TPBD Blue

thanks, @834k3r - light blues are top of list only because of the warmer weather (just feel cooler to me). Don't know how guys can wear the navy (let alone blacks) when temps are in the 90s. Luckily, temps in Metro Chicago are in the 70s today, so rest assured @MadMax, I'll be wearing navy today

today's topic - so many colors had a first for the season - reached out to my ump partner for today's game to ask what color shirt he wanted to wear and he said that all he had was navy blue. Thinking about breaking out my +POS shirt for old time's sake back in the day (1980s), light blue buttoned short-sleeved was the only choice. The navy blue pullover arrived as I was ending my career in the late 90s. Not sure when black came into favor My preference is the light blue with the black collar during the summer (cooler and no ring-around-the-collar, an issue with the all-light blue shirts), navy during the spring (though rarely in Metro Chicago as jackets are worn most games), and black when working Varsity games Variety may be the spice of life but it can also add up - I have one of each color both with the IHSA embroidery and plain (for non-HS games). Definitely not picking up MLB replica shirts nor the other colors (pink, grey, creme)

hey, @love to ump - was surprised to learn at a middle school game that I umped yesterday that bat checks was in force (after working HS where "legally and properly equipped" was sufficient). That said, I do remember a few incidents this season where a player was struck near the cup area and went down like he wasn't wearing one 😬

back in the day (1980s) @BLWizzRanger, vans were how players were transported to the games in lieu of gas-guzzling school buses

hey, @love to ump; - good explanation on the skill level down on the younger ages...they also seem a bit smaller at the middle school level - background checks and hate speech/harassment instruction here in Illinois too (though back in the day, we called it sportsmanship) - still have the patch from twenty years ago: We also have concussion recognition education - I've got mixed feelings about pitch limits: glad that young arms are protected but have had games turn to shambles when relievers have been brought in (although some have surprised) - don't know how you guys do it as I limit myself to no more than three games in a week with a day off in between. Gratefully, had a game canceled on Thurs - temps predicted near 100F (38) with humidity making it feel like 115F 😬

off-topic: Jaska/Roder 2022 is available I have no info about Jim Evans Annotated (I too have a copy - massive): I searched for other rule book references that I could update. Sadly, last edition of Baseball Rule Differences (BRD) was released in 2016 (RIP @Carl Childress) and the last edition of the Wendelstedt Rules & Interpretations Manual was released in 2015. I did find that the Jaska/Roder manual for 2022 is available and I did pick one up. Though the website is outdated (and the order links don't work), you can read more at this link. This edition includes NCAA and NFHS rule differences If you are interested in purchasing it, you can contact Rich at rick@rulesofbaseball.com. I purchased the book for $48 which included USPS Priority Shipping

glad to see another ump return after an extended time away, @love to ump - what changes have caught your attention? though I'm good with coaches & players introducing themselves, I prefer to keep it formal throughout the game - just simpler for me I hear ya about too many games done - I did a triple-header in July (1st & 3rd game behind the plate) and I was aching for a few days after. Much tougher after age 60

thanks, @The Man in Blue - actually broke out the outside protector and had to take a knee at a Middle School game I worked tonight as some players were so short that my sight line was at their letters when on one knee. I still can pop up pretty quick but the knee was for a few players - I worked from the slot & squat for most of the game What's your experience with first names? Is it a thing downstate?

tl;dr - umpired from 1980-2001, retired, returned in 2023 and man, some of the changes that have occurred... how it started (circa late 80s): note the light blue shirt and outside chest protector when I retired (2000s): and how it's going: I'm starting this thread to share some observations I've made now that I'm back after 20+ years. I'm very interested in your opinions One thing I've noticed - being on a first name basis with coaches and (sometimes) players Back in the day, it was 'coach', 'blue' and whatever the player was doing e.g. 'catch' (for catcher), 'bats' (for batter) etc. Though I'm ok with introducing myself by name and coaches doing the same, I prefer 'blue' as no coach has ever said to me, "Pete, you had a really consistent strike zone today". Rather, I got the coach who hit me with, "Pete, you totally missed that call at 2nd because you called it too soon and you didn't give take time to analyze that he couldn't be out" despite the fact that I was working solo, called the pitch, then called the steal. For me, if the throw beats the runner and the tag is good (hand/foot, arm/leg, shoulder/head - less likely if on the body further away from the base). Anyway, I prefer civil & respectful, maybe even friendly but we're not on a first name basis

hey, @bluetick48 - thanks for the link, liked how the HP ump flipped the chest protector to wear it on his back...

hey, Man in Blue - I'd be more concerned about what coaches & fellow umpires thought if I used the outside chest protector at the HS level. But for MS, I think it's be more a nostalgic novelty as long as I call a good and consistent game

hey ousafe - though it was my first game at the late summer middle school level (12u - something I didn't even see back 20+ years ago), I think that the catchers aren't as fundamentally sound as they were back then. Also, they're a bit shorter - I'm 5'6", so I don't tower over them but MS catchers being smaller, I'm more exposed than I am with HS catchers (who are usually as tall if not taller)

hey Kevin -always been a slot guy, even with the outside (just can't get as close)

hey, Velho - the foul ball caught be just above where the CP covered and just past where the throat guard would have deflected it away. Gratefully, there was a athletic trainer on site (I umpire in the south burbs of Chicago). Unfortunately, I was working the game solo and still had a few more innings to go 😬 which is why I couldn't ice it immediately, resulting in the swelling and nasty bruise

thanks for the welcome back, Scissors. The foul ball struck me right above where the inside chest protector covered me and just past where the throat guard would have deflected it - it was a lucky/unlucky hit

tl:dr - back to give back (again) I started umpiring back in 1981 (mainly HS and Pony with a few semi-pro games thrown in). Retired in 2001 - bought a new house, so no longer had free weekends (worked 9-5 on the weekdays, so no games there). I retired in Jan 2023, so now free on weekdays and am back to work. The money is better, a lot of administrative work (scheduling, communication) is done online, some mechanics have changed, smartphone cameras at every game yet game management is pretty much the same. I'm glad to be back though I'm taking it season to season. The kids (players) have been good, had a few run-ins with coaches (expected) and the fans haven't been troublesome. Still, the aches and pains take longer to recover from and I had my first serious injury in my career: Gratefully (according to the doctor), there's a muscle group their that protects the carotid and jugular or it would have been much worse Anyway, read on this thread another umpire who returned after ten years. Ran into another umpire at clinic who also returned after ten years, so hope it's a trend. Also gave my ump business card to a catcher who umpired the in-house league. Hope that he'll sign up when older Finally, two more anecdotes; 1) was able to umpire with a student (I was a HS teacher) who I introduced to umpiring back when he was in HS AND also umpired with his son, who followed in this footsteps, and 2) umpired the son of a HS student (his dad would return to coach the next game - it was a fun reunion) Glad to give back to the game that continues to give back to me

tl;dr - dusting off this topic and my outside chest protector quick backstory - umpired from 1981 to 2001, retired, then returned to umpiring this year (2023) Spring HS baseball went well and now umpiring MS (middle school) late summer ball. In my first game (wearing the inside chest protector), I took a foul ball off the left thumb and wrist (my fault as I didn't tuck the arm back) and another foul ball off the right forearm near the crook of the elbow. Gratefully, both ball came in slow but still left a mark. So, will break out the ol' outside chest protector (Rawlings) for the rest of the season (I can take a hint) pro - protection con - awkwardness: I wear the outside like a shield on my left arm, so my right arm is free to signal. Still, have to use two signals for balls, then strikes