SWMBO.....

[Aging_Arbiter]

Since reading Matt's dealings with dear ol' Mom at the field, I thought I'd open a topic for the Wife's. I saw some of y'all never have her at the field, but I must say, my wife is my umpire "groupie".  We've been together 7 years, and she knew what she was getting into come baseball season.  She'll even check guys on the field if I'm not working a game and she's there, to see if they need waster after the 3rd inning. The first year, all I ever heard was, why did you do this?  Why did you do that?  Why couldn't...... blah blah blah.

 

Well, the following January, my darling wife was PERSONALLY invited to ride along to a local LL umpire clinic that I was helping with.  Yes, she sat through all four, three hour sessions.  I didn't make her take the test though.  Now, she makes sure that everything is pressed after washing and has even had me hand back my trousers (before putting them on) so she could "hit that crease one more time" because a remark was made about "looking professional".

 

Fast forward a few years.  LL 9-10 district game.  She just happen to pick the stands closest to the parking lot, to sit in.  I was on the bases and had a couple of bang bang plays.  I can hear the stands rumbling, but pay them no mind.  After the game, my partner and I are going over post-game & changing (my wife standing near by texting or googling, who knows?) and this car pulls up.  The window goes down and there are two moms in the car.  The driver asks "We play again tomorrow, can your wife come back??"  NOW I'm lost. Those two & my wife chuckle and they drive away.  Come to find out, after some of the rumbling in the bleachers, APPARENTLY, my wife asked two of the dad's if they were interested in becoming umpires so they could actually learn the rules. She told them that she knew one of the instructors and offered to get them applications and background forms.  Needless to say, this shut them up real quick and the Mom's got to enjoy the rest of the game.

[StrikeToWin]

My wife actually enjoys coming out to watch my games and so do my kids.  I have told them all to never worry about anything that is said about me or my umpiring (or lack thereof) skills because I don't even listen to the fans.  I've always told them that no matter what my call is on a close play, half of the stands aren't going to like it and half of the stands are going to think I'm the greatest thing since sliced bread.  So back to the OP, I have my own umpire "groupies".

[mstaylor]

One of the guys in my group, his wife comes to every game she can. She makes sure he is dressed correctly before she lets him on the field. 

[Aging_Arbiter]

unfortunately, SWMBO likes to give me my partners post game on the ride home. TRUE STORY:

 

SWMBO:  Did you tell him he needs to be louder and sell those close calls?

Me:  Yes dear, I mentioned his emphasis on closer calls.

SWMBO:  Did you talk to him about his head height and getting into the slot more?

Me:  Yes dear, his chin was below the top of the catchers helmet, I saw it.  Yes dear, no more hiding behind the catcher.

SWMBO:  Did you tell him to rinse out that pathetic looking sweat stained hat of his? 

Me:  Yes dear, I mentioned that perception is reality and lack of professionalism will cause more headaches.

SWMBO:  Did you tell him that this is LL and the strike zone is not the same as HS?

Me:  Yes dear, I told him that if he opened it up some, we'd get home & to the fridge alot faster.

SWMBO:  Did you tell him to let his equipment work FOR him, and not to bend over so much at the waist?

Me:  Yes dear, I let him know that he is putting undue strain on his back & neck.

SWMBO:  Is there anything I missed?

Me:  No dear, I think you got 'em all.

[Aging_Arbiter]

and the saga continues...................

 

Today during lunch, I was perusing the UA site and decided it was time for a new mask.  So I decided on the new Diamond, ultra light-weight.  While there, I was also reading about the Team Wendy pads.  So after sending both links to my financial advisor (SWMBO), I'm guessing she ordered them, because this is what I got back.

 

"Happy Father'sDay ....... now please remember all that i have purchased for you when i want you to do something with me or take me somewhere since i haven't even bought myself any new clothes."

 

 

Geeez, now I'm gonna have to go watch some chick flick. 

