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Online now: 2 members: SSKurt, TABLE SETTER 11; 106 anonymousDetails for Uncle Mike
Real name:
Mike Leighty
Location:
Oxnard, CA
Division:
Men's 60
Messages posted by Uncle Mike »Message board home »Start a new discussion
| Oct. 16, 2017 Uncle Mike | Topic: Teams looking for players Discussion: Winter Worlds- need 2 55AAA OF, P, or middle infield The Rookies from So California need 2 55AAA or 60M middle infielders, P, and or outfielders for the Winter Worlds in Phoenix Nov. 17-19th. We don't need anyone for the whole year if you are already committed to someone else. Short term is ok, will consider someone for the whole year if they want to continue playing. |
| Sept. 21, 2017 Uncle Mike | Topic: Teams looking for players Discussion: Las Vegas help 55AAA Just had another player back out of Las Vegas tournament starting tomorrow. Need an outfielder 55AA, 60AAA or AA . Must border California |
| June 20, 2017 Uncle Mike | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: 1 Day Round Robin Tournament The 55AAA Oxnard Rookies would like to host or play in a 1 day Round Robin Tournament in July and another 1 in August. We are unable to make any of the local senior events in Central or So California during these months. We are looking to stay active by playing practice games against Senior teams in all divisions except 40s or 70s and over. We are willing to travel if someone wants to host an event- but we are on the coast and usually have nice weather in the 80s !!! We can share the cost for fields, sanctioned SSUSA umpires, etc..... not looking to make a profit. You can respond here or text my cell phone at (805) 814-5058. I work odd hours, so I may take up to 24hrs to respond. |
| May 21, 2017 Uncle Mike | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Senior Softball Tournament Prizes The last 2 tournaments we won bat bags and Addidas Dri-fits. Both prizes were pretty good quality items. I know we appreciated them because it was 5 years of blood, sweat, and tears since our last tournament victory. I can't honestly say how I'd react to winning a small bag, but I'd probably find something to put in it when I got home. Prizes have been hit or miss for years- not just with SSUSA, and it'll continue to be long after we're gone. IMO- SSUSA is hosting tournament events in areas that are less profitable than others. I don't claim to know their overhead, or the costs associated with their endeavor. But I do know they are trying to give us, and others like us, an opportunity to continue playing this game closer to home at least once a year. I live on the California coast and most tournaments are at least 5/6 hours away- like Las Vegas, Phoenix 6/7 hours, and Mesquite 7/8 hours. So we appreciate them hosting the So Cal Championships, which is only 2.5 hours away. The TOC can't be a huge moneymaker either- all winners get rings, the banquet they host, etc.... I think the major TOC events help fund the smaller more local TOC events that SSUSA hosts to help grow their organization. I don't have a problem with SSUSA trying to make a profit, and they've been accommodating to us when we've presented them with feedback in a positive way. |
| May 10, 2017 Uncle Mike | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Lights Out 55AA I manage the Oxnard Rookies, and we play Lights Out multiple times per year. I know that when we play up to our potenial- we usually win by 10 or more runs. They are picking up some better players, but they are rated correctly IMO. For the record, they have beat us a few times with the equalizer. And they beat us once without it. But I think once they start scoring 17-18 runs consistently, or win the Worlds- they should stay put. |
| April 26, 2017 Uncle Mike | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Umpires- Pitching Rules I umpired for 25 years in So California SCMAF association, and 2 years for SSUSA- only did events in my hometown of Oxnard, Ca. for SSUSA. @bringiton- if I umpired, there would way too many complaints about the height. In our local league, we play over the batters head is the low limit and 16 feet high is the upper limit. So I would let pitchers throw higher because my interpretation of 12 feet is still 3 feet higher than what we are seeing during our tournaments. And I never said the umpires weren't doing a good job- I said the height limits that are called within our games are changing. I love hitting the lower arc, I am a low ball hitter !!!!!! |
