. Hitting a ball up in the air will lower your exit speed. Funny that. An exit speed line drive of 90 means 360 feet. Yet, if you hit a 350 foot home towering home run, your exit speed will likely read under 90 mph. That's why I think it is not extremely helpful to get hung up on a radar gun. That doesn't mean exit speed isn't important. I absolutely love Mike Macenko's bat drill, which he testifies will increase anyone's exit speed. I think mighty Mike is spot on. I think Bogie measured the legend, Ryan Harvey, at 113 + mph if memory serves me correctly. |
| Aug. 6, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: how is this situation scored Fielder's Choice. |
| Aug. 2, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Intentionally Dropped Fly Ball or Line Drive I remember well when I first started officiating. The major plus team on defense knew I was green. So, the five man had fun with me. A hard line drive ended up straight in the pocket of the fifth man, only to be dropped on the ground. He actually smiled at me. Sometimes you have to have a sense of humor. Of course, it didn't work out the way he intended. The batter was out and the runners returned to their bases. Gotta love this game. |
| July 27, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: Seattle area pitcher Greg is a wonderful guy and a fine addition to a team. He is a very good pitcher. He has a great sense of team. He also hits very well. |
| July 26, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: What is my rating? Hi Steve - if you contact SSUSA, they will give the the definitive answer. I think it depends on the rating of the 70s or 75 team you join. For example, if you join a 70 major team and play 1 qualifier, you become a major player. If you are currently a 60 AA player and join a team that is 70 AA, you maintain the same rating. I'm certainly not the expert, so I would advise contacting SSUSA. You can give them a call or write to them. |
| July 5, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Baden Senior Softball Thanks Kevin: aka Tattooball! I will call you. Thank you for finally answering the mystery (in my mind at least) of the origin of the Trump and the Spinners. To be honest, I wrote multiple emails to A.D. Star as well as Dicks. Nobody could tell me anything about you....or the journey of the softballs. Again, thanks for taking the time to respond. |
| July 3, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Baden Senior Softball Mck71 Thank you! Off the subject of this post...do you know what kinds of materials make a "composite" cover vs a "synthetic" cover? Just curious. Second, is Kevin both the creator of the A.D. Spinner as well as a contributor to the Baden Senior Fire? Thx. |
| July 2, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Baden Senior Softball NYGNYY: It appears that Tattooball answered your question. @Tattooball - (sorry, don't know your real name), are you a representative from the manufacturer of the Baden Fire Senior Ball? Are you also the person who created the original A.D. Starr Spinner? What problems were the changes to the cover designed to address? When were these changes made? Thank you. Bruce |
| June 12, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Reno From my experience, Golden Eagle has the finest softball fields on the western side of the Rockies. I don't think I have ever played a better complex. Don't know much about east of the Rockies. I did play at the USSSA Spacecoast complex once. That is the finest complex I have ever seen. I've heard that the fields at Bell Park in Phoenix are spectacular. I haven't had the opportunity to play there yet. |
| May 11, 2023 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Courtesy Runner Agree with Dave here. As an umpire, part of my job is to keep the game flowing. Most games are on the clock. I'm not going to suspend play while a player argues with their manager. |
