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Online now: 5 members: Hitting10th, LTSGOBLU, Matty507, Rookies 40, Topgun4; 12 anonymousDiscussion: Platooning
| Posted | Discussion |
| Oct. 21 einstein Men's 50 3112 posts | Hey guys, It's about time in senior softball for a dynamic change that will benefit everyone immediately. Give up? Platooning. That is, the ability to name one set of 10 guys for offense and another set for defense. Platooning would; -increase participation by adding and being able to use more players at any given time -increase the caliber of play by letting guys in who excell at either offense or defense -increase the revenue package of senior softball along with the potential package offered sponsor cities by increased participation -decrease number of injuries due to exhaustion or over heating -allow managers more flexibility and support in playing and fielding players -increase the longevity of players in senior softball, that is longer life span like the DH has done for baseball -and more. Truly, platooning would increase the level of participation, caliber of play and longevity of players, immediately. What are we waiting for? What do you think? Einstein |
| Oct. 21 Fred 45 posts | Some very good thoughts. The only problem with this is that I don't personally know of anyone that would want to give up their at bats and only play defense. I do know of a lot of guys that would gladly give up playing 'D' and only hit. Fred |
| Oct. 21 TexasTransplant Men's 70 516 posts | Personally, I don't want to give up either hitting or fielding and would probably move on if I got relagated to doing only one or the other, but a variation on this idea might be to allow a couple of Designated Hitters (as opposed to Extra Hitters) and allow two guys to just hit and two guys to just field (like the AL does with the pitcher's spot). I know we frequently are hard put to get 10-11 players for out-of-town tournaments. We'd be hard put to put together a complete defensive team and a complete offensive team. |
| Oct. 21 einstein Men's 50 3112 posts | Hey Guys, It's not 10 different players on O and 10 different on D. It's 10 designated players on O and 10 on D. They can be the same guys or not. You might have 7 guys that go both ways but it frees you to get 6 more guys in the game instead of just 3. Einstein |
| Oct. 21 DMac Men's 60 207 posts | well, there's no accounting for tastes, but to me, playing softball and not hitting is like going to a chick flick with a woman that you have absolutely no chance of sleeping with. |
| Oct. 21 einstein Men's 50 3112 posts | D/Mac, You're probably a stud offensive and defensive player but most guys are better at one or the other and I know lots' of guys that are way better at one or the other even at the Major plus level. It would enable coaches to get more guys in the game while improving the overrall caliber of play and increasing overrall participation and revenue for senior softball. Maybe it's easier to recognize if you allow anyone on the roster to play defense anytime anywhere and only restrict the batter by number and position. E-stein |
| Oct. 22 Mitch Men's 50 68 posts | I've got an even better idea. Leave the damn game alone and play it the way it's suppose to be. If you get hurt, too bad, we've all been hurt before, get over it. We're old enough now to know what we can and what we can't do, what position to play, where to play that position, pace ourselves. Look, just play the game and forget all these "brillant" ideas. |
| Oct. 22 MK39 Men's 50 333 posts | Platooning Great idea, a fresh approach to increase the level of participation, caliber of play and longevity of players. Only thing standing in the way of this is in a nut shell is = Selfish slowpitch amateur ballpalyers who think it all revolves around them. Simply because of our age something like this should be allowed. Keeping the same players in the game because they are your best hitters are 2nd best defesive players and subjecting them to 1 1/2 hour long games sometimes in close to 100 degree heat over and over again can be dangerous to ones health. Opens the door for everthing he said. Sounds real good for the game in all aspects. Why wont it happen = Selfish slowpitch amateur ballpalyers. If any one on my team had the attitude like i have just read in these reply posts, they could feel free to move on asap. I want team players whose first reaction is respect for there fellow ballplayers wheater or not they are even in the game or waiting for the call. Einstien, you are way ahead of your time on this one but i will bring it up to the senior softball heads to see if they see the benefits of such a proposal. Thanks for some fresh ideas. Mike Kelly Kelly's Sports 50 + |
| Oct. 22 Mitch Men's 50 68 posts | If platooning were allowed, don't you think it would be possible to "severely" stack a team both offensively and defensively? It wouldn't be any fun to play a game where every batter hits it over the fence. If that's the case, you could leave the defensive team in the dugout to rest, then when a "regular" batter comes to the plate, go play defense. Why even go out in the hot sun to stand there and watch balls fly over your head out of the park? |
