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Real name:
Mike Walker
Location:
, FL
Division:
Men's 55
Messages posted by tcadmw1 »Message board home »Start a new discussion
| Aug. 30, 2008 tcadmw1 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: SSUSA Adopts Major-Plus Task Force Recommendations Ditto on the excellent job the committee did and kudos to the SSUSA for adopting recommendations made by the teams. This is certainly a good day for senior softball. Senior Softball just like any good program must keep reinventing itself while remaining true to the basic principles that it was founded under. Congrats to all and keep playing tournament softball while you still can!!!! Mike Walker Hollis Appraisals |
| Aug. 17, 2008 tcadmw1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: injured players in Manassas Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers for Jimmy. He really needs them right now. Please don't concern yourselves about me for I will be fine. There is nothing in my head that can be hurt... I appreciate all the kind words but please think about Jimmy. It is very difficult for us knowing that one of our own is going through this. Just in case you don't know, Jimmy started playing with the Hollis Travel Team two years ago as an extra player/runner. He is fast for an old guy and picked up the slack for those of us who aren't so quick. Jimmy is the nicest player/guy you can meet. He never, and I mean NEVER has a bad word for anyone. His smile is so friendly and likeable. Anyway, Jimmy played great everytime we called upon him to play. He never complained and worked his way into a starting role with our team. He is one of those guys who can play infield or outfield. He has a great arm and always hustles. Just the kind of guy everyone wants on their team. I am proud to have him as a member of my team and if I could I would gladly change places with him today! Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks again for thinking about Jimmy! Mike |
| Feb. 27, 2008 tcadmw1 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Super Mjor Softball-The way the game was meant to be played Hi Jim, Sorry for being so slow in adding to the discussion. Better late than never I guess??? I have read the enitre thread and I am pleased with what I read. Sounds like lots of great input and maybe teams will actually join in and make this happen? I hope so anyway! I think it would be great if we could pull up some of the old posts related to this topic and include those ideas in your initial draft. I can't remember them all but some of them were very interesting. I'm not a coach, manager or sponsor so my input is only from one players perspective. Audie runs the only Major+ team in the 50/55 division in Florida so his ideas I support if they help get more teams from this area to come and play. Florida teams play in the Florida Half Century just as the Texas program works. The Florida teams are very competitive in Florida but Audie's teams are the only one's who can really compete at this level due to the sponsorship issues. I think allowing teams to pickup outside the borders may help get more players and teams from Florida to participate at the Major+ level. I also think that we need to consider keeping the run rules and time limits in place. Otherwise players will run out of gas early in the tournament. I for one can't see myself playing a two hour game running down (trying to run down) balls in the outfield with parks being over 300'. The best home run hitters don't run for themselves all the time so (I hate to admit this but) Einstein is right on about defense only players being important in games without time limits played on big ball fields. Last for now anyway, combining age groups may get more teams in one division but it will lead to less teams overall in my opinion. 55's are 55 for a reason, they are old guys like me. Our best 50's team only has a couple of 55's on it. Our best 55's team only has one new 55 guy on it. Meaning: Teams ain't making younger 55 players, just getting older 50's players on them.... .LOL Mike Walker Hollis Appraisals 50/55 |
| Feb. 3, 2008 tcadmw1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: How to Start a Major/Major+ Circuit There are lots of comments on this messge board but sometimes they are just talk. I think most who read these posts don't respond they just choose to read. However, those who choose to post generate differing views and that is mostly a good thing. However, just like the squeaky wheel, those who make the most noise "good or bad" tend to influence association thinking. That translates into rule changes!!!! Thus my belief is that sharing info here sometimes is influencing rule changes with SSUSA like the ones happening this year. If true then when changes like this happen and they aren't representative of the vast majority then this needs to be addressed somewhere, why not here? Audie you are correct, most major/major+ teams don't want a circuit just for them or they aren't