Message board »Message Board home »Sign-in or register to get started
Online now: 2 members: TABLE SETTER 11, readytoplay; 58 anonymousDiscussion: Not sure what this is saying, but.......
| Posted | Discussion |
| April 12, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Not sure what this is saying, but....... two leagues on the East Side of Cleveland area, probably within 10 miiles of each other and both very freeway accessible so location is not really an issue. One, using Senior bats and a screen, has four teams. The other, using ASA bats and no screen, has 10 teams this year. |
| April 12, 2012 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | It tells me that given a choice, Cleveland guys would rather play the balanced game where fielding and running are important, not just hitting the long ball with a senior bat. I wonder if this is common across the country or just an anomaly. I would play where the ten teams are. |
| April 12, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | I am this year. I left the Akron-area league with 7 teams where they use senior bats and are considering putting a screen in for the second half of the season this year. |
| April 12, 2012 Ho 301 posts | Gary: The total is 14 teams, not 7 using the screen and senior bats and those are the leagues you were not eligible to play in because of your age (too young). They are considering it for the other twenty teams later on. So I guess you left because they were considering it. I would expect a number of others will probably exit later on if happens, but I would also expect the majority of the 500-players to at least try it. Sort of like me, can't say I agree with the decision but I will try it. In calling different leagues to try and find teams for THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC (by the way we have 90 AA/AAA teams this year and stopped taking teams in March) I was surprised to learn how many leagues are using the screens. It looks like "Screens and senior bats" it is becoming more of a "rule" than an exception. Ho |
| April 12, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | That was a big part of it. I didn't want to drive 85 miles round trip to stand behind a screen, but maybe that is just me. |
| April 12, 2012 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Gary, you've always resisted the screens. I've played league play for 12 years now with mandated screens. It doesn't take long to get used to them, and you can still field some line drives, most pop-ups, more ground balls than you would think. And they seldom interfere with an infield throw and only a couple times a year (out of 120 games on average) does an outfield throw hit the screen. Why are the screens mandated? Because we would lose half our pitchers without them, mostly older pitchers who can't field safely against the composites and even double-wall hits up the middle, but also some younger guys who never had very quick reflexes. Do I like the screens? Not really, although I'm used to them. I see league play as good practice for tournament play and practicing with screens does not help my fielding as a pitcher in a tournament. I'd rather play without the screen, although the older I get and the more I pitch against a guy 15-20 years younger than me, the more I appreciate the screen. |
| April 13, 2012 HJ Men's 70 481 posts | I play in a senior league on the west side of Cleveland. Starting age is 60. Senior bats permitted. The "junior" division (generally younger and better) mandate the screen; in the senior division screens are optional and only 1 of the pitchers uses it- he moved up from juniors and is use to it. To me it is a miracle that none of the senior pitchers have been seriously injured since some of the seniors still generate speed off the bat. |
| April 13, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Omar, I understand why they are mandated, but I don't understand why the bats that cause this mandating and a bunch of other silly rules are permitted. But I know they are, and probably always will be. Sorry, I just won't play on an infield that looks like a miniature golf hole. But to me, to both have the screens and allow pitchers to field balls off to the side of them is just wrong. That is effectively plugging up a MUCH larger portion of the middle of the field than is fair to the offense. As a pitcher you shouldn't be able to both have your cake and also eat it. HJ, very strange to me that the younger guys have to use it but not the older ones. Yes, older guys as a group don't hit as hard, but I would think their reflexes have slowed much more than their bat speeds off the senior bats, so they would be in more need of the screens than the young guys. Strange logic. Does Tedesco run this program? |
| April 13, 2012 HJ Men's 70 481 posts | Gary19-your observations are correct. The older guys are just traditionalists and have a visceral reaction against the screen. As previously stated, they do have the option. Tedesco has nothing to do with this program. |
| April 13, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Well, I do admire their sense of tradition. How do they work it if one pitcher wants the screen and the other doesn't? Do they have to lug it on and off every half-inning? |
| April 13, 2012 Robo2 238 posts | It is my opinion that the bats are allowed to equal the field. If only ASA bats are allowed, then the issue of shaved or doctored bats come in and those that use them have a real advantage. It still happens in the younger leagues. |
