Cell Phones

[FleasOf1000Camels]

No phones.

I worked with a young guy two years ago who told me he was a volunteer fireman, and required to have it on 24-7. OK, that seemed reasonable to me.  But between EVERY half inning (he was on bases) he'd be down the 1b line tapping away on that thing.  The school's athletic director saw this and sent him a text "If I see that phone in your hand again, you'll never get another game in this conference." 

[Umpirechick1]

Because I'm the primary caregiver for my in-laws who are both in poor health and I'm the only one in close proximity (husband travels every week - everyone else lives out of state), I do take mine on the field.  It stays in my back pocket and we have a way for me to know it's an emergency if they call.

However, I won't be like the guy that I recently worked with who was chatting it up on the phone in between innings.  He took 3 different calls during the game.  I watched in utter amazement from the field.

[Aging_Arbiter]

On ‎3‎/‎28‎/‎2016 at 3:25 PM, Majordave said:

Who ever said lawyers aren't reasonable?

hahaha

opposing counsel?

[Mr Ump]

I just call the game the right way then I don't need to call 911.

[Replacematt]

23 minutes ago, Mr Ump said:

I just call the game the right way then I don't need to call 911.

So every time an umpire has needed police assistance, it has been their fault?

[scrounge]

33 minutes ago, Mr Ump said:

I just call the game the right way then I don't need to call 911.

I drive the right way, but I still put on my seat belt. Calling a perfect game doesn't insure you against the idiocy of others.

[ZebraStripes]

19 hours ago, Mr Ump said:

I just call the game the right way then I don't need to call 911.

because players, coaches and fans are sooooooooo reasonable?

[lawump]

20 hours ago, Mr Ump said:

I just call the game the right way then I don't need to call 911.

Yup, I've never seen a coach/player/manager go ballistic at a correct call made by an umpire.

[Mr Ump]

On March 31, 2016 at 1:13 PM, Matt said:

So every time an umpire has needed police assistance, it has been their fault?

I don't  know. Never needed police assistnce on a baseball field

 

[Mr Ump]

On March 31, 2016 at 1:23 PM, scrounge said:

I drive the right way, but I still put on my seat belt. Calling a perfect game doesn't insure you against the idiocy of others.

I ignore fans and don't talk to them. They are not a part of me doing my job.

[Rulekeep]

On April 3, 2016 at 6:28 PM, Mr Ump said:

I ignore fans and don't talk to them. They are not a part of me doing my job.

People get hurt doing everything possible to be safe. You can commit no mistakes and still fail. That is life, and when some stupid ass parent pulls a gun or a knife or a draino bomb because I won't talk to him, I'd like to keep mine. Your foolish umpire-puritan pride is not worth getting the crap beaten out of you in a parking lot. 

[ZebraStripes]

On 4/3/2016 at 10:28 PM, Mr Ump said:

I ignore fans and don't talk to them. They are not a part of me doing my job.

Do you teleport from the field?  They may not be a part of doing your job, but they are between you and your car.

[Majordave]

I haven't met Mr. Ump yet but ive seen his pics and I know he's from Chicago. I'm betting he's very capable of taking care of himself and very confident in his ability to deter any fan/parent/coach/idiot from accosting him with his demeanor and physical presence. If deterrence doesn't work then he can probably neutralize any threat. He doesn't walk in fear of anyone, nor do I. But I still carry my phone all the time. Why? Because I'm addicted to it and I don't want to miss an opportunity to get some digits from any hot mom, sister, wife, ex-wife, girlfriend, fan, ex-girlfriend that I can.  

Im checking it as soon as I've walked off a field. Hahaha. 

[billpayor]

For timer only.  Airplane mode & silent. It (countdown timer) prevented us from starting an unnecessary inning when visitors were rushing to get the 3rd out on a batter with 2-2 count.

[Mr Ump]

On April 4, 2016 at 11:50 PM, Rulekeep said:

People get hurt doing everything possible to be safe. You can commit no mistakes and still fail. That is life, and when some stupid ass parent pulls a gun or a knife or a draino bomb because I won't talk to him, I'd like to keep mine. Your foolish umpire-puritan pride is not worth getting the crap beaten out of you in a parking lot. 

I won't ever get the crap beaten out of me in a parking lot by a parent/fan. I can handle myself quiet well in hand to hand combat. I workred in a maximum security prision (Stateville) as a guard for four years here in Illinois. Locking up grown men is a lot harder than some stupid fan being upset. In addition my son is a NCAA National Champ in wrestling and I am going in the HOF for wrestling here later this month. I helped coach him for years. The last thing I am worried about is a confrontation. 

Can't fight a gun though. LOL. Hopefully my umpiring does not take me to that point. So far 20 years in I am ok.

[Mr Ump]

4 hours ago, Majordave said:

I haven't met Mr. Ump yet but ive seen his pics and I know he's from Chicago. I'm betting he's very capable of taking care of himself and very confident in his ability to deter any fan/parent/coach/idiot from accosting him with his demeanor and physical presence. If deterrence doesn't work then he can probably neutralize any threat. He doesn't walk in fear of anyone, nor do I. But I still carry my phone all the time. Why? Because I'm addicted to it and I don't want to miss an opportunity to get some digits from any hot mom, sister, wife, ex-wife, girlfriend, fan, ex-girlfriend that I can.  

