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there is a reason they make plate pants and base pants--to be worn on the base and plate-- the combos look to much like plate pants to wear on the bases(too wide in the legs) On an even more important subject--ONLY ONE PAR OF PANTS FOR THE SEASON??????? Yep. What of it? What of it???? how many games do you work ??? after a double are you putting on a dirty pair of pants???--after you take that chip off your shoulder have some class and clean up your act and look the part. Easy now, everybody. In some locations, just having a guy show up in gray pants is a great thing. Other places have other standards, and other folks have different abliities. We should preface our remarks with, "If you're able......", or "If you have the choice....". None of us here started out with 7 pair of poly-wools, 2 WVs, 18 shirts, three jackets and a plate coat.

I'd advise new guys to be open to suggestion and keep an open mind about improving through your umpiring career. Virtually every paretner you work with will have some tidbit of info for you. Listen to it, consider the source, and file that info away for later. If it's something which you believe has merit give it a try work it into your umpiring repertoire if you like it or even file it away as it may be more useful or have greater meaning somewhere down the road. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Thats the way we learn so ask questions. You can not umpire on the safe side and worried about not screwing up because you will screw up. Take it as a learning experience and move on. Some of your worst calls, or incorrect rulings will be your greatest learning tools you will ever have. When you get to the point where you have gained knowledge and experience pass it on to the next class of umpires. Use what you have learned to help bring along up and coming umpires. Finally, when you get to the point where you aren't learning any more or are not enjoying calling games, hang it up. Umpiring is fun and if it gets to the point where you don't enjoy it your not doing yourself, your fellow umpires or the game any favors by continuing to umpire.