Pick a card and Softball Insulting or No? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Titan · 06-09-2008, 02:29 PM

So I am looking for some feedback, and what better place than an anonymous forum?

A team I play on sometimes plays "pick a card" in tournaments.

This means you have a deck of card representing postions and everyone picks a card before each ining and and then plays that position.

I think this is insulting to the other team. Others say it is all in good fun.

Any thoughts?

REDVAN · 06-09-2008, 02:33 PM

Our team sucks, so last game when we were getting destroyed, I suggested that everyone play a position they have not played before. We had 3 up, 3 down.

I don't think it's too insulting, as long as no one gloats too much about being awesome enough to play any position.

I also think it's better to have everyone get a position they like and stick with it, but sometimes that's not possible.

The Ditch · 06-09-2008, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titan

So I am looking for some feedback, and what better place than an anonymous forum?

A team I play on sometimes plays "pick a card" in tournaments.

This means you have a deck of card representing postions and everyone picks a card before each ining and and then plays that position.

I think this is insulting to the other team. Others say it is all in good fun.

Any thoughts?

Maybe I am missing something, but how is this insulting? Are they making a claim that your team is so bad that they can play any position and win?

Personally I think it would be quite fun to do that because I like playing all positions.

Gozer · 06-09-2008, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titan

I think this is insulting to the other team.

Any thoughts?

You're being very silly.

Bobblehead · 06-09-2008, 02:34 PM

If you are doing it for fun, no problem.

If you are killing the other team and are doing it to rub their noses in it, then it is bush league.

MolsonInBothHands · 06-09-2008, 02:36 PM

As someone who helps run a team, and has to deal with complaints about subbing and positions, I think that is a fantastic idea. Our team's philosophy has always been fun first, and there is no second. If someone is insulted by this, they are taking themselves way to seriously. Are they hammering on teams no matter what their postions are? If they are that talented, would you rather they got all serious on you?

BlackArcher101 · 06-09-2008, 02:36 PM

Not insulting in the least. It actually promotes fairness by forcing people into a position they aren't best at playing.

Gozer · 06-09-2008, 02:37 PM

If you're gloating or being clowns about it, then you're probably a bunch of jerks and the card-thing is still irrelevant.

Titan · 06-09-2008, 02:42 PM

To clarify slightly we do it when we enter a tournament that is more rec and we don't want to be all serious. Unfortunately, we are pretty good and still manage to win. I don't think we are gloating and we are not doing it to be jerks, in fact, just the opposite. How fun would it be to come out to a rec tourny and be all serious and destroy teams? We don't want to do that. We are not that serious that we should only be in the competitive tournaments or anything.

Gozer · 06-09-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titan

To clarify slightly we do it when we enter a tournament that is more rec and we don't want to be all serious. Unfortunately, we are pretty good and still manage to win. I don't think we are gloating and we are not doing it to be jerks, in fact, just the opposite. How fun would it be to come out to a rec tourny and be all serious and destroy teams? We don't want to do that. We are not that serious that we should only be in the competitive tournaments or anything.

So your team is good, good natured, laid back, and a little silly. Sounds pretty close to perfect to me.

This sounds like an episode of Seinfeld. You have a great team, but have found a silly flaw that bothers you.

troutman · 06-09-2008, 02:51 PM

I don't like it when the other team starts switch-hitting when they have a big league. Rinkrat should put one right between the numbers when they do that!

Titan · 06-09-2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gozer

So your team is good, good natured, laid back, and a little silly. Sounds pretty close to perfect to me.

This sounds like an episode of Seinfeld. You have a great team, but have found a silly flaw that bothers you.

Easy dude.

You have nailed it just about perfectly. We have a gasoline powered blender that is at every game and we are more concerned the burgers don't get burned rather than winning. Having said that I have been on the other side and did not appreciate it so I don't want to come across as pricks and I was asking for advice.

Titan · 06-09-2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

I don't like it when the other team starts switch-hitting when they have a big league. Rinkrat should put one one right between the numbers when they do that!

Spoken like someone that does not have to go out and pitch next inning!

Gozer · 06-09-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titan

Easy dude.

Didn't mean to offend, just giving you my two cents.

ken0042 · 06-09-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

I don't like it when the other team starts switch-hitting when they have a big league.

As somebody who's team is often finding themselves down 20-3 after 4 innings, I don't really mind that. We've already lost the game, may as well have some fun with it at that point.

fredr123 · 06-09-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

I don't like it when the other team starts switch-hitting when they have a big league. Rinkrat should put one one right between the numbers when they do that!

I agree 100%. That's what happened at the game REDVAN was referring to above. Instead of mis-shaping our game ball and bouncing home runs off the nearest school, dude was hitting switch and merely getting doubles and triples. I'd much rather play a team on their A-game and take a whupping than beat or barely lose to a team that was half-assing it on the field.

Jason14h · 06-09-2008, 03:10 PM

You do realize most people do not like to be up by double digit runs, cause it isn't as much fun as you may think running up a score. Things like taking only 1 base off a hit, batting from the other side, not taking pitches no matter where they are, etc, aren't always to embarrass the other team, but usually to get the game over so you can go drink more beer!

I have never seen the "pick a card" but see nothing wrong with it.

Titan · 06-09-2008, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

I agree 100%. That's what happened at the game REDVAN was referring to above. Instead of mis-shaping our game ball and bouncing home runs off the nearest school, dude was hitting switch and merely getting doubles and triples. I'd much rather play a team on their A-game and take a whupping than beat or barely lose to a team that was half-assing it on the field.

This is the point I am getting at. If we were to get killed when we played pick a card I would have no problem with that. We usually don't. I just worry the other team does not appreciate the intent and take it wrong.

Having said that fredr is a lawyer and may be a teensy bit more competitive.

fredr123 · 06-09-2008, 03:14 PM

Our league also has a 5 run cap on each inning (except the last). Most teams are usually only ahead by 5n where n = the inning we're in.

Teams complaining about not having fun when they're way up is like listening to rich people complain about having too much money.

Gozer · 06-09-2008, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titan

This is the point I am getting at. If we were to get killed when we played pick a card I would have no problem with that. We usually don't. I just worry the other team does not appreciate the intent and take it wrong.

But what's the alternative?
Play as competitively as you can and (presumably) and beat them even worse?

I think a small handicap with an honest effort is a great solution to the problem.