Wow how time flies

[Umpire in Chief]

It's hard to believe how quickly time goes by. 

 

I've had February 7th circled on my calendar for a while as opening day for me. And now here it is tomorrow morning. And amazingly I haven't already done my normal late January/ Early February ritual of pulling out my equipment out of the garage and my uniforms out of the spare room closet and checking everything out. 

 

So tonight is going to be a little hectic doing these things I normally would have done earlier. Like in most areas the early games are non-conference and down here in NC it is generally northern schools who come down south so they can get some early games in. 

 

It will be a good time and fortunately the school is only a little over an hour from me so It will be an easy ride. And better yet it is a 7/7 DH since I know I'm not in the shape I should be in. 

 

Here's to kicking off the 2015 season 

[Tksjewelry]

Im so jealous, we have a month and a half yet to wait.

Have a great season!

[MadMax]

We still have ski-able & snowboard-able snow on the ground, and 8º air temperature!!! You wretched folks living where the ice barely reaches! Garrrggghhhhh!

 

I booked myself solid from March 30th -> June 18th. I'd _really_ like to start sooner, but we'll be rolling the dice on the first two weeks of the "season" any way you slice it. Or shovel it.

[KenBAZ]

@UIC, have a great, safe season.

[Magic]

I have a Double Header next weekend. Tune up for the High School Season. First High School game February 28th

[JasonPalo]

Jealous so jealous, have a great season UIC

[MidAmUmp]

I kick off today, too. The good news is this year's ass doesn't fit in last year's pants, because last year's pants are falling off of me. 

 

As I posted on Facebook this morning: Work hard, have fun and always remember...umpiring is the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

 

Oh yeah, it's supposed to be close to 70 degrees today in Missouri. I'm thinking of starting the year in lt. blue. I've never done that before.

[GreyhoundAggie]

It was a beautiful 75 here calling my first games of the season. Had to bust out the sunscreen and short sleeves right off the bat. It was a great day of ball even if the 2nd game was a 3 hour 18-12 7 inning beatdown.

Kicked the crap out of a call at home. Had him out in my head, and then talked myself into safe. Oh well. Other than that a good way to start the year.

[Umpire in Chief]

Well the season opened and it was great to get back out on the field. 

 

While there was definitely some rust to shake off I felt pretty good with my plate job. I missed 1-2 more pitches than I would have liked and worse I dwelled on one of them for a little bit and lost some focus for a little while.  7 innings 1:30. I got into 3 "discussions." 2 about batters being hit by pitch. 1 I awarded 1st & 1 I kept. The other was a blatant BI the coach just didn't like. 

 

Game 2 I have the bases. Things started off pretty good I got the first 2 outs of the game at 2nd base. The first was an attempt to stretch a single into a double and the second was a caught stealing by the catcher. I had some bangers at first 1 led to a brief discussion. Game 2 ended up going 12 innings and being 3.5 hrs. I could barely stand up the next morning. 

[GreyhoundAggie]

That sounds eerily like my doubleheader chief. First game pretty decent. Second game a beatdown.Oh well. It's all baseball. 3 hr scrimmage tonight and tomorrow, and one more Saturday. Baseball season is on.

[Mudisfun]

We still have ski-able & snowboard-able snow on the ground, and 8º air temperature!!! You wretched folks living where the ice barely reaches! Garrrggghhhhh!

 

I booked myself solid from March 30th -> June 18th. I'd _really_ like to start sooner, but we'll be rolling the dice on the first two weeks of the "season" any way you slice it. Or shovel it.

What is this ice you speak of?

 

ohh... that is what is floating in my tea!

[Sut'n Blue]

We've had a little over three feet of snow in the last two weeks. I'm salivating at the thought of getting back on the field but fresh powder is proof that God loves us and wants us to ski.

When we do get back on the field in April chances are pretty good we'll have ground rules that say a ball that goes into the snow is out of play. Three weeks after that we'll be calling time because the batter has inhaled a black fly and can't stop coughing. Last year we stopped a game (a 12U kids game) for a couple minutes because a moose was wandering around outside the fence.

I got into umpiring several years ago as a daddy/coach when someone said "hey, can you ump tonight?" and I said "um......OK." I called the game (badly I would guess) with a raft, shin guards outside my Levi's, a backwards cap, and a Ruger peeking out the back of my pants every time I squatted (SWMBO pointed this out to me after the game but there was no other mention of it).

Live Free Or Die.

[Majordave]

With a Ruger sticking out of your pants? WTF! Where is this league?

[Rulekeep]

With a Ruger sticking out of your pants? WTF! Where is this league?

Detroit, apparently.

[conbo61]

With a Ruger sticking out of your pants? WTF! Where is this league?

 

California Penal?

[HokieUmp]

With a Ruger sticking out of your pants? WTF! Where is this league?

 

Rikers Island Intramural League.

[zm1283]

He is in New England. New Hampshire is a big open carry state from the little I know about it. 

[Sut'n Blue]

To clarify, I had a small pistol in an inside the waist holster at the small of my back. My shirt was bloused over but my wife told me after the game she could catch a glimpse of the pistol when I squatted. She already knew it was there so was probably the only one to notice.

[Majordave]

But where was this that you need a gun at all times, Even on a ballfield?

Not judging. Hell, sometimes I've wished.i carried during a game.

[MadMax]

Maybe it was a game between the Cambridge Cubs and Manchester Moose, and @Sut'n Blue took it ... well... a bit too literal.

 

In his defense, though, some of those baseball moms can be un-bear-able. 

[Rulekeep]

KKN versus JD varsity game? I'd be carrying anything that would fit in a pocket or ball bag. Sometimes that SH*# just gets scary. Calm down, Sketchikan! :eek: