West Coast Bias

Let me reiterate what those of you are thinking.....

The time of the year sucks for sports.

So while I find it difficult to discuss things other than HGH or the Presidential campaigns, I shall dig deep for something.

Softball is more difficult than it looks. I'm a high school/college baseball player, been playing since I was 7. Now, I'm not nearly in the shape I was back then, I don't feel the need to be in great shape for softball. I remember commenting on softball as a sport that out of shape old men play, or girls.

I play down here in San Diego, where the weather is perpetually good and we have year-round leagues (although last night's game was "fogged-out"). Here's what's different.

1. The ball takes way too long to get to you. I can't judge it worth a darn, and taking a walk is harder than saying no to the boys because your girlfriend rented a Matthew Macconaughey movie.

2. The ball doesn't come up. I play shortstop, which should be easy, but sometimes I look like a stooge. The ball stays on the ground, which sounds like it would make the game easier, and maybe it would, if you weren't used to the dynamics of a baseball for the first 15 years of your life.

3. Your teammates are awful. Either you're playing in a coed team with women who've never swung with anything except with the neighbor's husband, or you're dealing with grown men who can't catch a 5" ball falling out of the sky with an over-sized glove. The same guys who actually strike out swinging in slow-pitch or complain the pitcher "jammed" them. How the H do you get jammed in slow pitch?

4. I'm always drunk.

Is it baseball time yet? Go Lakers!

Flavor of the Weak

That's funny. I remember when I started playing softball after playing baseball for my entire life. I was a pretty decent player, so naturally I named myself shortstop. After all, there might have been one or two other guys who played high school ball on my team, so it seemed like a pretty logical move.

Anyway, the first batter hits an easy ground ball right at me and, using my years of baseball judgment, I took a few steps forward and prepared to accept the ball on the high hop. No sweat, right? There was no high hop. It hit me right in the ankle. The next one hit me square in the big toe...hurt like hell. Anyway, after that I started fielding balls on one knee, like when I was 10. Gradually, I got to be pretty good at judging them, but it took a few games.

Oh yeah, and the thing floats around like a knuckle ball when hit in the air. On more than a few of those I had to make an "emergency maneuver" at the last second. Those things had me thinking the prescription on my contacts had gone bad.

Flavor of the Weak

You got me with the West Coast bias statement Zeke. I just knew whatever I found here would be worth the read, and I see that I was right. As someone who spent from 1990 to about 2002 playing competitive softball, I can only say that I seemed to have the opposite experience that you did. Let me address your line items with my own.

1) As a baseball player, especially as I was a pitcher, I still could not hit worth squat. If I did not pitch, I did not deserve to play. That said, when I went to softball, I became an O.B.P machine. Give me that slow looping pitch over even an 80 m.p.h heater anyday. And, I could always draw 1 walk per game myself.

2) I agree with you on this one. But, having the luxury of playing 1B in softball, it was not the same kind of fielding, and did not have the same dynamics that you had to deal with at SS.

3) Your team is only as good as you make it. I played in very competitive leagues, and always did o.k. I did well enough to play on several tourney teams, but my talents were limited. As I mentioned, I could hit, and could get on base. Once there, I was a rally killer with cleats. That, and I have less than Johnny Damon has for a throwing arm. Hence getting plugged in at 1b. That is where us big, slow oafs belong.

4) Only drink AFTER. Let the other team drink before. Besides, it ALWAYS tastes better after a W.

Flavor of the Weak

Well, I certainly appreciate feedback from arguably the two most revered of my favorites. I'll use this blog to comment on my daily/weekly softball happenings.

Currently I play Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Thursday is coed. In the past I only played on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the Monday/Wednesday teams have resulted from connections I've made on the other days.

My first game with the Wednesday team was tonight (tomorrow if you're reading this after 11pm PST). I was hopped up on caffeine, and during the commute I put on my workout playlist. Needless to say, I was ready to go.....

Which was exactly my problem. In my haste to impress the team who displaced their usual shortstop to accomodate me, I booted the first 3 balls hit to me. Not only that, but my form on all three was awful. I went 2-2 with 2 doubles and 2 walks. My hitting isn't a problem. Fielding, however, was, where I was moved to 3rd (without action for the remainder of the game).

But the best part about playing softball is, after the game we stood outside (without sweaters for those of you who haven't experienced san diego weather) and had a few, laughing it up.

