Guest = Anthony... The first response I was on BART w./ a Blackberry and it was too cumbersome to try to login. Second guest= Anthony
The first response about being scurred was meant to be tongue in cheek... we're men, so list it under men.
Turnout
I don't think this issue ends with Andrew, Brian and Ahmer. I think there are a few of us who prefer the live games (with myself being a part of that group) and I think the "everybody wins" mentality of pitching to your own team is a) a deterant to better players who may have considered playing with us, and b) a little embarassing... I know when I'm telling my friends about the games, i can't get the explaination as to why we pitch to our team out of my mouth fast enough... and about half the people I've invited lose interest at that point.Baseball=Life wrote:without even reading the rest of the post yet, I have to say right off the bat that this isn't going to happen. Ok, now back to your post.tallguy wrote:we could push for more live games.
The Live games are a novelty in our league, and will never be the norm. If people want live games, that's that formal leagues are for. No offense Brian, Ahmer, Andrew.
Scott, I think you're fooling yourself if you think the attraction of our league is that we pitch to our own team. The attractions of our league is that (unlike any other league) it's free and is AT MOST a once a week commitment. For me personally, the only thing stopping me from joining some other baseball league is I don't want to shell out $10 a game, when I can just as easily play for free.
Now, I'm not suggesting that we should abandon OPB "classic" style...
i'm going to interrupt myself here, because this is the best chance I'm going to have to make this point: "because that's the way we've always done it" is NEVER EVER EVER a point that will convince me (or any other logical person) to do something a certain way. If anything, that argument supports the idea that you might want to try something different. I get so angry when I'm debating with someone about the way things are done and they tell me that their way is the right way because "that's the way it's always been"...
so anyway...
Now, I'm not suggesting that we should abandon OPB "classic" style of play, but if we played "live" twice a month, then we could draw more attention. I don't know if anyone else knows this, but Peter (yes, Peter... yes- THAT Peter) told me after his B-day game that he would like to play more live games...
Just my thoughts.
Why I would disagree with this is because Scott offered a very unique chance for people at all levels to play. While there are other places for people like Ken to play (albeit with some $$$) people who have never had a chance to play baseball for whatever reason now did.
For inexperienced baseball players, Scott offered a chance. For that reason, I think it is fair to keep that the majority of the games, if he wants to.
I say this even though I do enjoy the live games (though the walks get to me).
There is a part of me that wants Scott to have the final say. He started this group, and I have had personal experiences where I lost the ability to control something I started, and it can be hurtful, or at least frustrating. This is Scotts baby, and any move needs his approval. I know its not very democratic, but he is the one shelling out 75% of the $$$$$$ for all of us.
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For inexperienced baseball players, Scott offered a chance. For that reason, I think it is fair to keep that the majority of the games, if he wants to.
I say this even though I do enjoy the live games (though the walks get to me).
There is a part of me that wants Scott to have the final say. He started this group, and I have had personal experiences where I lost the ability to control something I started, and it can be hurtful, or at least frustrating. This is Scotts baby, and any move needs his approval. I know its not very democratic, but he is the one shelling out 75% of the $$$$$$ for all of us.
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Baseball=Life
- Baseball Deity
- Posts: 1031
- Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2005 11:16 pm
- Location: SF, CA
Thank you, Peter, for stating what should be obvious to all.
And here's the real problem with the live games: They suck big time. They're not very fun at all, simply put. The VAST majority of the time they are just walk-a-thons and the fielders might as well not even be out there. I don't care if in our regular games the ball is pitched easily--at least that means the ball gets put in play and the fielders don't get alzheimers!
All proponents of more live games should try spending an entire live game in the outfield, where there is LITTLE TO NO ACTION WHATSOEVER. C'mon, let's recognize this absolutely clear reality.
If Paul is right about having a "static" umpire, then that would be great and I could see playing live more often. But the more I think about it, the more I believe it will be a small change at best.
