TheGeneral

I was brand new, in a very sandlot minors tournament. 8-10 year old kid pitch. The director said the catchers cannot be distracting in any way, but left all kinds of grey area on how to handle situations (and not only in this area, mind you). So, a green ump, a redneck tournament, and hazy rules. Wonderful. First game, catcher is chirping. I tell him to "knock it off" once the pitcher is in motion, but after a couple silent pitches, he creeps back in. I give him another warning (I know, I know, I was new) and he shuts up... for another batter or so. Kid yells "swing!" as the pitch comes in, and I respond with a firm "dead ball, catcher's interference!" and point the batter towards first. Not a single person argued, complained, and didn't have a problem with this the rest of the tournament.

Thats funny bam..i dont have any but my question would be - why have one if its NOT visible?? Tattoos are for the person who got them, not everybody else. I know a lot of people who have them hidden away because they are special to them and that's all that matters to them. Also, the Army is about to change the regulations to no tattoos visible in the summer PT uniform. No more calf or bicep ink allowed! I had heard that, so what happens to the current guys? If you're already in, you'll get grandfathered. But if you're trying to enlist, you'll have to get them removed. Last week we had to send names up of people who had ink in unregulated places to be okay'd, but a gal with a neck tattoo was told she might have to remove it (even though she's already in) because it's exposed in every uniform.

Thats funny bam..i dont have any but my question would be - why have one if its NOT visible?? Tattoos are for the person who got them, not everybody else. I know a lot of people who have them hidden away because they are special to them and that's all that matters to them. Also, the Army is about to change the regulations to no tattoos visible in the summer PT uniform. No more calf or bicep ink allowed!

Wow, now I feel like we're being robbed. The average pay around here is 25 bucks (for league/tournaments, not school sanctioned). This includes the high school rec league.

Where at in Central Ohio? Because in Washington Court House, every kid in all of Fayette County plays LL and the Legion sponsored was always a major production (until recent internal problems).

Batter asks for time. PU calls time, steps out and takes his mask off (using the cage). Then he looks at the batter, puts his mask back on and then steps back in to put the ball in play. Of course, his first strike call lasted about 10 seconds. WHY WHY WHY are they giving this guy another plate? I asked the same question of a former WS umpire. He said they all get two, evidently somebody told him to back it down, it was much less noisy after the second inning. ESPN changed his mic level, and adjusted it as soon as he began to vocalize. When there is a lull in the commentating, or if they want to give the home audience a taste of the atmosphere, they turn different volumes up and down to fill dead noise/build the sensation. They also monitor annoyances and minimize that picking up and broadcasting. So he was his same old flamboyant self, some poor chap just had to keep flipping his volume every pitch.

The PU for Delaware/California is gonna need Tommy John's after the abuse he's giving that right elbow.

I think it is Parsons Officials Supplies.piece of sheet Bingo.

I've had a handful of kids trip and fall into a base and never call them out in this case (much to the dismay of the opposing team). And don't forget, they ARE allowed to dive BACK to a base... which is another thing opposing coaches seem to not understand.

You know what "POS" stands for, right?

But have you done a combine demolition derby? I have done two. Lawn mower racing, check. Welcome to the site. As much as I have wanted to, it hasn't been in the cards. I have yet to have the cash to throw down on a combine to destroy. However a local dealer always stocks up for this event, so hopefully I will soon!

I have one of the older +POS cold weather jackets and it's great. I could only imagine that the newer edition would be even better.

Blue: My cousin and sisters used to play there and I got to see the fridge sized man attempt to make all calls without moving from his perch behind the plate. And trust me, you didn't want to see what all he had to offer under the "shirt." Now I did work with a gal like you mention, and that I didn't complain much about.. Thanks! And good to know, I'll keep that in mind. Oh, and carry on, soldier. Carry on.

Snipe run rampant where I'm from. Fun side note, I just spent the last month at Fort Lewis with cadets from universities all over the US (including one dude from Puerto Rico), and only a handful of them had even heard of a snipe. During our time in the field, we may or may not of sent a handful of them go on snipe hunts during their fire guard shifts...

Aha. Better than the snow fence that I've seen used before!

BigUmp: Is there another name for the fencing that is behind home?

blue23ll: Even better, they had a mower derby! For all you classy individuals that don't get out in these areas, it's the same as a crash-up/demolition derby, except with your lawn mower.

Is that a thing? Because if so, I may have to check it out 'cause I do love me some Waffle House! It actually was Jeffersonville, Ohio. A small village that one of the "best" umpire, as they claimed, wore flip flops, gym shorts, a deep cutoff t-shirt (which for girls softball, I found highly inappropriate), and he called... more than once... a foul ball that ricocheted off the backstop and was caught an out. Intelligent bunch.

Howdy Folks! I have been in the business for 8 years now, and seeing that I'm only 21, I'd say that's a pretty decent time. Starting in a league that I knew more rules than the spectators had teeth, I have moved from coach pitch tournaments to some high school varsity and travel ball. My whole career started by taking risks, whether it being lying to my first assigner saying I have umpired before and saying my parents approved of me working for the local Little League (I was 13, had never umpired in my life, and my dad specifically told me no), or being sent (by the same assigner) with his OHSAA shirt and hat to do varsity softball... when I was still a junior in high school. But these stretches of the truth got my name in the business, my foot in the door, and most importantly: much more experience than most folks my age. Currently, I am the top umpire for our local girls softball association, and spend most of my time working their high school league. When possible, I volunteer for our Special Olympics slow-pitch team. I'm a student at Ohio University and my last name is Patton, and I am currently working towards commissioning in the U.S. Army, hence why everyone calls me "The General." Hopefully I can provide a fresh perspective here as well as learn more from y'all older folks!

The past couple nights haven't been fun either, especially since they've been playing on the West Coast and I'm losing sleep to watch the other teams win in the end.