| April 25, 2017 Uncle Mike | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Umpires- Pitching Rules I am starting to see more and more USSSA style pitching in SSUSA. I'm not complaining- I love hitting USSSA. But, the strike zone has changed to more like 4 feet to 9 feet- that was consistent in 4 of our 6 games played in Las Vegas. The other 2 games were more like 5 feet- 9 feet. Our big guys are routinely seeing 4 foot fastballs, and the umpires weren't calling it. Pitchers are taking 2 or 3 steps, juking, and faking. Umpires weren't making them come to a complete stop, etc... Are they receiving any feedback on how they are enforcing the rules ? |
| April 15, 2017 Uncle Mike | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Las Vegas 55AAA Bracket Perfect. Thanks Dave |
| April 15, 2017 Uncle Mike | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Las Vegas 55AAA Bracket In 55AAA, 2 teams- the Rookies and Lights Out have 3 seeding games scheduled. The easiest thing to do is have Fresno Heat play So Cal Riptide at 8:30. These were the 2 opponents scheduled to play the Rookies and Lights Out at 8:30. But you still have to figure out how to get rid of the 4:00 game or schedule it at 8:30am. That way you are done after the 2:00 games at Hollywood. |
| April 8, 2017 Uncle Mike | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: First Base glove We didn't make a big stink about for a couple of reasons. It was a seeding game and it didn't cause us to lose. We got outplayed. Right away I thought the umpires were from ASA, but otherwise it was a solid performance by them. We are just blessed to be able to play this great game at our ages. Maybe not at the levels we want, but better that sitting on the couch. Appreciate all that you and SSUSA does, don't always agree- but when you take the time to explain to us the logic behind the decisions. I can understand the why's |
| April 8, 2017 Uncle Mike | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: First Base glove The umpires allowed it at the Worlds last year in Las Vegas. In our game against Northern Exposure/ Alaskan Kings they had 2 outfielders wearing them. We asked the umpires, they said they were allowed to use 1st baseman mitts in the outfield. |
| April 5, 2017 Uncle Mike | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Knee replacement TKR on 2/14/14 There are quite a few implants on the market, ask your dr which one he plans on putting into your body. Check out mykneeguide.com There have been a few recalls as well. There are athletic knees or sport knees available. The best piece of advice I could give you is to see a physical therapist before your TKR and find out which exercises you will be doing post-op and start doing them now. This will really help your rehab. Make sure you have sufficient vitamin D levels for bone growth and health- as some implants require your bones to attach or grow "around" the implant. Every 1 lb of weight puts 4-5 lbs of pressure on your knees. Lose it now . There is an "unloader" brace available with a prescription- you have your knee measured and it customized to fit your knee. It will keep your knee aligned while you are moving around. It is a little cumbersome, but effective. I have been using 1 on my other knee for 3 years now. I can trot or jog straight ahead with minimal knee pain. One other thing, when you have it done- get your medical implant card. I have been flying internationally ever since my TKR, and I was just denied access last month. |
| Feb. 23, 2017 Uncle Mike | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Any regular BP sessions or open play senior games available in Arizona I will be visiting Az in the next week or so. Looking to stay sharp by taking BP or playing in a game or 2- like an open roster league. I'm 59 years old, not very mobile- play catcher or 1st, maybe 2nd but limited range. I play 55AAA with the Oxnard Rookies, just looking to stay active !!!! Let me know if there are some regular BP sessions in the greater Phoenix area. I'll be in Glendale |
| Jan. 1, 2017 Uncle Mike | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: player seeking team in so cal area Did you find a team yet ? If not, email me @ michaelleighy@yahoo.com, I have a 55AAA team. Are you ready to play ? |
| Oct. 17, 2016 Uncle Mike | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Speed up rules The biggest waste of time is giving each pitcher 1 minute of warm up time to deliver no more than 3 pitches every half inning. That's usually 14 minutes of wasted time. Rule 6.12 I know in Vegas, 55AAA -we were throwing over 6-7 warm up pitches each half inning while waiting for a batter to even approach the batters' box. Then we would throw it around. Even when we were spectators, we witnessed it too. In our local league, 1-1 count, it's 1 warm up pitch. And if you choose to throw it around its ball 2. The other major waste of time is CRs. Our line up uses 4-5 CRs every time through the line up. That's 10-16 runners every game. We try to have them ready, but we lag sometimes. The other teams usually