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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 99 anonymousDiscussion: Picking Up Players for Tournaments (long post)
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| July 29, 2008 TexasTransplant Men's 70 516 posts | Picking Up Players for Tournaments (long post) Bruce's question about picking up with a team for the NSA tournament got me thinking about the subject. You frequently hear of teams dropping out of a tournament at the last minute or not even entering a tournament because they are short handed. You also frequently see teams trying to muddle through or having to withdraw when injuries strike during a tournament. I live in in the DFW area, but play with a team from Arkansas. We've had three tournaments in DFW this year, but for various reasons my team could not attend. I found myself a spectator, and much like Bruce, wanting to play. At the same time, I was watching teams play shorthanded or with injuries. Here's my thought: Why not let players whose teams are not competing in the tournament register with the tournament director by age and classification. When a team needs someone to have enough to play (either before hand or due to injury) they could pick up the first registered player in their age or higher that is in a classification no higher than their team (AAA's could pick up AAA's or AA's, but not Major's). They have to take the first player on the list; not cherry picking for the best players or pre-arranging for someone to register so that they can be picked up later. If the registered player can't or won't play with the first team that needs him, his name is removed from the list and not eligible to pick up with anyone else. I'm sure there are some issues that would need to be resolved, but something like this might encourage more teams to enter tournments and, at the same time, provide idle players a chance to get into the action. One of the things we all like to see is more teams at tournaments. Any thoughts? |
| July 29, 2008 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | It sounds like you may have something here. Maybe allowing teams to pick up players from this list within 3 weeks before a tournament. Anything to get more teams in tournaments! |
| July 29, 2008 Lecak Men's 60 1026 posts | Very solid idea. Realistically this would be probably made up of players from the home tournament area probably not going to get to many to travel without a team. Also the bordering states rule might have to get waived for these players. I know here in Vegas this would benefit the locals because we get a number of tournaments roll through here. |
| July 29, 2008 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | I suggested that 2 years age for the Huntsman Games because at the time there were about 75 players wanting to play with no team to play with. Trouble is that at that time there were more teams than they could accommodate. I even suggested adding a Heinz 57 team, a mix of players to build a team to play in it. They use a team finder on their web site, Players leave age, positions played contact info, as well as other stuff. They had enough plauers to add three solid teams for 3 age brackets, all positions filled, though some were left out for age differences etc. Like many ideas on here, I wonder if it too will be ignored at least for the time being. I know 1 team that has lost about 5-7 players in the last month for various reasons and another that just struggles to field a team for each tourney. Not good, but a worthy idea. |
| July 29, 2008 slomo 47 posts | I too think this is a good idea. My team doesn't travel as much as i would like, nor do I agree with some of the tourney selections. I would love to play 2 per month but that will never happen with my guys. Also it's rare for us to travel more than 250 miles. So what to do? I WANT to play with my homies (hip lingo huh!) as we are all local players and I think that's neat! But the lack of playing in national and regional tourneys is very frustrating to me. I have in the past hooked up with other teams for a specific tourney, always with permission. But I always felt kind of like a interloper. I met some really good guys this way but my heart has always been with my home team. All of that being said I think TT and Taits are on to something. If monitored properly this could work!!! |
| July 29, 2008 Duke Men's 65 908 posts | All of this sounds like a really good idea. |
| July 29, 2008 Lecak Men's 60 1026 posts | If I could add another thing I'm a member of the advisory board, no clue if they will act but they have to let me speak. I was looking at an idea to present about the high cost of traveling and what that may do to tournament tam numbers. The association that figures it out first I believe will be the beneficiary of potentially a smaller pie. This is a good idea that should be vocalized. |
