DECEMBER 21 UPDATE
43 FEET: A THOUGHTFUL REACTION
Don Minard of the Worth Firecrackers shares the belief held by other Gold coaches that games will last fewer innings, with fewer at bats, and suggests changes.
Rayburn, from just the short time we were able to observe it looks like the premier pitchers will continue to be the premier pitchers although they will have the ball put into play off of them more often. The dead pull hitters will see lots of inside pitches and they will have a very difficult time keeping the ball in fair territory. The hitters that were middle to away hitters will benefit by getting their bat head through the zone a little faster and in effect hitting the ball harder. For the majority of pitchers that throw 57 to 60 mph we are going to have to preach patience and if we can get our players to wait for the ball they will get hit hard. There will be more walks and games will be slightly longer so for those 1:30 drop dead games or even the no new inning after 1:30 games may only go 4 to 5 innings. Hitters may only get 2 at bats in a game and the pitchers will pitch fewer innings. If we are to continue to run tournaments with 40 to 100 teams with limited field access (in order to raise funds for the team) we will get even less playing time now which will make it harder to showcase the players. It is possible that there will be Gold only showcase tournaments with fewer teams, full games, and a hefty increase in tournament entry fees. I would definately favor this approach. The reaction from this approach may be for almost everyone to go Gold and in effect negate the 18A division. These are all suppositions but we know for sure that any action causes a reaction and that may lead to many other scenarios. Our tournament in Menifee in Jan/Feb will have a 43' rubber at every field and everyone will pitch from 43'. It will be very interesting to see how the 18A teams or for that matter how some of the Gold team pitchers will fare particularly when the ball gets hit harder and more often putting a premium on good defense. I think we will have a better handle on the pitching after our tournament but will continue to go through a learning experience all summer. Thanks for the opportunity to pen my thoughts. Keep safe, healthy, and happy and I'll throw in wealthy as a fourth option but way behind the other three. Regards.Don
CHICAGO BANDITS MEDIA DAY
The Comcast
Chicago Bandits hosted their second annual media day Dec. 20 at the Bulls/Sox
Training Academy. The event, sponsored by Fisher Nuts, See’s Candies, the
Illinois Center for Broadcasting and Lisle, Ill. Mayor Joe Broda, was followed
by the first session of a three-day Holiday Camp which featured the Bandits’
players attending the event.
Fans got the opportunity to interact with coaches Micky Dean and Eugene Lenti
and current Bandits Jennie Finch, Vicky Galindo, Selena Collins, Laura Harms,
Megan Ciolli, Amy Harre and newcomers Peaches James, Trena Peel and Jessica
Sallinger. From pictures with team members to the opportunity to bid on an
autographed Bandits’ jerseys, fans got it all as media members from the Chicago
Sun-Times, Daily Southtown & Star Newspaper, the Naperville Sun, the Daily
Herald, Comcast SportsNet, CBS 2 Chicago (WBBM-TV) and WICB - The Bandits’ Ratio
Network had the opportunity to speak with the team and highlight the upcoming
season.
Possibly the most memorable event of the day came during the press conference
when owner Bill Conroy present hurler Jennie Finch with some very appropriate
Bandits’ attire for her baby boy she and husband Casey Daigle are expecting in
April.
PS: SPY was invited but could
not attend for two reasons: one, medical; two, 14 below zero chill wind factor;
polar bear weather.
OLYMPIC HALL OF FAME
Celebrate Olympic Legends!
U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Induction
Ceremony
presented by Allstate
Jan. 1 at 2:30-4 p.m. ET
Only on NBC Sports!
JAY LENO WOULD LOVE THESE
THE YEAR'S BEST [actual] HEADLINES
Submitted by Dawn Dover,
Sarasota Heat
Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
[No, really?]
Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
[Now that's taking things a bit far!]
Is There a Ring of Debris around Uranus?
[Not if I wipe thoroughly!]
Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
[What a guy!]
Miners Refuse to Work after Death
[No-good-for-nothing' lazy so-and-sos!]
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
[See if that works any better than a fair trial!]
War Dims Hope for Peace
[I can see where it might have that effect!]
If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
[You think?]
Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
[Who would have thought!]
Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
[They may be on to something!]
Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
[You mean there's something stronger than duct
tape?]
Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge
[he probably IS the battery charge!]
New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
[Weren't they fat enough?!]
Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
[That's what he gets for eating those beans!]
Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
[Taste like chicken?]
Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
[Chainsaw Massacre all over again!]
Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
[Boy, are they tall!]
And the winner is....
Typhoon Rips Through
Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
Now that you've smiled at least once, it's your turn to spread the stupidity
and send this to someone you want to bring a smile to.
(Maybe even a chuckle). We all need a good laugh, keep on smiling