Sign-in or register to get started

Online now: 3 members: BOB P, Bitcho-26, Bruddah Rob; 49 anonymous

Details for the wood

Real name:

Location:

Division:

Messages posted by the wood »Message board home »Start a new discussion

Jan. 13, 2013 the wood	Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: LOSS OF ANOTHER GREAT PLAYER OF THE TURN TWO SOFTBALL TEAM I'm really sorry to hear of Sam's passing. This is a shock. He was a guy that always seemed to be in excellent condition and one that played outfield 3-4 games per day... not to mention that he always seemed to be on base. My thoughts & prayers are with Sam's family and friends. BW
Jan. 8, 2013 the wood	Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: CURE ALL FOR 2013 You guys are 100% correct and, in the real world, that's what we do. (real world = actually playing ball). But a message board or chat room seems to create an environment wherein people commence to 'foot fondling a deceased equine'. Many things that are written on here that would not be said in our 'real world'... but some points that are made are truly productive. Posts that begin as a positve message often regress to petty bickering. We've been playing ball for 40 years (some more, some less) and have rolled with the punches all this time. Rules have changed over the years and, whether we like them or not, we continue to play. Personally, I look forward to this season more than I have in 4-5 years. When we go to play it isn't about the rule nuances, it's about the game itself and the people that play it. Had the 1-1 count been voted in I would still feel the way that I do. BW
Jan. 7, 2013 the wood	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: More 1-1 Count Talk Tim, I have no reason to bs you, it isn't my style. So give it a rest, the votes have been counted. BW
Jan. 7, 2013 the wood	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: THANKS SSUSA Yes, thanks, SSUSA. It does take a lot of effort to offer this survey to all of us. And IT IS too bad that more people didn't a minute to provide their feedback. BW
Jan. 7, 2013 the wood	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: More 1-1 Count Talk Tim, I'm not sure why you feel so certain that those of us who voted 'n' on the 1-1 count proposal did so because of fear. It seems to me that you're missing quite a few dots on that linear connection. I voted 'no' because I have been playing softball for over 40 years and I'm resistant to change. I like the fact that the 0-0 count more closely resembles what I grew up playing (other than unlimited fouls). Before you go off on another ill-advised tangent, I understand why they changed the unltd foul ball rule in the late 70s. I watched a guy foul off more than 20 balls off Ricky Pinto and then drew a walk. Some of you guys have made stmts (that other proponents 'ratified') that just don't pass the smell test. As an example, it was stated that the 1-1 count 'would save an average of 10 minutes per game'. If it aint broke don't fix it... playing 4-5 innings isn't an ideal. But the 1-1 count aint getting us to 7 innings on its own. If it aint a clear solution, why make a change? Fear of not hitting as well NEVER entered my thought process. In fact, I envision a scenario whereby the change would help some of us who go deeper in counts. Given how clairvoyant you claim to be, I don't feel that I need to explain how this might be an advantage. SSUSA has posed the age breakdowns. You might start with their 'real data' and THEN connect the dots. Now why would older players, as a rule, vote against it? It's mostly as I've stated, we prefer less change unless we're convinced that it's a positive change. Making HRs an out in AA/AAA could save even more time. Reducing the maximum runs/inning could as well. No need to campaign for these changes as they were done 5-6 weeks ago. A lot of you are talking about an 11th player, a pitching screen, etc. Why? To preserve a guy's right to hit HRs in AAA or make it safer for pitchers? Again, this is too much change. BW
Dec. 31, 2012 the wood	Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Out after 3 Home Runs Silk: you must feel pretty strongly seeing as you posted it 3 times. This theory has been voiced many times in the past. Sort of the 'earth is flat' type of thinking. When M+ rules had DBOs were used I saw no evidence that pitchers were in any kind of increased danger. It's almost the Pavlovian response to DBOs. BW
Dec. 28, 2012 the wood	Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Best leadoff hitter I've seen lots of great lead off hitters over the past 40+ years. But I remember a bare foot Indian guy, Luke Warmwater. His only real short coming was that he didn't flow as well when it was too hot or too cold. Happy New Year! :-) BW
Dec. 20, 2012 the wood	Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Survey Al33: I'm not sure who Bill is but I presume that you're responding to my post. My point was/is that the 'many/most were unaware' referred to just the folks that posted on here. This message board is not a fair sampling of the total membership. I received the letter via email and I passed it on to 25+ people and asked that they pass it on. I know that others did the same. I cannot speak for SSUSA in terms of many members responded or even received info about the rules committee meeting. SPA has been sending a survey to me for 2-3 years now (via email). Bob Woodroof
