guys - esp. members of orioles/giants - for playoff game on tues. 8/22:

i was able to drive over to cba on monday at 5:50 to check the field. the short of it is that one or more members of either or both teams should try to get there early on tuesday to make sure it's in good condition.

i should note that parts of the field were NOT in good condition when i visited on monday- and i suspect that the responsibility for that falls on the teams that were last there on saturday.

specifically i saw that both dugouts were unswept, filled with dirt and clumps of mud. the shed was left open. there was a broom (obviously unused) sitting in one dugout and a metal dirt rake in the fenced in batting-helmet area - both should have been in the shed. i found a half-empty bottle of water and another of ice tea on the ground by first base; the gate to the cyclone fence near first was open.

that's not the kind of condition we can leave the field in and expect to have it for next year. when we leave, the field should nearly look as if no one had used it. to clean up after a game takes about 10-15 minutes if a handful of guys do it.

i've written a short note before on what needs to be done there. i'll put that at the bottom.

first though: tuesday's playoff game.

marian, the head of maintenance, groomed the field friday, taking a day from his vacation to do it. he hasn't yet returned my call in which i asked him if he'd prep the field on tuesday. i think we should assume he's still on vacation and that the last few preps for the field will best be done by five or six early arriving players.

on monday, i saw that the infield and outfield grass have been mowed and the foul lines have been painted on the outfield. the paint should stay through tuesday. (marian asked us not to use lime on the outfield because it burns the grass.)

this is what needs to be done:

*drag the infield (there's a metal drag in the shed; one person can pull it, though it's work. two can do it easily in 10 minutes)
* rake and soften the dirt around the bases. if you need extra dirt at second and home (to make sliding easier), there's a small pile of it behind the shed near the small woods. there's a wheelbarrow and there are shovels in the shed.
* rake and soften the mound.
* sweep the dugouts.
* put lime on the basepaths and at home. (the lime and lime machine are in the shed; the metal template for home is also there.)

when you leave, the home team repeats the above acts - except, don't lime the fields. we don't put any tarps down and we leave the bases in the ground.

be sure to put the tools & broom away, close the shed, police the grounds and close the gates. that's it.

the larger issue of why we pay $60 a game for a field that's not regularly groomed is one that will be taken up in the offseason. for now, assume we're renting the field - it is one of newer and nicer fields in the area - and we're responsible for its general upkeep - except for deep dragging, mowing, painting the lines and watering.

in the past, when the peppers were home at cba, we've been really fortunate to have visiting players pitch in. players on the pirates and cubs were especially helpful. when that's done, everybody's out of there in 10 minutes. thanks, guys.

-mike