Oakland Park Baseball

So after today's... ummmm. retardation for the lack of a better term, we need some more field options. We know Ramondi, Defermery, and Poplar are all used, and I would very much like to avoid the "well, let's play half the game here, and then move, and then move again" thing that we went through today.

Scott, I know you're the one who's been in contact with Oakland park officials, do you know if there's any way to find out what park is being used when?

And for the people in Alameda, if they could drive by a few of the fields and see what they look like if nothing else, I think that would be awsome.

I'm gonna look around berekley, but the two best fields were being used today by official-looking people, so that may be out of the question.

Tayster wrote: Scott, I know you're the one who's been in contact with Oakland park officials, do you know if there's any way to find out what park is being used when?

Hey, Oakland Parks & Rec won't tell you the schedule & the availability until you pay, for obvious reasons. I did get them to admit, however, that "we keep sundays clear [from little leagues] for Adult use".

I think what we experienced today were make-up practices because of the recent rain. (With the exception of the anomaly Football folks at DeFremery). I confirmed this theory with 2 coaches at 2 separate fields.

I went and checked out Curt Flood field, and I think that it's the one to go for next week, until we can get the "whether to pay" issue decided. My recommendation is to go there at 11:00 rather than 12:00, and we should be fine. It's a solid field, better than Poplar for sure, and it's conveniently located at Coolidge & School, just off 580.

As for paying, it's basically $30 a game, plus potential deposit & insurance costs. I got them to offer me a situation where we don't have to pay deposit or insurance, we just have to all sign the waivers saying we won't sue Oakland, and we have to pay the $30 a game (for a 4 hour window).

If we did this, one person would pay in advance, then everyone would show up with $5 bucks, ready to kick down anywhere from $1.50 - $3.00 for their share of the $30 for that game. There would be no paying in advance, since turnout is so unpredictable. If you don't bring your $1.50-$3.00, you can't play. And the waivers (I believe) could be signed on-site at time of game. This seems to be a small price to be legit users, and to not have to keep switching fields to avoid other legit users.

NOTE: these numbers are only accurate if I can get the deal I got offered when I called, ie no big deposit or $$$ insurance costs. Apparently, it depends whom you talk to at Oakland Parks & Rec.

Let's do it, Curt Flood at 11 sounds good to me. Any objections?

Just for comparision... here are two photos. I'm down to play where ever it's decided... Below are two pretty good photos of fields... the first is Curt Flood field... I personally don't like this field as I played on it in high school... It's asymetrical shape and "double field" irks me... I like the grass infield of the main field though... This picture was taken shortly after football season where Fremont H.S. plays. The field looks spooky to me in the air.

Curt Flood

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The second photo is of Franklin field on the corner of 11th Avenue and Foothill Blvd in the Eastlake district... 11 blocks east of Lake Merritt. This is my favorite out of the ävailable" fields as I know this field is very seldom used for softball/baseball purposes especially on the weekends (It is used during weekday evenings for adult softball SOMETIMES... this field used to be a virtual lake during the winter... we used to ride our BMX's through the mud every year until the city would redo the infield. They finally redid it at some point and actually drains wonderfully. I went there after the game and unlike Raimondi and Poplar... it was dry and quite playable... Scott had concerns about center field. Actually the field is symmetrical all the way around. Left field does offer a little bit of jagged ness where left extends about 15-20 feet deeper... not unlike Fenway sort of where there is jaggedness http://www.redsoxconnection.com/dimensions.gif

This field can certainly contain us... The fences all the way around are tall also like DeFremery... I don't see many homers to power alleys in left,however the rest of the field offers certain homer potential without becoming Coor's Field

Check out both fields and discuss your thoughts. BTW Scott... entrance is at the corner of 11th and Foothill... and is always open.

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Please forgive grammetical errors, tense shifts, comma splices, dangling participles and such... I don't feel like writing proper tonight.

Yeah, today wasn't very much fun. For those not present, we attempted to play and were ejected from 3 different fields today! We only got through (almost) the 3rd inning. Perhaps today was unusual but there are enough uncertainties involved as it which, for me, just produce anxiety -- will enough players show up? Or will too many show up? The added uncertainty of the availability of the field puts it over the top.

My vote is to secure a field legitimately through the Parks system so we can play without worries. The small fee required of players I think would be more than offset by being at ease about having our own field.

What do you guys think?

I agree. I hate that every time someone approaches the field, I'm wondering if we're screwed. The peace of mind is worth 5 a game for me.

I also agree.

How far north are you guys willing to travel? I know of a few parks north of Oakland (Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito and even Richmond) that are probably worth time checking out if I know people wouldn't mind the drive.

I'm more than happy to assist in the scouting procedure, as long as I can be pointed in the right direction.

I personally have no problem with that. Hell, I'd go into SF if needed.

TheLegend wrote:How far north are you guys willing to travel? I know of a few parks north of Oakland (Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito and even Richmond) that are probably worth time checking out if I know people wouldn't mind the drive.

I'm more than happy to assist in the scouting procedure, as long as I can be pointed in the right direction.

Just trying to draw more attention to this!

Scott- how do you feel about playing in Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito or Richmond?

also, I ride my bike past Golden Gate Park (in Oakland) everyday and the more I look at it, the more I think it would be a worthwhile option. The dimentions are a little funky because of the double diamond setup, but that only really affects balls hit to center (where we have never hit a homer at any of our parks!)

my first guess is that the field isn't used that often, but I'm really just pulling that idea out of my ass... so don't put too much faith in it.

How's it going with the idea/plan to pay-to-play? Personally, I see that as a last resort- Only to be used when we verify that there's no other way we'll find a spot.

While I feel bad abandoning Oakland, I don't mind going north if it means being able to play without problems.

That having been said, the various Contra Costa Parks & Rec's are a whole different ball of wax, as compared to the Oakland Parks & Rec. And I don't know what level of users to expect.

A benefit is the likely proximity of most fields in albany/el cerrito/berkeley/richmond to one of the BART stations. But, then again, that's really not much of a benefit since the vast majority drive to the games, and those who don't can be picked up.

So what do you know and/or think about the odds we'll have similar problems on fields up north? And don't you think we should just go with some knowns (curt flood, franklin) for a few weeks, and then pay and be legit?

How bout this... I'll post up a bit of research and see how everyone feels after all the options are revealed.

It's no secret that I don't have any emotional link to DeFrem (or at least, no positive one) so moving to another field where we know we won't have problems seems much better for me than shelling out even 2 or 3 bucks a game.

Top 5 parks in Berkeley

Glendale-La Loma
La Loma at Glendale Avenue - Northeast Berkeley
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Grove
Oregon Street at Martin Luther King Jr. Way - Southwest Berkeley
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JAMES KENNEY
Eighth Street between Delaware and Virginia Streets - Northwest Berkeley
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Willard
2730 Hillegass Avenue, at Derby Street - Southeast Berkeley
http://www.terraserver.microsoft.com/ad ... .861109925

King
Hopkins Street east of Colusa Avenue - Northwest Berkeley
http://www.terraserver.microsoft.com/ad ... 7.88159655


I know that Willard and Grove are often used, but the others I'm not so sure about. Glendale might be a well kept secret... I'll try and talk Dorian or Daniel into doing a drive by as it's the only one on this list I haven't been to myself.

schools!


Albany Middle School
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Albany High School
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El Cerrito High
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