Friday, March 23, 2012

So what's the call?


It seemed to begin a normal, annoyingly early 6:30 game on Field 1 yesterday but from the first at bat, I could tell something wasn't right.  Maybe it was the storm that was ominously brewing close by.  Maybe it was the fact that the field was pushed back several feet from its usual position. Maybe it was the fact that myself and my comrades hadn't downed enough pre-game beverages or that someone brought an imposter RedBull for our Yeagabombs. Whatever it was, this was one of the weirdest games I've been a part of in a while. 

It was a pitcher's duel from the start with the YLL pitcher throwing such crazy sidearm winders that he managed to strike out an entire side (when it was all said and done, he struck out SEVEN).  We barely had any base runners, they barely had any base runners and after 6 innings it was 0-0.  Finally some Growlers learned to wield the wild pitches and we eked out a run in the top of the 7th.  Thinking we were 3 outs away from returning to .500 for the season, YLL's pitcher stepped up to bat and kicked a great grounder which put him on first base. Through a sac fly (and maybe some other crap I don't remember) he made it to third.  Up comes another greenie. He kicks a line drive right into his teammate, who was standing on third base. There was a moment of confusion - no one knew what to do.  After some arguing about whether it was a dead or live ball, whether it hit him in foul or fair territory, the call was made that it was a live ball and the runner advanced to first base. Up steps yet another YYLASGHAGDer who proceeds to shoot a line drive right into the foot/leg of the runner standing on first base. ARE YOU SERIOUS?!? Twice in a row? Using the same logic as before, it was ruled a live ball and the guy on third went home. Tie Ball Game. Sometime after that they ended up kicking a walk-off HR so not sure how much of an impact these 2 calls would've made but it definitely would've had some impact.

I've searched the gokickball rules and was unsuccessful.  Searching MLB official rules I've found this: 

5.09 The ball becomes dead and runners advance one base, or return to their bases, 
without liability to be put out, when— 

(f) A fair ball touches a runner or an umpire on fair territory before it touches an 
infielder including the pitcher, or touches an umpire before it has passed an infielder 
other than the pitcher; runners advance, if forced

 If a fair ball goes through, or by, an infielder, no other infielder has a chance to 
make a play on the ball and the ball touches a runner immediately behind the 
infielder that the ball went through, or by, the ball is in play and the umpire shall not 
declare the runner out.  If a fair ball touches a runner after being deflected by an 
infielder, the ball is in play and the umpire shall not declare the runner out

I'm pretttty sure this is the appropriate rule for the situation(s) that occurred.  No infielder touched the ball before it hit the runner and it didn't pass by or through an infielder. Dead ball, right? Maybe someone else can opine on the situation. 

After some arguing everyone agreed to just drop it and stick to the calls that were made. We all hugged and kissed and rolled around on the field together afterward. Yellabird arrived and doused everyone with his rape juice. Some clothes started to come off....wait. That whole part might've just been a dream I had once...either way, it's just kickball (right!?) and we had a good time playing the Greenies. Guess we just have to really step up our fun-ness in hopes of winning the Chalice of the Others since apparently that's about all we can win these days. 

40 comments:

YellowBird said...

Screw the rulings. Tell us more about the dream! What flavor was the rape juice?

Nate Dawg said...

Growlers got screwed...

JD said...

Did you ask Nate for a ruling on if the runner was in the basepath?

CLIFF said...

We did win the Bar again...and we no one was shotby all the wonderful "fans" watching the game with the pitbulls and dobermans accompanying them...so in my book...WIN.

Great game Greenies

Nate Dawg said...

Deeks if you want to bitch about calls you were out at 2b when they called you safe. Jamie strayed 3 feet to the left of your 2nd baseman who fielded the ball directly in the middle of the basepath. Was she supposed to try to go right threw her? According to Go Kickball Rules...

40.When runners advance from one base to the next, they must stay in the imaginary "baseline" which is a straight line between two bases and approximately 5 ft in width. If the runner runs outside the baseline to elude a ball thrown at them they are out. If the runner runs outside the baseline to elude a fielder blocking the baseline, then they are still "live" and continue running to the next base.

No way Jamie was 5 ft out of the base line. Greenie made the correct call, and he made that call before I argued against you saying she was out of the baseline.

