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Online now: 3 members: TABLE SETTER 11, TrayMax23, dkrollw364; 74 anonymousDetails for TXMajor
Real name:
Jim Fairchild
Location:
Wills Point, TX
Division:
Men's 50
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| Sept. 6, 2012 TXMajor | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: starting over again Sounds like you have a pretty good workout schedule for your age, and the hard part of the mental toughness as well. Everything for strength seems to be there. I would suggest a softball/baseball stretching regimen (daily if possible) you can find them all over the internet, youtube will help with visuals. I would still add wind sprints to the work out, but like swing says, easy does it to start should be the rule. Distance running and the 1/4 mile sprints helps stamina but different muscles than the burst/sprint you need on the bases and in the field, and that is where you will get hurt easiest. The best workout for getting arm, swing and legs back into shape can be doing those very things. It may sound a bit child-like, but find someone to throw with, easy at first and work your way into full speed and longer throws. If you want, you can do the old isometrics workouts of putting a rope through a softball and pulling against an immovable object at different throwing positions. Swing a bat to work the correct muscles and then later a bat with weight(s) on it. Get on a field and practice a fake swing then running to first. Get into your field position and practice moves to the left and right. Muscle memory is key. Once you start playing on a regular basis again, your body should pretty well tell you how and what you need to continue training. - Jim |
| Sept. 5, 2012 TXMajor | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: starting over again A few things to start. You say you are "in good shape"? You currently: lift?, run?, swim?, bike?. In good shape at this age is much different than when you were playing ball before. The fact that you ask of arms and swing but nothing about legs tells me you may need a mental shift. You will find much has about your body has changed. At this age STRETCHING and getting ALL of your muscles limber is a MUST, NUMBER ONE before you even consider the strengthening and playing. If you are not currently doing anything about cardio and/or your leg stretching/strengthening, ensure that you include them for obvious reasons. You can probably ask anyone on this board where most of the injuries happen at our age, and I believe the answer will be in the lower body more than the upper. Even if you currently run, do you do wind sprints? Prepare before you take on the burst of your first run to first, or that BIG swing for the fence with one of these hot senior bats. - Jim |
| June 13, 2012 TXMajor | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: On Base Percentage (OBP) This has been an interesting discussion that seems to have gotten off-topic as the good ones usually do. I just wanted to add as a personal note that it was just as interesting that PlanoPlayer jumped in on this one since he was the manager I played for for 2 years that came up with the idea of asking before going to the plate in a sac situation. Props as Manager of the year in 2009. And yes, G19 when you said he had great points I'll tell you he is as sharp a Baseball/Softball guy as I know. |
| June 7, 2012 TXMajor | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: On Base Percentage (OBP) taits, I wouldn't look for an offset any more than real averages give you zero at-bats for a walk. Just a rule you implement and account for. And even though I like the idea, from a team cohesiveness standpoint, I wouldn't implement it without pretty full team support (ref: hate and discontent). Funny thing that RBI's are probably the toughest to account for and use. I have found if you're going to keep track of RBI's, you really have to be diligent doing that at game time, since after the fact is at at best educational guesses. Gary, I agree whole-heartedly in senior ball. I haven't really seen it since I started senior ball in 2009 and we have used OBP where it isn't an issue. I just remember I got picked up for a few big tournaments in my young-guy playing days when guys would actually bet money on who had the highest batting average in a tournament. That sparked many a very heated debate. |
| June 7, 2012 TXMajor | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: On Base Percentage (OBP) I don't believe I have ever played for a team (35+ years in softball) where they used true batting average, it's always been OBP, and I have always been a fan of OBP. Over the past few years we have kept pretty meticulous records, last year I was the teams bookkeeper, and here is how we handled each of the situations above: OBP: Essentially any time you get on base without causing a force out somewhere else (Fielder's choice) you get a hit. Walks, errors, luck or not, no matter, you did the job asked of you by getting on base. One benefit is it eliminates the (BIG) arguments over what was an error and what wasn't. Sac flies: It is an out unless it scores the last run of the inning OR if the coach agreed before you went to the plate that you could hit a sac fly. That eliminated the "accidental" sacs and ensured that the coach thought a sac fly was beneficial at that time. Sounds very rigid, but it works well. Bruce's DP as 2 AB/outs: Wow, in all my time playing with OBP, I have never heard that suggested, but I LIKE it. Sure should work well at the higher levels making a batter at least think of the consequences of WHERE they hit with men on base. But I KNOW as a bookkeeper that this one would be one that would cause some hate and discontent. Lineup: We keep an ongoing OBP for each player which the coach reviews before each game. He doesn't normally switch the batting line-up unless it is obvious someone is struggling, but normally we know that before reviewing the OBPs. The OBP might just be a reasonable marker to look back on if he decides to make a lineup change. The overall idea is a team gets used to a "mix". You can not only become comfortable but confident when batting before and after the same batters once you find the proper mix, it can also raise your expectations of winning even when it looks hopeless. We have all seen teams that were less talented win more than we thought they should. I believe this can happen because they were just confident in themselves as a team. Constantly changing the lineup defeats this idea and causes (I believe anyway) unnecessary additional pressure. On a personal note, I have always been one to work on hitting the ball extremely hard, but not on a dime as some can. Couple that with the fact that I still have decent speed, I have always forced many errors and think I have done my job well when my opponents back up a few steps or are a little more unsure of their defensive abilities when I come to the plate. And yes, if I see a weak player, of course I will intentionally try to test him, why not? Sorry if the post is somewhat bloated, but this has always (obviously) been a favorite topic of mine. I haven't posted much on this board, now you can probably tell why. :p |
| Oct. 7, 2011 TXMajor | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Legends 50+ Tony Tucker Agreed. I play with Wood Law/Silverbacks. The Legends have always been our competitors in this area. Tony was an obviously keen judge of talent and a competitor who loved the game. Though I never had the chance to play with him directly, my memories of him will be with great respect. |
| Oct. 7, 2011 TXMajor | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Legends 50+ Tony Tucker Just got a text from one of our players about Tony: Memorial celebration for Tony Tucker , Sunday, oct. 9. – rain or shine—beginning at 10am, at Trinity View adult softball pavilion. The celebration will continue after the service with a potluck cook out, horseshoes and washers. We will provide the smoked meats, brisket, sausage and chicken, and we’re asking all participants to bring a side or dessert... And your beverage of choice. Hope to see you there. Sis’ Sue |
| Sept. 30, 2011 TXMajor | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Legends 50+ Tony Tucker I have been asked by a few people when the services will be so that they might attend. If anyone knows the details please post them here so we can pass the word. |
