Message board »Message Board home »Sign-in or register to get started
Online now: 4 members: Eazy, FireCrackerFun, TABLE SETTER 11, inzerillo; 100 anonymousDiscussion: Dwindling #s in Manassas !!!??........
| Posted | Discussion |
| July 31, 2007 CAT 200 posts | Dwindling #s in Manassas !!!??........ The ISSA/ISF as with a few other organizations are wondering as to why their entrys are dwindling. For one - with the rising fees and expenses, players want to receive their money's worth..if not more. In Manassas, they continue to us e the new balls in the round robins and follow up with them, after they are "mush" in the double elim. I believe that the players are tired of carrying over a $1000.00 of bats in their bag just to comply for all of these organizations that we have to jump hoops thru. The players have said several times over....they either want to use their bats or want a good, solid optic yellow ball....What do not these organizaions understand.??!! If they continue their old ways, then their entrys will just continue to dwindle.... Do you want to say that you are Word Champs with only 3-4 teams in your division?? |
| July 31, 2007 CAT 200 posts | How about a team that was 0-5 and just because they were the only one in their divison, the ASA allowed them to order rings....This is a probolem where they are just throwing out rings right and left and the saturation of rings mean little to nothing anymore.......These organizations need to wake up and smell the coffee...... |
| Aug. 1, 2007 CAT 200 posts | Any word out there on the approx. number of teams going to the ISSA/ASA in Manassas ?? I know it is a very expensive place to stay, if there are just a few teams.... |
| Aug. 1, 2007 rabbit Men's 70 319 posts | Hi Cat, you only get 4 games for $400.00, balls are no good, they do not use the mat, and I thought they were not very friendly out East, did not think much of the umpires either, this is after two trips out east, None of my players want to go back and we have not went back since 2004 just my opinion,for what is worth, Rabbit ps- I did like visiting Washington, need to go back just for that, since it is only about 30 miles away |
| Aug. 2, 2007 Michigan Vet Men's 65 255 posts | Played O-55 in ISF in Manassas this year, only 5 teams. One of them was Virginia Vending who some how got dropped from Majors to play AAA for the tournament. Thnak God they did not win it!! I agree about the balls, we used a new ball the first game and never saw a new ball again. Also fields are way to spread out and they do not keep you at the same fields all weekend. Do not plan on going back! |
| Aug. 2, 2007 CAT 200 posts | How about a few years ago, they started our championship game with two used mush balls... We won the game with a score of 3-2.....Yes, you heard the score correctly!!.....I think that all of this is coming around to nip them in the butt. I thnk that this organization and other's need to start opening up their ears to the player's/teams' requests and listen instead of just hearing. As Rabbitt said, it is getting very expensive to participate in this sport and if we are not getting our money's worth, then we need to stick together and stay away from these tourns. until something is done about them...... |
| Aug. 2, 2007 Fred Scerra Men's 80 542 posts | I am going in the 75 Div and looking forward to it. I was down there in 2003 with a 70 team and had a good time. That was the first time I pitched without the mat and found it quite interesting. I did find it a little easier to pitch than with a mat though. You didn't have to be as accurate on the edges to get a strike call. I do agree that the fields are too far apart and for a country boy like myself hard to get back and forth from Motel to field. I don't how many time I got lost. Just to be able to go down and play overshadows all the other little faults. |
| Aug. 2, 2007 CAT 200 posts | Fred, the tourn. will be fun for you and there are some nice site seeing attractions. Some of the faults is that it is an ASA tourn. and you know the stringent rules that they impose. Secondly, since it is a non-qualifying roster, you may see some teams that "beef up" just for that tourn. Weather is usually extremely humid...Enjoy, may be watching you guys play.... |
| Aug. 2, 2007 Fred Scerra Men's 80 542 posts | Using ASA bats don't bother me as I am not a power hitter anymore. I love my MUT98 and feel very comfortable swinging it. I know they are tough on rules same as my Canadian tournament. They are thought up there also. One thing that I have to start doing is taking BP without my GripNRip on the bat. Last time there I had to take them off. It will be a great time. We are staying at the Quality Inn. First thing I have do when I get there is find a good breakfast spot. Couldn't find one in Del and Md. |
| Aug. 2, 2007 DoubleL10 Men's 70 907 posts | Fred, You might try the Cracker Barrel at 234 and I-66 on the East Side of Manassas. There's another at I-95 close to Potomac Mills Mall. |
| Aug. 2, 2007 CAT 200 posts | I have referred sooo many of my teams to the USA country buffet that is getting to be the common meeting place...With the expense of Manassas, it is really quite an inexpensive place to eat and meet some of the guys. |
| Aug. 2, 2007 Fred Scerra Men's 80 542 posts | Thanks I will have to try it. Last time I was there we stayed in the old section of Manassas. What got me it was like two different worlds. Narrow streets old buildings and go around the corner super highways and shopping malls. |
| Aug. 3, 2007 bernie Men's 55 77 posts | The best part of playing in Manassas is that if you happen to have a good weekend and win, you willhave your classification raised but you will never be recognized as a legitimate champion worthy of competing in the TOC...what's the use in playing here....bad balls, crap bats, intense heat and humidity...and for what? $400.00 or $500.00 for the ISF to play four games....never again for us.. |