willing to step up and make it happen just like they don't participate here on this board. I think associations only put up with major and/or major+ teams because they want the little extra money they can make off them or that they have to to keep the other teams happy and playig in their program by moving teams up till they can't beat up on everyone in that division anymore. In both cases it comes down to money$$$$$ Again the SPA model for dealing with major and major+ teams seems to work best in my opinion so why don't all associations follow that model? My guess is again because most of them don't really care about the teams at this level. The money is at the lower divisions so again "the squeaky wheel" is where all about showing me the money!!! Ridge is the only association leader that I know of who actually played major+ ball so maybe that is another reason why he knows how to take care this division? Mike Walker Hollis Appraisals |
| Feb. 3, 2008 tcadmw1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: How to Start a Major/Major+ Circuit As was said on the other tread related to Major+ unlimited HR's: 1) Playing games on baseball fields 2) Getting 7 innings per game or run rule 3) Unlimited HR's These are things that seemed to trigger a lot of input before so lets talk about them for awhile. 1) Playing games on baseball fields An interesting idea but most parks don't have many large baseball fields and if they do they only have one or two so tournaments with 5 game guarantees would be limited in how many games you can get in, in one day per field. So we are still looking at playing on regular softball fields most of the time. Besides, most baseball fields are reserved and protected from general purpose use. They don't like the ground tourn up or the mound messed with. Also, I for one don't want to run around longer bases or bigger outfields... Getting to old.... LOL 2) Getting 7 innings per game. Big challenge here is how to pay umpires for longer games and there is no way you can get a combined tournament in (i.e. AA, AAA, Major and Major+) on the same fields at the same complex if you don't spread them out more. Then again you have the tournament director to assign and pay for, the umpires to assign and pay for, the fields, etc., this now makes it difficult to run the major/major+ program on the same weekend as the other divisions. I like the way SPA handles this so that is a good model in my opinion. 3) Unlimited HR's Playing on bigger fields is a good suggestion where possible. But shagging balls is also an issue. Not that every game has lots of HR's because that is not always the case. This needs to be accounted for in the program which may mean higher entry fees to pay for this but I think it is something that needs to be planned into this program. HR limits are a way of trying to keep scoring down and speed up the game but if the speed of the game is the problem then certainly 1-1 counts should be tried before you change the HR limits and close the middle of the field. I like Einsteins thoughts on that one. Ok what other suggestions and/or thoughts do you guys have? Mike Walker Hollis Appraisals |
| Feb. 1, 2008 tcadmw1 | Topic: Associations Discussion: 2008 National Senior Softball Summit Hi Lecak, Very nice post. I am glad you had a chance to witness the summitt and I am glad that most of the safety issues did NOT revolve around bats, balls or rule changes again. As I understand the Summit it is really just a meeting of the associations to see if they can find common ground for senior softball? Having said that there have been lots of changes over the years based on what is discussed at these meetings. Sorry if I ramble off topic from time-to-time but these meetings and/or rules committees are nice however, when they start discussing safey issues that makes my head spin... lol Having Defibulators, keeping plenty of FREE water available and keeping the playing fields in good shape are what I think are good safety issues to discuss at the summitt. I'm not sure which organization stated that they don't have an altered bat problem anymore??? Well that is another thread... PS - RB Thomas is with ISSA and may have represented ASA at the summitt? So if you met him then you met the ISSA rep. He is a very nice man and one of the founding fathers of senor softball organizations. |
| Feb. 1, 2008 tcadmw1 | Topic: Associations Discussion: 2008 National Senior Softball Summit Hi Fred, I think there are those players and teams who will stay home because of that very reason. Maybe you or I can't understand that but it is true. If given a choice between going to the ISSA event or the ISA event at about the same time then I'll choose the ISA tournament. Why? Many reasons but the bats and balls do play a major role in my decision making process. Nothing wrong with you or anyone choosing to go to an ASA event if you want to. This year ASA and LVSSA are playing the same weekend. Will ASA loose some teams to Vegas? Yes is my answer. Of course some part of the decision is the venue but another part will be that teams would rather play with the same gear they play with all year. I know my whole team looks at it that way! Mike Walker Hollis Appraisals |
