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Details for christom10

Real name:
Michael Christopher
Location:
Parker CO
Division:
Men's 55

Messages posted by christom10

Oct. 24, 2024
christom10
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: One Pitch Softball

One-pitch tournaments will reduce the amount of teams that will travel to that tournament. There was major 'heartburn' when SSUSA was going to reduce to 4 game guarantees.
Oct. 24, 2024
christom10
Topic: Tournaments
Discussion: Winter "Worlds"

DJ12, someone may have already answered this question, but the only way to get non-east coast teams to come to Florida is to not have tournament scheduled a week after in Arizona. There is zero incentive for a team west of the Mississippi to travel to Florida if there is a tournament a week that is easier for us to get to.


Aug. 20, 2024
christom10
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: Rocky Mountain Shootout - Rule Clarification

DBAX, the confusion is that one rule states you have to have both feet in the box. The new rule PRIMARILY focused on being called out if your back foot is in front of the front of home plate. However, the new rule also says you can't start with in front of home plate AND in the box.

Basically, umpires were not allowing pitches to pitch until both feet of the batter were behind the front of home plate. You know how with a 3-1 count some batters will stand up in front of the box as far as they can. This wasn't allowed.
Aug. 19, 2024
christom10
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: Rocky Mountain Shootout - Rule Clarification

At the RM Shootout there was some confusion about home plate and where a batter could start in the batter's box. Based on the National Rules Committee meeting notes on 12/6/2023, the rule was interpreted correctly. I believe the main focus on the new rule has been "The batter will be called out if he hits the ball when the back foot is completely further forward than the line defining the front
edge of home plate." The part of the updated rule that hasn't received as much attention is, “The batter must take an initial position with his back foot no further forward than a line defining the front edge of home plate."

National Rules Committee Official Minutes (December 6-7, 2023)
§1.5 • BATTERS BOX and §7.3 • BATTING POSITION – There were multiple proposals presented by both
public and committee membership regarding changes to the batters box and batter position rules. For
the sake of consistency across all venues where SSUSA plays, the committee adopted, generally, the
USSSA Rule 1, section 5, as follows:

“The batter must take an initial position with his back foot no further forward than a
line defining the front edge of home plate. The batter will be called out if he hits the
ball when the back foot is completely further forward than the line defining the front
edge of home plate. NOTE: All other illegally batted ball infractions regarding the side
and rear lines of the batter’s box, along with stepping on home plate, remain in effect.”

• PASSED: 12-0-0
July 25, 2024
christom10
Topic: Tournaments
Discussion: Westerns National Championship

Nicksest, unfortunately for SSUSA 'competitive' means that you're winning/losing your games by +/- 5 runs a game. Unfortunately, I don't think SSUSA looks at the complete scope of those losses. Do you only look at in age, in division games (55m vs 55m, versus 55M vs 60M+)? Do they take into consideration if a team is consistently being flip-flopped in the open and scores enough runs to eventually lose by -5? This year, Mile High in CO has only won 1 game against a 55M team. They petitioned and were told they're too competitive to drop to 55AAA. However, you had teams like Stadium (when I first started playing) that used to hang around in 50M winning everything, getting top 3 at Worlds and then being allowed to stay in major.

Not only do teams want to be competitive, but they also want consistency across the board in how the rules are interpreted/applied.
May 20, 2024
christom10
Topic: Tournaments
Discussion: Rock N Reno 55M Bracket

The 55 major bracket says there are 9 teams but lists JayCo 55 twice.
Jan. 19, 2024
christom10
Topic: Teams looking for players
Discussion: 55 Major Team in CO

Vegas TOC in April.
Jan. 3, 2024
christom10
Topic: Teams looking for players
Discussion: 55 Major Team in CO

Established team based out of Colorado looking for a couple players to solidify our roster. The old "Scrap/Iron Elite 50s" team is reuniting to play 55s. Looking for an outfielder and/or utility player, but open to any positions. Email or text Mike at 303.668.8398 or christom10@hotmail.com.
Nov. 13, 2023
christom10
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: Bumped Up??

That contradicts rule 6 on the Team Ratings -Guideline Procedures.

6. A team retains its rating unless it falls below 3 players from the original team. The new team ranking is then determined by the playing history of the current team members.

Yes, 7 new players, however they have 4 players from the original team that should carry a major plus tag, no?

Suggestion...consolidate all of the SSUSA rules under a specific rules only thread that is read only and members can't comment on.
Oct. 6, 2023
christom10
Topic: Rules of the game
Discussion: Batter out of the box

Webbie25 - there are 2 issues I see. One is Dave's attempt at humor (What Box) and boxes drawn on dirt fields. After a couple of innings, the front of the box is almost decimated. As Dave indicated with the picture "there is no box", we know there isn’t time or money to redraw the box between games. However, if you implement the rule USSSA has, which is if a batter makes contact with the ball with both feet in front of the plate the batter in that picture is clearly going to be or should be called out. The second issue is turf fields. The boxes are never symmetrical from field to field and can’t be ‘redrawn’. If the rule is changed where both feet can not be in front of the plate when contact is made it, then you don’t worry about the box being drawn incorrectly AND the batter doesn’t have to make changes from field to field on where to stand in relation to the plate. The only time I have an issue with a guy being out of the box is when they’re moving forward and shoot middle. At 55 Worlds I saw several guys called out of the box when they hit a HR. Totally stupid IMO. Also, I think we can agree that the box issue only/mostly relates to guys stepping out of the front of the box, not the back or sides.
April 26, 2023
christom10
Topic: Bats
Discussion: wig popper

