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Online now: 6 members: Curly67, Double Dee, MariaO17, Shai 21, rickbrowder, teampanthers; 13 anonymousDetails for DD
Real name:
DENNIS DALTON
Location:
PHOENIX, AZ
Division:
Men's 75
Messages posted by DD »Message board home »Start a new discussion
| Jan. 25, 2008 DD | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Rule changes - where are all the Major Plus players opinions? Thanks, Joe, for your thoughtful response. On the issue of danger to the fielders and the pitcher, much has been said. I do find it interesting to note that sentiment on this message board among M+ players seems to be running decidedly against the new rule that intends to protect the pitcher. Correct me if I'm wrong on that. As others have pointed out, the "intent" to cause injury to another player is difficult to ascertain, but I can tell you I have played with M+ players (and those from other divisions) who have not been shy in the dugout (quietly) about their intent to do harm to a pitcher...and then backed it up with a rocket that hit a shin, or a knee, or a chest. I've even read threats of physical harm to others on this very website, although we don't take seriously the rantings of the deranged, do we? My purpose is not to criticize your division...I intend to play there when I grow up, but a 65-major Plus team will probably be more to my liking. I'm still having too much fun trying to beat 50 year olds in AAA/Major. Those guys can play. It's the best softball I've seen in the 4 years I've been around senior ball---dead serious. I do feel, though, that many of your numbers are a bit out of touch with the economic reality of senior softball. How could an organization survive with the numbers of M+ players. You guys are a great bunch of veteran players, but by yourselves you would not have one tournament to play in...unless you organized a pick-up gathering in your own region. Please consider that the preponderance of Homeruns, while offering a certain aphrodisiac to some, is a grave threat to your entire division. There just are not enough players who a) hit that many; and b) find anything enjoyable about standing around watching the ball sail out of the park. Most players at all levels still want to run, throw, play defense, hit behind the runner, turn doubleplays, pitch as effectively as a slow-pitcher can, and generally excel at all aspects of this fabulous game. While many M+ games feature a wonderful blend of all that, far too many are one-dimensional slugfests that leave everyone involved somewhat empty. You guys need a way to attract more players to your division...I'm betting if you offer a more complete experience you'll have some takers instaed of playing the same old teams and the same old players who've switched to the newest "paid" team. Apprecite the dialogue and look forward to hearing your thoughts. |
| Jan. 25, 2008 DD | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Rule changes - where are all the Major Plus players opinions? Patty Mac- You want M+ games to last 90 minutes? Wouldn't that extend games an inordinate length of time? Imagine a 6th inning starting at the 86th minute...finish the inning AND THEN you get the open? That game might last 3 hours. How can you justify that in a tournament with, for example, 25 other teams expecting to use the same fields and limited to 60 minute games? You should take note of the fact that AA, AAA, and Major teams comprise 94% of the players in senior softball. That means 94 cents of every dollar paid comes from these lower divisions. That means without us, you don't have a place to play. Without us you'd be lining up trash cans on a vacant lot somewhere and playing "Home Run Derby" for a case of beer. I think it's time many of the M+ players awoke to the fact that your wishes do not in any significant way reflect what is best for senior softball. You appear to have hijacked this message board to a great extent, but your numbers represent a mere 4-6% of the player pool---many of you jump from team to team upsetting the parity tournament organizers are trying to assure others who pay to come and compete; the dizzying barrage of longballs in your division makes a travesty of an otherwise great game; your declining (or completely absent) skills in defense, baserunning, and throwing make a mockery of the oft-stated (and self-proclaimed) mantra that you are the "best-of-the-best" in senior softball. It's time you all realized only a fraction of the thousands of seniors still playing want anything to do with a game that features 40-50 balls or more hit out of the park. That is a dreadfully silly waste of everyone's time and is undoubtedly why one M+ sponsor told me last year he was giving it up because he thought Major Plus was ---and I quote---"...a DYING division." Get real...start playing the full game again...work on your skills...RUN THE BALL OUT for crying out loud. Many of you he-men can't even get to first base without calling for a "courtesy runner." It's the only future you have once the Ultra 2s and other lethal bats are outlawed...and if you don't think that is coming you haven't been paying attention. Note the most recent ISSA Newsletter that summarizes the Summit Meeting last weekend in Phoenix. It was emailed to managers just last Wednesday. It's great you can hit a lot of homeruns...but too much of a good thing tends to ruin it...like alcohol or recreational drugs...the game is so much more than the dinger, or have you forgotten all that. I suggest you approach any and all discussions about what is best for senior softball from the point of view that what improves the experience for the greatest number. is the way to go..not just what is best for your division. After all, why would any organization try to satisfy its smallest number of paying customers (its "light" users) at the expense of its heavy users? Talk about the tail wagging the dog... Hoochie-mama, that oughtta get the fires raging! |