| Feb. 1, 2008 tcadmw1 | Topic: Associations Discussion: 2008 National Senior Softball Summit First, thanks to those of you who hae used my name kindly or in vain on this thread... Smile :) GeHall44, you asked some very, very good questions in your last post. I would like to take a shot at answering a couple of them from my perspective only. I used the words "hiding behind another agenda" in my original post here. It is my belief that everyone has a preferrence when it comes to topics like, safety, bats, balls, etc. In most cases I don't react to statements regarding equipment or balls because that is a topic like religion or politics, you never win those arguements... lol Anyway, when it comes to senior softball safety discussions I think associations and/or association reps hide behind those words to push or promote an agenda that is often only related to either their internal association politics or profit which can be one in the same. Thus my reaction to the statements that the Senior Summitt spent much time discussing player safety issues... If those discussion didn't focus mostly on the areas of sliding, field conditions and protective gear then I think this topic was not really about player safety but something else!!!! $$$$ Someone on here said something about how ISSA attendance was down and pointed to the ASA bat rules and bad balls as part of the problem. I agree totally with those statements as part of the problem with that senior tournament and all other senior softball programs who stand firmly behind ASA lead playing equipment rules. Those programs using these "out of touch with reality" rules are suffering from lack of participation across the board including in the younger programs. So if we look at this logically, money is the driving factor for why associations make rule changes which is intended to make teams happier and get more participation. So if ASA and/or similiar tournaments are loosing participation and they can't change their rules to get more team participation then why wouldn't they argue the safety issue at the senior summitt in an effort to get other associations to change their rules? Seems logicial to me! I read that even SSWS is now going to allow the U2 in it's tournaments. If true then they have finally decided that what SPA learned a couple of years ago is true, "if you don't give the players and teams what they want then they won't come"! The Hidden Agendas behind similar "safety" arguements don't just come from the associations trying to gain participation (i.e. money). Some are being promoted by teams who also want to gain a competitive advantage and again you may hear the arguements to change the bats, balls, and rules for SAFETY as a way of making the playing field more equal towards them. That is just a fact of life and senior softball alike. Mike Walker Hollis Appraisals |
| Jan. 30, 2008 tcadmw1 | Topic: Associations Discussion: 2008 National Senior Softball Summit Ok here we go again with this topic but if the Senior Summitt is or was dominated by ASA type thoughts then boo on you! How can anyone think that the bats are causing so many serious safety issues in senior softball??? If you play or umpire this game on a regular basis then you would know that bad hops, poor field conditions, sliding, running into other players and other accidents are all much more common causes of injuries in senior softball then what someone who is hiding behind another agenda is presenting as a BAT danger!!! The real bat danger is the altered bats that are being allowed in ASA, USSSA, NSA, ISSA, ISA, SSWS, etc... If you really think hot bats are a problem then why aren't you taking altered bats out of the game at all levels??? Mike Walker Hollis Appraisals |
| Jan. 24, 2008 tcadmw1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Rule changes - where are all the Major Plus players opinions? Good comments Kevin, Lecak, and bogie. Please bear with me but here I go again. This has been discussed before but like Einstein said, why not create an organization for major and major+ only. Make a circuit out of it just like the young guys do. I tried organizing this a couple of years ago and got the cold shoulder from all the so called Major and Major+ managers. Why? I don't know since they never volunteered to join in. The idea is simple, setup a circuit that moves around the country so everyone travels the same amount and stays home the same amount. Get teams to committ up front with MONEY!!! So even if they don't make the tournaments there is capital investment from everyone to keep the tournaments going. Since this is run by the teams then you take away the current problem of associations not cartering to us because it is all about the MONEY to them! The product at the end of the day would be exactly what we want it to be since we are the ones driving and paying for it!! Heck if the right people organized or got involved in this (Anaconda, Trump, etc?? hint hint Kevin lol) the awards, balls, bats, etc., could be covered by the capital investments maybe??? Anyway, like I said it is just an idea that keeps going around but the only real way for Major+ teams to play softball the way they want to play it is to DO IT THEMSELVES!!!! Mike Walker Hollis Appraisals |
