The regular season is over! I was called into work and missed my first Late Fees game of the 2011 season, and missed my first Game of the Week of the season–five of the six projectionists at Liberty Hall play kickball, and I pulled the short straw. I did have the opportunity to officiate the 5pm game at Holcomb Right, where Los Luchadores got chewed up by The Goats. The Goats had one of their best kicking games of the season, while Luchadores struggled to find those defensive holes. The score at the top of the ninth was 15 to 4, but Luchadores had one last push to narrow the gap, including the standard home run by Cole. Unfortunately it was too little too late, as The Goats got the final out of the game with the score at 7 to 15. Please chime in and give us an update on the games you played in, watched, heard about, and officiated (I heard from multiple people about some Game of the Week Cougar drama, please fill us in). I’m heading to New Mexico to visit my former Late Fees co-captain/first baseman and my former second basewomen, but expect the normal weekly preview and maybe a few other special interruptions (I’m going to try really hard to transcribe a Coach Candlepants interview I conducted during Week 1).
IT’S TOURNAMENT TIME! GET EXCITED!
Cheers,
Coach Billy Gay Cyrus
Posted by pmitch on August 8, 2011 at 5:32 pm
Wanted to apologize for the delay of the first dispute during the GOTW. I know a lot of people were curious as the what the hell we could have been arguing since the ball was so obviously fair. What happened was the 3rd base ref called the ball foul, thus stopping the play; then home ref overrules him moments later, thus re-starting the play. Our argument was that you can’t overrule a foul call because its stops the play, like this situation where adrian didn’t cover the base where we had a good shot at an out. Again, I’m wasting too much of your time…
Posted by innocent bystander on August 8, 2011 at 9:21 pm
Bad call by the 3rd base ref for sure on the fair/foul ball. Not sure how best to handle the clusterf*ck that ensued. As for the 11th inning controversy – from my vantage point it was another bad call by the 3rd base ref, and this time Cougar had to just go with him. You can’t overrule the guy again after the mayhem of the first call. The best thing to do is just back him up.
It’s not perfect, that’s for sure. But it’s kickball, so that’s just fine.
Posted by JHunt on August 9, 2011 at 12:04 am
FYI. After the game Cougar said he thought the 3rd base ref made the right call on the tag in the 11th.
Posted by innocent bystander on August 9, 2011 at 12:25 am
Cougar is the man and I’m not saying he lied or wussed out or anything. Just that if I’m him I’d “think the 3rd base ref made the right call” too.
Two reasons. One – he’s in a better position. Two – when I did it earlier it was a total sh*tstorm. I also recognize that he might have actually been safe and that Cougar might actually have agreed with him.
A great game. Both teams played great and the officials did well under the bright lights.
I can’t wait to hear Cougar on the podcast this week!
Posted by JHunt on August 9, 2011 at 11:34 am
I asked Coug after the game what his call would’ve been if the ref at third didn’t make a quick call. Coug said, “he was out, it was an out. The tag was on the shoulder before the foot hit the bag”. Not sure if that’s protecting the 3rd base ref but seems more likely to me that they both shared the same ruling. It was a really close call and one better left to the two people that had the best view, the refs on the field at 3rd and home.
Posted by body count on August 9, 2011 at 4:39 pm
From my vantage point Phil was safe on the slide. Worst case he was safe because tie goes to the runner. I don’t see how the 3rd base ref can say with the utmost certainty that the runner was out when he himself was standing behind the play and in no way had a vantage point to see the tag. Aside from that I applaud him for standing his ground on the call and taking the heat from the crowd, it takes some thick skin to do that. Furthermore being that these are both seasoned veteran teams they should both know that you can argue rules but not calls so what’s the deal? I knew it was going to be an intense game, but really this isn’t game seven of the world series, come on then don’t be that guy, maybe I was just expecting more in the way of sportsmanship.
Posted by pmitch on August 9, 2011 at 5:10 pm
As most of us recognize, Coug gets way more shit than he should (and I have a feeling that he also takes it more seriously than he should). While it is true that we had some tough calls not go our way, it is also very true that we did not play a flawless game. Nor, as I imagine they would admit, did Pita Pit. Performance of both players and refs are variables that will determine the outcome of close games, that’s just it. Unfortunately, that atmosphere (an electric crowd–awesome energy and I for one would like to say thanks for getting drunk and loud–an extremely tightly played game, and two very motivated teams) practically forced any discussions to between players and/or refs to be screaming matches.
