| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| titansx11 |
Posted - 04/06/2009 : 10:39:55
They put on a great tournament. This is what travelball should be. If they can continue to get the numbers and quality of teams to come to their tournaments thats where everyone will play. Godd Job USTBA, EAST COBB, & S.P. We had fun this weekend. |
| 22 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| baseballpapa |
Posted - 04/10/2009 : 10:39:13
I agree and think we should all be patience and the more we play and the more results that they have to work with the better the pairings should be. |
| greglomax |
Posted - 04/10/2009 : 08:22:14
I applaude USTBA's publishing of how they set up pool games. It is hard to argue with the way they put it together. Anything different would inject subjectivity into the mix, which is flawed at best.
While most people would argue "They don't need to put some of the top teams against each other in pool play.", they make you prove within their system that you are a top team.
While I still stand by my suggestion of allowing teams to designate the desire to play in the Ultimate division, I also acknowledge that they are making teams "prove" they belong in a particular division rather than designating where they want to play. We complain, a lot, that teams register as Major in USSSA that don't belong, so it seems this format eliminates that.
It is an interesting concept. I hope it continues to grow. |
| CoachMark |
Posted - 04/09/2009 : 15:25:42
Go here to see how USTBA sets up for pool play . . .
http://www.ustba.org/format.htm
Of course, this only works IF the teams have played USTBA before. If they keep doing such a great job, a year from now the Ultimate, American, National and pool play will all work itself out. |
| ronicard |
Posted - 04/09/2009 : 08:35:22
quote:
Originally posted by greglomax
I believe they need to seperate out the Ultimate from the American and National division assignments.
Let teams register for Ultimate if they want to compete for that level, otherwise teams go into the American/National pools which are decided by pool play results.
The Ultimate teams play each other in pool and are seeded out in that division. The other teams play pool games to determine if they fall into the American or National divisions.
This weekend we almost saw Bulldog Baseball, a team that should have been in the Ultimate division, almost end up in the National division. If that had happened, it would have been a bad deal for them, and a bad deal for they teams they would have to play in that division.
Two divisions determined by pool play is one thing, but three is kind of tough.
Just my opinion.
greg,
I think that suggestion about the Ultimate division is probably the best suggestion I've heard yet. |
| greglomax |
Posted - 04/08/2009 : 10:49:07
Congratulations to the following teams:
(I think this is all correct now)
9U American Division Winner - ECB Braves
9U National Divions Winner - Sandtown Angels
10U Ultimate Division Winner - Bandits Baseball
10U American Division Winner - ECB Tigers
10U National Divions Winner - South Forsyth Spartans
11U Ultimate Division Winner - ECB Stars
11U American Division Winner - Knoxville Sluggers
11U National Divions Winner - Rome Rattlers
12U Ultimate Division Winner - Chiefs Baseball
12U American Division Winner - Georgia Black Crackers
12U National Divions Winner - East Cobb Braves
13U Ultimate Division Winner - East Cobb Astros
13U American Division Winner - Bulldog Baseball
13U National Divions Winner - Rage Baseball
14U American Division Winner - East Cobb Astros
14U National Divions Winner - Georgia Lynx |
| tater77bug |
Posted - 04/08/2009 : 08:37:13
Do they still play Lee Greenwood after the Ships??? GOD BLESS THE USA!!!!!! We haven't played USTBA yet this season but we played several last year and once they got some bugs out they did an excellant job....I am looking forward to many USTBA tourney's down the road....O I'M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN WHERE A LEAST I KNOW I'M FREE........GOD BLESS THE USA!!!!Good stuff!!!USTBA!!! |
| sirlurker |
Posted - 04/07/2009 : 15:57:42
Actually in the 11U division
Ultimate - ECB Stars
American - Knoxville Sluggers
National - Rome Rattlers |
| greglomax |
Posted - 04/07/2009 : 15:55:17
baseballpapa,
They have it updated on the brackets and have the team listing updated with the points and rankings. |
| baseballpapa |
Posted - 04/07/2009 : 12:35:45
10U Bandits won the Ultimate Division. After I bragged on USTBA so much it looks like they could post the winners and update the website. |
| Critical Mass |
Posted - 04/07/2009 : 10:19:42
Lomax....12U East Cobb Braves won the National, Blackcrackers won the American and Chiefs/Mercenaries won the Ultimate. |
| Infinity |
Posted - 04/07/2009 : 09:53:46
Personally I like the format. The teams that want to end up in the American or National division can simply pitch their 4th or 5th pitcher and play for Sunday. I think a lot of AAA teams like to play Major teams for the experience even though they know they have a slim chance of winning. If you're an Ultimate team I see know problem in playing another good team in pool play and having a "must win" game. I think the objective of this format is to see who has the best "team" and not the team who can blow out weaker teams in pool play and save their top 1 or 2 pitchers for Sunday. Either way, I do like the format compared to the USSSA format where a low seeded team gets hosed in pool play and then again in the seeded bracket play. Good job USTBA! |
| greglomax |
Posted - 04/06/2009 : 22:26:23
I believe they need to seperate out the Ultimate from the American and National division assignments.
