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Online now: 6 members: Matty507, OG Reggie Reg, TABLE SETTER 11, dillydilly, migs, softball4b; 108 anonymousDiscussion: Pitching masks revisited
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| May 3, 2014 Duke Men's 65 908 posts | Pitching masks revisited I have played softball for 48 years. I have been pitching for 33 of those years. Have utilized the mandatory pitching mask for 9 months in leagues and tournaments. I consider myself on most occasions, a good fielding pitcher. In the 9 months of pitching with the mask, I have been hit twice as much, as I was in the past 33 years without the mask. Of all those hits, I have never been hit in the face area or shins, where I am wearing protection. The mandatory mask has become to me a danger, because it hinders me from reacting fast enough to field my position adequately. The shin guards do not hinder me at all. It is like I do not have them on at all, so I will continue to wear them regardless. I am actually waiting to get hit in the shins, so I can see how they work. When I was not wearing the pitching mask, if I got hit, it was usually in the shins. I was hit 7 times this past weekend and I am black and blue in all of those 7 hits. I could be dead from a blood clot with all of those hits. I would rather take a chance and hope that I do not get hit in the face, which has never happened. Not to say that it could not in my old age, but not real likely. In conclusion, I am reversing my agreement with the new rule, and now am in favor of it being optional. Just my humble opinion, Andy Smith, 60 Major |
| May 3, 2014 Sunshine1949 Men's 65 58 posts | Andy, this seems to confirm my concerns for pitchers with the DBO rule, I am sure you know when you throw any pitch middle or outside its coming your way, I would never suggest anyone is trying to hit the pitcher but they are simply trying to get a hit and keep it in the park. I would like to hear your opinion on this based on your extensive experience. I am playing in a tournament this weekend with this rule and its seems the pitcher has had much more activity than previous events with the old rules, fortunately no won hurt YET. |
| May 4, 2014 curveball Men's 65 705 posts | Agree with Duke. I've been hit more this year than ever in the past without a helmet. My take though is a lot more guys are going middle because now the pitchers are wearing protection, helmet seems to have OK'd the idea that the middle is open! Played against my former team (aged up) at the Spring Worlds and took 3 direct blows from friends. Like Duke, no head shots. Reaction is slower with helmet, getting older doesn't help either. Some of the new middle-shooters are stronger hitters than some of the guys that went middle in the past. Number of opportunities to be hit has risen greatly. |
| May 4, 2014 Duke Men's 65 908 posts | Sunshine, I am not in favor of the DBO or the use of a screen. I actually encourage any player to hit the ball anywhere they like, especially up the middle. The problem is that I cannot pick up the ball quickly enough with the use of the mask. I feel like I am in the movie Dodgeball 2 and I lost. LOL! Andy Smith, 60 Major |
| May 4, 2014 FOFO Men's 60 284 posts | Wore a mask for the first time ever in Vegas. I wore the RIP IT mask. It did not hinder my vision in any way i was surprised at how little i noticed I was even wearing it. |
| May 4, 2014 Dbax Men's 65 2100 posts | FOFO, most of the guys I know are wearing the Rip It and they pretty much all say they do not even know they are wearing it. |
| May 4, 2014 AcePV Men's 60 29 posts | I started using the Rip-It mask while pitching nearly two years ago. I really like it and don't notice it having any affect on my vision or ability to react to a ball. I guess it all comes down to personal preference whether you like 'em or not. |
| May 5, 2014 DBurke23 Men's 50 22 posts | I have been reading posts on here for a while and the post by Duke is the first I've read concerning a screen. Based on the negative reaction to the new DBO rule and requirement of a mask I thought there would be more discussion about the possibility of using a screen. Both leagues I currently play in started using screens and there have been no issues. If you hit the screen you're out. No middle wars, no retaliation, and no time-wasting trash talking. The screens are about 3 feet wide and 7 feet tall so you can still hit the middle without fear of hitting the pitcher. Surprisingly the screen gets hit quite often, even in the unlimited HR league. But it's better than hitting the pitcher - even if he has a mask. |
