[Sportsandrec] Beep Baseball Regs

[Joe Shaw]

Peter,
As one whom has always advocated for the devil, I must ask: You say there 
are those on this list who have played actual baseball with only a few 
modifications made, who besides Kelly are those people? He did it for a 
class and this is probably the only place it has been done. He pitched while 
everyone else was sighted. So, I imagine he did not have to do a lot of 
fielding. He said he fielded a few grounders by hearing, it must have been 
very quiet. Kelly, I am in no way detracting from your accomplishment only 
meaning to illustrate how rare what you did and that it may not be practical 
to have as an entire league or game played by  blind people as I read Pete 
to suggest.  The fielders must be able to locate the ball and then get it to 
the base in time.  Also, you said you want the same number of balls and 
strikes, this would require that the blind pitcher get it to the blind 
hitter's strike zone in enough pitches to register an out or the hitter will 
take enough for walks or swing and make contact by the pitcher being in the 
strike zone. In your world, who umpires? If it is a blind person, how would 
that happen? In my not humble opinion, your suggestion is noble  but I 
wonder how it would be possible.
You don't seem to be a big "special rules" guy. I wonder how you feel about 
the vending program specifically for blind people and NFB training centers? 
I have a guess but I want to hear your answer before I jump to my 
conclusion.
"I don't feel tardy" Hot for Teacher Van Halen
Joe Shaw NM
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List" 
<sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 8:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Beep Baseball Regs


> Hello Jennifer and listers,
>
>    I wouldn't consider Beep Baseball as a "Blind Sport." Rather it's a
> sport that was "Adapted" to permit the blind to play competitively. Goal
> Ball, Showdown, and Swish were developed specifically for blind and 
> disabled
> individuals so the concern does not apply to them.
>
>    We're not just talking about sports here, but about an attitude, a
> mind-set these sports can create in blind competitors; especially blind
> children and youth. If sports like this are allowed to continue to be 
> played
> by rules that foster low expectations in blind competitors, i.t. reduced
> play time, requiring that they be assisted to the bases by sighted 
> persons,
> etc, we're setting these folks up for failure in life; a battle whose time
> has come and a Green Monster to be destroyed.
>
>    Earlier today I talked to an S&R member concerning possible activities
> at this year's national convention. Assuming time and space permit I
> suggested a Beep Baseball game played by the rules of standard baseball
> rather than the rather demeaning and short-sighted rules of Beep Baseball
> you described. Use the BB equipment, but play the game as it should be
> played. Remember there are those on this list who were playing baseball 
> and
> participating in other competitive sports on a equal basis with sighted
> players with nothing more than modifications needed to allow a blind 
> person
> to play the game and not by rules and regs that reinforce the age-old
> stereotypes and presumed "inabilities of the blind." Now let's "Play 
> Ball!!"
>
> Peter Donahue
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jennifer Boylan" <jaboylan at gmail.com>
> To: <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 6:50 PM
> Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Beep Baseball Regs
>
>
> Peter and all,
> Okay, I will refrain from using the b-word (or in this case, the bb-word!)
> Slippery slopes can be fun--never tried a downward spiral, though.
> Seriously, I think it's important to be equal in society's eyes and it's 
> our
> responsibility as blind individuals to earn that respect by showing what 
> we
> can do in a positive way.  Some battles are more important than others, so
> let's focus our energy there first before we pick apart the blind sports 
> too
> much.  There is contact info for the rules committee on the NBBA website (
> www.nbba.org) if you'd like to share your concerns with the powers that 
> be.
> We have a hard enough time finding and keeping good pitchers, let alone
> other volunteers and even players, so any competent individual is more 
> than
> welcome to come out and try out for any position on our team!  Oh dear, as
> co-captain I'm a co-conspirator in all the establishment has to 
> offer...let
> me go join my daughter for a time out and reflect on my sins.  Joe, thanks
> for picking up my slack on the lyric/artist thing.
>  Jennifer
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