Oakland Park Baseball

[Joe shmoe]

me and ken have started practicing at this field right by his house. and the more we practice there the more i think its the best field. the field honestly looks like a real field, like professional quality

it pluses are it is extremly well kept, like i think it gets mowed weekly. which makes play more enjoyable. the mound is basically brand new there isnt the slight pothole either on the rubber or in front of rubber. so pitching in a live game would be perfect.

the down sides are the field is huge, which doesnt bother me that much but the right field line says its 363'. but i dont believe it as i feel i could drop one over the fence and i cant hit 363. left field doesnt have a fence at all and it is a box shape with a diamond at each corner. so center field is probalbly the same as flood if not a little bigger.

any thoughts
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So long, and thanks for all the fish. - Douglas Adams

[tallguy]

Well, my only concern is that El Cerrito is kind of far, but I guess it's not much different from Nicholl in Richmond, and I don't mind that at all.
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[TheLegend]

I really like the field and i think it would be great for non-live games. According to google earth it's ~340 to right, ~460 to center and ~320 to left (there is no fence in left, but this is the measurement to the walkway beyond the left field grass). I like this field (and any other large field) because I feel like the ball should stay in play in non-live games. I've always said that I feel like a homerun (that leaves the park) that was hit off of your own teammate is dumb because it completely negates the opposing team- it's extremely anti-competitive. The fact that there is no fence in left isn't a major issue because, due to the depth of the field, if there was a fence in left, it would never come into play anyway. Another plus to the field is that the backstop doesn't have those annoying wings or hangover, so balls that are popped up will become outs, as they should be, instead of foul balls.

The major downside to the field (which is a rather major downside) is that there are plants/trees etc. down the left field line, and there is the potential for many lost balls.

Also, this field is in El Cerrito, so it's a longer commute for most of you guys. It's pretty much halfway between the two el cerrito bart stations, but isn't an impossible walk from either (even with gear) at about 3/4 of a mile, it's also only a few blocks from a 72/72R stop (moeser lane). The last concern is that i have no clue whether or not it is in use on sunday mornings.

The best things about this field are the size (which may be a personal preference of mine that isn't shared by many people), the backstop (again, just a preference) and that the field is well kept and seems to drain well.

I would be interested in giving this field a test run.
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[AntMoOAK]

Gotta have a fence man... That is a beautiful field (Cerrito Vista) though. But I need something to aim for- even if I don't hit it over.

Other big fields again- Oakland High. Park/MacArthur. Brand spanking new field not in use on Sundays. Good for live games. AM/PM right across the street. McConnell gives me the creeps. Ya'll might not be from around here, but I know these 'hoods and stuff can jump off at anytime. 79th and Olive isn't bucolic as ya'll might think.

[Joe shmoe]

LMAO

antmo thats hella funny that you of everyone well play with is a little worried about the hood 79 and olive. don t get me wrong its the hood and there is some shady shit that goes down.

i just find it funny that the big black dude is worried about the hood instead of someone like say daniel tompos.

im just saying if i were to choose who i was gonna jack between the 2 of you i would go with daniel (call me crazy)

but then again i wouldn t try to jack the dude who not only has a bat but his 15 to 20 friends also all have bats.

and i know guns beat bats
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So long, and thanks for all the fish. - Douglas Adams

[AntMoOAK]

It's not me I'm worried about. Ya' dig ? I actually used to live on 77th and Bancroft around the corner (when it was a little safer) and have played in that park (Arroyo Viejo) many an afternoon.
I bullshit you not, I've seen folks playing company softball and get jacked at some of these ballfields. YES even with bats and ostensibly more numbers.

This is not an indictment of people in the 'hood. I've been there too. But, don't be stupid neither. When it's warmer out, there are A LOT more people out and some are always hustlin for somethin' [/b]

[Joe shmoe]

for sure

the last time i checked most ghetto fools live in the ghetto

i am not a fan of McConnel, because it can be very hard to get and even more so if you dont have a car. i know i get a ride all the time but leaving is still a concern. nothing like 50 block skate through the ghetto on a sunday afternoon.
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So long, and thanks for all the fish. - Douglas Adams

[AntMoOAK]

You've got balls my man and for that ... They'd leave you alone and would jack me in my truck. The hood can be cool too. If it were a little warmer, the park would have also been permeated with the smell of meat being grilled by the multitudes.

[retep]

I agree with AntMo that a fence is needed. Flood is already way too big for us. I contend that the fence helps fielders position themselfes better.

I really don't want to get into this whole fuckin' debate again. I'm done!

[Blancito21]

[Baseball=Life]

The moments I find most exciting are going to check the field status at 8:45 AM when the early morning shady types are hanging out.
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"Baseball is like church, many attend, few understand"

- Leo Durocher

[Joe shmoe]