ou vs. Texas - Game 2 brawl
Steve Sheely
Well, here it goes.
OU, who beat Texas in the second of a three-game series today 8-3 (unsure
of the score, I left early), sunk to new lows in sportsmanship.
First, one of the OU coaches got ejected early in the game and then had
to be PHYSICALLY RESTRAINED and carried of the field by the home plate
ump. I've never seen a coach show such an immature lack of restraint.
Later in the game, OU was at bat and the balled rolled away from the
catcher, toward the pitcher, on what was either a foul tip or a bunt-like
check swing. Seth Spiker, the UT catcher, pushed the OU batter (center
fielder), who did not back out of the batter's box, in his rush to get
the ball. Note that the shove by Spiker did not hurt or even knock down
the aforementioned batter. I don't know the rules about a batter
standing in the way of a catcher trying to field a ball that is in fair
territory, but I do know that the batter has no right to THROW HIS BAT at
another player. Good grief. I haven't seen such childishness since
third grade teeball, and that was at recess without coaches.
I guess it's no surprise that if your coach is going to show a total
disregard for sportsmanship then you shouldn't expect the players to.
Anyway, the benches cleared and there were about ten different fights
going on at the same time. The police came onto the field but did not
get involved. It was pathetic. They ended up ejecting the ou batter and
the UT catcher. What a great deal for ou, the ou guy throws his bat at
the UT catcher and they both get ejected. They trade a center fielder
for a catcher.
I enjoyed talking with some of the OU fans during the early part of the
game, but they blamed these antics on the Texas fans! Right. As if fans
can actually affect the character and sportsmanship of another team with
everyday, albeit boisterous, crowd noise. Hello? I think having double
the number of fans at an away game is might shake some of these schools,
but, compared to several years ago, the fans have mellowed a lot.
I think the OU 3rd base coach should be suspended. He set a pathetic
example in a sport which typically rises above the kind of junk you see
on MLB or NHL.
Go Horns!
Steve Sheely
Craig K. Gowens (Commissioner of the SWC)
Guess I'm too late to give an initial, quasi-official account of the
melee.
Steve Sheely <st...@sheely.com> wrote:
>
> First, one of the OU coaches got ejected early in the game and then had
> to be PHYSICALLY RESTRAINED and carried of the field by the home plate
> ump. I've never seen a coach show such an immature lack of restraint.
The ou coach, Bill Mosiello, went to the first base umpire, Randy Christal
to argue the check swing call on a batter from earlier in the inning.
You can't argue balls and strikes and doing so is grounds for immediate
ejection. Christal simply pointed and the dugout and told him he was gone
and went to walk away. By this time Cochell came out of the dugout and
home plate umpire Max Minter went towards first. The ou coach apparently
took offense to being tossed that he started to go after Christal. Cochell
tried to restrain him and Minter stepped in between Christal and Mosiello
to keep them away from each other. Mosiello went ballistic despite Cochell
trying to calm him. He nearly physically struck Christal when Minter grabbed
him from behind in a bear hug and carried him to the dugout. Cochell was
apparently very apologetic for the actions of his coach.
> Later in the game, OU was at bat and the balled rolled away from the
> catcher, toward the pitcher, on what was either a foul tip or a bunt-like
> check swing. Seth Spiker, the UT catcher, pushed the OU batter (center
> fielder), who did not back out of the batter's box, in his rush to get
> the ball.
The ball did make contact with the bat and the runner began to break toward
the next base. The ball moved more towards the first base line, IMO, but the
batter didn't make any attempt to get out of the way.
> Note that the shove by Spiker did not hurt or even knock down
> the aforementioned batter. I don't know the rules about a batter
> standing in the way of a catcher trying to field a ball that is in fair
> territory, but I do know that the batter has no right to THROW HIS BAT at
> another player. Good grief.
I don't think Hill was trying to hit Spiker with his bat. After getting out
of the way, hill turned around and threw the bat to the ground. It just
happened to land near Spikers feet, the then went forward and shoved Spiker.
Spiker then shoved back.
> Anyway, the benches cleared and there were about ten different fights
> going on at the same time. The police came onto the field but did not
> get involved.
I'm glad they didn't. Introducing a gun into the dispute is the wrong
thing to do.
> It was pathetic.
I agree.
> They ended up ejecting the ou batter and
> the UT catcher. What a great deal for ou, the ou guy throws his bat at
> the UT catcher and they both get ejected. They trade a center fielder
> for a catcher.
Both should have been ejected. Hill started the fight and Spiker pushed
back. When Spiker pushed back, he took an the role of an aggressor and
was justly ejected.
> I enjoyed talking with some of the OU fans during the early part of the
> game, but they blamed these antics on the Texas fans! Right. As if fans
> can actually affect the character and sportsmanship of another team with
> everyday, albeit boisterous, crowd noise. Hello? I think having double
> the number of fans at an away game is might shake some of these schools,
> but, compared to several years ago, the fans have mellowed a lot.
