In the interest of starting a civil conversation, I want to share my observations relating to the 55+ division season and playoff schedule. I think it is important that all of the players within the division have an opportunity to offer their input so the general managers can discuss various topics during the off-season.
I will preface my remarks by saying that I love the double-elimination tournament in the 45+ division. As a member of the Shaskys, I have played in this tournament for the past several years. The 45+ division event gives the lower-tiered teams a chance to play a series of challenging games in a true playoff atmosphere. Some years the Shaskys have advanced. Some years we have been eliminated. But we always look forward to the tournament. Given that experience, I was very happy to see that concept adopted by the 55+ division. Unfortunately there are significant differences between the playoff formats that make the 55+ version more of a chore than a positive experience.
The first two differences relate to the tournament schedule. The 45+ division tournament is played in early September, after most guys have gone on their summer vacation. It has always been pretty easy to block off the first weekend in September for playoff baseball. The 55+ division tournament is played over the last two weeks of July. Most of the teams had to play one or more games while missing one or more players. Teams are forced to play with less than their best line-up. Players are playing out of position and, in some cases, 55+ year-old players are trying to play through minor injuries.
The other difference is that the 55+ playoff schedule is very difficult to predict. In the 45+ division tournament, players know that the games will be on Saturday and Sunday. We may not know the exact times and locations but you know that Saturday and Sunday are for baseball. In the 55+ playoff, the outcome of one game determines the day and location of your next game. "If we win Tuesday, we play on Thursday. If we lose Tuesday, we play Friday." Two weeks of that uncertainty is very difficult to juggle with work and family plans.
The third drawback to the 55+ tournament is an extension of how the second phase of the season schedule is created. After the 9th game of the season, teams are then put into a game rotation in which they play teams that are close in the standings. During this phase of the regular season, my 6th place Dodgers played the 5th place Cardinals twice, the 4th place Cubs once and the 7th place Twins once. Then in the double elimination tournament, the Dodgers played the Cardinals once and the Twins twice. Over the course of the our first 16 games, the Dodgers played the Cubs twice, the Cardinals and Twins four times each but only once against the Whiz, Giants, Yankees, Peppers, Pirates and Americans. I would guess that other teams experienced this same type of imbalance and I'm sure that it was frustrating for the Twins to lose four games to the Dodgers.
I would propose that the 55+ division move to a more straightforward schedule in which teams play against each other twice during the regular season. This would eliminate teams padding their won/loss records by playing a softer schedule. It would allow teams to use players who were not playoff eligible as well as sub players for games in mid to late July. This 16 or 18 game season would end at the same time as the double-elimination tournament. The top four or six teams could then begin the championship playoff just like we are starting next week.
Hopefully players from the 55+ division are checking the bulletin board and will share their thoughts. Thank you.
This is a good a time as any to start a discussion about how to improve the playoffs, or anything else for that matter. If its too much for you to juggle with all the other responsibilities you have on your plate, thats understandable. The rest of us will do our best to muddle through this . Don has a good point,and I agree that a more structured schedule would be beneficial to all involved. We have some good folks who have worked hard on all areas of play and schedules. If it can be tweaked to give things a little more structure,Im fairly certain it wont be too difficult to grasp.
Jim - Your off-season started last Friday night. And your Twins dealt with all of the issues that I described. In our last playoff game the Twins had just nine players at the field, your regular 1st baseman was forced to play catcher and you were missing two of your better outfielders. I talked to a few of your players after the game and they expressed the same concerns that I raised in my original message.
I am not forcing anyone to join the conversation. I do think that the players will appreciate the fact that somebody is listening.
I agree that a discussion is needed. Because of the timing for our playoffs teams are left undermanned due to family, vacation or work commitments. Too many times this has happened and we have to brainstorm a way to fix this.
