With the winter meetings just around the corner, perhaps this might be a good venue to think about what rules changes we might want to see in each of the divisions. That way, when we meet, we'll have already gone through the thought process and can make recommendations for a vote.
Two that I would like to see in the 45 Division are: Keep the two-runners courtesy rule, but the runner who replaces the person who needs a runner cannot steal. It's a COURTESY, not an advantage rule.
Also, to consider is a speed-up rule whereby the last person batted out can run for the catcher after the 2nd out. Same stipulation that he cannot steal. This rule would not be mandatory, but a viable option to help speed up the game.
The managers and commissioners set the rules for their respective divisions. The 45s still are without a commissioner.
Speaking of the Dec. 2 meeting, this is the most important meeting of the year for all of CDMSBL.
This is the meeting whereby board members and league officers are elected. This is where your voices are heard. This is where you can put your hat in the ring for election to the board or run for an office. If there are issues you want addressed by those in office now, this is the time to ask the directions they plan to take.
We've had a tough three years with 2008 being one of the worst. Players have complained of playoff finals being played in chilly Oct. weather (with a DH no less on two separate fields, one of the games under the lights), commissioners essentially quitting during the season, and now managers bowing out, etc.
Two commissioner spots are open. Managers select the commissioners. Managers in all divisions should notify their players of this meeting and prepare questions for the board and officers.
Briefly, CDMSBL is a non-profit entity. It's president answers to the board. Each commissioner answers to the president.
The meeting is 7 p.m. Tues. Dec. 2 at Colonie Town Hall across the road from Siena College.
I think Jim K's suggestion to put some ideas on this bulletin board prior to the December 2nd meeting regarding league rules is a good one. It will give us a chance to think about our opinions prior to the meeting. One rule that would be good to discuss at the meeting involves recruiting players. I think it would be good to discuss the recruiting rule for each division. Regarding the 37+ division, I have heard that several teams, including the Jays which I am on, are actively recruiting in an effort to keep up with the improved competition and quality of play. My understanding is that the current 37+ rules permits a team to recruit a total of 3 players from existing teams within the division - with a maximum of 1 player from an individual team. Andy Sheen, the manager of the Jays, and I would like consideration to be given to increasing these maximum recruiting numbers. Approval from both managers would still be required for any player moves. The method of documenting all recruiting should be discussed - we ran into that problem this year.
I didn't really understand or agree with only the 28 Division going to the 25-35-45 format. It left a lot of guys between 35 and 37 waiting to play ball. It also seemed weird our Commisioner resigned before the season ended. Maybe like Obama stated "CHANGE" is indeed in order.
Jim, I agree on the base runner change, good idea. We as a league need to improve in certain areas. For one, we need to get the league finished before Labor Day tournament begins. A number of DH's should be played at the beginning of the season, possibly in week 3,4,5. Then, we should have rain dates in early August, then complete the entire season before Labor Day. Also, should throw around the idea of a fall league, directly after Labor Day. We can submit names for guys that would like to participate, speaking of the 45 division. See you on Dec 2nd.
Anybody want to start a pool on when Obama resigns?! He has a lot bigger mess! I don't think that there is so much wrong with our league. The biggest issue is that very few of the guys do the mass majority of the work. Where would we be without the Kevin Jacksons and the John Reels of the world.
I noticed over the last year or so that the "change' that was sought after for our league direction after the 2007 occurred and that change was for the worst in 2008 in the 37+. I have been in and around the league since 1998 and came from another MSBL league before that, which had nowhere near the amount of teams and diversity we have in Albany. I saw the 37's struggle this year with so much rule bending, accomodations made that never occurred or would have been allowed before, and generally certain persons/managers running the Division as their own personal playground. Teams struggling for players yet others having too many. How about we enforce the rules we already have. As for new players, there should be a draft. New players to the league should be required to show up at a tryout, managers should evaluate the talent and a draft take place so that teams needing players can get them. Teams that fold, those players should be placed into a supplemental draft to insure those loyal to the league have a place to play when/if their team goes away. I agree that we should get out ideas and enforce/strengthen rules that were already in place. The general meeting on Dec 2 should bring out those rules formally with a vote after the new board and managers can get together and finalize at a later date. What I experienced with the management of the 37 Division this year was disappointing. Trying to find the league schedule, cramming games into the final two weeks so we can get the playoffs going, being done two weeks into August, playing for two different teams because neither gets enough to play consistently.
What I will say though after all the complaints that this league is still better than going fishing a couple of nights a week, or sitting on a bar stool watching reruns. My kids still come to watch their old man play ball and mostly my wife doesn't mind being out at the ball game. So I guess I'm lucky that the CDMSBL exists and gives me choices of where and when to play as I get older. So to the John Reels and Kevin Jacksons and the other people that run this League and give me a place to play ball, Thanks very much!