Sorry, but I kinda have to agree with those ou fans. The Texas fans
chanting "ou sux!" did nothing help matters. If anything, it only
made the tensions higher making for a more aggressive confronation.
Even the courts have recognized "fighting words" as an aggressive
act in fights. The many Texas fans chanting only further incensed
the sooners.
> I think the OU 3rd base coach should be suspended. He set a pathetic
> example in a sport which typically rises above the kind of junk you see
> on MLB or NHL.
That is something that has to be ruled upon by the Big 12. The umpires
CAN file a report as to the intent to do physical harm to a game official
by the oklahoma coach. That is up to them. Here is the official report as
of about 5:30 pm from the umpires as composed bu UT Assistant Athletic
Director for External Affairs Bill Little:
---
POOL REPORT FROM THE UMPIRES
Early in the game, assistant coach Bill Mosiello of Oklahoma (the third
base coach) was ejected for arguing a check swing call on a ball-strike
decision.
ON THE INCIDENT IN THE EIGHTH:
Oklahoma center fielder Willy hill and Texas catcher Seth Spiker were
ejected for fighting. Under the NCAA fight rule on the first offense, Hill
and Spiker will serve a one-game suspension in their next gam (Sunday).
NCAA Rule 5-15 "Fight Rule"
Section 15. The rules committee believes there is no place in college
baseball for physical abuse of officials or fighting among opponents.
A fight rule penalizes offending team representatives for physical
abuse or fighting...
A. Fighting -- Any physical abuse of an opposing players, including
attempting to strike with the arms, hands, legs, feet or equipment in
a combative manner.
PENALTY:
(1) For the first offense by an individual, ejection plus suspension
from the team's next contest.
(2) For a second offense by an individual in the same season, ejection
plus suspension from the team's next three contests.
(3) For a third offense by an individual in the same season, ejection
and suspension for the remainder of the season, including post-season
competition.
THIS IS THE FIRST OFFENSE FOR HILL AND SPIKER.
NO OTHER ACTION IS PLANNED AT THIS TIME BY THE UMPIRES, ACCORDING TO
SENIOR UMPIRE JON BIBLE, SPOKESMAN FOR THE CREW WHICH INCLUDE MAX
MINTER, RANDY CHRISTAL AND DAN O'CONNELL.
---
Craig K. Gowens
Hook'em Horns
Big 12 Baseball page: http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~ckgowens/baseball/big12.html
Texas Baseball page: http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~ckgowens/baseball/texas.html
The University of Texas Baseball Coaches
William J. Disch 1911-1939 465-115 .802
Bibb Falk 1940-42, 46-67 435-152 .741
Cliff Gustafson 1968-1996 1427-373 .792
Augie Garrido 1996-present 1152-523 .687
Road Warrior
In article <ckgowens-290...@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu>,
ckgo...@uts.cc.utexas.edu says...
>
>Guess I'm too late to give an initial, quasi-official account of the
>melee.
>
>
>Steve Sheely <st...@sheely.com> wrote:
>>
>> First, one of the OU coaches got ejected early in the game and then had
>> to be PHYSICALLY RESTRAINED and carried of the field by the home plate
>> ump. I've never seen a coach show such an immature lack of restraint.
>
>The ou coach, Bill Mosiello, went to the first base umpire, Randy Christal
>to argue the check swing call on a batter from earlier in the inning.
>You can't argue balls and strikes and doing so is grounds for immediate
>ejection. Christal simply pointed and the dugout and told him he was gone
>and went to walk away. By this time Cochell came out of the dugout and
>home plate umpire Max Minter went towards first. The ou coach apparently
>took offense to being tossed that he started to go after Christal. Cochell
>tried to restrain him and Minter stepped in between Christal and Mosiello
>to keep them away from each other. Mosiello went ballistic despite Cochell
>trying to calm him. He nearly physically struck Christal when Minter grabbed
>him from behind in a bear hug and carried him to the dugout. Cochell was
>apparently very apologetic for the actions of his coach.
As well he should have been. However, the ump was out of line, IMO, by picking
Mosiello up bodily.
>> Later in the game, OU was at bat and the balled rolled away from the
>> catcher, toward the pitcher, on what was either a foul tip or a bunt-like
>> check swing. Seth Spiker, the UT catcher, pushed the OU batter (center
>> fielder), who did not back out of the batter's box, in his rush to get
>> the ball.
>
>The ball did make contact with the bat and the runner began to break toward
>the next base. The ball moved more towards the first base line, IMO, but the
>batter didn't make any attempt to get out of the way.
Agreed.
>> Note that the shove by Spiker did not hurt or even knock down
>> the aforementioned batter. I don't know the rules about a batter
>> standing in the way of a catcher trying to field a ball that is in fair
>> territory, but I do know that the batter has no right to THROW HIS BAT at
>> another player. Good grief.