I like the playoff format, but the dates we play makes it hard. It is very easy for teams to be missing big chunks of their teams at this time of year. I know - we all should be 100% committed to this, but our families won't necessarily agree to taking vacations when the weather turns colder.
if we get 2 fields that accommodate the "if you win then or if you lose then" on the same date that would eliminate some uncertainty. even the 45's have experienced this confusion though. when it rains reschedules occur that have sometimes put that playoff schedule in disarray and on weeknights. this relates to the demand that the schedule progress in order and why the Pirates and Peppers were asked to concede games rather than stall the tourneys progress. which entails rewriting the whole thing and demolishing any set plans.
The unbalanced schedule has its drawbacks as Don's example highlights. However it also helps solve the unwanted glut of Mercy ruled 5 inning games. something thats inherent in how teams are allowed to organize which in turn creates a natural sifting of talent and subsequent weak to strong teams. We used to have a full 1/3 of our games mercied ruled. We now have less than 15%. Like teams end of playing each other a lot more. granted some get bored, but some don't.
In the end, this year we have six teams playing for a championship and they have been put thru what i would say is a pretty good acid test. the seedings reflect each teams performance and perhaps actual current odds of winning it all. 4 other teams got a playoff experience. The schedule is out and published. if it rains or games get suspended, that changes.
Some have said to me that perhaps we make changes to separate the weaker from the strong altogether or allow the top two or four to have a semi and finals playoff series. Our division will no doubt grow in the next few years. I expect 14-15 teams. there are nuances to these drastic changes that have also been expressed.
right now an unbalanced 18 game schedule would make us play 2 games week on at least 6 weeks ...and hope it doesn't rain. Darkness has dictated we finish our season in July and begin a playoff in august and finish as close to mid August as possible. Lights have been discussed as well. We play weeknights because alot of our players still play 45's .
I am for a division that can uphold our mission, be tenable and limit mercy games. We can tweak , redo, try new things, scrap others. It must allow those who can play access, be accomplished given our resources and time constraints, and offer reasonable competition.
I just have an issue with the uncertain nature of when you are going to play in a double elimination tournament. Maybe the bottom tier can stay a double elimination tournament, but the finals should be a step ladder tournament with definite dates for each step on the ladder. The top two teams could still earn a bye in the first round, with the semi-finals and the finals being best two of three.
I do think this playoff part stretches out too long. Johns idea of two fields/games per night would go a long way to solving it. A day or two of rainouts will push things back even further.
Can someone tell me why we arent doing anything about buying our own fields ,putting up lights, and building a dome for the main field? You guys need to stop thinking small, and realize there are multiple financing options available to this organization that would allow us to make this happen. Im calling on our financial planners, business owners,and real estate investors to get in touch with their contemporaries that have the money and contacts to move forward. Albany co. still has the property laying fallow where the ACYanks played. Enough land there for a couple fields. Not a bad business investment considering softball,soccer fields etc. are at a premium in this area. I know that dome **** sounds crazy,but if they can throw one up over a driving range,whats to stop us from putting something over a baseball field?
Here's a suggestion to think about, similar to the current 45 schedule. With 10 teams, rank them in order from top to bottom. For regular season, Top 5 play each other twice each (8 games) and also play bottom 5 once each for a total of 13 regular season games. Then you have options for playoffs. My suggestion is below:
At conclusion of regular season, the top 6 immediately begin their round robin championship tournament. The bottom 4 in the standings could play a standard type playoff series or round robin for a "B" champion, affording everyone post season competitive games.
Use the previous season final results to set rankings for the next season schedule.
I think this addresses most of the issues that have been brought up. Simpler format, regular season schedule will be set at the beginning of the year, fewer mercy games, only one round robin, minimum of 15 games for every team. Of course the two field idea should be done also.
Now is as good a time as any to discuss this. The season and the format is still fresh in our minds. In the 55s will forget or not care once the season ends. I like Don's suggestions.
I'm all for top teams and lower teams playing against each other and seeding accordingly. Top 2 teams in the standings get a bye and seed accordingly. The cream will rise to the top. Less competitive teams have to thrive to improve. Fielding a good team and winning should be rewarded.
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We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing.
After facing the Giants last night in the playoffs without Pat Alston, Timmy Brown and John Weber I have to say I have changed my mind. It would be nice to have a set time frame that people could plan around similar to the 45's. The current method stretches the playoffs out for weeks.
