Wearing a Ballon

[JaxRolo]

There is an Umpire on Field 2 at CDP wearing a Balloon. Looks kinda silly.

[semper_fi_72]

That is the Amish Umpire

Real nice guy in the village.

[JaxRolo]

I've heard about him. Seemed to be doing a good job

[yawetag]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veVgsosNCy4

[jjb]

OK. I get it: the balloon looks silly. I'm with you. However:

I've got 2 competent, experienced Umpires in my League. Both have undergone bypass surgery. In each case, they came to me and said:"my doctor told me that, if I take a shot to the sternum, even with an inside CP, I'm a dead man". In each case I gave them an option: (1) retire, and train for me, or (2) check with their doctors and see if they can wear a balloon. In the first case, the doc reconsidered, and told the Umpire that an inside CP is OK, and he uses it. In the second, he got the OK to only use a balloon. We dropped him to the lower levels (11 and under), he uses the balloon, and we've gotten good evals from the coaches. He's still in the game, having fun, and contributing to the cause.

So, though I don't know AmishUmp, I'd judge slowly before start to jump on him...

[JaxRolo]

I'm not judging. Just think it looks silly. I wouldn't mind using one. I think it offers great protection.

When I started umpiring 20 years ago our uic used one and I borrowed it all the time.

On a side note- video cameras in the dugout are a big no no at CDP

[Rich Ives]

OK. I get it: the balloon looks silly. I'm with you. However:

I've got 2 competent, experienced Umpires in my League. Both have undergone bypass surgery. In each case, they came to me and said:"my doctor told me that, if I take a shot to the sternum, even with an inside CP, I'm a dead man". In each case I gave them an option: (1) retire, and train for me, or (2) check with their doctors and see if they can wear a balloon. In the first case, the doc reconsidered, and told the Umpire that an inside CP is OK, and he uses it. In the second, he got the OK to only use a balloon. We dropped him to the lower levels (11 and under), he uses the balloon, and we've gotten good evals from the coaches. He's still in the game, having fun, and contributing to the cause.

So, though I don't know AmishUmp, I'd judge slowly before start to jump on him...

You demoted the guy because he uses a balloon? Seriously?

[Thunderheads]

OK. I get it: the balloon looks silly. I'm with you. However:

I've got 2 competent, experienced Umpires in my League. Both have undergone bypass surgery. In each case, they came to me and said:"my doctor told me that, if I take a shot to the sternum, even with an inside CP, I'm a dead man". In each case I gave them an option: (1) retire, and train for me, or (2) check with their doctors and see if they can wear a balloon. In the first case, the doc reconsidered, and told the Umpire that an inside CP is OK, and he uses it. In the second, he got the OK to only use a balloon. We dropped him to the lower levels (11 and under), he uses the balloon, and we've gotten good evals from the coaches. He's still in the game, having fun, and contributing to the cause.

So, though I don't know AmishUmp, I'd judge slowly before start to jump on him...

You demoted the guy because he uses a balloon? Seriously?

Rich, ... they put him down to lower levels so the chances of taking a harder shot are much less..............

[yawetag]

So, though I don't know AmishUmp, I'd judge slowly before start to jump on him...

I wasn't judging. I found the video a few days ago and verified it was the same who posted on another forum. When it was verified, this thread posted and I thought I'd give a reference on who he was.

The best I can tell, he's a great guy.

[Rich Ives]

OK. I get it: the balloon looks silly. I'm with you. However:

I've got 2 competent, experienced Umpires in my League. Both have undergone bypass surgery. In each case, they came to me and said:"my doctor told me that, if I take a shot to the sternum, even with an inside CP, I'm a dead man". In each case I gave them an option: (1) retire, and train for me, or (2) check with their doctors and see if they can wear a balloon. In the first case, the doc reconsidered, and told the Umpire that an inside CP is OK, and he uses it. In the second, he got the OK to only use a balloon. We dropped him to the lower levels (11 and under), he uses the balloon, and we've gotten good evals from the coaches. He's still in the game, having fun, and contributing to the cause.

So, though I don't know AmishUmp, I'd judge slowly before start to jump on him...

You demoted the guy because he uses a balloon? Seriously?

Rich, ... they put him down to lower levels so the chances of taking a harder shot are much less..............

But not the guy using the inside protector? The one the doc initially thought was more dangerous?

Hmmmmmmmm . . .

[noumpere]

I'm not judging. Just think it looks silly. I wouldn't mind using one. I think it offers great protection.

When I started umpiring 20 years ago our uic used one and I borrowed it all the time.

On a side note- video cameras in the dugout are a big no no at CDP

It offers better protection and is cooler and if its used properly then it does not cut down on mobility and signalling. Other perhaps than the travelling issue I wish we would go back to them.