| Jan. 25, 2008 DD | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: OK You Gym Rats Out There Pete- Doughnuts and coffee in the morning and a hot fudge sundae with the evening workouts work for me. |
| Jan. 10, 2008 DD | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: What Would You Change - Have More Teams at Tournaments to Fill the Divisions It seems to me the way to get more teams to enter tournaments is to get more players into senior softball. Admittedly, this is a "long term" goal, but the demographics are on our side. Baby boomers are now between the ages of 44 and 62...prime recruiting and playing age for SSUSA and other organizations...and they represent the largest number of people in any generation in the nation. There are millions of them out there who know NOTHING about senior softball...and they are turning 50 faster than you can imagine. Each one of us is a marketing arm of senior softball, and with the amount of fun our team is having playing ball it isn't hard to sell fellow seniors we meet about this game. Every player on every team should make it his personal goal to sign one new senior player in 2008---imagine the tournament slates with so many more players involved. Here's what might happen. Look at the Ratings section of this website---there are over 2000 teams rated in all age divisions. With an average of just 12 players per team, that totals almost 25,000 players active in the senior game today. Even allowing for 30% duplication (a high estimate) there are almost 17,000 players competing. Double that by taking personal responsibility to find one new player this year and you have over 34,000 players suited up and on teams for 2009...maybe more. This personal one-on-one "sales job" is the best way to do it, but the big senior organizations could help by doing a little more PR, advertising, and marketing of the product to help increase awareness. Go get 'em!! |
| Oct. 30, 2007 DD | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: Want to start playing again There are quite a few teams in the area encompassing the full spectrum of ability and age...from 50/AA all the way up. Four local AAA teams competed in the recent World Championships held here annually in October and our team was one of them. Several other teams competed in other divisions. You'll have an excellent selection to pick from and should look them all over. Our team is CJ&S Express and we've been together for the most part for 3+ years. But, we do add players each year while some others leave and that is the case for 2008. We'll have a couple of roster spots there for the taking. If you'd like more information or want to try out, give me your contact information at 510-418-4853. Thanks...look forward to hearing from you. Dennis Dalton Mgr/CJ&S EXPRESS |
| Oct. 20, 2007 DD | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: 50+ player in AZ repsol404- CJ&S Express is a 50/AAA team based in Phoenix playing 24 tournaments in 2007. We expect some roster turnover for 2008 (which begins NEXT WEEK) and are looking for complete ballplayers. You can contact me by email at daltons11@cox.net or phone 602-214-4292. Thank-you, Dennis Dalton |
| Jan. 22, 2007 DD | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: looking for 50,s team in the phoenix area Gumout- Reach me at daltons11@cox.net for info on CJ&S Express. DD |
| Jan. 22, 2007 DD | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: looking for 50,s team in the phoenix area Gumout- |
| Jan. 21, 2007 DD | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: looking for 50,s team in the phoenix area Dan- CJ&S Express is a Phoenix team that plays 18-22 tournaments per year...many of them away from Phoenix. We're always looking for complete ballplayers willing to travel who can hit and play excellent defense. We're playing in Phoenix this weekend. Email if you want more information and we'll talk. Look forward to hearing from you. DD |
| Jan. 1, 2007 DD | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Who's Going to TOC in Florida??? CJ&S EXPRESS (Phoenix, AZ) is going to the TOC in WinterHaven and competing in AAA/50's Division . We encourage everyone who qualified to attend this tournament because if all those winners show up, the TOC promises to be the best event of the year. |
| Oct. 16, 2006 DD | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Vote on Changing SSWC Format!!!!!!!! The World Championships offer the only 4-day tournament that I'm aware of, and thus is a very special event. My vote is to keep it a 4-day event and to explore ways to INCREASE the minimum number of games---giving teams a chance to play up to 8 games before facing the trip home. As a couple of others suggest, this is one of the few times we're given an opportunity to play teams from other parts of the country and I agree we should take advantage of that. When the expense of traveling is considered, doesn't it make sense to play MORE games rather than fewer? |
| Sept. 15, 2006 DD | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: player 53 moving to phoenix, az looking for a team Breeze53-- Please give me your contact information and when you get to town we'll set up a tryout. We're stepping up to 50s/AAA in 2007 and are looking for complete players that hit and play good defense. |
