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Online now: 5 members: Blizzo35, Jason Naputi, Little mike, TABLE SETTER 11, marvinknowles80; 92 anonymousDetails for Llama Man
Real name:
Neil Josselyn
Location:
Cave Junction, OR
Division:
Men's 55
Messages posted by Llama Man »Message board home »Start a new discussion
| July 28, 2010 Llama Man | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: nature of bat cheating... Those of you that think bat cheating is not happening in senior ball have your heads in the sand! I've even heard of guys taking Ultra II's still in the wrapper and having them rolled before ever being used!I've seen guys go get their fixed Miken Freak to hit the game winning homer when the Ultra II wasn't enough for them. But with no way to prove anything really, who wants to open a "can of worms" by making a protest? The "funny" thing is, it seems to be the guys who can already hit homers that feel the need to hit it 350 feet plus. It does devalue the other aspects of the game when guys can just blast rockets past or through the infelders! I don't have any answers but just don't want guys to think it's not happening in the senior game too! I like the bats and balls we use in SSUSA now but it is not going to stop the bat cheats. |
| April 16, 2010 Llama Man | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Western Nationals The Spot Bar and Grill 55 AAA team will be at the Western Nationals in Lacey, WA in July. |
| Feb. 17, 2010 Llama Man | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Teams Being Bumped Up To SSUSA Staff: I never said that my current team was treated unfairly. I joined "The Spot" in April of 2009 and it was a 55 AAA team then and when we played in Kent, WA in April, so I don't know how you say we were moved down. Maybe some previous incarnation of some of the same players? We played at AAA all year and never won anything,so there we remain, as we should. I'm upset that my team wants to try and improve and try to win a national championship in AAA but are afraid to play in any tournaments before the Worlds since they feel they will be penalized and bumped up if they were to win something.I think we should worry about that after we DO win something but can't convince them on that point. We have all seen the major push you guys have made over the last few years to move teams up quickly, so don't pretend it hasn't been happening. I wish you would just put a team in it's proper classification and leave it there till the end of the year and then make changes up or down based on a full years results! That's the way it used to be when I joined SSUSA. This team(Spot) has been treated fairly and I have no complaint about that. Thanks. |
| Feb. 17, 2010 Llama Man | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Teams Being Bumped Up To be clear, if it was up to me, my team would play in SSUSA tourneys anyway. But I have seen many teams bumped up after winning one tourney. The winners at Reno, and at the NW Championship in Portland in 55AAA were both bumped up to Majors immediately after winning in 2010, just to name two off the top of my head. I'm bummed that most of my team has seen this happen so often that they will avoid playing in SSUSA for most of the year at least! I would like to play the most teams I can and the best competion there is in the legitimate division we belong in! In 2004, my former team was able to win a couple qualifiers and then play for and win the National Championship, before we were moved up the next year. That was fine with me, although it did lead to the break up of our team in an effort to constantly have to bring in more power. Now,one win and your moved, unless you have a good connection with the right people it seems! Each team should get a year at the level they start the year at,....that's all I'm saying. |
| Feb. 17, 2010 Llama Man | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Teams Being Bumped Up Because of the way that SSUSA has become obsessed with moving teams up in the ratings, my team won't play any tournaments in SSUSA this year! They are afraid that if they win one qualifier, they will be immediately bumped up a division in the ratings and won't get to play for a National or World Championship in the division we belong in. It has happened to many of us before, where we have even won the Western Nationals and then not been allowed to play for the overall National Championship in that division! So, instead of being able to play the most teams and the best competiton, we will have to just play smaller local tourneys that aren't SSUSA. Is this what SSUSA really wants? For more and more teams to drop out because of this constant bumping up this first time you win anythng? When I first joined SSUSA back in 2003, we were allowed to at least play out the year in the division we started in and then when we won a National Championship in 2004, we were moved up....which I had no problem with! But if you don't allow winning teams to progress through the year towards a national championship in their division, teams won't want to play SSUSA anymore, as has happened to my team! I want to play where there is the best competion and most different teams to play, but your policies have driven my team away. Maybe you should rethink this practice or risk losing more and more teams. Tha's my 2 cents worth! |
