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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 78 anonymousDiscussion: 70 foot bases
| Posted | Discussion |
| Sept. 24, 2011 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | 70 foot bases Last year we played 70 foot bases in Las Vegas and had a dialogue here about it. Personally, I loved it because it took away the 'automatic' stretch double to some extent, and gave the infielders just a bit more leeway on plays in the infield. I can see where the older age groups might not like it, but maybe the 50 and 55 year olds might. Just a thought to seek out opinions, guys. |
| Sept. 24, 2011 hombre Men's 60 240 posts | In addition to a couple of tournaments that I've played, our local league uses 70' bases. I do think that it improves the game for all the fore mentioned reasons, but being 65, they should have an oxygen station on third. It'll turn a lot of inside the park HMS. into triples for us old guys. |
| Sept. 25, 2011 curveball Men's 65 705 posts | I'm a 68 yr. old, recently moved to Vegas and their 70' bases, LOVE THEM. Much better game! Webbie, I don't hear any complaints from my age group. I agree with you........ |
| Sept. 25, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | hombre you run all the way around the bases,are you kidding me.......LOL...........hey saw ya at dalton but you were playing,and i was pressed for time.you guys have a nice team there. rob you prolly get homer to run for ya,thats why you don't mind them......LOL.......so ya live in sin city now..why..... |
| Sept. 25, 2011 Enviro-Vac Men's 65 489 posts | I agree, 70' bags are the way to go |
| Sept. 25, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Now, if only every infield was cut large enough and every complex owner or Rec department would move the bases back. Yet another change to accommodate the special bats. |
| Sept. 25, 2011 Jawood Men's 50 943 posts | This is a no-brainer, it's a much better game with 70' bases, and safer too! Most infields are cut deep enough but for the few that aren't, you just move back as far as you feel comfortable. With or without "special" bats, it's the right move. |
| Sept. 25, 2011 crusher Men's 75 524 posts | This GARY19 is the gary that was banned from this board, right? Must be as he/she is screaming and crying about bats. G19 most day leagues play with 'soft' balls and pre-composit bats. I find day league very safe and fun as I do not have a composit bat, however if others want them I do not have a problem with them. |
| Sept. 25, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | I don't mind the bats either as much as the silly/stupid/whacky rules to accommodate them. Well, and the insecure old men who seem to need them so desperately. |
| Sept. 25, 2011 coop3636 514 posts | I agreee that 70' bases are the way to go. WSL has been using them for years and it makes the game alot better IMO. coop3636 in both seniors or young guys leagues. |
| Sept. 25, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | coop so has NSA,they been using them at least since 2000,along with the 53' mound.......way before the "special" bats came out........ |
| Sept. 25, 2011 hombre Men's 60 240 posts | Gary 19, do you use composite bats? Are you one of the "insecure old men who seem to need them so desperately"? Is everyone who uses a composite bat an insecure old man who seem to need them so desperately? Do you know me? Do you personally know the thousands of other senior and non senior ball players who use composite bats? |
| Sept. 25, 2011 Pricer Men's 50 621 posts | I'll go on record as indicating the only reason we are talking about using 70" bases is to accomondate the composite bats. The rules were fine for almost 50 years. Why is it when someone points this out everyone gets all defensive. Facts are facts!! Is it easier to blast someone who points this out or would it hurt your pride or ego just to say, yes the bats are the reason? |
| Sept. 25, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | a) Yes I do b) If we went back to wood I would not say a word and just show up at the next game. c) I NEVER asked for run limits, time limits, PPRs, longer basepaths, screens, or pitchers looking like hockey goalies to accommodate them. hombre, if composites were banned, how much would you still play? Jeff, some might admit the bats are the reason, but they don't care and will live with all the rule changes so many of them can go home and say "pappy hit a homer tonight". |
| Sept. 25, 2011 hombre Men's 60 240 posts | Gary 19, When I began playing senior ball in 2003, almost everyone was using composite bats. I enjoy playing with them. If wooden bats were used I'd probably be having just as much fun and I would still be playing. You answered my first two questions in a). The rest of your response had nothing to do with the questions I asked. |
| Sept. 25, 2011 Jawood Men's 50 943 posts | Pricer, We also used to play with 60' bases, and 275' fences, why do you think they moved to 65' & 300'? |
