MObetterBlue

Most of the above but also: 1. Partners that, even if I used semi fore flags to signal them, would still ignore me. 2. Partners that check their phones/talk with coaches/space off while pitchers are warming up - allowing 7-8 pitches each inning. 3. Batter "wearing" ball 4. Had a kid take ball 4 off the elbow the other night and it got me directly on the inner thigh. Get out of the way and take your freakin base. 4. S.... L..... O.... W.... pitchers (pace, not velocity).

If I'm ever crazy enough to coach again, I was thinking Trophy Hunters. Now there's lot's of other possibilities in this thread.

USSSA is first pitch. With Triple Crown the clock starts when the plate meeting ends. It's amazing how coaches will still leave the meeting knowing that and still take 4-5 minutes to get their team on the field...???

The storm trooper suit would be epic. I would definitely suit up in the parking lot and then walk through the tournament to see the awe on the kids faces. You can't discount the intimidation factor with the coaches as well. "Game time... Spread rules... Any disputes of a judgment call by a HC will incur the wrath of the Galactic Empire. Lord Vader, Head Umpire. Any questions...?" Although, the suit having AC might be the biggest asset.

I've had three or four 3 pitch/3 out half innings over the past couple years. I'm still waiting on an immaculate half inning although a few weeks ago I had a kid strike out the first 2 batters on 6 pitches. The 3rd batter is literally down 0-2 and then fouls the next 1 off before going down swinging on the 10th pitch (all strikes). Talk about mixed feelings... My partner notices and jogs up to me after the out but as we were discussing it, I don't think anyone else realized what they just missed out on.

"Crap burger"?!? How's this knuckle sandwich taste?!!! Wow...

I hope she gets on board with you. Working together with my wife on our finances has been a real blessing. I work in the KC area mostly up north. Although, as I type this, I'm in Omaha working the tournament around the CWS. I do some HS ball but mostly youth. 14s and 12s. We get some really good USSSA major teams through our area which makes for some fun games to work.

Hello All, I just found the forum yesterday and joined today. I've been umpiring about 6 years now. Last year I worked 160 games summer/fall. I'm up to 120 already this summer so I've been pretty busy. Got into umpiring as a way to pay off debt and now I absolutely love it. My wife and I have gone all Dave Ramsey on our debt so it will be gone by next spring but I'll keep on umpiring because it's an awesome way to be involved in the game, see great (most of the time) baseball and make extra money. I do have some toys I've got my eye on after the debt is gone after all... I'm looking forward to increasing my knowledge here on the site and improving myself as an umpire.