| Jan. 23, 2008 tcadmw1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Rule changes - where are all the Major Plus players opinions? Forgot to say that based on the rule as listed for pitcher getting hit it says that it must be a line drive that does NOT hit the pitchers arms and that the pitcher must not already be in a defensive or fielding position. So from that I would interpret it to mean that if the pitcher is trying to field the ball, even a line drive then it is not a dead ball out!!!!! But who knows how it will be enforced at this point unless you have played with this rule in the 40's division already? If so then maybe you can tell the rest of us how the umpires have been instructed to make this "JUDGEMENT" call??? |
| Jan. 23, 2008 tcadmw1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Rule changes - where are all the Major Plus players opinions? Maybe Major+ players have figured out that SSUSA don't care about them since that has probably always been the case??? Or maybe we have just come to realize that complaining about things that we don't have control over is just a waste of time? I don't like having homerun limits in Major+ but seems like NATIONAL TOURNAMENT organizations see fit to do so. This is due to many reasons but mainly because you can't get many teams to play major or major+ because most travel teams are affraid of spending large amounts of money just to get beat up at the major or major+ level. Most of the complaining about teams not being good enough to play major+ ball drives associations like SSUSA to not caring about this division because they can't make any money off them!!! I don't care what anyone says it always comes down to MONEY!!!! Major and Major+ teams complain alot about rules and other things. Why? Well I feel it is because we are very competitive and we have very strong personalities. Which does not make us the best sports at times either but that is the nature of the beast. So if you are the minority of teams in these events and are the ones who create the most problems then it just does not make good business to go out of your way to provide for them!!! Every association changes their rules each year with the most rules changes impacting the major and major+ programs! I see this as nothing more or less than the same old thing so what good does or will it do to complain? Lots of complaining with little results is the status quo! Maybe I will feel better about it later and have a more thoughtfull response then but for now.... :-( |
| Dec. 10, 2007 tcadmw1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: 2008 Classic Spring Training Curt, How about posting the link to the website here for everyone so they can see what you are doing? Mike |
| Dec. 10, 2007 tcadmw1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: 2008 Classic Spring Training Just talked to Curt this past weekend and he is planning a great event to include some very competitive games between the young and old guys! Come on out and join us it will not only be lots of fun but you will get plenty of swings and practice in. It will help you get ready for the TOC the following weekend as well. Take vacation or whatever you can do to spend the week between spring training and the TOC with us. Mike Walker Hollis Appraisals |
| Dec. 7, 2007 tcadmw1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: 2008 Classic Spring Training Curt, Did you mean Booz Brothers or Blues Brothers... lol Just kidding Stoney & Harrace. Mike |
| Dec. 7, 2007 tcadmw1 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: moving up Hi Hotcorner, I respect the fact that you actually called the SSUSA office to discuss this. That is great! To often we are willing to complain without taking any actions, you appear to be a man of action and I like that. It seems to me that there are two paths that could be taken here. 1) Modify team move up and down procedures to make it more understandable and manageable. Unfortunately, I don't know how to do that so that it would work for all senior associations. To many chiefs and not enough indians kind of thing. 2) Rate players Majro/Major+, AAA, AA, A. This one could be tested at the Major/Major+ level, which really there is not much difference in the teams or players at this level to be very very honest. You get your player ID card and besides it just saying who you are and when it expires it says you are one of the above rated players. You then setup the divisions based on how many of each level of player is on the team. Players can appeal for reclassification and a process could be used to determine that. This is workable in my opinion but again we have to remember that it is very easy to confuse a national tournament that uses player ID cards with other tournaments or associations who don't!!! My 2 cents worth again. Pretty soon I will be upto a buck in comments... LOL Merry Christmas Everyone! Mike Walker Hollis Appraisals |