| May 5, 2014 Pricer Men's 50 621 posts | I made this comment back in January on this board. Skeptical, it's a mind set. Anyone who feels like the pitcher or infielders are safer because they are protected will feel more comfortable at the plate. I've pitched in games that the pitcher wore no equipment had little to no balls hit up the middle. As soon as there was a pitching change and the next pitcher was dressed head to toe in protective equipment, the middle of the infield was the choice for some of the hitters. Not guessing that this happens, I as well as many others have witnessed this. Like I said, I don't think anyone hit's the middle to hurt anyone, but if the risk of injury lessens, some players feel it's ok to use that part of the field. JMO |
| May 6, 2014 hurler 17 posts | you will never see a screen in championship play until several people get hurt real bad & maybe a couple get killed then it might get considered. |
| May 6, 2014 Robo2 238 posts | Sorry to disagree with some of you. I wore a pitching mask for the first time this year and I have pitched for 40 years. I have no problem with seeing the ball or fielding. I was hit in the shin but the batter immediately came up to me and apologized. It happens but I do not believe anyone tries to hit at the pitcher. Especially with HR limits as out the batter must try for the biggest opening and that is up the middle. So now I wear shin pads and a mask and I think it give me confidence to attempt to field balls that I may have in the past hesitated. That is my opinion. I do respect those of you that feel otherwise. |
| May 6, 2014 gu_nn00 Men's 60 7 posts | I too have pitched for many years and wearing this equipment makes me feel like a "target" for a lot of hitters. I was hit more last season than I was combined in my entire career. A real simply solution but it will never take root because the associations and bat manufactures are deep "in bed" with each other, is to simply go back to the bats and balls that all of us used in our heyday and get rid of these high-tech weapons being used now. I've had guys hit the long ball on me that in their heyday, could NOT hit a golf ball out. IT IS TRULY RIDICULES AT TIMES! |
| May 6, 2014 txtable Men's 60 12 posts | I totally agree with gunn00................They always talk about saftey but make us Pitchers "bring a knife to a gun fight"............Get the arc up a bit and give us Pitchers some tools to work with instead of "telling" us to be a "target" and to dress up like a Hockey Goalie!!!!!!! |
| May 6, 2014 wick_stick Men's 60 2 posts | Great assessment Gu_nn00! Well put! TOO BAD NOTHING WILL BE ADDRESSED OR CHANGED UNTIL THE INEVITABLE DEATH OF A FELLOW PITCHER! |
| May 6, 2014 Olden Slow Men's 75 209 posts | I don't pitch but 2 things I have noticed since the rule change..#1 Screaming line drive up the middle..#2...Sorry pitcher..are you ok...Come on fellas..this is slowpitch and we can control our batting..I know sometimes it is a mistake..but most times ???? |
| May 7, 2014 Wayne 37 Men's 65 773 posts | Is it just me, but aren't the bats the real problem? When I first used the Miken Ultra, I probably added a 100 ft. or more to my hits. |
| May 7, 2014 AcePV Men's 60 29 posts | Wayne 37- You're right! We all love to use these "high powered" bats so that we can hit like we did when we were younger. There's a lot of "old guys" out there that are hitting the ball harder and farther than much younger guys that are using 1.20 bats. The problem is we don't move and react on the defensive side like we did when we were younger. |
| May 7, 2014 Olden Slow Men's 75 209 posts | Wayne and Ace,,,You are correct....we tried to bring up the subject, hell we even suggested using wood bats...Most of the guys had a fit, they acted like we asked for their first born..It's too bad that it will take a catastrophic injury for someone to take action. I could hit with a newspaper and it wouldn't be much different than my Miken,Reebok or Combat...Just my .02 |
| May 7, 2014 Jawood Men's 50 943 posts | In the two tournaments I have played so far this season, I have seen more balls hit up the middle than I saw all of last year! I don't pitch, but have been told that vision is a problem. |
| May 8, 2014 DBurke23 Men's 50 22 posts | SCREEN !!!!!! Softball has made changes for the safety of the players - double bag at first and 2 home plates to avoid collisions. Mandatory masks is another attempt to protect players. If you REALLY want to protect the pitcher - SCREEN !!! |
| May 8, 2014 southernson 280 posts | Txtable, You are spot on. Get the arc up a bit....wish that would happen, but it won't. Guys cry like babies to the umpire now if you even approach 12 ft consistently, wait, gotta adjust my cup, shin guards, chest protector, helmet, mask....and that's just for the drive to the softball field...it's gotten ridiculous. Yep, pitchers have always been a target....now they make them dress up so you can't miss them....sad. |
| May 8, 2014 gu_nn00 Men's 60 7 posts | THE PROBLEM IS WHETHER OR NOT ARE THE "POWERS TO BE" ARE EVEN LISTENING TO US OR ARE THEY STILL KISSING THE BAT MANUFACTURE'S A** AND POCKETING THE BIG $$$$ RIGHT ALONG WITH THE BAT MANUFACTURES WHO ARE SELLING THESE WEAPONS WITH THE TOTAL BLESSING OF THE "POWERS TO BE"........... |
| May 8, 2014 corvette_ace Men's 60 7 posts | Have everyone noticed that this extensive discussion about the arc, hot bats, etc., that no one ( a.k.a. SSUSA Staff ) has said a word and I agree with gu_nn00 and southernsonb along with everyone else on this serious problem that needs to be addressed! |
| May 8, 2014 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | corvette_ace and others, SSUSA is in an awkward position. They have now mandated pitchers masks for safety reasons. Why is it more dangerous now than, say, 20 years ago? The hot composite bats, which everyone agrees increase in liveliness as they get broken in, have made it dangerous to start only 50 feet away (and more dangerous for corner fielders, for that matter). The obvious solution is to ban composite bats…and any other technological design that makes the ball fly so fast and so far. But to do that is to upset the majority of older players who have become addicted to these bats. So, SSUSA takes its chances that no pitcher is seriously hurt so that a lawsuit by a sharp lawyer proves that SSUSA was aware of the overly dangerous conditions and did not take adequate steps to control the danger. Same thing happened in a way with bowling. Bowling establishment owners learned how to goose the lanes so even the casual weekend bowler could get high scores. This did nothing for the serious bowlers who practiced and perfected their skill. The result? In 10 years, bowling went from one of the most popular participation sports to the dumps. In our area, in the 80s, there were ten bowling establishments within 12 miles from me with 300 lanes, now there is one! The sport lost its appeal as it became too easy and serious bowlers dropped the sport. Same thing, I fear, with senior softball as the participation percentage of seniors is dropping, dropping, dropping, even as more and more healthy men with softball backgrounds enter the senior years. Hot or altered bats ruined it for a lot of them, including my son who no longer plays. |
| May 8, 2014 Duke Men's 65 908 posts | Omar, You are correct about lawsuits possibilities against an organization for getting seriously hurt playing under the current conditions. It is an admission of the fact it is dangerous to be a pitcher. With that said, what I would have done, if I were the head of an organization with these issues, I would not only made it mandatory to wear a mask, but made it mandatory to wear a helmet, shin guards, chest protector, and a cup. As mentioned so many times and in this post, the only option to protective gear is to outlaw composite bats. To be quite honest, there are many leagues in Southern California that are loaded with teams of different quality players that love to play and do not worry about getting hurt, because they only use single wall bats and a crappy ball. I would be OK using the current ball with single wall bats. In my town of Simi Valley, they have gone to a lesser ball and can only use single and double wall bats. The leagues are filling up again with these changes. There will always be those that disagree, but they will still play for the love of the game. My last 2 comments. I will address the raising of the arc limit in the other post on pitcher masks. Lastly, there are too many sue happy people in this world. As for me, if I got hurt playing a game that I love to play, I would not sue anyone or organization. It was my choice to play under whatever conditions, and I know that going into the game. If you hit my car, then I am suing you. JMHO, Andy Smith, 60 Major |
