Jon, I agree with you. The web-site could use some updating. I don't know who's responsible for it and I'm not criticizing them - I suspect they're over-worked and under-appreciated anyway. But in the interest of trying to help, I do know of a piece of software that costs less than $100 and makes it easy for anyone with no technical ability to update a web-site. I used it to create a web-site for the 38Cubs (www.CapitalDistrictCubs.com) and if a complete and utter moron like myself can do it, anyone can do it. It even allowed me to set up electronic payments so players could pay their fee online with a credit card - that alone was worth the price.

I would be happy to point anyone who's interested in updating the CDMSBL web-site to this software and show them how to use it.

About the message board.... and as a proponent of free speech, I hate to say this.... but unfortunately the bad seems to outweigh the good there lately. I don't believe it accurately represents the number of high quality individuals that I estimate make up about 99% of this league. Maybe it is time to shut it down.

But since I'm a member of the low quality 1%, I better shut up now (about 37 posts too late)!!

So you honestly believe your leagues would be better off without this website? You're probably right; I mean, why should guys have a place to check on game schedules, league standings, directions to fields, etc...
If you don't like the FORUM, then don't read it - no one is forcing you to read it are they? It's like television or radio, if you don't like what's on, change the channel or turn it off. It's given you the opportunity to voice your opinion, hasn't it? If you think you can do a better job, then quit complaining and take the reigns or offer a solution to the problem - don't just reference the year 2000 to help bolster your opinion that the website has always been in a sorry state!
And outside of the players in your league and possibly a couple of fans such as myself, who do you think reads this forum anyway? Could it be teams from around the U.S. are scouting you guys to prepare for tournaments in Arizona and Florida?
If you feel that FORUM members are poor representatives of the CDMSBL, then you must also see yourself as a poor representative of UMASS - because they would be embarrassed to have given a diploma to someone whose sentence structure and punctuation rivals that of a sixth-grader.
Anyway, good luck to the Cubbies, I enjoy watching you play.

Thanx Quentin.
The league overall is enjoyable despite some of the conflicts/issues. The comraderie with teammates and opponents after games is as much enjoyable as playing the game.

We just need to show a monicum of respect when dealing with issues. We all have questions, suggestions and opinions. We just need to deal with them respectfully, professionally and with the good of CDMSBL in mind. Geez, I mean we're starting yet another division next year. Just look at our Hardball magazine. Lil' ol' Albany has as many teams and players as some much bigger markets. We won a national tourney last year; Kingston won the 38 title a few years back; and most times I'd say our teams make the playoff round.

We have to take an overall snapshot of ourselves, look in the mirror and begin to realize WHY we do this. Conflict sucks. And as some of you know, I've been guilty of losing my cool at times. But I do not let loose in public, in front of kids or spectators, or on this site. When I have issues, the BOARD gets an email or I confide in someone on the board. I spent 3 or 4 years doing what they do, so I know it's not an easy task running a 30-some team operation.

Hell, if anyone outside the area reads our Bulletin Board, they'd certainly develop an image that is unbecoming of MSBL National. Frankly, I'm kinda surprised that Sigler hasn't seen some of this stuff and reacted. I'm sure it's an image for which he does not want to be associated.

But I also know this is a beautiful game, and like I said, overall, outside the lines is as enjoyable as inside the lines. And when we come together and do things like gather equipment for the less fortunate, then it shows not only who we really are, but what we want CDMSBL to be.

Let's keep this in perspective, guys. It's baseball, not Iraq, not poverty, not hunger, not homelessness. It's supposed to be fun, outside the realm of reality, like paying bills, raising children and all other life's challenges. Happy Fourth, guys, to you and yours. Enjoy our freedoms and those who fought, and are still fighting, for it.

See you on the field.
Jim Konstantakis
Giants manager

yes Jon, the web site is stale, yes Ron the volunteer you mentioned got frustrated. but lets not throw the whole thing out just yet.

Keep in mind this site was created back 1997 by my then 14 year old son, with me looking over his shoulder. He literally did that logo in 3 minutes. the page set-up has remained the same for all these years. Kevin Jackson became the web guy at some point and has used the schedule, standings and front page. He does a great job with the updates. These pages serve us well. its is our official account of games played and to be played. the Standings are also official and as up to date as Kevin can get scores and postponements from our teams. The front page separates urgent news and other events from the bulletin board. And the Labor Day Page is essential to that event.

