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Online now: 0 members ; 30 anonymousDetails for Bruce M
Real name:
Bruce MacLaren
Location:
North Bend, WA
Division:
Men's 55
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| May 8, 2022 Bruce M | Topic: Bats Discussion: Enough Said Shazam! Bruce and Dave actually agree upon something. You see, my friend, that's a foundation upon which to build. Have a great day! |
| May 6, 2022 Bruce M | Topic: Bats Discussion: Enough Said Section 3-4 (6) Penalty for using an altered bat – If a bat is suspected of being altered to enhance performance, a tournament official will determine if the bat will be allowed to be used in play or will request that it be voluntarily surrendered by the owner for inspection. Rolling a bat could reasonably meet this definition: "Altered to enhance performance" |
| May 5, 2022 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: You make the call I trust the tournament directors will correct me. I've done some research. Seems that Section 1.48 covers this: Obstruction: B. A fielder who is not in possession of the ball, in the act of fielding a batted ball, nor about to receive a thrown ball, who impedes the progress of a runner or batter-runner who is legally running bases. Although one could interpret this to be physical obstruction, it could also apply to a catcher who makes a loud call that could reasonably be heard as coming from the umpire. This is also called out in 8.4 when runners are entitled to advance... So, it seems it is the umpire's judgement call as to if the catcher's loud voice constituted an obstruction. If yes, I think the umpire can call the ball dead and award each base runner an extra base. |
| May 5, 2022 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: You make the call Thx. Dirk and Dan. Yes, the ball landed in the short outfield. Your assumption was correct. No, this wasn't a catcher mumbling under his breath. It was a loud shout out. The entire infield heard it and stopped. |
| May 4, 2022 Bruce M | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: You make the call League play. SSUSA rules. Runners on first and second. One out. Fly ball to short left field. Loudly shouted single voice: "Infield fly rule. The batter is out!!" Second base runner remains on second. Left field throws the ball to third. The umpire calls the person occupying second base out as he did not advance to third. Umpire says, "I did not call infield fly. That was the catcher." Without looking, no one on base could distinguish between the umpire's voice and the catcher's voice. |
| April 30, 2022 Bruce M | Topic: Bats Discussion: Enough Said I compared it swing for swing with the Suncoast Blue Knob (12 inch half ounce end load) (12 inch full ounce end load): 28 ounces on both. After 50 swings...Suncoast....75 swings...Suncoast. 100 swings...definitely Suncoast... Now, I'm totally open to selling my Enough Said. Clean. No marks. For me, it's just does not live up to the hype at all. It's a good bat, don't get me wrong. But, a "game changer?" I think not. |
| April 12, 2022 Bruce M | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Praise to SSUSA for 2022 Music City Classic Direction Fantastic that the brackets were published before the tournament on this site. Super fantastic that the results were published on this site the Monday after. Super great that they made a bracket out of as little as 3 teams (it can be done!) I would like to nominate this as BEST PRACTICE for all tournament directors for SSUSA for qualifiers. Another GREAT thing that happened is the winners received a small trophy. That also should be a best practice for a qualifier. Kudos SSUSA |
| April 4, 2022 Bruce M | Topic: Bats Discussion: Cold weather My POV: Don't swing a senior bat in those temperatures. Instead, look for a "sibling" bat in USSSA (or another sanction...where you can get a warrantee). For example, if your gamer is a Suncoast Senior bat, go for the USSSA Suncoast Ruckus. It swings the same as its "sibling". The USSSA bat also comes with a one year warrantee...so if you crack it...you can get it replaced. Senior bats normally come with no warrantee. Why find a sibling? Well, if you have a choice...I would choose something similar to your gamer. Why swing a 25 ounce balanced bat to practice...if your gamer is a 27 ounce half ounce end load? Obviously if you don't have a choice...swing anything...even a broom handle. That's what Ted Williams did when he was in off season and didn't have a bat. No, USSSA/ASA/NSA bats typically are not as hot as senior bats. However, you still get excellent performance from them. If we can get past our own egos, we can swing the USSSA bats in all temperatures. Learn to hit homers with a USSSA/ASA/NSA bat...and hitting homers with a senior bat will be a walk in the park! Yes, the DeMarini Flipper (ASA) is a great bat to swing. BTW...you can also use that bat in any SSUSA tournament as well. It may actually perform better than a senior bat if the ball being used is an ASA ball. As you probably know, there have been supply issues with the SSUSA Stote. Occasionally have seen an ASA ball used as an alternative. (44/375) An ASA bat and an ASA ball sound like a good strategy to me. |