| April 13, 2012 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Gary19, your observation about moving screens is correct. My first year in senior league play, the screen was optional, so when I came in to pitch, I had to move it over to the first base side fence, then, as a courtesy, return it to the pitchers mound for the guy who wanted the screen (most of the older pitchers). It was a hassle. It helped that we played double innings before changing to offense/defense. The screen does take away a lot of middle shots, so in compensation, my league counts a ball that hits the screen as a dead ball, not a strike. I'm not interested in hopping behind the screen after every pitch, so I speak up for allowing the pitcher to field any ball he can reach. No more than usual, maybe even a few less than usual can a pitcher reach. Why would that be unfair? The only argument of the batter is that it robs him of a screamer up the middle that the pitcher might not be able to handle. But that's the purpose of the screen—protect the pitcher. There are some hits where the batter would normally be out where he either gets a single, or another try (a low popup in front of the screen, a dribbler toward the pitcher, etc.). |
| April 13, 2012 amr-4-lc 47 posts | i think i can answer that very simply. we have 4 solid teams in our league and a strong presence of major and a few major + players in the league as well. the majority wanted to play doubleheaders one night a week, thus limiting the amount of teams in the league. if we played two nights per week we probably could have had the opportunity to have more teams in our league. i think the screen is a non-issue, as long as it's applied fairly centered to the rubber evenly on both sides.. it is league play after all, no need for anyone to get hurt. if they start using the screen in tournaments then i think you might begin to have an issue. |
| April 14, 2012 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | About 4 years ago our senior league decided to allow senior bats. This is only in the National league, the more skilled of our two divisions (each division has 6 teams). The American league declined to allow senior bats. There has been only one player that chose to move to the American league. Our National league doesn't use screens and the hr rule is 2 and one up with walks before the one up comes into effect. This spring we added 7 or 8 50 yr old players that could play major or major plus. These rules make for very enjoyable competition. |
| April 14, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | I can't speak for everyone, but my experience has been that guys would prefer to play DHs one night a week then single games twice a week. If you are just going to get in two games per week either way, why tie up two of your nights to do that? Come once, play two games, and have the rest of your week free. So again in my experience, one DH is actually preferable to two single games, if everything else is equal. So I would not think that is the main reason why Mayfield Village has 2 1/2 times as many teams. Seems to me there are probably other reasons. |
| April 14, 2012 paul0784 Men's 60 218 posts | And if you get rained out on that night you don't play for two weeks? How is that better than playing single games twice a week? |
| April 14, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Because EVERY week you are taking up two nights of your life to play the same number of games you could play in one. Only OCCASIONALLY will you get rained out. Just simple numbers. |
| April 14, 2012 paul0784 Men's 60 218 posts | Maybe where you come from that may be true. We tried it last year and the league broke up because of all the rain we had and all the nights that got cancelled. Massachusetts is out there as far as weather goes. WE had teams that didn't play for three weeks and as well I understand the concept it still is a problem here. Would be great if you were playing in another league on a different night maybe get those games in? |
| April 14, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Paul, I am sure circumstances can vary, but at $4/gallon for gas I would think the ability to play the same number of games in half the nights and for half the driving would be more appealing. |
| April 14, 2012 17Black Men's 60 414 posts | I'm golfing this week in pinehurst but had to jump in. The other league on Cleveland's east side in Painesville also has 4 teams and uses screens and composites. First year for screen this year. I also play in mayfield for first time this year with no screen and a longgggggg list of.banned bats. Home run leaders in Painesville average over 20 HR's in 24 games. I heard the homer champ in the 10 team league had 3????? Will keep folks posted |
| April 15, 2012 5ToolsinOhio Men's 50 160 posts | Well the ball they use in the 10 team league with hardly any homeruns and asa bats has something to do with it. Some gold dot mush ball that looks like its been thru 3 games after a half inning, most pitchers in that league do not need a glove. |
