NovaScotiaBlue

This has to be the most openings in a single year since 1999? The year of the mass resignations Is it? Anyone?

You want cheap meds??? Move here..lol Canada takes all kinds. Apply for refugee status too and the government will set you up Welfare, housing and all the medical benefits you need But I digress. So deal or no deal I still plan to buy the locker room this year:D

Hey there, Do Canadian brothers get a chance for that discount too??:GL:

Wow now I fell like I am on a Canadian game show:D

Hey paperipper... Sounds like the coaches were'nt the only ones who had a problem with the new umpire It sounds a little like you were also not impressed to be working with a new guy. Interesting because we were all new guys once You say the rookie hustled and had the rotations down...what extra covering did you have to do?? In the first game three situation, I am impressed he actually thought to go to you on the 0-2 pitch check swing before being asked. That is a pretty advancd mechanic..(as evident on another thread on here)IMHO It's not that he had no idea, he was giving both sides a chance on the play to either get the out or attempt to get to 1st So to you the base umpire It does not matter where you are, give him what you have and give it right away. As for the second situation, You knew he was new and probably weak in terms of game control so I think you were right to take on a bench. and NO it did not make your partner look weak, you both are out there and in charge. You took the lead and restored order So if anyone threw that back at you that you were getting involved in something that was not your business...it is your business. I would then use the post game chat to re-affirm what he needs to do so the next time he will be ready

Hey what can I say, in Canada we for the most part play by OBR at all levels except for some modifications for saftey Well what are my parting gifts for playing:question1: Your American game shows usually have cars and trips what do I get :cheers:

Hey umpTTS43 since I don't know FED rules I don't know if this is the correct rule application so I hope this is what rule set you were working under when you balked anyone for licking their fingers on the dirt. If you are using OBR then I am protesting that call and I will win! I'm suprised no partner you have worked with has brought this tio your attention before this. When a pitcher brings his hand to his mouth or licks his fingers the umpire will call a BALL. (unless the issue was agreed to before the game by both sides) check Rule 8.02 a - 1

Jax you can always go Old School and use rolled up magazines and elastic bands:HD:

They probably got away with it because they were dealing with kids who could be fooled or intimidated into accepting any and all excuses why they were not being paid . It probably took a parent or other adult to start asking questions about this to have it blow up in their faces. Most assignments I take now I get paid at the game. But some house leagues I have worked elsewhere paid once a month, so accurate record keeping is vital to ensure your cheque has the correct numbers on it come pay day.

Actually for me it would be second and long. The Canadian game only has 3 downs. Not to mention a bigger field and an extra player per side.

I'm still trying to figure out what a pass time is??B) Do they not have editors at this paper ;)

Firstly I'm a creaser. Like the look, and it allows you to pack your caps without the need for one of those cap caddies. There was a great thread on Rob Drakes former site. (Man I wish I could have archived some of the stuff that I read there) . Anyway, if I remember correctly the main point was to cover your cap with a damp towel then Iron it. I think there was also talk of then letting it reast under a book or something equally weighted. For me I try to use the bill of my combo hat as the marker for the main crease, and I fold the back up accordian style to match it

Hey Mark..you put it out there (a bet offer) and nothing. Funny how the Americans are all talk until they are asked to put their money where their mouths are... LOL

Hey NWA... I have a question about the Davis Pants. Are they a true Charcoal Grey or do they have a green tint to them as has been described to me?

Maybe, if getting hurt is such a concern you should avoid plate duty and just work the bases. It's pretty safe out there for the most part (except for the rare liner that may bite ya) and people don't yell at you nearly as much.

To all those who feel being in B is proper I think we will have to leave it at that and agree to disagree. I just wonder why BOTH Pro schools teach you to be in C in these situations.?

NuBlue. I don't think there is a corrolation between height and plate stance. Catchers have more of an impact on how you set up back there. Having said that Try to find a stance that allows you to be balanced, comfortable, and relaxed back there. The other key is having a good view of BOTH the inside the outside 1/2 of the plate. Experiment. Try the GD stance, or the slot. You will eventually find what you like and what allows you to be at your best

Veteran umpire Ed Montague has officially retired. http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/02/mlb-umpire-montague-retires.html So who gets his spot? Rob Drake seems to be the front runner, but is there anyone else in the mix?

