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| Feb. 15, 2012 thebull | Topic: Bats Discussion: Oooops there goes another U2....... LeeLee, Thought I'd comment about the Combat. I've tried them and like them, the problem I had was that they have a larger diameter knob. I drop my little finger on my left hand and the larger knob aggravates the tendons in my palm. Can't turn it down because that's altering the bat. Tried to convince Mike Macenko to get Combat to change it, said he would talk to them. Again I like the Freak,balance and stiffness same as the U2 and can easily switch back and forth. theBull |
| Feb. 15, 2012 thebull | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: congrats to the drillers for winning the 55AAA Thanks bookem, Winning the TOC meant a lot to us because the quality of the Teams was so good. Had a chance to talk with some of the players of Bay State, great group and look forward to playing you again. theBull Drillers |
| Feb. 15, 2012 thebull | Topic: Bats Discussion: Oooops there goes another U2....... I bought a Gray Ultra 2 in Phoenix at the Worlds, was a little dead but I attribute that to needing more break in time than the Black Ultra. Problem was that it broke on the 15th swing. Not just a crack, a major break. Was a warm day, bat was warm, nothing unusual.I'll never buy a Gray again. Webbie25, my advice to you is to buy a Miken Freak Limited, put 300 to 400 good hits( power hitter hits) on it and it will hit nearly as well as a Ultra and last much longer than an Ultra.Save the Ultra for when the wind is hard In. theBull |
| Sept. 28, 2011 thebull | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Do we need a rule to cover this? Hi Webb, this one was funny. I was at 1st Base and it was clearly a trap. When the right fielder threw the ball in I didn’t field it because I thought maybe he was throwing it Home. The Pitcher fielded it and stepped on 1st,, Late, the runner was standing on the Bag. Two blown calls on the same play, wish they had not given you the Run, would have made 3 blown calls, might have been a record. theBull |
| Aug. 31, 2011 thebull | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Home Runs for Outs Webbie, I said I was hitting them, not hitting on them. Besides they were skinny and ugly. theBull |
| Aug. 30, 2011 thebull | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Home Runs for Outs Lecak, I’ve not played in the LVSSA, my teams haven’t gone and I haven’t been asked. I don’t like HR outs but I’m not necessarily a fan of Home Run Derby Ball either, the Rock is too easy to hit out, like playing with a 525 comp. ball. It’s not if you can hit it out it’s how far can you hit it out. My very first Senior tournament was in Santa Rosa, NM using the 44/525 ball and I was hitting Cows grazing in field past the parking lot. I must admit your LVSSA Tournament sounds like a lot of fun but I prefer a balanced type game. If I had a choice I’d go back to 1,+1 and singles, didn’t have to try and drive the middle and I rarely got walked. theBull |
| Aug. 30, 2011 thebull | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Home Runs for Outs Ok Webbie, sounds like a reasonable answers, and now in retrospect do you think it has helped the Game? SS needs to re-evaluate the HR out and determine if it’s solved any problems. I think you’ll they’ll find it’s had little to no positive impact and increased the number of injuries to infielders. My Opinion of what make a good M/M+ is having a full line up of quality players, good defense at all positions and no weak hitters. First time I watched two M+ Teams play each other I was amazed at how hard they hit from the #1 hitter to the #11 hitter, no weak spots. Maybe we should try rating Players by their size, come up with a Height/Weight Formula. Big Guys automatically M+ and Compact Guys AA and the rest into AAA and M. It would be difficult to sandbag because you would have to get shorter or loose weight. Problem is here in NM we would end up with 1 M+, 1 M and 1 AAA and scores of AA Teams. theBull |
| Aug. 29, 2011 thebull | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Home Runs for Outs Tate22, I think you best understood my original question when you stated,” what was the problem and how did the change resolve it”. I don’t like the HR for an out because I’m forced to try change my swing, which I can do and have done and maintained a high average , but WHY. As for moving to a higher level, yes it’s an option, been asked to play M+ in SPA next year and I might but they only play about 5 Tournaments a year and it’s always a long trip, the travel would be very expensive and require a lot of missed work. Mario, I understand that you are a Giant, I think all Giants should be rated as M+ players. theBull |
| Aug. 29, 2011 thebull | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Home Runs for Outs Some good points, but still don’t get it. HR after limit as a single takes less time than most hit singles. A HR after limit is a safe single but I think many skilled hitters will try and hit to advance the runners, takes more time than HR single. In my area we play at the level available to us. The last 2 years I played with a Team almost 4 hours away, was Ok for traveling to Tournaments but could not play for them in League and could not participate in practices or any other Team Function. Also had to travel alone many times which is kind of a drag. Would love to play at the level I want with a local team with all the friends I’ve played with for 30 years, but cant. I play AAA and so does Webbie because that’s what’s available, and I’m fine with that, there are some very good Teams, competition is great, and usually plenty of Teams to play. Just hate being penalized for the HR, in a base hit situation sometimes you make a small mistake and the ball carries, just happens. I agree with Pricer, ranking of Teams should be based on more than just HR’s, the really strong teams I’ve played against did not beat us with HR’s. They beat us with good base hitting and a strong Defense. theBull |