| March 22, 2022 Bruce M | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Balls in St George Dave - The rationale of an unfair advantage is not particularly strong when the one piece of equipment is treated differently than all others. By that argument, a team should not be permitted to bring their own bats either. For, by that argument, a team that can afford the best carbon fiber bats would have an unfair advantage of those who cannot afford top tier bats. If the ball doesn't matter, why is SSUSA so interested in controlling what ball may be used at any particular event? Why does SSUSA put their stamp on some balls but not on others? Obviously SSUSA cares about it. It matters to SSUSA. It matters to players. We know that SSUSA has to consider fairness and safety of the players. SSUSA has demonstrated that commitment in many different ways. That is true with all equipment, hence the regulations. But, WHY does SSUSA treat the ball differently than they do with all other equipment? Yes, we are aware that a ball rating does not mean that is the actually COR/COMP of any particular ball. A lot of factors are at play in the actual COR/COMP. The same goes for bats, but the way. Not all SSUSA approved bats have the exact same performance. But that is beside the point. Whilst I appreciate the view that nothing is likely going to change, I continue to have hope and trust that SSUSA will embrace a growth mindset when it comes to such things. |
| March 21, 2022 Bruce M | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Balls in St George Thx Dave! - I think it should be discussed in November. by the above argument, why doesn't SSUSA mandate that everyone use the exact same bat model? Why does it have to be the exact same ball if it has a SSUSA stamp on it? If a team decides to bring 30 year old ASA alloy bats stamped ASA (in good condition) to a tournament...the other team brings all carbon fiber composite bats 2022 stamped SSUSA...and the former team cries that it isn't fair? Enforcement could be simplified. Either the ball has a SSUSA stamp on it...or it does not. If it doesn't have the stamp, you can't use it. Regardless of what some critics believe, I personally think umpires and directors have good vision. :=) Yes, there are heat factors and cold factors one could consider...but the same goes for bats...which are not generally controlled or bucketed. And to those who think the ball doesn't matter... Why then, does SSUSA control which ball is used if it supposedly doesn't matter. Of course it matters. It usually isn't the bat which hits the roofs over at the Fields at Little Valley. It's the Trump Stotes that end up getting banned there....because the houses get bombed. Funny that, by the way. You build a house right next to a softball park...then complain because balls end up on your roof. If I build a house on a golf course...I had better expect to get some golf balls hitting my house... The groundskeeper in St. George told me that the houses came after the ball park. I guess the community there can't figure out how to put up higher mesh fences... but I'm not privy to their community meetings. And the last thing SSUSA needs is more community complaints. I get it. So, SSUSA could use the same rule they use on bats....the ball may be used if it has a SSUSA stamp on it and is not altered. With exceptions like the fields at Little Valley...where either you need low flight balls...that could be an option. It would relieve some of the pressure of SSSUSA having to procure as much stock and keep inventory (which isn't easy...because the balls need to be stored in the right conditions) How do we know it isn't altered? Is it possible to juice a SSUSA stamped ball? Maybe...I don't know... but each of the current balls are not tested either. SSUSA doesn't generally test all the bats at tournaments either...unless one is truly suspected of being altered...which would be an exception. |
