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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 65 anonymousDiscussion: walk or pitch
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| Feb. 6, 2007 wellsaz 11 posts | walk or pitch guys, what is the best way to face a super hitter. We have one in our league here in the east valley (AZ), most of us here know who he is. During a game we walked him twice. Then let him hit and boom. So we walked him again. Seems every time we pitch to him we get hurt. So what is the best way to handle this guy. Other teams walk him or pay the price with a homerun or a scary line drive. Is there a better way than just walking him ?? |
| Feb. 6, 2007 phils57 Men's 70 30 posts | It's slow pitch, senior softball, let him hit! |
| Feb. 6, 2007 wellsaz 11 posts | forgot to add that we play with ASA bats only and ASA balls. There are no issues here about alter bats or anything even close, he just hits better than us and so we walk the poor guy. Maybe someone can tell us a better way. |
| Feb. 6, 2007 Lecak Men's 60 1026 posts | I agree unless he smoking liners at your pitcher let him hit especially league. Then after the game shake his hand and compliment his hitting. Only the mailman walks. |
| Feb. 7, 2007 Lefty Men's 75 721 posts | If you have experience pitcher pitch him high and inside. That should help you from getting hit. At lease let him hit. He paid his money to hit just like you. It's funny how people hate to pitch to real good hitters. Lets show him we'll walk you and maybe you'll stay home and we'll look good. I'd put my hand out and tell the man your good. Not sorry we have to walk you. Just my 2 cents. |
| Feb. 7, 2007 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | Do your best to make sure there isn't anyone on base when he comes to bat, then the solo won't hurt as much as a grand slam or 3 run shot. |
| Feb. 7, 2007 Fred Scerra Men's 80 542 posts | We have a couple of those players in our league. We use the strike plate/mat and I just try to work on the front inside edge of plate/mat so they can't extend. I figure if I can hold them to a single or double I did my job. The only time I would walk him (and I have done it) is when a player is so talented he shouldn't be playing in the level you are playing in. We have a suppose to be 65+ league for players who don't have the ability to play in our regular Sat league. All of a sudden we are getting a couple of Sat players (56 and 58) who are top level players playing against 70+ players and the league officials won't say anything so the first game I walked both of the 7 times in our doubleheader. Needless to say I caused a major rukus in the league that day. |
| Feb. 7, 2007 batguyaz 134 posts | I agree with you guys to not walk him. I also have concerns about high level players hanging out in lower level games. In this case, I know this guy and he does not even play tournament ball, never hits up the middle. In fact we can say that 80% of his hits simply go over the left field fence. I have played against him in Chandler senior and a few other east valley games and we do not walk him, just have to get the guys in front of him out to keep the HR to a solo or maybe a pop fly I think it adds a postive aspect to the gme and sure there are guys like this in almost every league. (note that I think this guy might be the best hitter I have ever seen) and we just need to adapt. So you just go Billy boy....we'll pitch to you..... |
| Feb. 7, 2007 Lecak Men's 60 1026 posts | Batguyaz we have a local ASA league open to all ages and skill level. We have one team with several UTRIP rated major players and at least 5 B or above rated players on it and another team with a major player on the roster. (young guy major) . I am a senior and the my team floats between D and C. We do not walk anyone unless they go middle especially the highly skilled guys. We have on occasion beaten both teams and that has done wonders for the young guys on the team confidence. There is an enormous gap in talent between a major rated player and a D ballplayer, I would equate the difference as greater than an average 50AA player even compared to a top rated major plus 50 player. It's league and their trying to get their work in like everyone else so we let them hit. If their behaving why not let people hit. |
| Feb. 7, 2007 azsenior 92 posts | Are you talking about Bill G. I say walk him. We pitched to him four times, four monsters over the fence, lost two balls. Nice guy, one heck of a hitter. Should be playing with the young kids in city league. |
| Feb. 7, 2007 RDSinNEOHIO Men's 70 31 posts | HOF'er (or soon to be) Mike Macenko is in our league and we pitched to him almost every time. The few times we walked him were when runners were on third and second and first base was open so it was a no brainer. Couple of times we let him hit with sacks loaded but four runs were already in so the subsequent home run only counted for one run anyway. Just have to play your cards right and hope the rest of the guys around him don't beat you. To walk him seems silly. |
