Forgetting & Disinterested

[Daniel]

Wow, I haven't posed in some time.

I just started getting paper work and registration dues for 2012 submitted these past few weeks. Let me tell ya something - I feel like I don't want to do it anymore.

I'm not sure what it is, but I seemed to have lost interest over the previous months. I started a new and much more demanding job this past fall and that has been where my mind has been since the 2011 season ended. I haven't picked up a rule book in months or even tempted to get my head back in the 'game'. I sit here and wonder what I need to do to prep myself. I seem to be forgetting basic rules in my mind.

This summer would be the start of my 7th year umpring. I just don't why or how I lost motivation in what I used to love. Last year was one of my seasons so far. Maybe because it is the fact I put up with many bitchy and aggrivating people for 40+ plus hours each week at work, idk - I don't wan't to hear it anymore.

I sit here and ask myself - do I really want to keep doing this?

[johnnyg08]

Maybe it would be a good year to step back from umpiring.

Often times a break can help you assess if it's something you want to continue doing. If you take your "A" job with you on the field it will affect your performance which is not good for the teams or yourself.

If you have a good umpire buddy...sit down and have a heart to heart with him...he will know you better than me and might give you some valuable advice.

For the most part, baseball will always be here. You owe it to yourself to bring your best every time you step on the field.

Good luck sir. That is a tough place to be.

[semper_fi_72]

I am not looking at stopping but have decided not to work HS Ball this season.

3:15 PM game times just aren't good for me with 3 girls coming home from school at 230 pm.

The least I can do is stay home and assist SWMBO with getting homework done.

We can then sit down and have dinner as a family before I go out to work evening LL, PONY or Travel Ball games.

Things change in our life and we adjust to do what is right for us and our family.

If you feel you need a break. Take one. Baseball as said will always be there.

If you have a neighborhood bar I would say go talk to the bartender over a couple of beers or do it with a friend.

If we had more old fashion neighborhood bars perhaps we would need less Psych Therapist in the world.

[mstaylor]

I agree that if it isn't fun, take some time off. To be honest, that last couple of years I worked soccer I questioned each season if I would go back. Once I started working games I fell right back into it. Once I tore my ankle up, it wasn't a hard choice to stop. I couldn't do the job at the level I cared to do it so I quit.

Personally I find my time umpiring my relax time. Can it be stressful at times, sure but it is different than taking care of problems at work. I like the idea of talking to an umpiring colleague to help you decide. Maybe what might be a good fix would be take a light summer schedule, just work when and where you want.

[Umpire in Chief]

By all means if you don't feel up to it don't force yourself to do it.

Maybe your priorities have changed, maybe you have a different outlook.

You mention having to deal w/ bitchy people at your regular job, and I can see why you may not want to go out to a ball field after a rough day at work.

Like Mike I have found that umpiring can be my escape. It's my me time. For those few hours I completely forget about all the bad things (or even good things) going on in my life and I'm focused exclusively on umpiring. For me it's therapeutic. But there can come a time where you lose the love. And there is nothing wrong with that.

What is wrong are guys who go out there and don't want to and bring a bad attitude on the field and make everybody look bad.

[JaxRolo]

Personally I find my time umpiring my relax time. Can it be stressful at times, sure but it is different than taking care of problems at work. I like the idea of talking to an umpiring colleague to help you decide. Maybe what might be a good fix would be take a light summer schedule, just work when and where you want.

100% Agree.

Part of why Umpire is to get my mind off everything else. Kinda like Golfing!

YEs it can get hectic but then its over. We move on to the next play or game.

Good Post Mike!

[Thunderheads]

If you feel that way, ....take the season off ..........

You'll know if you REALLY are sick of it, because it won't bother you ........

DO NOT do something you really don't want to do ........

[MidAmUmp]

The owner of an umpire school which I'm not affiliated with says, "Umpiring is the most fun you can have with your clothes on." I tend to agree with him.

Are you sure you're not more burned out from your "real job"? I don't know how your games are assigned, but if possible you might try to work a week or two and see if you are having fun or just going through the motions. If you find it's the later, take some time off and see if the burn comes back.

I understand if you don't want to deal with "bitchy" people on a baseball field. None of us do. Learn to take them for what they are - idiots. You know the rules, they don't. They always have a better look from their bucket than you do. Laugh about it after the game.

[UmpJeff]

I have a job...corporate accounting...which gives me between 50-60 hours of aggrevation, frustration, consternation, and anything else that ends in -tion per week! I find that once I get on the field, all those "work" issues drift away. Baseball is my passion AND my refuge. It seems to make everything right again for me.

I have felt the same way about finding it difficult to get back into it. But, once you're in the saddle, it's like riding a bike. The rules, Hell, you know the rules. It will all come back to you like a long, lost friend!

[cyclonehokiece]

I am also in a stressful job-grad school (and for those of you who think academics have a posh life, think again. They are constantly under deadlines and having to publish). However, the field is how I unwind. I always take a few deep breaths in the car, and tell myself to enjoy it. Also, I agree with many others. The rules are like riding a bike, they will come back.

