Stan W.

When I take a game from my assigner, I've already made the judgment that the time/distance factor is within my acceptable limits. An "in town" location change due to field conditions as described in the OP would not ruffle my feathers.... I'm there... I came to do a game... As the TD just be as up front with the crew as you can.........."across town" or "a few miles away" "nearby" are subjective to the locals idea of "nearby". But for 10 miles?...........my car gets 25 MPG.......I'd be embarrassed to ask for $1.50 in gas money.....

After this type of call, am always interested in asking that "umpire" what rule he used to justify an out call in that instance...............all the answers usually fall in the range of "making stuff up"......... shameful...........

I think we all get to this point on our careers ...often more than once.........A few years back I found myself in the same situation, I was once noted for umpiring any game played with a white ball and red stitches.............. I had become fed up with bad baseball, poorly coached and dominated by over the top parents..........Like many, my real job does not allow me to make many HS games, but I get by with the few night games under the lights and a number of JV Saturday games.....The real job has been good to me so that my financial rewards from umpiring baseball were never needed to pay bills. I am now making less money per year, but enjoying it more.... I came to the conclusion that I was going to dedicate my baseball efforts to doing "better baseball", Not just "any baseball".........again in my area that is a schedule limiter for certain times of the year.........but the benefits are worth it. I am more energized when I get to the ball park, I am more tolerant of the negative aspects of the game, I am doing a better job between the white lines.........

My goal for the past decade was to do "better" baseball and not just "more" baseball. There was a time prior to that when I umpired any game that was played with a white ball and red stitches......Pretty much I've been able to do that. I was attending a Sunday double-header as a fan when I noticed the crew contained Umpires that I knew well. Both umpires were senior citizens and had retired years ago from any competitive baseball. I spoke to them pre-game asked them how they were doing. It was great to see them. I learned a great deal from them back in my early HS career. Both of them said they were "working their way down the ladder and out"....meaning umpiring younger baseball on smaller fields.......I wished them good luck. I then witnessed the saddest 2 games I can remember. Age and infirmity had robbed these two war horses of everything. And the coaches and parents were brutal to them. Between games another umpire from my association and I went to them to check up on them. We asked them if we could do a little free 4 man with them for old times sake.....NO, NO, they had it...... piece of cake..... We left them with a couple extra water bottles and went back to the stands. My association mate said " those guys used to be really good umpires" Right then I knew when I was going to call it quits......I will not "work my way down and out"..........

that thing was run over by a car...........

What did the scorekeeper in the actual game call it?....................if its a rec game, the offensive team probably called it a hit and the defensive team probably called it a FC..........The reason most of us ignore the scorekeeping rules is that they are not our call and subject to the quality and bias of the scorekeeper. I've read newspaper accounts of games in which I was the HP umpire, that did not even remotely resemble the game I umpired. FC's and errors called hits, wins and saves given to non-situation entitled participants.........and on and on.....

Welcome and congratulations to an outstanding first year!

In yesterday's PLWS play, the PA Catcher caught the throw, went to his knees then dove out to attempt a tag on the legs of the TX runner. The TX runner leapt over the tag and landed squarely on home plate. But there was no contact with the catcher's helmet. It is viewable on ESPN as last nights #1 play and PLWS.com....

Are you asking about the PA / TX game ending play at the PLWS yesterday?

Take an actual picture...........good tattooists can make a template out of a photo...........

If I had to take a guess I'm thinking its failure of the rivets. I have this CP and I love it. @MadMax has it down pat with his description. After using it for a year, I have experienced 2 rivet failures both to impact events. But @Madmax provided the fix for that..........50 cent Chicago fasteners......the harness is needing of a Razzer or System7 upgrade...... But even so, Im pleased with it.

jax rolo has the ball bags...............or did.....

I'm still registered at officiating.com. I stop in and read some now and then.......funny thing is I remember that post..........2006.......wow......

there is also the Hydro dipping method that might be even better..........

I think this is a great idea. and probably more durable vs spray paint..........

I love these threads!........in one of them I saw the use of the "wrap" like is used on automotive applications.........I've got to say that the carbon fiber wrap makes an impressive appearance........

I don't think I've ever seen a Navy AA CP ............could it have been owner modified?

There are some NIKE prototypes out there, But those aren't them............. If you ever come across a guy named Tim Christensen (Tim C.) ask him...................he may still have a pair.

In my summer association an Umpire Crew swap from a 9U game to a Varsity Summer League Championship would have been a disaster............

I think Honigs make the best leather pads............I went back to my Honigs leather pads after I tried TW on both my masks.

And teach all the players to run unless they hear the umpire call foul...............

Umpires needed to Fix it............and take the deserved crap for neither of them noticing......................nothing of real consequence has occurred, return R2 back to plate with one strike.............. If there is a pitch count, you'd probably have to erase those pitches from the log.......to return to square for everyone...........

Sporting the "Jim Evans" endorsed leather mask pads.............

X I disagree with the need/usefulness/appropriateness of the poll IMHO.....

'Ol Balkin Bob Davidson.................."need a run?, balk it in!" At one time I believe +POS had Bob Davidson, Joe Brinkman and Jim Evans endorse their gear..................