Jess said...

I actually almost cited this GKB rule for you when searching for my rule. True on all accounts, Nate. Except for the fact that Deeks was out a second. He was safe - and I don't miss calls!!! ;)

Nate Dawg said...

Jess it was a close play so I will just say we can agree to disagree. I was closer to the play than any ref so that is why I think I had the best look at it.

Jess said...

Agree to disagree. Also agree to crush brews and dominate Country Grammar

Chandler said...

I'll weigh in on this later when im done drinking at the bar. But am I the only one who thinks we need to change the pitching rules? Who's with me?

Let's stop these pitching duels and get the damn ball in play!

Even Kickball Society changed their rules years ago to deal with this problem. But it won't happen unless there is a sting push by us players.

Jess said...

Interesting enough, I also found these gems from GKB rules when researching:

8. The Roller CANNOT sidearm or overhand roll the ball when delivering the ball to the kicker.

10. The Roller MUST roll the ball within a 5 foot wide "Roller's Path" that starts from the Roller's mound and extends to home plate with the path being 5 foot wide and in-line with the strike zone cones on each side of home plate. If a ball starts rolling or bouncing outside that path and then spins inward across home plate and less than 6 inches, the roll is still a ball (NOTE: This rule is not enforced for the Competitive Leagues).

Jess said...

...and why are you not at work and can I have your job? Since I'm obviously slaving away for the man all day today...

Nate Dawg said...

Domination of Country Grammar was achieved last night Jess. Great work.

Chandler said...

Took the day off for a Friday wedding :)

Great find Jess. We need to start enforcing these rules. For realz. Especially rule 8

Nate Dawg said...

I only started pitching that way bc pretty much the rest of the league was doing it besides a few teams...but I'd be fine with whatever pitching rules were implemented/enforced.

Chandler said...

I thought we needed to CHANGE rules. But Jess with her fiestyness found we just need to ENFORCE rules. Which is awesome.

It's a kickball league. Today is probably the most anyone has read the actual rules. :)

Jess said...

Yea, I'm pretty sure Robes was one of the first to master that pitch in the first place. I agree pitchers should go easier but I also think there should be some element of fun in the different pitching styles

Nate Dawg said...

Yeah Robes and CJ were the first, closely followed up by the guy no the green team. Chan probably wants to enforce the rule bc he doesnt have anyone on his team that can pitch that way. I've seen Souder try to do it a couple times and it aint pretty...

Chandler said...

Haha. Good point Nate.

But I guarantee you it's more fun to have your players actually get on base... Then have your pitcher throw side arm curves, striking out the side.

Chris said...

I fail at it because I try to still do out under hand, not straight side arm...and you're right, it is not pretty...

JD said...

If anyone on our team is caught reading the rulebook, they will be immediately dismissed and shunned.

With that being said, I'm stuck on a boring conference call, so I'll entertain myself with an arguement.

The rule you quoted said the imaginary baseline is 5ft in width, so that would be 2.5ft from the center. Cassia caught the ball directly in the basepath, so if Jamie strayed 3ft to the left, then she was out of the basepath. I realize it's hard to tell 1/2 a foot during the action, but Cassia took 2 steps toward her and had the ball outstretched, so I would say 3ft was generous. Greenie only said Cassia didn't tag her and admitted he didn't know if she was out of the path and asked the other ref who didn't know either.

I wouldn't have argued if I was called out. I don't know for sure, because I was sliding. The second baseman had her feet in front of the base before the ball was thrown, so I pulled up a little and slid early because I didn't want to hurt her. I'd rather be out than see someone get hurt in a kickball game.

You guys did kick ass on Country Grammar, but Jess carried you a little Nate.

As far as pitching, we've had a girl pitcher all year except when Asian John pitched, which is basically the same thing. We're not going to ever do it, because it's not really in the spirit of the game for us. I don't care if other teams want to do it. It's that much trickier because we're not playing on very smooth fields.

JD said...

The guy from the green team took a running start from almost 2nd base and threw it sidearm. We asked Johnny if it was legal and he said it was. It was the one time we were tempted to read this rule book you speak of.

Chandler said...

Like I said. Nobody reads the rules. Even Johnny. Haha

Nate Dawg said...