It’s also really tough to ref in such an environment. It causes some to refs get passive, and others to go overboard. I’ve got no ill-will to either t-bone or coug, just wished they would have seen things as I did (I had a pretty good view on one play in particular
. Coug, sorry I used a naughty word, I should have said “pony poop!” instead. Would have been pretty epic to get tossed by Coug (that looks dirty now that I’ve typed it…ick)
Posted by Eli (Balls Deep, P) on August 8, 2011 at 6:10 pm
well, Balls Deep played 8 really good innings against the Ghosts, getting up by 6 going into the 9th inning, where we almost blew it on defense and they brought it back to within 1 before we managed to close it out, definitely a good game, i don’t think there were any really contentious calls this time, which, i swear we manage at least one 5-10 minute ref/captain/rules sheet conference every game…but i’ve gotta say that i think it might have been the best game we’ve had for friendly heckling without it turning into any shit talking since our Replay game, it’s always a lot of fun when you can get both teams sort of daring each other to make risky plays and then you see some stupidly awesome thing get pulled off, making the entire game more entertaining
Posted by Bickel on August 8, 2011 at 10:34 pm
Web Gem from the GOTW!
Posted by Eribear on August 8, 2011 at 11:27 pm
Oooo Bickel, I want more!
Posted by pmitch on August 9, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Great. Just what I wanted to see. That’s what I get for bunting!
Posted by Bickel on August 8, 2011 at 11:57 pm
And the Web Gem of the Night!
Posted by A-Train on August 9, 2011 at 1:15 am
Those Adrian 3rd basemen…………dreeeaaamy!
Posted by Soobs on August 10, 2011 at 12:12 pm
Yeah Buddy!! Sick!! Adrians do make the best 3rd basemen.
Posted by troy on August 9, 2011 at 10:13 am
so…i got a question/comment
was it just me or my beer goggles, but i think that i saw someone throw a bottle on the field. i understand people can get heated, but that’s a little drastic, and taking the game WAY too serious. if so, than the worst call of the night was a no call-not tossing that individual out of the game. though if the toss came from the seats, that individual needs to be called out and banned from watching other games of the week or something to the sort. if it was my goggles than just ignore my post and sorry for seeing things.
good game all in all. fun to watch teams that serious, makes me love my team even more.
Posted by Thomas J. on August 9, 2011 at 12:30 pm
Someone in the stands threw a towel, from what I saw. Landed just off the first base line by Love Garden’s bench. Pretty sure Phil picked it up shortly after.
Posted by troy on August 9, 2011 at 1:22 pm
thanks thomas,
heard glass break and everyone around me said they saw something get thrown
Posted by Jimmylegs on August 9, 2011 at 11:37 am
The 3rd baseman was clearly off of the bag, and the runner had his entire leg across the bag when the tag was made. It was a terrible call, regardless of where you were positioned. It was almost like the ref either wasn’t paying attention, or had already made his mind up. It was a very easy call to make; thus the uproar from the crowd and ongoing reactions that continue to be discussed.
The reason this was such a crucial call was because this should have loaded the bases with zero outs, and the 4 & 5 kickers were due up next (at least to sacrafice in 2 runs), and the outcome of the game would have been much different. It’s too bad a ref changed the result of a win for the correct team, by making an obviously “terrible call”. And thus affecting the playoff picture and record books. But that’s the breaks, when you allow bad officiating.
Posted by Geoff on August 9, 2011 at 12:30 pm
When someone complains about a ref’s call “costing them the game,” I like to ask them a simple question. Were there other opportunities throughout the game where you could have either scored more runs or prevented runs? A team can always think of AT LEAST a couple of plays that have nothing to do with the officials that could have changed the outcome.
It’s unfortunate when a tough call comes at a crucial time, but it happens at EVERY level of competition. You have to move on and focus on what you can control, which is playing kickball. Sorry we “allow” people to volunteer their time so that they can get yelled at by hotheads and booed by 400 people. I’m sure they had a blast.
Posted by Jimmylegs on August 9, 2011 at 12:35 pm
I should correct my statement from “bad officiating” to biased officiating, as Cougar not only stated that Pita Pita was the better team, but also chose them to win in his podcasted week 10 predictions. The 3rd base official should also not be drinking/conversing with the team that benefited the call. (In my opinion)
Posted by troy on August 9, 2011 at 1:26 pm
guess cougar is betting on the games then. damn, thought i was only one throwing games for my gambling habit. also maybe our refs shouldn’t talk to anyone or have a beer in their hands, oh wait we’re in the bar league not the city league.
Posted by Diana on August 11, 2011 at 11:50 pm
Yea, I had no idea you weren’t allowed to talk to and be friendly with the teams you’re reffing… Regardless, we all have friends on other teams, but accusing a ref of making biased calls is super uncool. You’re basically insulting their moral integrity b/c they have an opinion on the skill level of a team or have more friends on one team than the other.
Posted by Jimmylegs on August 9, 2011 at 1:41 pm
Regardless of Cougar choosing to officiate a game that he wasn’t asked to, or refs drinking with their buddy’s dugout throughout the entire game; you’re right: it is all in fun. Although, there are some folks that head-up the league that would like to see it have some semblance of integrity. (Especially in the more competitive arena) But the fact remains that the game we watched on Sunday was given away to the wrong team by an umpire. We didn’t see any “team” win that game. It was unfortunate for everyone, and the crowd/fans have seemed to express that message well. You say “is the more they could’ve done?”. Sure there is. But not in that case.
