EmptyMessage board »Message Board home »Sign-in or register to get started
Online now: 0 members ; 7 anonymousDetails for Omar Khayyam
Real name:
Location:
,
Division:
Messages posted by Omar Khayyam »Message board home »Start a new discussion
| Sept. 21, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Ruling for runner stepping on baseman's foot instead of the base? Turbobob, are you sure that the runner continued to step only on the foot and not on the bag for two seconds? The runner must have a very small foot or the first baseman a very large shoe...or both! If I were covering first, I would push the guy off my foot before 2 seconds were up. It seems more likely that either the heel or the toe of the runner's shoe was overlapping the foot and touching the base. |
| Sept. 3, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Softball Venue Review Site- Senior Softball Addict Jon44, what a great idea and what a wonderful, comprehensive review! I wish every venue had a generous sportsman like you. |
| Aug. 30, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: Finding a 65 travel team Are there AA TRAVEL teams? I assume a travel team is looking to play out of state. |
| Aug. 8, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: HOW LONG? Duke, I only go to Las Vegas for the Worlds. I am not a gambler and the tone of the city depresses me. I have to not watch someone throw away tens of thousands of dollars on roulette as it greatly depresses me (a true experience while in Vegas for my nephew's wedding). As to the casino parking fees, I usually patronize a casino or two for a good meal (although most now are overpriced, not like the bargains of the 90s). When an attendant tells me there is a fee for parking, I tell them I am patronizing another casino that doesn't charge and I turn my car around and leave. Lots to do in Las Vegas which is why the Worlds is so popular as a vacation destination. The ladies put up with sitting in the heat to watch their man play since the payback is a cool dip in the hotel, a nice dinner, and maybe a show afterwards. I doubt SSUSA will ever leave Las Vegas for those reasons. |
| Aug. 7, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: HOW LONG? A more challenging part of the East/West championship game in Vegas is that often the Eastern champion does not attend Las Vegas. Happened to my team two times after winning the Western Championship. I wonder why? Flights from California to Vegas are extremely discounted and rooms in Las Vegas are the least expensive of our tournament year (but Oh how I hate the phony "resort fees" that hotels are adding on). Aren't flights from the East similarly less expensive? |
| Aug. 7, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Kudos on new balls Thanks Swing and ffdonnie. Here I thought I was just getting older and not reaching the fence anymore and now I realize they have tampered with the Baden! lol I'm looking forward to hitting and pitching with the new ball. My team didn't go to Western Nationals so I missed experiencing it. I believe in your two professional opinions. |
| Aug. 7, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Calling High Pitches As a pitcher for 66 seasons, most of them in slow pitch, I have a good idea of what 12 feet is. Yes, there are many umps who call too high for anything over 10 feet, some who are pretty accurate, and a few that let you throw 13 or so without calling illegal. It disrupts my approach when I have an ump with a low 10 foot limit, but beyond that, if the ump calls illegal on 11 foot, or 11 1/2 foot, I don't mind much as long as it is consistent. I adjust accordingly. I also agree with previous posters who note that in this game with tournament bats and the necessity of pitchers "armoring up", the pitcher's best defense (including time to back up after release of the ball) is the high 10-12 foot pitch (and higher if the ump allows it). Get down to 10 foot and you might as well play T-ball. |
| Aug. 6, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Thank you to the Umpire Loved to read of this humane response. Ran the risk of throwing the tournament schedule off, so I hope SSUSA was good with this as well. Class act by all. |
| Aug. 6, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Kudos on new balls Hello Swing, As you know, I am very familiar with the Baden Fireball, and have often recommended it on this site and to others. In what way was the Trump superior to the Baden? Played in Lodi a week ago and the temperature was around 100 and the Fireball held up well. |
