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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 55 anonymousDetails for 4x4
Real name:
Pete D
Location:
Norcal/Thailand,
Division:
Men's 65
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| March 5, 2013 4x4 | Topic: Bats Discussion: Gripping the bat It might be a built in system to keep their hands loose. I use hand over hand but extend/hold out my fingers while waiting for the pitch only clenching when starting the swing. It could be a different way of approaching and keeping the hands and forearms from being locked up and hindering the swing. Or - it an old habit from holding their teacups....... |
| Feb. 28, 2013 4x4 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: 1-1 or 0-0 At 1:20 per game you could/should go full 0-0 count and still get a full game in. There is a whole lot more satisfaction playing a full game out and getting a decision than - 4 or 5 innings - never knowing what the actual outcome would have been if it had gone the full term regulation 7 innings. A lot of things have happened in those innings when they are allowed to take place. Often times that's where the real gut it out win the game takes place and in most (very high percentage) games and teams are cheated out of it. |
| Feb. 28, 2013 4x4 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: 1-1 or 0-0 Other way around MD.....game times chopped - pay remained the same. It was the reverse of what you took it to be. Game pay was raised not lowered. Wouldn't we have all have liked to demand less hours to work with the pay remaining the same. In essence a 25% raise while undermining the length and quality of the product. Probably changing the ultimate outcome of many games and tourney winners. |
| Feb. 28, 2013 4x4 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: 1-1 or 0-0 From what I understand the one hour time limit was engineered by umpires unwilling to accept a certain amount of money for games that went 1 hour 15 minutes and wanted to work only an hour per game. I have never figured out why we are catering to the people that are basically working for us in the first place. |
| Feb. 21, 2013 4x4 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Bats Thanks Bob ? - I'm not looking to swing the next best greatest bat. The ones in my bag will do just fine (end/full load Combats & Reeboks with one surviving Red Miken). I guess if you really want to swing a certain bat - either wait and see who has one around where you are or Cowboy Up and buy one for better or worse. PMF - Zip swings with the Dirty - do have 2 original Grays (28 & 30 FL) which seem to swing about the same per other comments. Both speak loudly when used. Don't need to go around swinging anything I'm not sure will get the results that I want. It's not a fad - it's a sport. I don't think any bat company is going to selling any bats that turn balls into ballistic missles any time soon. Even if they did they would go the way of the Gray Ultra. Then it's just a matter of choice and solid mechanics - and work. Amazing how many have lousy swing mechanics and think another bat is going to cure it. It's not the arrow - it's the Indian - to quote a BP partner while we were watching someone swinging making the same mistakes over and over getting frustrated...... |
| Feb. 21, 2013 4x4 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Bats ? I don't get on here very often but Kevin gave a very good answer and your retort is uncalled for. There are a few that you should pay attention to on this board and Kevin is one of those with superior knowledge in all processes of bat/ball evolution as well as flat out a monster hitter. Where do you go to sample other bats? Well - let's see - do you take BP with a group of guys? Do you play on a team? Is the truck at any tournaments you play? Know any bat reps? You do not have to hit a ball to "feel" what weight and balance feels good in your hands. Pick up a few different bats. When you feel one come through the plane of your swing and gather speed through toward the end you probably have a good candidate to ask a team/BP mate if you can take a few swings with their bat. If you watch the truly good hitters in the on deck circle most are working on balance and timing thoughout their swing. Emulate them - you can feel when a bat drops or drags = probably not your bat to swing. You can also feel when a bat it too light through the swing - again probably not what you need. It's all balanced and rotational based on repetition and practice. Put in the work and gain the results. Looking for a "magic wand" to rescue you from yourself is the worst thing a serious player can do. Take the time to find what works for you and work to make it work better. Then stick with it. There is no bat in the world that will improve poor mechanics. And remember - each time you swing a different bat looking for the next best thing - you are in essence changing your mechanics. You can break down yourself just through constant change. We all have different swings and styles - it's a marvel to watch - we all do the same thing differently......find what works for you and do what it allows you to do. Then make it better. |