>
>I don't think Hill was trying to hit Spiker with his bat. After getting out
>of the way, hill turned around and threw the bat to the ground. It just
>happened to land near Spikers feet, the then went forward and shoved Spiker.
>Spiker then shoved back.
An accurate account, as well. I have reviewed videotape of the incident a
number of times, and Hill was definitely not throwing his bat at Spiker.
>> Anyway, the benches cleared and there were about ten different fights
>> going on at the same time. The police came onto the field but did not
>> get involved.
>
>I'm glad they didn't. Introducing a gun into the dispute is the wrong
>thing to do.
>
>> It was pathetic.
>
>I agree.
Here's a ditto from the Sooner side.
>> They ended up ejecting the ou batter and
>> the UT catcher. What a great deal for ou, the ou guy throws his bat at
>> the UT catcher and they both get ejected. They trade a center fielder
>> for a catcher.
>
>Both should have been ejected. Hill started the fight and Spiker pushed
>back. When Spiker pushed back, he took an the role of an aggressor and
>was justly ejected.
Agreed again. Hill was definitely out of line and started the thing, but they
both were rightly tossed.
>> I enjoyed talking with some of the OU fans during the early part of the
>> game, but they blamed these antics on the Texas fans! Right. As if fans
>> can actually affect the character and sportsmanship of another team with
>> everyday, albeit boisterous, crowd noise. Hello? I think having double
>> the number of fans at an away game is might shake some of these schools,
>> but, compared to several years ago, the fans have mellowed a lot.
>
>Sorry, but I kinda have to agree with those ou fans. The Texas fans
>chanting "ou sux!" did nothing help matters. If anything, it only
>made the tensions higher making for a more aggressive confronation.
>Even the courts have recognized "fighting words" as an aggressive
>act in fights. The many Texas fans chanting only further incensed
>the sooners.
Would that both sides of the rivalry could display the same class Kelvin
Sampson did in Norman earlier this year when he asked the Sooner basketball
crowd to stop chanting "Texas sucks." Of course, asking either side to refrain
from using the word "sucks" in reference to the other is generally considered
to be futile in the extreme.
End of story. Sooners take the series 2-1. See you orange types in OKC for
the Big XII Tourney. Or maybe not. <grin> Sorry, had to get that dig in.
BOOMER SOONER!
--
Later,
THE ROAD WARRIOR (rdw...@rdhouse.com)
THE ROADHOUSE - http://www.rdhouse.com
Steve Sheely
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About the only good thing that came out of the infamous "Brawl on the
Disch" was this photo by Austin American-Statesman photographer Lynne
Dobson (3/30/97). Ump Max Minter...what a face.
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Steve Sheely
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Here is a great picture of ump Max Minter trying to seperate Seth Spiker
and Willie Hill. This picture was taken by Lynne Dobson and included in
the Austin American-Statesman on 3/30/97. Dobson should get a Katy award
for this one. You gotta love Minter's face.
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Craig K. Gowens (Commissioner of the SWC)
rdw...@rdhouse.com (Road Warrior) wrote:
> ckgo...@uts.cc.utexas.edu says...
> >Steve Sheely <st...@sheely.com> wrote:
>
> > [deletia] He nearly physically struck Christal when Minter grabbed
> >apparently very apologetic for the actions of his coach.
>
> As well he should have been. However, the ump was out of line, IMO, by
> picking Mosiello up bodily.
Well, I kinda agree, but Mosiello wasn't backing down, even with Cochell
trying to physically restrain him. I don't know if this is true or not,
but rumor is that when he got set down by Minter next to the dugout, Minter
told him to go ahead and come out if he wanted some more.
> End of story. Sooners take the series 2-1. See you orange types in OKC for
> the Big XII Tourney. Or maybe not. <grin> Sorry, had to get that dig in.
> BOOMER SOONER!
Well, I'm not worried yet. IMO, the conference champ probably won't reach
20 wins. The conference titles is probaby out of reach after this weekend
as Texas is 5 back in the loss column with 18 games to go. Tech still has
a&m and y'all on the schedule. As sickening as it makes me, I might have
to end up cheering for ou in that series to help the Horns out. <shudder>
Texas has plenty of time to come back to make the tourney.
Snrfn1
First of all the ball rolled"toward the picture "what game were you at?
Second the
push in the back was done with the forearm. Third he threw the bat to the
ground yes it was towards the catchers feet but if he was trying to hit
the catcher like you try to portray it, thier is no way he could have
missed him if he wanted to hit him.
Fourth of all, you forgot to mention the Longhorn fans total lack of class
by chanting"OU sucks" repeatedly once the bench clearing brawl started.
Of course what do you expect from a cow worshiper?
Ernest Stokes
They were chanting "OU sux" get it right, you might be more lucid sounding
if you spell sux correctly.
Ernest
Hornless in Seattle