| July 26, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: Associations Discussion: Other Senior Associations. Northern California Senior Softball Association is another association only for seniors. They scheduled 39 tournaments for 2018, so there is a tournament somewhere most weekends, although some are occasionally canceled due to a rainout or lack of teams. There are no individual memberships and there are 98 registered teams so far this season. Teams can pick up a player for a tournament from anywhere, irrespective of the player's ability. Tournaments are not based on age (with the exception of the extra fielder allowed for older teams), but rather all teams are ranked and play within their group, or nearby groups with handicaps given. The tournament fees are around $300 with a five game minimum, and most are weekend only. SSUSA rules are the guidelines with a few exceptions posted for each year after SSUSA rules are out. The frequency of tournaments gives teams an advantage when playing in SSUSA or SPA tournaments. |
| July 23, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Purpose for allowing base runners to "run thru" or "over run" bases? Over the years, runners from home have started from 15 feet back, 10 feet back, and even with the third base time. Doesn't matter—advantage still goes to the runner. However, this courtesy is not taken advantage of in our experience, so we don't require a medical validation. We have some batters who only catch or pitch or play first base, and they have a runner every time because of their incapacitated condition—keeps them in the game. Other batters are noticeably injured (cast, limp, big honkin' bruise, etc.) and again, why require a doctor's certificate when it is obvious. We don't allow courtesy runners from home just for players who are slow—only for those who cannot run. |
| July 23, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Purpose for allowing base runners to "run thru" or "over run" bases? Turbobob, an interesting idea to use a plate. However, in practice, about 30% of the time the runner from first goes to the LEFT of second to avoid a collision with a throw from right field or the second baseman coming over to cover the bag. In actuality, base calls without a line or a safety base are made rather easily by an alert third base coach. Very close calls, of course, are always controversial with the runner and the fielder disagreeing on who got there first. Wayne37, we solved the fast runner from home taking a second base by limiting the runner to first base only with the exceptions of a home run over the fence or a ball that goes out of play as either a ground rule double or an overthrow on a runner other than the runner to first. So far, we have yet to see a shot over the fence by an injured player who needed a runner from home! lol |
| July 21, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Purpose for allowing base runners to "run thru" or "over run" bases? Hello Turbobob, Yes, our league which allows players of all ages over 49, has a run-through policy, and has had one successfully for two decades. Run through was initially established to protect aging knees. The sudden deceleration is hard on arthritic knees and tends to hasten deterioration—ask any hard court tennis player. There is no rule against stopping at the base (and some of the younger tournament players do stop), but most run through. Here are some specifics: 1. In our league, base coaches function as base umpires on plays at first, second, and third. They have excellent sight lines and are able to accurately determine if a player reached or passed a base before the ball arrived. Of course, being teammates, there is a bit of a bias to call the runner safe, but we have learned to laugh about that and live with it. 2. We decided a decade ago to make every base a force out. This avoids the collision potential by trying to tag the runner. If the ball gets to the fielder before the runner and the fielder's foot is on the base, the runner is out. (In the rare cases when a runner realizes he will be out on a non-force play, and tries to retreat, we have an imaginary line on all base paths similar to the one at home, and if crossed, the runner cannot return). 3. It is also not required that the runner touch the base when advancing on a play. Normally if the ball is coming from his right side, he runs past on the left of the base and vice versa. It is easy for the umpire to see if he "touched" or crossed the base. However, if the runner decides to further advance after running through, he must return to touch the base. If the runner plans to take the turn and advance to the next base he must step on the base as in a normal play. The result of these policies has been a great reduction in collisions at the bases as well as a reduction in arguments about whether the player was touched or not before reaching the base (this is still allowed, but usually it is safer and more efficient for the baseman just to step on the base). The infrequent collisions are when both the second baseman and the shortstop converge on the base to take the throw and the runner has to make a choice which way to veer. Of course, this is also true with normal rules. Good luck with your change. Any more questions, just post here. I read the site every day. |
