How is everyone's season?

[philaump]

I have game #18 tonight.

Despite my request to be put on the bases more often, 14 of my 17 games have been on the plate.  I requested to do bases only during the week, because I am coming straight from work.
 

[Vegas_Ump]

Being retired, I can handle just about anything.  Being an OLD retired guy, maybe not triple headers, OK?  🙂

This season has shown me a few things:

1.  The one year hiatus from COVID has denied skills development and experience at all levels.  The sizes of the leagues have contracted because some kids either don't want to play baseball anymore or the parents are worried about social distancing.

2.  For the most part, despite the poor skills, the coaches are working their butts off to keep teaching and keeping the confidence up.  God bless them for their patience and dedication.  Despite some really sucky games, it's these adults that motivate me to keep coming back as a volunteer.

3.  That having been said, some coaches and parents have lost their minds!  I have ejected more coaches/managers PRE-GAME for pissant arguments where they decided they could challenge the integrity of the umpires.  Some 90' players have attitudes like I have never seen before. So some fuses are short.

A few other points:  I may have lost a step, and my eyes are having trouble picking up the ball off the bat.  Maybe it' time to hang up the mask, as I might not be able to support baseball like I used to.

Mike

Las Vegas

[agdz59]

I've done 60+ from LL minors up through High School JV.   Most have been 10U-12U travel ball games (NFHS) in five weekend tournaments with 7-9 games per weekend.

But it was the middle school and high school games through the local association that have really helped me grow - which was the goal.  

There will be 7 or 8 more tournaments plus various summer leagues for the rest of the year.

All in all, I've been pleased with my progress and look forward to getting better at the craft.  The goal is to work some Varsity and higher level American Legion games next year.

[ArchAngel72]

21 games scheduled all at LL level split pretty evenly between Minors (8-10) and Majors (10-12)  and I have also jumped in and helped my UiC and DA on 3 games where I helped train a couple noobs and helped the UiC as we both enjoy having each other out on the bases once in a while to keep sharp on those areas.  To note I did do one intermediate 50/70 scrimmage too

Of my 21 scheduled I think 6 have been canceled for weather now.

Of the talent on the field  I see the 8 to 10's being just that 8 to 10 yr olds not much of a change

10 to 12's well yes there does seem to be 50% or so of the kids there seem under developed and or never played before.

The one Intermediate  50/70 game I was excited to do as I would get to see more talented kids....

well as a joke the UiC calls the minors "dodgeball" as behind the plate we are dodging horrible pitching all the time. 

Yeah my 50/70 game was more like that except 2 pitchers were throwing near 70 if not just above and Damned if I did not take a one hopper right in the cup while in the slot.   Thankfully it was a square hit and more stunned me than hurt but yeah I was a little jumpy for the next 3 outs or so.

 

 

[HokieUmp]

Had game #78 on Friday.  HS is about to start the third week of the playoffs at the end of the week.

Lost some HS scrimmages from the week of stupid actual winter that we got in Texas.  Since we had a drought until recently, rain hadn't killed too many games.

I decided to just go ahead and put my hands up for postseason ball at the HS level, finally.  I was never a big fan of spending all year doing 2-man, then just as the game started REALLY meaning something, doing mechanics we're not remotely as familiar with.  But since I realized *I* was gonna change long before The System did, I decided to give it a try.  I like the TASO 4-man mechanics, and can't wait for the the day when I'm not reminding myself what to do before every pitch.

Soon be time for just the house leagues and the travelling roadshow of "select"/"elite"/whatever ball.

[SeeingEyeDog]

@Vegas_Ump...those who can? Do. Those who can't anymore? Have MUCH to offer in their experience and should consider instructing or helping those on the field.

When you hang up the gear for the last time, take some time in the off-season and think about reaching out to your local LL or umpire associations and offer to help train and or evaluate other umpires. Chat up any and all catchers about working as umpires etc.

~Dawg

[aaluck]

Had a shortened HS season because of a family emergency and didn't do any youth ball this year.  The youth leagues were so small that I decided to let the younger folks make that money. So for me this year was very similar to last year--short and sweet.

[MadMax]

Tomorrow will be my 36th and final sanctioned H.S. game of the season. Of course, there were a dozen or so scrimmages before the season actually kicked off. 

