July 20, 2022 gott2play | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: East coast player has question about Western National 65M teams kel, For the 65 Major bracket in this years' Western Nationals we have a total of 5 teams (2 Major Plus, 1 70 Major Plus, 2 Major), a pretty weak turnout to say the least. In addition, 3 of the 5 teams are from the immediate area, one (Oregon Crabs) from a drivable distance, and the remaining team from Texas. We played in Lincoln last year, was HOT and with the nearby brushfires even hotter. In my opinion, the reason for the small turnout can be attributed to a multitude of reasons: 1) current travel costs for out of state teams are quite high this year 2) it is historically hot in the area this time of the year...not to the liking of many 3) the tournament just doesn't mean that much to many teams 4) the venues aren't top notch and quite spread across a wide area throughout the county 5) in my 16 years of senior ball, the Western Nationals have played outside of Sacramento once (Aurora, CO 2012). To be fair, only 89 total teams then versus 157 now 6) economics says that for the foreseeable future, the tourney will stay in the Sacramento area 7) ok ok, the balls. Singles are good, just sayin' See some of you next week. Tony Baltazar Texas Crush - 65 Major Plus |
Aug. 1, 2021 gott2play | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: ISA Senior World Series Columbus Indiana 55/60+ Platinum division Texas Crush 60’s - Major Plus |
Jan. 4, 2021 gott2play | Topic: Bats Discussion: ONYX Senior Bat with a WARRANTY Benji, Benji, Benji, You still bagging’ on the free jerseys?...you’re killin’ me Smalls. Happy New Year brother. Hope all is well. Tony Baltazar Texas Crush 60’s and 65’s |
Sept. 27, 2020 gott2play | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: brackets A well placed Heisman stiff-arm Mr Dowell. Here’s your beer back. LoL Tony Baltazar Texas Crush - 60 Major Plus |
Aug. 31, 2018 gott2play | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: Sat. morning leagues Dan, There's a Saturday morning senior league in Long Beach. Single wall aluminum bats only. I think Long Beach is a 55 and over league. Depending on upper or lower division, games are played at either Pan Am (lower) or Joe Rogers Park (upper). Don't have a contact number, but I suspect someone on the board who plays there will respond. Tony |
Aug. 30, 2018 gott2play | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Rocky Mountain tournament Dave, Easy there big fella. 620+ teams CLAMORING for games schedules already? That’s pretty good. I’m sure the usual suspects are wanting game schedules now, but c’mon man. A simple, “we’re waiting on paperwork would have sufficed.” Sorry Dave, couldn’t resist. See you in Vegas. Tony Baltazar #35 Texas Crush Sixties - Major Plus |
Aug. 16, 2018 gott2play | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Thomas Burns I’m saddened to hear of the passing of Thomas Burns. A great guy and great player. I had the pleasure of playing ball with him back in the 80’s, lost touch and then saw him a few years ago at a local senior tourney. Still the same smiling great guy I remembered from all those years back. RIP Thomas, you’ll be missed. My condolences to the Burns family.. Tony Baltazar Texas Crush Sixties |
April 22, 2018 gott2play | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: SW Championship-Lorenzi Park Titanhd, George Robinson was the player who collapsed from apparently extreme dehydration. I heard that he may be released tonight. If anyone knows, please confirm. |
Dec. 28, 2017 gott2play | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: T.O.C. Florida 2018 Dave, There are "arguments" on both sides. I agree that the problem sits squarely on the player, but that player is still playing maybe one or two age groups down from their actual age. That's great for the player who has the ability to do it, but at the end of the day the player and his XYZ team gets penalized. I played 60 Major Plus in Vegas and after getting eliminated, played one game with my old 55 Major team. They finished 3rd and got re-rated to Major Plus. My guess is that I now have the Player Rating Index for a 55 Major Plus player. Having played both 55 and 60 there is a difference, particularly from a defense and overall team speed aspect. This issue could be discussed/debated ad-nauseam and never come to mutual agreement. Until then, we'll just keep playing on. Happy New Years to you and yours. Tony Baltazar |
Dec. 28, 2017 gott2play | Topic: Product review Discussion: Bat Shelf-- Who Has One? titanhd, Received my batshelf the other day for my Demarini Special Ops bag and it came fully assembled. Perhaps a change in their policy. Tony Baltazar |
Dec. 28, 2017 gott2play | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: T.O.C. Florida 2018 Uncle Mike, Which is why players should carry the rating at their age group. The example being that if you're on a 55AAA team, and then you also play on a 50AAA team that gets bumped, you should carry the rating as a 55 year old. I see teams with guys that do double duty in two age groups and the older team can suffer roster-wise because of the rating criteria, You're sort of penalized if you are older and perhaps good enough to play in a lower age division. In this scenario, at the end of the day you're still over 55. Just my take. Tony Baltazar |
