BrianC14

Well, thanks very much for the kind words. I suppose the other thing about D-1 games (for someone in my location) is that a great deal of travel would be required, as there are very few D-1 schools here that have baseball. But, we'll see - I plan to take it as far as I can.

Can you tell me where a J/R manual can be obtained? (Or at least it's official title)? Thanks.

I'm pretty sure that all D-1 games require 3-man; even D-II games in my area are 3-man.

Well, thanks to Big Dog up there ^^^, I have already seen the 2009 FED rules changes, which he linked in another thread on this forum, so I'm working those into my 2008 book. Starting in September I'll enroll in a fitness class at our neighborhood rec. center (I could stand to lose 10-15 pounds, which would get me down to 165-170 where I belong). This off-season I will attend either Jim Evan's Desert Classic in October/November, or the Arizona Umpiring Academy in January. (By the way, any tips/recommendations on either of those clinics would be appreciated).

I'm also a plate hog, however, I always contact my partners for the upcoming week and discuss it with them well in advance of each game. I always ask the question in this way: "Do you want me to do the plate?" I usually get 'sure, you go ahead' answer, so I'm happy with that. If I sense any hesitation on their part in response to the question, I simply state that I'd prefer to work the dish. If it's a double header, I typically want to do the first plate, then I'll take the field. My association is big on working the dish, and grabbing as many as I can behind the plate has served me well in evals, upper division conference games, state playoffs assignments, etc.

NCAA DII is my goal; I'd be happy getting games at that level. That's about it - I can't imagine getting beyond that level, due to my age (50) and I'd be pushing 60 in order to get the experience necessary to go beyond DII.

Lifetime Packer fan here (since the days of Starr, Hornung, Taylor, Nitschke, Kramer, Thurston, Gregg, Davis, et. al.) My message to Brett: Thanks for the incredible games, and the great memories. But you should have stayed retired, and you embarrassed yourself by forcing your weak hand. Goodbye, Brett.

Don't buy a mesh hat. Please, just don't.

New Balance 450, no question in my mind. My feet are still thanking for me this past season. :rolleyes: