BrianC14

Do you need some snow out your way? :P

You say you've NEVER had an ejection (in FOUR YEARS?!?!) and that you're tired of the bitching and complaining. I would suggest to you that the two are very definitely connected. You may be suffering from, well, I don't what it would be called, but I suspect that coaches have little respect for you BECAUSE you take too much crap from them. Sure, it may have something to do with your age, but if you've been working the same league for four years and haven't had an ejection IN SPITE of the (as you describe) complaining and bitching that's going on, then I believe the problem might start improving when you start putting your foot down and start ejecting some coaches when it becomes warranted.

I was a pitcher.

Opening Day, March 5.

Agreed. When this has come up in the past, I simply (and quietly) tell F2: "Go ahead, tell him." Any catcher with 1/2 a brain is going to be honest about it... because he KNOWS he's got to get his at-bats, too. As for the question "Skip you are not arguing balls / strikes are you?".... I would refrain from asking an open-ended question like this - the coach is certainly not going to say, "Yes, I was arguing balls and strikes". His answer is going to be "No, I wasn't I was just... yada yada yada...." Don't give a coach that wiggle room. YOU as the umpire know what he's up to - I would simply stick to the first statement that Pete made - and what I typically use is: "Skip, we're not going to do that today." If it persists, then the coach has just moved himself to the problem zone, but you haven't forced him there.

Our association teaches 3-man just prior to the District playoffs. It's mandatory attendance for anyone who wants to work post season games. In addition, we have an annual summer clinic here (4 days) where 3-man is taught, and games are all 3-man crews. http://www.milehighumpclinic.com/

We have the same "shall use" state rule here. I let this vary depending on the level of ball being played. If it's JV, we're lucky if we get relatively clean BP balls; if it's 4A or 5A varsity, then we get the goods, and so far, I haven't had a problem with using the stipulated ball.

Yes, I'm that old, too. (Turning it 180 degrees gives the same problem, though; turning 90 is the method we always used). But this would assume then that the makers of $100+ maple bats don't bother to line up the label with the grain? And if they are, then the old adage about the label would still apply for maple bats.

Agreed. In this sitch, I may even inquire of the offending coach: "Will you be able to chart them from the parking lot?" :shrug:

I still wonder if the reason maple bats are shattering isn't due to the players that may be tinkering with them in some way. It's hard to fathom that just turning the thing 90 degrees is going to fix the problem I hadn't heard about the Pittsburgh coach being hit .

ROFL - we Navy guys used that quite often as well. Now I'm going to be chuckling about that (and this thread) the first time I hear some coach yell, "Where was that one?" And who knows? Maybe I'll actually USE it! :(

From his vantage point? Most catchers I've worked with would have 95% of pitches as strikes.... it's in their nature. But as for a response, I'd say your response is OK; I've used something similar, but I also include a gentle (first time) reminder of, "When it's a strike, you'll know it, because I'll call it." That usually ends it right there.

Confucius say, "Boy who throw curve ball at 12, will play first base by 15." :cheers:

Agreed. In that situtation, you could easily give him the hook after the play is completed. If they whine, you simply state that the ball was live. There's no time limit (per rule) on an ejection, anyway. And if OAC means an Offensive Assistant Coach, well, we all know that those guys don't exist in our world anyway, right? So especially if it's an assistant coach, then :cheers:

The Evans' bag is on my Christmas list for '09. :clap:

Bids at $122.. add $20 for S/H and there goes any "deal".

Remember that not all HSMs are created equal. I once tried on a Wilson catcher's helmet (steel cage) in a sporting goods store, and I remember thinking it felt as heavy as the old-style steel helmet worn by GIs. I figured that I'd never want to wear an HSM; until the day I tried on the Shock FX.

I find it interesting that folks who've never tried something can even bother to comment. Ah, well, I digress. I used to use the Wilson Dynalite. I like it alot, and still have it in my kit as a backup. I will limit my comments to my experience in wearing the Wilson Shock FX; I haven't tried any other HSM. Near the end of last summer season, I took delivery of a Wilson Shock FX. I had tried one on briefly during the summer, and was surprised at how light it was, and the vision was incredible. I have used the Shock FX for several games, and I really like it. There is no difference (in my experience and use of it) in how and when you would remove it during a play. As far as making notes on a game card, I have actually used the helmet as a small table, while it's tucked under my left arm. I don't find that to be problematic; just the opposite, in fact, it has helped. I do not wear a hat with mine, though I've read where some guys do, just to "maintain tradition". I tried a hat once, just hanging out at home, but it changed the way it fit, so I go without. I've seen MLB umpires who wear an HSM with no hat; if it's good enough for them at the top level, it's certainly good enough for me at my level. I haven't noticed any difference in the Shock FX being hotter; (one of the last games I worked it was 90 degrees in game 1; in Game 2, I worked the bases with my usual base hat; let's face it - we wear WOOL hats. I felt equally hot under a wool base hat compared with my Shock FX. I also haven't noticed anything "noisy" about wearing the Shock FX. The Shock FX is now my # 1 choice when working the dish. Of course, your mileage may vary. Given the expense of them, I'd recommend trying one before you purchase, if possible. There's my $0.02.

How 'bout them Runnin' Utes!!!! Their offensive show was no surprise to me. I was more worried about their defense - and yet, they held the 'Strollin' Tide' to just 208 total yards! WOO HOO!

And once you get the straps where you want them (ideally, the square pad in front should cover the front of your collarbone) - get some athletic tape and tape the straps where you want them to stay.

:TD: I got the throat protector for my Shock FX HSM, and an added surprise was a jacket that will tuck in. :)

Sweet! Having served on two fast-attack boats, this must have been an especially joyful Christmas for your friend and their families. :TD:

Like I said earlier, I don't bring a ruler out there. I've never - I repeat - NEVER - seen a batter who hit a walk-off HR miss the plate by any margin. Never. Mike: I don't see where anyone is in disagreement with you (unless I've misread someone's post). I've maintained a consistent response here - I don't particularly like the 'neighborhood call' ; but if an umpire uses it, that's his business, not mine. I work mostly 4A and 5A games in spring; I had a fair number of JV games this past season as well. During the summer, I had a fair bit of Connie Mack and Legion A/B games; though on two weekends I (ugh) signed up for a travel-ball tournament for 14 and under. Pretty good ball, in general, but it was a big step down from what I'm accustomed to. Oddly enough, I've been told by some evaluators that I'm probably too lenient, so I certainly wouldn't fit the OOO category. I think that most coaches find me approachable and willing to listen, but I do have my limits, as we all should. (My hot buttons are coaches who keep repeating the same question while expecting a new / better answer, and those coaches that employ "you" in their gripes). The approach I bring to each game is "let the game be played without putting myself into it". Of course the level of ball matters; I find it easier to work the upper level games because it's fairly rare that you have many surprises (the worse thing an umpire can be is 'surprised', right?). But I find it a curious concept: if you're enforcing a "must touch regardless" on a play at 2B for a JV game, why not the same thing at a higher level? Or perhaps should that concept be applied the other way around? Merry Christmas