| Feb. 7, 2007 T.Burk 49 posts | What is the purpose of your league and/or your team participation in league play. We play league ball in order to ready ourselves for tournament play. Because we are spread out in a metropolitan area not everyone who plays on our tournament team plays on our league team. I can use our league as an organized practice to male decisions about players, positions, etc. Bruce Walker (a major plus player) plays on our league team. He is a hitter like you have described. About two summers ago, teams began walking him every time he came to the plate. He paid to play just like everyone else, but wasn't getting a chance to hit. We try to win every game, but because the league doesn't lead to any kind of berth, money back, etc. I haven't worried about who wins the league title. Because Bruce was being walked and I couldn't convince managers to let him hit, I began selecting a player form their team(s) to not pitch to. It didn't take too long for before teams started letting him pitch. It seemed silly, especially since we play the one-and-one up rule, but when it impacted someone from their team things changed. If it is a tournament or a league which has a hugh impact, we expect to be allowed to hit and we will always allow someone elses HR hitter a chance to hit. If anything, we will try different ways to gett hat player out or keep him in the yard. |
| Feb. 7, 2007 azsenior 92 posts | After reading these post I have changed my mind and will tell our mrg to let him hit. I agree that we have to use a little mind power and make sure the bases are as empty as possiable when he comes up. So Bill, if you are reading this, we will let you hit. To all those big hitters out there, I hope the other teams do the same. You know we wish we could hit that way. |
| Feb. 7, 2007 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | T. Burk, did Bruce ever find a senior tournament to play with? Mike Macenko is a true gentleman! I'll be seeing him at Spring Training in Jax in 10 days. I pitch in our league and had been walked frequently a couple of years ago. I sometimes chose to walk one of the opposition's batters. Lately I haven't been walked much, maybe because the Gold Dots and ASA bats are a bad combination and won't fly. |
| Feb. 7, 2007 Lecak Men's 60 1026 posts | Gary19 in the league I described in my previous post that is the top league in our area as far as I'm aware, we only get 4-6 teams per session. The major guys are at the top of the food chain nationally they shouldn't be punished if they behave and are clearly superior to everyone. Plus their presence gives our little league something to talk about over a pizza and a beer. If you choose to look at their presence as ultimately a good thing you will get better and that is why most of us compete. |
| Feb. 7, 2007 azsenior 92 posts | Lecak, well said. For us here in Mesa - East Valley Az. We should abide by these words and let the big hitters do their thing. I know Bill G gets walks far too much and we should let him swing away and talk about it over pizza and beer as Lacak says. |
| Feb. 7, 2007 STONEMAN Men's 50 535 posts | GENTLEMAN: In this town, most leagues r 1 H.R. 1 night a wk, their is an ISA league, that allows 6 H.R's. Another league, NSA, has 1 night inwhich, the 1st 3 H.R. hitters, can hit all they can. After that, a H.R. is an out & in ASA & ISA, THAT OVER THE LIMIT, H.R., ends the inning. Our Senior league, has 40 to 70 yr old pitchers. No screens. If, a player is to good, that man is walked & a few have been, for a better word "KICKED', off their team. It's just league. No WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. No State Title. League, is to have fun & talk about what 'we' did when we were younger? To get out of the house & to do something, that most of us love to do, RIGHT? What ever happen to GOOD SPORTSMENSHIP? Get together after the game & hav' a few beers or get' a pizza. I watch some 60 to 75 yr ol' teams & really enjoy see' an older man hit an inside the park H.R., or in a few cases, c the ball go over the fence. It's just a game! A game we r to enjoy & have fun! Even if the man is a 'JERK', why, lower yourself? GOOD LUCK....Play Fair.... Have some Fun...The STONEMAN |
| Feb. 8, 2007 batguyaz 134 posts | We argee with the post that great hitters should be able to swing away. What started this post is a guy we have here in Az that does not even play tournament ball, so he is not just taking BP. He just wants to play a little senior ball with friends and because he is just a powerful hitter he gets walked. We are talking about simple league play here and as stated above I think it is not fair to not let him hit. The other team just needs to work on something else. Knowing Bill, maybe they should just put the left fielder 30ft behind the fence. |
