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Monday, March 09, 2020
Let’s start planning for this year’s game. First questions:
1. Who is submitting the permit request? (Answer: Hysterical & Useless)
2. What dates should we aim for? (Answer: July 25 October 3)
3. Where is the post-game destination?
I’ll try to keep the header up to date as actions are taken and decisions are made.
villageidiom
Posted: March 09, 2020 at 01:22 PM | 108 comment(s)
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EDIT: As it turns out I added it on 7/6.
Not August 1-2 is my only input there.
Chicago Joe, since flying may become problematical, you should probably start walking soon.
Though that would mean starting the post-game sooner, which many might count as a win.
As of now, one of the people I've brought the last few years is planning an annual slip and slide party (and inviting most of our softball world)...so the 25th might cause the loss of at least a few of them anyway.
The rest are caught up in virus panic mode right now waiting to see if our spring season gets cancelled and not willing to commit to anything...so in general the farther away the date, the better.
August 1, I'm going to be down in Nashville, so definitely out that weekend. July 12 would work for me though.
Of course - just wanted to point out that the catomi-contribution might be lower this year on either of those dates.
1) so few people have said "okay" to the date; and
2) the permit status remains at "submitted" on the permit site. Has to move to "in process" for me to complete it.
My guess is that July park permits are not a real high priority right now.
By the way, thanks for everyone's warm wishes regarding my dad. It got relayed to me during Shiva and was very much appreciated.
Just checked the Parks permit website; they are "not accepting, or reviewing, event applications for use of field and courts at this time. Fields and courts are currently closed to group play." With a further advisory to check back periodically for updates.
Maybe we could schedule a skating party for January or something.
Softball on Ice.
hell, we don't even have first- or third-base coaches to pat runners on the ass.
and we even play with fewer than 10 fans gathered.
As it happens, I had checked the Central Park website yesterday. Ballfields are still off-limits, no permits being processed at this time. My wife mentioned a couple of days ago that NYC restrictions *could* begin being loosened mid-June (if all continues to go well, presumably), though I don't know if such loosening would include rowdy gatherings such as our own. Can't imagine any of our usual suspects will be traveling from foreign parts (eg Utica, Chicago, Toronto, Atlanta, Llandudno, Intercourse...).
Should we shoot for an October Surprise? Or just go ahead with a post-(no)game meetup at a BBTF approved watering hole? We could do a sim game, no equipment needed, no injuries, much less sweat. Might not scare away all the ladies!
Does Zoom softball work?
If the game is a week or so after the lockdown is lifted, I doubt most of the people I brought last year would want to come in for the game....so I would suggest we postpone the game til the fall, and see if we can't get some other event scheduled between now an then not involving the park or "contact" softball.
So, maybe they stopped letting people log in so they wouldn't get lots of permit requests that they weren't going to act on, and at some point they'll restore site access. Maybe somebody jumped the gun on sending out these "check your account!" notices.
Or maybe I'm just more blind than usual today and can't see the log in spot. I'll update as & when I have more (any?) info, because I know you're all waiting with bated breath.
"While the restrictions on group and athletic play have not yet been lifted, we have some good news to share: NYC Parks is now able to accept permit applications in anticipation of restrictions being lifted and a future determination that it is safe to conduct sports in the Fall. The permit request system is now active and accepting applications."
So, my takeaway here is that our July 25 application is dead in the water...but if there's interest in a later date, I can try again. The Fall season runs from Sept 1 to Nov 30. Anybody itching to become the new Mr November?
October 10 is out for me.
Which is better, September 5th or October 3rd?
The 5th is Labor Day weekend no? I'll be around, but I'd imagine more people can make 10/3.
Concur. Oct is usually lovely in NYC.
Maybe fields won't open, but there's no cost to y'all for waiting & seeing. I'm going to continue being hopeful, because this is always fun and I really do enjoy seeing you guys and being reminded that none of you are half bad IRL.
JE, hope you can make it this year. It'll be good to have SOMEBODY who can still run.
hey, I resemble that remark!
Howie, you and me, we "run." Jason can actually run.
DiBlasio didn't have you arrested?
Our games for tonight (played at a private facility - I think Bobby Valentine is/was a part owner) have been cancelled, and no light at the end of the tunnel for permission to play there yet.
#justsayin
#justsayin
We may have to eat dinner to get a bar to seat us :-(
Hmm, does that mean we can start at second base with any lady we might meet at the bar.
#askingforafriend
then I realized they won't even allow THAT.
but as I said, at this point in life I'm more about the 10th inning anyway.
I should be around Oct. 3.
On the grounder I ranged to my right to field the ball, put the dish on the ground, and threw the runner out. The other play was a popup.
To sum up, don't blame the bagel.
(Emphasis added.)
