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Online now: 2 members: Bob Downs, TABLE SETTER 11; 96 anonymousDetails for Duke
Real name:
Andy
Location:
Simi Valley, CA
Division:
Men's 65
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| Aug. 4, 2018 Duke | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: San Clemente in August! Thank you Dave! I figured everyone might be a little busy with the National tournaments. Look forward to seeing you and Fran in Las Vegas. Safe travels, Andy |
| Aug. 4, 2018 Duke | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Calling High Pitches RALEIGH, I concur with you. SSUSA has an allowable pitching arc of 12 feet. Not too often is that going to be permitted. In some of my games this year, we were allowed to throw 12 feet and on a rare occasion, more than 12 feet. In one game this year, the umpire brought me and the other coach together to discuss some rules. He said that he did not know exactly how high 12 feet was, and I replied 12 feet. What happened was that both pitchers were throwing over 12 feet. The umpire just said not to get carried away with the height limit. In another game, the umpire said 12 feet was when the ball disappeared above the brim of his hat. I told him to get another hat with a shorter brim. Lastly, in a World tournament with 2 umpires, I pitched the ball between 9 and 12 feet. The umpire called too high twice. I then pitched the ball roughly 8 feet or lower, and she called the pitch high again. I called time and started to approach her, and she said one more step, and you will be ejected. I looked at the field umpire, who I have seen many times, and said you need to correct her or switch with her after this inning, or there will be some ejections. She finished the inning, and I could not throw anything under 6 feet or above 8 feet for that inning, or it was an illegal pitch. I did tell her to get a tee and let everyone adjust the height to their own specifications. Anyway, after the first inning, the other umpire had a talk with her, and the rest of the game was reasonable as far as the height limit. Being real, no one has a measuring tape out there to know an exact height. As most pitchers do, we adjust our pitching accordingly to each umpire. As long as he/she calls it consistently the same, it is usually good. JMHO, Andy Smith, USED2BE |
| Aug. 4, 2018 Duke | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: San Clemente in August! Is it possible to get a participating team list for this tournament please? Registration was closed on July 31. Thank you, Andy Smith, USED2BE |
| Aug. 3, 2018 Duke | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Calling High Pitches Mr. Nick, No umpire can call the height limit correctly, especially in tournaments and umpires from the East. I have to adjust to each umpire. The Eastern umpires can call 8-10 feet too high, and most of the pitchers in the East tend to throw a lower pitch. I cannot tell you the times that my team has played an Eastern team, and hear them complaining, and I did not throw the ball over 10 feet. Although the umpires do try to make the best judgement, they all have a different height criteria. Mr. Nick, you are also correct in saying, the higher pitch is all that helps a pitcher to defend his position better. With these crazy bats, the height limit should be unlimited. With all the egos to hit the ball out of the park, unlimited arc will probably never happen. We all played unlimited arc when we were younger, and had no problem hitting the ball out of the park. Now that we are much older, it is easier to hit the ball out of the park, if we get a lower pitch to hit. JMHO, Andy Smith, USED2BE |
| Aug. 3, 2018 Duke | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: HOW LONG? Although I agree with much of what Tim has said, I concur with all of what Matt43 has laid out. If we go with the one up rule for homeruns, I agree that in the 70's division, the only levels of play should be AA, AAA, and Major. If I had to play 2 out of 3 half of my tournaments, I would just call the other team, and meet half way at some park and play 2 pick up games and have a BBQ afterwards, which would save a lot of time and money. JMHO, Andy Smith, USED2BE |
| Aug. 1, 2018 Duke | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: San Clemente in August! What 60 AAA teams are going to the 3 day tournament in San Clemente? Thank you, Andy Smith, USED2BE |
| June 27, 2018 Duke | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: WORLDS AND NEW 4 DAY FORMAT playball5, it would depend on field availability, but that is the best suggestion so far. Andy Smith, USED2BE |
