BuschLeague

Hey gang, I've been lurking for a while since I started last year umpiring 16u baseball and softball at the local park. I worked at the park before that refereeing soccer- which I still do- but have always liked the mechanics of baseball over soccer. Around here, soccer pays more than baseball and I just have to accept it! I'm still on the learning curve, but appreciative of the discussions on this forum which have helped me with borderline call interpretations and selecting appropriate gear to protect against the MANY wild throws and foul tips I get behind the plate. I have done my share of blown calls, but making up for a blown call against one team by favoring a call later on is not in my vocabulary. I get my dose of irate parents, but the coaches understand where park-level umps come from. When I'm walking through the parking lot after a game and a coach passing by in his car says out the window, without sarcasm, "thanks, blue!", I know I'm doing the right thing. BTW if anyone has any suggestions on better positioning angles for a two man crew at the youth level with RISP, I'm all ears. Our teenage ump crews tend to struggle, and I'd like to be able to help them out.