| Aug. 3, 2007 Fred Scerra Men's 80 542 posts | I wish you guys would stop whining when you can't use your Ultra's. IMO there is nothing wrong with the ASA bats. I don't know about the balls they use. I love the heat and playing in whatever conditions there are for a tournament. Maybe when you get my age you will appreciate the fact that you can get out there and play at that level of completion regardless of the rules in effect. If we win our div it doesn't qualify us for the TOC. I won't sleep the whole time I am down there worrying about that. Maybe I should just stay home. I can't use the Ultra's and we won't qualify for the TOC. Just get out there and enjoy playing the game and forget about all the trivial things that mean nothing. |
| Aug. 3, 2007 CAT 200 posts | You never hear me crying about equipment other than when playing in Manassas. They are still ole tradition ASA white leather, soft core balls...I do not care what type of hitter that you are, no one likes hitting a "sock" ball. Plus, after an inning or two, the leather picks up the color of the dirt and it is very difficult to pick up the ball if you are the pitcher or infielder...In senior ball, I believe that the optic yellow ball should be used and steer away from night games as much as possible, if the lighting is not superior. These are just two simple, inexpensive changes that can assist with the safety of the senior ball player. |
| Aug. 3, 2007 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | I read a tournament flyer I believe was near Fort Knoz, not sure, but it was about 1100-1300 or so for an entry fee. that range for sure but exact fee i do not remember. Also heard after the conditions were bad, heat, humidity, balls etc. There had to be something, somewhere (anywhere, anything for that matter) that would sure have cost a heck of a lot less. Fred email me on a bat grip taper that comes off as you let go of the bat. it stays on you small finger. I'll shoot you a pix. tait_ebay@yahoo.com |
| Aug. 3, 2007 Fred Scerra Men's 80 542 posts | I noticed that this year. Our local mens league switch to Worth Pro Leather balls this from the Pro Trac covers. Previously when I went through the woods picking up balls they were all nice and new looking. This year with the leather covered ones even with a few hits on them they look old. (Cuts down the price I can get for them) LOL What ball do they use at Massanas that they are that bad?? |
| Aug. 3, 2007 jc24 96 posts | There are....54 teams, it looks like for the ISF for Aug.18th ?? It's 9 hrs to get there by car. I won't be going back! BALLS ARE TERRIBLE, WHITE, can't see the ball in the infield, very well AT ALL, after 2 innings and it doesn't go for much distance as the game moves forward. UNTIL, RB pays attention to OUR REQUEST, things won't change.....do the math on $400 x 54....I know all about diamond rentals, umpires, balls..if their NOT donated by the vendor, awards...and FORGET THOSE MEDALLIONS...t-shirts, hats or wrist bands...something instead....JMO...don't see it changing but....I'm not coming again, either! JC DLSC |
| Aug. 3, 2007 the wood Men's 65 1123 posts | As a Calif team, Manassas is difficult for us to consider. We have been there a couple of times and thoroughly enjoyed the area (battlefields in N. VA, DC) and the ball fields. We liked the format as well. We didn't like the choice of balls so much and I've heard that it's worse now... we were there in '00 and '03. We would like to go there again but not if there are only 2-3 teams. If they change to a better ball AND attract more teams, it is something that we would do. We only have 'x' amount of sponsorship $ and prefer to allocate it to the events that 'pack the most punch'. The timing of the mid-August event is ideal for us though. Bob Woodroof |
| Aug. 4, 2007 terrymac 46 posts | The last time our Ohio Silverados played in Manassas we stated in The Old Towne Inn. It was really badddddd. Had to sleep with a chair under the door knob! The pool they advertised was full of mud and crap, hadnt been used in years but didnt tell us until we were checked in. Anyway you still go back and get the crap beat out of you by a team that loaded up. But my guys voted to go and we will be there in 2 weeks! When you live in Ohio anyplace seems better! Terry Mac |
| Aug. 6, 2007 Fred Scerra Men's 80 542 posts | terrymac: We stayed there in 2003. It wasn't the greatest then but passable. It had a pretty good restaurant below it. I did find up the next street a great breakfast place though. If I remember right they enforced the knob cuff rule. Does anyone know if they still do? I am going on the assumption that they will so I have taken my GripNRips off today and starting taking BP without them on. |
| Aug. 20, 2007 Fred Scerra Men's 80 542 posts | For those of you that don't go because of the balls you missed a good tournament because they did have good balls this year. They were using the Trump White Microcells which is a pretty good ball. Once in while we ran across a soft one but overall they were good. DoubleL10: The Cracker Barrel was good and not expensive at all. I ate breakfast at Shoney's right next to our motel. Buffet breakfast for $4.99 for Seniors all you can eat. Can't beat that. They also had Buffet Lunch and dinner for the same price. The only down side is the last day. In our 70/75 div we had 8 teams. 1 75 us and 6 AAA 70's and 1 Major 70. They mixed the teams and the 4 best records would play in a AAA single elimination and the other 4 would play a AA single elmination. The way it ended up is the Major 70 ended up in the AA div with us. That was no contest. A Major team should stay in the upper division regardless of their record in the preliminary rounds. Other than that we had a great time and I almost forgot the umpires we had we good and had a good strike zone for us pitchers. |
