Fewer games this season?

[Journeyman]

I hear on the grapevine that there is a possibility of only a 24 round season in 09-10 instead of the usual 33 games. How do the players from around the league feel about that?

[Deleted]

Let's hope your post generates some discussion, journeyman....

It's an interesting situation considering that Victoria looks like going the other way (from 27 games to 33 games).

Assuming that the rumour has some legs, why would S.A. be going to fewer games?

[Journeyman]

I thought I would let it lie for a couple of days to see if there were any replies, but other than yours kc it appears no one is bothered enough to comment.
I have no idea why they would think of playing less. Everyone I speak to think that more games is the way to go. At the very least it means more at bats etc., for everyone. It isn't a decision that thinks about development of players at all.

[espn]

How would a league develop a stronger competition when most clubs cannot make it through 33 games and therefore play below average players. With the increased transfer fee (which is a restraint of trade) weathly clubs can pull in players to make them more competative, the rest must develop young kids. This takes time and now with the majority going to college once old enough, the club has to start again. If every club did this it would be fine, the big clubs just import and buy established players from other clubs. The transfer fee and 24 games means our senior state team will be even worst and the league as well....Thanks to the board is all i can say.

[Journeyman]

It took a while, but it is nice to see some response to the question. It seems that development is a key issue that should be addressed. I can see another thread developing........

[lucadello]

Jul 18, 2009 16:07:34 GMT 10 espn said:

How would a league develop a stronger competition when most clubs cannot make it through 33 games and therefore play below average players. With the increased transfer fee (which is a restraint of trade) weathly clubs can pull in players to make them more competative, the rest must develop young kids. This takes time and now with the majority going to college once old enough, the club has to start again. If every club did this it would be fine, the big clubs just import and buy established players from other clubs. The transfer fee and 24 games means our senior state team will be even worst and the league as well....Thanks to the board is all i can say.

Great work guys....it appears that the SABL is intent on destroying itself from within....kinda like eating your own young Please reconsider these decisions immediately....the rest of Australia still needs someone to beat up on

[kb19]

How would a league develop a stronger competition when most clubs cannot make it through 33 games and therefore play below average players. With the increased transfer fee (which is a restraint of trade) weathly clubs can pull in players to make them more competative, the rest must develop young kids. This takes time and now with the majority going to college once old enough, the club has to start again. If every club did this it would be fine, the big clubs just import and buy established players from other clubs. The transfer fee and 24 games means our senior state team will be even worst and the league as well....Thanks to the board is all i can say.

You have a transfer fee in SA??

[Journeyman]

Yes kb19 there are transfer fees in SA. They are worked out on a sliding scale based on a point system.

This is copied from the SA By Laws:
(4) Fee Payment Guidelines.
a. Points as per Age Points Scale;

b. SA State/IBLA/ABL Representative 3 points per year;

c. Australian ABF Representative Team [All ages] 10 points;

d. Pitchers Aged 15 – 30 Double Age points; (A player shall be deemed to be a pitcher if he has pitched in at least as many innings (total for all teams) as the number of games scheduled for his „priority team‟ in any of the previous 3 seasons. The player‟s „priority team‟ will be the team in which the player has pitched the most innings during the previous 3 seasons played.)

e. Years of service to existing Club from age 12, 6 points per year;

f. Years played "A" Grade (All Clubs) 3 points per year; A Senior player will be classified as a Division 1 player if he has participated in any capacity, apart from designated/courtesy runner, in a minimum of 30% of scheduled Division 1 games in the previous 2 seasons for which the player was available. A Youth player will be classified as a Division 1 player if he has participated in any capacity, apart from designated/courtesy runner, in a minimum 50% of scheduled Division 1 games in the previous 1 season. In addition, he has participated in the highest standard team of/above his age in his Club in a minimum of 50% of scheduled games in the previous 2 seasons and/or previously been a member of State/SASI squads.

the transfer fee is then determined by the following:

AGE POINTS SCALE

AGE POINTS
15 & under 15
16 16
17 17
18 18
19 19
20 20
21 21
22 22
23 23
24 24
25 25
26 24
27 23
28 21
29 18
30 14
31 to 34 10

Fee to be calculated at $40 per point or any lesser amount agreed by Clubs. Maximum Fee for Transfer $6,000.

So, in short in an amateur sport the fee structure is prohibitive for most clubs unless they have a good sponsor, or a person involved in the club who has money and is happy to throw it around. It doesn't make good sense really when you consider that winning a premiership gives that person no return on their investment, other than knowing they "bought" a premiership for their club. Often times at the expense of developing the home grown juniors, they forget that juniors are the seniors of the future!

[billybaroo]

Props to journey man for getting this thread started. The fewer games this season? plus why is the game such a mess in SA? are inter related. Plus the transfer fees plus the dismal effort at Claxton last season etc etc.

