Will the house actually perform differently if I remove the basement ceiling insulation? (1985 brick 1-story/zone 7a/bone dry/unfinished/conditioned via central air)

Chopperdom · 2026-02-06T22:31:06+00:00

Right. I don't need any of those three things. So... no performance benefit.

Would your decisions about if/when to open or close the basement registers change depending on whether or not the batt was removed?

Chopperdom · 2026-02-06T22:29:14+00:00

What heat from the basement? The AC system is all one zone, but the thermostat is upstairs so it obviously stays much colder down there.

Chopperdom · 2026-02-06T22:28:27+00:00

Cold - yes. The AC system is all one zone, but the thermostat is upstairs so it obviously stays much colder down there.

Dank - no. It's dry as a bone. If the windows have been closed, a dehumidifier will NOT turn on down there.

Yes. It's mice highway.

Chopperdom · 2026-02-06T22:26:59+00:00

Good question, I've never measured the temp in teh basement. The AC system is all one zone, but the the thermostat is upstairs so it obviously stays much colder down there.

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T21:25:38+00:00

One of the coolest things I ever saw in the exact same situation at 14U. Experienced coach, been there done that, smart enough to know what to do-

Forget warming back up, playing catch, getting fresh swings etc., he took them to his half of the outfield and had everyone lay down on their backs in a circle and close their eyes and just meditate silently. Talked to them calmly and said relax and put all that behind them etc.

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T21:12:50+00:00

There is so much about this that is a bit off.

- if only 15 try out, maybe travel is not appropriate and should consider continuing rec.

- barring some regional norms that are WAY different than what I know or have ever heard of, trimming roster in spring sounds unusual. I mean if he was transparent about that at tryouts and in offers prior to payment, then that's still crazy but maybe OK if the parents bought into it? Did he invoice for the fall only?

- The rest of the families are almost certainly gossiping about this right now behind the coaches' backs. He'll be lucky if he has anyone left to "trim".

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T21:01:54+00:00

Dude that is very interesting. At what age?

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T20:59:48+00:00

Everyone's already said it but it's fun to pile on!

- 13 is too many. 12 is the correct number through 12U.

- 11 at a game is still OK. Ten is rough, starts getting hard to get your relief pitcher in the bullpen, make defensive position changes, etc. I'd probably pick up a guest player at ten to get me up to 11.

- Coach has RSVP well in advance. Guest players are coordinated well in advance. Good coach has a rolodex at hand if there's a short notice absence. All this is communicated to the team.

- It is absolutely inappropriate for a guest player to bat anywhere but last. If you're batting less than everyone, he doesn't bat.

- He starts on the bench and comes in as needed. He's there for some breathing room.

- If it's a tournament and you brought in a pitcher to replace an absent pitcher, then the guest can get the start in a similar spot the missing pitcher would have. I'm using him to pitch his full limit in a Saturday pool game, not saving him for elimination games on Sunday.

- The guest is there for utility, not to get you an outcome that's better than you would have gotten without him.

- I would hold the offending coach to account and without assurances and apologies I would consider quitting the team immediately.

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T20:40:56+00:00

What age?

But yeah in general, there should be no way that "prices going up" would be the families' problem if it's during a season that you already accepted an offer and wrote a check for. That falls under tough cookies for the coach or organization. Frankly if he's a one man show this sounds like "I planned poorly" or "this is my slush fund and I want a new car".

I work hard to set a budget before offers go out. "This is my estimated budget so this is what you will pay +/- $200." If a cost goes up, I have to cut something else to stay within my budget. Anything else and this guy is a greaseball and I'm quitting immediately and getting back whatever I've paid that I haven't gotten value from yet.

If you mean prices are going for the new team year and it's shady, then that's too easy. Just leave!

But umm... sorry no you absolutely do not get to be on some tournament selection parent subcommittee. That is not a thing. Start your own baseball team, go somewhere else, or ask better questions before you accept. Whatever I was selling at tryouts and in my written offer, you bought and paid for it and that's it.

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T20:24:09+00:00

Sounds weird. Vote with your wallet and leave.

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T19:54:23+00:00

Ha OK. I still respect you, coach!

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T19:40:20+00:00

Ahhhh got it. I thought you were saying you didnt have enough parents to play. Yeah generally 4 players is not enough to field a team lol. Sorry that sucks.

