Quick question??? Other than word of mouth how can Managers/GM's find out who is looking to play somewhere else? As a Manager/Gm in the 35's it would be nice to who is looking to play on a different team...Thanks!!!!

Guys were waiting until the last day to notify their managers, leaving them short come February when most teams have already started working out. It seems that most knew they were leaving a lot sooner, but chose to wait to notify their managers.

And what guarantee will the managers give the player??? Bring someone new on and bench you.

-- Edited by DP on Tuesday 1st of October 2013 04:22:22 PM

good point, Tom
this is a good change

I don't think there is a good way to leave a team. No matter what, there will always be some feelings hurt and in a lot of cases, inuendo and hyperbole to follow.
In reality you have be truthful to yourself and play where you want to play,(of course it helps when the team wants you too.)
Secondly,
I don't think it takes a very much to declare free agency, no matter if it's Oct or Feb.
OK so I think you know in Oct, you don't want to be back in the spring.

As far as managers who are less than communicative, I think there certainly is room for them as well as our most boisterous. What was Charlie Manual saying? Who cares, he got the job done. Casey Stengel? Talked a lot, but not very communicative..

That being said, the real issue for managers is how you go through the year with a solid group of guys only to find out that managers on other teams have been wooing these players to join them. I know you can't force people to stay, but can there be a separate code of ethics for managers? How bout managers from the team that the player wants to go to,have to let the existing managers know that they have interest in their player(s) This might give the existing manager a chance to talk the player(s) back to his team, without being blindsided.
Maybe we should have a no tamper ordinance, like football, when a team needs a head coach, but the coaches team is still playing. I don't know.

Jon. As I understand, this decision was not made by the managers. It was made by the board that we voted in last week. I as a manager was not asked about it. So lets not group all managers together. Managing a team is a tough job to do. In fact, if a manager told his team, I am done. Will someone please step up to take over. The chance is very slim someone from the team would. I have no real opinion, either way on the subject. As long as we all live by the same rules. Just like a manger, being a board member, takes a lot of time. So I guess while we don't agree with every decision. We did elect them as board members. As Ralph said, to me if someone told me later, then sooner. As long as I have the numbers, why in the world would I want to keep him..

Steve Van Gelder

All I hear about is free agency and declaration and this topic has been discussed over and over for many,many years with no solution. At this point using the October 31st deadline should not be instituted this year because it hasn't given players enough time to decide what they want to do. This should have been instituted at least 4 months ago to give everyone both managers and players to notice that this rule will be in effect. Start it next year.

In reality, all players are free agents and most managers know who wants to leave or have encouraged players to leave for a variety of reasons. This is not the real issue.

The real issue is teams start raiding players from other teams and usually they go to the stronger teams who already have pipelines to the 35 + division and in some cases the Twilight League.

The disparity is getting worse each year and the proponates to keep status quo are the ones who have the pipeline and the others don't have the contacts or relationaships in the other league to bring the good players in.

The result of all this is many blowout games that end in 5 innings when we pay to play 7 innings and both teams have a bad taste in their mouths because of it. If your a decent player this is not fun and we will lose many players who are discouraged.

I know Wayne Newcomb recently posted on the bulletin board his concerns and rightfully so. I have been in this league from it's inception in 1989 and I have seen it grow, but if you really want to look carefully at this
many of the same ballplayers have been around for years and the proportion of new players who have stayed
has been dropping. This doesn't bode well for future growth. We move sideways ...adding 55 division now and talk of a 60+ division. What's going to happen with the 35 and 45 divisions. Will they go by the wayside
as the 25+ division.

If the board and all the managers and players are trully concerned about the health of the league and it's growth then everyone must bite the bullet and accept some sort of draft which allows existing teams to keep maybe 6 players and the rest go in a draft with new free agents and new players entering the league.

Forget the bickering about free agency .... it will always exist. For the good of this league that I have been
proud to be in ....let's do something about parity, having fun playing the game and complete the games.

Man I haven't written this much since my theses in college!!

Artie G

I agree with Mario leave it alone every player is a free agent at season end anyways , doing a draft and having guys play on teams which they may not know guys as well as others or trying to get parity is not realistic by making up teams like in gym class. it will Be like going out to dinner paying a 200.00 bucks for the cook to make you what he wants you to eat , haha

I think this got off track a little bit...this isn't about the players who leave, or how they leave, it is more about the players that are staying.

Again, to DP'S original point...the board has, in my opinion put managers in a tough spot..you are asking players to declare by Oct. 31st, their intentions for the following season...So, Nov. 1st you have a roster of COMMITTED guys....How does a manager then go out and try and improve his team if he so desires?

He probably has to bring in new players to do this...correct? Whose spot do they take? What happens to those guys?, the ones that committed to you..?

I think managers should extend the same curtesy to the players, and let them know by the same date, whether they are wanted back or not, so they have an opportunity to explore their options, and not get"chased" away when someone better comes along.

That was the only point I was trying to make..which I obviously didn't do very well...

Jonny



-- Edited by jmartin on Wednesday 2nd of October 2013 11:11:11 AM

I totally agree Jon. Managers definitely should release players by Oct. 31 so they have time to search for another team. No doubt about it. Or, managers should in the very least explain what he sees each player's role will be with the team for the following year. But, there are pros and cons to that as well. Again, damned one way or the other.

If it's true that the reason we get to play baseball in this league is because of how much ass is busted by the general managers, then why are these fellas not recognized for their outstanding contributions to not only this organization, but may I say the whole of society for keeping this bunch off the streets for at least once sometimes twice a week.
So thanks guys, you all are doing great work.

Pete westfall
Bill Jones award winner 2008,2009,2010

Baddest man on the planet award winner 2010

Nicest hair in the league award winner 2013

Best singer award winner mrs. Relihan's 6th grade class 1969

Best dancer award winner 2008

How can you have any pudding if you dont eat your meat.

Petey

I love you either way. Though the non-med Pete seems to be even MORE entertaining. I thought that was an impossiblity. I have been corrected.
Keep singin', brother. We are listening.

Pete, keep writing and don't hold back anything Buddy. I just had the misfortune to spend a few days in a hospital bed myself and I can tell you no matter how much you kick and scream the nurse only brings the morphine around when the Dr (really the computer) allows her to.
Best of luck with the surgery !

GW

PS Pete, know any good lawyers?