Because the Arizona high schools were prohibited from playing against out-of-state clubs, the clubs still came here and played against each other in a variety of tournaments and events. I must have done some 60 of those, too. 

College was limited, as a number of California -based schools would cancel games, often with barely 48-hour notice. I lost over a dozen games. I did manage to get 18 college games in, across two conferences. 

Adult babysitting Men's League games filled the weeknights... had 14 of those.

Unfortunately, the MLB clubs were not allowing us independent umpires to conduct games – intrasquad, simulated or otherwise – so I didn’t do anything there. One of my fellow Vultures and I did do a 2-game “scout session” for college age players playing on a MLB-ST field, being observed by MLB staff. Wood bats, no hard lineup kept, etc. 

So now I hear that MLB/MiLB will have extended spring training underway into June... I’ll be headed out at the end of the week to start my summer season on the road! 

 

[GreyhoundAggie]

1 hour ago, HokieUmp said:

Had game #78 on Friday.  HS is about to start the third week of the playoffs at the end of the week.

Lost some HS scrimmages from the week of stupid actual winter that we got in Texas.  Since we had a drought until recently, rain hadn't killed too many games.

I decided to just go ahead and put my hands up for postseason ball at the HS level, finally.  I was never a big fan of spending all year doing 2-man, then just as the game started REALLY meaning something, doing mechanics we're not remotely as familiar with.  But since I realized *I* was gonna change long before The System did, I decided to give it a try.  I like the TASO 4-man mechanics, and can't wait for the the day when I'm not reminding myself what to do before every pitch.

Soon be time for just the house leagues and the travelling roadshow of "select"/"elite"/whatever ball.

Jesus. You were a game monger this season. I did 48 games so far ( we will see what Round 3 of HS playoffs hold) and that felt like a lot of games.

It's definitely weird working 2 man all year and then get to playoffs and start working 3-4 man. But it comes back pretty quick mechanics wise.

[Velho]

Only done 9 since I'm competing for time with work and my HS Jr. son's games (after losing last season I'm determined not to miss another one of his games).

All LL with 4 Majors, 4 AAA, 1 Softball (1st time) and did my first solo as well. Son's season mercifully ending (Yes, "daddy ball" (actually "grandaddy ball") happens even in HS. It's made it a frustrating year) plus playoffs/ TOCs/All Stars will easily double up that number. 

[noumpere]

I opted out until I was fully vaccinated (plus the two weeks).  That was May 1.  Working almost every day since then.  I was a little rusty, but the volleyball officiating skills came back -- the mental part is still a work in progress.

[kylehutson]

17 hours ago, Velho said:

my HS Jr. son's games (after losing last season I'm determined not to miss another one of his games)

That's the way it should be, even without losing a season. You've only got one family, and they should be your priority.

As for me, I just counted 34 college games (JuCo and NAIA), 20 HS varsity games, and 9 sub-varsity games (and not counting the rec-ball games I coordinate for, where I don't even have to don any equipment).

[HokieUmp]

20 hours ago, GreyhoundAggie said:

Jesus. You were a game monger this season. I did 48 games so far ( we will see what Round 3 of HS playoffs hold) and that felt like a lot of games.

It's definitely weird working 2 man all year and then get to playoffs and start working 3-4 man. But it comes back pretty quick mechanics wise.

Dude - that's not all school ball!  Sorry, I wasn't clear on that.  That includes a couple men's games, some of the travelling road show stuff, and some house league already.  Actual school ball?  About 50, maybe?  I don't think I'll be doing any 3rd round stuff - I've looked on Arbiter, and our chapter doesn't have a lot stored there in the Master Calendar.

I've tended not to ever put my hand up for playoffs before - I've done a 2-man and a 3-man game back in Virginia, but I've taken the stance that playoffs are too important for those guys for me to go out and stumble around working unfamiliar mechanics.  But this year, I felt - they tell me it's called "ambition" - so I took games.  My first round series had 3 of the 4 of us being 4-man-virgins.  And yet we survived. 

[GreyhoundAggie]

Only way to learn 3-4 man is to call it right? It helps to have some good veterans on the crew to teach you.