use a couple less, but that's another 5-8 minutes of wasted time. Combined, in our games we waste at least 20 minutes for these events. I have umpired for over 25 years, and we are taught to keep the game flowing by expediting through these lag times. An example of this is: after the 3rd out, we would go update the scorecard and scoreboard too- announce the inning, the score, and call for the batter. This usually takes 15-20 seconds, and if the batter is making his way up to the plate- we allow him/ her to position themselves in the batters box before we say play ball. If they aren't making their way to the batters box, we make a 2nd announcement. If they are making their way, allow them to position themselves, etc... If they still aren't making their way up to the batters box, and the pitcher is on the mound ready to pitch- we say "play ball". Of course, this has to be explained in the pre-game conference. And you specify that you are trying to get 7 innings in, but you need both teams to hustle in and hustle out. If you do that, and when you tell the coach batter up- he should supply a batter. But you have to be consistent and firm. Just my opinion |
| Sept. 7, 2016 Uncle Mike | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: SSUSA Arizona Director Rick Seifman Don't want to throw gas on the fire, but I would be extremely angry if I drove 3 hours each way to play in a tournament- and I was not allowed to play. Wasn't this player already approved by the SSUSA office ? If he was an approved player- Where is it in the rule book that says the TD can keep a player in good standing, from playing in a sanctioned event by SSUSA ? If he didn't start a ruckus at the tournament, which would be covered by the Code of Ethics- then the TD has no authorization by rule, to not allow him to play in this tournament. Whether he's upset with him or not. The TD has no authority to suspend or prohibit a paid registered player from participating in a tournament that he paid SSUSA a personal registration fee to play in. A TD's integrity has to be above reproach. He/ she should be the most composed and mature person at the venue. If they can not separate their personal feelings from their professional obligations, they shouldn't be allowed to continue as a TD for SSUSA. I understand they are human, I understand they have feelings. It's like being an umpire, you need to be able to take some criticism. Whether it is warranted or not. There had to be a certified roster- which is an agreement between my team and SSUSA. SSUSA agrees that I can bring these players to Anytown, USA. To play in this age/ skill group for $$$ on these dates. If I was the team manager you can bet I would of pulled my team out of the tournament- if one of my players was banned, and settled it with a phone call on Monday. If you think about it, that kind of decision affects the whole team. One person should not have that type of authority, to ban someone just because there is a personal issue. Obviously, this isn't the 1st verbal complaint about Mr Seifman. There should be a formal complaint filed, for each transgression. And an investigation should follow. This type of behavior, can not be tolerated. We are paying SSUSA for a service, a level and unbiased playing field to compete against one another. Rules are in place for everyone !!! Not just players....... Mike Leighty Oxnard, Ca Rookies- Hard 10s |
| Aug. 16, 2016 Uncle Mike | Topic: Teams looking for players Discussion: Morro Bay , Ca on August 27-28 , playing 50AAA Need a few players to play in Morro Bay, Ca. We are mostly 55 team playing 50s that weekend. |
| June 16, 2016 Uncle Mike | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Sorry read it wrong |
| June 16, 2016 Uncle Mike | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Hemet. Only the 65 and older are in Perris |
| April 9, 2016 Uncle Mike | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: St George results Thanks Tony The Rookies have always been known to be a loose bunch !!! A wise man once told us that he never wanted to play us before 2 pm- because we weren't drunk yet. They wanted to play us later in the day. Because we were a tough team to beat, until we started drinking !!!! LOL !!!!! Well we have cut back some. We look forward to playing the OG Outlaws and meeting them off the field as well ! We knew that the OG Outlaws and the Braves were going to be among the top teams to beat in Utah. We had played against a few of the Outlaws when we played Rio Grande a few years ago. And that Los Vatos Viejos and Rocky Mountain Extreme both beat our 2015 team. We knew we had our work cut out for us. This was our first tournament of the year, so we are pleased with the result. Looking forward to meeting you guys in the future !!! Good luck in Vegas !! |
