BillKen

I'm probably inclined to let them blow off a little more steam in a high pressure situation...but they can't cross the line of derogatory personal comments, impeaching my integrity, or cursing loud enough to be heard by anyone on the fence.

Great umpiring...get an out if you can! Tie goes to the umpire!

Any player that does that should not be provided the privilege of getting to enjoy this game. Kids who do this end up in jail eventually because they lack the respect needed to live in society. IT IS A GAME!!! No league or coach worth being a part of should ever allow a kid like this to finish his season.

I'd keep my mouth shut and not explain anything to him. If he pressed the issue, I'd tell him that I don't owe him an explanation on every call or no call I make and that was a no-call. The other side of this coin says that if you call that, you have to call every technical balk by the book and in HS ball, that would be about 10/game. I'm not going there...so the coach can just get happy about the fact that he has an umpire that has a little common sense.

I track calories on MyNetDiary. When I do the plate, I put in 80 calories burned per inning and 40/inning when I'm on the bases. Planning on getting a fitbit soon...I really want to know a more precise number--but it really doesn't matter because I don't eat back my calories burned when I call ball. I'm down 30 lbs since Jan. 16th.

When they yell at me to call it both ways...I oblige. I give the hammer strike once with my right hand, then call again it with my left!

After forgetting my shin guards once, a guy taught me to go through the alliteration of Nubs (toes), Knees, Nuts, Nipples, Nose before every game. I've forgotten ball bags and plate brushes once or twice, but nothing important since then!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UmpiresMart-Complete-Umpires-Equipment-Combo-with-Pro-Plus-Umpire-Leg-Guards-/151233331352?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item2336358098 Same stuff you quoted above for about $50 less. But for about 80, you can get a honigs mask with Team Wendy pads that will be a lot more comfortable than the mask in your post. Their top of the line CP runs about $100, and you can get some Diamond leg guards for about $40 that will do the trick. So...for $220, you can have nearly pro level gear that will last you a long time and be very comfortable. You asked for our opinion...so that is my $0.02 worth.

Buckeye, If you want to sell your cooling pad, let me know!

Another thing...the thick mask and the red and navy shirts are nearly obsolete. The heather grey slacks are most definitely obsolete. The shins should be taken to the car wash and sprayed down real good to get the dirt off them. The only thing worth considering is a mask or two and the CP...but I wouldn't buy either without a better pic. Keep us posted...if this sells, I may find a $350 package in my garage!

Does the name Tony Timmons ring a bell?

http://www.etypeservices.com/Jeff%20Davis%20County%20Mountain%20DispatchID316/

Bring this Monday night. You might not have to ship it!

I'll trade you $50 worth of premium cigars for the black denim one.

Surprising...I've never had any experience with Honigs that wasn't spectacular. I'm fairly certian that the College Station shop has an in-house embroidery machine. If I place an order on a Tuesday at 2pm, it is on my doorstep on Wednesday afternoon...every time.

Any report submitted to a state association like UIL essentially serve as your affidavit for any disciplinary hearings that the coach must attend. Texas does not require umpires to attend UIL discipline reviews...your report speaks for you. An admin may call you and get some of the "between the lines" info, but what you write is your "testimony" in that hearing. While that is not a legal setting, should it evolve into a due process hearing due to termination by the district, the report will then be evidentiary. I've found that if I write my report when I get home from the game, it is best for me to wait until the next day to hit the "send" button. After the adrenaline exits my system, I usually think much clearer!

2013 EJECTION OF THE YEAR! It is a clinic on the above conversation! http://m.mlb.com/video/v29273399/laatex-scioscia-gets-ejected-after-arguing-play

No quality throw = No RLV OBS is the call and 2nd is the award for the ball out of play.

I've still failed to ever hear a compelling reason why it is wrong to go outside when the catcher squeezes inside. I know that camp and evaluators say that it is wrong...that if the catcher won't work with you, just call balls until he gives you a window. But aside from that "philosophy", what is different about going outside of a catcher who is set up way inside on a lefty...versus being in the slot on an 0-2 pitch with him set up well outside? The position of the batter doesn't affect your view in either situation. Is it that we are more likely to eat a foul ball? I agree that we need to get the catcher to give us a look inside, and we need to make sure that we call the inside strike when he does. But in the rare instance when he doesn't, I don't think going outside for a pitch or two is a Cardinal sin. I'm open to hearing why it might be though!

They are allowed by our chapter in Beaumont and the state website allows them. Who is telling you that you can't wear pro blue? Black is the new official TASO base color effective in 2015 or 2016. So, that is clearly allowed. I don't guess that anyone is telling us we can't...just that nobody has them. Maybe it is a local issue. I think there is confusion. Did TASO ever approve the new MLB style powder and black (the ones with the piping on the sides)? We know black and the pro blue old style mlb are approved. It would make sense for TASO to approve them as long as you match your partner. If my partner and I match and the color is approved, we are probably good.

I used the Gorilla Glue epoxy stuff...looks like a dual chamber syringe. Worked great! '>

This should end the discussion!

They are allowed by our chapter in Beaumont and the state website allows them. Who is telling you that you can't wear pro blue? Black is the new official TASO base color effective in 2015 or 2016. So, that is clearly allowed. I don't guess that anyone is telling us we can't...just that nobody has them. Maybe it is a local issue.

Just get the Mongo and be sure to brag about it to your skinny friends!

Lance Barrett will be in Tyler this weekend...I'm sure he will be pumped!