| Feb. 18, 2013 4x4 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: 2013 Classic Spring Training Being a little toooo far away to make it my thoughts were there during the weekend. Having been there in the past and knowing what a great event Curt makes it I know you had a blast..... Seeing all the familiar faces in the group picture made me miss it all the more. Mad Dog gains anymore weight you'll need a bigger lens next year! Was there a prison game this year??? And if so I'm sure the bomb squad was busy entertaining the "home" team and crowd. That was always fun. This is truly a great event. Thanks from afar for all your hard work and care Curt, Debbie, family & crew...... Who was the big raffle winner this year? |
| Feb. 12, 2013 4x4 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: WORST OUTFIELDER-In Your Opinion BRAKES |
| Feb. 12, 2013 4x4 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: WORST OUTFIELDER-In Your Opinion |
| Feb. 12, 2013 4x4 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: WORST OUTFIELDER-In Your Opinion Well it's a strange old game - you learn it slow One step forward and it's back to go You're standing on the throttle You're standing on the breaks In the groove 'til you make a mistake Sometimes you're the windshield Sometimes you're the bug Sometimes it all comes together baby Sometimes you're a fool in love Sometimes you're the louisville slugger Sometimes you're the ball Sometimes it all comes together baby Sometimes you're going to lose it all You gotta know happy - you gotta know glad Because you're gonna know lonely And you're gonna know bad When you're rippin' and a ridin' And you're coming on strong You start slippin' and slidin' And it all goes wrong......... |
| Feb. 8, 2013 4x4 | Topic: Bats Discussion: Hard time getting ahold of Team 1 sports re: broken Ambush Mike - the one that works the best of all was the Smooth On Product <> there are 2 - the Smooth Cast 45D or the Smooth Cast 60D. 60D was supposed to be an upgrade - but that's the one that hardened up in the bottle - the 45D did not but unknown whether I just didn't seal the 60D as well.They were both the impact resistant. The trial sizes run about $27 + shipping but if preserved you could do 10+ maybe 20+ bats and never get a failure. I fixed a LOT of end caps for folks whether they got the bat from me or not and not one ever came loose. The ones I did for myself always held with the bat breaking 1st. I don't swing as hard as you or Curt or Kruegs but not unusual to break 10-13 every year which is why there's always 9-10 in my bag. One tourney can blow up 3. There are two plastic bottles they send and you have to mix and use within 3-4 minutes so the preparation has to be done and the bat has to be positioned and ready. Guys if you are doing this the preparation is really really important - you have to get ALL residual glue out of the groove and every area of the end cap. Do it by hand (tried a Dremel tool once - good bye bat). I used a razor to take the loose big stuff off. Then a file to get the rest off the end cap & leave a light cross hatch to help rebond. Then I had an awl set that had straight, curved, and 90 degree angles and picked everything out of the bat groove and the end plug groove. Then when cleaned and ready - then you can apply the glue. A little residual old glue will remain but will be about only 5%. Then the bat went at an angle that allowed it to be turned while adding the glue - three hands is better than two. The end cap I'd dip right in the Smooth On up to the edge - then quickly push into the barrel while turning the bat to equalize the seal inside. Put the bat on the floor and pop it once hard with a good size rubber mallet and you'll hear it and feel it snap in. Check to see it's tight - clean quickly with de-natured alcohol and put the tape on and let her sit. With the Smooth On over night was enough but I'd sit is in the sun straight up for a day anyway. Wear throw away rubber gloves or be prepared to have some of that stuff attached to you for awhile. I think we got the Smooth On info from a prominent member of the Midget Mafia Florida Division - which none of us could belong to due to an unfair height requirement. I think I called on Kruegs stuff didn't get any help from who I spoke with (Washington State?). |
| Feb. 8, 2013 4x4 | Topic: Bats Discussion: Hard time getting ahold of Team 1 sports re: broken Ambush Mike is right more is better. Turn the bat to even it up inside and stand on the end cap straight up so everything that dries does right against the end cap. Be patient for a few days espeically in the cold weather climates. Make sure you pop the cap all the way in by whacking it on the knob when it is 1st stood straight up ( I used a rubber mallet - some glue will splash outward don't do this on your wifes good carpet). Some guys tape the end cap with a single piece of duct tape like the band on a liquor bottle cap. The Centenarian I did in the US is doing OK as did the MM 10" I did here in Thailand. Only trouble is I've got 4 bats here that need to the end cap refastened and enough sruff for two of them......... |