| Aug. 29, 2011 thebull | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Home Runs for Outs I don’t want to debate the issue of HRs for outs but I would like to understand why the change was made away from the 1, 1 up then singles in AAA. The 3 then Outs seems to be universally unpopular among the players I’ve talked to and the Posts I’ve seen don’t support it. Most of the Non Ring/TOC Tournaments I’ve played switch and use a 3 Hr then singles. Many Major and M+, say they rarely use all their HR’s so why not lower the Limit, then 1 up and singles. It’s just not right that at one at bat you can win a game with a HR and another you can lose the game. Webbie, you seem to have some insight to the SSUSA decision process and attended some of the meeting. Why did they make the change? Was there really Players support for it. You say they watch the Forum and listen to what the Players want but I just don’t get this one. theBull |
| Aug. 25, 2011 thebull | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: We're simply amazed it's come to this... 1. Don't have to read it, but do have to skip over line after line after line. 2. I'm not girly. 3. Rag Yes, attack No. 4. Not Upset, just tired and bored. 5. I already have a Life. 6. Sayonara theBull |
| Aug. 25, 2011 thebull | Topic: Bats Discussion: Thread to discuss altered bats I wish I could trust all my Teammates but I don’t, I trust the ones I know well but there’s many I don’t know very well. This is especially true when I play for different teams with players I’ve never met. In my Opinion we have already lost the battle against Altered Bats. I’m around younger players a lot because of my Son and at the upper level of softball the Shaved Bat has become the norm in my area. Even my son’s friends have given in and feel they must use shaved bats to keep up because everyone else is using them. I personally do not borrow other players bats and ask that no one use my bats, I clearly mark them and ask new players that don’t know me (nicely) not to use my Bats. This really pisses off some people but too bad, they should have their own bat. I take 3 Bats to every tournament so I won’t need to borrow some else’s bat and suggest Players bring an extra and not borrow bats unless you’re absolutely sure it’s not altered. Maybe we should punish players for using some else’s altered bat for being naive. Still don’t think the Coach should be punished. theBull |
| Aug. 20, 2011 thebull | Topic: Bats Discussion: Thread to discuss altered bats mad dog, you said you were getting a couple of the new balls, hey you only need one, send me the other one. theBull |
| Aug. 20, 2011 thebull | Topic: Bats Discussion: Thread to discuss altered bats Webb, I found the rest of the 52 core balls if you want to try them again, I’ll hit some and you’ll see a bigger difference with my swing. Also, found a bunch of Blue Dots, let’s take the Alum. Bats and see if you still got it. We could find out if ”mad dog” is correct that the 52’s will hit the same with a shaved bat.( keeping us on Thread) The Bat won’t last long, it’s going to break soon. When a Bat that can’t be Altered is mandatory the Altered Bats will fade away quickly due to attrition. md, agree that the ball is the place to make the change, if a change is made. theBull |
| Aug. 20, 2011 thebull | Topic: Bats Discussion: Thread to discuss altered bats Mad dog, I use a 30 oz. Freak Limited, one reason I like it is because it feels and swings like my U2. I can’t switch weights and balance, tried my Sons freak 27oz. yesterday with Mark and it was embarrassing, warning track. I think Mark will agree with me but I’m in the middle of the Lively Combo/Safe Game debate. I defiantly want a Good ball/Bat Combo and believe it’s critical to the continuing success of SS but I also think we need to take it down a notch. Mark and I have always hit HRs but when we were in our prime 25 years ago a 400’ Hit was an more of an anomaly, now ( and I speak for myself) I’m an Old Man, overweight, don’t lift weights every day, have Arthritis and going for a long run means hitting a triple. Yet I hit farther now the I thought possible 25 years ago. Just doesn’t seem right, I’d be willing to give up some distance for added safety. Different Ball, USSSA Bats, either one I don’t care, and I’m not asking you to give up your efforts, asking you to consider a different alternative. What does gets my dandruff up is when someone tries to fundamentally change the game by slowing it down and removing the HR as a factor, I view this as an attempt by weak players seeking parity to level the playing, if weak players are intimated by Big Hitters they should play AA Ball. theBull |