| Oct. 22 MK39 Men's 50 333 posts | Mitch: sounds like it would increase the run production if some of the major and AAA teams did exactly that and then move on up and play major plus with us. Think of it, the best offense a team can put up and the best defense as well. Hitters hitting and defensive players doing there thing. The american league does it right now with the dh rule, an offensive player hitting for the pitcher who never hits , just plays defense. Now up the scale to lets say 3 to 5 dh offensive hitters a game who only hit, while there counterparts play the defense. Should be a more exciting game with a lot less errors and less potential for injury seeing how you have better defensive players on the field.??? I think it could be great for the game, include more players, position players and would be allowed on all levels of teams and maybe it would produce some teams that would shock everyone. This idea has potential if you would open your mind and think "Team" ball which is how can i make my team better, you would see it. Thanks Mike Kelly Kelly's Sports 50 major plus |
| Oct. 25 crusher Men's 75 524 posts | Mitch, good comment. I was thinking the same thing. The rich would get richer. If Platooning is wanted, then start a senior softball platooning league. MK39, it would be nice if all of them would move up to play the majors. They will not move up as the tour dir's will just let them stay and dominate. SPA lets people play in their same age bracket on a team they did not qualify with in their nationals. They also allow teams to stay down and not move up even when the team has added better players. It is tough enough to win now without giving teams with a larger number of players to pick from an additional advantage. Just my opinion, I love softball. C |
| Oct. 25 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | We have enough trouble fielding guys for the few teams that we have in the southeast. Platooning would only decrease the number of teams here. There are alot of complaints that there aren't enough teams in a tournament. I can see where platooning would only decrease the number of teams. |
| Oct. 25 einstein Men's 50 3112 posts | Of course the good teams get better but so do the other teams. It gives any coach more flexibility in using players and enables him to get more players into a game. And if you don't want to platoon, you don't have to. If you put 8 to 10 real good singles hitters in any line up, you can run with the big dogs, anytime. Look at Thermco under normal conditions. They can play with anyone without putting the ball in the air. It would promote more participation, that is, more players playing, on every level. Now, what's wrong with that? We have a minimum of teams right now that want to play Major plus. I could see a good major team adding a couple of specialists and stepping up. Couldn't you? |
| Oct. 27 Older Than Dirt Men's 50 28 posts | s the old saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"!!!! I also find it interesting that the originator of the idea, "AND" it's chief supporter, so far, are from the same "Major Plus" team. I don't suppose that there is a hiddeen agenda of some kind involved in trhis "recommendation"!!!!!! |
| Oct. 27 einstein Men's 50 3112 posts | Older than dirt? Reasons, thinking and change are not the sworn enemies of softball or rational thought as some old timers would have us think. More players playing, higher caliber of play, more revenue for senior softball, less injuries, more longevity of player life, better team chemistry, and more... Hey older, if not bolder, why not give us a couple of your reasons why you don't think it'll work ,IF you've GOT a mind to. |
| Oct. 27 MK39 Men's 50 333 posts | Older Than Dirt: There is a lot of things that are broke in slowpitch softball and i have heard that from young and old players for the last almost 10 years now since i opened my store. Yes, i agree with Einstein on this one but you have no idea how many things he and i wont agree on at all. He told me this idea in a phone converstation maybe 2 weeks ago and i thought it had merit then and still think so now. Sounds like you sense some sort of conspiracy here which would favor my team and what my team only??? This is a way for teams a couple of players short, gee how many times have i heard that from coaches and players, to have a chance to strenghten there team on both ends and maybe suck it up and play at a higher level. I will be there waiting as we choose to already play at the highest level and would like to see more and different teams step up and meet us out there. You would be surprised by playing at the highest level just how respectfull the players are towards you and how good it feels when you leave the park knowing that you beat the best in the game. Again, i am a straight shooter and when i say i like something then i just like it. Convince me otherwise with a vaild argument and maybe i will change my mind, but it aint broke , dont fix it is just more funny then it can be taken as serious. JMO Thanks Mike Kellys Kelly's Sports 50+ |
| Nov. 10 einstein Men's 50 3112 posts | What's your opinion on Platooning? Weigh in, guys. Yeah or nay. I think it makes a hell of a lot of sense. |