As our league continues to expand, it seems games and the schedule get backed up more and more and later and later... part of this can be attribuable to poor weather but most of it I suspect, to field availability... we've been preaching this since the beginning of the league - WE NEED FIELDS!!! If anyone has any influence or contacts with a person or organization that has a field, please take the initiative to inquire and then talk to a Board member. The more fields we have, the better. What a luxury it would be to figure out which field to use instead of doubling up on games because of the lack of fields...
Our league continues to be a work in progress... never in my wildest dreams would I have thought 21 years ago that we would have grown into the organization we are today with 4 divisions. Unfortunatly, the one thing that hasn't changed is that too few people participate in the administration. That being said, there are many things people can help with on a one time basis - such as finding a field... we are only as good as the sum of our parts... if everyone will pitch in just a little bit, life will be easier and better for all of us...
1.) The fact that the 37s/47s both came down 1 year, however, the 28s came down to 25. I play in both and don't mind the competitiveness, but what is good for one division should be good for another.
2.) The other issue is that last year the 25+ division went to a one division alignment. This was after a meeting I could not attend. I received news of this and dove into how this just changed. I was told that every manager in the league voted and it was unanimous that it was to go to one division. However, after I made about 8 or 9 calls to other managers I found out that this was never voted on and should not have been done. There is not parity in two divisions in the 28's right now, however, there always has been a balance of power. Just because one team doesn't get the seed they want in the playoffs the year before we shouldn't just change a rule to accomodate one team.
I agree with Mike. We need to come up with a system of recruiting for the 35's. There seems to be a few teams out there interested in "stealing" players from other teams. I don't have an issue with actively trying to make your team better, but what's being left behind are teams with shorter rosters (some of which are comprised of players who play in other divisions and don't make the 35's a priority) which leads to a lot of accommodations made just to play the games. It sucks to show up and have only 7 of your own guys thereby leaving you to "borrow" one of your opponents; or, worse yet, have to call in guys from other teams within your division. Would the 35's be best served by contracting a couple of teams? I think so. Sure it means more players on the bench and more guys with less playing time, but perhaps those guys that play in three different divisions would be willing to allow their fellow players in the 35's an opportunity to play if it's their only baseball commitment.
I also agree with the "courtesy runner = no stealing." It's supposed to be a courtesy not an excuse to take advantage.
I, for one, didn't have as much of an issue with the scheduling.
One last thing I'd like to see addressed: We need to come up with some sort of method for those who "cross over" between divisions. I'd love to see some sort of limitation on the number of divisions you can participate in. Guys seem to prioritize the more important teams (which is the right thing to do) but what ends up happening is teams rely on guys who don't show up because they "already played three games this week and pitched in two of them." I think it's great that if you happen to be someone who qualifies for the 55+ division that you really want to play inthe 25's to satisfy your competitive spirit, but you're really making one of those teams suffer when they count on you. I'd like to propose: Two divisions, two teams - that's it. No "subbing" for fifteen different teams and juggling schedules to accomodate teams that aren't yours. Contract some teams and make guys play in two divisions only and you should prioritize the division you qualify for age-wise (i.e., if you're 48 and you're playing in the 45's and the 35's, the 45's team is your first priority). No confusion, no mess. Contraction will be an unpopular decision, but something needs to be done about having 18 teams and only 6 of them can field a full nine guys on a consistent basis.
1. I don't agree with courtesy runners not stealing. If I were able to run like I used to, I'd take 2nd and 3rd. You quit stealing, and you might as well go to the previously mentioned 4 fouls and you're out, or no leading off the base. The courtesy runner is able to steal in national tourneys, and we mostly play by those rules.
2. With the lowering of the 37 division now to 35, there should be no reason for any 35 team to need player waivers of any sort to fill you roster. If players are needed to fill in a game or 2, you should have to get a player from the older division or the same division.
3. Some managers recruit heavily and others don't. Going with some sort of draft for new players entering a new division is a great idea, hard to enforce. There should be some sort of even distribution of talented players entering a division for his first year.
4. Every Coach/Manager should have view only access to the ARBITOR for schedules and schedule changes. This will eliminate any issues with teams not knowing where, when, or who they are playing.
5. If a player wants to play on 20 baseball teams all over the country, let em. The team recruiting this player needs to know that his priority to a different team might cause problems later. That should be hashed out between team and player prior to and during the season.
This league has been around for a long time. It bonds together a cast of characters from all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, and ages. I look forward to the season every year, and would play in every division I was eligible for - if my body wasn't deteriorating so quickly. I appreciate those that make every year possible. I already can't wait for April 2009 to roll around.
