Calling in to RSVP Sunday morning (?)

Post by **Baseball=Life** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:43 am

It's not beyond the realm of possibility that turnout will become excessive and we will need to take action to control turnout. The idea that I think would make the most sense if this happens is to require people to call before arriving that Sunday morning. Then, if we already had 20 who had RSVP'd they were on their way, I could tell the person, "actually we're already at 20 people... you can come as a reserve or call back after a while to see if someone (who RSVP'd) didn't show, but as of now we're full."

Remember, I'm not rolling this requirement out, I just want to discuss it if we end up with higher turnout than is manageable this summer.

Joe shmoe · Post by **Joe shmoe** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 1:33 pm

i think thats a really good idea, cause some people like ken, peter and seth have veey long commutes.

TheLegend · Post by **TheLegend** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:57 pm

I disagree. I think priority should be given to the people who arrive to the field first. I don't think someone who wakes up at 8:30 and calls in a spot, but won't arrive at the field until 11:30 should be given preference over someone who can wake up at 10 and get to the field by 10:30.

If it takes you a long time to get to the field then get up earlier and make sure you get there on time.

It's each individual's responsibility to get to the field by 10:30. If you get there after that, and there's not a spot for you, then that's your own fault.

Post by **retep** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:26 pm

I think there is something in the middle. One can call in, but if he's not there at game time: sorry, the spot goes to someone who got there on time.

However, if someone coming from Hayward or SF or Sonoma calls and says they will be there, they should beable to play even if they get there, say 5 minutes after a non-caller did (assuming its before game time).

The benifit is that is makes the pre-game work easier for schott (making the lineups) and takes some of the stress out of hoping enough will show up. The reward? Worry not, you'll have a spot to play.

tallguy · Post by **tallguy** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:36 pm

Ken, I disagree with you. Why should we give someone who happens to live closer to where we are playing priority over someone who does not? The ones who are coming in from far away are showing real commitment to the game, and this should be rewarded, not penalized.
I am surprised you took that line since you yourself have a long travel time to Curt Flood.

Anyway, I think Peter is right. If you call in and say you are on the way your name will be put down as one of the 20. But, if you are not there come 10:30 then you could be bumped by someone who shows up without calling. Or you might say 10:45 to allow a little leeway. Whatever, that would be Scott's call.

Consider this: you travel for over an hour and at not insignificant cost in gas or BART/bus fare, and show up at 10:45 to find your place has been filled. How pissed off would you be? How possible is it you may not come again?

onion · Post by **onion** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:42 pm

you could just call it at game time. if someone rsvp'd, but isn't there by 11:00 (which is game time, as opposed to when the game actually starts), then they lose there spot to someone who's waiting. i don't know though, it sounds like it's getting kind of complicated. the easiest move is definately keeping it as it is, but I know it's gonna suck to show up and find you can't play. if there's an easy way to limit this, i'm all for it, especially since, though i try to get there early (as i REALLY need the warm up time), i know that sooner or later high turnout's gonna affect me directly. ok. that sentence was a mess. i don't know. guess it's just gonna suck.

AntMoOAK · Post by **AntMoOAK** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:31 pm

I think this is a good idea as it could possibly speed the games up with a faster start. This would mean that lineups could be ready before 11- opening the possibility of being able to warm up with your team etc.

TheLegend · Post by **TheLegend** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 6:36 pm

I'm confused. If reserving your spot doesn't actually reserve your spot then what's the point of calling in?

and if it does reserve your spot then I'm against the change because I think there should be pressure to get tehre on time.

I don't think there's a middle ground between reserving your spot and not reserving your spot. I would be more upset if I called to reserve my spot and didn't get to play because I got there at 10:45 than if I didn't reserve myspot and was unable to play because I got there late.

I think the way things are now are fine, I think there should be pressure to get there on time to help get the games started on time.