And here's the real problem with the live games: They suck big time. They're not very fun at all, simply put. The VAST majority of the time they are just walk-a-thons and the fielders might as well not even be out there. I don't care if in our regular games the ball is pitched easily--at least that means the ball gets put in play and the fielders don't get alzheimers!
All proponents of more live games should try spending an entire live game in the outfield, where there is LITTLE TO NO ACTION WHATSOEVER. C'mon, let's recognize this absolutely clear reality.
If Paul is right about having a "static" umpire, then that would be great and I could see playing live more often. But the more I think about it, the more I believe it will be a small change at best.
"Baseball is like church, many attend, few understand"
- Leo Durocher
- Leo Durocher
...Plus,. this will piss off hitters. Someone who thinks they have a good eye for the zone will be upset over balls and strikes, because in baseball, walks are a factor.
Another issue with Paul's idea (though its a fair start) is that consistency is the key in calling balls and strikes. If you wanna have a bigger zone, fine, but don't change it. A batter will say "hey, that last one was a strike" but from their position can't tell if a ball is one more inch left or right like and ump can.
Let me recap what makes our live games, uh, sub-par:
-Walks (duh)
-Inability to throw runners out stealing bases
-Runners do not know how to run the bases
-Lousy pitching, which is a...
-Safety issues: I don't wanna get hurt from some dumbass who's trying to show off his fastball.
-Exclusion from participation (some people don't wanna have a 3-K game with 2 walks)
I know some of you all have had practices. However, with the exception of two people on the field, we all lack EXTENSIVE baseball fundamentals. Even the people who parade on this site as god's gift to baseball knowledge come up painfully short.
Does anyone realize that even a shitty CA State College team practices 6 days a week? There is no way we have the time to really learn the game well enough to make live games really challenging and interesting.
Should we still have live games? Sure. That’s not the point! The point is that this is not the place for people got get their “real” baseball fix. I see this as an active step up from getting your baseball fix from a computer!
Another issue with Paul's idea (though its a fair start) is that consistency is the key in calling balls and strikes. If you wanna have a bigger zone, fine, but don't change it. A batter will say "hey, that last one was a strike" but from their position can't tell if a ball is one more inch left or right like and ump can.
Let me recap what makes our live games, uh, sub-par:
-Walks (duh)
-Inability to throw runners out stealing bases
-Runners do not know how to run the bases
-Lousy pitching, which is a...
-Safety issues: I don't wanna get hurt from some dumbass who's trying to show off his fastball.
-Exclusion from participation (some people don't wanna have a 3-K game with 2 walks)
I know some of you all have had practices. However, with the exception of two people on the field, we all lack EXTENSIVE baseball fundamentals. Even the people who parade on this site as god's gift to baseball knowledge come up painfully short.
Does anyone realize that even a shitty CA State College team practices 6 days a week? There is no way we have the time to really learn the game well enough to make live games really challenging and interesting.
Should we still have live games? Sure. That’s not the point! The point is that this is not the place for people got get their “real” baseball fix. I see this as an active step up from getting your baseball fix from a computer!
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Southpaw Slim
- Kenesaw Mountain Landis
- Posts: 610
- Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2005 7:36 pm
- Location: Oakland, CA
- Contact:
retep wrote:This is Scotts baby, and any move needs his approval. I know its not very democratic, but he is the one shelling out 75% of the $$$$$$ for all of us.
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Yeah, so why don't you cheap bastards try coughing up $20 to buy some goddam baseballs once in a while?!
I intended to write something to remind everybody of my superior prowess.
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AntMoOAK
- Perennial All-Star
- Posts: 273
- Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2005 5:43 pm
- Location: The 'Town
- Contact:
I think that it has been suggested that we "pass the hat" every game for equipment and Gatorade and stuff. No one objected. $ 1 or $2 per game is nothin' ('sponserships for the kids if need ). The softball games up at Montclair Park charge $2.00 every Sunday and I don't see why it can't be implemented here (cause they play on a small, small field, and end up losing balls in the duck pond in right and on to Mountain Blvd.).