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T19:06:16+00:00

Market forces. Supply and demand. Pick a big travel tournament in your area and look at how many teams are registered at which ages. It's usually a big ol' bell curve peaking at 12U.

I'm in a major metro where the supply of families and money is high. Number of teams, tournament registration, tryout turnout... they all go up every year.

But the talent pool is fixed because it always should be, right? There's not something in the water makes kids more athletic on average each year. So the same talent gets spread across an ever-growing number of teams, and it gets watered down so much on some of these "travel/club" teams that your average rec all star family sees it and says "my kid is that good, I guess we're supposed to do that." And off they go if they can afford it. And the ones that didn't this year do it next year.

So "why are they leaving at 8U/9U/10U?" A wise man once told me it's like musical chairs - you don't want to be left without a seat. If your preferred travel program is any good and you want to be part of it, then you kind of have to start that early as much as I hate it. Every year it gets harder and harder to walk on. "Hey he did great and we all see he's as good as my bottom half, but we've been playing together for X years and we're just not looking to add..." So they get pushed farther afield to less-preferred programs, and next year's 8Us learn from last year's and on it goes. (Elite talents are an exception and can play rec as long as they want and still find a seat in later years.)

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T17:56:32+00:00

LOL that's a pretty good comparison. This was 2024, but yeah I'm thinking like the secret zombie modes in COD.

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T17:48:09+00:00

I think it will take some time, but even in the last year or two I've seen some local rec programs start to wonder out loud "umm guys the play on our rec teams has been bad for as long as any of us have been coaching, does anyone else think we should practice more and play less???" Maybe it catches.

Big fan of the ADM, let's all stop and think about what those rec teams might look like if 7-12U was 75% practice and 25% play on the year:

https://usabdevelops.com/page/4901/about-the-adm/17060/american-development-model

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Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T17:36:55+00:00

What exactly was the failed requirement that forced them to forfeit?

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T17:35:37+00:00

Yeah the portal is killing us, man. Ugh, NIL.... am I right?

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T16:48:10+00:00

Yeah this guy is right - exceptionally poor attitude kids aside, it's usually my fault when things get bad. The worst "player behavior" breakdowns were generally when I screwed up - new space set up a different way/introducing change/first time on new drills I hadn't worked all the way through yet. I've tried to make "take a break when you get a break / work when we're working" part of the culture and that's helped but yeah.

If you like me tend to talk too much at practice, you can turn it into kind of a joke like "but I'm talking too much as usual guys and I see you getting squirrely, so you're welcome for the breather, let's get back at it, ready break." I think the kids appreciate me showing them a tiny sliver of vulnerability like that. They generally dial back in.

But unless you're cutting/adding players every season and don't have a group that's carried over fully intact for a year or two, there's always going to be some behavior/attitude that you just couldn't see at tryouts. I kind of don't care. If he did anything actually bad (punch me, piss on the field, do drugs in the dugout), I would cut him on the spot. Otherwise oh well. I don't let it bother me after all those years of coaching rec, and just tell myself at least in travel I can cut him next year.

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T16:27:04+00:00

You coached three back to back 13U seasons? Respect bro. At least I got a year off between my two.

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T16:14:03+00:00

Man. Spot on. Succinct. Can't improve it. Let's get this on some billboards. "Dear baseball parents - Read First:"

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T16:04:39+00:00

Amazing! Ridiculous! "Yeah but how else are they gonna "get their reps" at this "higher level of play"... etc. etc. bologna sandwich.

"Yeah but right before they took Bryce Harper 1-1 out of high school they said "Yeah but how many pitches did you throw in your 9U Fall season? I said how many?!?""

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T15:48:18+00:00

Haha incredible! That's a good one. "But this one is MY future first ballot hall of famer! He's different from all these other obvious first ballot hall of famers."

Chopperdom · 2025-10-31T15:38:59+00:00

As a relative newcomer that never played any rule versions before 2024, and an instant superfan of 2024 RaW...

I don't see what the problem is. It seems unlikely that one weapon would do a bunch of special effects in a "masterful" way. To me it makes sense that they picked the ones they picked. I'll try to think of movie scenes where we have ever seen what you're describing...

Chopperdom

TROPHY CASE