| Aug. 19, 2011 thebull | Topic: Bats Discussion: Thread to discuss altered bats Lecak, good question, I promise you that Bat will never be used in a Ballgame or Derby. I will keep for a while to demonstrate my point that you can’t outwardly identify some Altered Bats, then destroy it. Mad dog, I will always oppose the 52 Ball as it is now, and my opposition was directed primarily at you because you are pushing it so strongly. I was trying to get across to you that I don’t think it will ever be accepted by the majority of players and you are riding the wrong Horse on your Crusade. Don’t take my comments personally, I have no beef with you, I actually support your efforts to find a safer Ball, really, just not this one. Tell your buddy “tattooball” he’s close and to keep working on it. When an acceptable “Safe Ball” is produced I’ll jump on your Bandwagon. Also, a Freak can hit nearly as well as an U2 if it's been broken in by someone who hits it hard enough. I have three, all with less than 500 swings,my hottest has @300 hits. I'll bring it to Worlds and your welcome to try it if it hasn't broken by then. theBull |
| Aug. 19, 2011 thebull | Topic: Bats Discussion: Thread to discuss altered bats Mad dog, Mark’s swing and my swing are completely different. Mark’s swing is flatter, longer and he uses his lower body much more than I do, better technic. I need a short stride, use less lower body and power the ball with my forearms. I also swing with more of an upward angle. I understand exactly what your trying to convey though about a smoother swing for the 52 Core, I learned to do it a few years ago in a Wood Bat Home Run Derby. I went back to my 38 oz. Howard style swing, long, slow and smooth, it works ( for wood bats). I taught it to my son’s USSSA Team and they won a Wood Bat tournament in Denver. I have also changed my mind about its safety, I now agree with you it’s much safer. After Mark hit that Old Guy riding his Bike down the street he popped up like nothing happened and just kept going, maybe he was frightened off when Mark went running toward him to see if he was alright. I still don’t like the 52 core Ball, why don’t you focus some of your energies on trying to get the Manufacturers to improve it. With some tweaking it may become a Ball that most players would find acceptable. theBull |
| Aug. 19, 2011 thebull | Topic: Bats Discussion: Thread to discuss altered bats Hey Webbie, I thought I’d expand on your Post. First the balls weren’t carrying well today, they seemed to just die at about 400’ to @ 425’ so today might not have been the best day for you to try the 52 core Ball. But I was very surprised how well you hit them and how far they went. I personally don’t like them and I don’t hit them well but they seem to preform for your type of swing, a hard line drive with lots of backspin. I will back off a little on my opposition, but only a little. If I had to I think I could adjust to them but doubt that the ball will ever be used in Seniors so I won’t worry about it. As for the shaved bat, it was frightening experience pitching today. The balls were going by me so fast that I barely had time to duck behind the pitching screen. I would never pitch to someone I suspected of using a shaved bat, ever. And I agree with you on the Ultra/Freak comparison, both hit routinely over 400’ with a few 460’+ range, Ultra’s was a little hotter but the Freak was almost new and not broken in yet. I felt that the biggest difference is that the Ultra has a larger sweet spot and is much more forgiving. theBull |
| Aug. 18, 2011 thebull | Topic: Bats Discussion: On My Honor 2 Tater50, I understand the point your making, but if someone is willing to cheat I they will cheat regardless of signing a Roster that states they won’t. Also I think it’s redundant, when I signed my Seniors Card and each time I sign a Tournament sign in sheet I’m signing a Contract that says I won’t Cheat. By signing I’m agreeing to abide by the Senior Softball Rulebook which has been clearly clarified by SSUSA as it pertains to Altered Bats. Again, why should a Coach be held responsible for a player who uses an altered bat without his knowledge. Remember we are talking about Grown Adult Men who have already agreed “ In Writing” that they will not cheat. A comment about Einstein, I’ve read many of his Posts and I have never seen him say he has cheated. Some of his Posts are odd and inflammatory but does he really deserve to be labeled a Cheater, in Fact I believe he has stated he does not Cheat. Not caring about rolled bats does not constitute Cheating. If you do not like him then openly debate him, that’s what the Forum is for. Quit taking cheap shots, try making a point, be happy to read it. Einstein and Webbie25, What the heck are you talking about, Religion and Politics in the same Post, I’m lost. theBull |
| Aug. 18, 2011 thebull | Topic: Bats Discussion: On My Honor 2 I agree with the stiff penalties against the Player for using an Altered Bat but I don’t agree with penalizing the Coach unless it can be proved he had prior knowledge. It has been discussed on this Site that there is virtually no way to know if a Bat has been Rolled ( from the exterior) and is probably equally as difficult to know if it’s been weighted. I have seen a Senior use a Shaved Bat in a Home Run Derby and would not have known it except I overheard him talking about it with a teammate. Did he use it in a Game, don’t know, he had two identical Bats, on shaved and one Not. Why are Coaches expected to possess an ability to detect Altered Bats when no one else can? Penalizing someone who did not break the Rules and had no knowledge of the infraction makes no sense and is not a deterrent. theBull |
