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Online now: 1 member: Bob21; 7 anonymousDiscussion: IN-DEPTH TEAM RATING REVIEW ANNOUNCED
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| March 5 SSUSA Staff 3505 posts | Over the past two months, we have implemented the most comprehensive team-performance review ever for SSUSA. Using the new computer Ratings/Results program that we developed last year, we have been able to review in-depth all teams for all games played in 2008 and the beginning of 2009. Following our in-house review, we asked 10 key people in different areas of the country to comment on our initial list of the teams to be moved up or down, on preliminary ratings appeal decisions, and on team requests to review their ratings. We also asked the advisers to add any teams we may have missed. The preliminary list we sent to these key advisers included: 102 Teams moved up (or staying at Major+) automatically under the Summit agreement 44 Appeals submitted and reviewed, with preliminary proposed decisions made 93 Teams noted and evaluated for other reasons They commented on the teams they were familiar with on our list, and added about 20 teams. In doing this review, it became apparent that in fairness to our teams we could no longer follow the Summit policy of moving teams up only because they won another association’s national championships. We found we were moving teams up based on the results of one tournament when they played with SSUSA over several tournaments – and, in some cases, our results clearly showed the team should not be moved up. There were other problems, as well, including the different rules and rosters used during the other association’s tournaments. Our review of teams was made within the framework of a new set of rules SSUSA is instituting this year, which include increasing base home run limits, making home runs over the new limits outs (not 1-up), and the pitcher’s protection rule. These rules were discussed and voted on by 20 members of the SSUSA Rules Committee made up of players and managers from 50 to 75 years old and representing every skill level. The early feedback on these rules has been that they do equalize the competition. We have not seen an increase in injuries and, in fact, the Pitcher Protection Rule is designed to prevent injuries. Speaking on behalf of the Committee and SSUSA, we believe these changes will improve the sport and make it more competitive and enjoyable for most teams and players. We feel strongly that we need to see the rules in play for a season to determine whether or not they are working as hoped. Any changes to the new rules will be made at the SSUSA Annual Convention in December 2009. We are making these team-rating changes early in the season so that teams have a chance to play in 3 or more tournaments with the new ratings under the new rules. If after 3 tournaments, teams feel they are not able to compete at their new skill level, they can appeal their rating. During the course of the season, we will also be re-evaluating teams and sending out our recommendations to our 10 anonymous key ratings advisers. These advisers operate in a double-blind system in which we do not release their names and they do not know the other advisers. This allows them to observe and make recommendations without undue outside influence. We are also posting the Ratings Guidelines we use to help managers and players understand the process. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to your comments – after you’ve had a chance to play a few tournaments under the new rules and ratings. Best of Luck this season Terry Hennessy CEO, Senior Softball-USA Here is the list of the 2009 SSUSA Ratings Decisions: ____________________ NOTE: Asterisk (*) indicates teams winning Summit Member Association Championship(s) 50+ DivisionAppeals DecisionsEagle Tile – Denied: Remains AAA Gallerie & Sons – Denied: Remains AAA Sofa Kings (now LAF) – Denied: Remains Major-Plus Windy City Softball – Denied: Remains Major-Plus Teams Moved UP Based on Performance Cummins Texas Legends (Major to Major-Plus) Evolution (Major to Major-Plus) Fan Grabbers/Tow Time (Major to Major-Plus) Four Seasons/Wilkins Trucking (Major to Major-Plus) MTC 50’s (Major to Major-Plus) Northwest Legends (Major to Major-Plus) Seven Softball/Omega (Major to Major-Plus) *Coors Light *Damon’s Grill *Frederick Chevrolet *Florida Sluggers *Gekle Builders Barcelona Bandits (AAA to Major) Extreme Softball (AAA to Major) Full Count (AAA to Major) Gubiotti Insurance (AAA to Major) McU Sports (AAA to Major) Michael Valerio, CPA/PFS (AAA to Major) Mountain Mike’s NorCal Legends (AAA to Major) Pat’s Pizza (AAA to Major) Rochester (NY) 50’s (AAA to Major) Wilson Trophy (AAA to Major) *Bagbey’s *Brickyard Softball *Carpenter’s Legends *Pace Softball *South Florida Heat Bend Brewers (AA to AAA) Glory Daze (AA to AAA) KC Monarchs (AA to AAA) R&R - The Other Team (AA to AAA) Smith Barney Classics (AA to AAA) *MI Sports *Shawn Monte Timber *Smith Laminating Teams Moved DOWN Based on Performance Detroit Jaguars (Major to AAA) TNT 50’s (Major to AAA) Mixed Breed (AAA to AA) Mortgage Execs (AAA to AA) Teams that won other National Championships & will NOT be moved in SSUSA Colorado Mud Hens (Remains Major) Sweet Construction 50’s (Remains Major) High Street Bucs 50’s (Remains AAA) Indiana Old Stars (Remains AA) Shannon Auto (Remains AA) 55+ DivisionAppeals DecisionsBRL – Denied: Stays Major Central PA Seniors – Granted: Moved to AA Freddie’s Shooters – Denied: Remains AAA Georgia / Alabama Masters – Granted: Moved to AAA Minnesota Greyhounds – Denied: Remains Major-Plus Minnesota Masters – Granted: Moved to Major No Dice – Denied: Remains Major Spicers 33½ – Granted: Moved to Major Steel Dawgs of PA – Denied: Remains AAA TC Bruinz – Denied: Remains AAA Travelodge – Denied: Remains Major-Plus Teams Moved UP Based on Performance NCI Insurance (Major to Major-Plus) Old Dawgs (Major to Major-Plus) OLR Nighthawks (Major to Major-Plus) Schones Chiropractic (Major to Major-Plus) West Coast All Stars (Major to Major-Plus) *Minnesota Grayhounds/Miken/Tanel *Southern Slam TNT 55’s (AAA to Major) *Chicago Classics Bobcats *Double Nickels *Dust-Tex *Ohio Steel Dawgs *Pill & Pill 55’s *Syracuse Merchants Sacramento Islanders (AA to AAA) Scrap Iron 55’s (AA to AAA) Team Florida (AA to AAA) Titans (AA to AAA) *Bathtub Billies *Birmingham 55’s *Lou’s Royals *Motion (NY/NJ Bandits) *Munchbox Vending Teams Moved DOWN Based on Performance High Street Bucs (Major to AAA) Out of Storage (AAA to AA) Rusty Hooks (AAA to AA) Torres & Sons (AAA to AA) Tubby’s Pub & Grub (AAA to AA) Woodmansee Insurance (AAA to AA) Teams that won other National Championships & will NOT be moved in SSUSA Master Collision (Remains Major) Northern Virginia Force (Remains AAA) Rhinos (Remains Major – rainout) Springfield Redwings (Remains AA – rainout) Virginia Vending (Remains Major) 60+ DivisionAppeals DecisionsCentral PA – Denied: Remains AAA Jersey Masters – Granted: Moved to AAA Kentuckiana 60’s – Granted: Moved to AA Michael’s Force 4 – Denied: Remains Major-Plus Michigan Express – Denied: Remains