Yeah, With the parity we had in the 37+ division this year, I wouldn't try to tinker with the recruiting rules. Limiting the number of players that any team can pull from another in the division to one per team is restrictive enough. When players want to leave one team to play for another there is usually a good reason (ie: playing time, personality conflict, etc). Restricting players movement above and beyond that makes no sense. Having a "tryout" isn't going to help us either. Most players join this league to join a buddy on an existing team. This "tryout" might discourage quality players from joining. We don't want that! Let's not try to fix a lot of things that aren't broken. The only real issue I see is that we don't try to make up our games when they are rained out. If we mandated that the managers need to reschedule their make-ups within two-to-three weeks from the rainout date, then we wouldn't have teams needing to schedule 4-7 games in the last two weeks of the season. That is what is causing most of our scheduling angst ... "Procrastination"! I also agree that "courtesy runners" should not be allowed to steal. If you can steal, go ahead and run the base yourself. If you can't run the bases yourself, why should your courtesy runner be allowed to steal???
!) You can't play above your age group. No waivers, no "filling in". The only exception would possibly be the 55'ers. If you need a body there are plenty in your group or above to pick from.
2) I'm a catcher. I don't care about the courtesy runner stealing. I think it leaves too much to interpretation on when it is a dropped or passed ball. Are they allowed to run if a ball "skips" in the dirt? Do we draw a circle around the catcher and it has to go out beyond the line? Do the umpires need something else to remember? It is still the previous out - do your fastest guys always make outs and your slowest gets on base? Too many things that take away from the game. And I think the catchers should be courtesy runners - no exclusions.
1) Drafts do not work for a couple of reasons; as Mike said most guys join to play ball with their friends and if they can't it would discourage them to join our league and possibly join another.
The Hobbs league had a draft for years and realized it didn't work. Talented players who wanted to play competitive baseball were forced to join teams that were in it for recreation and comraderie. The personalities didn't mesh; sometimes a player quit sometimes they were asked to leave.
2) There is a rule in place about makeups but it needs to be enforced by the commissioner. The rule states that teams have 48 hours to reschedule a rainout, if they fail to do so the commissioner sets a date and lets the teams know when they will be playing. It is also crucial to set a date as soon as possible. If you are rained out in May do not reschedule for August, get the game on the schedule as soon as possible.
I was commissioner for three years in the 28 division and did it this way. At first managers will give you push back and tell you they can not field a team on the date you arranged for them. You would then tell them if they didn't field a team they would forfeit and amazingly they showed up with a team. The next time they had a game rained out you can be rest assured they rescheduled it within 48 hours because they didn't want to be stuck with a date that I gave them. With a little enforcement we could alleviate a lot of the scheduling/makeup problems.
Lots of great feedback guys. Thanx. Let's keep our thoughts and be open to run for the board on Tuesday. There will be at least a couple of spots open. We'd like to get to a 10-member board.
One thing we all agree on: This is a great league. It just needs tweaking at several levels.
As a player who missed 10+ years while my kids were little and played again last year I will vouch for the fact that this league is a great thing. Despite playing on one of the weakest teams i still found myself looking forward to every game.
I am interested in possibly joining the board (and have already sent an email)....anyone who knows me knows i have an opinion on everything and am willing to share it!!
I am throwing my hat into the ring. and once in power I will acquire nuclear weapons and the CDMSBL will be a super power that north korea can no longer ignore.
Happy holidays
I had a lotta fun in my rookie year playing 24 games for 5 teams 46/37s its great that an average mutt like myself can play alongside great players like the ones in this league.lotta fun guys that have helped me out with stuff.
I'll try not to ramble, but that can be an impossible task at times:
1. It will be harder in the 35's (36's) to do this, but doubleheaders are a great way to get games in. Arguments can be made about lack of pitching, but most teams are in the same boat. Everyone has guys on their roster who want to pitch, but are passed over since they haven't thrown enough innings to hone their zone. This would also cut down on alcohol consumption in the league since we would be playing on fewer days.
2. Leave courtesy runner as is (sorry Ray). If you want to use one of your two for your catcher, so be it. Each team gets two so there is no advantage to one team or another. If we legislate against stealing, what's next.....courtesy runner can't go first to third on a single?
3. Rainout rule needs to be enforced 100%....period. We all know the drill, (some) managers wait until mid-August to see how the game would affect their seeding for the playoffs before they decide to make it up or not. If it's not scheduled within 48 hours, the commish re-schedules with some sort of notification period (1 week?) and it's done.
Thankfully the turkey sandwiches have engulfed my brain and these are the only topics I can remember wanting to comment on.
No problem from me. Maybe I did not write it correctly, but I agree - leave the courtesy runner rule as it is. All I was saying is do not bypass catchers from being a courtesy runner.
Hey - maybe we can handicap each player and make them carry extra weight if they are too fast - like race horses. Wait - in my case they would have to tie helium balloons to my belt.
