Working on a AAA Field

[moblue]

About two weeks ago, after a high school game, I happened to be in the right place at the right time. The HT was asking my partner from the game if he wanted to work their game at Autozone Park, which is where the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals AAA affiliate) play. My partner actually passed on the offer, and told them to take me instead, because he had gone with them last year. The game was only a week and a half away.

The day of the game, I was impressed that they actually gave the umpires a room to change in. They didn't tell us how to get out on the field from our room, so we ended up taking an elevator back up a level and walking down through the stands. Oh well. My partner and I walked the field and discussed what ground rules we needed to create regarding baseballs falling in certain areas on the wall. My overall impression of the field was that it was amazing.

At the plate meeting, the coaches seemed surprised that I went as in-depth on the ground rules as I did. I admit that I left off several things, but we only had the field for a set amount of time so it worked out okay.

Starting the game, I was amazed at how loud it was. There weren't very many people there, but the ones who were there were making plenty of noise. I loved being able to call the game with the volume I had practiced at JEAPU last year, versus the volume I call a normal high school game with. I messed up a few times during the game, but the only one that I really screwed up bad was when a ball thrown from the outfield ended up in a dugout. I tried to give the runner standing on 2B home. Oops. Luckily I went straight to my partner before WWIII could happen (or a coach could make it to me) and we got it fixed.

I felt like I had a good game overall. The quality of play was very good from both teams. I believe the end score was 1-4. To TOP off the day, the PU in the Redbirds game that night was one of my instructors from JEAPU. It was a very cool experience that I hope I get to have again sometime.

[Umpire in Chief]

Awesome experience. Thanks for sharing.

[Welpe]

the only one that I really screwed up bad was when a ball thrown from the outfield ended up in a dugout. I tried to give the runner standing on 2B home. Oops. Luckily I went straight to my partner before WWIII could happen (or a coach could make it to me) and we got it fixed.

Was he not on 2B at the time of the throw?

Sounds like a great experience, thanks for sharing! There's a summer HS league around here that will be playing all of their championship games at the local independent professional ball park that was just built. That'd be a fun time also I bet.

[Bob Bainter]

Awesome field...awesome experience!!! I was in the International League...but worked a couple of MLB exhibitions there between STL and MEM...what a beautiful place to work!

Congrats!