kg4343
March 8th, 2008, 08:01 PM
After year after year after year of poor weather for the Bash, isn't it time the date of tournament is reconsidered??? I guess I just have a problem with any "big" or "meaningful" tournament being played before April or May. It's one thing to "get some swings in" during a round robin, qualifier, etc. But a big money tourney or NIT this early just seems silly. And here are some reasons why...
1. What does it prove? Does a tourney played in 30 degree weather and mushy fields TRULY prove who the best teams are???? Absolutely not. Throw power and athleticism out the door. You might as well drink a keg of beer and play tittlywinks in the bar area to determine the winner.... Wait, some teams might actually take me up on that suggestion... I digress....
2. The risk AND timing of injuries. The likelyhood of injuries is amplified umteen times with the miserable weather conditions. And not only do you lose players, but you lose them at the very beginning of the season. Some injuries incurred at this tournament will linger for the remainder of the year.... It's hard enough on some of those old bones going out to play for the first time of the year. Then you add in terrible weather, and you're just asking for trouble.
3. Money. Due to the money involved, the tourney holds the "we'll play in any conditions" mentality. Maybe it's just me, but playing in severely low temps and standing water just isn't my idea of fun. And in the end, isn't that what this is really about??? Not to mention the risk of injury noted above... There is NO other tournament short of state, nationals, and world that would play next weekend in the current conditions.... It still supposed to flurry Sunday and Monday, so the fields will start to thaw on Tuesday at the earliest.
4. The ability to schedule later in the year. Why can't this tourney be played later in the year? YES, some weekends will conflict with other big tourneys, NIT's, etc. But CERTAINLY there is a weekend available that would work. The Bash has created such a great reputation that certainly out of town teams would still travel and local teams would still participate if the tourney was played later in the year. In fact, I actually think MORE teams would play in the Bash if it was played in May or June.
I love softball as much as the next guy, but even the most die-hard softball player has to admit that playing next weekend will just be silly. Even IF the temps rise into the 40s or low 50s, the fields will be complete slop. Just not seeing the fun in that....
1. What does it prove? Does a tourney played in 30 degree weather and mushy fields TRULY prove who the best teams are???? Absolutely not. Throw power and athleticism out the door. You might as well drink a keg of beer and play tittlywinks in the bar area to determine the winner.... Wait, some teams might actually take me up on that suggestion... I digress....
2. The risk AND timing of injuries. The likelyhood of injuries is amplified umteen times with the miserable weather conditions. And not only do you lose players, but you lose them at the very beginning of the season. Some injuries incurred at this tournament will linger for the remainder of the year.... It's hard enough on some of those old bones going out to play for the first time of the year. Then you add in terrible weather, and you're just asking for trouble.
3. Money. Due to the money involved, the tourney holds the "we'll play in any conditions" mentality. Maybe it's just me, but playing in severely low temps and standing water just isn't my idea of fun. And in the end, isn't that what this is really about??? Not to mention the risk of injury noted above... There is NO other tournament short of state, nationals, and world that would play next weekend in the current conditions.... It still supposed to flurry Sunday and Monday, so the fields will start to thaw on Tuesday at the earliest.
4. The ability to schedule later in the year. Why can't this tourney be played later in the year? YES, some weekends will conflict with other big tourneys, NIT's, etc. But CERTAINLY there is a weekend available that would work. The Bash has created such a great reputation that certainly out of town teams would still travel and local teams would still participate if the tourney was played later in the year. In fact, I actually think MORE teams would play in the Bash if it was played in May or June.
I love softball as much as the next guy, but even the most die-hard softball player has to admit that playing next weekend will just be silly. Even IF the temps rise into the 40s or low 50s, the fields will be complete slop. Just not seeing the fun in that....