| May 10, 2014 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Duke, I agree with you about lawsuits. Of my many injuries over the decades, it never crossed my mind to sue somebody to recover medical costs. I knew the risks, and potential injury is part of playing softball. But this is a litigious age, and suing someone, for the most trivial of reasons, seems to be more prevalent. That said, it wouldn't surprise me that in case of a serious injury, with tens of thousands of dollars of medical costs, it might prompt some player to sue to recover, especially if the association/rec department/field/player with altered bat/etc. is widely perceived as liable. And if a widow is approached by a hungry lawyer after her pitcher-husband is beaned and killed, it would take a rare woman to say "my husband knew the risks and this is just life". On your other topic, glad to hear that leagues with single and double walls only and dumbed-down balls are booming in your area. I've argued for years that players would continue, or even return from "retirement" if conditions approached those of the past when many of those men loved softball without having to hit the long ball, and when power hitters were proud of their ability that was earned. And like you, if I was playing with single wall bats (which a majority of players use in my league play), I wouldn't mind using the current balls (which we do in our league). |
| May 10, 2014 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | It will happen. It's only a matter of when, not the why, who, what or where. One reason SF city & county went to the single walled bats and not so good balls a long time ago. Not the only places to so so either. I just feel sorry ahead of time for the unlucky person to have it happen to. |
| May 10, 2014 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Forgot to add, it no doubt has likely already happened, but because of 'gag orders', nothing has been disclosed. Those are to both sides (parties) benefit but really benefits the 'looser'. They are out there. |
| May 10, 2014 hitman Men's 70 339 posts | Just started wearing a Shutt mask this year in tournaments and league. Took one off rubber in Cartersville that would have broken left jaw but instead just jarred head some. Only dead spot I've found is on popups and I flip it off easily and quickly, also haven't found it to hot so far. Won't play without it now. |
| May 11, 2014 txtable Men's 60 12 posts | LOOK AT THIS RATHER LENGTHY DISCUSSION AND WHAT DON'T YOU SEE. NO REPLY WHAT SO EVER FROM THE SSUSA STAFF. TOO BUSY COUNTING THEIR MONEY AND STAYING OUT OF THE WAY WITH THE HOPE THAT THIS DISCUSSION JUST FADES AWAY! |
| May 11, 2014 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Doubt you will, 'cause this has been changed more than once over the years and still not done correctly as it were. Doubt too that it will fade away. Only one person I know of with pull in this issue actually pitches, but doesn't post often at all. the others are out of harms way. Consider this: Criminal Law-Silence as an Admission of Guilt, is it there? Hell if I know. |
| May 12, 2014 swing for the fences Men's 50 1224 posts | Taits, you are wrong about the bats... in the highest division it's the 44 375 ball and ASA composite bats even in the lower divisions..... in 40 and over masters its metal bats which can be double wall... 44 375 ball. |
| May 13, 2014 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Admittedly, my info may be old, re the bats, am not sure about ball use. . Joe told me that years ago. Haven't seen him around lately. But SF has drastically changed the last few years too. Case in point, the PD. |
| May 13, 2014 Big Sexy Men's 70 30 posts | Yes some masks have vision issues, the one I wore in Vegas I missed a popup halfway between 3rd and home on the line. I didn't try to take it off and after missing the ball I threw it off like a catcher and my glasses went flying. In my senior leagues I don't wear a mask not required and one does have a net which I hate! And the odd thing on the net the pitchers move it to the left of the mound and stand out to the right (for rightys) to pitch the ball. When they pitch their front foot then goes in front of the screen and no way could they get behind it on a line drive back up the middle. I can handle the mask but the screen I am firmly against! For pitchers that can't field maybe it is good for them but for plays up the middle that would result in double plays the screen eliminates that. The change SSUSA did that made it more dangerous for pitchers is lowering the pitching ceiling. I have pitched in mountain ball tournaments and you hardly ever see these screaming line drives. Serving it up to a batter at 6-8 feet sets the batter up to hit those screaming rockets at your infield. Allow pitchers to throw 15 feet and it makes it much harder for the batter to line the ball! I say raise the ceiling for the safety of the infielders and the pitcher if they are scared about injuries! |
