JohnT

Agreed F1 should have been tossed!

It was my understanding that it is a new rule in MLB that everyone must wear them. I know the Cardinals do...

Wow..that is fast. I think my quickest was one hour and twenty minutes.

IHSA's first test, they mail to you. After that you can take it online. It is open book with no time limit and an 80 is the minimum passing score.

He can't protest that call... He was just trying to pull a fast one. Sounds like you handled it very well. Good job.

This is definitly unsportsmanlike, and therefore not tolerated. Coaches get one warning and if they do not comply, they can take it in the parking lot. I had a similar situation two years ago in fall ball where two coaches on the same team were yelling at eachother! I was hoping it would die off, but it went on for a good two minutes. After that, I got fed up, and I told them once they are ready to continue, we can continue. I got my partner and we both walked to right field and waited for them. They still continued on for another minute or so, but after that it was silent the rest of the game.

I always watch the umpires now, and I even find myself looking at their numbers so I can search on the internet to tell who they are. Good fun.

Wheew! I would just not worry about the hat at all. Depending on your association rules, it is not worth it just for between innings.

Are you talking about the hockey style mask? Or are you talking about something like this? The latter, I think, would be even more unprofessional than being bare-headed. If you are talking about the hockey style mask, I do see MLB umpires go without hats, so I wouldnt worry about the hat at all when working the plate.

My opinion is to tell the assigner/coordinator. As a coordinator, the more complaints I get against him, the more backing I have if/when I approach him. Don't make it sound like you are complaining, just simply tell him what happened. I would even go out of my way to explain that you are not complaining. Other than that, I know it is a tough position to be in as a rookie. Sounds like you handled the situation very well. Just keep on going, and a few years down the road this will be a story you will be telling the rookies. My best advice is to just not get discouraged because of one bad apple.

I am looking to get a fitted umpire hat, but I have never bought a fitted cap before. How do you size them? Do you measure the distance around your head or how does that all work? Thanks in advance!

What league do you all have in your city? For the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis, its almost all Khoury League. (www.khouryleague.org) You probably have not heard of the league unless you live in the STL area. Whats your league, and do you like it?

Hahaha Good stuff... Good luck with your adventure dannylarrie. It will be a fun one!

Most adult leagues are like that from what I understand. When you mix booze and a heated situation, the outcome is never good. The umpires in our league always have the full support from our Board/Coordinators/Commissioners. If coaches acted like that in our league, it would be them getting suspended...not you. I suggest finding a different league to work at because to me, that sounds rediculous.

I just learned Illinois, the state I live in, is trying to ban aluminum bats with HB4140. I have sense written a letter to my state representative letting him know my stance on the issue, and hoping he will vote against it.

I like Letterman's line referring to Congress, "We get Clemens, but we still can't find Osama." Congress should not be involved on this, and MLB needs to get their act together and get rid of these steroids. What a waste...

If they go on and on about the dang call, I do not approach them, and every time they ask me I insist it is right. If the coaches maybe make one or two comments, I will walk up to them between innings and let them know I blew it. It is the endless tirades that get me. That and bringing it up later in the game. I think to myself "Get over it!"