Week #9: August 2nd, 2009

Start Times- Please note that (for the remainder of the season) ALL game times will begin 30 minutes earlier so we may maximize daylight.  For more information, check out this nifty data table http://www.sunrisesunset.com/calendar.asp (please note that this does reflect times for KCMO).

Money- As of this moment (besides any bank charges unbeknownst to myself), the current KVKL bank balance is $3731.69.  It’s been awhile since I’ve reported this number and I believe it overdue.  Also, there has been some chatter about the coming fund-raiser at the Replay following GOTW and where those funds are being allocated.  Let me be clear, monies from both Replay fund-raisers go towards the year end party.  We would very much like to help do something regarding Andrew’s (of Girls w/LSE) medical expenses and have not yet decided what action we will take.  There’s certainly no shortage of ideas.  In the meantime, find the folks from Girls w/LSE if you desire to help out in any way.

Reffing- Please begin thinking about post-season officiating and who your best refs are (hopefully you’re using them every week).  If you do have several good refs on your team we’ll likely use them all.  As of right now, playoffs will be on 8/16, 8/23, and 8/30.  Refs, as always, will be the critical factor in making our playoff format work.

North Lawrence Construction- Please be advised that construction on North 2nd Street is now underway.  A bulk of the construction is focused on N 2nd and Locust meaning it might be tough getting to field sites (Woodlawn, Lyons E & W) in North Lawrence from downtown.  Please give yourself ample time to get to your site and plan your route accordingly.

Lastly, looks like another fantastic weekend of weather ahead.  Have fun, stay hydrated, and enjoy your weekend.  See you at the Replay fund-raiser.

Cheers!

Deron

Candlepants’ KVKL Top 20 Rankings: Week 8

So I decided to wait until tuesday to post the new top 20. Wanted to make everyone sweat a bit. Week 8 turned out to be one of the best weeks so far this year with 7 games decided by 3 runs or less, 4 games decided by 2 runs or less, and two one run games!  Remember when I predicted that the second half of this season would be the best five game stretch in the history of KVKL? Looks like its headed that way. We might see an undefeated team(Pita Pit 8-0) and a defeated team this year(Solidarity & Lady Lumps are both 0-8). In fact, I may have to come out of ‘game of the week umping retirement’ for that week 10 game of Solidarity vs Lady Lumps. I can’t wait!

Wish me a speedy recovery as this week I will truly be living on the fringe since I severely sprained my left quad in Rangelife’s extremely close game vs Das Boot. I’ll be working the sidelines and be in full heckle mode though. Last time I got injured during a kickball season my team went on to win the title (Jensens 05). Is this the omen I’ve been waiting for from the kickball gods? Maybe now I’ll organize a practice since we haven’t had one yet. 

And now your week 8 KVKL Top 20 Rankings:

1 Pita Pit (first undefeated season since 2003?)

2 First Blood (I feel sorry for any defense facing this team)

3 Love Garden (they keep creeping up the rankings)

4 Jazzhaus (FYI: don’t kick it to 3rd base)

5 Eastsiders (don’t sleep, they only lost by 2 to Pita Pit)

6 Sacred Sword (their schedule is brutal but they’re still one of the best)

7 Rangelife (skinny white boys making some noise)

8 Tellers (they have a whip, and they know how to use it!)

9 Das Boot (as i predicted in week 2 they’ll be trouble in the tournament)

10 Brew Ballers (back in the top 10 after a close win over Eldridge)

11 Eldridge (i want them to do something with that parking lot next to the hotel?)

12 Screamers (they’re showing that they are the #3 to beat)

13 Liberty Hall (they play Screamers in week 10: that’ll be a hott game!)

14 Mad Greek (tough loss last week, remember they made a run last tourney though)

15 Astrokitty (i love the battle between all these #3’s, it’s anyone’s game!)

16 Yellow Sub (they’ve had a lot of close losses this year but they can do damage)

17 Red Lyon (i hope to see Chris off crutches this week, good luck dogg)

18 Wildman (looks like that food drive paid off, Rangelife looks healthy)

19 Weavers (ever been in the basement there? they got great kitchenware?^%$#?)

20 Slowride (last but not least)

till next week…dr. candlepants.