| Feb. 8, 2013 4x4 | Topic: Bats Discussion: Hard time getting ahold of Team 1 sports re: broken Ambush Thanks HJ - yes Mike and I had gotten together before and found a Smooth On formula that worked...it did work but for $42 I got to fix one bat as the product hardened in the container and could not use afterward. The first batch of Smooth On worked for quite a lot of bats for me and my friends - the 2nd batch was the one that hardened up - same stuff, methods, and precautions - ???? I have used the 3M and it did not hold up. I found the Gorrila "Super Glue" impact tough formula has worked on a couple of Combats. One for over 1500 impacts (29FL MM 10"). Still working on the Centenarian 28FL. It's the package that has two tubes in it although they are both the same stuff - total net weight 6 grams....Orange and Blue packaging. So far have not found it in Thailand though - maybe the Fast Cure is here, I'll look. Most of anything that's on US shelves is available here, just have to get use to where to look. Stores are just as big if not bigger and more modern but finding which one has what is needed takes time......... If nothing else I'll have the next visitor from the US bring some along Thanks |
| Feb. 6, 2013 4x4 | Topic: Bats Discussion: Hard time getting ahold of Team 1 sports re: broken Ambush DD84 - good luck with that...I don't know why Combat can't get that right. Have two new Centenarians with me here in Thailand - 28FL = cap popped off in under 30 swings ///// 30FL = cap popped off about 85 swings. And - we definitely are not playing in adverse weather or poor conditions of any kind here. Brought 4 of Mike's Yellow bats here last year and 3 are still going strong (though two end caps are loose). RIP - broke a Yellow RIP IT last Sunday. |
| Jan. 28, 2013 4x4 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Best Pitcher Well guys I'm going to jump into the fray here with a blast from the past and nominate an ex-team mate - BP partner & friend. AC Linde was a great pitcher that helped establish the Old A's as one of the pre-eminent best teams in the history of senior softball. While not possessing the great physical skills of a great many others he was edgy/agressive/combative/wily/always competitive on a team that took 50+ major championships in it's day. After that he added a few more to end up with about 70 or so rings. A HOF pitcher by any measure and I'll put him up against anyone here currently being held in high esteem. Anyone that played against him knew they had their hands full....... |
| Jan. 21, 2013 4x4 | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: Tournment Pitcher from NY looking to join a team You know - a lot of teams from NY (hey Yo) have been playing together for many many many years, decades. It's a pretty close knit and well informed "club". The pool of players and their knowledge of each other is good and long on memory. This seems like a put on thread. Surely SOMEBODY must know of this wonderguy ..... until someone comes on that has actual seen/met/played with or against I'm not sure this thread deserves anymore attention. The writing and phrasing do seem to conger up ghosts of Christmas past. There was another self proclaimed great pitcher with love of self - last I'd heard he'd given up 23 runs in one inning somewhere and after that was not playing anymore at the request of the team. If, per chance, he does exist I also would love to hit against him. Either he is going to educate the rest of us or he is going to receive an education he's been waiting 60 years to get. I'll bet on the latter.......but I think it's someone yanking our collective chain. |
| July 14, 2012 4x4 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Big D Headed to Cleveland , Ohio - Odd that this is one of the few threads G19 does not trash just by his presence. You'd think with his comments about playing with or against Mike back in the day + his knowledge of big time softball coupled with his vast experience as a pitcher he would jump right out there - hit + throw BP for the boys.......... Would be just like old times. |
| June 11, 2012 4x4 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: RIP Bob Strand O-K - you said it all very well.I remember playing with and against him. He'd swing at a ball that no one else would dare to and somehow it ended up going right where he intended it to and you are correct he did improve as the pounds went down. Softball aside - what I remember is his warmth and smile for everyone. He always took the time to chat and always in a friendly manner. The last time I saw him at P-town I hardly reconized him he'd lost so much weight. But when he spotted me walking by he hailed me over with that friendly grin and we had a nice conversation. He kept the website ladling out his own brand of humor that alwys mad the dull interesting and maybe a little quirky. This is what make what we do so great - the people like Bob - rest in peace Bob. |
| June 6, 2012 4x4 | Topic: Bats Discussion: Reebok senior melee Well - I'll second bc7. Broke one (of the A1 or 1A - can't recall - sent it back and got a replacement......... |
| May 28, 2012 4x4 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: BP Near Golden Eagle - Where Has Everyone Hit to Warm Up? Drove up this morning and 2/3 of the fields had teams hitting......... Then down in the sage brush Randy, Larry and the Texas team were hitting in the sage brush having to pull the stickers out of the balls before they got back to the pitcher. I guess it must have reminded them of home........just add armadillos |
