First game tonight - UE was on my mind

[cbiesecker]

Starting my 2nd year and had my first game tonight, solo, 12U, 50/70 field.  All my lurking on UE helped me out.

 

Strike zone was better.  Called more of an oval shaped zone.  BTW, the catchers name was written in marker on the back of his glove.

 

Banger at first, clearly heard the "pop" of the ball and then saw and heard the "whap" of the runner's foot hitting the bag.  Banged him out, knowing that I got the call right.

 

Ball hit to F4 and bad throw to F3.  Ball goes to the fence and BR goes for second.  Ball barely beats the runner to second, but F6's tag is slow in getting down.  I also see F4 looking at the ground behind the bag.  I call him "safe".  Dugout is grumbling, and I smile as F4 picks up the ball.  Kept my timing slow, one play - one call.

 

Thanks, UE for all the great discussions.

 

BTW, my biggest judgement decision all night was whether to tuck in my jacket or leave it out. 

 

 

 

[James Walker]

Great job. Just one question...

Did you tuck the jacket or not? :fuel:

[JaxRolo]

Great job. Just one question...

Did you tuck the jacket or not?

Hopefully not!

[GreyhoundAggie]

I am not a fan of the jacket tucking, but the higher ups in my chapter say they want us to.

[Mike Prince]

I am not a fan of the jacket tucking, but the higher ups in my chapter say they want us to.

 

I hear it's easier to call MC when your jacket is tucked!

 

(This is completely tongue-in-cheek and complete internet sarcasm, please don't take it as anything else)

[JaxRolo]

I went out to eat last night with the wife and I tucked my regular jacket into my jeans. She asked me what the heck I was thinking! When we got to the restaurant people were looking at me kinda funny.

[Stan W.]

 Outstanding ...congratulations.....!

 

Starting my 2nd year and had my first game tonight, solo, 12U, 50/70 field.  All my lurking on UE helped me out.

 

Strike zone was better.  Called more of an oval shaped zone.  BTW, the catchers name was written in marker on the back of his glove.

 

Banger at first, clearly heard the "pop" of the ball and then saw and heard the "whap" of the runner's foot hitting the bag.  Banged him out, knowing that I got the call right.

 

Ball hit to F4 and bad throw to F3.  Ball goes to the fence and BR goes for second.  Ball barely beats the runner to second, but F6's tag is slow in getting down.  I also see F4 looking at the ground behind the bag.  I call him "safe".  Dugout is grumbling, and I smile as F4 picks up the ball.  Kept my timing slow, one play - one call.

 

Thanks, UE for all the great discussions.

 

BTW, my biggest judgement decision all night was whether to tuck in my jacket or leave it out. 

[Umpire in Chief]

I went out to eat last night with the wife and I tucked my regular jacket into my jeans. She asked me what the heck I was thinking! When we got to the restaurant people were looking at me kinda funny.

 

 

Reminds me of this...

Im at the Southern Umpires Camp in Atlanta. Its day one on the field and were doing safes and outs. Its a cold day and were all wearing our jackets. This day because over the winter I packed on a few pounds I just so happen to have my jacket untucked.

 

Ed Rapuano is walking around giving guys feedback, "stand up straight!", "Don't shake your fist", "good job!", "Keep your elbow up" I'm hearing his distinctive voice all around me talking to and encouraging the guys around me. He gets to the guy in front of me. Then he gets into it. "Ahhh we have a tucker here," You have to imagine it in his Connecticut (my ass Connecticut, only if there's a North Jersey in Connecticut - he sounds like out of central casting for the Soprano's -- Those who know him will get this) accent.

 

He starts laying into this guy about his tucked in Jacket. I cant help but to laugh. Ed sees me laughing and points to me and says, "You, please be quiet, do your safes and outs. I'm having fun with this guy. I'll have fun with you later."

 

Naturally this only made me laugh more -- and this was all in pure fun no malicious intent at all.

 

So we get broken down into groups and I'm in Rap's group first. As he's explaining the plate work drill were about to do I try to discretely tell the guy next to me who has his jacket tucked in to untuck it. He is not understanding me or something. And naturally when they called your umpire number they called his first. And the guy walks up with a tucked jacket.

 

Rap walks up to him and introduces himself, and then asks "Are you married?" The guy replies yes. "What is your wife's name?" He tells his wife's name. He then walks up to the video camera and launches into a monologue...

 

"(Wife's Name) I'm Ed Rapuano and I feel really so very sorry for you. You're married to this clown who likes to tuck in his very fine jacket. I can see you two now, getting ready to go out to a nice dinner and you waiting on this person whose head might be of fecal matter to get ready." Ed then changes his voice to a comical one - Imagine Eddie Murphy when he imitates a white guy on the old SNL - "Just one minute honey, I am having difficulty tucking my sports coat into my pants."

 

He goes on and everybody is laughing. They end with Ed and the guy shaking hands and laughing. Everybody had a good time and there were no hard feelings, but it was a riot.

[cbiesecker]

I left it out. And as Jax has pointed out before, there was no trouble reaching into my ballbag. 

[Welpe]

I went out to eat last night with the wife and I tucked my regular jacket into my jeans. She asked me what the heck I was thinking! When we got to the restaurant people were looking at me kinda funny.

You should have told her that the paragons of fashion, baseball umpires, have decreed that tucking jackets, patent leather belts (without matching shoes) and creased ball caps are what the discerning individual should wear.

Now 'scuse me, I need to go have my suit pants let out so I can tuck my suit coat in.

[FearNot]

Congrats on game