| May 13, 2014 txtable Men's 60 12 posts | I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A REPLY FROM THE SSUSA STAFF ON THIS SUBJECT AND FROM THE LOOKS OF THINGS, SO WOULD A LOT OF US ESPECIALLY THE PITCHERS. QUIT HIDING BEHIND YOUR DESK AND MAKE SOME SORT OF QUALITY STATEMENT SSUSA STAFF..........WANT TO HEAR YOUR SIDE OF THIS LENGTHY DISCUSSION!!!! |
| May 13, 2014 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | txtable, Do you really need to yell? Who are you REALLY. I do not believe you are whom you say in the info area... ...Can't seem to locate you on a membership here at least by the 'given name'. I doubt SSUSA has any 'guilt' feelings. |
| May 13, 2014 SSUSA Staff 3483 posts | Thanks taits ... This perfectly illustrates why we give no credence to Message Board postings when it comes to policy discussions and related potential Rules Committee decisions ... Despite the purported identifying information in his posting data, we have NO registered Doug Evans nationally among our 30,000+ players and in fact, we have NO player(s) with the last name of Evans, regardless of first name, in Austin ... Our only reasonable conclusion is that he is a Message Board troll, one of a class of individuals who's commentary should be routinely ignored, absolutely guilt free ... |
| May 13, 2014 garyheifner 649 posts | I don't believe that because pitchers are wearing protective gear that invites hitters to go middle. It has more to do with where the SS and 2nd base players position themselves. Over the last five years at 65, many of my teammates went hard middle due to the large open area. Now at 70, an 11th defender is around 2nd base. In our 1st two tournaments this year most of the guys went left field or right field. A 70 team we played choose to play five outfielders. Want to guess where we hit!! What I posted before. If you want to cut down on middle hits allow the 11th defender at all age levels. Also that 11th guy must have his feet on the dirt when the pitch is delivered. For those of you who haven't played against an 11th defender, when you step in the box and look up at see the pitcher, 2nd baseman, middle fielder and SS in the same line of sight, the last place you want to go is up the middle. In our 1st two tournaments this year, our pitchers have not been hit and only a few balls have even gone their way. OR: for you younger guys do what the top USSSA pro teams do. Play a 5 man infield and a 3 man outfield. You will see less middle hitting. I get to see 5 or 6 of these teams play in Joliet, Illinois each June and more and more of the pitchers are wearing masks. Gotta be a reason for that. Maybe life is more important than death. |
| May 14, 2014 curveball Men's 65 705 posts | Based on the increased number of middle shots I've seen this year in 70 Major+, I can only assume it's because the pitchers are now "protected"; that's the only difference in the game from previous years. |
| May 17, 2014 lefty# 9 7 posts | I have suggested to our pitcher to go buy a hockey goalies full outfit. Instead of backing up CHARGE the batter after he pitches with his hands up :) hel* lets get the catcher involved in more plays after it bounces off the padding the catcher picks it up and throws it to first your OUT (that's funny ). OK for real That what the waiver is for it relives the park and ssusa from responsibility and liability of any injury's while playing in the tournament and on the property I've seen more injury's from the concrete infields and the torn up outfields we sometimes play on. Guys when's the last time you went or anybody else went to the emergency room with twisted ankle or knee or bruised shoulder or sprung wrist worse a concussion and had someone there from the park or any sanction softball affiliation with there insurance card saying WERE PAYING FOR THIS.YEA RIGHT YOU sign a Waiver releasing all responsibility. just my input |