| Sept. 25, 2011 Pricer Men's 50 621 posts | The move was made to accomodate the complexes being built, which in turn could host more than softball games. 65 foot bases cames with the 300' fields. Nobody built a diamond with 300 foot fences. LL & hardball if needed. They did not need to them until recently. But just for kicks, what was your reason on why they moved them back? |
| Sept. 25, 2011 crusher Men's 75 524 posts | Pricer, with both brain cells going strong I seem to remember the bases were moved to 65 because the picher was moved back to 50' form 46'. Playing UTrip when that happened and got hit while pitching like never befor. The umps got confused and you had to pitch a 3' ball over the plate and HERE IT CAME back up the middle and it was coming hot. We used a 50/525 I think. A rocket. |
| Sept. 25, 2011 coop3636 514 posts | The 70' bases make it move of a total game again. It has more defense, more dbl plays and it makes people have to hit clean base hits. (and is a bit safer because infields get to play a few feet back) I like the 70' bases and i am slow as a turtle..lol. The scores are lower, but you almost always get the full 7 innings in. Just my 2 cents worth. And the composite bats are here to stay, (too much $$ involed)so we have to change the game to go with technolgy to keep people playing. |
| Sept. 25, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | crusher,the mound was pushed back in the 80's,along with the bases to 65'.NSA had 70' bases long before the composites came out.we had a couple of 300' complexes built in Sacramento,ca in the 80's and that was way before the composites came out,before even the good DW bats came along.all the old specs were for little league play,mound was at 46',and bases were 60',just like little league.we just used that. they moved the bases back b/c we as men could run just a little faster than the kids and we could cover the distance a lot quicker,the mound was moved back for safety. |
| Sept. 25, 2011 crusher Men's 75 524 posts | mad dog - they said safety, but the 4 feet was not anygood unless you bailed out backwards. It was no different than today except for age, I went from a 38oz Steele bat to a 26 oz louville slugger (a blue faded look). That bat would hit the balls we used then out like the composits of today. That was a fun time. |
| Sept. 26, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | coop, "more of a total game"?????? The total game got taken away a LONG time ago, right around when they brought in special bats and bogus "courtesy" runners. |
| Sept. 26, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | crusher,yes it was in the guise of safety,i was using a worth power cell back then and could hit them out.i do agree it was a good time had by all back then.........well most of them..... |
| Sept. 26, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Yes, mad dog, a good time. And without run limits, time limits, second home plates, PPRs, screens, and hockey goalie equipment. Gee, imagine that! |
| Sept. 26, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | WELL I HAVE BEEN PLAYING WITH RUN,HR,TIME LIMITS SINCE THE 80'S......ALSO HAVE SEEN PLAYERS USE SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON THE FIELD. |
| Sept. 26, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | I never did until until senior ball. Just a mercy rule, none of the other stuff. |
| Sept. 26, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | so since the 80's,you have never played below major open ball,as i know ASA,USSSA has had time limits and hr limits since then in all their div's except major open......oh that is in leagues and tourneys that i played in..... |
| Sept. 27, 2011 #19 Men's 70 302 posts | As an infielder, I love the 70 foot bases! :-) |
| Sept. 27, 2011 Pricer Men's 50 621 posts | MD, most of the time limits were put in place by the parks, not by the associations here in Michigan and throughout the Great Lakes region. |
| Sept. 27, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | well just saying pricer i have been playing tourneys with time limits for games since back then and a lot were qualifiers for both ASA and USSSA,so would say yes the assoc were behind the time limits,not just the parks and recs dept's...... |
| Sept. 27, 2011 Pricer Men's 50 621 posts | I never played in a tourney with a time limit ever in my life, until my first senior game. |
| Sept. 27, 2011 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Pricer-you're lucky. I was playing in West Texas in the early 80's and they had a 55 minute time limit then. |
| Sept. 27, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | webbie our in cali ours were 60 for ASA and 70 for USSSA. |
| Sept. 27, 2011 garyheifner 649 posts | I prefer the 70 footers. But, I have also seen more wild throws to 1st with the 70'ers. Remember, the infielders (3rd and SS) are deeper and farther from 1st. |
| Sept. 27, 2011 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Gary-they don't have to be farther, but they can be. They have to know their ability to get the ball to first. Most play deep enough for 70 foot bases already. |
| Sept. 27, 2011 Jawood Men's 50 943 posts | Exactly, If you can't make the throw, you have to play in, you don't HAVE TO play back. It's not about whether your third baseman or shortstop has a good enough arm, it's about what's good for the game. |