Posted by pmitch on August 9, 2011 at 5:12 pm
Mom?
Posted by KC Strip on August 9, 2011 at 1:54 pm
First off, in regards to the first controversial fair/foul call, that was an error on hand signals by the 3B ref rather than a belief that the ball was foul. And he had stated this once the play stopped. For someone to suggest that there was perhaps some biased reffing isn’t only a kinda serious accusation but in this case is a completely uneducated assumption (when referring to the 3B ref). Considering his desire to see PP taken down, he sure as hell wouldn’t have made a call in their favor if he did not fully believe that he saw an out. If he was unsure about the out, he would have not made a call. To say that that call made the game is saying that LG played a flawless game & lost only to biased & unfair reffing. These are two great teams & this was a high caliber game that we’ll probably get the chance to see again in the post-season. What happened to the practice of placing a fourth ref in the field to avoid these types of controversies? Is this just a post- season thing? P.S. For the record the 3B ref RARELY (just once this season so far) will drink during kickball Sundays & he talks to freaking everyone, even the PP’s! I’m done now.
Posted by Jimmylegs on August 9, 2011 at 2:37 pm
Another way to look at it is this: If the player had been called safe, as he should’ve been, the no one (including Pita Pit) would have argued, nor would the crowd have booed, and the game would’ve played out, and we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.
Posted by Aswaggerty on August 9, 2011 at 2:47 pm
I don’t think the reaction from 300 drunken buffoons half paying attention is an effective way to validate your point. Even if the runner was called safe, you assume that a LG victory was guaranteed. I guess LG should have scored more runs earlier so that one situation couldn’t cost them the game. By the way, its kickball. Time to stop taking yourself so seriously and enjoy the league before bitching about refs ruins everything for everyone
Posted by Chase on August 9, 2011 at 4:00 pm
I heard there was something crazy like 15 other games played Sunday. Is there any truth to that rumor?
Posted by Chase on August 9, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Er, 14 other games. Thanks, Creation Station.
Posted by troy on August 9, 2011 at 4:42 pm
the lyon v wilt game was a great one. back and forth battle through the whole game. both teams had solid defenses, with only one big error by wilt that led to the first runs for the lyon. neither team really kick poorly, just couldn’t manufacture runs, (mainly the two teams locking down on defense when runners where on)
Posted by Tofu Scramble on August 9, 2011 at 4:44 pm
No, Chase, there weren’t any other games. In fact, the GOTW consisted only of a couple contentious calls and 2 hours of booing. Seriously, I wish there wasn’t such an uproar about the reffing, as it just distracts from what was yet another great game in the Love Garden v Pita Pit rivalry. These are the two winning teams in the league’s history, yet have only met once in the championship (2004) (twice if you count the 2007 fall classic) and have never played in front of a GOTW crowd. LG and PP were looking forward to showcasing what KVKL fans have been missing for years, and we were glad to deliver an extra inning chess match that is indicative of our competitive series. I hope for a rematch in the championship game and completely agree with Geoff that its far better to roll with the calls and focus on the things we can control.
Posted by Nut_Up on August 10, 2011 at 3:57 am
I had nothing to do with the GOTW, but something makes me think that Jimmylegs has yet to ref a game, let alone one with a contentious call. Jimmylegs for championship ref?
Posted by Aswaggerty on August 10, 2011 at 11:45 am
+1
Posted by bradillac on August 10, 2011 at 11:45 am
There seems to be confusion over how many drunks we regularly fit into hobbs. I’ve seen people say 3oo to 4oo, I think it might even be more. Does anyone actually know how many people hobbs fits?
Posted by Aswaggerty on August 10, 2011 at 11:59 am
We should get a clicker from liberty hall or one of the bars. I found this online though. Sounds a little high, but who knows.
http://www.visitlawrence.com/recreation/hobbs-park
Posted by pmitch on August 10, 2011 at 12:12 pm
1000 people, 43 parking spaces? That’s like 23 people per car! I say went can do it: each team must car pool to the final weekend in only one car.
Posted by Mallory on August 10, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Um, Blue Collar won! Oh wait, is it cool that I’m still really excited about winning our (OMG) third game? Does winning two games in a row count as a winning streak?
Reffing is hard work, reminds me why I don’t do it (sorry). Loads of love to all the Rockets (Boners) that do all the reffing!
That being said, I would watch LG v. PP every week. Both teams are amazing at kickball and pretty good darn cute.
Posted by Coach Billy Gay Cyrus on August 10, 2011 at 1:26 pm
I agree, the board’s criteria for picking the Game of the Week should be based solely on attractiveness.
Posted by A-Train on August 10, 2011 at 8:51 pm
+1,000,000