Author	Topic:   We NEED a homerun rule
(another) Matt	posted 6/15/04 12:23 AM     I believe our league has a very big need for a home run rule that places some restriction on the number of home runs that are hit in a game. While this isn't an issue if you happen to be playing on one of the diamonds that doesn't have a fence, it makes for a very long game on some of the diamonds. It should be noted that many of the fenced diamonds we play on during the season are smaller then is necessary for even reasonably good softball teams - each of Inverary, Wilmer, Harrowsmith Park and Verona are victims to a LOT of homerun balls. Bat technology has reached the point where even mediocre hitters (like myself) can hit balls out of the park, and some of the bigger hitters can badly mis-hit a ball and still have it go out. The consequence of this is, of course, a long, boring game (and a bunch of lost balls, depending on the diamond). And this is an even bigger problem when one of the strong teams plays a weaker one. There is really no feeling like being down 20 and watching another long ball go soaring over the fence (I've been there... more times then I like to remember). And, of course, it is a lot more fun to have more balls in play, rather then fielders AGAIN running out in the long grass looking for another smashed ball. So - what kind of home run rule should we have? The first answer is - it doesn't matter, as long as it restricts the number of home run balls. One good one that another league I play in has adopted is called "Match +2", where no team can ever have two more home runs then their opponent (when we first adopted it, if you hit a third more then your opponent it was an out - this year it was changed to a single - still works either way, as most big hitters will try for a double rather then powering the ball over the fence for a single). The nice thing about this rule is that the teams with the big hitters on them (Army, stacked Verona, stacked Harrowsmith, maybe some others) can bash away back and forth, hitting all the homeruns they like, and when a team with a lot of home run hitters plays a team without, the rule will slow down the scoring. This rule literally SAVED my other league that had two teams absolutely smashing all the competition with home runs to the point that other teams were quitting - it is now a very competitive (ie games are close, not the negative use of the word competitive) league again. The other option that is often used by other leagues is the "DH" - only one person on each team (the first one to hit a home run) can hit homeruns, and others are singles. Also works well. Like my other league, and think there are signs of our league suffering the way my other league was - this year, we lost 4 teams (16 down to 12) and many of the games so far have been defaults. I certainly don't know all the reasons for that, but I have to believe that some of the very lopsided scores are part of that. I was reminded of this last night when our team hit 7 or 8 home runs against one of our other church teams. The score was lopsided, but the comment from a few friends was that it was the home runs that was most annoying. If you agree - talk to your coach! This is the kind of rule that is easy to implement, would make the league more fun (I believe), and probably make the league stronger at the same time. All it takes is a vote by the coaches to change the rule. Go coaches go! Do something that the league has needed for a while.
Steve	posted 6/16/04 4:43 PM     Can't disagree with you more Matt! (maybe that's because I fancy myself a bit of a long ball hitter... anyway... we play at Keely Rd.. and if you can hit out of there, you deserve to. I think the bigger issue with our diamonds, is not homeruns.. but player safety... too often we play on terrible diamonds that are not maintained whatsoever... as a league, we are placing players in a dangerous position... I know our team had a serious facial injury on a bounce that just shouldn't have happened (the fielder was fielding way WAY off to the side of the ball in order to avoid being hit by a bad bounce... There are teams that pay alot of money to play on good diamonds... others may not be able to afford it, or may have other reasons... but when it comes to safety, perhaps we should revisit the diamonds we use, rather than worrying about rule changes first. I know half of my team won't play on that diamond again, and on any other that smacks of poor condition. I say we need to find a way to allow the teams in the league to all play and pay an equitable fee for use of good safe diamonds (be they fenced or not!). Perchance a fundraising Bingo committee? Run a few in the offseason and pay/subsidize diamonds for all? Again, I am not, repeat, am not being critical of current executive.. they are doing an awesome job of running things... just making a suggestion! Thanks-- great idea this forum thing!