Keep you posted on Tuesday's happenings, as Thursday's an off day (Valentine's). For those of you with NO life, or just curious, here is the link, followed by the teams I play for.

ChulaSoftball

T-Veterans, Dirty Dozen
W-Veterans, Arelis Insurance
Th-Discovery Middle, Whompers

Not sure my Monday's team name yet, but it's at Montevalle.

Shuless Joe Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 30, 2007	Posted on: February 13, 2008 5:17 pm Score: 91 Flavor of the Weak That's funny. I remember when I started playing softball after playing baseball for my entire life. I was a pretty decent player, so naturally I named myself shortstop. After all, there might have been one or two other guys who played high school ball on my team, so it seemed like a pretty logical move. Anyway, the first batter hits an easy ground ball right at me and, using my years of baseball judgment, I took a few steps forward and prepared to accept the ball on the high hop. No sweat, right? There was no high hop. It hit me right in the ankle. The next one hit me square in the big toe...hurt like hell. Anyway, after that I started fielding balls on one knee, like when I was 10. Gradually, I got to be pretty good at judging them, but it took a few games. Oh yeah, and the thing floats around like a knuckle ball when hit in the air. On more than a few of those I had to make an "emergency maneuver" at the last second. Those things had me thinking the prescription on my contacts had gone bad. [ Reply to Comment ]
bigdmgr Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 15, 2006	Posted on: February 13, 2008 5:27 pm Score: 89 Flavor of the Weak You got me with the West Coast bias statement Zeke. I just knew whatever I found here would be worth the read, and I see that I was right. As someone who spent from 1990 to about 2002 playing competitive softball, I can only say that I seemed to have the opposite experience that you did. Let me address your line items with my own. 1) As a baseball player, especially as I was a pitcher, I still could not hit worth squat. If I did not pitch, I did not deserve to play. That said, when I went to softball, I became an O.B.P machine. Give me that slow looping pitch over even an 80 m.p.h heater anyday. And, I could always draw 1 walk per game myself. 2) I agree with you on this one. But, having the luxury of playing 1B in softball, it was not the same kind of fielding, and did not have the same dynamics that you had to deal with at SS. 3) Your team is only as good as you make it. I played in very competitive leagues, and always did o.k. I did well enough to play on several tourney teams, but my talents were limited. As I mentioned, I could hit, and could get on base. Once there, I was a rally killer with cleats. That, and I have less than Johnny Damon has for a throwing arm. Hence getting plugged in at 1b. That is where us big, slow oafs belong. 4) Only drink AFTER. Let the other team drink before. Besides, it ALWAYS tastes better after a W. [ Reply to Comment ]
E2EK1EL Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Nov 15, 2006	Posted on: February 14, 2008 2:10 am Score: 93 Flavor of the Weak Well, I certainly appreciate feedback from arguably the two most revered of my favorites. I'll use this blog to comment on my daily/weekly softball happenings. Currently I play Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Thursday is coed. In the past I only played on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the Monday/Wednesday teams have resulted from connections I've made on the other days. My first game with the Wednesday team was tonight (tomorrow if you're reading this after 11pm PST). I was hopped up on caffeine, and during the commute I put on my workout playlist. Needless to say, I was ready to go..... Which was exactly my problem. In my haste to impress the team who displaced their usual shortstop to accomodate me, I booted the first 3 balls hit to me. Not only that, but my form on all three was awful. I went 2-2 with 2 doubles and 2 walks. My hitting isn't a problem. Fielding, however, was, where I was moved to 3rd (without action for the remainder of the game). But the best part about playing softball is, after the game we stood outside (without sweaters for those of you who haven't experienced san diego weather) and had a few, laughing it up. Keep you posted on Tuesday's happenings, as Thursday's an off day (Valentine's). For those of you with NO life, or just curious, here is the link, followed by the teams I play for. ChulaSoftball T-Veterans, Dirty Dozen W-Veterans, Arelis Insurance Th-Discovery Middle, Whompers Not sure my Monday's team name yet, but it's at Montevalle. [ Reply to Comment ]
E2EK1EL Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Nov 15, 2006	Posted on: February 20, 2008 2:05 pm Score: 92 Flavor of the Weak Tu- Lost, run-ruled. I played like garbage, didn't field very well

E2EK1EL

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