| June 25, 2018 Duke | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Playing Different Class Teams I could be getting this wrong, because I play in 3 different associations, and the rules can differ. I believe the rule is fair and correct, because I thought that when this situation occurs, that the team giving up 5 runs or an 11th fielder, is automatically the home team. Andy Smith |
| May 31, 2018 Duke | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: 11 on defense I like the 1-1 count, as it has increased the amount of innings that we get to play. I do not like the extra fielder for any age group. JMHO, Andy Smith, USED2BE |
| Jan. 26, 2018 Duke | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: New Season Hey Norm, How have you been? Have not heard or seen you for awhile. Hope all is going well. Are you playing again? Hope to see you out there. Andy Smith, USED2BE, 65 Major |
| Jan. 18, 2018 Duke | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Rating??? Hey Bob, It really does not matter whether they are Major Plus level or not. Ssusa will bump up the top 2-4 teams in the Worlds, depending on the size of the bracket. In the 2010 Worlds, I was playing with a team that was honestly, a little above average AAA, rated as 60 Major. We could not win a tournament, if our life depended on it. We actually had about 5-6 Major players and the rest were AAA or AA players. We had to play Major. Well, we go to the 2010 Worlds, and win it all. The weakest players were playing like Major players throughout our entire lineup. Everybody was red hot. We were definitely the Cinderella team of that tournament. After the tourney, the team wanted to compete against the Major Plus teams. I really could not see how, but I humored them, and took the team to a local tournament. We played against 2 AA teams. One team beat us by 12 runs, and the other team run ruled us. After that, I said go find another team to play, and we will reform in 2 years. Not one player disagreed with that decision. In addition, 3 of my AAA players tried to get rerated back to AAA or Major, so they could play on a AAA team. One of the letters that I read, which came back from Terry H, said something like this, "...fluke or not, you are rated Major Plus for the next 2 years." I never argued the decision, because the rules are the rules, at least for most of us. BTW, all of the 65 Major teams in Southern California this season are loaded. All of them picked up 2-3 Major Plus players from 2 disbanded Major Plus teams. We only picked up 2. We got our butts handed to us in our first tournament and went 1-4. I have a couple of key players that had or will have surgery. Both will not be back until June or July. I wish you would have stayed with us. We really could have utilized your talents. Hope to see you at some of the tournaments. Take care Bob. Andy Smith, USED2BE, 65 Major |
| Jan. 18, 2018 Duke | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Rating??? Bob Farmer, After all of these years, you are confused how things are done? LOL! Just kidding Bob! Honestly, all 3 teams should be Major Plus. But as mck71 stated, when the TOC is about to occur, all the team's ratings are adjusted to the rating of their qualifying event. Why Arizona Ancients is not Major with New Jersey Hitman and Enviro Vac, is a bit off. Hopefully, all 3 will be rated Major Plus after the TOC, as they should. Hope all is going well Bob. Happy New Year! By the way, I have no answer about the Old A's or their roster situation. Andy Smith, USED2BE, 65 Major |
| Jan. 17, 2018 Duke | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Magic Stuff Stick8, Arnicare temporarily relieves muscle pain and stiffness due to minor injuries, overexertion and falls, reduces pain, swelling and discoloration from bruises. It definitely does those things as indicated on its product. What it has done for me, besides what I mentioned in my previous post, it will reduce the bulge in my lower back. I have a minor pinched nerve between 2 discs, that occasionally bulges or swells. I use this product, and it reduces the swelling in about 15-30 minutes. Last week I had some awful leg cramps/muscle pulls, and was in major pain. I am talking quads, calf muscles, and hamstring, all at the same time. Felt like a cripple. I drink a lot of water, so I knew that was not the reason for this. My first thought was to get the Arnicare and apply it to all my leg muscles and lower back. In less than 15 minutes, all my symptoms were gone. It is not that expensive, so I believe it is worth trying it out. Most everyone in our leagues has this stuff, and happy that they do. Yesterday, a player got hit just above the glove area on the wrist. It started to turn colors and swell, then he applied Arnicare immediately and in about 30 minutes, the swelling