KVKL Kickball Party this Sunday!

This Sunday August 2nd, immediately following the Game of the Week.
Come support the KVKL at the Kickball Party at the Replay Lounge – $2 cover

Join the league for fun times featuring The Dactyls, DJ Bushfestival, DJ Joel-er-coaster, and DJ George Hamilton

Week #8: July 26th, 2009 (Rule Changes)

Hey all,

These changes are intended to clarify only a few points of contention.  Remaining discrepancies will have to wait another year.  The KVKL rules are a work in progress that require due diligence rather than a willingness to exploit that which is unclear.  Please practice the former and not the latter.  That being said, these rule changes go into effect immediately.  The changes are based on suggestions from the mid-season meeting:

H. Fouls

1. A count of four strikes/fouls constitutes an out.

2. A foul is:

a. A kick landing out of bounds.

b. A kick landing in bounds, but traveling out of bounds, untouched by a defensive player or  runner, before reaching third or first base.

c. Any ball in foul territory that makes contact with a defensive player in foul territory, irrespective of its consequent path, shall be considered foul.

d. A ball that is kicked in front of home plate.

e. A kicked ball in foul territory that hits a fence, an umpire, a spectator, or other outside object shall be considered a foul ball AND NOT ELIGIBLE TO BE CAUGHT FOR AN OUT (see “Tree Rule” (I.3.a) for exception).

I. Outs

3. Any kicked ball, fair or foul, that is caught.

a. Tree Rule:  A kicked ball that strikes a tree during its course of flight may be then caught for an out.

4. A fielding player in control of the ball and touching a base to which a runner is forced to run, before the runner arrives.

5. A runner that intentionally makes contact with the ball while on base.

6. A runner that makes contact with a fielder making a play on a kicked ball. It is the runner’s responsibility to avoid a defensive player attempting to make a play on a ball.

7. A runner who deviates more than two steps to either side of their path to the next base when attempting to avoid a defender with possession of the ball.

E. Pitching and Catching

5. Catchers may not interfere in any way with the kicker’s attempt to kick a pitch.

a. Catchers must be positioned behind the front face of home plate, and at least three feet to either side of home plate (“catcher’s box”).  Catchers may not position any part of their body across the vertical planes of the catcher’s box during a pitch.

b. Catchers must remain stationary from when the pitch is rolled to when the ball is kicked.

c. Catchers must yield to a runner on his/her way to first base. If a catcher makes contact with a runner on the way to first base, intentionally or accidentally, the runner will be considered safe at first base, regardless of the play made on the field. A referee may also call catcher’s interference regardless of contact being made on a play. Players who abuse this rule by intentionally running into a catcher will automatically be out.

J. Ball in Play

3. Ground-Rule Doubles:

c. Landscape Interference- If a ball becomes unplayable in any landscape in fair territory, on a bounce or in the air, the referees shall rule the play dead and award ground rule double to the kicker. All runners advance 2 bases.

Cheers!  Deron

Cougar’s KVKL RPI Rankings: Week 7

These are the KVKL RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) Standings. For an explanation of what is the RPI, please refer to my blog at http://deronbelt.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/rpi-101/ with a reference from http://kenpom.com/blog/index.php/weblog/rpi_help/

The RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) formula is as followed: 25% team’s winning percentage + 50% team’s strength of schedule + 25% team’s opponents’ strength of schedule. The three numbers inside the parentheses, at the far right of each RPI ranking, are raw numbers BEFORE being multiplied by the appropriate percentage in the RPI formula.