Major Oshkosh 60’s – Denied: Remains AAA Prime Time – Denied: Remains AAA Spicer Properties – Granted: Moved to Major Yeager 60’s – Denied: Remains Major Teams Moved UP Based on Performance AMR (Major to Major-Plus) Brix & Stix Florida (Major to Major-Plus) D&K Softball Club (Major to Major-Plus) Diamond Dawgs (Major to Major-Plus) *Joseph Chevrolet *Michael’s Force 4 *New York Statesmen *W.E. Ruth Realty Alamo City Legends (AAA to Major) Bay State Bombers (AAA to Major) HMR 60’s (AAA to Major) Las Vegas 60’s (AAA to Major) So Cal Gusto (AAA to Major) *Flip Dow Bonding Seniors *Michigan Express *Minnesota Prize Company 60’s *Robson Ranch 60’s Base Hawgs (AA to AAA) Ca$h 4 College 60’s (AA to AAA) K&S Painting (AA to AAA) K.C. Thunder (AA to AAA) South Florida Heat (AA to AAA) Syracuse Cyclones (AA to AAA) *East Kauai *Great Lakes Financial *Old School Legends *SoCal Crush Teams Moved DOWN Based on Performance Oops (AAA to AA) Secure Horizons (AAA to AA) Teams that won other National Championships & will NOT be moved in SSUSA Top Gun 60’s (Remains Major) Spicer Properties (Remains Major) 65+ DivisionAppeals DecisionsArizona Heat – Denied: Remains Major-Plus Canterbury Palace – Denied: Remains Major-Plus Core 65 Sidewinders – Denied: Remains AAA Hawaiian Pride – Denied: Remains Major-Plus (League Roster exceptions TBA) Top Gun Silver – Granted: Moved to AA Teams Moved UP Based on Performance Budweiser (Major to Major-Plus) Rochester (NY) Legends (Major to Major-Plus) *Arizona Force *Dirt’s All Stars *Hawaiian Pride Las Vegas Elks (AAA to Major) Village Merchants (AAA to Major) *Bogg’s Brigade *Georgia Nuggets *Jersey Jaguars *Turnpike Ford Cape Cod Whalers (AA to AAA) Columbus Silver Sticks (AA to AAA) Kokopelli Eye Care Scorpions (AA to AAA) *Burlington Classics *Ca$h 4 College 65’s *Kittrell Properties *Smith-Fire Teams Moved DOWN Based on Performance Bald Eagles (Major to AAA) Jim & Joe’s (AAA to AA) Syracuse Cyclones (AAA to AA) Team that won other National Championships & will NOT be moved in SSUSA Indianapolis Classics (Remains AAA – rainout) 70+ DivisionAppeals DecisionsAntiques – Denied: Remains AAA El Paso Bank – Denied: Remains AAA Jaburg & Wilkes – Denied: Remains Major-Plus Papa Nick’s – Granted: Moved to AA Seattle 70’s – Denied: Remains Major SoCal Patriots – Granted: Moved to Major State Roofing Royals – Denied: Remains Major Texas Station – Denied: Remains AAA Wanskuck Post 56 – Denied: Remains AAA Teams Moved UP Based on Performance D-99 (Major to Major-Plus) Sidewinders (Major to Major-Plus) Southwest Cougars (Major to Major-Plus) *70 Sidewinders *Georgia Peaches *Hamels 70’s *Pompano Beach Bums *Top Gun 70’s Eye Centers of Florida (AAA to Major) *Michigan Lakers *Syracuse Cyclones *Texans 70’s *Tiodize-D99 Beef O’Brady’s (AA to AAA) Lawson Products (AA to AAA) Wintercrest 70’s (AA to AAA) *Back Office Associates *Colorado Cougars *Latin Mix 2000 Teams Moved DOWN Based on Performance Clearwater 70’s (Major-Plus to Major) Bowie 70’s (AAA to AA) Top Gun Silver (AAA to AA) Team that won other National Championships & will NOT be moved in SSUSA SoCal Patriots (Remains Major) 75+ DivisionAppeals DecisionsArizona 75s – Denied: Remains Major-Plus California Gold Rush – Denied: Remains Major-Plus Minnesota Legends – Granted: Moved to AAA Teams Moved UP Based on Performance *Joseph Chevrolet (Major to Major-Plus) *Texas Classics (Major to Major-Plus) *Carefree Getaway Flashbacks (AAA to Major) *SoCal Jets (AAA to Major) Team that won other National Championships & will NOT be moved in SSUSA Scrap Iron 75’s (Remains AAA) |
