I thought about this claim "I just want to play with my friends" for a long time--worried about it what, you aren't my friend? we are all friends, or we should be is this "friend" stuff more important than competitive games? I don't think so the 55s have struggled with this---in the immortal words of B__ N___--it aint rite! I'm thinking of this again as MLB is set to do the 2015 draft let's try to be big league--be high class a draft would add a lot of interest no more of these underage players-- for the 55s--there's a lot of guys who are 65--who want to play--but are being pushed out let's fix this no more of this "friend" crap---that is really, anti-friend what, you can't make new friends? Jim B RF
There are some discussions going on about what the appropriate ages should be for the different divisions now that the 35's have dropped down.
One of my ideas is to make a separate "division" with the goal being to make evenly matched teams out of the interested people. It would be an entirely different beast with the players signing up to play rather than GM's entering a team. It would also have to have some minimum playing time requirements so one manager didn't sit all of the weaker players in an effort to win while the opposing managers played everyone.
The idea is to make more competitive games and lessen the number of blowouts. I would imagine many of the guys on the teams that win one or two games and routinely get mercy ruled may enjoy playing competitive games instead. This would most likely lead to a few less teams at each age level and most likely improve the competitiveness of all of the remaining teams.
There obviously wouldn't be one at each age level but maybe just one division for all age levels or possibly just over 30 or whatever shakes out. There is a local over 50 basketball league and they actually draft teams each year. There is some logic to the idea that by playing with new team mates we would make new friends. It may be a great solution for those of us that want to play in two divisions but can't compete / earn much playing time in the younger divisions.
Feedback anyone???
-- Edited by johnc on Thursday 4th of June 2015 08:11:22 AM
I'll throw out an idea that might work. But first a quick response to the original post and to John's idea. The debate over a draft comes and goes. I do not think there is enough support for a draft to have the idea implemented. John's idea is also interesting but may be difficult to administer over the course of the season. Adding a new division to the league would also bring up issues related to field availability. So here is my idea...
Over the course of each season the league takes days/weekends off the schedule. We do not play over Memorial Day weekend, July 4th weekend, Mothers Day, Fathers Day and so on. The 45s and 55s don't play on Saturdays either. I would guess there are plenty of guys in town that would like to play some baseball on those off days. (Don't tell my wife but I'm one of those guys!) Could we hold "pick-up" games on those days? Guys could sign up in advance, managers could be assigned and teams could be picked to balance the rosters. Other details could be worked out.
I think this would give league members an opportunity to play competitive games in a causal atmosphere without requiring year-long commitments from the league or the players. And that's all I have to say about that!
I like John's idea and we should have a round-table discussion on it. My father's softball league holds a draft every year. Each team is allowed to keep five players and the rest of the league goes into the draft. It's interesting, but the focus is then put on the "franchise" and not on the players. Plus, uniforms become quite the complicated endeavor - if you were to implement something, I think the league would have to sanction team names and uniforms.
Pick up games feel a bit too loose for what some guys are looking for. With no incentive to win and no standings I don't think that would last very long.
-- Edited by The_Hurricane on Thursday 4th of June 2015 12:43:32 PM
As interesting as all these ideas are, it seems to me that the bigger issue, which has not been raised in this forum, is the rumor that the Board is considering changing the age divisions for 2016. I don't know if/when/how/among whom that conversation will conclude, but that could force virtually every team to alter its roster. I'd like to know if this change is coming before thinking too much about drafts, pickup games, alternative divisions, etc.
As interesting as all these ideas are, it seems to me that the bigger issue, which has not been raised in this forum, is the rumor that the Board is considering changing the age divisions for 2016. I don't know if/when/how/among whom that conversation will conclude, but that could force virtually every team to alter its roster. I'd like to know if this change is coming before thinking too much about drafts, pickup games, alternative divisions, etc.
Curt Tucker
Wouldn't it be put to a vote anyway? And then wouldn't the Board solicit opinions (Town Hall style) prior to a vote?
Could look into rules on how to keep a team from acquiring a significant number of players from an established team, to build a top team, leaving leaving previous team to scrounge for players and/or folding.
Curt - the rumors you are hearing about an age change are just rumors at this point. With the 35's dropping the age limit down there are GM's that want the division age limits changed as some guys who are 44 for example are old for the 33's but too young for the 45s. There are other GM's that don't. We as a board have this as an item on the agenda to discuss as we move forward. It hasn't been formally discussed yet.
Rob - I would assume that opinions will be solicited. The free agent thing happened just before i started playing again but i believe there was a great deal of discussion before anything changed. I know i am in favor of getting the opinion of any and all of the GM's on this. They in turn should be getting the opinions of their players.
Dave - Those rules were in place before free agency but were eliminated. Free agency has positives and negatives and your concern is one of the negatives in my opinion. Another big negative is it tends to group all of the talent on just a few teams leaving a number of weak teams that can't compete and the result is a large number of lopsided games. That is where the idea i had above may come into play which may lower the number of teams in some divisions because some guys may go play in a division that strives for equal teams and competitive games. But .... the whole thing would be a different dynamic and would require a different method registering, forming teams, managing etc.
Over the course of each season the league takes days/weekends off the schedule. We do not play over Memorial Day weekend, July 4th weekend, Mothers Day, Fathers Day and so on. The 45s and 55s don't play on Saturdays either. I would guess there are plenty of guys in town that would like to play some baseball on those off days. (Don't tell my wife but I'm one of those guys!) Could we hold "pick-up" games on those days? Guys could sign up in advance, managers could be assigned and teams could be picked to balance the rosters. Other details could be worked out.
I think this would give league members an opportunity to play competitive games in a causal atmosphere without requiring year-long commitments from the league or the players. And that's all I have to say about that!
Don Ball
I like this idea also.
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