semper_fi_72

Nope Right now I am booked Monday - Thursday night and all day Saturday and smiling all the way to the BANK. that's a lot of games coming of surgery isn't it Lou?! Don't get too excited and tweak something! Remember you are taking to a Marine. Ohhhhh Raaaaaaaaaaaaaa I have the Bases tonight on a Major game. Tomorrow night Bases on a 50/70 and Junior game. Wednesday Bases on a Senior game. Thursday Bases on Two 50/70 games. Saturday Bases on Senior game then I will sit and score two games. First plate back will be next Tuesday. I have less pain now then I have had when I have been healthy in the past. Will be watching myself though and ensuring I don't over do it. My Doctor agreed with my plan and I have been doing my PT every day. But I am pretty much booked Mon-Thurs and Sat through April and am getting games in May already 43 games through April right now.

Your First problem is the 2 Managers. Obviously they have not read the Rule Book or the Local Rules. The correct response from a umpire, which would be my response. This game is over due to darkness. Check with you Board of Directors for any final determination of the game. Your Second problem is "URGENCY" to complete the inning. Get your players on and off the field in one minute and play ball. Get the kids all the baseball game you can. Every inning should have a sense of Urgency to get played. To many lazy and UN-knowledgeable Managers, Coaches and Umpires when it comes to game management.

Nope Right now I am booked Monday - Thursday night and all day Saturday and smiling all the way to the BANK.

Now that I know it is a Magnet instead of a sticker the next time I see your van, I will be changing the location on your car.

I have never found it difficult to know which rule set I am umpiring under on any given day. Part of my own Pre-Game routine is to think about the rules being used as I drive to the game. Then there is always the important PRE GAME meeting and discussing rules, mechanics, rotatations etc, etc, with your Partner. PPPPPP

I have trained SWMBO to score games for a league on Game Changer using IPad. Today she did two games that she got paid for today, totally independent of any assistance during the game from me. When I got home we discussed any problems or issues she had during the games. She said on the first game, which was a Little League AAA game, that the Plate Umpire was very quiet in calling a Strike and even had trouble telling if it was a Strike by him making any Physical Motion. She said she also could not see his hands when he was giving the counts and because of the wind and his low volume could not be sure she was on the same count as him. I asked her what she did. She said, She went down to the back stop after the top of the 1st inning and spoke with him. She told him, "Blue you need to be louder and more distinctive with your Strike Calls please". I can not tell the difference between a Ball and a Called Strike the way your calling them. She also asked him to get his hands out or up so she could see his fingers when he was giving the count. During other games she has done she has commented, "Boy these guys sure don't do what you do when your on Home Plate. They need to get louder and indicate those strike with more emphasis. She may be a Rookie Score Keeper but apparently she has picked up some umpire knowledge along the way from watching my games. :rose: On April 3rd, I will work a Plate while she is the Score Keeper. Sure hope her evaluation of my mechanics after the game are up to par.

That was a TYPO but that is Absolutely Correct

As many of yo know I herniated a disk in L4-L5 that pressed against the nerves. Surgery was done on Feb 17 and it went really well. The last game I umpired was Jan 28th. My back is doing really well. My post op doctor visit went well and we discussed my plans to return to umpiring. I think some previous came up with this date and wish I could give them a prize. Monday March 17th, I will make my return to Umpiring bu working a Little League Majors game on the bases. From there I am working a week of bases 50/70 Intermediate, Junior and Senior games. Am scheduled to work my first plate on the 25th of March. Already have 39 games schedule through the end of April and more will be added. Even though I have not been umpiring I have been lucky and got some work as a paid score keeper. We are scoring using Game Changer on iPads. It is so easy. I have even trained SWAMBO to score now and she is scoring games. In fact we have date nights scheduled where she scores the game and I have the plate coming up. Now that's what I call a Date Night Just wanted to update everyone and thank all of those who offered prayers and support. PLAY BALL!!!!!!!

Take it from experience wear one!!!!!! As been said, the Ear, Nose Throat Doctor will scare the Hell out of you should you ever get a Fracture Lyrnx and survive to even make it to ER or Urgent Care. Been There, Done That!!!!! Also remember, in MLB you have much better catchers than any where else. Professional Catcher = Professional Protection. The life you gamble with may be your own.

I tested the Shock Doctor for Jim at Ump-Attire. Had no problem with speech. I stopped using it because I like to chew gum.

RIP Mike All your games will now be in cool wind and sunny days. I have it on good authority that God is a Big Baseball Fan and they play great ball. Call them like you see them for eternity brother.

It is for college (D1-D3, juco) and summer college ball. Actually I go through quite a bit. Is it required you provided this? If so, glad I don't and won't ever work those levels. Sounds like something teams should provide.

Your just out right FUGLY

Get well soon Mike. Your in my prayers.

Had my back surgery on Monday. L4_L5 area It took 2 and 1/2 hours. Physical Therapy got me up and walking, with a walker Tuesday Morning. Exceeded Physical Therapy requirements for discharge on Wednesday morning. Discharged from Hospital at Noon on Wednesday with a Walker. When I woke up after surgery, there was just wasn't mush more pain then when I went in, but I sure feel like I have been beaten up in my lower back. So now I walk, using a walker and keep working with my exercises. Follow up with doctor on March 3rd. The hospital bed sucked and made my hips and butt sore. Recovering at home in my nice powered recliner. Using it to sit and sleep in right now as it is easier to get out of. Hoping to be on the field working by March 21st. Thanks for all the advise and support on the previous post. I hope everyone else can have a injury free season.