[jjb]

OK. I get it: the balloon looks silly. I'm with you. However:

I've got 2 competent, experienced Umpires in my League. Both have undergone bypass surgery. In each case, they came to me and said:"my doctor told me that, if I take a shot to the sternum, even with an inside CP, I'm a dead man". In each case I gave them an option: (1) retire, and train for me, or (2) check with their doctors and see if they can wear a balloon. In the first case, the doc reconsidered, and told the Umpire that an inside CP is OK, and he uses it. In the second, he got the OK to only use a balloon. We dropped him to the lower levels (11 and under), he uses the balloon, and we've gotten good evals from the coaches. He's still in the game, having fun, and contributing to the cause.

So, though I don't know AmishUmp, I'd judge slowly before start to jump on him...

You demoted the guy because he uses a balloon? Seriously?

Rich, ... they put him down to lower levels so the chances of taking a harder shot are much less..............

But not the guy using the inside protector? The one the doc initially thought was more dangerous?

Hmmmmmmmm . . .

The first guy was already at the U11 level: he didn't move at all. We gave him the option, and, during his consultation with his doc, he got the OK. (it was probably more than that: he's a retired SgtMajor, and the discussion was probably one-sided). This was a couple years ago, and he's doing fine. The second guy went down by his own request: it was the running at the larger fields he was concerned with. And you're right, Thunder: it got him away from faster pitching.This was last season, and we've had no issues with him: he seems to be having fun.

[LMSANS]

:agasp_: I find this discussion amazing. I had a quad bypass 7 years ago. My cardiologist told me the sternum heals in about 6 months ( YMMV). The following season I got back into umpiring. At the time I had a soft chest protector. I was working a summer college wood bat league, when I got hit in the chest with a foul ball. It really didn't hurt, but it scared the crap out of me. The next day I ordered my first hard shell CP and will never go back.

BTW I used a balloon back in the stone age when I first umpired. I can't recall ever getting hit in the torso or the arms/hands (12u LL). Now my hands & arms get hit regularly. I wish it was acceptable to go back to the balloon.

My football crew chief uses the balloon when doing varsity baseball. Of course, he's 85 and kind of set in his ways.:rolleyes:

[Texarkana]

I find this discussion amazing. I had a quad bypass 7 years ago. My cardiologist told me the sternum heals in about 6 months ( YMMV). The following season I got back into umpiring. At the time I had a soft chest protector. I was working a summer college wood bat league, when I got hit in the chest with a foul ball. It really didn't hurt, but it scared the crap out of me. The next day I ordered my first hard shell CP and will never go back.

BTW I used a balloon back in the stone age when I first umpired. I can't recall ever getting hit in the torso or the arms/hands (12u LL). Now my hands & arms get hit regularly. I wish it was acceptable to go back to the balloon.

My football crew chief uses the balloon when doing varsity baseball. Of course, he's 85 and kind of set in his ways.

I know a guy that wears them on 10 and under games when the temp is over 100 and he is an excellent umpire. I would rather be with a guy who makes the right calls wearing a balloon then a few I know who go out there looking like a million dollars making 50 cent calls. Nothing worse than an ump who looks good, makes animated calls to draw attention to themselves then totally suc at calling ball.

[yawetag]

On a side note- video cameras in the dugout are a big no no at CDP

This video makes me think there's a dugout-type place for fans:

[JaxRolo]

The fans are all located along the laft and right field lines. It's very nice not to have fans behind the plate

[mstaylor]

I too had a quad bypass 11 yrs ago. 2.5 months later I was working varsity soccer. 4 wks later I did a state men's league on the bases. I use an inside protector in everything from 9/10s to Adult baseball. My cardiologist never has voiced a concern in the least.

[Scuzzyfeller]

There have been several guys at CDP this year wearing the balloon...

Amish is just one of them...but the Amish balloon isn't any ordinary balloon...he made the darn thing...and it weighs about 15 or so pounds...

The balloons made today are very light...bulky but light...our crew uses one when we do our OLDE TYME game...a four man crew...easing the movement of the HP ump...

The other guys I've seen at CDP that use the balloon...at least still MOVE a bit...moving up the lines or in front of the plate when needed...

Amish....DOESN'T MOVE...and he only does plates...

If your Amish's base umpire...short of calling balls and strikes...you are doing a two man game...BY YOURSELF!

Scuzz

[yawetag]

So, though I don't know AmishUmp, I'd judge slowly before start to jump on him...

I wasn't judging. I found the video a few days ago and verified it was the same who posted on another forum. When it was verified, this thread posted and I thought I'd give a reference on who he was.

The best I can tell, he's a great guy.

I won't link to them, and I understand they may be out of context, but recently-surfaced videos have changed my mind.