| Aug. 21, 2009 Llama Man | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Prescription Eye Glasses Versus No Glasses I have also used Oakleys with my distance perscription, non Polarized, with a G30 lens for several years now and love them!!! The G30 lens is a light rose color that is good for a wide spectrum of light, from bright sun to good on a totally cloudy day. The Oakley frames are light and stay glued to your head when running. Wouldn't want to play without them! And I've been able to get them for around $300. You just need to order them through an eye doctor that has a relationship with Oakleys. Good luck! |
| April 20, 2009 Llama Man | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: SEATTLE•KENT TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE I agree with James LG that the tournament in Kent was well run with good fields and weather but the scheduling was brutal! To have to play 5 games on Saturday, the first day of competitive tournament play this year for most players, was not necessary and very stressful on the body.Our team would have had to of played 6 games if we had won our fourth! And then 5 more games to win on Sunday if you find your team in the losers bracket. I know you want to guarantee teams 5 games and I know you want to try to not go on too late on Sunday. But to expect that amount of play without a lot of injuries when we are talking about seniors just starting the year is unreasonable! Otherwise it was a good tourney...... but where were all the 55 teams? Llama Man |
| Jan. 2, 2009 Llama Man | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Why the constant changes? Butch 17, I understand your dlemma in Major +, not having many teams to play and always playing the same few. Not alot of fun, I realize. I think that Major teams that win a National Championship should be moved up. I think that Major teams that consistently win many smaller tourneys should be moved up. But I don't like to see so many changes to the rules that are effecting all of the divisions to try to give you guys more teams to play.I think the Major + teams should try to coordinate among themselves to all go to a few of the biggest tourneys so you will all have better competition and more teams to play. I've been on a National Champ in AAA that was moved to Majors and with only a slightly changed lineup, didn't win a thing the next year. We could have( and should have the right to) petition to go back down, but instead the team was split up with half the team picking up Major + players and going to the Major + division. The guys that went Major + didn't enjoy it for the reasons you state. Those left off the team, myself included, have had to scrape around looking for teams that needed help to be able to play SSUSA tourneys. So, I know how it goes both ways. I just don't want to see alot of turmoil caused by so many changes to all the divisions . Good luck in 2009 and hope you get to play more teams this year. Llama Man |
| Jan. 2, 2009 Llama Man | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Why the constant changes? To SSUSA "Powers That Be", I've been playing in SSUSA tourneys since 2003 and for the most part really enjoy the competition. What I don't understand is why the big push to change the rules and move teams up in divsions in such a hurry? It seems most of the changes are being made to give the Major+ teams more teams to play(beat up on!). Most of us want to play with therules as they have always been and at a level where we can be competitive. There will always be teams that try to sanbag at a lower division and there will always be "paid for" teams with all the biggest studs at Major+. But why should teams be forced to move up to Major+ to provide more fodder for those teams? If you want to play at the highest level, realize that you won't have as many teams to play against. Keep the old HR limits , you shouldn't have to have DBO's, at any level, just go 1 up after the limit or singles.If you can hit HR's anytime, you should play Major+ but teams shouldn't be forced to move up levels every time they win anything. I find Major+ boring....glorified HR Derby with not much defense or running, but that's fine for those who enjoy the HR the most! Teams shouldn't have to move up until they win many tourneys over the course of the year and get a chance to play for a National Champiohship! I know many teams moved up after winning one tourney early in the year and have seen teams win the Westwrn Nationals and then not get to play for the National Championship. I've also seen teams with "connections" win a