Paul: Just becuase it would benefit me, doesn't make it a good idea, 8)besides... I'm always there on time anyway, and if I get there late and don't get to play, I won't be mad at anyone but myself, and even better, I'll probably try to get there earlier next time.

onion · Post by **onion** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 6:45 pm

calling in would secure you a spot, so long as you arived by eleven. the idea is to prevent games from being filled up by, like, ten thirty. as much as it would suck to show up at five after and find there's no spot, it would really suck to show up at a third of and not have a spot.

Post by **retep** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:17 pm

Sometimes the Bay Bridge explodes. Just saying, the longer the trip, the more shit can go wrong.

Besides, there is the issue how often a player is late. Someone who is on time every single week should be able to call in unless somethign comes in. But people who call in and are later every week are a different story. So, maybe some sliding scale is needed

Blancito21 · Post by **Blancito21** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 11:35 am

What if people start calling in on Saturday night to RSVP? Is that ok? I mean, that's the first thought that ran through my head so that the possibility of me not having a spot would be nil. Personally, I think if we are going to set up a rule like this, its going to get very difficult to assess degrees of leniancy based on geography. Are we going to develop a point system based on where you live to determine how much time needs to elapse before your spot is forfeited? Doesn't seem right because Murphy's Law is in effect and anything can happen to anyone. I have to agree with Ken on this one, if you want to play becasue you look forward to it all week and you want to secure a spot then, you know what, beat Scott to the field before he checks it. 10:30 is the official check in time but it's not set in stone. You wanna play, get there at 10:00 to make sure. What if there is no way for me to call in but I beat everyone to the field? I don't get a spot because I didn't reserve it? Not ok.

Post by **retep** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 11:38 am

Do you guys not see the benifit in having people call in to say they are coming --by the start time-- before they arrive? Scott could have the teams all set up, lineups could even be made. All this done, while we would normally be sitting around waiting for everyone to show up, and us being stressed about "are there enough people?"

AntMoOAK · Post by **AntMoOAK** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 11:57 am

retep wrote:Do you guys not see the benifit in having people call in to say they are coming --by the start time-- before they arrive? Scott could have the teams all set up, lineups could even be made. All this done, while we would normally be sitting around waiting for everyone to show up, and us being stressed about "are there enough people?"

Yeah what I said.

I think people here are splitting hairs on a balding person. Look... If this is even implemented and you plan on playing and you are on your way call (if possible) or let Scott know somehow (ie; the night before if you have to). Most of us have cell phones. If you're on way and the Bay Bridge explodes and you're running a couple of minutes late, give a ring and explain the CIRCUMSTANCE. Depending on the turnout, a decision can be made... if 35 people show up, then yeah you might lose your space, if there are like 17, the benefit of the doubt will be given.

Damn. I can't imagine this topic was envisioned to spark this much debate. We sound about as bad as politicians arguing over where to be seated at the banquet table.

TheLegend · Post by **TheLegend** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 11:58 am

i think doing more to encourage people to arrive on time would be a much more reasonable measure to make sure that your concerns are relieved Peter. The way I see it, if you know that calling in reserves your spot until 11 (or whatever deadline we set), that's only going to encourage you to arrive as close to 11 as possible. If the rule staus first come first serve and the game starts at 11... if you're not there or you're not ready then you're SOL... then that will do much more to encourage people to get to the game around 10:30 which will do just as much to relieve you guys' concerns.

long answer short: i see the supposed benefits, but i don't think it would work out the way it's planned. There is a better way to achieve those results.

Post by **Baseball=Life** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:41 pm

We don't have an excessive turnout problem right now, but, if that does becomes an issue... What about:

If you are there before 10:30, you get a spot.

If you call in Sunday morning before 10:30 and arrive (ie are ready to play) before 11:00, you get a spot.

If you arrive before 11:00 and there is room for you, you get a spot.

This way, you are incentivizing a) early arrival and b) being game-ready by 11:00. I think the benefits of getting teams drawn up and the game ready to go on time are big---when the game starts promptly, it's more likely to proceed efficiently.

Oakland Park Baseball

Calling in to RSVP Sunday morning (?)

Would you call to RSVP Sunday morning if it meant you could secure a spot to play?

Calling in to RSVP Sunday morning (?)