Message board »Message Board home »Sign-in or register to get started
Online now: 4 members: 3RRR, bradchad, coachp14, sport44; 54 anonymousDetails for DaveDowell
Real name:
Dave Dowell
Location:
Sacramento, CA
Division:
Men's 65
Messages posted by DaveDowell »Message board home »Start a new discussion
| , Oct. 22, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Huntsman Results No dispute on the Huntsman Senior Games teams count, but chico senior's tiny-bracket structure observation is accurate ... It's STILL the size of brackets and the sophistication of the underlying bracket logic that's troublesome to many/most (purported) tournament software vendor experts ... The custom scheduling system I have developed over the last 15 years or so is totally responsive to SSUSA's specific circumstances and needs ... The commercial folks don't (and shouldn't) have that single purpose focus because their motivation is the broadest coverage for potential sales to generate a maximum return on the R&D and marketing budget for sales to multiple customers ... Those are simply mutually exclusive goals, with no judgment being offered on which theory may be better ... But until there's a demonstrated demand for our type of tournament administration and structure type product, it's probably not reasonable to expect any off the shelf provider to come to the rescue of the curiosity seekers ... And, YES Dan, there are other larger bracket sports/competitive brackets out there, such as tennis, darts, match play golf and bowling, March Madness, etc., but almost all of them are "one and done" single elimination format ... Of those that aren't, simple double elimination formats probably encompass 98±% of the rest ... It's very rare in my experience to see multiple 40+ and up three-game-guarantee brackets running simultaneously in the same tournament, regardless of the sport ... Of course, if we had an IBM-style multi-million dollar scoring sponsorship like the PGA does, we could probably have the entire tournament database update every time any of the 612 teams scored a run! ... We don't, and probably never will! ... Oh, well ... |
| , Oct. 22, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Huntsman Results Dan ... Not necessarily! ... In my dialog so far with QuickScores, the overall size of the tournament isn't nearly as significant an issue as the size of individual brackets that comprise the total team count ... The dozens of commercial tourney-building and reporting software offerings we've evaluated for over 10 years all have significant bracket logic failures in the "monster" brackets, a general inability to handle conditional "If" games in the elimination brackets (and on-the-fly schedule modifications that result from those games not being required) and moderate to severe limitations on printed output, especially in the larger brackets ... We suspect our current 118-page schedule set for Las Vegas could be somewhere in the 300-400 page realm in QuickScores ... We have also had technical programming experts looking at developing our own system for over a year, but it's not complete, yet ... The primary motivation for quicker score availability is the obvious public hunger goal ... But two equally important (to us) design criteria inclusions are that the results flow automatically to our internal custom scoring/ratings database and that printed output be manageable ... Nobody we have contacted is remotely close to the score integration feature being offered or implemented ... Hopefully, we'll see soon where our "wish list" meets the QuickScores "we can do it" list, if at all ... |
| , Oct. 14, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: The Rock. Biggest understatement since Noah said "..Gee, it looks like it might rain.." ► "..This is the internet and a message board, Nothing said here carries any weight.." ... Hilarious! |
| , Oct. 10, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Huntsman Schedule Jon44 ... The "issue" (and that's not intended to be confused with any "problem") is just the sheer magnitude of the WMC master schedule, which was 2,001 games this year ... That's a lot different than a 40-team I.S.S.A. regional event! ... My correspondence with QuickScores' CEO reveals that they most probably have the technical expertise to work with us, but limited actual experience with that kind of schedule including three-game-guarantee brackets as large as 85 teams ... We're open minded, and are also looking at the "output" issues in being able to print and post on-site the Bracket Board schedule sets without resorting to have to rent commercial billboards on the street next to the venues! ... This schedule set was 118 pages scalable to 8½" x 11" format ... The commercial presentations are much more cumbersome and (currently) lack the ability to list variable game times based on earlier "If" games not being required in some elimination brackets ... We're hopeful, though! ... |
| , Oct. 8, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: Women's softball Discussion: WHY DID YOU ALL PUT THE WOMEN TEAMS AT HOLLYWOOD PARK? Dbax ... No dispute on you being a trained observer, but Clark County could have moved the fences since the Google Imagery date of 5/17/2017, but it's somewhat unlikely ... They thought, as of Wednesday, that the fences were at 300' ... [grins] ... |
| , Oct. 8, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: 40s Results We'll wait until the tournament ends before we post ... Men's 40-Major is currently in the "If" Game ... Final Results (#1 - 4 in each division) will be posted Monday morning and available from the event tournament page ... |
| , Oct. 8, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: Women's softball Discussion: WHY DID YOU ALL PUT THE WOMEN TEAMS AT HOLLYWOOD PARK? Hollywood Park Field #4 is a concentric shaped field at 300' dimensions to the fence all the way around according to Clark County Parks & Rec. and Google Earth imagery. |