National Championship two years in a row at the same level and not get moved up( until alot of complaints forced it)! If teams are too strong for the division they are in, move them up at the end of the year after the results prove it....not just to give the higher division teams move teams to play! I'm willing to give the new "pitcher protection rule" a chance since no one wants to see players hurt bad, but pitchers must be able to play defense and can wear protectve equipment if they want. I know some pitchers that do wear alot of stuff and then hit at the opposing pitchers! But hitters should be able to use the whole field and pitchers should expect to have to play defense! The constant push in the last few years to change things is disrupting a great game that doesn't need changng. Leave the bats and balls alone...those misguided leagues that try to dampen down the power (ASA etc.) are making softball into mush ball that nobody enjoys. SSUSA has been a fun place to play but the changes have mostly all been making for alot of turmoil and unhappy players! Leave well enough alone and we will continue to come to your tourneys. There is no reason to make all these changes to all levels for the benefit of Major +. That's my two cents worth!!! Llama Man |
| May 22, 2008 Llama Man | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: What to wear for shoes at Golden Eagle/Reno BW, Thanks for the reply.....I always wear turf shoes also but was wondering if they would grab too much or too quickly and stick in the atificail turf? Guess I'll find out when I get on it.....I'll bring flat bottom sneakers too in case there is a problem. |
| May 22, 2008 Llama Man | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: What to wear for shoes at Golden Eagle/Reno I'm wondering what is the best type of shoes to wear on these new fields at the Golden Eagle Sports Complex in Sparks for the Rock-N-Reno tourney. I've never played on these type of fields and would appreciate any info/advice anyone has on what works best.Will the large rubber baseball style cleats work? Or do the type with many smaller cleats over the entire foot work better? Or do flat bottom sneakers work best? And is there any dirt around the bases at all? Thanks for any help anyone can give me! Llama Man |
| April 24, 2008 Llama Man | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Team Ratings Stever, Thanks for the explanation of the ratings rules, which I have heard before. But the ratings don't seem to always follow these rules you state. Second Wind did win the U S National Championship in SSUSA in both 2006 and 2007in AA. Extreme won the World Championship in AA in Phoenix. Vancouver Merchants won the NW Championship and Western Nationals in 2007in AAA and was moved to Majors before the Worlds in Phoenix and declared co-champs with the Eastern National AAA champs. Now in 2008, Four Seasons, which won the 2006 SSUSA Worlds in AAA and was moved to Majors for 2007,has combined with Vancouver Merchants, which ended 2007 as a Major team. Two Major teams combine and they get to start over as a AAA team? It does seem as though some teams get favored treatment and don't have to follow those rules you quoted. Just wondered how others felt about it. |
| April 24, 2008 Llama Man | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Team Ratings I'm wondering about the team ratings again this year when you have a team(Second Wind) that has won the 50 AA National Championship two years in a row yet is not moved up to AAA. Then another team(Vancouver Merchants) gets moved up from 50 AAA to Majors in mid season last year and is not even allowed to play for the AAA National Championship(after winning the Western Nationals as a AAA team). Now, this year I see that Four Seasons(50 Major team in 2007) combines with the Vancouver Merchants(finished 2007 as Major team) and are now rated as a 50 AAA for 2008!!! Can anyone in Sacramento explain the logic here? I'm not a member of any of the teams but know them all well. You seem to not be following your own rules here! |
| Feb. 22, 2008 Llama Man | Topic: Teams looking for players Discussion: New Team Forming in W. Washington I am a SS/OFwith a lot of tourney experience looking for a new tourney team. Also have a buddy/traveling partner (OF/1B) looking with me. Have played AAA/Majors with OR Masters and others. Coming out of southern OR but willing to travel. What level are you playing and what do you need? Contact me at eastfork@cavenet.com. Thanks |
| Feb. 22, 2008 Llama Man | Topic: Teams looking for players Discussion: 55 and over AAA team looking for a few good outfielder Are you still looking for players for your 55 AAA team? I am a SS/OF,with alot of tourney experience, looking for a new tourney team. Also have a buddy/traveling partner (OF/1B) looking with me. Played on 2004 50 AAA National Champions OR Masters. Coming out of southern OR but willing to travel. If still looking email me at eastfork@cavenet.com. |