| May 18, 2014 Jawood Men's 50 943 posts | I agree with garyheifner and have been saying for a while to play with 11 defenders at ALL senior levels. Don't know about rules on where defenders have to be positioned, but 11 defenders would help protect the pitchers and also keep the scores lower (games moving along) by not having to go with a 3 man outfield. |
| May 18, 2014 OldGymRat Men's 70 4 posts | From an infielder who does not pitch, I am amazed by the reaction of pitchers on shots up the middle. Playing third base and about fifteen feet deeper than a pitcher, I've almost had my head torn off, plus other areas of the body. When the gut of the infield is wide open, expect shots there. I would defer to any pitcher as optional... but sure as heck don't want to have what happened in Charleston a few years back... throat shot and gone before EMS could arrive. Mask wouldn't have saved him, but I can understand SSUSA going the safety route. |
| May 19, 2014 Caveman Men's 50 68 posts | Signing a waiver doesn't really relieve any entity from liability, nor does mandating equipment usage. All you need is a good lawyer. Treacy Elliott The Saints 60's |
| May 19, 2014 stick8 1991 posts | Caveman you are exactly right!! I'm not an attorney but back in the day I was an office manager for a group of personal injury attorneys. A good attorney can and usually does get around any waiver. |
| May 20, 2014 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Signing a waiver protects the park, TD, or association from nice guys who honor their signature. Here are some things that can't be waived because of negligence: Guy breaks leg in gopher hole in outfield. Maintenance negligence, especially if there are many such holes in the outfield. Guy runs into unpadded light pole in centerfield and gets concussed. Design negligence. Pitcher slips on watering cover behind rubber and hits head. Design negligence. Guy slides in to base and it tears loose and runner collides with fielder. Maintenance negligence. Batter strikes defender with batted ball and results in serious injury. Association negligence since they did not check/approve all bats and it might be altered or illegal. Player injured and never signed waiver to start with. TD rules negligence. The potential goes on and on. This is what lawyers would look for if there was serious money in it with a lawsuit. Caveman is right. |
| May 26, 2014 B94 Men's 50 138 posts | I'm joining the discussion a little late but I will say as far as seeing more middle shots and pitchers being hit more than ever before I believe it has more to do with the DBO rule than being hit simply because of wearing a mask. It took me a little time to adjust to wearing the mask, which I put it on for my better half a couple years ago as opposed to because it was mandated, but the only ball I struggle to see well is the rocket at my ankles. What I do find though is with the DBO rule now after the HR limit is reached there are more balls than ever hit between 2nd and SS. I think more guys are being hit due to the increased frequency of these hits as opposed to anything else. The law of averages states that the more balls hit between SS & 2nd the higher the likelihood of the pitcher being hit. So it's hard to simply say that putting the mask on is why pitchers are taking shots when both the mask rule and the DBO out rule were instituted at the same time. Putting a HR limit in place with it being a walk after the limit as was played at the TOC seemed to work well - with it being an out now we all know where the ball tends to go... |
| May 26, 2014 Jawood Men's 50 943 posts | Then the question is what to do about it? There are many more balls going up the middle than before and the law of averages say that someone is really going to get hurt. They changed the rules way too much, a middle of the road solution would have worked better. Possibly the HR rule should be raised back up a bit before the DBO comes into effect and/or the 11th defensive player put into play. |
| May 27, 2014 stick8 1991 posts | Raising the hr limit, putting in an 11th fielder or balls thru the middle being a dbo will likely reduce the number of times batter hit the middle. But the only true way to protect a pitcher from getting drilled is putting a pitching screen in front of him. |
| May 28, 2014 Pricer Men's 50 621 posts | These threads on safety for the pitcher always end up with a way to try and cover the real issue. No one ever thought softball was dangerous to your health 15-20 years ago. Even as you got older there was never the discussions regarding injuries or death! What's changed? |