I follow Senior Softball Bat Reviews. I wanted to compare end-loaded, 12-inch, one-piece bats so I purchased a first batch Wig Popper and a Suncoast Melee 3 12". Haven't been able to hit them until recently due to weather. I alternated 5 swings each, 4 rounds. The Suncoast, for me, had greater exit velocity and distance and I didn't like the sound the Wig Popper made. Maybe the Wig Popper needs more break in time, I find it hard to believe that Suncoast isn't on the top 10 list for either hard/soft barrel bats, or on his balanced list when it was number one at one time. I understand new bats have new technology, better balance points, etc but I don't see Suncoast as some 'antiquated technology' that's no longer competitive in the market. In the end it all comes down to personal preference.

Just my .02 cents.
Jan. 20, 2023
christom10
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: 4 Game or 5 Game Guarantee??

Can SSUSA clarify when the decision was made, or considered, to make tournaments a 4GG vs 5GG and provide logic on this decision. I see that it was not an item on the 2023 Rules Committee meeting.
Dec. 12, 2022
christom10
Topic: Rules of the game
Discussion: CHANGE IN POLICY FOR PLAYERS COMPETING IN TWO AGE GROUPS - CLARIFICATION

I posted this on the wrong thread.

CHANGE IN POLICY FOR PLAYERS COMPETING IN TWO AGE GROUPS - CLARIFICATION
"A SSUSA study of players competing on teams in two age groups has resulted in a change in requirements for the 2023 season. Players will be allowed to play in the same skill level in two age groups without it affecting their overall player experience rating."

What this is allowing is if a 60 player plays 50, 55, and 60, he plays at the highest team classification, correct. Example, 60-year old player plays 50 Major, so he is 55 major, and 60 major rated, correct? This also means he counts as a 'chip' player if he plays AAA, meaning 60-major rated player can play 60AAA or 55AAA but he counts towards their 3 chip players, correct?

To expand on the rule, this rule DOES NOT APPLY at a team level and the rating index applies, correct? Meaning a 55 major plus team can drop and play as a 50-major team, and a 50 major team that allow 4 55 major plus players on their roster will now have to play 50 major plus?

Thanks in advance!

Oct. 21, 2022
christom10
Topic: Rules of the game
Discussion: CHANGE IN POLICY FOR PLAYERS COMPETING IN TWO AGE GROUPS

HSquared. In your scenario, no. 5 50 major guys who all drop down to play 40 would be 40 major. I think you carry the higher classification. So 50 major is 55 major is 40 major (as long as people meet age/border restrictions). 40 AAA is 50 AAA but my understanding is when you play in the higher classification, you retain the higher classification.

Rob64 I think the intent was that th guys are 50 playing down in 40 age group. You are right, 40 year olds can't play 50s.
Oct. 10, 2022
christom10
Topic: Rules of the game
Discussion: CHANGE IN POLICY FOR PLAYERS COMPETING IN TWO AGE GROUPS

ROB64. A team has 5 guys who play 40M. Under the old rule those players would be 50M+ . They form a 50s team they are now a major plus team because they have more than 3 chip players. Under the new rule, the 6 40M players form a 50s team and are considered 50M so they can now play as a 50M team.


Jan. 6, 2022
christom10
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: COVID Roster Rule

Dave, why is Florida not considered one of the 'retirement rich' states?
Jan. 6, 2022
christom10
Topic: Players looking to join a team
Discussion: New to Senior ball

It verifies your age for the appropriate age division you are eligible to play (i.e. 50+, 55+, all the way up to 80). It also verifies your location. In senior ball this association has a border state rule. You can play for a team that touches your home state (i.e. California can't pick up Kansas guys). There are some nuances to this. Lastly, it is a fee to earn revenue.
Dec. 8, 2021
christom10
Topic: General and miscellaneous
Discussion: Playing on 2nd team

Hello Dave. I thought the 'COVID rule' allowed a player to play one tournament with another team without having to drop from the original roster? Was that rule just temporary and not ratified like the other 'Covid rule' which allows for non-retirement rich states to pick up two non-border state players?
Oct. 25, 2021
christom10
Topic: Players looking to join a team
Discussion: Looking for a team for 2022

Player based out of Colorado looking for a team for 2022. I played for Scrap Iron/Elite 50s from 2017-2021. Last year I played 1B/3B/C and pitched some sparingly. I am eligible to play 50/55. I can be reached at 303.668.8398 or christom10@hotmail.com.

Mike
Nov. 16, 2020
christom10
Topic: Players looking to join a team
Discussion: 50 major player moved to Vegas

Hotrod, email me at christom10@hotmail.com.
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