| , Oct. 5, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Any results yet for the 50 major? ** THREAD CLOSED ** Excessive pitch count (88) ... Please feel free to start it up again if appropriate and/or relevant ... |
| , Oct. 5, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Any results yet for the 50 major? SKings24 ... I don't necessarily disagree with your above post (except as it relates to favortism, director interference for their buddies, etc.) ... This is our roster-eligibility system and it's applied consistently across ALL teams ... Could it use some fine-tuning or clarification? ... Quite possibly ... Could some teams be better versed in the nuances of building a compliant roster than others? ... Quite possibly, again ... And maybe that's an undertaking to codify in one place, say a white paper like for the roster composition rules for THIS event, during this off-season ... But we will not be looking for an excuse for shredding a roster in retrospect because Team "A" lost to Team "B" ... Interestingly, the team that is under the microscope this time is, incredibly, the team that was looking down the lens the last time in the "Cornerstone Affair" ... As difficult and frustrating as that exercise was, we hold no grudges based on any team's identity ... We were right last time and are highly confident we are right, again ... Should Team "B" offer a formal complaint for consideration, we will meticulously explain our reasoning (assuming there is any more than already disclosed today!) and rule accordingly ... Thanks for you thoughts ... Much appreciated ... |
| , Oct. 5, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Any results yet for the 50 major? Yep MN 26, I love it when someone plays the "..it's all about the money card.." ... That's (anonymously) hilarious and you NAILED IT! ... You're all over it, because Field Rentals are FREE, Field Preps are FREE, Umpires work for FREE, Umpires stay in hotels for FREE, Umpire, Director and Staff rental cars are FREE, Awards are FREE, Champion rings are FREE, airline flights for Umpires, Staff and Directors are FREE, Directors and Staff work for FREE, our per team payment to LVSSA as our partner is FREE, Directors and Staff hotels are FREE, softballs are FREE, printing and reproduction costs are FREE, our Home Office staff works on this event for months for FREE, etc. ... Awesome how well you did in school with multiplication, but somehow weren't around for the subtraction lessons! ... Nice try ... LOL! |
| , Oct. 5, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Time limit garyheifner ... If only it was that simple! ... Your "..So what if a league game is delayed an hour or so.." actually happened a few years back at Arroyo Grande ... The City of Henderson reaction was: "OK, you can only have 20 games at Arroyo instead of 24 so this doesn't happen again" ... That decision was made by a former person in charge of their league scheduling, but the current leadership maintains that policy ... We have excellent relationships with all of the jurisdictions, but Local League is King prevails ... Maybe some day....... |
| , Oct. 4, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Schedule for 40's World But Vinny, you forgot the importance of the "power-X" variable ... Those AAA and Major guys simply don't hit the ball as far as the Major+ guys ... About everybody on a Plus roster can hit it out, maybe not so much so on lesser rated teams! ... So not all BOMBS are created equal! [grins] ... Play safely, have some fun and good luck! ... |
| , Oct. 4, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Time limit mck71 has the procedural aspects 101% correct on game times ... As for the "innings played" issue, that's a function that results from the Major+ desired game format ... The Major+ players a few years back asked for a 7-Run ½-inning at bat format rather than the 5-Run version all others play ... It was based, as I remember, on the desire to maximize "at-bats" rather than innings, and the 5-Runs limit can be achieved so quickly at that level of play ... We made the change, but left the time limits 67/65 or 72/70 in place ... Championship game(s) are a 7-inning format ... Hope this helps ... |
| , Oct. 3, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: Women's softball Discussion: DAVE & BENJI4 READ WHAT OTHER WOMEN TEAMS THINK ABOUT THIS PARK. Ms.Dee ... Here's an excerpt on point from another thread, one I referred you to previously, but maybe you didn't read ... Your division is STILL scheduled for Hollywood Park and that will NOT be changing ... Good luck! ... __________ TENTATIVE (which means subject to CHANGE and NOT final) field assignments are based on prior history of team attendance and are simply guesses until all of the entry deadlines pass ... The 2017 World Masters far exceeded our expectations for attendance, crushing the prior record (564) with 612 teams ... Our projections were based on a modest 3% increase over last year, to about 575 teams ... The growth rate was in fact almost three times that (8½ percent) .. So, as for what exactly necessitated changes to the TENTATIVE field assignments this year ... • Men's 40-Major grew unexpectedly to 44 teams ... The general rule of thumb is that a facility, with Local League restrictions present, can handle six teams per field, without having to resort to Midnight Madness type Saturday scheduling ... Big League Dreams could not handle the 40-Majors, and the only place that could was the combination of Desert Breeze and Sunset Park ... • Men's 40-Major Plus was then slotted into Arroyo Grande because, with 21 teams, they almost fit there on Friday .. Henderson allows us no more than 20 games slots on Friday, so I had to split some of their seeding games over to Sunset with half of the 40-Majors ... 40-Major Plus is unsuited to both Shadow Rock/Hollywood and Big League Dreams because of severe restrictions on their ability to retrieve home run balls ... • The Women's 40-AAA, 40-AAA and Senior Women 50+ were then relocated to the 7-field combination at Shadow Rock and Hollywood because they fit comfortably to avoid late nights on Friday and Saturday, and that allowed us to bring all Women's divisions into Big League Dreams for the Sunday Finals ... • The last two divisions, the Men's 40-AAA (18) and Women's 40-Major (9) were (luckily) the only logical fit at BLD at 27 teams, because we lose two time slots from the theoretical maximum on Friday at BLD of 30 due to Opening Ceremonies and the honoring of the Guam Teams with the SSUSA Sportsmanship Award ceremony ... It fits, but barely ... The global schedule this year was 1,995 games ... Good luck everyone! ... |