[Daniel]

I'm not sure. I guess i could describe it as "feeling irritable."

I did register for two clinics taking place in the next few weeks - maybe that might boost me up. :D

[Umpire in Chief]

Good idea. Like Jason said maybe getting back out there will change your mind.

[JaxRolo]

I'm not sure. I guess i could describe it as "feeling irritable."

I did register for two clinics taking place in the next few weeks - maybe that might boost me up.

Very good!

Most of us are human! We have things that affect our lives. Sometimes they pass sometimes they don't.

Do what feels right.

About once a year I go through PMS and I have a week where I toss 3-4 coaches then I wonder what the hell am I doing Umpiring. Then it goes away.

[ukce1861]

I'm not sure. I guess i could describe it as "feeling irritable."

I did register for two clinics taking place in the next few weeks - maybe that might boost me up.

Daniel, what level are you doing? Maybe it's a certain league or level of baseball that's really what's irritating you. I started doing LL about three years ago. Last year I started doing travel ball and this year I'm doing high school. After a while I started to find myself getting frustrated with the LL games, primarily due to the quality of play and whining of the coaches/parents. It led to many nights where I was irritable and aggravated, both on the field and after the game. So now I'm doing less LL...

If your heart's not in it, than by all means take some time off. If you're just out there "going through the motions", you're not going to be very good at it - which is going to make you enjoy it even less. However, maybe there's a certain league or level that's really frustrating you. In that case, think about the games you enjoy most and do those exclusively.

[cuban]

I have never done heroin, but I some times compare umpiring to a heroin adiction.

You love it so much, then you hate yourself for loving it so much.

[Daniel]

I used to do baseball, but I am primarily a softball guy, I work everything up to 18U.

[JaxRolo]

I used to do baseball, but I am primarily a softball guy, I work everything up to 18U.

That explains it all!!!

Just Kidding buddy!

[Daniel]

Well I got some plate work in today at one of our clinics and it all started coming back to me. I have another rules clinic this weekend so we'll see how it goes.

On a side note - I had a play similar to this last year, and called an out that wasn't! It reminded me how much I still love this game, dispite the mistakes that will be made!

[alex7]

Yuck.

Plate umpire has sleeves under a short-sleeve shirt.

Base umpire is wearing a jacket. Jacket looks waaaaay too big for a base jacket.

And this looks like Independent league ball. Gotta do better.

[zm1283]

Yuck.

Plate umpire has sleeves under a short-sleeve shirt.

Base umpire is wearing a jacket. Jacket looks waaaaay too big for a base jacket.

And this looks like Independent league ball. Gotta do better.

The Erie Sea Wolves are AA. This looks like one of their games.

[johnnyg08]

Wondering what he saw on that play to call him out. ?

[JaxRolo]

Wondering what he saw on that play to call him out. ?

He had a terrible angle and must have "thought" he got tagged

[Stan W.]

pretty good job of rodeo clowning........

[Texarkana]

I agree that if it isn't fun, take some time off. To be honest, that last couple of years I worked soccer I questioned each season if I would go back. Once I started working games I fell right back into it. Once I tore my ankle up, it wasn't a hard choice to stop. I couldn't do the job at the level I cared to do it so I quit.

Personally I find my time umpiring my relax time. Can it be stressful at times, sure but it is different than taking care of problems at work. I like the idea of talking to an umpiring colleague to help you decide. Maybe what might be a good fix would be take a light summer schedule, just work when and where you want.

This pretty much sums it up for me. I am in management and am in the electric generation business. We have 2000 contractors building a new coal power plant right now. I am in charge of getting all the spare parts set up along with hiring people, overseeing some aspects of the construction. After it is done, it will be a great place to work but right now it is the most stress that I have had in the 32 years that I have worked for my employer. THANK GOD FOR UMPIRING. It is the only stress relief that I get and without it I would be a ball of nerves right now. Going to the ball park and getting to move around, interact with people and watch baseball is my salvation. There are a few moments in a game where it may get tense or tight but for the most part it is a walk in the park for me. This is my stress buster and relax time. Last night I had a pretty good team from Texarkana and a very loaded private school from Shreveport scrimmaging. Three of us calling the game (two man crew) rotating. I did not call any behind the plate but was out on the field and at a moment in the game as I exhaled, I realized the peace that I was feeling and was grateful to have chosen to call ball games twenty some years ago. It balanced what I had felt earlier in the day dealing with the craziness at work.

[SAB_UIC_TX]

Umpiring is my stress relief as well. I have a big corporate job, lots of hours, break neck pace but enough autonomy to make it to the diamond for baseball. I think I would in a bad way if I had to pull out of this. I did give up soccer, I just lost the interest of hearing all the whining bad attitudes of the kids and coaches on the field at the high school and college level. It just didn't interest me any longer. I really hope I don't get to that point with baseball.