Even 90º+ Gets to the Best of Us

[MadMax]

First pitch was at 1:20pm and posted air temperature in Wrigley Field was 91º, but I'm sure the on-field temperature was considerably higher. Well, with a game going over 3 and a half hours in that heat, PU Hunter Wendelstedt is showing off a white cooling towel draped over his neck and shoulders while the game is going on! He's also keeping the movements to an absolute minimum. Lineup changes are being handled by one of the BU's (I think it's Guccione).

Players are dropping out due to heat fatigue.

If there is a note in the MLB Suggestion Box that recommends having the umpires in shaded positions with good sightlines, and referring to Video Replay if/when needed, it probably came from this game.

[Tksjewelry]

I did a 102 games in June, most of which were in 90+. After going down on the fourth game day one of memorial weekend, I dug out the old fashioned pillow cp and started using that for kiddie ball in the heat. Don't care. I'm not dying for kiddie ball.

[Bonnett72]

All of our games lately have been over 100 with the heat index. Humidity is definitely not my friend.

[TOOBUKUSAN57]

Water water water +1 ELECTROLYTE DRINK
Here in Northern California from June to mid September we get
Temps 90 to 105 +. I hydrate the day before,peeing clear, I plan
To have 5 bottle waters on hand per game and a electrolyte.
Doing 3 plates in a Day the 3+1 formula works your mileage
May very.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[BT_Blue]

46 minutes ago, TOOBUKUSAN57 said:

Water water water +1 ELECTROLYTE DRINK
Here in Northern California from June to mid September we get
Temps 90 to 105 +. I hydrate the day before,peeing clear, I plan
To have 5 bottle waters on hand per game and a electrolyte.
Doing 3 plates in a Day the 3+1 formula works your mileage
May very.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

90-105+ sounds a whole heck of a lot like the Central Valley. I'm originally from Tracy. So I know your pain!

[blue23ll]

16 minutes ago, BT_Blue said:

90-105+ sounds a whole heck of a lot like the Central Valley. I'm originally from Tracy. So I know your pain!

Being originally from California (East bay area), I got used to 90+ days. Now in Washington state, it's not that bad, but we tend to forget to hydrate when the hot day or two arrives.

[Mudisfun]

Games this weekend were 100+... 1st game on the dish I went through 5 water bottles and 1 sports drink. Back at the car, another 2 bottles of water and a sports drink. Next game on the bags went through my ice water thermos and another 2 water bottles.

Never cramped up, felt like cramping or experienced other issues... just was DAMN hot!

And for those old school guys who think bringing water on to the field is 'weak' or 'not good optics'... pound sand. When umpiring games starts paying my mortgage and all the other bills, then maybe I will worry about that optic.... and at mid-40's I don't think umpiring will anytime soon be paying my way!

[BT_Blue]

It's funny... when I lived in SoCal, I didn't used to bring water with me. Most of the schools and organizations I worked for would bring it to us if we asked. But I had to start doing it after moving to the Pacific NW cause NO ONE EVER even offered it to us.

[Mudisfun]

3 minutes ago, BT_Blue said:

It's funny... when I lived in SoCal, I didn't used to bring water with me. Most of the schools and organizations I worked for would bring it to us if we asked. But I had to start doing it after moving to the Pacific NW cause NO ONE EVER even offered it to us.

Even during the HS season, at least in my experience, it has been rare to be offered drinks by the teams or schools. I don't want to trust they will, so I bring my own mini bar to the party.

[MadMax]

3 hours ago, Mudisfun said:

for those old school guys who think bringing water on to the field is 'weak' or 'not good optics'... pound sand. When umpiring games starts paying my mortgage and all the other bills, then maybe I will worry about that optic....

 

On 6/30/2018 at 4:57 PM, MadMax said:

PU Hunter Wendelstedt is showing off a white cooling towel draped over his neck and shoulders while the game is going on! 

Obviously, a long-standing name in Umpiring thought “optics be damned”! If I ever get an evaluator or colleague questioning why I’m wearing an article of cooling or protective equipment, I want to trot out a photo from this game of Hunter wearing the towel while the game was underway. And yes, Umpiring pays his bills. 

[Thatsnotyou]

5 hours ago, Mudisfun said:

Games this weekend were 100+... 1st game on the dish I went through 5 water bottles and 1 sports drink. Back at the car, another 2 bottles of water and a sports drink. Next game on the bags went through my ice water thermos and another 2 water bottles.