was dramatically reduced, and the coloring was clearing up. Yes, it still hurt, but he will be fine in a week, as long as he applies Arnicare at least 3 times a day for that week. Ice packs would be a good idea as well as the Arnicare, to make the healing quicker. Good luck, and let me know how it works for you. As a side note, not every product works the same for everyone. Maybe the other above mentioned product works better for some, or at least they are convinced that it does. I will say that everyone that I have given Arnicare to try, has gone out and bought some, except one player. His issue was as indicated above, but it opened up the skin, and you are not supposed to use this product, when that has happened. Andy Smith, USED2BE, 65 Major |
| Jan. 14, 2018 Duke | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Magic Stuff FYI, There is another product called Arnicare or Arnigel, both exactly the same. You can find it at most stores, especially Walmart. One is a store brand and the other is not. $2 cheaper for the store brand, and not expensive at all. It has pretty much the same ingredients as mentioned above, except it is odorless and greaseless. I have used it for bruises from being hit by a ball. Instead of taking 3-6 months to heal completely, it will generally take 7-10 days, with virtually no black and blue marks, as well as little swelling. Just apply 3 times a day for 7-10 days, and you will be as good as new. At least per my experience and a few other players. Best to work on not getting hit. With these crazy bats at our age, plan on getting hit once in a while. LOL! Andy Smith, USED2BE, 65 Major |
| Dec. 13, 2017 Duke | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: 5 games eraldo, You are absolutely correct, but not always the case. Around the year 2000-2001, the first world tournament that I attended was 4 seeding games into a double elimination bracket for ALL ages/divisions. On occasion, it has happened within the past 10 years. The difference now when this is the case, it was only the 65 or older age groups, and that was one of the main reasons to playing the tournament in 4 days. The other main reason for 4 days, is that the older age divisions did not want to play so many games in a day, but rather spread it out a bit, especially when your team got into the loser's bracket early. The other question about a petition, you are on your own. Andy Smith, 65 Major, USED2BE |
| Nov. 22, 2017 Duke | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: THANKS-STAFF I concur! Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving! Andy Smith, 65 Major, USED2BE |
| Nov. 17, 2017 Duke | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: The "ROCK SOFTBALL" I agree the Rock holds up better than the other ball and has more pop too. With the bats that we are using, I would rather not use the Rock. The non Rock ball is flying out of the park enough. I like playing softball, not home run derby. There is no need to have a better ball. The only time I would be ok with using the Rock exclusively, if we went to an unlimited pitching arc. I pitch a lot, and do not care to have the ball come at me any quicker, than it already does. No, I do not want to pay any more for these tournament fees. Just My Humble Opinions, Andy Smith, 65 Major, USED2BE |
| Nov. 17, 2017 Duke | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Looking for a simple answer to adding or substituting players In my leagues, the majority of teams/players do not care who you have on the team as a sub or where you get them from. On my Tuesday league, all the teams have loaded up with solid players, and still get subs from time to time, and most everyone, does not care. On the other hand, my Wednesday league, where some players that just show up once in a while. These once in a while players, we call floaters. If any of them show up, they are put onto a team with the least amount of players that day. To me, these leagues are just practice for tournaments. To some, it is life or death. LOL! Andy Smith, 65 Major, USED2BE |
| Nov. 17, 2017 Duke | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Rules question OK Tad, I did not know it came up in a tournament too. The same issue came up in our games this past Wednesday. Have a nice Thanksgiving and play some Strat-O-Matic baseball! Say hi to Howard. Andy Smith, 65 Major, USED2BE |
| Nov. 16, 2017 Duke | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Rules question Hey Tad, Bill from your team came over to me yesterday to ask about that call, and I told him the umpire was wrong, and gave him the correct ruling, as the SSUSA staff and B.J. stated. Of course, these league games are for fun only, right? LOL! Andy Smith, 65 Major, USED2BE |
