Post by BrianV on Mar 9, 2009 19:00:59 GMT -4
Here is my list of goals and objectives for the website for this season.
1) Update the darn thing! I'm learning CSS, which means it won't look like a 10th grader made it anymore. Problem is that I need to redo all of the pages as a result.
2) Summer league coverage. I'm hoping to contact league officials, managers, coaches, etc... from all the AAABA Leagues and try to provide weekly updates. I've got the Johnstown schedule, but I know Buffalo and Schenectady have leagues, plus there's the Cal Ripken, Sr., Clark Griffith, Tri-State, Long Island Federation, etc... Hopefully I can scrounge information together.
3) Game Results and Franchise Records. I've got the 80's, 90's and 00's "done". Done meaning I have game results and scores. I haven't even touched box scores yet, so even information like hits and errors is out-of-reach. The plan right now is just to get team records and game results online (and correct the ones they publish in the Tribune, because I believe them to be wrong).
4) Local information. Still gathering information on the fields. I want to visit Portage and Lilly before the season starts for photos and such. I've begun making maps of various information. I used VirtualEarth since they have better aerials, but I'm not sure how to embed those yet (or if I can), so I might be doing some with Google, too.
5) Submit Your Own Sidelight. If I figure out how to do it, I want to enable visitors to submit their own sidelight story. Sidelights is a personal favorite in the Tribune-Democrat, and I'm sure there are plenty of stories untold each year. So, I want to give people a place to talk about the unreported news.
6) Celebrity Blogs? Basically, I am not very well versed in baseball. So, the idea is to get people who know what they're talking about to post on my site instead I'm not sure who yet, or even if I could do it, but it's a thought.
7) Advertising. Ad in the 2009 AAABA Program, banner for the field(s), and maybe T-Shirts for helpers? Money money money (and I don't mean making it).
Now the big stuff.
Internet broadcast. Yes, Dave emailed me, and I never did get back to him. (Sorry Dave!) The bottom line is: money. I have no electronics, no software plus no experience. Furthermore:
- What do we tell the Oldtimers? Doing a website without their knowledge/consent is one thing, but an internet broadcast is really getting out there. (Especially if we try to pursue sponsorships)
- Will anyone listen? How many people with access to the internet (ie, not already at the games) are going to tune in?
- How? They play 7 games at one time. Pick one game and then provide periodic updates from the others? (ie, would require even more help)
The only thing better that an internet audio broadcast is video, of course. Not a live stream, but just something like highlights on YouTube, maybe some recap and interviews. I know a guy who does this for his website and in just a couple years his stuff is better than a lot of TV coverage I've seen. (FYI: www.youtube.com/user/tmbmps)
The problem there is even MORE money. One video camera is expensive enough, but to truly get good highlights, you'd need more (for the first few days). Plus editing software. PLUS the time to do it all. I barely slept last year with running around and editing photos. Video would be impossible. . . . so it'll be on hold until 2010 at the earliest.
Those are the plans and some other stuff. Feel free to comment or suggest (or volunteer ;D)
Brian_V
1) Update the darn thing! I'm learning CSS, which means it won't look like a 10th grader made it anymore. Problem is that I need to redo all of the pages as a result.
2) Summer league coverage. I'm hoping to contact league officials, managers, coaches, etc... from all the AAABA Leagues and try to provide weekly updates. I've got the Johnstown schedule, but I know Buffalo and Schenectady have leagues, plus there's the Cal Ripken, Sr., Clark Griffith, Tri-State, Long Island Federation, etc... Hopefully I can scrounge information together.
3) Game Results and Franchise Records. I've got the 80's, 90's and 00's "done". Done meaning I have game results and scores. I haven't even touched box scores yet, so even information like hits and errors is out-of-reach. The plan right now is just to get team records and game results online (and correct the ones they publish in the Tribune, because I believe them to be wrong).
4) Local information. Still gathering information on the fields. I want to visit Portage and Lilly before the season starts for photos and such. I've begun making maps of various information. I used VirtualEarth since they have better aerials, but I'm not sure how to embed those yet (or if I can), so I might be doing some with Google, too.
5) Submit Your Own Sidelight. If I figure out how to do it, I want to enable visitors to submit their own sidelight story. Sidelights is a personal favorite in the Tribune-Democrat, and I'm sure there are plenty of stories untold each year. So, I want to give people a place to talk about the unreported news.
6) Celebrity Blogs? Basically, I am not very well versed in baseball. So, the idea is to get people who know what they're talking about to post on my site instead I'm not sure who yet, or even if I could do it, but it's a thought.
7) Advertising. Ad in the 2009 AAABA Program, banner for the field(s), and maybe T-Shirts for helpers? Money money money (and I don't mean making it).
Now the big stuff.
Internet broadcast. Yes, Dave emailed me, and I never did get back to him. (Sorry Dave!) The bottom line is: money. I have no electronics, no software plus no experience. Furthermore:
- What do we tell the Oldtimers? Doing a website without their knowledge/consent is one thing, but an internet broadcast is really getting out there. (Especially if we try to pursue sponsorships)
- Will anyone listen? How many people with access to the internet (ie, not already at the games) are going to tune in?
- How? They play 7 games at one time. Pick one game and then provide periodic updates from the others? (ie, would require even more help)
The only thing better that an internet audio broadcast is video, of course. Not a live stream, but just something like highlights on YouTube, maybe some recap and interviews. I know a guy who does this for his website and in just a couple years his stuff is better than a lot of TV coverage I've seen. (FYI: www.youtube.com/user/tmbmps)
The problem there is even MORE money. One video camera is expensive enough, but to truly get good highlights, you'd need more (for the first few days). Plus editing software. PLUS the time to do it all. I barely slept last year with running around and editing photos. Video would be impossible. . . . so it'll be on hold until 2010 at the earliest.
Those are the plans and some other stuff. Feel free to comment or suggest (or volunteer ;D)
Brian_V