Message board »Message Board home »Sign-in or register to get started
Online now: 2 members: TABLE SETTER 11, kotonk; 69 anonymousDiscussion: Western Nationals Field Conditions & Balls
| Posted | Discussion |
| Aug. 9, 2016 NYGNYY 215 posts | Western Nationals Field Conditions & Balls I wanted to go to the Western Nationals however as a team we couldn't decide, so we missed the tournament. I was able to speak to others that attended and they commented on how poor the fields were and also complained about the balls. Any truth to what I heard? |
| Aug. 9, 2016 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | NYGNYY, nothing different than in the past. Played in Sacramento where dirt infields are extremely hard because of the constant baking, low-humidity heat. This will result in more bad hops than some fields. However, the field crew watered and raked the infields more frequently this year than some tournaments in the past. As to the ball, it was the normal Trump Stote. As we all know, when it gets hot it gets soft, so not many long balls after about noon on our playing days when the temps were around 100º. Same conditions for both teams. Also normal: players complain about the Trump Stote at every hot weather tournament location: have for years; nothing changes. Players complain about fields in all drought-condition fields (Sacramento, Phoenix, Woodland, Reno, etc.) although Reno does get occasional rain...or even snow (which leads to a different sets of complaints). Too bad you missed it. There was a good turnout. |
| Aug. 9, 2016 S24 Men's 65 13 posts | Fields were ok. Balls were terrible. Many SoCal teams did not come, reportedly due to balls that turn to mush in heat. |
| Aug. 9, 2016 JackZ_SLC Men's 55 15 posts | I have a few comments to make. I will whine a bit about the fields at Maidu, at least the one we played on. Standing water in the outfield didn't make it fun, but SSUSA doesn't water the fields that I am aware of so all I can do is say that maybe something could be passed along to the folks who run the Maidu Park that a bit less water might do the trick. Or a lot less water. 1. Field conditions On the field we played on at Maidu on Friday it was very wet in the outfield which made for pretty tough conditions running down anything hit through the infield. We ended up running much more for balls that hit the infield holes since they would stop well before they got to the outfielders in many cases. As I recall when I played at Maidu last year the same field was very wet and in the same condition. We played Foskett on Sat-Sun and they were pretty good. The outfields are a little rough in spots but we have all played on much worse fields. The infields seemed to be OK and the grounds crew did a very good job between games on preparing them. Take away the standing water on the field at Maidu and I thought overall they were OK. We won't always play on field of dreams level fields. But my hips would actually like me to complain a bit more about this than I am. They are a little pissed off about the extra running. I told them to shut up and take some Ibuprofen because there are more tournaments coming up. 2. The balls. I did notice a seeming lack of home runs compared to other tournaments I have played in. It is not the rock ball and BLD for sure! But I am OK with that because it seemed maybe only true home run hitters or someone who really, really got a hold of one hit one out. We played 5 games and had 5 home runs out of the 30 possible. A couple of very timely ones which I guess made those seem all the sweeter and not the norm. I also saw some monster home runs in the 50's so the ball was flying for some batters. I actually kind of enjoyed not just standing in the outfield 6 times a game watching a ball fly out. Balls through the infield did not seem to be affected. I also think when the ball is not flying many batters change their thinking and start trying to go to opposite field resulting in many more infield fly balls and slow rollers than I have usually seem which may lead to the perception that the ball sucks more than it does. I don't bash the senior bats since it is unlikely to change but having some tournaments where the ball is not screaming out of the field seems like a good idea to me and made me enjoy it a bit more. I like defense more than offense anyway! But I can understand why some thought the ball was not very good. Bottom line is that I enjoyed the tourney, thought the ball was just about right and that the field at Maidu could have been drier. Sure beats sitting home doing nothing. I appreciate all you guys that come out and give their best at every tourney. makes for some tough and fun competition. Jack Z. #2 D&K Tradition 55's |
