Softball Without Fences

[OldTimer]

I'd like to know what you all think about this -- Softball should be played without fences!! In my younger days, it was rare to find a field with a fence -- I know it's cool, but it gives an unfair advantage to the "goons" -- you know who you are -- 250 pound bozos who can't catch a cold, who need a cart to go around the bases, but who can easily reach the 300 foot fences with the juiced up bats and balls they be playin' with nowadays. An open field "levels the playing field". The big crunchers can still benefit because the outfielders have to play deep -- they can still hit the gaps. But the game isn't turned into a farce with these bozos trotting around the bases after every one of their lazy fly balls. And putting a limit on the number of HRs or how many different guys are allowed to hit an HR is also farce. Tear down the fences, I say!! Tear 'em down, or I'll tear 'em down myself!! Defense, speed, placing the ball, (and power) -- they're all part of the game. As, Reagan said to the Germans, "Tear down that wall".

[ESTBlues]

hey oldtimer,
when you are tearing down those fences start with euclid's Diamond 3 then proceed east to yee, then further east to mentor, then jump on the freeway and tear 'em down at mayfield hts.
good luck with your new career!

[thehat]

Home runs have always been part of the game of softball, but I do agree it has gotten a little ridiculous. Maybe the sanctioning bodies should look at some of the equipment they are allowing, as well as league testing for steroids. It's getting to the point where the game is becoming dangerous, especially as a pitcher.

[Matches]

Well Old Timer maybe in the old days fields didn't have fences but nowadays, it just makes more logisitcal sense to have fields with fences. Many diamonds are in parks or cities that just don't have the room to have huge expanses of outfield largely wasted.

With the technology and new bats...plus BALCO handing out 'roids to all the top players ... most fields that have been built with fences are seemingly too small to contain home run hitters with souped up bats. Thus the reason for those home run limits which I agree is kind of lame. If your field can't keep your hitters inside the park, useing a less lively ball seems like a better option than calling every homer after 3, 4, or 5 an out. Lots of guys spend money on those bats and are likely to get peeved if their league suddenly outlawed certain bats.

I'm a singles hitter myself so it doesn't make much difference to me.. You know what they say, wheels that burn are wheels that yearn.

[DILLIGAF]

oldtimer -

Did you know woodstock ended in 1969 ?

[StevieD]

I think that having fences on softball fields is just the natural progression of the game. Just like the bats and balls got better as time went on. Changes to the field also occured. At some point I wouldn't be surprised to have a "softball stadium" that is strictly for high profile softball only. Assuming there isn't one already.

[Matches]

That is an interesting thought, on the "Softball Stadium"...

What would that stadium look like, in your opinion? I mean, in terms of fence heights and dimensions?

Softball is such a delicate game in terms of the variables that if you make certain changes, a lot of things get thrown out of balance.. Bats have gotten so powerful that now fences seem too short...pitchers are in danger, etc. Not much you can do about either, though, I guess.

[StevieD]

I guess if things progressed to that level and there was someone with enough money, it wouldn't surprise me in the least to have a stadium similar to what the Captains play in. Obviously that would be for open/major class softball, but still a stadium.

If I were the mad genius behind this, I would have fences at 320 all the way around, NSA length mound and bases, 375 compression balls, and umpires that know whats going on.

[bwrobo]

I read this post, and orignally I had agreed with what you wrote. But as I really thought about it, I came to realize that with the way the game is played now, fences actually help to eliminate the "bozo-factor" from softball.

I have played many games on fields with both fences and that are open, and despite what field you play on one thing is common... the mashers will mash. It doesn't matter if there is a fence or not, thwy will still launch the ball a mile out there.

The fences serve a role in keeping games competitive and fun at the same time. In all of sports, there is no greater single action greater than hitting a homerun. The way softball and baseball are played now exemplifies that. There is no better feeling than knowing you just hit the cover off the ball and launched one over the fence and are now trotting around the bases with everyone watching. It is true though that homeruns have lost that lustre, because so many now hit them with little ease. But that's where home-run limits come in.

By limiting home-runs, leagues have eliminated the "goon-factor". With home run limits batters must use their home runs wisely, the goons have to learn to hit. I have played on teams that were loaded with power hitters, and easily by the 2nd or 3rd innings all home runs were gone. After that very few of the players knew how to adjust and hit line drives, and subsequently lost many games.

If you asked any one person on the field if they liked fences... one position, more than any would say yes... that position outfielders. Nothing will stop mashers from mashing the ball, in the middle of summer when the ground is dry, any ball hit over an outfielders head will roll on forever, leaving outfielders chasing balls forever. On a field without a fence, there is no difference between a 280 foot popup and a 300 foot bomb... So the solution, have the outfielders play a mile back, and what do the mashers do... they half swing and drop the ball just over the infielders head, leaving the outfielder stuck running a mile as the masher strolls into second for a double on a lazy ground ball through the hole.

While a masher may drop 10-20 balls over the fence over the course of the season, they will miss and popout... or hit a ball to the fence twice as many times, keeping games moving and within reason.

Equipment still is the only way to limit the ease of hitting, despite people paying out big bucks on bats, they will still be there, they will still play. Honestly, how many people just outright quit last year after the first bat bannings happened, little to none.

And on another side note.... there is a "softball stadium"... while it is no Captain's Stadium or Jacob's Field, it is very nice, and a tremendous place to play, and it is only right down the road in Akron. Check out Firestone Stadium if you are ever down there, and you will see what a softball stadium looks like.

[bwrobo]

wow.. that was long.... sorry lol

[TheGoose]

um, I was going to post something, but after reading that, it is now time to go to bed. Brian, I will submit that essay for review.

[thehat]

Well, a softball stadium sounds good and all, but do you think enough of our local communities would put something together like that? Home runs are going to happen and I'm not against them, as I enjoy watching them as much as the next guy, but I am more worried about the safety of the players with these quadruple-walled bats and balls as lively as super-balls. Someone is going to get seriously hurt one of these days and that concerns me. And I really think the ranking system of players is horrible and out-dated. How can some of these power hitting 'Goons" play in a premier league, and then play in a class D league?