The Tack It Glue works great. I am now on the 4th year of the only bottle I have ever bought. I never sew a patch on any shirt or jacket. You can also get it from most fabric and Art n Craft stores.

Call has been made. L4-L5 has very little space. Herniated disk pressing against nerves. Surgery will be scheduled ASAP once insurance approves. He was going to change someone else surgery this Friday to get me in. I said get insurance approval first and then lets do it. I am hoping for Monday Feb 24. Says 2-3 days in Hospital About a month to return to full activity. He will be opening up the space between L4-L5 and removing the part of the disk that is pressing against the nerves. Says the only difference I should have between my mobility before and then is that I will no longer have any pain. Hope to return to the field start of April. Will keep you advised. Thanks for the support. Lou

Yoga to cure a spine or disk problem sounds as crazy to me as cant think of anything crazier. No way I could get into these positions even when my back was not hurting. http://www.bikramyoga.com/BikramYoga/TwentySixPostures.php If I tried to do that now I am sure I would get a ride in a ambulance to the hospital.

I'm doing games for Pacific Baseball Umpires in the North San Diego County area. I am confused Your location is San Francisco Bay Area, but your working HS Games in North San Diego County How is that commute working out for you Congratulations

BR is out on the K and can not advance on a D3K because 1B is occupied. Because the Defense did not understand that is, as you can say "Tough S_it". R1 advanced to 3B on their mistake and that is where he is staying.

With the full 2014 season now 3 weeks away, I sit here and wonder when I will even be able to umpire again. Last Monday the simple act of bending over to pick up something off the living room floor, laid me out in severe pain. After deciding I could get into the car with the help of two friends, we saved having to call for a ambulance and my wife got me to Urgent Care. They took x-rays and prescribed 600MG Motrin, 5MG Flexeril and Lidocain Ointment 5%. Wednesday followed up with another Doctor (My regular doctor was out for the week). I convinced her to give me a referal to a Orthopedic Surgeon. She also added Norco 10-325 to my medications for pain. Thursday I was seen by the Orthopedic Surgeon. after examining my back and discussing my pain, he recommended a steroid and numbing shot to my lower back. After giving me a injection in my tail bone to numb the area, I received two injections into my lower back with the longest needles I have ever seen. I am glad I did not see them until after the injections were done. When he finished the injections the doctor said he did not like the pressure it took to inject me ans would be requesting a MRI from the insurance. He said that I may have blown out a disk. My wife did hear a POP when I bent over and just before I started screaming like a little girl. The pain when it occurred was so bad I will admit I cried while I was laying on the floor. So here I am, in pain now for the 5th day. Waiting for the insurance to approve the MRI and facing possible back surgery. I can not even walk around the house with out the aid of a walker, which I Hijacked from my Mother In Law. Can not get into or out of bed without the SWMBOs assistance. Can not get into or out of the car without assistance. And both of those actions cause a increase in pain that we have to bear through, even when all the pain meds are at full strength. My question to all my brothers here is: Has anyone had back surgery and if so how long did it take to recover so you could get back to umpiring. As many of you know, umpiring is how I make my money to supplement my Military Pension. So there is no additional income right now and only had 13 games in January. Luckily one league I work for also pays scorekeepers. I will be looking at getting into that until this problem is resolved. Also need to get to VA and start a claim for Hearing Loss and now my back. I know that is a long process and won't get anything from that for sometime. Any Prayers offered are appreciated.

As I said do what you want. I know I never want another Doctor to tell me how lucky I was to: 1) Be alive. Because no paramedics would have gotten to me fast enough to save me if my lyrnx had collapsed. 2) That I did not need a tracheotomy done. 3) That I did not require surgery. Oh No matter what you do, injures will find you. I hurt my back Monday morning just picking something up off the living room floor in our house Monday. Wife said she heard a loud pop when it happened Went to Urgent care with the assistance of two friends loading me into our car so my wife could drive me there. We really considered calling 911 for a Ambulance. Pain was so bad it brought tears to my eyes. They did XRays and it showed some problems of missing cartilage in a couple of areas. I was told I had degenerative disc disease back in late 80's. Returned for follow up today, since there was no improvement and the meds I was given for pain were not working. Also feeling in legs and feet are not the same. Seeing Ortho Surgeon tomorrow and will be demanding a MRI of my back. Right now I will be happy to be Umpiring come March. In all the times I have had back problems I have never had the pain and trouble I am having now. I am having to use my Mother In Laws walker to get around the house when I have to walk. Gladly accepting all prayers sent my way. I would have hated to think what it would have looked like if my back gave out like that while brushing off HP.

I had the same lack of response from them several years ago. This is nothing new. They need to hire someone to answer questions. Every employee should not be so busy with the school.

I hate 'em, so no, you're not the only one. I never really took one to my throat either Until!!!!! Then one did get me and Fractured MY Larynx!!!!! Don't wear one, that is your choice. Just hope you have the same luck I did and get to live to talk about why you should wear one. I now wear a HSM and a Hockey Style TP.

Consider this: The glue on your pads has degraded so the pads no longer adhere to the shell of the HSM. If the glue has deteriorated does it not make sense the padding has also deteriorated? The pads on the All-Star HSM are removable, washable and replaceable. Being able to "replace the pads" in the long run will save you money, since you will not be replacing a HSM when the pads are no longer good. Just like replacing the pads on your regular mask. So again I ask. Why glue pads back in if they are not going to provide the protection they should or were designed to? Pads do not last forever!!!!