Brianne	posted 6/17/04 3:09 AM     During one of the coaches meeting before the season started this rule was brought up. It was voted not to touch that rule... this is the minutes from that meeting... 7:40pm Rules discussed: Mercy rule to be brought down to 6-8 runs per inning, it was decided that it will remain the same. Home Run rules discussed (ie. DH rule - First person to hit a HR is the only one allowed) it was decided to not add any of these rules to the league. Being on team that has average hitters and some really good batters, I say leave it how it is... if you can hit a homerun... congrats to you :) God Bless
(another) Matt	posted 6/17/04 2:57 PM     Per Steve's comment about David Bowes - I meant to mention that David Bowes is the one park where this isn't an issue at all - it is big enough that hitting the ball out is an accomplishment (I pretty much can't hit it out of there... that is, I find, a pretty good test of a diamond's size... if I can hit it out, it is probably too small...). As to the quality of the diamonds, that is really a topic for a post of its' own - having played in the league for 18 years now, I can at least comment that we've come a long way from where we've been (the nice fenced diamonds were very rare indeed several years ago... and we played on public school diamonds that had pits you could hid a couple of fielders and a small car in) - of course, the delicate balance is always finding the cash to pay for wants - be a good discussion for the league to take on (although it is probably still ok to talk about potential rule changes at the same time). :) Per Brianne's comment, yes, it came up at an early coaches meeting, and got voted down. Like the Bloc Quebecois, I'm lobbying for the next vote... and trying to raise the issue so people have had some time to think about it as they play in games where they think 'gee, you know, that rule would be really helpful right about now...' - like in all good democratic processes, if the masses agree, then we can make the change - it is always good to have dialogue on the issues... (and, of course, if the majority continue to like it the way it is, it will stay that way). I'm just encouraging people to keep it in mind as they play a lop-sided game on one of the 4 diamonds I mentioned (Verona, Harrowsmith Park, Wilmer and Inverary) - all very nice diamonds, I might add. My other league went through a similar process over a few years... as some of the teams became very heavy with home run hitters, a home run rule was discussed off and on for a while, but it took some terrible blow-outs to finally get the other teams to band together to vote for the rule. Good discussion.
KDCSL Convenor	posted 6/22/04 1:03 PM     In answer to Steve's question about getting better diamonds - Cost has been a factor in the past, but now that teams are subsidizing their home diamonds we can afford much better fields. Because of that, as Matt says, we have come a long way. (Anyone remember when we played on almost all Public School diamonds, including RG Sinclair and worse?) Now we are up against a supply problem. There simply are no more good diamonds available to us in the city *on Mondays or Thursdays*. We might be able to find a couple more fastball diamonds out in the country (ex. Wilton), but I don't think the city teams would want the extra driving. The other option is changing the schedule around so that we have games on various nights through the week, when the diamonds (might be) available. Another note - We had problems with two of our diamonds at the start of the year this year. Our season starts pretty early, and the city maintenance crews hadn't been around yet. When I talked to them, they fixed the problems. By now I think all of our fields are in pretty good shape! Welborne is hard and bumpy, but the clover keeps the balls down... :)
Les	posted 12/5/04 7:18 PM       I know this is late, but never really looked at the board before today. Being on a team that hits a lot of home runs in a game and being one of the hitters. I think the league needs a rule in place for this very thing. I too have played in a few leagues and this is the only mixed league I know that has no rule. I know some of us out there try slowing it down when the score gets high, it is no fun for either team. The best thing about what Matt said is that, it puts more balls in play and I think can be a lot more fun. When we had no fences you had to think more, you need to move the ball around and you became a much better player that way. It would help the younger kids coming up to enjoy the game and once they hit better, not always looking for the easy way out. When I joined the league 11 years ago, all I did was try and hit home runs that is all I new. With no fence you counld not do that. I learned to hit it anywhere I wanted to. Again made you learn more about the game. We have fences and I can still have just as much fun. We can exclude a place like Dave Bowes if wee need to, but we all know anywhere else we play at, it is not hard to do. Nothing again's any of my players, but when you have someone that has never had any power and can put out a home run you know it is an issue. Smaller feild and better bats. I was amazed at how much fun I had in the other leagues when you new you had a chance at feilding balls.
Blake	posted 3/17/05 3:32 AM     I was checking the forum to see if anyone had posted any new ideas that should be brought up at the coaches meeting tomorrow night. I agree with Matt and Les for the most part, our league needs some sort of rule on HR's. But I think it should be so many per inning...but leave the 9th open or something like that, this way we satisfy everyones desires...or it would atleast be a comprimise. This will be a hot topic tomorrow night at the coaches meeting!
KDCSL Coordinator	posted 4/27/07 10:55 PM     And three years later - We have a home run rule! Coaches voted to try "match+4" this year. Similar to what Matt described above, but no team can be more than 4 over-the-fence home runs ahead of the other team. For example, if the Visitors got one HR in the top of the first, the Home team would have 5 available to them in the bottom of the first (1 +4). Any extra HRs count as singles. Inside the park HRs are unlimited! That's a pretty loose HR rule - It shouldn't come into play much, and almost never disadvantage a slugging team to the point that it upsets the decision in the game. I'm sure next spring we'll be reviewing how well it worked, and considering if we want to modify it or go back to no rule for 2008. Congrats to Matt for success in his grass-roots movement for change! Next target, Global Warming?
Matty	posted 2/4/08 9:27 PM     this worked well. good rule!

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