Deeks in re-reading the rule it states that the runner can run outside the baseline to avoid a fielder blocking the baseline and continue running to the next base. That is what took place. Your 2nd baseman was in the baseline so Jamie ran around her. Its tough to say how far out of the baseline she was but I think it was too boarderline to call her out. If she would have ran 10 ft out to avoid the tag then I wouldnt have argued that at all.

JD said...

Isn't that in the context of a fielder blocking the basepath who doesn't have the ball? Cassia had the ball and was making a play, so I don't believe the exemption applies.

Nate Dawg said...

I dont know how you classify that because normally you would have an unimpeded 5ft-wide baseline but with a player in the middle of your baseline that elimiates it so I think you should be allowed a little room to try to make a play around a tag. It shouldnt be basically an automatic out because the ball is kicked directly in your baseline. Overall none of these calls cost anyone the game in my opinion. You guys still won and we still had plenty of changes to win.

JD said...

I agree, this is more out of curiousity. It's always a judgement call and I wouldn't hold any refs in kickball of all things to perfectly accurate on this. I would think if the runner is more than 2 steps and and arm's reach away from the basepath, then they are reasonably out of the imaginary basepath. Again, I'm stuck on a boring call, so work with me

Chandler said...

Enforce rules 8 and 10!!!

Nate Dawg said...

You are probably right, from my perspective she looked in the baseline. Going forward just check with me before making any call on base runners being in or out of the basepath, like you were doing last night. I promise to be impartial. Thanks.

Nate Dawg said...

Chan tell Johnny!!! Unless a ref tells me I cannot throw the way I have been throwing then I'm not going to stop...

JD said...

Will do! Always fun playing y'all. Have a great weekend.

Nate Dawg said...

Always enjoy playing you guys too...good luck the rest of the season. I'll be rooting for you guys to go undefeated. Going to watch Frank throw away his man-hood this weekend.

Chandler said...

Shhhhiiiiiiit. Johnny doesn't listen crackers

Fat Kid said...

I like everything about GoKB's pitching. Its probably the main reason i came over to GoKB. KBS pitching is WAY to easy. Their enforcing the way the pitching is this season also, practically taking away the fast pitch. My Stanky Legz team is no longer going to play KBS for this reason. The curve on the pitch allows for more competitive play. The way the rules are right now allow for a perfect blend of fun and competitivness (sp), in regards to the curve pitch and no guys bunting. I think it would blow to just play a straight line pitch. just my two cents.

Griff said...

aye..I like the blend we have too and would like to see it stay.
BUT... PBC being the only undefeated team left WHILE having a girl pitch meatballs kinda throws that logic of "too easy" out the window...as we found out first-hand in week 1. *shakes head*

Griff said...

plus, didn't we vote on the pitching rules during the captains meeting this season? Thought I remember Johnny shouting it out over the music and everyone agreed to keep it the same as previous seasons (with curves)

Chandler said...

I refuse to believe the "fast pitch" is why anyone plays in GKB. If Johnny enforces existing rules (just like KBS) then what? Stanky Legz goes to Tampa Bay Club Sport where you pitch to your own team? Or WAKA where it's $74+ for 8 games.

GTFO

Enforce the rules. Stop this 2-1 game madness. This isn't professional baseball

Fat Kid said...

Seriously, me and a couple of the TJs only came over for the pitching challenge. We wanted to play in a league similar to the Atlanta pitching. I'm not saying we would quit or anything but I can say that Kbs is no longer as fun with the soft pitches, too much offense. I personally think a defensive battle is more fun to play in, more tense. May not be much fun to watch but I dont stay to watch Kickball. Like I said, I'm not a captain and its just my opinion. I like the challenge.

Chandler said...

I hear you. But from a "growing the league" perspective, easier pitching would be much better for the new and kickball un-skilled teams.

If we had a vote today, I'm willing to bet the teams who DON'T want easier pitching include:

Toejammers
Shockers
Superbad
YLLINAD

That's the list. I think. Regardless, fast pitching kills parity. Rabble rabble rabble!!!

Chris said...

Teams that go to brick house instead of yard of ale don't get votes anyway.

Litman said...

Normal pitching. Let the movent begin!!