Let teams register for Ultimate if they want to compete for that level, otherwise teams go into the American/National pools which are decided by pool play results.
The Ultimate teams play each other in pool and are seeded out in that division. The other teams play pool games to determine if they fall into the American or National divisions.
This weekend we almost saw Bulldog Baseball, a team that should have been in the Ultimate division, almost end up in the National division. If that had happened, it would have been a bad deal for them, and a bad deal for they teams they would have to play in that division.
Two divisions determined by pool play is one thing, but three is kind of tough.
Just my opinion. |
| baseballpapa |
Posted - 04/06/2009 : 22:01:32
ronicard: You are right that this a dangerous way to format and I hope that it will get better as the teams begin to rank themselves by playing more. My main point was that it was certainly different than most as we were prepared to throw our aces in the pool games if needed. |
| ronicard |
Posted - 04/06/2009 : 21:45:55
papa,
I concur with you to a point. I will say though, that this format really only works if you seed the pool play correctly, in my opinion. Case in point would be the original seeding of the 11's had the Roadrunners, Stars, and Chattanooga Colonels all playing each other. A seeding such as this could potentially make for a 2-0 team, a 1-1 team and an 0-2 team, placing one of these in each of the Ultimate, American, and National divisions. If that happens, you could end up putting a top-ranked team in each of the brackets and make it difficult, if not almost impossible for any other teams to win a ring.
I think this format is very close to being a great thing and maybe some tweaking might perfect it. I don't have the answers. Perhaps it's doing a national ranking/ state ranking that is used for seeding, similar to how USSSA does. It was very fun to watch this weekend though. |
| baseballpapa |
Posted - 04/06/2009 : 19:33:01
ronicard: You are absolutely right. The kids felt like that they had really earned the Super Bowl of Baseball Championship. For all of you Coaches that missed this you need to take note of all the good things being said. The jury is still out on the format but we knew what we were getting before we got there so we were not surprised. One thing that I did like with this format is that it gives all of the teams a chance after pool play to turn things around and still feel proud of themselves. Case in point is the Rome Rattlers that won the Bronze ring. They lost both pool games by narrow margins but came back on Sunday and won the championship of the Bronze Division. These Rattlers are Papa's boys and I know that were down in the dumps on Saturday but on Sunday they were on top of the world. What other game can allow this range of emotions in 2 days. |
| proball |
Posted - 04/06/2009 : 18:39:54
First Class event. Flags, video taping of the games and fields were great. ECB and USTBA make a good partnership. |
| baseballpapa |
Posted - 04/06/2009 : 17:39:55
I say we all forget USSSA and give the USTBA the chance to prove they are able to fill any void left by everyone leaving USSSA. |
| ronicard |
Posted - 04/06/2009 : 17:39:09
baseballpapa,
I heard one kid as he came off the field holding his ring at East Cobb say yesterday, "I feel like I just won the Super Bowl!" and he said it with a huge grin on his face. It made me think the same thing you're saying. |
| coachkyle |
Posted - 04/06/2009 : 14:26:20
If you like the format of the USTBA events, and you were pleased with the quality of the facilities at Sandy Plains (Harrison Park) this past weekend, then please consider joining us for the USTBA Stars and Stripes Shootout over Memorial Day weekend. We'll be hosting 8U(kid pitch) through 12U. Berth's will be awarded to both the USTBA Summer National Championships and the International Cup Championships to the 1st & 2nd place teams in both the American and the National Divisions in every age level. $325 per team, 3 game guarantee, baseballs provided. $100 gate fee, and NO MEMORIAL DAY GAMES!!!! Follow the link here for more info: http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=SANDYPLAINSWILDCATS&t=c&s=baseball&p=NewsStory&newsID=10720
|
| SpeedKills |
Posted - 04/06/2009 : 13:49:30
PAPA I was talking to a kid that won the Super Nit and he was talking about the LITTLE BITTY trophies that were given out...USTBA gives out NICE trophies and thats what the kids like..The bigger the better....When its a BIG TOURNAMENT I think that is what should be done...Let the kids have something to look foward too... |
| baseballpapa |
Posted - 04/06/2009 : 12:10:20
I have absolutely not one thing to do with USTBA but I also feel that all of us as Coaches should play where our players are having the most fun and USTBA is getting to be this place. USSSA has gotten to be all about the money with no concern for the teams or Coaches. You can't even get a response to questions from USSSA.
And last but not least everyone has to admit that USTBA puts more of the money back to the kids with the trophies and now RINGS. Our kids and many other at the parks were as excited as you will ever seen them when they got this ring. It was really special to see and I would bet that you will never see USSSA invest any of their money back to the kids like this.
Thanks always to East Cobb and thanks to Sandy Plains as this was all in all a excellent place to play baseball. |
| SpeedKills |
Posted - 04/06/2009 : 12:06:26
We played in 2 last year, and they were both well run...AMERICAN FLAGS everywhere..And the championship games are the best we were in..I would say they know how to put on a well run tournament... |
