What do people think of our start times?

[retep]

Just wanna see people's thoughts... nothing here is final!

And, on the side, I really want to have a night game sometime.

[TheLegend]

If people took "arrive at 10:30 for 11:00 start" seriously we would be fine... but people don't. I hope for a double header every week, but it can't happen unless our first game actually starts at 11.

[Baseball=Life]

The key factor affecting doubleheaders is turnout, not start time. Once our turnout stablizes, we'll be able to play doubleheaders. Also, the start time last Sunday was delayed far beyond the norm due to the weather conditions, so I don't expect that to be an ongoing issue.

The real issue is how to stabilize turnout. I think it will happen naturally as the weather improves, but I'd be open to putting new recruiting ideas into effect. Currently I put up a post on Craigslist, also one on sportslist.com, and also on some other website which I can't remember at this moment. Plus I send out the reminder email every Friday, and use word-of-mouth. I was even recruiting while at a party in Kansas City over the vacation (no joke).

I think the number one way to stablize turnout is to reduce the number of people who don't come back. The way to do this is to make everything run more smoothly. Start on time. Don't argue with each other. Have close games with balanced teams. Whenever possible, don't bring up divisive (especially contentious) issues. Take steps to make the experience fun for everyone.

When 2nd base came undone during the game last week, my reaction as organizer was 'damn, this could dissuade future participation from the new person, especially since we had to start late.' I mention this to try to explain perspective. I know the people who show up all the time already share this perspective somewhat. I'm just encouraging people to try to always think of Future Turnout first, then whatever else perspective (ie your personal stats, your team's chances of winning the game) second.

Reducing the number of people who come play but don't show up again is the key to stabilizing turnout and, thus, playing double headers more often.

[retep]

Well, 10:30 is early for a Sunday. It is doable, but I think it does deter the more casual people from getting there.

[TheLegend]

I agree with most of your post Scott, I know that having a second game is mostly determined by by turnout, and I believe that return "business" is very important (part of the reason I wish we would never play at defremery- you know it's embarassing) but at the same time, the later the first game starts, the less likely we are to have a second game. We have a lot of guys who have obligations for later in the day, I know Richard had to be to work by 4 and Paul and Pat have wives to get home to and even I have football later in the day and I'm sure a lot of other people have their various obligations.

Furthur more, it's flat out annoying to arrive at 10:30 or 10:45, finish eating breakfast, diva up, warm up my arm, take a few ground balls, call carlos and bitch him out and still have to wait a half an hour before enough people arrive for a game. I mean good grief people...

10:30 is not early!!!

[gohlkus]

Well, 10:30 is early for a Sunday. It is doable, but I think it does deter the more casual people from getting there.

Such as me (though I consider myself borderline serious)... I came more often when it started later.

[joe shmoe]

well the sous chef i work with would love to come but he has to work which will change at the end of the month usually me and him talk about baseball to pass the time

also maybe im just a drunk but at 10 am im lucky to only be hangover maybe 7pm

[/quote]

[Baseball=Life]

Please identify yourself, Joe Schmoe

[tallguy]

From the fact that he only ever seems to post when drunk, my money is on Rich J

[TheLegend]

From the fact that he only ever seems to post when drunk, my money is on Rich J

i agree

[Southpaw Slim]

...the later the first game starts, the less likely we are to have a second game. We have a lot of guys who have obligations for later in the day, I know Richard had to be to work by 4 and Paul and Pat have wives to get home to and even I have football later in the day and I'm sure a lot of other people have their various obligations.

We need enough to play a single-header before we start worrying about 2 games.

Also, even though I prefer showing up at 12pm, I still said 12am because I love baseball so much and I'm still up then anyway.

[TheLegend]

I refuse to believe that it is to difficult for people to get to the field by 11. If people are showing up late just because they're just late, then "starting at 12" (i.e. starting at 1) is going to be a problem for me.

[onion]

i'm all in favor of a later start. some might find it sad, but eleven is still early for me. hell, noon's still kind of early. i'm coming either way, but there's something not right when i have to wake up earlier on a sunday than the rest of the week.

[Joe shmoe]

onion i assume you are seth and since at least half of your week is smoking pot and watching movies you unemployed lazy bum waking up at what 10 once should be hard. SETH YOU ARE A LAZY BUM. if by some chance you are not seth then nevermind previous statement

[Baseball=Life]

My work hours are evenings starting at 5:30 PM and end by like 9:30 pm... and yet here I am at 8:25 AM up and ready to go check the field.... the one thing in life that I am willing to wake up early for is church, I mean baseball.

Ok, the one other thing I don't really mind waking up early for is when I'm going to the airport for a flight to a vacation.

It's all about the reason you're waking up early.... if it were something lame and not fun like work, then yeah, it would be like "fuck that!" but, no, we're talking about the best thing possible..... playing free baseball!

Anyway, the reasoning, don't forget, is if we start early, we have a much better chance of being able to play a 2nd game.