Never cramped up, felt like cramping or experienced other issues... just was DAMN hot!

And for those old school guys who think bringing water on to the field is 'weak' or 'not good optics'... pound sand. When umpiring games starts paying my mortgage and all the other bills, then maybe I will worry about that optic.... and at mid-40's I don't think umpiring will anytime soon be paying my way!

Someone pretty high up in my association said he “cringes” when he sees someone walking to the field with a cooler or jug etc. Said that “you can survive two hours without water” and that “hydrate beforehand.” This isn’t MLB, I don’t have someone bringing me water every inning if requested, towel, etc. I have to take care of myself, although some teams/coaches will ask to help (and I will take them up on if needed and it’s 90+ out.

Sure, pro umpires don’t walk on to a field with water. I’m not a pro, and I don’t have the personnel to help me. What are my options? Prove I’m “tough” by walking on to the field with nothing? What is this, 1990 HS football when coaches thought water was for the weak? 

What is anyone’s real thought when they see someone with water/cooler/whatever? Is it really “this guy is weak, he needs water” and/or “this guy probably sucks”? I think any reasonable person would be thinking “OK good, umpire has some water to help take care of himself out here”.

Lastly, I’ll call a better game and have better focus if I’m hydrated. You can’t simply hydrate before and call it a day.

PS I wonder what the “no water truthers” thought about Wendelstedt wearing a towel around his neck the entire game and not keeping the lineup cards. Oh, and he ducked into an air conditioning room between innings.

Pound sand indeed. 

[Stk004]

6 hours ago, BT_Blue said:

It's funny... when I lived in SoCal, I didn't used to bring water with me. Most of the schools and organizations I worked for would bring it to us if we asked. But I had to start doing it after moving to the Pacific NW cause NO ONE EVER even offered it to us.

I've been really surprised at how often I get offered water (and occasionally Gatorade) down here, because as you said it never happens in Washington. Oregon, in your case. I'll even have people offer me water when I'm down to half a water bottle here. It's quite nice. 

To those of you drinking 5 bottles of water a game, more power to you. I'd have to pee like none other if I did that.

[Mudisfun]

12 hours ago, Stk004 said:

 

To those of you drinking 5 bottles of water a game, more power to you. I'd have to pee like none other if I did that.

Normal average day, I'll go through 2 bottles, maybe 3 if solo and there is a ton of running around.

The other day when I got back to the car after drinking a ton? Barely was able to use the restroom before our 2nd game started, so I know even then I was not taking in more than I needed, but at least I avoided that heat headache that often comes with being in the sun all day and under hydrating.

[scrounge]

14 hours ago, Hkepuck said:

Someone pretty high up in my association said he “cringes” when he sees someone walking to the field with a cooler or jug etc. Said that “you can survive two hours without water” and that “hydrate beforehand.” This isn’t MLB, I don’t have someone bringing me water every inning if requested, towel, etc. I have to take care of myself, although some teams/coaches will ask to help (and I will take them up on if needed and it’s 90+ out.

 

Someone pretty high up in your association is an idiot, pure and simple.

[CJK]

16 hours ago, Hkepuck said:

Said that “you can survive two hours without water”

I'll quote Chris Rock:  You can drive a car with your feet if you want to; it don't mean it's a good f---ing idea!

 

 

[MadMax]

17 hours ago, Hkepuck said:

Someone pretty high up in my association said he “cringes” when he sees someone walking to the field with a cooler or jug etc. Said that “you can survive two hours without water” and that “hydrate beforehand.”

These guys are toxic, and damaging to an association. Not only do they have a false or askewed umpire-value scale – they rate, review, and evaluate umpires not truly on skills or capabilities, but instead on impression and bias – but they also discourage (scare off) new or potential umpires. Most of their advice (or direction) is based on what they themselves do, and to do/not do what the MLB guys do.

What’s missing? What’s absent? The why.

So, back on this topic of dealing with heat and the conditions – why is Hunter wearing a towel during a game? Because it’s obscenely hot, and his comfort and safety are paramount. Why is Estabrook wearing a hard hat? Because his comfort and safety are paramount. There are other cues and practices by the MLB guys that should be followed, too... like not checking your mobile phone between innings, and not conducting a 10-minute plate meeting.

[Mudisfun]

14 minutes ago, MadMax said:

like not checking your mobile phone between innings, and not conducting a 10-minute plate meeting.

But how else am I expected to keep up on my Twitter and Tap a Talk feeds?