| March 21, 2022 Bruce M | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Balls in St George I like Scott's suggestion of BYOB. SSUSA differentiates between the way they think about softballs and the way they think about bats (or any other equipment). SSUSA does not mandate the use of one specific bat manufacturer per tournament. It's BYO Bat, BYO Glove,....but you can't bring your own SSUSA stamped balls. As long as the bat has the proper stamps on it and is in good condition, it is legal to use. However, if one brings a ball that has a SSUSA stamp on it and is in good condition, that ball may not be used. Why exactly? The explanation is that "out of fairness of competition, we will not accept that." Well, that's an answer, but not really a rationale. By the current rationale, I could argue that a team swinging Suncoast SSUSA approved bats has an unfair advantage over those who swing Onyx, Mike, or Worth SSUSA approved bats. (or vice versa) It's great that we can bring our own equipment. Let's keep doing that. We should also be able to bring our own SSUSA approved softballs. If that becomes the rule, teams could prepare. If I had to swing with a 52/300 rated ball (because that's all we had) and the other team had the Stote 44/375....I'd say, "Hat's off to the other team for being better prepared). So, maybe SSUSA could revisit this. Maybe they could think about certifying more than one 44/375 ball and allow people the same principle we enjoy with bats and gloves. |
| March 10, 2022 Bruce M | Topic: Product review Discussion: COR/COMP rating on A.D. STARR SPINNER TATTOO Softball (12" Urethane) Anyone really know the COR/COMP rating on the yellow/green balls? A.D. Start does not seem to list the ratings. "Specifically designed BP ball with a unique COR/COMP combination for bat break in and minimal bat damage" I'd like to know what "unique" means in terms of their ratings. Of course, since the common player doesn't have any way to test the COR/COMP of a particular ball, we sort of have to take their word for it. |
| Jan. 29, 2022 Bruce M | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: Looking to join a 50+ AAA team in the Washington State area close to the border Also, Wayne - I would recommend, if you haven't already done so, joining the group "Senior Softball for Washington/British Columbia/Oregon/Idaho/Montana" on Facebook. There are 1.1K members in that group. It started out as a Washington group. It has now expanded to other regions. Most of the tournaments in Washington are in the Lacey, Olympia area...with an added tournament in Moses Lake. Other than that, teams travel out of state...so proximity to the city of team origin isn't necessarily critical: meaning...it need not be a team near you...it could be a team out of Bellingham, Vancouver WA, or anywhere in between. Below is a list of 50s AAA teams in Washington as presented on this site. It does not mean that all these teams are active. Calhoun/Michael's Toyota Mountlake Terrace Coastline Bellingham Dead Sailors Olympia Emerald City Redmond Express Athletic's 50's Vancouver HCD 50's Vancouver Log Cabin Tavern Olympia Michaels Toyota Kent NW Jokers Kennewick NW SeaDogs Softball Club Enumclaw Pro Vision/Cafe Elite Tacoma Silverbacks 50 Maple Valley Smash It Sports Northwest Seattle Vancouver Connection 50s Ridgefield Hope this helps. |
| Jan. 29, 2022 Bruce M | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: Looking to join a 50+ AAA team in the Washington State area close to the border Have you spoken to the manager at Coastline out of Bellingham? They are 50s AAA |
| Jan. 13, 2022 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Learning the Perfect Snap can add 40-60 Feet of Distance & Consistency #202 This is absolute gold. It makes a huge difference. It's a perfect way to explain it. It presents fantastic practical ways to drill it. Likely it comes naturally to the pros, but to use mere mortals, we can still learn it. |
| Dec. 3, 2021 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Rock no longer to be used in SSUSA tournaments Thank you for your clarification. Much appreciated. |
| Dec. 3, 2021 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Rock no longer to be used in SSUSA tournaments SSUSA: I was told that the Trump Stote Rock 44/375 rated ball will no longer be used in any SSSUSA tournaments. I believe it was used mainly at Worlds. If they can no longer be used, could you please explain the rationale behind this decision? Supply issue? Other? Thank you. |
| Dec. 1, 2021 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Stop Swinging UP! Handpath DOWN to the Point of Contact creates a more level cutting ProStyle Swing 192 Thank you, Bogie! Super important for me to drill and put into muscle memory. |
| Nov. 26, 2021 Bruce M | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Hall Of Fame form Hoping some umpires get nominated. I didn't see any inducted in the last couple of years. There are for sure some great ones who have been at multiple World's tournaments.. |
| Nov. 26, 2021 Bruce M | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: SSUSA and Bell Bank Park? Hey, Thanks, Dave. I hope they don't price themselves out of SSUSA's budget. New facilities don't always understand market pricing. Anyway, thanks for trying. As I said, they don't have enough to field an entire tournament, but fitting into Winter Worlds or the Tournament this February in Phoenix could be a possibility. |