| April 15, 2012 Qnine Men's 50 25 posts | Gary19 I have a few friend that play in Barberton League with the pool draft the age bracket mine would be 54 to 59. Mayfield village has 10 teams with asa bat with gold dot dead ball with a lot of player that play in Maple Hts . Most of the player may play AA or AAA on the circuit. Maple Hts has 4 Teams DDhitter with a screen Trump 52 core 275 ball this year . Most of the player play on the road from AAA to Major plus 50 to 55 and a few 60"s. In the past the pitcher defend a few plays, like aweak ground ball away from the screen. But i believe this year the pitcher can not defend anything up the middle or around the screen ,anything that hit the screen is an out. Oh I forgot in Mayfield Village with weak ball and ASA bat still did not shave bats |
| April 15, 2012 Qnine Men's 50 25 posts | Mayfield Village with weak ball and ASA bat still did not Stop shave bats , hr leader had 8 hr the Highest batting Avg754.I'm not saying hr leader had a shave bat don't know him , did play their in a few years ,but I may try this year in Maple Hts and Mayfield Village . Hope to meet you . |
| April 15, 2012 5ToolsinOhio Men's 50 160 posts | Bad numbers in Mayfield... said player/team played in lesser division with 2 or 3 teams just out for exercise, maybe one of those 8 was out of the park, prolly all 8 were inside the park. |
| April 15, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Tools, even so they are still getting more teams than the two east side leagues with senior bats and screens combined. I am guessing that is saying something. |
| April 16, 2012 Bomber #7 Men's 60 62 posts | Tells me your sampling is to small and in a non-hotbed of Senior Softball. Look at the entire picture, on the national scope, where the majority of the serious contend. Last year for an example, in Phoenix at the SSUSA Worlds, 337 teams using Senior bats. At the ASA Worlds in Burlington, 39 teams using non Senior bats. SINCE, ASA has gone to Senior bats! There may be a message there. I think there is now room for you to start a 60's friendly association. Back to the game as you like it, and profits in your pocket to boot! Now that ASA has followed The Huntsman Games and SSWS in allowing Senior bats, you'd have the only game in town. If you are sincere in your conviction, give all the purists a place to come and establish a "pure" World Champion. You could probably raise a vast amount of seed money right here from those who wholeheartdly support your endeavors. |
| April 16, 2012 stick8 1992 posts | Bomber suppose this year Las Vegas/SSUSA decided no more senior bats. In fact no more senior bats anywhere. Do you honestly think that 337 teams that played in Phoenix last year would dwindle down to 39 or thereabouts for Las Vegas? We took a survey on this board last year about that very subject and found that the majority of players would still play even if senior bats were not allowed, at least many of those who post on here. Some even indicated that a Miken Freak or Freak Plus can hit just as well as a Miken Ultra. While it may be [plausible there would be less teams I beleive you would still get a very large contingent of teams that would still play. We also found that people play senior softball predominately for 3 reasons: 1)love of the game 2)competition 3)camradary with friends. |
| April 16, 2012 salio2k Men's 60 547 posts | If we all went to bed tonight and somehow had our memory of senior bats removed and somehow all senior bats were removed from Earth, we would be playing without what is now known as senior bats. Yes, if the only game in town, on Earth, was without senior bats, players would play. What else are they to do? Senior bats are here. SSUSA, SPA, ASA, Look in the dugouts. |
| April 17, 2012 Bomber #7 Men's 60 62 posts | Stick,that's not the point I was making. Just his sample was too small, not knowing all the demographics, player quality, league rules, park dimensions, and everything else that gets one to play in a certain league. I gave him facts on the 2011 worlds in a couple of Associations, and stated what other Associations have done for their tourneys based on the popularity of Senior bats. Just facts. I'm not pushing for either in this post. The answer is NO to your question about dwindling down to 39 teams. But likewise,how many mre teams do you think will be in Burlington this ear with them? Also, your vast majority of those that will still play without them sure don't support Gary19's dream tournament from the old days, which has dwindled down from the largest to a mere 39 in all age groups. You are correct on one thing,no matter what the rules or the equipment, guys still want to compete and will do so no matter what. Back it all the way up, to the early 60's for me, back to 16", bare hand, wooden bat; great game and we loved the competition.(damn those Chicago guys!!! lol) We didn't need any fancy field or equipment, but we loved the fun........guess it's what you spoil youself with. |
| April 17, 2012 titanhd Men's 60 639 posts | Bomber7 in each of your "arguements"there are no screens involved or mentioned. Rhetorically.What would the numbers that you referenced (ASA & 2011 Worlds)dwindle to if you added screens to the equation. My opinon is that you'd have a lot less teams with screens and senior bats than you would with no screens and no senior bats. I think that screens or the lack of is what Gary 19 was driving to. Question for all. What does The fact that ASA is now allowing Senior bats but keeping the ASA ball indicate? I read the arguement that Senior bats cut down on the illegal bat.(shaved or otherwise). Well, now we have the Association (ASA) that initiated all of the bat criteria allowing Senior bats, and at the same time, if the bat cheat arguements are valid also the possiblity to use "illegal"(ASA -USSSA)bat. Is ASA committing to their ball being more safe than the ball we use as Seniors or is the change to allow Senior bats just to have more teams attend their Tournament ?? |
