The season is around the corner!

Wow I can not believe that we are half way through February already! We are a week and a half away from tryouts and yesterday marked three weeks from the first game! The boys are putting in a ton of extra work on their own right now and really are trying to get prepared for this season. It is going to be a great year I can feel it!

The first 5+1 DH Varsity games are:
Wed. March 9th: Highland at home 3:30pm
Sat. March 12th: Fremont at Fremont 12pm
Wed. March 16th: Bountiful at Bountiful 3:30
Thurs. March 17th: Tooele at Tooele 4pm
Sat. March 19th: Pleasant Grove and Brighton at SLCC for the Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament. Time still TBA

The first 5 JV Games are:
Fri. March 11th: Judge at home 3:30pm (JV/Soph)
Sat March 12th: Fremont at Fremont 3pm (JV only)
Tues March 15th: Hunter at Hunter 3:30pm (JV/Soph)
Wed March 16th: Bountiful at Bountiful 5:30pm (JV only)
Tues March 22nd: East at home 6pm (JV only)

The first 5 Sophomore Games are:
Fri. March 11th: Judge at home 3:30pm (JV/Soph)
Tues March 15th: Hunter at Hunter 3:30pm(JV/Soph)
Sat March 26th East at East 11am (DH Soph)
Tues March 29th Cottonwood at home 3:30(JV/Soph)
Sat April 2nd Highland at home 12pm(JV/Soph)

I don't know about the rest of you but I am SUPER excited about getting this season underway! I know our boys have put in a ton of work and are going to compete every time out! Come watch as much as possible but, if you can't I am hoping to have GamChanger up and running with my android phone very soon! and if not at least for a little while I may have to use one of the kids iPhones.

GO PIRATES!!!

Follow games at home or work!!!

NEVER MISS ANOTHER PLAY!

LIVE CYPRUS PIRATE BASEBALL PLAY-BY-PLAY NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

New GameChanger web and mobile scorekeeping technology lets fans follow real-time game action

1/25/11

Magna, UT – Officials from Cyprus High School announced today that live play-by-plays and stats for every game this season will be made available online through a new technology called GameChanger.  Now fans, local media and other team followers can follow the team’s online “GameStream,” even when they can’t be at the field.

Too good to be true?  Here’s how it works: Cyprus Pirate’s scorekeepers use the GameChanger iPhone/iPod touch application to physically score each game.  Every play and update recorded by the scorekeeper on the iPhone app – yes, every pitch, hit and run – will be instantly posted online where registered fans can follow the action.  Dozens of post-game statistics are also automatically compiled for every player.

“Live online game feeds have always been reserved for the big leagues – until now,” said Ted Sullivan, co-founder of the GameChanger technology.  “The ability to now ‘watch’ a local youth game while you’re at work or in a business meeting is absolutely priceless – just ask any working parent with a kid on the field.  We’re excited that Cyprus High School is bringing GameChanger to community fans.”

Cyprus Pirates fans can sign up to follow the action here: http://www.gamechanger.io/team-122250