I wouldn't view it as the games are too important for you not to go out there. The chapter put you on the game for a reason and wouldn't do it if they didn't think you deserved to be there. It's the reward for the long slog of the season.

We still have quite a few teams alive  that use our chapter so I'm hoping I squeeze another round out.

[Scissors]

Only had 9 games so far, all rec. Had all my JV games cancelled due to bad weather a few weeks ago. Wish I had as much time as some of the guys on here do for games, but balancing school, work (after school!) and a couple other hobbies lets me only have three days a week open.

[BCBrad]

Sure fellas, rub it in. 

On the north side of the 49th, we have been in practice mode for outside sports. No games for 2021. I’m hoping our Head Provincial Health Officer will ease restrictions after the May  long weekend. With luck, I may see a field in June. 

 

[MadMax]

11 hours ago, BCBrad said:

No games for 2021.

How’s that nationalized health care system lookin’ now, eh?

[BCBrad]

1 hour ago, MadMax said:

How’s that nationalized health care system lookin’ now, eh?

Well Max, out of a population of 5.1 million, my province has had about 1660 deaths. That is 0.003% if my math is right.

My 86-year-old aunt, my 82-year-old dad, my 80-year-old uncle and my 77-year-old mom have been well for their ages this past year, have not been exposed to the virus, and have had their vaccinations. I would take that over a game of baseball to umpire right now.

Hopefully, everyone can safely start doing games soon.

[MadMax]

16 minutes ago, BCBrad said:

I would take that over a game of baseball to umpire right now.

Right, but it hasn’t been games of baseball, or games of soccer, or tennis matches, or tiddlywinks that infect people. It’s sitting around, in confined, circulated air with prolonged (we’re talking minutes, not seconds) exposure that does it. Sure, COVID is real, but it’s not on the ball field to any significant peril or threat. 

[Kevin_K]

Correct me if I am wrong, @MadMax, this is a site about baseball, isn't it? There are lots of other places that indulge in many other topics, but I have found this site most attractive because of its focus on umpiring.

My season has been chock full of not only baseball, but boys and girls volleyball as well. Since the beginning of March I have been a part of 27 volleyball matches and 25 baseball games, including HS varsity, JUCO, and DIII. In volleyball there are never any rainouts and no need to layer up for those balmy 38 degree March days were a zephyr like breeze caresses my cheeks at 35-40mph. State playoffs await as does summer college leagues.

The first athletic event I officiated was wonderful because it was kids being kids and people starting to emerge from a darkness that most of us would like to keep in the past. Most of the folks in these parts are happy to be doing normal things even if they need to make some modifications. I have noticed as the season has progressed some of the usual suspects are showing cracks in their civility, but nothing crazy. I'm sure it will find its way back to normal sooner or later.

 

[eric0531]

On 5/17/2021 at 6:03 PM, noumpere said:

I opted out until I was fully vaccinated (plus the two weeks).  That was May 1.  Working almost every day since then.  I was a little rusty, but the volleyball officiating skills came back -- the mental part is still a work in progress.

Like you I opted to wait until I was vaccinated plus 2 weeks, which for me was 5/14. Had my first games last Sunday (one 16U, one 18U) and finished my first week with 6 games after an 18U double-header yesterday. A little rusty after no games last year but by yesterday I was feeling much better about things and was really comfortable behind the plate for the first time.

Coaches have been pretty good so far other than the one who argued that his player couldn't possibly have committed interference because he was in the baseline when he ran into the fielder who was trying to catch a pop up. And that was an 18U coach! The pitching quality is down this year but given what we've all been through that's not a surprise.

As of now I've got 40 games scheduled but there is talk of the summer leagues possibly extending their seasons through August rater than ending in late July so hopefully that happens and I end up closer to 60. It feels great to be back on the field!

[mac266]

My season is going great.  This is my second year umpiring; last year I did LL and rec league for youth.  This year I moved up to high school and our HS association has a great training program.  I'm 1000% better than I was last year.  No chirping about my zone, and barely any disagreements about perceived missed calls.  I got myself a mentor who is a collegiate umpire and he is helping me learn and continue to get better so I can eventually work at that level someday.  Last year I worked almost exclusively one-man mechanics, so I was not in position to make most calls.  This year we have two-man for every game except for one so far.