Softball Season Update

Hey A’s,

As the spring rolls with one gloomy day followed by the next, we inch ever-closer to our sure-to-be historic 2011 campaign.  I figured now would be a good time to reach out and keep you all posted on the scheduling, and ask for a bit of help.

First, for the scheduling.  I’ve already got 14 games lined up for us this season, but I’m always looking for more.  Our home opener as of today will take place on Tuesday May 24 against The Muckrakers, from the Center for Public Integrity.  We played the Rakers to a tie last season, so now we’ll have another chance to try to prove our dominance.  I don’t currently have an opponent for the following week (but like I said, I’m looking), but our season gets into full-swing after that.  Most of our games are scheduled for Tuesdays, all of them until early July at least, so do what you can to clear those up on your schedules for the summer.

Second, and here’s where I’m looking for a bit of help.  I want a graphic designer.  I’m not talking about some professional, super-artistic person.  Maybe just someone who likes to toy around with photoshop to make goofy pictures of republicans riding wild animals on the weekend.  I want to look into re-designing our logo, slightly, to allow for folks who want an uncensored jersey to have their wish.  Please let me know if you happen to be, or know, someone with even a modicum of design talent.  There’s no money in it, but you or your friend can forever bask in the glory of helping the A’s exercise their First Effing Amendment rights.

Finally, I’d like to extend an invitation to anyone who wants to engage in some spring training with me to head out to some batting cages.  I unfortunately though am not really able to get out for the next like 2, 2.5 weeks, but I would definitely encourage anyone who wants to to start taking some practice swings.  I would like to set up some informal BP for a weekend day before the season starts, probably a week or two before our first game.  So keep that in mind, or just don’t worry about me and go out yourself.

And one final quick note, for the newbies; we’ve got a bagful of old gloves, bats, and balls, so you are under no requirement to provide your own gear this season.  That being said, if you happen to have old gloves, bats, or balls you want to donate to the team, they would be most welcome.  Especially gloves for lefties, because they are the perpetually-discriminated-against portion of the team.

Effing A,

Spring is in the Air

Hello Current and Soon-to-Be A’s!

If you’ve looked at the weather recently, you probably think I’m crazy.  But despite this unseasonably dry and beautiful spring we’re having, this city will undoubtedly become a stifling swamp within a matter of days.  That means everyone’s favorite time of year is fast approaching; softball season!

Last year, you, the First Effing Amendments, capped off a historic run to give the illustrious franchise our second winning season in history, and this time we were more than one game above .500!  Featuring a powerhouse lineup that lost various stars throughout the season to injury, marriage, and law school, the A’s stormed through the Congressional league, crushing any unfortunate team that got in our way.  However, this coming season holds even more promise.

We’ve got returning stars like Sandy “The Fulton of Swat,” James the Base-Running Bullet Owens and the FoE triumvirate. We’ll have some free agent additions such as Will the Hammer Horowitz and our unexpecting crop of summer law clerks.  But this email is really going out to you, person on the fence (read: Ian).  I want you to come out and share in the glory, the love, the beer, that is A’s softball.

The season won’t really kick up until May, but I need to sign us up before then and get our schedule together and whatnot.  So what I need now are commitments.  Particularly, $20 worth of commitments from my full (or most)-timers and $10 from any part-timers.  I need to pay the registration fee up front, which I’m happy to do, then track you all down for payment.  Please let me know if you can commit a few bucks towards a rockin’ good time.

I will of course get you info on ordering jerseys (they usually cost around $25ish each, depending on how many we order).  If you plan on playing full-time/most games, please let me know which day of the week works best for you, generally, in the summer.  Hopefully that day will be Tuesday, because they’re the least crowded days and veterans know how tricky it can be to get a good field in the middle of the summer with that culture fest thing going on.

That’s it for now, A’s.  Let me know about the registration fee and your best day to play.  Gracias.

Effing A,