RPI Ranking/Team name/RPI rating/ (team’s winning %, team’s strength of schedule, team’s opponents’ strength of schedule)
1. Pita Pit .715 (1.00, .643, .573)
2. Eastsiders .683 (.857, .657, .560)
3. First Blood .678 (.857, .667, .520)
4. Jazzhaus .659 (.857, .633, .511)
5. Rangelife Records .613 (.714, .610, .515)
6. Sacred Sword .592 (.571, .633, .526)
7. Tellers .588 (.714, .562, .512)
8. Lovegarden .586 (.857, .500, .488)
9. Das Boot .575 (.571, .595, .537)
10. Mad Greek .549 (.571, .548, .529)
11. Astrokitty .548 (.571, .548, .525)
12. Screamers .539 (.714, .452, .534)
13. Yello Sub .512 (.286, .633, .492)
14. Slowride Roadhouse .490 (.571, .452, .534)
15. Wildman Vintage .476 (.429, .471, .531)
16. Red Lyon .475 (.286, .548, .514)
17. Eldridge .473 (.571, .429, .458)
18. Liberty Hall .469 (.571, .405, .493)
      Miltons .469 (.429, .476, .497)
20. Channel 6 .466 (.429, .490, .457)
21. Blue Collar Press .456 (.286, .510, .516)
22. Free State Brewery .450 (.429, .429, .513)
23. Brew Ballers .442 (.429, .414, .512)
24. Weavers .404 (.286, .452, .424)
25. West Coast Saloon .381 (.500, .262, .501)
26. Open Sky Landscaping .373 (.286, .357, .486)
27. Lady Lumps .358 (.000, .486, .459)
28. Replay Lounge .354 (.286, .333, .450)
29. Girls w/ LSE .318 (.000, .424, .422)
30. Solidarity .283 (.000, .357. 416)

Candlepants’ KVKL Top 20 Rankings: Week 7

Ah just 3 weeks left in the regular season. We’ve had the most beautiful weather of any kickball season I can remember…lets hope it stays that way for next week!  There were 3 rematches in week 7 (Eastsiders v Sacred Sword, Tellers v Rangelife, & West Coast v GWLSE) and only Rangelife Records was able to avenge their early season loss. Sacred Sword had a nice rally late but fell just a bit short. The Love Garden v First Blood & Pita Pit v Jazzhaus games proved that the run for the championship could be won by anyone. Both games came down to the wire and this could be a preview of the Final Four to come in the tourney. Personally I’m holding out for the Solidarity v Lady Lumps game of the week in the final week of the season…it’ll be magical!

Now that we’ve played a couple of “Rank” play games, I’m giving an upgrade and downgrade assessment for one team in each rank #1-#5. Teams on the upgrade list are on the rise so watch out if they’re in your ranking while teams on the downgrade list might be slipping a bit amongst their peers with the same rank. As always though, don’t overlook anyone because on any given sunday… 

                Upgraded                                         Downgraded

#1            Jazzhaus                                          Sacred Sword

#2           Das Boot                                            Red Lyon

#3            Astrokitty                                          Yellow Sub

#4           Slowride                                               Replay

#5           Free State                                             GWLSE 

Now that you know who’s hott and who’s not in each rank, here’s the top 20 for week 7.  

1  Pita Pit

2  First Blood

3  Jazzhaus

4  Love Garden

5  Eastsiders

6  Sacred Sword

7  Rangelife Records

8  Tellers

9   Eldridge

10  Das Boot

11  Screamers

12  Astrokitty

13  Mad Greek

14  Brew Ballers

15  Liberty Hall

16  Yellow Sub

17  Red Lyon

18  Weavers

19  Slow Ride

20 Wildman

till next week…the candle of pants.

Week #7: July 19th, 2009

Not a whole lot to update this week.

We’ll have the wording completed on the two rule changes by the middle of next week.  Meaning I’ll send out an email that specifies what the new wordings are and you’ll then see those changes in the rules (on the website plus clipboards) by the weekend.

Bathrooms at Hobbs: The unit is installed BUT will not be operational for a few more days.  Both my dogs have already tested it’s outer walls and those performed admirably, so there’s that.  Hopefully just a game or two more of the less-than-savory portables.