The bulletin board: go read every other board in the country, they all have the same tenor as ours. don't matter if its baseball or not. civilty and respect are often dropped , kind of like driving the freeways and road rage breaks out. mix a little anonminity(sp for you CM, and UT and UA !) with an inflated ego gone awry and see what you get? We could police this tighter, or we could restrict post and entry to registered members only...hide our dirty laundry so to speak. Recently one perennial poster was blocked for personal attacks. Maybe we need a little more vigilence along those lines. I feel the bulletin board is just for fun, not an official leegue forum where policy is stated or news is imparted. In fact when I was president I advised all league administrators from posting.

Dennis stated how simple it is to set up and my kid, 10 years ago, demonstarted that to me. the tough part is content and freshness. I think we can pay a little attention to that and get it done. my recent election to the board comes with a refreshed view for this aspect of the league, and it fits with a broader vision i have for the leauge administration as a whole.

We need an Informations Officer. along with the web site ( Kevin can continue to update the standings and schedule pages) this person would communicate with the local media, collect or take photos, prepare the Hardball reports, and work as the PR guy for our league. fixing the the website would only be his first job. I do feel we should form a web site oversight committe to review content. board appointed members who can deicde if advertsiements are approprite and such.

For now , a little like Jon I am in favor of shutting down the stale pages.

BTW I have a fairly accurate account of all past champions from 1990 on. some old award winners and other seasonal events stuff. I also have a stack of old photos.... now 50 something guys in their early 30's.

Fine. God forbid I ever offer my opinion, but to quote one of those daytime judges......."you're either part of the problem, or part of the solution". Whoa, there it was. And I didn't even offer my own opinion....! I guess I failed!

As the guy who has maintained the 28's website, I found the lack of openness to change rather alarming. In fact, I was told by some folks to "stifle it" or "have a leash put in on me" for providing too much information. I was told that the 28 site conflicted this site and that this site was the most up-to-date and accurate site. When I asked if this up-to-date and accurate website was going to have its 2004 league awards announced anytime "soon" I never received a reply.

Fact is, www.leaguelineup.com and eteamz.com are FREE and EASY alternatives. The only thing this league would need is a small collection of guys who care enough to maintain even a most basic level and we could really make this something.

I'll be working closely with Q over the next few months to hand over the reigns of the 28 site to him (I'll be moving to the 38s and would be willing to offer my services if they'd have them). My suggestion would be to get 3 sites: One for the 28s, one for the 38s and one for the 47s and keep this one as a general information site.

Fact is that the leaguelineup.com and the eteamz.com sites are far more user-friendly than this site with schedule breakdowns, loadable statistics, roster maintenance, etc. Lots of really cool features. This site has one GIGANTIC excel spreadsheet for a schedule that you have to weed through to find your games, no stats and the standings aren't as updated as frequently as can be.

What we need most, though, is a group of guys who care enough to maintain a website and keep the information fresh and flowing.

My 2 cents.




Rob Currier
Website Administrator - 28 Division
Albany Nationals #54

John, Mike, Rich and everyone. So far, we've got babies flying out windows, web masters being locked away in their secret web master rooms all frustrated and plotting a secret web revenge, a lot of common sense and word I've never heard of: monicum? Is that from a porn movie?
I actually don't read all of the posts - just the ones that I hear about at the games 'cause they're usually the most entertaining. Which brings me to my point - I play baseball because it's a great game. In my opinion, it beats football, basketball and yes, even hockey. Jarts on the other hand is the only other sport that gives baseball a run. The OTHER reason I play baseball is because I think it's the most social of all the sports. That and I can't run a 40 yard flag pattern more than once a month. Oh yea - my point - social. I think most of us would agree that hanging out and drinking Cyrstal Lite (not on school property) after our games with our teammates is just an extension of the "game" and a thoroughly enjoyable part of it. Now - the website, in my opinion is once again just another extension of the game as well. Sure, it's a little beat up and you can still buy tickets to see Elvis on it but some of the stuff that is written is just priceless. Jimmy Preller and the hydration thing - funny stuff. Mike Girard has thrown in some classics. Herb Carter keeps us on our toes. Mike Hart keeps things in perspective as do a bunch of other guys. I see the website as just another social aspect of the game. This website could be better. It could be worse. I like the bulletin part of it but that's just me.
So, with two runners on first base with an ambidextrous pitcher on the mound, a left handed catcher and an umpire with one eye - what does the third baseman do on a bunt? Did I mention that Randy Kraft chewed out an umpire last weekend (and rightly so) for instigating and prolonging an argument with a player? It was classic. Or how about the time ..................................

mod·i·cum noun a moderate or small amount: "He hasn't even a modicum of common sense."

ball·play·er -one word: n. One who plays a ball game, especially baseball.