Hey Bull, I replaced my ball and post at about the same time you did and I noticed the same thing happend to mine. I also had the speculation that I left the post too long. I have a very slight bend aft in the post and crease or dent in the ball, I suspect that it was from when I was attempting to step the mast and had the mast rotated to the side and basically hanging on the capitve pin and resting on the aft beam. Seems like that would be the only way I could get enough leverage on the post to bend it. I figured I would cut it down after this season. I am finally rigged and on the beach and have actually been out a few times; so I will be darned if I am going to de-step to cut the post down now!