Dec. 18, 2012 the wood	Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Survey Apparently many/most of you are unaware that SSUSA sent out a letter that requested players/managers input on their rules. It was sent 3-4 weeks prior to the rules committee meetings. I'm guessing that the feedback received was useful in working through the issues. SPA has been doing this for several years now and it is nice to know that your opinions do matter. BW
Dec. 13, 2012 the wood	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: AAA Home Run Outs While I believe that this was initially mentioned in a less than a serious mode, I hope that we NEVER see open fields again. I'd like our outfielders to know that they only have to cover 'x' amount of real estate. 300" is perfect now as it was 35 years ago. Open fields would totally distort the game. But we do occasionally play with them in local senior leagues that use lesser equipment. Open fields and the current bat/ball combo would be nasty. We also play in an open field tourney each summer with younger players. Even though we use single wall bats the outfielders have to play 280' + from home plate and the grass seems putting green short. So there are lots of doubles (deep outfielders w/ tired arms) and lots of gappers... very few HRs that are hit over their heads. We do it each year for fun but wouldn't want that to be the norm, IMO. BW
Dec. 13, 2012 the wood	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: AAA Home Run Outs Well, go play on a M or M+ team and when I pay to watch a game maybe I'll be watching you. We have 3 Nor Cal guys on our team that each drive at least 350 miles (each way) to play on our team. If we play in NV or AZ their total miles goes up. They pay their own travel expenses. Two of them hit HRs and one doesn't... and they're all 65+. We play once per month. Are there M or M+ teams in their area? Yes, several of them. I don't know how far you are from a M or M+ team, Big Cat, but it's done all of the time. BW
Dec. 13, 2012 the wood	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: AAA Home Run Outs BigCat: You use the phrase 'like the crybabies did back in the 90s'. That's certainly one way to look at it. Another way would be that the assns had to do something to discourage the 'psuedo HR hitters' from playing down (psuedo = guys who were unwilling to do it against the upper division guys). We found lots of guys back then that were the 'scourge of B or C ball' and couldn't hit the ball out of the infield in A or Open ball. So they'd go back down to B/C and be 'zip code heroes'. Which argument is correct? I don't know and I don't care. I'm more interested in living in the 'what is' as opposed to the 'what was'. Those of you that are dissatisfied with the new rules... how many of you actually took the time to be at the rules committee meeting last month? Or how many of you took the time to send in your feelings via a letter or an email (prior to the meeting)? If you did neither is it reasonable to blame the assn for making the decisions that the clear majority wanted? If your views weren't represented whose fault is this? The 'what is' for AAA is 3 HRs and an out thereafter. If that really bothered me I'd find an upper division team to play with. Whining about it on the message board would not be part of my M.O. BW
Dec. 12, 2012 the wood	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: AAA Home Run Outs Bob, we learned to do this years ago regardless of whether we had HR limits or not. I could list all of the reasons why but you already know them. The HR limit merely adds more reason... Basketball players balked at the 3 second rule 50+ years ago but there is still a place for big men. BW
Dec. 12, 2012 the wood	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: one out bases loaded Sisavic: It's called a 'force play' for a reason. When the force is in play each forced runner must advance until he reaches the next base, is put out or the force is removed. If a runner dances off a base and goes back to it the base is not a safe haven unless the force has been removed. It doesn't matter if he dances off base, proceeds to the commitment line or does handstands, he is liable to be put out until the force is removed. Using the same scenario as Wes initially laid out... should the force have been removed due to a tag of 1st or 2nd base the runner at third could use the bag as a safe haven. The runner going from 2nd to 3rd is then in jeopardy... the same is true for the runner going from 1st to 2nd base (if 1st base was tagged). This happens more often than you'd think. The umpires in Wes' game must have really been 'under prepared'. The 'safe haven' part that may have confused you could be when a runner is struck by a batted ball and is touching the base at the time. In SSUSA this results in a dead ball and everyone advances one base... not an out. At least this is the way their rule read a few years ago. SPA just calls it a live ball, not an out and not a free base... unless SPA has changed it. BW
