May 16, 2024 OZ40 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Answers about Bat Testing Donna, that was an informative link. One more question if you please: What happens if a bat is tested during the pregame process and passes. Later in that same game that same bat that passed the on-field check is retested for whatever reason fails. What, if anything is the result? The player was using a bat in good faith that was okayed by the officials for use. Is that player to be penalized? I apologize if this scenario was addressed somewhere and I missed it. |
Dec. 18, 2021 OZ40 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: 11 defensive players 65+ When you play the teams you see all the time and if you really know their hitters, if you have fast enough outfielders, in certain situations you could play a 3 man outfield and have an 8 man infield ..... :-)? |
Dec. 15, 2021 OZ40 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Rules Committee Meeting Reading over the 2021 minutes: Motion to change medical reclassification waiting period to 120 days minimum (currently 45 days due to COVID) 12-0 passes Fine and dandy for warm climates where ball is played year-round. 3 Months off in colder climates just about knocks out the bulk of the season. The result may be underreporting of cases..... in the older classifications the loss of a player (or 2) for that long could severely impact his or her entire team. IMOP: I think it's an over-reaction. |
Nov. 29, 2021 OZ40 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Adidas Rockila shoes? Once, just once I found a turf shoe that fit and kept your feet dry during damp or wet outfields in pregame hitting and fielding. I think Reebok made them and they were actually football turf shoes but lightweight. I should have bought 10 pairs! Now I just bring extra socks to the fields! |
Nov. 15, 2021 OZ40 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Question about where player is rated... As an aside, After reading this thread I went immediately to my SSUSA personal homepage. Would a lot of this type of murkiness be at least cursorily cleared up if a players team rating classification were entered on his or her SSUSA Homepage? (Also, thanks for the quick way to renew my membership. It was easy even for a non-computer savvy person such as me!) |
Nov. 15, 2021 OZ40 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Turf Shoes for Plantar Fascitis Remember this, even though the sides and bottoms of your shoes may not be worn out, the insoles could be and then they are no longer providing the proper cushioning for the impact of running. |
Sept. 19, 2021 OZ40 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Miken leaves Minnesota CALEDONIA, Minn. — Employees of Miken Sports, maker of the baseball helmets used by Major League Baseball players, have been notified that the manufacturing plant will close in the next 18 to 24 months, delivering an economic blow to this small rural community. Some of the jobs will stay stateside and other jobs will head to China. In addition to baseball helmets, the Caledonia plant makes composite bats used by youth baseball, girls softball and adult slow pitch players. The operations and jobs employed in the making of the bats will be moved to a facility in China, and the helmet operation will be shifted to a facility in Washington, Mo. |
July 28, 2021 OZ40 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Bat stamp question Thanks for the info! I hope that players would be notifies far in advance of any changes are on the distant horizon. |
July 27, 2021 OZ40 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Bat stamp question Thinking of purchasing a used bat for use as a back-up. Will the old stamp bats be gone after this year or can they still be used in tournaments? |
March 5, 2021 OZ40 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: shoes 3N2's are best turf shoes as far as I'm concerned. Boombah's fall apart and the company doesn't stand behind them. One year I bought a pair in February, we didn't start playing until May. Quickly the toe box shifted and the shoes started to crack and split behind the toes. Contacted the company, sent photos as requested and then (even though I'd only used them a few times) I was told the 90 day warranty was expired. 3N2's are sturdier, more supportive, just as light and comfortable and they last longer. The toe box is wider which is plus for those of us that have wider feet as opposed to narrow, pointy ones. Yes, they cost more but you get what you pay for! |
Jan. 31, 2021 OZ40 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: 3rd Base Commitment line Sticckkkk, you got this one? Tom was great guy. He was my boss too along with Charlie Johnson. I was assigned to watch Dwayne Postavich and he was nice enough to watch and critique the first few games I umped. Yep, that was way back at the Softball City, good times! |