| April 17, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | titan, I was just presenting a situation that I have found here in NE Ohio, but it is no secret I find seniors willing to sell-out the game with screens just so they can keep the special bats to be a bit deplorable. It's not like the only options we have are special bats or wood. |
| April 17, 2012 stick8 1992 posts | Point taken Bomber but I don't think Gary was using his area as a national sampling. I vividly recall a couple years ago SSUSA put in a hitting the middle rule which was met with huge disapproval. So much so that they pretty much got rid of that rule. That should indicate on more of a national level how many viewed that rule. And that provides a segway into the point Gary has consistently made on here. It's not the senior bats themselves. As long as everything is equal there is no issue with the bats--unless players are shaving them but that's a different matter. It's the weird, gimmicky type rules that result just from accomodating certain players. Sometimes these rules can tend to take away how the game is supposed to be played. |
| April 17, 2012 Bomber #7 Men's 60 62 posts | 1. I think ASA is trying to keep up. 2. From the areas I've plaed in, if you played ASA bats and balls and SSUSA bats and balls in 2 different leagues in the same town at the same time, the ASA park would be empty. Once again, not saying it's the way to go, just saying the way it is. 3. I think Senior bats w/screen would be far more popular than ASA wo/screen. 4. I still don't have enough info to guess why there's 10 one way and 4 the other way in Ohio. It wouldn't be that way on the "left coast". |
| April 17, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Bomber, as far as more info. The field with 4 is 300', the one with 10 is 294', so no real difference there. Neither is a draft league, but rather in both you bring in your own team. Both are very accessible off the same highway perhaps 10 miles apart, if that. Both have the basic senior silly rules. Bats and screen are only real difference. |
| April 17, 2012 stick8 1992 posts | Bomber I'm sure if ASA wants to make money off their senior tournament they have to do something. Maybe senior bats will be the answer, hopefully it is. As far as leagues wouldn't it be fair to point out that in many areas senior leagues just aren't as prevalent as regular adult leagues and the ones that are available your pretty much stuck with the rules they have? |
| April 18, 2012 Bomber #7 Men's 60 62 posts | Perhaps the league of 4 is known to be upper level players, teams coming in that are more like tournament teams, causing lower level players to feel overwhelmed. Stick, you are stuck with what rules they have. But, majority rules! Senior bats are in associations where you were previously "stuck" without them! Things change. Once again, the majority ruled. |
| April 18, 2012 neck10 714 posts | screens are great when the player abilty's are so different we use a screen in traverse city the last two years & asa bats everyone liked it we have a couple teams that the picture really need the screen |
| April 18, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | ASA bats and screens? Perhaps your pitchers should be playing checkers. Not every activity is for everyone. |
| April 18, 2012 5ToolsinOhio Men's 50 160 posts | Perhaps the league of 4 is known to be upper level players, teams coming in that are more like tournament teams, causing lower level players to feel overwhelmed. Bomber you figured it out! |
| April 18, 2012 stick8 1992 posts | Bomber that's entirely possible but I'm not so certain stacked teams are that prevalent in senior leagues as they are in mens leagues. I'm fully aware the rules are the rules and should players elect to play they obide by them. But to fully understand the rule(s) in their entirety wouldn't it be more advantagious to understand what the intent of the rule is? |
| April 18, 2012 Bomber #7 Men's 60 62 posts | Thanks 5Tools, thought there must be a logical reason. Just hard to know without all the facts and circumstances... |
| April 18, 2012 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Bomber#7, you might have the answer. It does lead to two possible conclusions: 1. Even upper level players realize the senior bats are too hot and so they play with a screen. 2. When players have a choice (2 fields, only 10 freeway miles apart, same climate, same size fields, etc.) then 71% (10 out of 14) will go for the more balanced conditions, sacrificing the long ball of the senior bats, for more fielding opportunities, more emphasis on baserunning and strategy, and home runs only by the normal upper 5% that existed for 80 years, rather than getting beat up by teams with more sluggers, better skills, etc. In other words, the world of senior softball where AA and AAA teams outnumber the Major and Major Plus, yet rules are slanted in favor of the Major boys. |
| April 18, 2012 won3 9 posts | Maybe it has more to do with the players preferring a more traditional/balanced game instead of feeling overwhelmed by "upper level players" ;) |
| April 19, 2012 curveball Men's 65 705 posts | won, I also have not seen players make this type of choice. In Palm Springs for example, our league was divided into "A" and "B" Division, at least 8 teams yearround in the "B's", all were older or lower level players, playing tournament ball for the most part in AA. To the man, they screamed when it was suggested to take away Senior bats in favor of a less powerful bat. There were NO "upper level players" involved, strickly a AA or less decision. |
| April 19, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Not surprising. Probably many (not saying all) of those "AA or less" players are now doing things at the plate they were never able to do before with the non-special bats. |
| April 19, 2012 Pricer Men's 50 621 posts | Let's be honest to ourselves here. The main reason for the popularity of senior bats is that it is very forgiving. You can miss the ball and still receive the benefit from the technology. The reason more players that played at the higher levels earlier in life don't care for the technology, is the point most of you are making,"Maybe it has more to do with the players preferring a more traditional/balanced game instead of feeling overwhelmed by "upper level players" ;)". Why would someone who worked hard at their craft, only to realize the technology has leveled the playing field. I don't mean to say everyone can hit the ball like the upper level players, but in most cases the ball only has to travel 300-325 these days. Who don't hit them that far? Does anyone think there are players playing today at the major or major+, that never played at those level before senior ball? For that matter, have the majority of these two divisions played tourney ball above the B level before? What do you think? |
| April 19, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | I think it is just more of the Socialization of the senior game. Bats start to equalize hitters. The run limit rule tries to equalize both offenses and defenses. The mat tries to equalize pitchers. |
| April 19, 2012 the wood Men's 65 1123 posts | Pricer: You are correct, the senior bats' primary strengths are that they are more forgiving and the BBS is greater. It is also true that many guys, using these bats, hit the ball far enough to clear a 300' fence. However, for someone to say that guys playing AA (as an example) are on a level offensive playing field w/ M/M+ players is nonsense. The guys that I know, both in the senior game and 30 years ago, work at their craft to be the best that THEY can be more than to be the best on their block. So the 'presumed success' of others using senior bats is really only a mild annoyance. The trick is to be able to execute at crunch time and not everyone can do this. Giving some guys a senior bat is a little like putting perfume on a pig. It fools some early on but ultimately the reality shines through. As to how many guys playing M/M+ played at the upper levels years ago... my opinion is that the majority of senior M+ players DID NOT play upper level ball. The caveat to this is that I'm seeing more and more upper level guys coming into the 50s. So if you pooled the 50 M+ division you'd find a higher percentage of upper level guys than in the 60s. Because I play in the 60 division (and have seen these guys for 10-15 years) it forges my thinking. Why are there fewer upper level guys? I believe that the heavier or thicker players can not play any longer due to various maladies (orthopedic, heart, diabetes, etc.)... or can only be a DH. Most of the current M+ guys are players that have remained slim/fit and can play both ways. Additionally, a lot of former upper level guys no longer play because they're grown 'tired of the grind'. The other side of this is the guy that could have played upper level ball but had more important obligations at home. Now that 'he' is more financially established, he's able to travel more. But he is considered as a guy that didn't play upper level. When I speak of 'upper level' I think of guys that played coast to coast, not guys that just played within 300 miles of home (just my own working definition). Again, IMO, the scales are tipping toward the guys with upper level experience. When guys like Parnell, Beeler and Woldyk play M+ it tends to raise the bar and this appeals to the upper level guys. And why wouldn't it? BW |
| May 5, 2012 17Black Men's 60 414 posts | I'm reviving Gary19's original thread (first post way above) as the topic got off line. First of all there are three leagues on eastside of Cleveland, two leagues allow composite bats, one does not. One League of four teams (Maple) has rosters filled with Major Plus, Major and AAA caliber players and uses screen. One other league allowing composites (Painesville/Lake County over 50)and only four teams is less competitive all around, but does have one AAA team as a whole and a lot of AA players including basically one entire AA team. This league starts May 8th and for the first time in 2012 is going to a screen. (Up for review after the 6th game of the season) This league also switched to a lesser ball (but still a good ball) in 2010. I play in Painesville and just started playing in the 10 team ASA league (no composites/dead ball) this year as well (Mayfield) Although I've only played a few games in Mayfield, it is nice to play against different guys than against the same three teams, over and over and over and over again and then double elimination over AGAIN in league playoffs LOL. Some guys in Mayfield I have not seen in 12-20 years which makes it fun in that regards. Mayfield has a mix of Major/AAA/AA/50/55/60/65+ players of all skill levels from what I have seen so far. The