Sorry for the un-rangers post here but we are all lovers of the great game and I wanted to know what you guys and girls thought. Plus there isn't anything going on in ranger land anyway.
so I'm looking thru Facebook and I come across this
http://www.fortworthmsbl.com/
and they have a 40+ mens hardball league here in Fort Worth. Now I have been playing baseball / softball all my life but I haven't seen a real fastball in 20 yrs let alone try to hit a curve.
Am I crazy trying to pick up hardball after all these yrs? or should I stick with softball? What would you do "if" you thought you could still play?
BTW I'm 42, I'll be 43 in July

Have your son, neibor or friend hit you flies & grounders for one week. Take some hard infield, etc.
You'll get your answer

I'm assuming you've already decided that your health, family and job are all not a problem. If so, go for it. It's the greatest game there is, and nothing beats being out there playing. Nothing against softball, but there is simply no comparison to playing real ball in my opinion. You will find that things hurt more now, and take longer to heal, but it's worth it.

Joe C. Just go for it dude. I can still rake.

Really?

Joe C.....I played/managed in the Dallas MSBL League for a while and i can truly say that it is a great, well organized league.

It is a national league, with tons of city affiliates throughout the US. They play national tournaments, etc.It's more competitive than your beer-league softball and still loads of fun. Some of the 40+ guys can still bring it but most are regular guys like you and me who want something more than rinky-dink softball league.

They normally have tryouts but it is real easy to hook up with a team. If you can hit in the cages and can throw halfway decent, you should be fine.

Good luck!

"Have your son, neighbor or friend hit you flies & grounders for one week."

And if they are not available, ask your grandson or your hospice nurse if they can toss you some BP.

Just kidding man, I say go for it! When you're old and dying, you'll regret the things you didn't have the courage to try... but you'll never regret having gone for it, even if you fail.

Softball is for little girls. Play baseball like a man. I play in a league and there's always a few guys who haven't played in a while. Go for it.

Thanks guys I'm going to find a batting cage this weekend and see if I can still hit then go from there.

It'll take you a bit to get used to hitting again. Everything looks different than it does when you're younger. I'm 26 and occasionally get out with a few friends and play some ball, but unfortunately where I live (San Angelo, TX) isn't big enough to have anything but softball leagues. I say go for it if you want to play. Chances are, you'll fit in better than you think.

Agreed Brandon. I was away from the game for 12 years. Easily the slowest thing to come around was my bat speed and timing. It did come back (ok, some of the bat speed didn't), but it took quite a while, so don't give up if you go to the cages and struggle some. If you're physically fit enough, I encourage you to go try out. As some else said, somewhere down the road you'll probably regret it if you don't. Have fun Joe.

Man, this prompted me to look up local leagues here in Denver, and now I can't get this idea out of my head that "maybe I still have it" (I never did, but it's funny how age and confidence work together for your demise...) Regardless, I really miss playing the game, and this post just fueled the fire now that I see I have options (althought the tryouts are this and next weekend, and I'm not in tip top shape...)

So thanks Joe... I think?

Ranger you and me both! I'm going to try to get to the cages in the next day or 2 just to see if I can even get wood on the ball.

L M F A O !

Update for anyone who cares.
Hit the cages today and hit about 45 pitches in the 50-60 mph range and don't think I embarrassed myself! hit a few hard even so maybe.....
Ranger let me know how you do.

Joe C... Go back and forth between 80mph and 50-60 mph in the cage. It's not going to help to have cage timing down unless you can adjust. Live pitching will make you look like shit. Guaranteed.

Dub
Good idea! I'm no where near where I need to be yet heck I was just happy to hit the darn ball.

Even if you choose not to play, getting back in the batting cages is a challenge worth attempting. Just to see how you can do.

Referring to the title of this post-I don't know who to ask your mother to take your computer away from you.

What do you have to lose? If the passion for playing is there, you won't want to look back ten years from now and wonder why you didn't tryout.