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Online now: 3 members: TABLE SETTER 11, Wag08, birdie; 105 anonymousDiscussion: Senior Softball Staff questions
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| Aug. 19, 2012 cal50 Men's 50 328 posts | Senior Softball Staff questions This post is addressed to the SSUSA staff. The softball complex in Bridgeton, Missiouri is among the best of any complex I have played in. The SSUSA tournament in Bridgeton Missouri this weekend may have been the WORST tournament I have ever played in. I would like an honest answer from the SSUSA staff on why the 50 minute timelimit for every game Saturday during pool play and every bracket game on Sunday? The games were scheduled an hour and 15 minutes apart. We never played a game past the 5th inning. While asking around other teams, I am not sure anyone played a complete game, unless it went to extra innings. I am trying to figure out your motive. Do you make more money having shorter games? I really am interested in hearing a legitimate answer because I cannot figure out why? Some of things that you do are good and decisions made with common sense. However there seem to be more and more major "lack of common sense" decisions you are making that a person has to question your motive. You are ruining this good thing with such lack of thought out judgement. The 50 minute time limits make it appear that it is getting worse. 4 things are bad and a couple of them really bad for the game 1) starting with a 0 and 0 count while having a time limit. If you do the math and say it causes only 1 extra pitch per batter. (we timed a pitch, the average is about 15 seconds) If there is 1 extra pitch per batter and estimate that there are a total of 80 plate appearances in a game (15 seconds) which would amount to 20 minutes of wasted time in a game. I am not sure if I am correct on the 1 extra pitch per batter, but if it is only 1/2 of what I say, that is 10 minutes wasted. 2) Touching the next base on a homerun. What value does that bring? There is no common sense in this rule at all. 3) Make sure the courtesy runner is ready to go. If they are not ready to run don't let them run for that batter. Tell the managers and the umps to have them ready when the inning starts. 4) Be ready to start the next game. Simply organize it better so both teams are ready to go. You put a silly time limit on a game, yet you never have teams ready to play. I can't recall a game where there wasn't 10 minutes or so wasted between games, yet you have a time limit on the game itself. Please clarify the home run rule of being able to go 1 up in the bottom of the last inning. We were told something different this weekend from what you have posted on here. The tournament director told us very clearly that you could not go up a home run in the bottom of the last inning. That is contrary to what you posted on here. Staff....am I asking legitimite questions? |
| Aug. 19, 2012 SSUSA Staff 3490 posts | In response to your questions... The softball complex in Bridgeton, Missiouri is among the best of any complex I have played in. That's good to know. The SSUSA tournament in Bridgeton Missouri may have been the WORST...I have ever played in... This is your opinion with which we won't debate, but we will make inquiries based on this post "...why the 50 minute time limit for every game Saturday during pool play and every bracket game on Sunday?... Our rules are very specific as to time limits, and we expect independent TD's to run qualifiers according to our rule book. We will inquire as to what happened here and, if your version of the facts is correct, 'why not?' comply with the rules in this case I am trying to figure out your motive. Do you make more money having shorter games?.... Money can be an issue for the local independent TD (but not for SSUSA) if (s)he is paying for the fields by the hour rather than by the day. We can't comment pending inquiry on our part Some of things that you do are good and decisions made with common sense... This is another 'opinion piece' on your part, and we have no reply pending inquiries on our end 4 things are bad and a couple of them really bad for the game 1) starting with a 0 and 0 count while having a time limit... The 0-0 vs. 1-1 debate arises annually. It is often an Agenda item at the annual SSUSA Rules Committee sessions at the convention. Please feel free to comment to the Committee in writing or, better yet, attend in person and make your case for change. Playing rules are changed only at these meetings 2) Touching the next base on a homerun... No batter becomes a batter-runner until they have touched 1st base. The current policy makes defensive team appeals easier and more logical to manage, and everyone touching one is not an unreasonable use of time. The Rules Committee is, again, the place to make your case for change 3) Make sure the courtesy runner is ready to go... This item is 'on the teams' to be ready to go, and on the umpires to cover it at the pre-game conference. The Rules permit insertion of a courtesy runner at any time in the count, but we rarely experience that 4) Be ready to start the next game... This is a community responsibility item between the TD, the umpires and the teams and seems somewhat obvious on its face. Our view is that the only reason to have more than just enough time to clear dugouts and get the next teams in is for field preparation. This is a safety issue that overrides schedule issues Please clarify the home run rule ... A home team may go '1-Up' in the bottom of the last inning ONLY if they are chasing, but NOT as a game-winning walk-off. Any other interpretation of the rule is incorrect Staff....am I asking legitimate questions? Your questions are legitimate, but your opinions are subject to further inquiry on our part prior to comment, if any |
| Aug. 19, 2012 cal50 Men's 50 328 posts | Thanks for your response. I will prepare a letter for the meeting. Shouldn't it be your responsibility to make sure that when you have tournaments that the parks' meet the guidelines posted in your rules? Shouldn't you know that the times were for 50 minutes when that was posted on the brackets on your website? Regarding touching the next base.....what defensive team appeal are you talking about that is more logical to manage? I have never heard an umpire cover having a courtesy runner ready in the pre game conference. Perhaps that needs to be addressed with them. Please check with Dave McDowell or the TD, the TD said that she had an email from Dave McDowell stating you could NOT go 1 up in the bottom of the last inning regardless of whether it was a walk off or not. |
| Aug. 19, 2012 Jawood Men's 50 943 posts | Dave McDowell? |
| Aug. 20, 2012 ginger2000 1 posts | I had no problem with the fields or the tournament. The 60 Major division had only two teams, so we played the best two out of three. There is not much a director can do if he doesn't get teams. I do however, have an issue with the MBAC Complex. They will not let the director or his staff put water on the player's benches. They also would not allow the team to bring a water cooler for their own use. There are fountains in the concession stands, but I don't think the umpires could allow players to leave the game to get a drink of water when necessary. I feel that it is every SSUSA member's right to have access to water while playing. It is my opinion that SSUSA should not allow events to be held at a complex where the players(SSUSA members) do not have access to water. |
