CentralOhioUmp30

Did my first plate of the year here in Central Ohio on Friday. It was only a scrimmage and a pretty nice day (60s and sunny). Worked the bases for my second scrimmage yesterday (30s and windy). A bit over 2 hours before my partner and I called it. We got through five innings. Kids didn't want to be out there, pitchers couldn't grip the ball and batters didn't want to swing. Had another scrimmage canceled tonight. I'll do my final scrimmage (plate) on Thursday and then the regular season starts Saturday.

Has anyone had a conference with coaches after a certain amount of innings/time to just get them to agree to call it a day? I mean if it's not a Varsity, tournament or travel league/conference game (those are the only levels I work) then what's the point of playing a bunch of extras?

I only know of one school in Central Ohio that has lights (and I don't even know if they're used), so high school games for the most part couldn't go longer than 2:30, maybe 3:00 in May. All of my summer weeknight games are played on the same Varsity fields in the area but start an hour later than HS ball (6:00) so it's the same deal time-wise. Only opportunity for me as far as long games are concerned would be bracket games in a tournament that are tied, thus they'd head into extra innings. I don't think I've ever had a game over 3:00 in my life. My plantar faciitis wouldn't allow me to stay on the field for a game as long as the OP's. After 3:00 I'd need to grab a chair and sit for 15 minutes.

Right now I am chomping at the bit to get on the field for my first scrimmage on March 24. However, every year after high school season and mid-way through the summer season I always wish I was doing something else. This year I've dropped my schedule back considerably. Will mainly work four days a week, with the occasionally five days and I'll take one week off in the middle of the season. Hoping that will ease the burnout that I seem to always experience.

That's extremely weak. I specifically bought my plate shoes and field shoes along with casual and running shoes from them because their customer service is so strong. Might have to look elsewhere. I don't want to be in business with companies that don't take care of their customers.

Fallon is just as liberal as Conan (maybe moreso), but I definitely enjoy him more. I won't be watching his show, but he's still better.

#2 was a big selling point for Conan. Unfortunately for NBC the only young people up at 11:35 are doing homework, drinking, or playing Xbox. Fallon will flop, hopefully.

Delicates as in your panties and brassieres?

$57

So tempted to buy the Douglas then sell my Gold. But I told myself in wasn't going to spend any more money on umpire gear this year unless I absolutely had to. ðŸ˜. Decisions, decisions.

If you made this post about two weeks later I'd sell you my 36x32 pair. Really close to comfortably fitting into my 34s.

Great transaction with @boyinr. Prompt response to questions, quick shipping and most important, and great price on a quality pair of leg guards. Thanks.

Life's too short to be open-minded and admit you're wrong.

As in pay or the chest protector?

Is this real life?

Denver. Big.

Cheapest price I could find for the 1000s is $52.24 shipped on Ice Warehouse.

Damn. Was ready to take a chance at $37.91. I wear the 460s, so I don't know how much of an issue I'd have with the ankle protection. I've been hit there once in my eight years of umpiring, so I guess (knock on wood) it's not a huge concern. Mobility with my current SGs has always been a problem. What is the size that you are purchasing these? I'm 5'10, so my guess is I should be going with the 16 inch.

Stretch your back but build your abs. Your abdominal muscles support your back but most miss this tidbit. Yeah, thanks. I'm really putting a lot of eggs in the "lose the weight and your back will thank you" basket. My posture overall is terrible, so I know that doesn't help. Really try to walk and sit with my back straight. May even help my golf game. Haha.

Sent you a PM.

I don't trust myself with $150 or $200+ sunglasses, especially with umpiring, so I am going to purchase the 3LS Kit from Amazon. Figure less than $100 for three lenses is very good.

First game won't be until March 24. First meeting is a week from Monday, so that's really when I get into "umpire prep" mode. I'm 5'10, 185, so I'd like to get down to about 170 by then. Really need to work hard on this. Have had a lot of trouble with my back (I'm only 24), so I need to do something to strengthen it. I'll spend 20-30 minutes each day looking over the rule and case books. So really three things I want to take care of and I have two months to get to it.

My team (Eagles) didn't make it, but I still have a vested interest in the Super Bowl champ. Rooting for the Broncos to win it all. I like Peyton, and John Fox seems like a good guy. Can't stand Brady, mainly because he played his college ball at scUM. Kaepernick is a d-bag and Harbaugh is a baby. I like Russell Wilson, but I would rather hippie liberal Pete Carroll not even get a chance to see the Lombardi Trophy, let alone actually hold it. Would very much like to see the Broncos vs. 49ers in the Super Bowl. Would be great to see the Broncos win the game as time expires so that Harbaugh and Kaepernick would suffer another soul crushing defeat in the SB. Now that I've stated what I want to happen plan on the Patriots beating the Seahawks with that smug Tom Brady holding up another Super Bowl MVP trophy.

Thanks for everyone's opinion. I didn't know this was such a sensitive subject because I have seen it done many times before and I just didn't think anything of it. The situation is all of the championship games will be held at ONE location on the final day. Back-to-back-to-back. Many of the guys working for me are from a completely different side of town from the site of the championship games. For that reason, many do not want to travel what can amount to more than 2 hours round trip for one game on a Sunday afternoon in June. I empathize with that. If that was my option I'd probably choose to play golf that day. Now I could use lesser guys who are closer to that particular field so that I don't work, but I don't really understand the logic of that.

Agree with a lot of the first two paragraphs. Not the first sentence. I disagree with the latter paragraph, but that's fine.