Like I always say "The fish stinks from the head down". Our board is inept and are clearly not the best group of people for the job.

Who Am I? You may be asking... Well, I am an average baseball player actually but somehow have amassed 500 A grade games (still playing) and managed a couple of claxton campaigns in the early 00's.. Yes,I am passionate about baseball in my home state - a "lifer".

I may be an average player but understand corporate governance. The current board are the only ones who want to play less games. I have even heard now that the teams that finished bottom last year (north and GGCD) want more games. Norths even have a petition running and they are perennial cellar dwellers.

It is a real shame that the people entrusted to make key decisions are the not qualified to do so and get it wrong.

This has been going on too long and something should be done.... I (and alot of people I have spoken to) have no faith in the SABL.

For the record the CEO of the SABL is Paul Begg and the President is Kevin Jennings. One is a former ABL umpire and the other never played baseball.

Its time to get real get some younger ex players involved who will make unbiased decisions for the benefit of the game.

[espn]

Surely if clubs are so opposed to the changes the board makes, the presidents can call for a special general meeting (or what ever you wish to call it) and put a vote of no confidence in the board.

I know for a fact that some board members want to do the right thing, but are always out voted.

Either way they can re apply, but the clubs ultimately see who has nominated and the presidents vote!

Lets not change it 2 board members at a time, lets wipe the slate clean and start again! Only way we will solve this crisis.

My concern is though billybarro, is there enough younger ex players who wish to stand?

[waverley]

Do I understand correctly? There is a transfer fee to change clubs in South Australia.

What if I am playing at a club where for whatever reason I dont like the coaching staff or some of the other players, I cant just decide to play somewhere where I will be happier. What if I moved house or what if the club has a star player at my position in front of me. I thought this was an amateur sport?

Maybe if South Australian Baseball are after money they should sell of some of the many wooden spoons they have won over the years. There would be enough wood to build a 2 story clubhouse.

[Deleted]

billy, how is S.A. positioned in regard to the new National League? What are the attitudes of the existing Board and the baseball community generally to hosting a team for the new league?

We heard a year or two ago that the S.A. government had knocked back a submission for a new $ 7 M baseball development. Is that in fact the case? And if so, is S.A. likely to be able to have the facilities to host a National League club? Might the best option be Mount Gambier?

It is surely vital to S.A. baseball development that the state works towards active involvement in the new league. Reducing the number of games in the domestic league does not seem to make sense in view of the directions that other states are taking, especially with such a massive change to the Aussie baseball landscape about to come about over the next two years.

Oh, and talking about "lifers", there are more than a few of them/us involved in this forum. You're in good company in being concerned for the future of Aussie baseball!

[Journeyman]

Billy, I think espn has a good point, don't assume that the board of baseball SA is behind the move to less games to a man, some board members may not agree. But it is up to the clubs etc to make some noise about the changes if they are against them. I'm actually surprised that there has been no real noise, to my knowledge, about the transfer fee issue.
I'm of the opinion that in an amateur sport NO transfer fees would be the best option, but try finding people who agree.

Waverley, read the post from July 23rd for part of the answer, and take this on board too, each club has to nominate a "required player list" to the league of 30 players and those players are subject to the above transfer fee rules, based on the point system shown.

Is it fair, you be the judge, but I know my opinion.

[espn]

For waverley...as a 30 year old player, with a recent diagnosed arm injury, who is now going to coach and would like to play at some lower social level, it will cost the club i wish to go to nearly $4000. Not even the ABF, ACCC, Bussiness Affairs, Minister for Health can change the views of Baseball SA. Baseball SA basically say thats the way it is and quitting is the only option a player like me has.

Nice bloke that CEO!

Oh I can go to a tribunal and have my case heard for a fee of $100!

Fair Journeyman...not even close!

[billybaroo]

You may have noticed that the All Time Australian All Star Team - named recently - had an impressive SA representation,

SA is rich in baseball history but there is a missing ingredient in 2009/10.

We all know what this is.

ESPN, the general consensus among the players is that the current board needs to moved on. Easier said than done. Legal advice might be a good start. Replacements? I'd like to think that there are some concerned ex SA stars out there.

Hi kc , we need a facility somewhere in Adelaide. Mt Gambier is a 5 hour drive from Adelaide. How am I going to take my kids to baseball games that far away? Something like WA have got would be ideal. Let's face it, we are languishing on a national scale.

Journeyman, props again for getting this going. The clubs aren't happy. There is noise but the concern is centred around the "less games" debacle. And yes, the club presidents need to rally together to get this problem fixed. But it shouldn't even have to get to this stage. This is the key point I make.

goof60, your petetion and what you say is spot on. Sorry for the cheap shot. Is Drew Miller on the open market? That guy would look nice in a Bay line up.

Over and out. I wont be commenting on these topics again. This is serious stuff and should be done through the correct channels.

Besides, I need to go check my Yahoo Fantasy Baseball Team