Cajuncubsfan

I saw a post somewhere talking about ironing your umpire hats to get a flat look on the front. I would post a picture but for some reason I cant. Is this a standard look or something new? None of the guys I have umpired with or seen around here do this so I thought I would ask y'all.

I have poured water on my head and then let it run down and it does help.

Balk

Sorry, i missed that post I guess. Can't he get in trouble for that?

I agree with this comment

I have looked all over the web for these shoes. Anyone found them?

I'm going to start freezing my water and gateraid. I'm also going to try to take the second game in double headers. The changing cloths idea is good to. I find that the wet hat can help if you take it off beteen innings and wave it around on the sideline to cool it off. The fact of the matter is it's hot hot hot and I will just have to deal with it the best I can. Thanks for the input guys.

You guys are something else....

I get the most crying from the dugout about my outside pitch calling. I use the catcher and how he catches it. One thing I use is the catchers knees and shoulders, did he reach for it or did he have to roll the glove. I set up in the slot in a box stance and that's the part of the strike zone I have most trouble with. I was told once you establish the out side zone for the pitcher stick with it the rest of the game or atleast until the next pitcher comes up.

Working from the knee will wear you out faster. Up and down all the time on top of the fact it looks lazy.

From what he is saying it doesn't sound like he has come set yet. If he is set it's a balk, if he is not set it's nothing. The only balk I will call when the pitcher is not set is dropping the ball when ingaged with the rubber.

Second inning, batter almost hits a home run, center fielder "I got a catch!!!" batter out. I'm walking back to get behind home. Home team coach says "Blue that isan illegal bat!!!", I call time and my partner and I go check it out. It's just one of those composite bats. I walk over to the hem coach and tell him it's just a composite bat and there not ilegal until next year. He starts fussing, I turn to his bats and pick out two and say "Coach what are these?" he tells me they dont use them. Well I know thats not true because I saw two batters use them in the inning before. It was funny, I have never had anyone ask me to check a bat. I did tell him that this was Dixie baseball and there legal until Jan 1 2011.

The only time I have had to umpire by my self was two innings of 9-10 and 1 inning of 13-14. Both times o had the field and my partner got stuck in another game. So to clarify, I didn't do the hole games and there was a reason for it. Until now I had wondered what I would do if I had to call solo so I guess I got my answer. So there was a reason for being told to call from there.

I'm going to get beat up over this but. Behind the Mound..... That's what I was taught and it works fine for me. I have not done this at any age over 13-14.

I would have called it a foul call But like a fan at one of my games it's easy for me to say sitting here in my office watching a replay. LOL

Yesterday I had a double header in Dixie Majors (HS summer ball) I chose to take the plate for the first game because I just knew that one school was much better than the other. Well that didn't work out to well. We had a 45 min second inning. Most of the time this isn't a big deal but it was 101 in the shad yesterday and you know how much shad we have on the ball field right. So in working in about 105 or hotter. I'm a heavy guy and I normally don't have to bad of a problem with the heat. Ok to my point, I have a Champro Pro-plus (#cp134) chest protector with arm extensions. I do love it but it's very hot. It needs to be my winter gear. I need to get a summer chest protector. I was looking at the Davichest. I know a guy that has one and it is thin and light. Is there anything y'all would recomend? I came very close to passing out and it scared me. I even tossed my cap to the side to try to cool off. It affected me the rest of the night. I missed calls on the bases that I knew I got wrong. They were close calls and I didn't get to much heat.

I'm a second year umpire from NW Louisiana. Working on getting myself ready for High School ball next year. I'm a two year state certified Dixie Major Umpire. I truly love it and can't wait for the next trip to the field everytime I leave a game. God Speed

Ok, I need some help MLU = ? CP = ?

Ok, to clarify my point. I don't make an obvious point. It more like pointing down and in the direction of the bag. The only time I point directly at the bag is if I have multiple runners (double play) or a close play and I point and say "He got under, Safe!!!" or "He got him, your out.... Ect. On close plays I delay and say my reason and make my call. I also vocalize close calls loudly to make it clear. This helps with having to explain my call to a coach. I had a close play at third Monday right infront of the defences dugout. I said "he got under, safe". The head coach wanted to say something but he already knew why I called him safe. Back to the pointing, I only point if the ball comes out or it's close and the runner is out. I will stop my little point when they miss a base. No one told me to do that. My Bonus answer: Only one, you can only make one appeal on a play. That's my answer, right or wrong

Ok, I'm going to show my newness. What is the sign for not touching the plate. I point at the base and continue to watch the runner and wait for someone to ask for an appeal. Ok, unload!!! I just have never asked and as a player I never even knew there was a sign for a missed base.

I have buddy that play in those leagues and they keep asking me when I'm going to come and umpire there games and I told them when I'm ready. I tell them when I have my skills where I want them that I would come umpire there old butts.

I like the idea of having the catcher go out and tell him to cool it. I was a catcher and had to do that once. A catcher knows his pitchers. Most of the time I have buddy's up with both catchers. If he goes out there and the pitcher kept it up I would do as they said. Call time, step infront of the plate and toss him on his tale. If you let them walk in you they will. I had a Dixie Majors (High School Summer ball) game Monday night and the team up to bat was our local team where I live and I know most of the kids. There was a walk and the coach had gave him the sign to take second because there was a player on third and they were down by two with one out. I was in the field and the plate umpire called time before he got to first and he didn't know it. When he got to second I made him go back and he smarted off twice to me. I told him " You need to be seen and not heard!" he want back to first. I saw him the next day and stopped him and told him who I was and that I gave him a break. The things he said could have got him tossed. I told him to let his coach smart off to the coaches because that's his job. He understood and I told him it was a mistake on our part and those things happen sometimes. Rambling on I guess, sorry...

I think this is an area thing. Black or tan shirt is the only time we wear a black hat. Otherwise it's a blue hat. Below the wast never changes here. But what do I know, I'm just a Dum Coonass that types foul tip when he means foul ball. ;-)

Look cool but still not my thing. http://www.anacondasports.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10201&categoryId=170208&langId=-1&sportId=49301&productId=130083&af_id=38

GOOD CALL!!! If you watch he tags the heal of the runner with the glove on the first try. Very close play. He got it right!