Reflecting 2010

We are only a few days away from 2011 now. So as we wait for the clock to strike and officially end 2010 may we look back at the Pirates success from March to November. The High School team had a up and down year. We missed the state tourney for the first time since 2005 but we did show heart in the second half of the region year after a slow start. our kids have heart and never quit.
The summer was much more productive in some ways but also saw its times of struggle. The Legion team missed the state tourney as well as they were up and down all summer. The Varsity prep team however had a very strong year all around. They started hot going 8-0 then, struggled for a few games and finished the regular season 11-5 but really 12-4 as the Judge game was a forfeit. Then in the tourney the boys were refreshed and came to prove they were the team to beat. In the first three games they score a total of 42 runs and allowed one beating Copperhills 2, Hunter, and Murray 1. Then when pool play ended we drew Olympus 1 who ended our undefeated start on a walk off home run. The game was tight all the way through but the Pirates opened it up in the end and won 10-5 bring the run total to 52 in 4 games. The next day they played Copperhills one who we beat to begin the summer 8-7 on a three run double in the 6th. They came out swinging and the Pirates lost 5-2 but ended the summer in third place but, knew they gave it their all every inning of every game!
As the summer ended and some boys began football there were a few who still could not get enough baseball and decided to play fall ball for the Pirates. We played in the Rocky Mountain league on Saturdays and did very well in that league. We had a lot of fun and continued the winning ways from the summer with a totally different style of play. When the 6 week season ended we waited 2 weeks and went on an adventure to St. George/Mesquite to play a tournament against some good competition. The Pirates came out swinging and beat Snow Canyon 11-6. The next game was against a very quality team from Las Vegas and the Pirates hung with them for a while but ran into some problems and lost 8-2. The Pirates then came out the following Saturday and beat Legends baseball 3-2 in a international tiebreaker. That game was intense through out and our boys refused to back down against an older and more experienced team. Then we played the Santaquin Red Sox who were playing their hearts out but we were far to talented for them and won 17-0. The following Sunday the Pirates were in the Bracket play, where you lose and you are done. The first game we again drew Legends baseball. The game was once again a VERY tight contest. The game went to a international tiebreaker and again the Pirates came out on top 2-1. After our 5th game in 3 days and another very tight contest the boys were drained and lost to a very good team from Idaho 6-0 (they were the eventual tournament champions winning 13-2).
In the end the Pirates had a very successful year and learned that the kids in the program now are some excellent ball players with a ton of heart. But, also that the kids that are just beginning there years in the Pirate program are going to continue the "Never Say Die" spirit that flows through every Pirate past or Present!!!

HERE WE COME 2011!!! 

Pitch clock in baseball???

I never thought a shot clock was needed in baseball was necessary as there is a time limit between pitches but after reading this article I am not so sure it wouldn't be nice sometimes. I am very much a baseball purist but I very much prefer watching Mark Buerhle pitch than most other pitchers; he just moves at such a better rate of speed. I mean the speed of the game is very important and when you are forced to stay up and watch a Red Sox-Yankee's game until 1 am because they go SO SLOW, it can get a little frustrating. Take a look and formulate your own opinion and tell me what you think. This idea is already in play in one of the biggest conferences in College Baseball. But what would it do to major league games? Can it bring baseball into a better position to compete with football? What about the rest of the ideas down below?

How Would A Play Clock Impact Major League Baseball?

Cork Gaines | Dec. 13, 2010, 11:04 AM | 42 | 

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Image: mwlguide via Flickr

Last season, the SEC instituted a play clock during their conference baseball tournament, a rule change that will carry over to the 2011 regular season.

You can be sure that eyes in the offices of Major League Baseball will be watching closely to see if similar rules could be implemented at the big league level.

The rules call for a 20-second clock in between pitches when no runners are on base. In addition, the SEC used a 108-second clock between innings during the SEC tournament.

So how much a difference would a play clock make for a big league baseball game?

To answer this, let's look at three games from the 2010 regular season. And see how much shorter those games would have been with a play clock.

In addition to the rules used by the SEC, we will also include a 30-second clock with runners on base and the 108-second clock will also apply to pitching changes.

In 2009, the average Major League Baseball game lasted 2 hours, 52 minutes. We also know that the ball is in play for an average of 14 minutes.

Using this data, we picked two random games from the 2010 regular season that lasted 2 hours, 52 minutes (one AL game and one NL game). For giggles, we also looked at a matchup between the Red Sox and Yankees that lasted over four hours.

Here are the results if each pitch and play had a play clock and if each team used the maximum allowable time on the play clock...

As we can see, the typical games would have been 7-15 minutes shorter with a play clock. On the other hand, the sloth-like Yankees and Red Sox matchup would have been over almost an hour sooner.

And this is assuming each team uses the full allotment of time. If each pitch occurred with just three seconds remaining on the play clock, all three games would have saved another 15 minutes.

All of the sudden we are talking about Major League Baseball games that average 2:30-2:40 per game.

If baseball has a fault, it is that they cater too much to the traditionalists. These are the fans they will never lose. But if Bud Selig wants to make baseball more entertaining for the younger generations, he needs to shorten the games. If he wants to shorten the games, MLB needs a play clock.

