i really don't care to rev up a debate on this. instead, what i'd like to do is put out a thought for everyone who plays 45 ball to think about.
and that's to consider putting yourselves in the february draft to play 55+ ball this summer.
as the 55+ rules stand now, there are only two ways for guys in the 45s to join the division: (1) allow yourselves to be drafted by a 55+ team, or, (2) take a year off from 45+ ball, and then negotiate your way onto any 55+ roster as a "community player."
the 55s play weekdays, with games starting at 5:45 and going till dark. the season runs from about may 1st till mid-july, averaging about a game a week. the competition is good, very close to 45+ ball.
one upside to playing 55+ ball is, obviously, that your weekends will be free for family time or a chance to play more ball with the 45s. the managers are debating now the possibility of increasing the season from 15 to 16 games.
another upside, is that many of you will be making a new set of friends, never a bad thing as guys enter geezerhood. can't have too many of those.
if you're drafted, you're obligated to play just one season for the team that drafts you. technically, that could mean only 8 games, enough to make yourselves playoff eligible; but the spirit of the rule is to urge guys to be regular team members and play as close to a full season as possible.
last year each of the eight teams probably averaged about 14-15 players, which is about two less than each could use, especially as the season winds down and the pulls of family, work, health and vacations increase.
after one season with your drafting team, drafted players are, like everyone else, free agents, able to go to any team with whom they can strike up a deal.
understandably, many guys dislike the idea of being forced to pay and then play for a team they don't choose to play for.
but the flip side, and maybe the best upside of all, is that many guys who'll be drafted, thanks to their age, health and talents, will be making real contributions to the teams that drafted them, and quite possibly lifting them up.
in fact, that happened last year with the whiz kids, who in 2015 finished the season in the middle of the pack with a 7-8 record. in february 2016, they drafted mike kane, a terrific pitcher and an all-star with the 45 giants. then, with the addition of jim preller, a fine community player who played years earlier in the 45s, and some good seasons from whiz regulars, the team vaulted to a 12-3 record in 2016 and faced the giants in the championship round.
that won't happen with every team adding draftees, obviously, but the point behind the draft is to increase the overall league competition and make each game's outcome uncertain, each contest a real test, end mercy-ruled games, and to make the standings at the end of each year surprising.
for this year's draft, john reel tells me that we now have six guys who've entered the pool. to enter, just write john a note (John.Reel@dot.ny.gov ),expressing your interest. the draft will be in about three to four weeks.
thanks, guys.
-mike
-- Edited by mhart on Monday 16th of January 2017 02:59:52 AM
hey lex, thanks for the heads up. hope you're well.
and you, too, jonny.
as for waivers, jon, now there are none. it's still 55 to get in. though i'd tell you, i'd give anything to have you pitching for the peppers this year.
we had waivers two or three years ago, when one team was decimated by injuries and retirements (the two anchors that pull down the 55s) and two others had about 12 guys. we did waivers then to keep teams from folding. it worked.
since then, with one exception, all the teams have weathered injuries & retirements well. but, as i said in an earlier note, we all seem to have an average of about 14.5 players to start the season, and i suspect most, if not all, of us would prefer that number were around 16.
i don't know if we'll have waivers again. there's a sentiment that we'd rather not. but there's a deeper sentiment that we'd like to keep the 8 teams we have, and if that's in jeopardy, i know we'd at least debate the issue and likely vote on it.
the 55 managers will be drafting next month. at last year's draft, we shared our roster sizes with one another and i can see us doing that again. if we're low, i can expect the topic of waivers will be raised.
that's all i know for now, jon. board members john reel and jim porter or one of the managers or i will post the news if we go to waivers.
best to both you guys,
-mike
-- Edited by mhart on Friday 20th of January 2017 02:19:48 AM
There's no question that the level of play in the 55's is very good overall. Of our 8 teams, we have 3 or 4 teams that would do very well if they played the 45 schedule. I've played in both over the years.
