Softball season starts tomorrow!

[Brian Fein]

I know we have a few softball players on the boards.  I figured it's worth a topic to discuss...

My winter season starts tomorrow.  Our team looks to b emuch improved over last season, but we lost two of our best outfielders.  Looks like I may be called upon to move over to Left-Center, depending upon if our first-baseman shows up or not.

Anyway, I purchased a new glove yesterday.  My current one is ripped in multiple places but its so nice and broken in, I hate to get rid of it.  I'm still going to use it tomorrow, since I can't bring the new one out yet.  I'm going to take my new Easton Stealth into season 2 - I have yet to get a hit with it.  In one game I played with it, I lined out to short and walked twice.

So - any of you ball players got any tips on how to break in a new glove quickly?  I have heard stuff like lube it up with conditioner then park your car on top of it...  Not sure how good that is....

[Sunstroke]

So - any of you ball players got any tips on how to break in a new glove quickly?  I have heard stuff like lube it up with conditioner then park your car on top of it...  Not sure how good that is....

Neatsfoot oil, mink oil...any of those types. Heat helps the leather open up and soak in the oil. When you put the oil on there, don't just slop it on...put a little on there, work it in, then put a little more (slopping too much on there can start to break down the leather). Once you've got the oil worked into it well, put a softball in the pocket of the glove, lace it closed with shoestrings or twine and throw it in the trunk of your car for a day.

Voilla!!  Soft and supple baseball glove, ready to make the wearer look like a poor man's Ozzie Smith out in the field.

[Househead]

Brian, sorry to be off-topic, but whatever happened to the flag football games you (and occasionally I) played. Wilma postponed them, but is the season cancelled for good?

[Brian Fein]

Brian, sorry to be off-topic, but whatever happened to the flag football games you (and occasionally I) played. Wilma postponed them, but is the season cancelled for good?

There's alot of debate going back and forth on whether or not to continue the season or to try to scrap it and recruit a few more teams.  I think alot of people would rather just start over cause a league with 4 teams sucks.

Thanks for the tip, Stroke...  Didn't think about the heat thing.  I'll do that.  I'm thinking the trick will be to oil up both sides of the glove, not just the inside...

[Denver_Bronco]

I know we have a few softball players on the boards.  I figured it's worth a topic to discuss...

My winter season starts tomorrow.  Our team looks to b emuch improved over last season, but we lost two of our best outfielders.  Looks like I may be called upon to move over to Left-Center, depending upon if our first-baseman shows up or not.

Anyway, I purchased a new glove yesterday.  My current one is ripped in multiple places but its so nice and broken in, I hate to get rid of it.  I'm still going to use it tomorrow, since I can't bring the new one out yet.  I'm going to take my new Easton Stealth into season 2 - I have yet to get a hit with it.  In one game I played with it, I lined out to short and walked twice.

So - any of you ball players got any tips on how to break in a new glove quickly?  I have heard stuff like lube it up with conditioner then park your car on top of it...  Not sure how good that is....

LMAO, anyone that takes a walk in softball is a wimp. I will swing at something on 3-0 over my head rather then walk in softball....

[Brian Fein]

LMAO, anyone that takes a walk in softball is a wimp. I will swing at something on 3-0 over my head rather then walk in softball....

Actually, this thread is intended for people who actually PLAY softball.  Thanks for your input, though

Every base counts, especially when you're behind, like we usually are.  You swing at something above your head and pop out, it does your team no good.

[Denver_Bronco]

Actually, this thread is intended for people who actually PLAY softball.  Thanks for your input, though

Every base counts, especially when you're behind, like we usually are.  You swing at something above your head and pop out, it does your team no good.

Actually i do play. And no, YOU swing at something above your head and pop out. I swing at something near my head and still have the ability to get on top of the ball cause i got game....

[Brian Fein]

I don't know what kind of league you play in, then, because no one in real my league is "scared" of taking a walk.  What good is hitting if you have no one on base?  Our team scores a ton of runs thanks to free passes.

I always laugh when people swing and miss intentionally at ball four just to see another pitch, and then line out to short.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

My winter season is a little over half over and my Spring Ball starts up the 3rd week of February and runs until almost May.

Like Stroke says heat works the best. There is a product (an oil of some sort I can not remember the name as it has been many years since I have gotten a new glove) with specific instructions on it and you put the glove in your oven. It will tell you the temperature and how long to leave it in for. You can find it at most sporting goods stores. Good thing....it works like a charm...Bad thing....it smells like ass in your house for a day or two!!!!!

On a side note a teamate of mine just got a Mikken Camo bat and this thing is a sweet instrument. It is weighted different than most of the other bats I have used but it sings when you hit with it. Also my roomate purchased the Mizuno Envy we used it for about 6 weeks to break it in and it cracked like Humpty Dumpty. I sent it into Mizuno and they replaced it with a shinny new one that lasted all of 2 weeks then cracked as well. I still have my original Mizuno Orange Crush that I have put through hell and never had this problem. My girlfriend just purchased me a brand new Crush for Christmas (that I have yet to swing because I don't want to put a scratch on it:)) that I am certain will last another 2-3 years. I don't know what Mizuno did to the Envy bats but I suggest everyone who plays avoid this model like the plaugue!!!!! I am a huge fan of Mizuno products but this particular bat, although powerful, sucks shit through a tube.

[Brian Fein]

A guy on my team has the Crush 2.  I've heard the Crush2 supposedly dents pretty easily.  I've used it for one or two at-bats last season, and I like it.  Nice pop, and better distance than I'm used to.  I really like the feel of my Stealth though, although it seems as though the bat absorbs some of the hitting energy, rather than putting it all into the ball.

[Denver_Bronco]

I have to admit, January and you guys get to play. I am jealous as hell. We are lucky to get 2 months of decent weather to get a season in...

[Brian Fein]

I have to admit, January and you guys get to play. I am jealous as hell. We are lucky to get 2 months of decent weather to get a season in...

Well, winter season is the best.  Summer season sucks, because it rains damn near every day, and it took us 6 months to finish a 10-game season.  I wish I had a srping league like AZ does.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

A guy on my team has the Crush 2.  I've heard the Crush2 supposedly dents pretty easily.  I've used it for one or two at-bats last season, and I like it.  Nice pop, and better distance than I'm used to.  I really like the feel of my Stealth though, although it seems as though the bat absorbs some of the hitting energy, rather than putting it all into the ball.

I am not a big fan of the Crush2. I have hit with it a few times but it does not have the pop that the original Crush has. They just released the Crush3 and I have yet to hit with it but I hear it is supposed to be an upgrade over the Crush2. I wish they still made the original because they are getting harder to find. I was really suprised that my g/f found one as I was having such a hard time doing so.

Well, winter season is the best.  Summer season sucks, because it rains damn near every day, and it took us 6 months to finish a 10-game season.  I wish I had a srping league like AZ does.

I play year round. The only time we don't play is for 7 weeks in July & August because it is just too damned hot according to the league and because of our monsoon season we have a lot of rainouts. Other than that we have about a week or two of downtime between seasons.

[jtex316]

So you'll play softball but you'll totally sell us out for Basketball.  Thanks.

[Brian Fein]

So you'll play softball but you'll totally sell us out for Basketball.  Thanks.

Softball = 2 minutes from my house, suitable for fat, out-of-shape people
Basketball = in BFE, not good for fatties.