Grassy @ Woodlawn: If consuming alcoholic beverages at this field (KVKL does NOT endorse this), please be discreet and mindful of your surroundings.  This has potential to be a significant problem for us.  It may lead to the  league discontinuing use of this well-liked field.

On that note, please keep on using aluminum cans whenever possible so we may recycle them.

The weather should be fantastic (maybe best this year) for the games tomorrow.  Enjoy!

Thanks all,  Deron

Candlepants’ KVKL Top 20: Week 6

The second half of the season has begun and what a wonderful start!  As many predicted there were some amazing games out there on sunday including Yellow Sub vs Screamers(came down to the last out) and Pita Pit vs First Blood(amazing rematch from last years’ championship).  A lot of people have been giving me crap by ranking Pita Pit #1 over First Blood but like I said the champs is the champs until someone beats them! There hasn’t been an undefeated team since 2003 when Wattleneck won it all(remember the mysterious 5th foul controversy?), could this be the year for Pita Pit? It’d be quite a feat considering the field of competition, but it’d be fun to see. The last time they went undefeated in the regular season(as Papa Kenos) they lost in the playoffs. Can’t wait to see how it plays out this year. I also can’t wait for the Tellers vs Rangelife rematch this week as well as the game of the week, Liberty Hall vs Astrokitty! I might come out of hibernation to ump the game of the week on sunday with cougs & crew so heckle the shit out of me (and beer me) if you see me out there. Don’t try to pull me back because I’m living on the fringe! Candlepants.

1 Pita Pit (the most balanced team in the league)

2 First Blood (their offense is amazing but can their ‘D’ shut people down?)

3 Love Garden (KVKL’s only 2 time champs are trying to stop Pita Pit from joining that elite company)

4 Jazzhaus (they keep creeping up…watch out y’all)

5 Eastsiders (sorry i called you easysiders two weeks ago…it was a typo.)

6 Sacred Sword (don’t sleep they can still bunt their way to the top)

7 Tellers (holding steady)

8 Rangelife (not bad for not having a practice yet)

9 Eldridge (they can compete with anyone)

10 Das Boot (they’re getting better all the time…i don’t want to play them)

11 Brew Ballers ( Green is the new Black)

12 Screamers (nice win over Yellow Sub)

13 red Lyon (Jameson anyone?)

14 Liberty Hall (they look so cute in baby blue)

15 Mad Greek (watch out #3’s, here they come!)

16 Astrokitty (congrats and enjoy your first game of the week. try not to poop your pants in front of everybody)

17 Yellow Sub (this team could cause some trouble in the playoffs)

18 Weavers (since 1864?)

19  Channel 6 (nice homer at Wrigley, but can you kick one at Cowser?)

20 Slowride (who doesn’t love a slow ride? congrats on being the last one in)

Cougar’s KVKL RPI Rankings: Week 6

These are the KVKL RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) Standings. For an explanation of what is the RPI, please refer to my blog at http://deronbelt.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/rpi-101/ with a reference from the website http://kenpom.com/blog/index.php/weblog/rpi_help/ 

The RPI formula is as followed: 25% team’s winning percentage + 50% team’s strength of schedule + 25% team’s opponents’ strength of schedule. The three numbers inside the parentheses, at the far right of each RPI ranking, are raw numbers BEFORE being multiplied by the appropriate percentage in the RPI formula.

