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Online now: 3 members: Coach5, Mike Fossil's 60's, TABLE SETTER 11; 101 anonymousDiscussion: Combining Divisions Part II
| Posted | Discussion |
| Nov. 11, 2010 DMac Men's 60 207 posts | Combining Divisions Part II It seems to be a given that there is a difference in the level of play between the current divisions. Do the senior bats (Ultra II, Combat, etc.) close the gap or do they widen the gap between divisions? |
| Nov. 11, 2010 Dirty Men's 50 1371 posts | There sure should be a difference, or the divisional structure is failing miserably. I think they close the gap. Guys who have no business hitting homers, and probably weren't 30 years ago, not hit them. The true Major or Major+ guy who was hitting 325' is now hitting 375', but on typical 300' fences is matters not. But the true AA or AAA guy who was hitting 280' and is not hitting 315' is getting credit for the same home run as the upper level guys, since distance does not matter as long as the ball clears the fence. |
| Nov. 11, 2010 Jawood Men's 50 943 posts | Absolutely close the gap. |
| Nov. 11, 2010 Enviro-Vac Men's 65 489 posts | ….and following that thought process would one not also conclude that if that many players / teams are hitting over 300’ that more teams would get moved up in the divisions? |
| Nov. 11, 2010 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Personally I believe it depends on the players playing on the teams your concerned about. Perhaps the level of the player as well. Otherwise it should be about the same. Guys who hit base hits will still hit base hits plus an about 10-20 feet. The fielders will just adjust to that. Warning track hitters will now likely go over. Hr hitters will still hit them. Divisions\ratings as they are, are good**, it's the numbers that attend that is the problem along with the number of events to choose from given the economic times we are all in. The run it for profit, rearrange the divisions accordingly to fill them, hopefully no one bails out. Surely some teams will go to play against teams unplanned on, be it up or down. Bailing out could be for numerous reasons as well. **Team ratings are personal (subjective) as well as objective (results) and usually one interferes with the other and they do not come out the way it should. imo Likely will get worse when the FL\CA separations take full effect. Softball is no what it used to be. |
| Nov. 11, 2010 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | oh no your not getting me this time Dmac.. oh hell,it doesn't close the gap what so ever.the little guy gets 15-50',the big guy gets 35-100' now mph the big's speed will really increase compared to the lower/smaller guy. there is no way the little's/lower's can even come close to catching upper/big guys with the senior bat,just gives the bigger/upper guys, a bigger advantage |
| Nov. 11, 2010 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | If everyone were still playing on 275 foot fields with 65 foot bases, then I think the composites close the gap, for the reasons stated above (weaker guys now get more home runs; the infield balls are too fast for every division unless it's right at you; outfielders have to play farther back on almost every batter, not just the 3-4-5 guys). But the advent of the composite has pushed the fences way, way back. Parks that are only 265 - 290 often ban composites because of the safety of other users outside the fence. When the fields become 315, 325, even open fields, the big difference returns, primarily because of the superior athleticism of the higher division outfielders. They can run down flies that less athletic players can only hope for. Have you seen the mighty Longhorns play with only three outfielders!! The result is that the composite bat doesn't bridge the distance. AAA players, and even most Majors, can usually not hit over the 325 foot fences, and their outfielders can't catch up with the ball in the larger field. The difference in ability is more evident, even though infield whiffs are still equalized. |
| Nov. 11, 2010 DMac Men's 60 207 posts | Interesting. OK Bobby, hypothetical situation. GSF or MTC using normal composites vs. KC Kids or Master Collision using Ultra II's. Ten game series; what are the results? |
| Nov. 11, 2010 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Omar, You should know that Lodi, Stockton (off I-5) and one other are 265 or less. |
| Nov. 11, 2010 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | taits, yes I know and that's why I think a good Major team could give a Major + team run for their money on those fields. And I have been on a AAA team that beat a Major on those fields in the Miken era. Of course, even in smaller fields, over time talent will win out.:) |
| Nov. 12, 2010 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Omar, On those fields, it's overkill to use a SR bat. If you can't hit it out there you more than likely never will, especially with a SR bat. Talent and health conditions, really prevail everywhere. Hope to meet ya someday. |
