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Discussion: The \"Rabbit\" in Senior Softball

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April 6
Airbosn
Men's 70
329 posts
The "Rabbit" in Senior Softball
Just fodder for discussion.
Having played a team with 6-8 power hitters and 6-8 "Rabbits" it became apparant that each power hitter had his own "Rabbit".
What are your ideas, comments, etc.
IMHO, if you hit, play defense, you should run for yourself...Have the coach use the substitution and /or reentry rule for runners.
April 6
Bat-Heater
Men's 50
64 posts
The "Rabbit" in Senior Softball
I agree. In competitive ball, to have more then 3 or 4 courtesy runners in a game is an overuse of a good resource.
April 6
Fred Scerra
Men's 80
542 posts
The "Rabbit" in Senior Softball
Maybe it is time for the rule that I came across. I forget what assoc. You are allowed 7 courtesty runners per game.
April 6
mad dog
Men's 65
4191 posts
The "Rabbit" in Senior Softball
hear are some idea's on this.
1)each player can only cr once a game
2)u can have only 1 cr per inning so u need to decide who u r going to run for.
i do like the "if u can play defence, u need to run for yourself".
i've seen many rabbits get real tired after running so much that it affects their defence later on in tourney's
April 6
dannydan

43 posts
The "Rabbit" in Senior Softball
Why not allow two cr per inning, the cr has to be the last out and if he can't run you burn him and use the out before him, then you've used your two cr ?
April 7
Bat-Heater
Men's 50
64 posts
The "Rabbit" in Senior Softball
The "crazy puppy" has a sound plan. "1 cr per inning and only run once in a game"
April 8
DoubleL10
Men's 70
907 posts
The "Rabbit" in Senior Softball
Airbosn-
You've aroused my curiosity. I'm interested in where in the country is a 60+ team (your info says Mens's 60 so I assume you are talking about a 60+ team) with 6-8 power hitters and 6-8 rabbits. I can only think of one team that MIGHT fit that bill - the Old A's.
Is there a team somewhere else that fits your description?
April 8
BruceinGa
Men's 70
3233 posts
The "Rabbit" in Senior Softball
If its ok with Airbosn, I'll jump in. He is talking about his team from Pensacola. For quite some time that area has been known for their strong teams.
April 8
jah#4
Men's 70
576 posts
The "Rabbit" in Senior Softball
We have tryed to have rabbits. but if you are not careful you may run the rabbits to death. We are trying to keep players to run now that is not in the game when we are not in pool to save the power and defense players legs. the game that the players leg go is the last couple of games in a tourney, which is the finals. having players that play and run in bracket play I have found are a step slow after that ball in the gap or in the hole that they normaly get if they have not run so much.
April 8
Airbosn
Men's 70
329 posts
The "Rabbit" in Senior Softball
Bruce, thanks for the kind comments. Pensacola is blessed with 2-55's, a 60 and 2 65 major+ teams.
DoubleL-10, Played against "Rabbit" teams from Michigan, Virginia, and New York. Mostly in ASA national events.
April 8
DMac
Men's 60
207 posts
The "Rabbit" in Senior Softball
Speaking as a "rabbit", speed is a skill just like hitting, pitching, and fielding. Unlike the other skills, though, speed never has an off day. The real question is not how fast you are, but how long can you stay fast.
While the "elephants" are taking batting practice, I'm out running hills trying to build enough endurance to last the entire tournament. My team expects me to be able to run and together with my own at bats, I have run as much as ten times in a game. I also play the field so I usually have no trouble sleeping on Sunday night.
If you want to change the running rules, go right ahead. My own attitude is that if you can bat, you can run for yourself. Let's get rid of the courtesy runner completely and see how the big boys like that.
April 9
Gary Heifner

248 posts
The "Rabbit" in Senior Softball
I will take the other side on this. Two guys I play with can't run. One has had a hip replacemment and the other severe leg damage in a car crash. They play pitcher and catcher. If you can't run for them on a hit, they can't play anymore. Is that the purpose of senior softball? I thought it was meant to find a way for all aging players an opportunity to play.
April 12
terryspears
Men's 55
38 posts
The "Rabbit" in Senior Softball
It seems that, as with most things, the best solution falls in the middle as discussed in this thread. CR's were probably invented to keep seniors with real problems playing, so the CR runner is necessary for the health of the senior game. However, misuse of the rule is usually a disservice to some of those that get used as rabbits. Personally, I use the CR for players who have real physical problems. Like, on Sunday, when my knee has had about enough and locks up on the the way to first base.
April 13
JoeD
Men's 65
11 posts
The "Rabbit" in Senior Softball
I played in a rec. league that only allowed the person who had made the last out of the previous inning to be the CR. This took away the "rabbit" as the fastest player was not always avaiable.
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