I will start off by agreeing that the player should not have received a technical for that. I hoping the official learned from that and will maybe drop the extra words and leave it at, "That's enough" As an official you have to watch what you say. I'm learning here through discussions that what you don't say can't get you into trouble but what you do say can. It's like some bench bosses don't like to be called coach. "I'm the F$%#@ing manager!!! An argument can ramp up prety quickly just by using that one little word

So we have a difference of opinion here Fantastic!! Anyone else want to join in??: So,You say no MLB PU uses this mechanic. I would bet a lot more do than you realize(although I have no proof to back that up) and you seem to have the contrary evidence although no one specific is mentioned. This whole thread is what to do on a check swing that could be strike 3. Like I said from the start you go to your partner before anyone even has a chance to ask you to. At the samer time you still need to do your job behind the plate which means calling more than just balls and strikes. IMHO saying BALL is not the same as saying BALL No He Did Not Go. If that is the case, why do you hear, "Check It" from the benches in this same situation when it is not strike 3 As for an arguing coach, I would never hear "Why won't you check with your partner when I want a swing checked?" because I would never refuse to ask for help on a check swing. In this case(check swing 3rd strike) it is IMPERITIVE to go to your partner before even being asked. The other complaint you use,"Why won't you let your partner make his calls?" Well I am letting him make his call. I am asking him to make a call. If I call Ball I actually hope he calls it a strike so we are one pitch closer to going home. So to me I am just adding a little information to make things a little easier to understand for the players, coaches and fans by letting them know what I saw. To go on a slight tangent, do you ever say BALL, outside? Based on your previous messages I would say no. However I know that MLB umps use location along with their ball calls quite a bit, especially on close pitches. Rob Drake penned a great article about it when he had his Umpires Life Blog. It provides the defences especially the catcher that you saw the pitch and he does not have to ask, Where was that (insert MLB Umpires name)? So based on my mini novel here (sorry about that ) and your last comment I wonder about the supervisors/evaluators and assignors who value appearance over game control.

Another thread here confirmed the Pro system puts you in C when you get a runner at 2nd and or 3rd so since we want to look like the pro's in how we dress then to me that should indicate you would want to emulate the positioning as well. You don't have an anchor tied to you out there. You have feet which can move you around the infield if need be. Read the play, React to the play and hustle and you can move from C to a good spot to get any play at 1st and or second. What is your excuse going to be when you are in B and that runner breaks for 3rd? and you are on the other side of the diamond ?

Mr Umpire and Dawg-man.. I will preface this response by letting you know I learned the mechanic of saying, "Ball - No he did not go", at an, Ed Hickox umpire clinic about 10 years ago. So IMHO if it's something taught by a pro it's good enough for me too What I don't understand is how can asking your partner after saying, No he did not go, make you or your partner look bad? It happens all the time. The posting here deals with a check swing that could be strike 3. As PU your call says it was a ball, not because it was way out of the strike zone, but because you did not think the batter offered at the pitch, and you are declaring so. When the appeal request is given to the BU he has a choice on his call, "No he didn't or Yes he did". I don't think there is any bus in the vicinity here. Mr Umpire... Firstly I don't see a knowledgable manager squawking about this. In fact the DM is probably yelling at you to, "check that"!!! you are just beating him to the punch. Any prolonged grief from the offensive manager will get him ejected as he is now arguing balls and strikes. So there is that problem solved. If the BU rings the ball player up for strike 3. How does that undermine the PU's ability. Like I said check swing appeals happen all the time. As a PU I have no problem with the BU calling something different than I do, and when I am the BU I have no trouble calling what I saw, and it has no bearing on what the call of the PU is. You are a crew and as such you are there to back each other up. That's what this does. At the same time it's also helping the teams at the same time.

So how do the pro schools teach it? I believe they put the BU in C. whenevr you have a runner on second or 3rd Having never gone to the schools but looking at the logic, could it be you are then in a better position to make a call on a player that is in scoring position on the 3rd base side? I don't know just a thought.

Here in Canada we are taught that in this situation the PU has to be aware and proactive. Where there is a question of did he go..ASK your partner before being asked. So the mechanic would be, on the pitch, check swing, PU calls Ball -no he did not go, THEN immediately go to your partner for help. Did He go!? This way if the batter takes off right away you are giving the catcher a chance. If the batter just stands there, well you are still giving both the offence and defence a chance because as the catcher is scrambling to get the ball the batter hears that it was strike 3 and he can take off The only hitch to all this is the BU has to be aware as well and ready for a quick response to the appeal.

When you have runners at 1st and 3rd the base umpire would position himself In the working area on the 3rd base side of the pitchers mound.