| May 28, 2014 neck10 714 posts | stick that will never happen until they put me & you on the board.I bought a screen & donated it to our 55&older leauge some complaints at first but every one loves it now,they like it better than my other idea if you go middle & hit pitcher you have to pitch next inning. |
| May 28, 2014 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Pricer... What's changed? Wake up. The equipment, primarily the bats It's been a hitters game for over a decade. Put some real pitcher input into the game and give teams some Defense back. 1. Raise the height limit at least 4 feet. (to 16) 2. Allow some pitcher moves other that whirlwind which I know they won't go for. IE, around the back, under the leg & step off to the side which some do now anyway. Any or all of those will not lengthen game times. It just gives the pitcher another pitch to throw. On the bats...I prefer composites to the alloys, & as long as their allowed I'll use them, as will the vast majority of players using them now. However it rules changed back to alloys and 47\525 balls that's ok too. |
| May 28, 2014 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Neck10, Perhaps that should be a mandatory thing...all board members should be required to pitch one full major tournament. If not for any other reason than they could say did it. With hear gear of course. There is nothing like first hand experience. I liked your idea above. |
| May 28, 2014 Sparky.1 Men's 75 284 posts | Great ideas and well but as always "taits" but sadly, the "powers to be" will not turn loose of that deep pocket $$$$ from the bat manufacturers. They are deep in bed together and neither will kick the other out for just eating popcorn! |
| May 28, 2014 Tim Millette 615 posts | Another idea to give the pitcher a little more of a chance. Only have umps call illegal pitch while ball is in the air for strike three. Strike one and two are not called in the air. |
| May 29, 2014 Pricer Men's 50 621 posts | Tait's, I was being sarcastic in mentioning what's changed! I am a pitcher and I was just stating the obvious. But all these threads come back to the same thing. There is one way to change this, but every post regarding things like this indicates, let's put a bandaid on the issue. Never actually repairing the problem. |
| May 29, 2014 Fabe Men's 65 456 posts | Sparky great to read your comments again….hope all is well with you! Man has our game got complicated…I pray it only gets better with no serious injuries. Aloha, Fabe |
| May 29, 2014 Sparky.1 Men's 75 284 posts | Right back at you my friend! I thank God every day that he took some of my physical levels away so I wouldn't be tempted to make a come-back but left me a ton to be able to travel and still be a part of this great game. Speaking of travel Fabe, would you be kind enough to shoot me an email with your phone # and such. The wife and I are taking off on a Mediterranean cruise shortly and then we are going to schedule another trip to the islands....Yea! grm.phd@gmail.com |
| May 29, 2014 Sparky.1 Men's 75 284 posts | and to get back on the subject at hand, Pricer,Tim Stick8, Jarwood, Taits, etc. all have very well put thoughts but like I've said time and time again, SSUSA and the Bat Manufacturers are so deep into each other with the big $$$$$$ involved, they could care less what everyone has been saying on this issue. Case in point, has anyone seen any response from "SSUSA Staff" other than looking for unseen "spammers". No mention what-so-ever about possibly taking some of these ideas under discussion, etc. and by the way, I AM a card-carrying member of SSUSA! |
| May 29, 2014 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Pricer, I'm with you on that however the bandaid on a wound would not solve it, it will continue to open along the way. Give the pitcher some leverage as I mentioned, Quit adding problems for him to worry about and changing his rules. Again make the rule makers play 'pitcher' for a long bit. Only one does I know of Mr. Ruth. Sparky.1.. No they do care... some. Just as long as you keep coming. But it is about $, err money. And in a way it also needs to be ...??? The read this every day, all day, all of it. |
| May 30, 2014 Super 2 posts | So I'm assuming that you were hit 7 times in your torso from your thighs to your chest and that the mask is the reason why? Hmmm...the mask might be a the culprit but that's because you aren't used to wearing it and you just plain old. It's only a matter of time before you take one off the noggin. Better to be safe than sorry. |