| Feb. 8, 2007 batguyaz 134 posts | I noticed that when I come up, the outfielders all lay down and take a nap.... |
| Feb. 8, 2007 Gripit&Ripit 31 posts | It's a "FREAKING" league, not a tournament. I repeat it's a "FREAKING" league, not a tournament. If that 1st place league t-shirt is that important you got a problem. If you did that (intenational walk) to my player the middle becomes open and doesn't close till the intenational walks stop and that would go for all the teams in that league. |
| Feb. 8, 2007 azsenior 92 posts | I think 'homerun Bill' plays today at AW field. I will let you know if they walk him. |
| Feb. 8, 2007 Gripit&Ripit 31 posts | Whats an "AW" field????? |
| Feb. 8, 2007 azsenior 92 posts | Apatche Wells field - guy came up - they walked him - let him twice - two homeruns - no sportsmanship here - but a big win for a senior rec league - oh well, sorry BG..... |
| Feb. 8, 2007 Dbax Men's 65 2100 posts | So who is this guy and why isn't he on a tournament team? |
| Feb. 9, 2007 azsenior 92 posts | His name is Bill Gateley, he does the hitting clinics here in Az for Rip It. I think is a VP or something for them. Has played in the senior leagues here for a few years, well liked but I am told choses not to play tournaments. Just senior league ball. Very low key until he gets to the plate, then just walk him (kidding). Anyway, I think we have covered this, time to move on and just play ball. |
| Feb. 10, 2007 AZSAGE 6 posts | You should perhaps mention that the Apache Wells fences are very short. 240 feet in right field I believe |
| Feb. 10, 2007 batguyaz 134 posts | I am sure he will not play there again. For a guy that can hit 340ft, playing on 250 fields must be a joke. |
| Feb. 15, 2007 azsenior 92 posts | Saw homerun Bill play Tuesday and today (thursday) and they let him hit four times that I saw. At Skyline he parked three well over the 300ft fence and then they walked him the rest. At AW field they let him hit one over and then walked him the rest. So I guess these teams (my own too) are playing for keeps. Our coach says we walk him because every time at bat is too much and causes our team to feel defeated. |
| Feb. 15, 2007 azsenior 92 posts | This league are ASA which I think is 6-12ft arch. My team will not pitch him outside for fear of a shot up the middle. We try to keep it high and inside but we most of the time our team is lucky just to get it over the plate. We have gotten him out before with him going after a bad pitch. Today our pitch sliped and threw flat down the middle. The ball should be coming down any minute now.... |
| Feb. 15, 2007 Dbax Men's 65 2100 posts | Yawn. |
| Feb. 15, 2007 batguyaz 134 posts | Your team cannot pitch, he can hit, get over it already....let's find something to talk about before Bill starts thinking he is a greek god.... |
| Feb. 15, 2007 Ken Men's 55 462 posts | Yeah, where's Einstein when you nee him. lol |
| Feb. 16, 2007 T.Burk 49 posts | Bruce in Ga-sorry I haven't gotten to you sooner. Walk will be allowed to play with the Mavericks from CA. The SPA has decided to let 1 out of area play on a major plus team. He is still waiting to hear from Terry about what he will allow. If they don't respond to him, he will attempt to play with the METROS a 55 AAA team from Kansas City, MO. |
| Feb. 20, 2007 E. Ness 122 posts | So let me get this straight a Major Plus player is going to play AAA. Anyone else see a problem with this? |
| Feb. 20, 2007 Gripit&Ripit 31 posts | This thread is getting old... ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzZZZzzzzzzzzzzz |
| Feb. 20, 2007 Gripit&Ripit 31 posts | This thread is getting old... ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzZZZzzzzzzzzzzz |
| Feb. 20, 2007 Lecak Men's 60 1026 posts | E. Ness why would this be a problem, let him play. One guy isn't going to make any difference, he may even hurt them at the AAA level. For the sake of discussion I'm assuming he is a HR hitter. 1HR and a single after that, there may be times when a HR(single) is not as important as say a gap doulbe or triple with multiple men on. |
| Feb. 20, 2007 william wallace 42 posts | I believe he is referring to what happens when he does not hit the ball out of the park. I know this guy and there is a world of difference between the line drives he hits with his senior Combat and the ones hit by guys who play on the AAA level. Not saying some of them don't hit hard line drives. He does not have to hit the ball out he can hit line drives very well. I guess we will wait and see how many people complain. |
| Feb. 21, 2007 batguyaz 134 posts | Saw part of the game between the Miken team and the Rip It team (senior)....they should have just walked Billy boy...my goodness that was a shot. |
| Feb. 21, 2007 azsenior 92 posts | Al, was that the one that landed on the basketball court in field 2 at skyline. Had to be 340ft or so. Not bad for a greek god (that was funny). We need a message board just for Az senior softball. Guys, any ideas. |