RPI Ranking/Team name/RPI rating/ (team’s winning %, team’s strength of schedule, team’s opponents’ strength of schedule)
1. Jazzhaus .686 (1.00, .600, .544)
2. Pita Pit .669 (1.00, .567, .544)
3. Eastsiders .658 (.833, .633, .533)
4. Sacred Sword .626 (.667, .667, .505)
5. First Blood .616 (.833, .567, .500)
6. Tellers .606 (.833, .533, .522)
7. Lovegarden .604 (1.00, .467, .483)
8. Rangelife Records .576 (.667, .567, .505)
9. Yello Sub .557 (.333, .700, .494)
10. Das Boot .534 (.500, .567, .506)
11. Mad Greek .527 (.500, .567, .472)
12. Screamers .522 (.667, .433, .550)
13. Brew Ballers .506 (.500, .500, .522)
14. Astrokitty Comics .504 (.500, .500, .517)
      Channel 6 .504 (.500, .500, .517)
16. Liberty Hall .495 (.667, .400, .511)
17. Miltons .489 (.333, .567, .489)
18. Eldridge .483 (.500, .500, .433)
19. Slowride Roadhouse .466 (.500, .433, .494)
20. Wildman Vintage .444 (.333, .467, .511)
21. Red Lyon Tavern .442 (.333, .467, .505)
22. West Coast Saloon .441 (.500, .367, .533)
       Blue Collar Press .441 (.333, .467, .500)
24. Free State Brewery .438 (.333, .467, .489)
25. Weavers .423 (.333, .467, .428)
26. Open Sky Landscaping .361 (.167, .400, .478)
27. Replay Lounge .352 (.333, .300, .478)
28. Lady Lumps .349 (.000, .467, .461)
29. Girls w/ LSE .339 (.000, .433, .489)
30. Solidarity .313 (.000, .400, .450)

Week #6: July 12th, 2009

News and Notes:

So begins our first week of flex scheduled games.  The next five weeks should be fun.

HOBBS PARKING SITUATION: The WEST parking lot at HOBBS may have limited access by the time games begin on Sunday (partly due to the new bathroom that will soon be in place).  Please prepare to park in the South Hobbs lot, 11th Street, Delaware Street, or elsewhere.  You’ll also notice a disruption along the north and west fence.  It does look peculiar.

UH-OH: I received a call from the city re: drinking on the playing fields.  We’ve been tagged as a potential problem by a certain citizenry of Lawrence.  Let’s keep the league as safe as possible by NOT DRINKING ON THE FIELDS.  While I’m at it, PLEASE DO NOT SMOKE OR DISCARD CIGARETTE BUTTS ON THE FIELDS.  Because we are profoundly public in what we do, we may have to put language in the rules to deal with these issues next season.  Please, please use your good judgement.

Also, please use aluminum cans as often as possible (to drink your whatever from).  Two positives, they easier for us to recycle and may be collected for cash.

CAPTAIN’S MEETING: Twenty of thirty KVKL teams were represented at our meeting last Tuesday night.  Participants included:  Diana and Mike (Eldridge), Andrea* (Kickin’ Coasters), Aaron (Screamers), Mick (Late Fees), Ian and Jesse (Slowride), Mike (Sacred Sword), Adam (Eastsider’s), Paul (Wildman Vintage), Dwuane and Ross (Girls w/L.S.E.), Chris and Phil* (Love Garden), Paul (AstroKitty), Geoff (Blue Collar), Troy (Jazzhaus), JP (Toe Pokes), Sol (Open Sky Landscape), Dustin (BrewBallers), Phil and Chris (Das Boot), Adina* and Casey (Mad Greek), Shawn and Brad (Teller’s), and myself* (Pita Pit).

*Board Members

We spoke mostly about rules.  Two changes to be made this year are regarding the catcher (to be more clear as to what ’stationary’ means) and landscape interference (ricochets and so on).  Both of those may be ready by week 7, week 8 at the latest.  For now, please continue with the current rules.  I encourage you to discuss rules that concern you with your refs BEFORE YOUR GAME so you know how they will interpret them.  Fewer surprises that way.  We’ll make sure you are alerted to the rule changes when they happen.

I think, despite a few moments of chaos, the meeting went rather well.  Everyone had a chance to speak and we were in that space for less than a hour and a half.  Thanks again Mike and Diana!

A point of clarification regarding the year end party: it will be funded largely by the two Replay fund-raisers.  This was partly designed to accommodate those teams who did not want to pay for the party via their dues.  I misspoke about this at the meeting and I apologize.  The money will go toward the location (rental) and contents (libations and whatnots) with a small user fee at the door.

Did you read the officiating hints post?  Please do.

Questions, comments, concerns?

Thanks everybody!  Deron

P.S. PLEASE HYDRATE