Now after reading that you wonder what was changed and was it implemented. Well, the article below will tell you.




College Baseball Is Adding A Play Clock: Will The Majors Follow Suit?

Adam Fusfeld | Dec. 10, 2010, 10:40 AM | 167 |  2

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David Wright spends a lot of valuable TV time adjusting his batting gloves. Image: Flickr/Ted Kerwin

The SEC will begin using a play clock during its college baseball games, according to USA Today.

The clock will give pitchers 20 seconds between pitches (hitters must be ready in 15 seconds), and 90 seconds between outs.

The clock figures to speed the pace of the game, and, hopefully make it more watchable. Considering Major League Baseball's well-documented declining ratings, it would be wise to keep tabs on how this initiative works out.

Obviously, baseball traditionalists wouldn't stand for this, and perhaps rightfully so. MLB's declining national ratings are countered by growing local audiences and the sheer number of games.

But, in talking to scouts, a main concern at the Winter Meetings was the sport's lack of traction with America's best athletes.

So if this increases the time spent actually playing the game, rather than adjusting jock straps, it could be worth trying out when baseball's dinosaurs move on.

Add it to the list of changes that could save baseball >

What is the rest of the list mentioned above take a look...

http://www.businessinsider.com/five-ways-to-save-the-baseball-playoffs-2010-10

MLB Playoff Changes

With all the talk of the MLB changing the format of the playoffs I started to think of another way that could make each game and season much more meaningful and fun. What if Major League Baseball added two teams in say Oklahoma City and Louisiana two markets with other sports teams in the south where baseball has very few teams. At that point there would be 32 teams and it can easily be split into 16 teams in each league and then each league can be split into 4 divisions similar to football, North, South, East, West.
You can go into a 8 team playoff play the 162 game season. 90 games versus division foes 30 of those games games against each team 15 at home 15 on the road. Then go 6 games against each other team in the League (AL/NL), 3 at home and 3 on the road. For inter-league play, just like now pick a division in the opposite league that faces each other. Each team plays a 3 home, 3 away series. For example, AL west Versus NL South. After the season ends either have the 1st and 2nd place teams from each division make the playoffs and have a best of three series or have it be a first half-second half winner in each division and have them have a best of 3 series. There would be more reason to not throw away players at the trading deadline and for teams that put it together in the second half of the season.
The division breakdown wouold look like this
AL                  NL
North                          North
Minnesota                   Chicago
Chicago (AL)              St. Louis
Detroit                        Cincinnati                   
Cleveland                    Milwaukee
South                          South
Tampa Bay                 Atlanta
Texas                          Houston
Oklahoma City            Florida
Kansas City                Louisiana
East                            East
New York (AL)          Washington
Boston                        Philadelphia
Baltimore                    New York (NL)
Toronto                       Pittsburgh
West                           West
Seattle                         San Francisco
Oakland                      Los Angeles
Anaheim                      San Diego
Colorado                     Arizona


Tell me what you think of the idea?

The season is around the corner!!!

As the snow continues to fall and days continue to be short and cold, we all dream of warmer days and Spring flowers.With that in mind Baseball will soon be underway again. The boys are beginning their conditioning now if they are not playing basketball but after the holidays the full baseball and conditioning workouts will begin!!! We are looking forward to another successful season for the Pirates under the great direction of Bob Fratto. With the assistance of Shane Anderson, Craig Sudbury, and Bryan Smith the teams will look to improve on last years down year in which we missed the state tourney for the first time since 2005. The pirates work hard every year and have always been a team that competes year in and year out. I will keep this blog up-to-date as possible with the hectic schedule we usually have. However, if you want game by game updates, become a fan on game changer and follow along on your computer, iPhone, or if you are super cool iPad. We will keep score during every Varsity game and you can follow along pitch by pitch even if you are unable to make the game. Please feel free to ask me a question about how to join and we can figure it out together. Hope you are staying warm, have a happy holidays, and remember only 4 months until baseball is under way again!!!

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