Masters Baseball - the unwritten rules!

[flip]

After witnessing a master game tonight I am interested other peoples thoughts of Masters Baseball - BV Monday night comp mainly - but can probably also consider "masters games" as well.

What are the unwritten rules of Masters baseball, most of us are there for the fun of the game and not to play for sheep stations, obviously some don't see it that way!

Some of the rules I think need to be observed are;
- we are not playing for sheep stations! especially Div 2
- we do not argue about balls and strike call even if they are bad!
- you do not steal after 10 or there abouts up - especially if it is obvious that the other team is struggling
- you do not pick off if you are up by many runs.
- If the pitcher is struggling you swing at a pitch close enough, even if it is 3 - 0.
- No bunting

Come on guys, I am sure there is plenty more out there!

[Chardy]

If the pitcher is struggling you want hitters to swing at a pitch if its close enough? I think you are on your own on that one.

[brewster]

i reckon the best unwritten rule in masters was during the first year when all games were at altona : YOUR NOT ALLOWED TO GO HOME THE SAME DAY YOU PLAYED !! made for some intersting drives home.

[Deleted]

Yeah I reckon yu can break Masters ball into two classes. Div 1 Mondays and the teams who travel and strive to win Masters Tourneys AND Div 2 Mondays and the teams that are at Tourneys to play the game they enjoy (but struggle a bit).

The firstmentioned boys mainly play the game darn well still and the standard is enjoyably competative at say Summer Div 1 2's standard pretty much through to maybe Div 1 3's, so the game should be played the way it is meant to be and anything goes except (as is almost always the case) it should be played in true Masters (read 'good') spirit.

At Div 2 MAsters level then it really is more social, but at the same time respecting the game and those that drive half way across town in peak hour on Monday nights to play it with you.

So most of what you say I agree in Div 2 (but not Div 1) with the exception of swinging at crap (hitters should still take their walks if given them - but most won't) and sure you can 'pick off' if the guy takes a massive lead otherwise it all gets a bit silly just handing them 'stolen' bases.

In my experience most guys play Masters with both respect for the game AND their opposition regardless of the scoreline and thats what is great about Masters ball.

[stockley]

Speaking of masters, can anyone explain BV's decision to guarantee Altona 2 games every Monday night?

Surely we're going to drop off master's numbers if they're forced to play at Altona instead of home grounds? Not to mention the loss of revenues for the clubs... I know I loved going down for a BBQ and a beer to watch greensborough on a monday last year, saved us from cooking!

[#1 Gap Filler]

i think if you are winning by an absolute mile then swinging at a couple of bad pitches doesnt hurt you dont want the game to drag out and as far as pitching depth in div 2 goes its boring if you are getting walk after walk i think in that situation if its close enough hit it or at least seem interested in having a crack, dont stand their with the bat on your shoulder

[flip]

authentic - maybe the Div 1 guys play a little different to the Div 2, but last nights game was a Div 2 game and it was certainly not played in the right spirit for Div 1 or Div 2. Maybe this particular team should be a Div 1 team and then they wouldnt be winning games by 20 runs each week.

Stockley - i think you will find some clubs choose to play thier games at Altona, because their home grounds are not very sunshine freiendly for the players. Or in the case of Geelong they are using Altona as a home base to reduce travel of the other teams.

[Deleted]

Hey flip - my guess is that you played Ormond/Glen last night as they can take it a bit serious at times. Hopefully a few of the older heads can get the boys down there to understand the way Monday nights 'should' be played when in Div 2.

And this is probably another thread but the 'sunshine' issue (I presume you mean Sun glare) is a very real issue for Masters (and Baseball Victoria).

Some grounds and some games simply should not go ahead at certain times of the year on sunny evening. Some (fitzroy) already have 'ground rules' to this affect but there a few other grounds where if the blokes throws a bit quick and gets up and inside you just don't see it coming, and I reckon one day someone will cop one and it will all get back to sun glare.

I'd rather play at Altona day or night and see the bloody ball than a few grounds where you know that really the game should not go ahead but no one is game to mention it.

I know this is tricky because on cloudy nights its all sweet and I know the sun sets in different spots at different times of the year, but the clubs/players should know all this and maybe Baseball Vic really should do a safety audit on grounds (or speak to umpires) and work out which grounds really shouldnt hold games at certain times of the year and fixture accordingly ?

[combo]

having played div1 masters for many years we play for fun yes you still have some that play for sheep stations and they know who they are we didnt win too many but had lots of fun losing now after being relegated to div 2 we are still having fun and meeting new players also.and trust me the masters games interstate are played for keeps as you are playing for gold

[stockley]

Posted by flip on Yesterday at 2:08pm
Stockley - i think you will find some clubs choose to play thier games at Altona, because their home grounds are not very sunshine freiendly for the players. Or in the case of Geelong they are using Altona as a home base to reduce travel of the other teams.

While I understand the sun-factor for some grounds, I'm fairly certain that Greensborough doesn't have that problem (based on last years memories... plenty of beers since). And as an example,
Dec 8 Greensborough 4 vs Springvale 9 (at MBP Altona)

Since I happen to be involved in Greensborough (certainly some self interest there...), I also happen to know the masters followed it up, and found out that there has actually been a deal struck - 2 masters games each Monday at Altona... In the game above, I could see a reason why you would play it Altona!?!