As a 28 division player I have been looking at the overall web site these days (I am a teacher.......no work in the summer.... alot of time on my hands) and I have come across something that I have been wondering about oh the last few hours? In the 28's we have 2 divisions. The 38's and the 47's have 1 division. Has there ever been any discussion about making 2 divisions? I think I counted 14 teams in the 38's and maybe 10 in the 47's. I think 2 divisions would be great?
This leads me to my next question........Last fall after the playoffs and on the same day as the all star game for the 28's, I believe Mike Girard posted something on the site in regards to any 38 and 47 guys want to get together that day and play a game they would meet at noon at the clifton commons. Being a rookie to the league and loving the game (and being excited to play in the 28 all star game) I left my house early to check out the pick-up game. It was very cold that day but you had alot of grown men who love the game and came out to play. While the guys were warming up it looked as though there would not be enough guys to play the game. I was sitting on the side of the field with Jim Bonaparte and his son waiting for some baseball to watch. One of the guys asked us to play, nervous at first playing with alot of guys who have made this league possible and have alot of experience over me it was amazing. I was asked to catch and I didnt care because I was playing and thats all i wanted to do. My first plate appearance I was walking to the plate with a little chip on my shoulder thinking that I may have an advantage being a few years younger then all the guys and I was on a hitting streak in the 28's. I am not sure who was pitching but he must have read the scouting report and threw me a nasty cutter in which I swung completely over it and my bat flew completely over the fence and probably about 50 feet. Embarrassed......oh yeah but did I learn from it of course. That day I seen some of the best pitches with alot of movement. While catching late in the game I remember Randy Craft coming in firing the ball with natural movement and I was saying to myself that this guy throws harder then some guys in the 28's.
The point to my story besides giving props to all the guys that played that day is that I learned so much in one 9 inning game then I had all last year in the 28's. Guys coming up to me offering suggestions with my swing, to guys in the dugout picking one another up after a booted groundball or someone striking out. That is baseball and that is teamwork. It was an honor to play with all the "upperclassmen". I can see why the cubs still play in the 28's........because you only get better with age!
I think we should have a interdivision game maybe after the season is over? Maybe create a fall league this year? Let me know what people think?
Hey Q Because of the confusion over sites/dates, etc., for last year's 38 all-star game, it appeared briefly that there may not be one. So then I thought the 47s could play the 38s at New Scotland. It didn't come off. The 38s decided to have the game.
The plan was to have no one 47 and over play on the 38 all-star team, so the 47s would have its best possible roster. I still like the idea. And I really think it would be one helluva' game.
As for the 28s, that division could face the winner of the 38/47 game, same day as part of a DH. If there was someway to do it (like take stats from the game), merge the 38 and 47 teams into one team to face the 28s. But the 28s have to use wood bats.
Between games, we could have our HR Derby and also have an all-day bbq for family/friends/other players. We could actually do it as a fund-raiser for a cause or for the league, selling dogs, burgers, drinks to raise money.
We could do this right after all the playoffs are done, plus it would be a nice prep for the guys going to Fla this year, too.
New Scotland would be the best venue for this. I'd be willing to HELP with this venture if we can get enough people interested in doing some of the organizing and work.
This would be great for the league. This would be a great way to introduce us to the local cable access TV station as well. We could take pix for Hardball. As a board member, would you recruit members to help out?