Im checking it as soon as I've walked off a field. Hahaha. 

LOL...I like the hot Mom part. One of the reasons I have the best sun glasses money can buy. And you are right, I have lived on the South side (and south suburbs) of Chicago for 45 years. Work baseball in all the parks there. Not worried at all. My whole thing is to not let it get to that point by officiating correctly as much as possible. 

Parents get upset when they think you are doing Little Johnny wrong. I just try to stay professional at all times.

 

[stkjock]

1 hour ago, Mr Ump said:

Can't fight a gun though. LOL. Hopefully my umpiring does not take me to that point. So far 20 years in I am ok.

for over your baseball gear.....

 

[Welpe]

On 4/3/2016 at 7:24 PM, Mr Ump said:

I don't  know. Never needed police assistnce on a baseball field

 

I have when the visiting fans threatened the crew with physical harm after a LL district tournament game and they all waited for us in the parking lot. We holed up in the umpire room until the cops showed up who then gave us an escort all the way to the freeway. It's rare but it happens. I don't have a problem if somebody wants to carry a phone for such circumstances or if an official gets assaulted on the field (which has happened more than a few times as we've seen). I almost never carry a phone with me while working but I won't rule it out completely.

[Out&UglyToo]

WWWKS?

What would William Klem say?

[conbo61]

10 hours ago, Out&UglyToo said:

WWWKS?

What would William Klem say?

"What the hell is a cell phone?"

[Aging_Arbiter]

On ‎4‎/‎4‎/‎2016 at 2:10 PM, Mr Ump said:

I won't ever get the crap beaten out of me in a parking lot by a parent/fan. I can handle myself quiet well in hand to hand combat. I workred in a maximum security prision (Stateville) as a guard for four years here in Illinois. Locking up grown men is a lot harder than some stupid fan being upset. In addition my son is a NCAA National Champ in wrestling and I am going in the HOF for wrestling here later this month. I helped coach him for years. The last thing I am worried about is a confrontation. 

Can't fight a gun though. LOL. Hopefully my umpiring does not take me to that point. So far 20 years in I am ok.

@Mr Ump I grew up in a little town that you may have heard of called Gary, IN.  Back in mid-80s a buddy asked me to work a couple of games with him on the south side.  Now keep in mind this was before GPS, cell phones, or lights at Wrigley.  Needless to say, I made a wrong turn along the way and ended up in the little known area (yes, that's sarcasm) called Cabrini Green.  There weren't as many gun related issues back then, but a pipe or knife wasn't out of the question.  I was approached by several "gentlemen" with these nice little branded scars on their arms in the form, of a pitch fork.  They proceeded to inform me that I was either stupid as F*** or brave as F*** for being there.  However, they corrected my directions and got me to the field (on time) after realizing that I was going to umpire a LL game in which some little brothers of friends of theirs played for.

[udbrky]

On 4/4/2016 at 1:10 PM, Mr Ump said:

I won't ever get the crap beaten out of me in a parking lot by a parent/fan. I can handle myself quiet well in hand to hand combat. I workred in a maximum security prision (Stateville) as a guard for four years here in Illinois. Locking up grown men is a lot harder than some stupid fan being upset. In addition my son is a NCAA National Champ in wrestling and I am going in the HOF for wrestling here later this month. I helped coach him for years. The last thing I am worried about is a confrontation. 

Can't fight a gun though. LOL. Hopefully my umpiring does not take me to that point. So far 20 years in I am ok.

Just get the Force 3 CP! Wear it home.

[udbrky]

4 hours ago, Aging_Arbiter said:

@Mr Ump I grew up in a little town that you may have heard of called Gary, IN.  Back in mid-80s a buddy asked me to work a couple of games with him on the south side.  Now keep in mind this was before GPS, cell phones, or lights at Wrigley.  Needless to say, I made a wrong turn along the way and ended up in the little known area (yes, that's sarcasm) called Cabrini Green.  There weren't as many gun related issues back then, but a pipe or knife wasn't out of the question.  I was approached by several "gentlemen" with these nice little branded scars on their arms in the form, of a pitch fork.  They proceeded to inform me that I was either stupid as F*** or brave as F*** for being there.  However, they corrected my directions and got me to the field (on time) after realizing that I was going to umpire a LL game in which some little brothers of friends of theirs played for.

Did they steal your hubcaps?

 

I'm in Hammond. I don't have any games in Gary. I do have an East Chicago one.

 

I think this thread is changing from cell phone on the field to carrying a gun on the field.

[Rulekeep]

10 hours ago, udbrky said:

Did they steal your hubcaps?

 

I'm in Hammond. I don't have any games in Gary. I do have an East Chicago one.

 

I think this thread is changing from cell phone on the field to carrying a gun on the field.

9mm, a wrist brace, and a couple minutes at the range a month will shut down chirping REAL FAST. 

[kylehutson]

5 hours ago, Rulekeep said:

9mm, a wrist brace, and a couple minutes at the range a month will shut down chirping REAL FAST. 

I have my CCL, but this post made me think "no need for a gun, just a taser". After the first one, I bet you don't get so much as a "looked good from here" from any team for years.