ball will go out in Mayfield but only by the guys who should be hitting them. Unless there is a 30MPH outbound wind there probably won't be any long balls hit by guys who "might" be able to hit them with composites? Bottom line to me is it's all still softball. Games in both leagues are competitive, fun, good comraderie, and you just adjust to the playing rules/screens/balls and bats. This is my first time playing in Mayfield, but I think one main attraction there is the condition of the fields, not the bats and balls. The place used to be a golf course although not a good one, but the oufield (to me) was like a putting green, and stayed in great shape last week even though it rained our entire game. The infield stayed very playable too (in my opinion) Had the same conditions been present in Painesville we would be making that game up in August, because they never would have thrown a pitch. I am hoping next year to get a chance to sample Maple for an overall good comparison and again, all three leagues (overall) are different levels of play. |
| May 7, 2012 neck10 714 posts | before the screen I hit the ball 4 foot either side of pitcher people telling me shouldnt go there(too close to pitcher) so we get screen now hit the ball same spot for hits complaining screen takes away too many hits cant have it both ways either i was ether too close or the screen doesnt cut that much of the field off,because I never hit it. |
| May 7, 2012 neck10 714 posts | pricer just played in the 55+ major in indy I didnt see any team use up there aloted home runs there were Id say two guys on each team that could go yard when they needed to one of thos guys was using a miken freak.one of our guys hit middle once pitcher got hit but it wasnt the bats fault ball hit rubber & bounced up,so what did that pitcher do the next time he came up go middle no hit one about 375 |
| May 7, 2012 neck10 714 posts | gary 19 I dont see any of thos pitcher's on here telling you you should stick to knitting. |
| May 7, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | neck, I'm not following. I will more than voluntarily find a new hobby when I cannot adequately cover the middle or protect myself. I won't be asking for any special rules, miniature golf obstacles, or various other accommodations to do for me what I can no longer do for myself. We have all seen cornerbacks lose a step or two. None of them asks for a special rule that the receivers have to run backwards so they can keep up. |
| May 8, 2012 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | titan,Question for all. What does The fact that ASA is now allowing Senior bats but keeping the ASA ball indicate? but titan, asa uses the same ball we use,44-375 spec ball for championship play,yes they also have the 52-275/300 ball,but to me either ball is good to go.we use the 52 in league and have no prol hitting it and we didn't get the best ball availible,we are using a demarini ball...... |
| May 8, 2012 stick8 1992 posts | Mad Dog to me allowing senior bats would indicates two things: 1) they bucked up for the insurance 2)they want to get more teams in their tournament. |
| May 8, 2012 miken44 90 posts | in our league this is the first year we will use a screen while still using the ultra what we discussed was safety for the older pitchers we use a 52core 275 ball if you hit the screen it is a out senior tournaments should make it a option on the screen yes it may take time to move the screen but it make pitching safer |
| May 9, 2012 neck10 714 posts | gary our senior leauge is so uneven on talent the screen protects the hitter as well as the batter we dont have thousands to pick from so we have to make do with a small amount of people thats why our leauge has 55yr olds as well as some 80 yr olds I might as well come over to your house and take up knitting than to miss hit a ball & hit some one in the head,I did that once many yrs ago in leauge so then you find yourself trying to do things that other safty measures could take care of and no( I was using a 38 oz 501H boombat)I wasnt using an ultra at the time ,outside pitch tried to pull didnt work out. |
| May 9, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | I see what you are saying in that situation. I would like to think the 80 year olds know enough not to pitch, buy yea sometimes you have to protect people from themselves. |
| May 9, 2012 neck10 714 posts | yea & we played monday night & what happened the opposing pitcher would throw the ball & jump out to side of screen I told him how bright i thought he was. not me I pitch & stay back there I can still take away the line drives over my head as far as out side the screen thats what the infielders are far. |
| May 10, 2012 curveball Men's 65 705 posts | Gary FYI: neck10 (Larry), knows of what he speaks and is most respected as a hitter. I pitch against him, and although we don't use screens, he's one of the very few I pitch to and wish we did use them! The man can hit. His thoughts on protecting the batter as well with a screen are not talked about near enough in unequal talent situations. It does actually open the middle back up for the outside pitch and also guys that like to hit middle (but not against guys that can't protect themselves). |
| May 10, 2012 neck10 714 posts | miken44 not any longer than some of the guys I see trying to get ready to bat!!!!!!!!! |
| May 10, 2012 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Or how slowly many meander on and off the field. |