Dec. 10, 2017 gott2play | Topic: Product review Discussion: Bat Shelf-- Who Has One? Because my bag sags a bit, I just ordered one for my DeMarini Special Ops. $65 plus $15 delivery. I could've purchased PVC tubing, elbow joints, screws, and plexiglass/wood for the shelves and built it myself for about $45, but I chose to have it done right, LoL. Plus I get the top shelf engraved with my name, number, and the SSUSA logo (my choice). Check out "batshelf.com" Tony Baltazar |
Oct. 2, 2017 gott2play | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Bad experience for a Class Tournament - Worlds Mike (softball4b), (As you are want to say) Dadgummit! The umpire did not see it and therefore cant make the call? Its the friggin' winning run Dadgummit!...his ONLY job at this point is to watch and make sure the runner doesn't step on home plate, or in this case, slide across the line. Rules are rules and should be enforced. The team that lost gets penalized because of umpire incompetence or lack of caring. No need for political correctness here, the umpire blew it. Disciplinary actions after the fact don't help the team penalized. Just my take...and apologies for using your word. Tony Baltazar Demolition - 60 Major Plus |
Sept. 26, 2017 gott2play | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Bad experience for a Class Tournament - Worlds Gentlemen, Why the differing opinions? It's pretty clear cut here...if the rules say no diving/sliding across home plate, then it's an out. It's no different than if the runner steps on the actual home plate, it's an out. Some have said they wouldn't want to win a game that way...yes you would. At the World Masters we all would. You might feel bad about it, but you'd take the win. Just sayin' Tony Baltazar #35 Summy's Demolition |
Sept. 12, 2017 gott2play | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Irma Recovery Well Wishes Ed, Glad to hear that you and your family got through Irma safely. Hopefully, any personal damage is minimal. I stayed in touch with friends in Fort Lauderdale and Sarasota...they sustained some damage but most importantly, are all ok. Tony Baltazar Summy's Demolition 60 Major Plus |
Sept. 3, 2017 gott2play | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Results of the SCSSA Beach Bash 17 Good question Dave. The same could be said about D&K Tradition as they've retracted to Major as well. |
June 12, 2017 gott2play | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: Huntsman 2017 We will. See you then. |
June 12, 2017 gott2play | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: Huntsman 2017 Dave (Dbax or Banned in Az), I agree that it's one of the best tournaments of the year, plus lots of outdoor things to do in St George. I've played the last three years and definitely noticed some sandbagging. However, the staff does a pretty good job of putting teams where they belong after the seeding games. Not sure how many games bringiton expects to play. Pretty much all tournaments we play are 5 game guarantees. Maybe he's a loser's bracket kind of guy, just kidding. It's quite the undertaking to put these games on, so I'm ok with the $79 and $10 I pay to register. Also, Huntsman's Games are more than just a softball tournament. See you in Sacramento or Vegas. Tony Baltazar Summy's Demolition - 60 Major Plus |
May 23, 2017 gott2play | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: 2017 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Ed, After this past weekend in Cathedral City, you picked the perfect time to bring up the topic of night games. For those of you not present, a player from the So Cal Riptide team suffered a heart attack during play. Thanks to a number of people, but specifically a nurse in attendance and one of my teammates performing continuous chest compression's until paramedics arrived, this player is alive today. It was hot over the weekend, and felt much hotter than the actual temperatures. It was still over 100 degrees, so the topic of playing at night is not so out of line... particularly for the tournaments coming up during the "dog days" of summer. It'll still be warm for night games...just no sun beating down on you. Let's not talk about tournaments being about the survival of the fittest, war of attrition, who's in shape, who's not, but rather what change could be implemented to lower risks and improve player safety and/or well being. Tony Baltazar Demolition - 60 Major Plus |
Dec. 14, 2016 gott2play | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Roster Player Classification Staff, So a 60 Major rated player playing DOWN two age groups on a 50 AAA team runs the risk of having his R/I history changed, thus eliminating him from playing 60 AAA (even as a chip) for two seasons? The way I look at it, a 60 Major rating s/b equivalent to a 50 AAA rating. Doesn't seem fair to the player...after all he is 60 plus. You're penalizing the player for "having to ability" to play in lower age group. Just trying to look at this rationally. Tony Baltazar Demolition - 60 Major Plus |