C'MON_Blue55

Trout, I promised the same thing to my mom. Unfortunately she lost the fight. August 1st was six months since she past. I have a pink shirt and get crazy looks down here in Louisiana until they find out why. I have not been able to wear it yet though. I personally wouldnt wear the ball bags with the pink shirt with black trim. I will say that I think it could be pulled off with the black with pink trim. Btw, where is that shirt sold at?

Slo, that is why I stopped calling a lot of the travel ball stuff. Starting calling with guys that we're caring more about baseball than the game, which gave me a bad taste.

The all black ones in my opinion are the way to go. Will be hard to clean, but the comfort will pay off. I love my personal pair and will get both the plates and bases for next season.

I have found that statement to be true.

Had a guy from another association introduced himself as Joe Dirt. Trust me, he even looked the part. Mullett and all! Passed out on me in top of 2nd. Turns out he is a huge fan of Natural Lights!

Guys I noticed something that could be essential to all of our needs. Some parks do not keep up with the bathrooms, so I have Toliet Paper in my supply bucket for when nature calls!

It's a different look by all means mstaylor.

Boys I must say that I had a triple play turned today. It was huge at the time it occurred. Kid walked the bases loaded and the next batter, with a 3-0 count, hits a line shot directly at SS. He kindly stepped on 2nd and fired it over to 1st. I have seen it happen as a spectator, but never been on the field when one happened. I will admit it got me fired up. I don't know why though? It was either the play or the end of an inning that was going to be long. 14 year old all stars here in Louisiana at the district tourney. The team that turned it is the team that won the 13 year old world series in Dixie last year. Just wanna know about some of y'alls triple plays.

I have that set up. I have the diamond silver frame with the Wilson wrap arounds. I have it on in my profile pic.

Seems like we have our own little OBS situation between two umpires!

I use them all the time for my shirts. Just placed a big order with them. I also use Jim @ ump-attire.com. Those two companies are stellar in our field of work. I will have to try out Terry fro Offical Call next season on some of the smaller things I need.

Where would be a good place to get the mizuno throat guard?

Way to turn the subject into a laughing matter Jax! I don't carry one in the field, but I have trouble sometime with the count. Me and my partners always signal to each other before a batter steps into the box after each play to make sure we are on the same page. When asked in the field the count, I show them my hands, which are empty and usually say "concentrating on balks, pick offs, steals, outs, and plays. But my partners usually show count every other pitch or so it doesn't get brought up much!

I tend to recoil at suggestion that "society is going to hell these days." Kids have always been pissed when they view a call as bad, it's just a matter of whether they feel they are empowered to say something. Isn't the above story exactly how it should be? Kid is pissed (we'd rather not have it but it's a reality) but holds his tongue and coach puts him in his place. Sounds OK to me. I get more upset when a coach isn't smart enough to see the forrest from the trees in these situations. I've averaged one EJ a year for my first 4 years. I don't have any through 46 games this year, but should've dumped one this weekend but left him in because we were an out from ending the game and the kid didn't know any better. I realize I probably just made a problem for another ump in the future and am kicking myself now. That said, I've had a lot fewer "could have/should haves" this year because I've become a better game manager. Should have stated that this was an example that took place that was handled correctly by the coach. My bad guys for getting crossed up! I just see a trend here locally and even state wide. Several high schools had some black eyes this year with unsportmanship-like behavior in multiple sports. But you are right there are times that it is ecpected for a kid to blow-up and so emotion. That is what I hope happens with you play with heart and passion. I just hope the future of sports realize that there is a time and way to show these emotions!

Talked to the rep from Honigs-Southwest and he said that all Reebok Zig umpire shoes will be in the mids. And that an ALL BLACK will be made avaible in both pair. Looks like I know what will be my first new purchase at the beginning of next season. Just because I talked to them does not mean I will use them for this purchase, Jim! Thats if you carry the all black plate and field!

Where did you call at? I am fimilar with some South Louisiana fields.

Well look at society in general today. When something happens to you it is always someone else's wrong doing. Accountability is slowly making it's way out of society. This is magnified in today's professional sports. All the whining about owners, team mates, other players, and officals are a common occurance in interviews. It is hardly heard that the athlete stands up and says "I AM THE REASON WE LOST THIS GAME!" when they are at fault, instead of blaming others. Example: I called a kid out at third base on a banger trying to push a stand up double into a triple. He was told to hold up on second before reaching second base, but he persisted to ignore the coaches' commands.As he was getting up, I could see his digust towards me. Surprisingly, the coach told him, " You cost us a run (which would've won the game for the team). It is not the umpire's fault that you ran through the hold up signal and wanted to be selfish. It is only your fault and that is why you got tagged out, not the umpires!"

ohhh no this was an every game attire for him..Coaches are only required to wear shorts and team shirts in this age group. He wore this attire during the whole season from what the local umpires told me. Had stop watch, spray chart, and all other stuff just for 9/10 Dixie Youth!!! And no this guy is not a coach at the higher levels and was not a player in the majors at one point.

gotta love La! I have called there 2x, and would GLADLY go back. My carpool was waiting for a field to finish for the night. I went to the concession stand for a drink. BEER! THERE WAS BEER! HAHA!!! I got offered a beer at a local high school mulitple times by parents and coaches. The crazy thing is it didn't matter if they won or loss. I am glad I did not take their offer up or all respect for me would have been out the window from that point on!

I am talking about on the field and at the level of 14 and younger baseball. I could care less about the dugout. That is the babysitters job to maintain control of them there, unless like you said directed to me, another umpire, or directly to an opposing player.

A simple "I got him" would be enough out of the PU or a signal before the batter gets into the box to make sure both of you are on the same page. Communication is key!!!!

I have even told the catcher that I will allow a little glove movement to frame an inside pitch that will prevent me from getting blocked out. Meaning he can set up middle in instead of directly inside for me to get a good look. Not just for the zone, but for foul ball off of batter, out or in the box or any interference. For the most part the catcher understands after he blocks me out the first time on the inside corner pitch with a batter that likes to crowd the plate and I miss the pitch. Sometimes you got to do what you got to do!

I'm not that hungry. Lol Fine! I'll send you $20 for shipping as well... $400 and 20#s of boudin sounds better. We could throw in a gator hunt, so you can be like Troy Landry or Junior! LOL CHOOT 'EM!!!!

Has anyone noticed the amount of player ejections going up? I have had four this year. Swearing, throwing helmet, and etc...I got my butt tore up if I did anything close to those actions. I have had maybe one or two in the past couple of years. I am not talking about MC, but behavior displayed by the players.

I was at a "pre-allstar" tourney this past weekend at the local Dixie Baseball complex and I noticed something that made me wonder why some people coach. I was not calling this game, but I noticed on the field down the hill from the field I was on that a coach was wearing baseball pants, baseball socks, and a tight shirt. This was in an age group that does not require the coaches to dress in baseball attire, unlike Dixie Boys and up. It was 9/10 year old baseball in a tournament that means nothing more than practice. With asking around the consensus was that the coach is a jerk to the umpires and one of those coaches who think he is bigger than the players and the game. I was wondering if any of you have had an experience with a coach that was "Bigger than the game"