| July 11, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: RATING UPDATE Dbax, I congratulate you and your team on your success. You not only became competitive, but you leaped up a ranking. Your performance has been stellar: In the Winter Worlds, you were undefeated (beating a Major Plus in seeding play), averaged 27 runs a game, and outscored all your opponents by an average of 10 runs per game! In the Spring Worlds, you again were undefeated (beating a 65 Major Plus), averaged 21 runs a game, and outscored all your opponents by an average of 7 runs per game! In the Southwest Championships, you lost, but again scored 20 runs per game and even outscored all your opponents in total runs! It is no surprise to me that you were reranked to Major Plus since you truly are a superior team. Looking forward to seeing how you do in Vegas (missed you in Reno since you didn't enter). |
| July 4, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: National championship shoe awards Yes, we received our shoes from the World's at Rock N Reno tournament, which was practical because we were there to pick them up rather than shipping around California, but also was eight months after winning. |
| May 14, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Pitching screen preferences I have never seen an L shaped screen used in softball. Seems unnecessarily bulky, interferes with pitchers who like to release near the ground, heavy to set up and break down, etc. As sbswat24 said, it is designed for overhand pitching. I have pitched with a mandated screen for the pitcher for 18 years, ever since a pitcher got plunked in the chest with a hot shot (more dangerous than getting hit in the head some doctors say). The simple, straight, 7-foot high screen is easiest to carry, to store, to set up and break down. The screen needs to be four feet in front of the rubber since the supporting legs extend behind it and can be a danger for the pitcher's feet and mobility if any closer. Our league allows the screen to be set farther away than the edge of the pitching rubber and it is a personal preference by pitchers. Some who like to pitch from 55 or 60 feet move it back closer to them. Lefties position it differently than right-handed. I like to field ground balls so I like it farther away from the pitcher's rubber line; less mobile pitchers cover half the rubber since they are comfortable just peering around the edge when releasing the ball (the safest use). During these 18 years of play the screen is much less of an obstruction than fielders at first perceive. Third basemen worry about hitting the screen on a throw to first; outfielders worry about hitting it on a throw home; both of these worries are negligible. Playing about 100 games per year with a screen, a third baseman hits the screen about once every couple of years—usually on a foul pop up trying to double a runner off first; an outfielder about once or twice a year. These occurrences are for 3600 half innings of play a year! The main issue you will have is what to call a batted ball that hits the screen: live ball? dead ball? a foul ball? A foul ball only the second time it happens in a turn at bat? A dead ball out if it happens twice at bat? Each rule has its advocates. |
| April 30, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Runner's right to the base Here are a few potential scenarios as to why the runner should just stay put on third: 1) runner plays the outfield and cannot accurately estimate where the pop-up is coming down 2) third baseman can see the popup, but the sun angle is slightly different for the base runner so he just ducks and covers his head 3) the wind is swirling and if the base runner moves he might actually step right in front of the third baseman 4) runner assumed popup was going farther and actually has his head turned watching the shortstop and left fielder to see if this is going to be a Texas leaguer with a chance to advance Umpires on here agree (with the exception of Wayne 37) STAY PUT! The best way to avoid being called unintentionally for interference. |
| April 8, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Still waiting for a rational answer On our Las Vegas world winning team, our most powerful hitter (and the only one who hit home runs over the fence) batted in the middle of our lineup. He is a great slugger but in the middle of the pack as far as batting average goes. Our manager values men frequently getting on base because we have so few power hitters. And yes, he got moved up with the rest of us for winning in Vegas. Don't think he ever played down an age group. |
| April 6, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Still waiting for a rational answer tugboat must be one of the few successful players who can turn it on in a tournament. He sees himself as an "average" "AAA Player", yet a world-beater 60-year-old Major team has him playing in five or six tournaments, including the World Championship which they win! I would love to have a teammate who could soar above his average playing to contribute to a top-class team. |
| March 15, 2018 Omar Khayyam | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: Chief perez looking to join a 50 or 55 team Nope, my team is full. Just trying to help a guy looking for a team. |