| , Oct. 3, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Any results yet for the 50 major? Gonedeep43 ... None of the Directors should/will be "chiming in" on this ... Our duties as Directors are to administer the tournament on site with the rosters and schedules we've been provided ... Eligibility matters are vested solely with the Home Office eligibility specialists ... Any inquiries should be directed to them at info@seniorsoftball.com ... |
| , Oct. 3, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: Women's softball Discussion: WHY DID YOU ALL PUT THE WOMEN TEAMS AT HOLLYWOOD PARK? Dbax coaches a 50's Women's team playing at Hollywood. He absolutely has a dog in this fight and is qualified to comment. He does not represent any opinion except his own (and maybe his spouse's). |
| , Oct. 3, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: Women's softball Discussion: WHY DID YOU ALL PUT THE WOMEN TEAMS AT HOLLYWOOD PARK? What is relevant, though, is Ms.Dee's original assertion that there are "..NO GAMES BEING PLAYED AT THE SUNSET PARK & LORENZI PARK. SO I CAN'T BELIEVE.." ... She's flat wrong on one park (Sunset is full) and effectively wrong on the other (Lorenzi is not in the inventory) because her premise is that we could have put the 50+ Senior Women at either of those parks rather than Hollywood ... That position lacks fundamental knowledge of teams/games demand allocation process over the facilities that ARE available, combined with the local league restrictions imposed ... I don't expect her to have that expertise, which is why I'm the National Schedule Consultant just trying to make it all fit reasonably ... Contrary to the tone of her post, field allocations are never personal ... |
| , Oct. 3, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Time limit Hi Tim ... You and I discussed this briefly on Friday evening at BLD, but there was a lot going on at that time with our games finishing and local league players streaming into the park ... Here's a written clarification for your consideration ... • Under normal circumstances, a "new" inning begins the moment the final out of the previous inning occurs ... However, circumstances are anything but "normal" in Las Vegas where several jurisdictions decline to accommodate our tournament schedule games demand by deferring local league play while we are here ... There are exceptions, such as BLD deferring league play totally on the first of the three Friday evenings, and Clark County moving as much of their local league play to fields we generally don't use to help us out at Sunset Park ... These accommodations are deeply appreciated ... • With local leagues being generally a higher priority than our event, we absolutely have to be clear of the league schedule, without exception ... To assist in making those deadlines, we have instituted a "local rule" for Las Vegas events (only) that relaxes the definition of the start of the "open inning" ... That modification allows for the umpire to declare the start of the "open inning" at any time before the first pitch of that inning ... • In talking with you, it's possible you (reasonably) believe that your opponent "stalled the time" in getting ready for the subsequent inning, thereby allowing the clock to expire on the 70-minute time frame before that first pitch ... In effect, they may have caused you (and them) to be deprived of one more turn at bat ... If that was the case, it's an unfortunate occurrence lacking in fundamental sportsmanship ... • On Friday morning, in the Umpires Conference, the Field Directors discussed this situation thoroughly ... They were instructed to call "time" if they perceived one team using gamesmanship to manipulate the time to the "open inning", thereby guaranteeing that you were not placed at a disadvantage ... Either the umpires forgot, didn't perceive that to be the case, or, honestly, their own recognition that they are being paid by the game and not by the hour ... Any or all of those factors could have been present ... Unless, and until, we can get relief from the time restrictions imposed on us by the local league structure, this "local rule" will likely be an occasional "issue" ... Hopefully not affecting your team in a critical game ... |
| , Oct. 3, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Russell Road Rec Complex So I guess that's a "NO", you're not going to follow-up for making a valid complaint ... That's fine, it closes the book on this side too ... As for the Director comment at me, I'm reasonably comfortable with the level of my service for the players and teams ... [edited to remove last sentence of my prior post ... Yours was deleted for violation of posting Rule #2 - Disparaging comments directed toward any individual] |
| , Oct. 3, 2017 DaveDowell | Topic: Women's softball Discussion: WHY DID YOU ALL PUT THE WOMEN TEAMS AT HOLLYWOOD PARK? Just to set the record straight, I batted exactly .000 on TENTATIVE Field Assignments for Session #4! ... NONE of the eight divisions of play will appear where we had thought previously ... This is simply due to projecting a modest 3% increase in the number of teams over last year and having the actual growth be over three times that, at 10% ... It fits (barely) without resorting to modified competition formats and/or extremely late play on Saturday ... That's a plus in our view ... It seems, in light of the horrific tragedy here in Las Vegas Sunday night, this topic being anything other than a tiny pebble of sand on the highway of life is somewhat unfortunate ... |