[Thunderheads]

SWMBO very very rarely sees me umpire, which is fine because she supports what I do ....and for me, that's all that matters!  Heck, sometimes she'll say [this happened a few weeks ago ...caveat: MHSAA requires Navy jerseys] .........  " is that the only navy umpire shirt you have, and shouldn't you have 2 so you dont' have to wash clothes?"

 

She's so cute!

[mjr_2013]

Haha, love it!!

[semper_fi_72]

SWMBO and my daughters were at my game last night that I wrote a post on.

I made it to the car before she made it to the family van parked next to me.

Was talking with partner when she walked up.

First thing she says is "Hey Blue where is your strike zone" whit a big smile on her face.

I said what?

She said so A Hole Farther didn't like my strike zone when I rang up his kid.....lol

[BuckeyeMike]

I can't stand it.........WHAT IS SWMBO?  I'ver wracked my brain and can't figure it out. 

[BigUmpire]

She Who Must Be Obeyed

[Aging_Arbiter]

SWMBO and my daughters were at my game last night that I wrote a post on.

I made it to the car before she made it to the family van parked next to me.

Was talking with partner when she walked up.

First thing she says is "Hey Blue where is your strike zone" whit a big smile on her face.

I said what?

She said so A Hole Farther didn't like my strike zone when I rang up his kid.....lol

Semper Fi - That question coming from a coach has a different response.  "For your team, or theirs"? 

[sdix00]

I can't stand it.........WHAT IS SWMBO?  I'ver wracked my brain and can't figure it out. 

 

e.g.

 

Before clicking the [submit Order] button on Ump-attire.com:

 

 

[Aging_Arbiter]

Ahhhh yes.....................THE LOOK

[JHSump]

@Aging_Arbiter  

 

Semi-serious question.  Has your wife considered becoming an umpire?  Seems like she is very interested in the whole thing, and has learned a great deal about it.  This could open up a whole new dimension for her, and you.

 

Or, when video replay is introduced at our levels (hahaha) she can be the partner in the video booth!

[Aging_Arbiter]

I talked to her about this in the past.  I went on a serious recruiting spree my last year as our local LL UIC.  I tried to get as many moms to sign up as I could.  No takers.  My thought process was that once they are trained up and on the field in uniform, what coach and/or player in their right mind would argue with THAT umpire when they got "THE LOOK"??

[JHSump]

I talked to her about this in the past.  I went on a serious recruiting spree my last year as our local LL UIC.  I tried to get as many moms to sign up as I could.  No takers.  My thought process was that once they are trained up and on the field in uniform, what coach and/or player in their right mind would argue with THAT umpire when they got "THE LOOK"??

Hahahahaha!  New not-so-secret weapon!

[Aging_Arbiter]

Not to drag this out, but, I can't help myself.  She just keeps adding fuel to the fire.  For those of you who have seen Gabriel Iglesias (I'm not Fat, I'm Fluffy), he makes a remark in one of his routines that he & his girl rarely fight.  Only because she knows it will end up on stage, in his act.  But I digress.

 

Before last night's game, I tell my partner about the stickers that I had ordered from UE's UIC.  My partner never heard of the site, so I start talking to him about it.  I said "Hell, SWMBO even has her own topic!"  As I get "the look" she says, "excuse me"?  So my partner pulled it up on his i-phone.  I read her the initial part about offering to hand out applications, and she's laughing.  I then went on to read about the "post game".  By now, she is leaning onto the truck, laughing and shaking her head, all the while, I'm reading and follow up with, "remember that dear"?  I get a nod as she's laughing, and read on.

 

Game called in 5th due to lightning.  I make my way to the VFW for dinner.  SWMBO had left game site early in order to get us seats.  I get there and over a pre-dinner drink, she starts to give me the post game for my partner.  I just look have her and give her the "really?" expression, and she busts out laughing....."I'm doing it again huh"?

 

Gotta love her!

[Pete Peterson Sr]

My wife does not come to watch me work. She has seen some of my games in the past, when I would be working park ball in the same park where our son was playing. She has a tendency to become unhappy with people in the stands who gripe about umpires, even going so far once as to having asked a woman "do you even have any idea how much work these guys put into this" ? I wasn't even on the field at the time.....