Dec. 11, 2012 the wood	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: AAA Home Run Outs Big Cat: I gotta call BS on your last post. SSUSA isn't punishing anyone... they're just changing the HR rules in AAA. I know of guy that is in the USSSA HOF and, a few years ago, he played a lot of 40/45 ASA/USSSA events that had 3 HRs and then DBOs. In BP he ALWAYS hit an entire bucket of balls 'back side' in case he batted when it wasn't a good time to hit a HR. He became so profiicent at it that he used his back side swing in clutch situations, too. He plays today in the 50 M+ division and uses that swing whenever he feels that he needs to do it. He happens to be one of the best senior player out there, if not the best. It isn't like the sky is falling. We played with DBOs in M+ for several years and we (my team) didn't whine about it. We just adapted to it. Bob Woodroof
Dec. 6, 2012 the wood	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Grading the Rule Changes E4/E6: Right Church, wrong pew! I try not to distract you because I don't want to increase your chances at making a play... :-)
Dec. 6, 2012 the wood	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Grading the Rule Changes Good! IMO, laughter is the best medicine most of the time and if we can't laugh at ourselves we're really in a bad spot... Just the same, I'd be checking the other cars in your office parking lot as you can really never be too careful... :-) BW
Dec. 6, 2012 the wood	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Grading the Rule Changes Southernson: Being paranoid doesn't mean that 'they aren't coming after you'... :-) You & your team just needs to sort out the things that are important to you. From what you said, your teammates need to work on keeping the ball in the park until there are 2-3 guys on base or it's late in the game. Years ago, we played a lot of 40-45+ ASA & USSSA with similar rules and we adapted just fine. It does add a strategy to the game and it does make you work at becoming more proficient in the other areas. Go the opposite way or use less lethal bats until you need them. They are many teams with bigger problems. The bottom line is that it's still just softball... find ways to enjoy it. BW
Dec. 5, 2012 the wood	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Grading the Rule Changes There is no one specific 'team goal' that fits every team. You make the determination of what your team's goals will be (you = the guys on your team). Whatever your team decides upon is how you ought to steer it. Recruit the guys that can fit within your goals and will embrace them. But SSUSA, SPA or whatever other association you're planning to play makes their rules for what they believe will strengthen the overall health of a given division. If their rules conflict with your team's goals your team needs to be the one to make the adjustment. It's somewhat like blending in with society. There is no outside force stopping your team from developing, Southernson. Perhaps the directrion you intended to take has changed but the only thing that will retard your team from achieving its goal is you (the guys on your team). None of the better teams in any division (or any age group) got there without a lot planning, a lot of effort and follow through. It aint like painting where you start at the top and work down. If your team wants to hit HRs then, as JSheeren said, you need to play major. If you want to remain in AAA then your team needs to improve all of its non-HR elements. You can improve in either environment... it's up to you & your teammates. BW
Dec. 3, 2012 the wood	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Grading the Rule Changes Jawood: You've missed my point about the 'CA/FL bordering states' issue. You and others are tossing out this out there as if it's a foregone conclusion that teams using bordering state players are better off than those who do not. It's the 'everybody knows' position and is based upon supposition, not based upon facts. If you want to know the facts, speak with any NW representative that attended the rules committee meeting. He/she can tell you about the research that was shared in which the correlation between dominant teams and this rule (for CA/FL teams) was shown to be non-existent. Period. So the sooner you and others that deal in innuedo, rumor and supposition switch to using the available and relevant facts the better we'll all be for it. The 'advantage' that you throw out there is no greater than the advantage gained by wearing green jerseys in lieu of blue. But I do get your argument, in general, about equalizers. BW

« Newer messages Older messages »

Senior Softball-USA
Phone: (916) 326-5303
Fax: (916) 326-5304
2701 K Street, Suite 101A
Sacramento, CA 95816
Send us e-mail

Senior Softball-USA is dedicated to informing and uniting the Senior Softball Players of America and the World. Senior Softball-USA sanctions tournaments and championships, registers players, writes the rulebook, publishes Senior Softball-USA News, hosts International Softball Tours and promotes Senior Softball throughout the world. More than 1.5 million men and women over 40 play Senior Softball in the United States today. »SSUSA History »Privacy policy

Partners