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Online now: 2 members: Crazylegs46, JG25; 14 anonymousDiscussion: Balls and all
| Posted | Discussion |
| Sept. 28 einstein Men's 50 3112 posts | It was just a short time ago, around 2-3 years when there were good balls to hit. 44x525 balls 47x525 balls were common, the norm. 44x375 balls were lively and fun to hit. Then something happened and we went all the way down to 44 x 375 balls that won't stand up in the heat or after a couple of hard hits. What happened and why??? Some say with the balls and the new bats came more injuries but that wasn't true. Some said the game isn't fun when lots of guys can hit the ball hard and far but they were wrong. Some said the biggest and best hitters on the best teams would dominate and scare everyone away but that doesn't happen with 5 run innings and equalizer home runs. How did we get to the point where we have to fight with all our might to get a good ball to hit? We know some powerful new players entered the ball business and begin throwing their weight around setting up committees, cherry picking stats and compression to injury charts like somehow getting hit by a softball was never dangerous and working with TD's who wanted to lose and buy less softballs, make tournaments run like clockwork and on time and add more teams to increase revenue. And low and behold, balls started to get worse. Insurance companies, safety commissions, compression studies, safety reports all come out of the woodwork and the balls continue to drop from tournament to tournament. Now, we've sunk so low an altered, funky, pillow of a ball is introduced as at least better than the driven down ball in the high heat. It's the 275x52 ball that the teams at Oakdale, California this year who tried it out said they would never go to another SSUSA event if that ball was ever introduced. How did we get here? Why did we get here? Ask questions and follow the money. We can have/play with any ball we want and mustn't let the market place or any powerful band of self interest over control us or push us around especially when the enjoyment of our sport is at stake. Just stand up and say no. Tell Terry and Dave, no way. Buy balls and support vendors and TD's who support us and our best interests. and say no to those who don't. We want to hit good balls with good bats and no more BS. Rules can be adjusted a la NORCAL to keep the game reasonably safe, competitive and huge fun. |
| Sept. 29 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | If both teams have equal access to the equipment then it is equal competition. What else is there to it but the competition? |
| Sept. 29 Robo2 238 posts | I have no problem with the current senior ball. Used in Northeast Championships, in Cape May. The fences were approx 320 and balls went out. One had to hit it well but they went out (at least when the wind wasn't blowing in like it was Fri and Sat). I have more of an issue with when two teams from different divisions play - such as a major and a triple A, why penalize the major team twice. First you give the AAA team a choice of 5 runs or extra player; then you make the Major team play under AAA Hr rules. No wonder why teams change names and do anything to avoid moving up to major or major plus. Lets start making it beneficial for upward movement and allow the higher level the appropriate HRs Also, how can one team be knocked off in the double elimaination round by a higher level team? That makes no sense to me. |
| Sept. 29 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Joe, Go to Nashville, TN for the convention, Heck you everywhere else. Speak for the "masses" or players on this, you RECEIVED AN INVITATION. SO, GO. This way you can talk to just about all the assn reps ( presidents council & TD's) you attend and that would be about all everyone does as well. Perhaps get on a committee about the Balls, who knows. Maybe the Ball manufacturers will also be there since they will have exhibitors from companies present. This is one big opportunity to settle it, get answers, face to face as it were, literately. Dec 1-5, Be there. If you do go and find out what ever, we all know we will soon know as well, what transpired. If you do not go, well .... no comment. I'm sure their would be other areas that would interest you\us as well, like the PPR and HR's as outs. Possible more. Let us know, be a true spokesman. Heck bring Bogie's camera crew and record it. Now that would be really interesting. There is a SB game scheduled for Thursday, too. Wonder why they get 2.5 hours for a game time when we only get about half of that...lol. Go, & be a real voice. Get the answers from the sources mouthes as it were. |
| Sept. 29 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Robo2, If the team lost doesn't that tell you something. After all they were a lessor rated team, you said. If the other way around, perhaps the higher rated team did not play well. We all have our bad tourneys. |