Unless I'm misinterpreting plain language, we will not be able to get a permit this year.
Now let's look for what our options are...
1. Pickup game. According to the site "Organized leagues or special events need a permit to use an athletic field or court." Reading that, I assume that we do not need a permit to use a field if nobody is using it and we just show up. Basically, same as any other year except without a permit.
2. Meetup at park, no game. I'm confident this will be the lamest of options, but it's an option, and I have no humility so I'm down with lame options. We could watch a little league game and do our best not to heckle them.
3. Meetup at whatever would be the post game destination. Not sure how social distancing works in a bar, so this seems the riskiest of options while also being the most popular?
4. Strat-o-matic game. Really leaning into the nerdery here. I've got my son's tabletop game from like 2009. If someone can figure a way to achieve group participation in a game designed for 2 people, have at it.
5. Zoom it. Let's meet up online, and raise a glass or pitcher from a safe distance. I assume there will be a playoff game going on, and we can pick a time that coincides with it so we have something going on in the background.
I don't really care what everyone's preferences are as much as I care what they're open to. In all honesty I'm up for everything except going to a bar.
I mean, we are neither an organization nor a league. Maybe you should apply for a permit for a pickup game and see what happens.
Even in a normal year, it hasn't seemed that crowded.
I have a semi-famous story about my nearly-annual pilgrimage to Wrigley Field and the magical solution during the 1994 strike. to be told at the meetup, in whatever form.
as for bars, outdoor dining is allowed in NYC - and I expect 25 pct capacity for indoor, too, by this date.
that said, lawn chairs and a cold case of beer in Central Park would seemingly make for a safer environment.
pretty much ignored these days in NY and my NJ is that the daily numbers are really, really low. we have lost so many people already that for the most part we're still hunkering down just in case, it seems.
the upper East and West sides of Manhattan seem to attract the most masking scofflaws, however.
Howie, I don't believe alcohol is permitted in the Park. At least not if it's obvious. You can pull a McCoy and fill your water bottle with vodka, but toting a case of beer in would likely be too conspicuous.
Heckscher 1 (8-1)
Heckscher 2 (8-5:30)
Heckscher 4 (8-2)
Heckscher 5 (8-5:30)
...all for little league baseball.
That leaves, if I'm counting this right, 10 fields without reservations all day. Great Lawn fields are closed for maintenance in the weekdays leading up to 10/3, but nothing on 10/3 itself.
No, I'm not taking this personally. Not taking it as a reflection on you lot of reprobates either. Since they'd already told us 2 weeks ago that they weren't granting any permits for adult organizations (guess they're using fairly liberal interpretations of both "adult" and "organization" there). But most of the fields aren't booked, so if people just show up there shouldn't be any trouble occupying a field.
I will only be able to be with the group in spirit, as we will be self-quarantining for 2 weeks in preparation to go to visit our grandson (and his parents) down in Maryland. Kids nowadays, the way they boss their elders around is just criminal.
Maryland has a 2 week quarantine for all visitors?
It's really not much of a sacrifice, we don't go out anyway. We did go to breakfast for the missus' birthday yesterday (outdoor-ish seating, nobody other than the waitress coming near us, everybody in masks [tough to eat that way!]). I'll do a major shopping expotition the day we start our 2 weeks. When that's up, we'll leave early AM to drive down. Will have to stop once to take a leak, but I've got a large empty juice bottle that holds more than I can produce. Somehow, my wife can go 5 hours without peeing. Don't know how she does it.
#1 son better have some beer in the house this time.
That's ironic since you're at much greater risk from them than they are from you.
Besides, they've got a hostage. We don't get to see the grandson if we don't play nice!
Add Great Lawn 4 & 6 to the occupied list (9-3 for both), again for little league. Eight fields remain unoccupied.
YES? (7)
villageidiom
catomi01
snapper
Edmundo
Karl from NY
JE
Howie Menckel
MAYBE (4)
Lassus
catomi02
catomi03
catomi04
So... Is this happening?
I could probably do a Rusty Staub-like PH appearance, possibly singling up the middle and then yielding to a pinch-runner....
I'm probably not going to be able to make it on Oct 3 -- some out-of-town family stuff came up.
Would North Meadow fields (I think we were there last year?) be more likely to be available, or more likely to be closed entirely?
Great Lawn and Heckscher are operable, and there are like 4-6 Great Lawn fields that remain unbooked.
I moved the map to North Meadow, picked Softball - Adult, 10/3 date, 12 pm, and it shows two fields as available and the rest occupied.
Although there are more open fields on Great Lawn for the same time.
I'm up for whatever we can arrange, even if it's just 6-8 people hitting around. Let's do something at least.
Also, I'm out. I won't be making the trip to NYC.
I’m definitely out. Have to go visit family in MA this weekend.
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