| July 29, 2008 4x4 Men's 65 601 posts | As long as there are safe guards/guidelines. There are some teams in leagues that purposely do not have their weaker players show up to certain games knowing the "bucket/pool" players will give them a stronger team. Any possibility that allows for chicanery or manipulation should be thought through thoroughly before any thought of implimentaion can be considered. Some teams would savor the opportunity to "upgrade/add manpower/firepower/distance tournaments that they might not be able to comply/compete with out of their own roster. |
| July 30, 2008 TexasTransplant Men's 70 516 posts | 4x4, To your point, that's why I think it's important that teams seeking to pick up a player have to pick up the first player on the list that meets the criteria for their age and classification. No cherry picking the list. I'm sure better minds than mine can come up with other safeguards. |
| July 30, 2008 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | The list idea is pretty sound. You would also need a simuliar list for teams as well. They would also have to form a line. Only problem I foresee is who is minding thse list. Directing that "next up" player to the team needing one. And so on, so fourth. If that could be interpreted as possibly accusatory, so be it. Not all issues have been up front, answered, or replied to, let alone resolved. |
| July 30, 2008 Duke Men's 65 908 posts | Besides monitoring this fairly, you may need to have players on the list enter their playing postions. If a team needs a SS or pitcher, they do not want to get an outfielder or 1B. Therefore, make it first player up in the position that they are seeking. Andy ;-) |
| July 30, 2008 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | There are options; Have the list with a code, Maybe their ID number, NO name. Have their positions playerd on there & maybe even their ranking. Contact through phone number & ID number verification. Have a pool you literally draw out of a hat, who you get and where they play (position) is the luck of the literial draw. Don't like it well you were offered a player, too bad it didn't work out. Better luck next tournament. That one is cold blooded but I've seen it. |
| July 30, 2008 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Duke, I'm surprised to see your not going to Anaheim this Sat. |
| July 30, 2008 Duke Men's 65 908 posts | Taits, We are going to the Outlaw tournament this weekend. Remember our team is Double Nickels now, not Base Hawgs. We are in the 55AAA bracket(yellow bracket) with the Mustangs, Over The Edge, and Gusto. The Outlaws know what Hennessey did to us and some other teams, but said everyone knows we are just a 55AAA team. Hope to see you there! Andy Smith, Double Nickels, AKA: Base Hawgs, Manager |
| July 30, 2008 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Duke, I hope to meet you there. Playing w\ One Hit Wonders, of all names. Some weraing Hawaiian shirts and all. Co- co nuts for cups, perhaps. Not sure the earthquake situation is the best for travewling though. |
| Aug. 1, 2008 Mack19 2 posts | Senior Baseball has a player pool system in place for it`s national tournaments in which players who wants to play but don`t have a team in the tournament pays a fee and is picked up by a team who needs a player or players. Works great for both parties. Even a whole team could be formed out of this pool of players. The uniform rules may have to be waived. |
| Aug. 1, 2008 Mack19 2 posts | Senior Baseball has a player pool system in place for it`s national tournaments in which players who wants to play but don`t have a team in the tournament pays a fee and is picked up by a team who needs a player or players. Works great for both parties. Even a whole team could be formed out of this pool of players. The uniform rules may have to be waived. |
| Aug. 3, 2008 HITKNG Men's 40 18 posts | Hello Im a 45 year old left handed major player just moved to the SolCal area, Im play left field, left center, and 1st base. I also bat left handed as well, I am consider a power hitter. I have played with most of the big major teams on east coast and have won at least 7 world tourney's also played all army and all arm forces ball as well. If you or you know of a team that is interested in a very good fast and powerful team player. Please by all means contact Donald at SETEMAL2@yahoo.com. How can I find out about the player pool and who can I talk to about it. |
| Aug. 3, 2008 TexasTransplant Men's 70 516 posts | The player pool doesn't exist today in Senior Softball, at least not at sanctioned tournaments. That was the point of the original post, to talk up some like that. Don't know about SoCal, but here in Texas there are only a limited number of 45+ teams. Most tournaments start with 50+. Maybe someone from SoCal can chip in with playing opportunities. |