Jan. 28, 2021 OZ40 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: 3rd Base Commitment line Our league has the halfway commitment line between 3rd and home, once the runner crosses it he MUST continue to the scoring line and the catcher or defensive player must have a foot on the strike mat and catch the ball to register a put out. We went over this scenario yesterday in our league zoom meeting. We are merging with another league and trying to codify our 'house rules'. There are less than 2 outs runners on 1st and 3rd. Batter hits loopy short fly that falls in. Quick throw home is off line, catcher moves up the line to stop the throw, mild brush with runner from third but no tag attempt is made. Is runner automatically safe or does play continue? 2.) Baserunner that was on first attained second and then third during the play. If call is that runner going home is automatically safe due to light contact does the runner who attained third get a 1 base award, stay at third, or go back to second? If the rules states the defensive player (catcher or someone covering the strike mat play at home) cannot have contact with runner once he crosses the commitment line is the light brush with the catcher considered incidental or reason to call the runner safe? Umpire judgement call? |
Jan. 23, 2021 OZ40 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: When to go backside IMOP: The more important the situation the more you should go with your best shot, the swing you are most comfortable and confident in. If I'm going to make an out in a crucial situation I want the defense to have to make it on my best swing. Of course this is being said by a stone pull hitter. One would think after playing with and against HOFer Stick8 (Mr.900) for over 30 years I'd be better at going backside! Sadly that's not the case..... |
Sept. 12, 2020 OZ40 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: How do you find a Major Sponsored team ??? The same way as when you were younger: Play ball, that's how. Unless you are a player with a 'rep' generally the major and major plus sponsored teams find you, you don't find them... |
Aug. 13, 2020 OZ40 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Northern Championships, no fans allowed in Quite obviously, you don't know me as well as you think you do. |
Aug. 13, 2020 OZ40 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Northern Championships, no fans allowed in Dave, I wouldn't back out at this late date, at this point it's about keeping a promise to the team. That is why I posted that advanced notice of their policy would have been nice. I have lots of friends in that area and they don't 'obfuscate' the details. Stick, watch for my email and attachments. |
Aug. 13, 2020 OZ40 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Northern Championships, no fans allowed in Dave, c'mon 'small price'? 200 bucks plus?! Small? Maybe to you that's small, not me. I know the SSUSA policy but it would have been nice to have advanced warning of the Lake Alliance policy, decisions may have been made differently by players and teams. Now the day before the tournament starts we get an email informing us of this policy....dirty pool!? |
Aug. 13, 2020 OZ40 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Northern Championships, no fans allowed in The Lake Alliance complex will not be letting fans into the park. However in a magnanimous gesture, fans can sit outside the complex around the outfield fence. Pay for two nights in a hotel, gas and food so my wife can sit in leftfield....nice. |
Aug. 3, 2020 OZ40 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Should I buy a new 'old' bat? I would like to hear Alan on this. I don't want to end up like those guys bringing 5 bowling balls to the alleys, one for oily lanes, one for dry lanes, one with only a thumb hole, one offset weighted, and one with a semi-fingertip grip, only except instead of bowling balls it'd be bats! |
Aug. 2, 2020 OZ40 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Should I buy a new 'old' bat? What is the current lbs. of Compression on Senior Bats and what will the new lbs. of Compression be? Anyone know? Should I be buying a senior bat now to be grandfathered in because it will be hotter? ? I got this email from a friend today. I know it's USSSA and not SSUSA but just to be clear I'd like to know the lbs. of compression numbers for Senior Bats and what they will change to if they change at all. What about other associations? Same or change? The official post on this site says 'ESSENTIALLY' the same numbers. What does essentially in this case actually mean? How many different bats will we need if we play ASA/USA, ISSA, SPA, WSL or One Nation? USSSA is also going to the NTS style stamp. USSSA SLOWPITCH SOFTBALL RULES USSSA has decided to change their Slowpitch Bat Standards! What does this mean? The new bats will have less pop than the current models with the 2012 stamp on them! Current models allow a lower compression of 220 lbs as opposed to the new standard of 240 lbs or higher. They are deadening their bats! What about NSA? Seeing as NSA also allows the 1.20 BPF or 220 lb compression, will they be changing as well? No, NSA currently does not plan to adopt the 240 lb compression. They will continue to allow all 2012 stamped bats for the foreseeable future. What about Other Associations? GSL, WSL & ISA All plan to stick with the Current 1.20 BPF or 220 lb Compression Bats. ONLY USSSA IS CHANGING THEIR BAT STANDARD DATE USSSA TIMELINE Sep 1, 2019 New USSSA Bat Stamp: USSSA is transitioning their bat testing to a new facility, NTS Chesapeake. June 1, 2020 New USSSA Bats Launch: USSSA Bats that meet the New Standard will begin their initial retail Launch JAN 1, 2021 Stopping Use of Current USSSA Stamp: No Bats can have the current 2012 USSSA Thumbprint put on them after this date. JAN 1, 2023 New USSSA Bats REQUIRED: USSSA Bats that meet the New Standard of 240 lbs and tested by NTS will be required for play. The current 2012 Stamp bats will no longer be accepted on the Slowpitch field of play! |