| Dec. 5, 2007 tcadmw1 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: moving up Hi BobbyK, This topic goes around and around all the time with no better solution ever being accepted. That is assuming there is such a better system. I keep forgetting that the bottom line is what is the easy way of doing something is the way that it will be done on this topic. Senior Softball could do a much better job of setting up divisions if the teams and players participated more in fixing it. The idea I thought that was the best (My opinion only) was rating players first then applying that to teams. That too would take a little work but that is what kills it. Senior programs don't seem to want to work together to make that happen. Till then or someone is willing to put up the money to make it work then I don't see it changing. Mike Walker Hollis Appraisals |
| Dec. 3, 2007 tcadmw1 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: moving up Hi Don, Nice post to start with. I see your points and cannot argue against them. Senior softball should be about good competition and FUN!!! :) I know there is a lot to do about ratings and classificat;ions. It always has been every since they first started them many years ago. Thank you USSSA. Anyway, travel tournaments are for the guys who want to win championships. Otherwise why go right? You don't pay good money, even sponsors money if you don't think you can be competitive! That is different than winning though. Don you explained your situation very well and I respect you and your team. Your points are well made so it does not seem fair that you guys will have to break up if you don't want to move up. Not sure there is an answer to that other than it is what it is for now. However, for those teams who won't travel unless they have a very good chance at winning the tournament and only want to play down to do so then I have no sympathy for them. They are really the teams who make it difficult for everyone else. And some of those teams are sponsored teams and some of them are NOT! I don't think sponsorship is an automatic for being a better team. I like your thoughts Don and appreciate your insight. I hope to see you on the softball field soon. Have a great holiday! Mike Walker Hollis Appraisals |
| Nov. 29, 2007 tcadmw1 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: moving up Hello Ike, First congratulations on a very good senior softball travel tournament year! It should always be recognized and appreciated when a team improves enough to be moved up in classification at the national level. And to do it with basically the same players is even more outstanding! Again Congratulations! The meat of your statements forced me to state my views on this topic. It is very common for readers to look at National Travel events as an opportunity to win a national championship. However, at the same time they tend to confuse winning with where they think they should be classified. Most teams think that they should be classified in divisions where they win some or most of the tournaments they play in before being bumped up to the next level. Especially since they are paying hundreds even thousands of dollars to travel and play senior softball. The fact is that if every team was fairly classified (operative word "fairly") then chances are your team would be competitive if they went 2-2 or somewhere around .500 in winning percentage at these tournaments. Now I expect most managers don't agree with that but that is how tournament team classifications are suppose to work. Your reward just as with any good travel team is that you enjoy going to these events and playing against the best competition you can compete against. The only problem these days with classification of teams at national events is that way to many teams think that winning tournaments should be the key to what division you should get to play in. I think your team will do well in the Major Divisio if they stick together and play together as a team. All to often teams that move up fall apart because they don't THINK they can win so why even try. The really good teams are those that when they move up they hang in there taking their lumps until they learn how to beat those teams! Believe me any team can and will be beaten on any given weekend at this level. Good luck to you guys next year and I hope you have a great holiday season! Mike Walker Hollis Appraisals |
| Nov. 16, 2007 tcadmw1 | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: WINTER WORLDS (Las Vegas) - SESSION #2 SCHEDULES Good luck to all you guys playing this weekend in Vegas! I hope the weather is great and you all have a wonderful time. Sincerely, Mike Walker Hollis Appraisals 50 & 55 |
