Thunderheads Posted April 29 Report Share Posted April 29 After much thought, many conversations and exhausting contemplation, the 2024 baseball season will be my umpire swan song. New work responsibilities ( 10-11-12 hours a day sometimes ) .... my own added stress I put on myself to perform and do a good job, the timelines/ deadlines for post-season, the time and grind of the game prep, physically and mentally, the list goes on and on. Do I still love it, ...yes I do, I can't say I don't, but the above takes away from that, and it's become a "chore", and "another job" ... and I'm just tired of feeling that way. I started umpiring in 1990. Took a break after the summer of 1995, and came back to it in 2010, and ... here I am 14 years later (I joined this site in 2009). Not including the canceled season of 2020, that’s 20 years. Yeah ... I'm good. Does it make me sad, ... yes, it does to an extent, but ...at the same time it makes me happy (if that makes sense)! A lot of my burden is self-induced, I know that, but it’s my nature. I’m a people pleaser involved in a job/hobby/craft where it’s IMPOSSIBLE to please everyone, but damnit, I’m going to try **says me shaking my head** 🙄 To everyone I’ve ever umpired with and had umpire conversations with, and to all of those I've learned from on this site ....THANK YOU. What an education this site has been for me over the past 14 years! It’s been a great ride, a great education, and quite a realization as to how much time and effort it takes to be a good official. 20 combined years of doing this and there’s PLENTY more areas where I could improve, but at the end of the day, I know I always gave it my all, and I was always eager to learn and to get better. I was blessed with being able to work a Sate Finals for the MHSAA in 2018, an incredible experience and memory. I was also able to work a showcase double-header last season at Comerica Park with a great partner and friend, Jeff Sandora ( @UmpJeff). To umpire on an MLB field was one of my few ‘umpire bucket list’ items, for sure. I'll still be here on the site, so this will be my avenue to 'remain in the game'! Thanks again to everyone. I’ll never drive by a baseball field again without my heart skipping a beat. Chat soon! 8 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
834k3r Posted April 29 Report Share Posted April 29 We'll all eventually join you hanging up the mask. Good for you knowing when to leave before it becomes too much; the temptation of "oh, I can handle it" is tremendous. We look forward to continued interactions here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfe_man Posted April 29 Report Share Posted April 29 Congratulations on your contributions and thank you for your service! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLWizzRanger Posted April 29 Report Share Posted April 29 Please tell us if Umpire's regret is real... you know, you are walking past some clothing store and see the Navy Blue shirt in the window... Will you get pangs of regret for leaving the vocation? 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeeingEyeDog Posted April 30 Report Share Posted April 30 11 hours ago, BLWizzRanger said: Please tell us if Umpire's regret is real... you know, you are walking past some clothing store and see the Navy Blue shirt in the window... Will you get pangs of regret for leaving the vocation? Well...I mean...perhaps not so much the...NAVY shirt, per se...Cream shirt? Oh yeah! @Thunderheads, it's unfortunate that some of your decision is professionally driven. It's tough when work life negatively impacts hobby/umpire life. I hope it's a great advancement opportunity for you and you are fulfilled professionally and financially from it. If you aren't working games anymore, I would encourage you (if you are not already) to connect with your local Little League, Babe Ruth or local baseball league(s) and engaging on some sort of training/mentoring level. Bro, you have close to 30 years of umpire experience in your soul. You have so much to share with other umpires. Another option would be volunteering to speak with high school coaches and players about new rule changes before the start of the season and/or "How To Engage With Umpires 101" a.k.a. The Man Behind The Mask type program. I don't know your life and it's none of my business...I just wish for you to find another role around The Game that doesn't require you to work games if that's what you truly want for yourself. Be well and keep safe always, brother. ~Dawg 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grayhawk Posted April 30 Report Share Posted April 30 Wow Jeff, that time will come for all of us, but I'm glad you are hanging it up on your own terms. I thought 2018 might have been my last, and not even close to on my own terms, but I know it's coming at some point. Congratulations on your retirement and for being an umpire's umpire. Forever in the brotherhood... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elares Posted April 30 Report Share Posted April 30 Thank you for sharing your wisdom here. I have learned a lot from your posts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderheads Posted April 30 Author Report Share Posted April 30 8 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said: it's unfortunate that some of your decision is professionally driven. It's tough when work life negatively impacts hobby/umpire life. I hope it's a great advancement opportunity for you and you are fulfilled professionally and financially from it. Thanks Dawg. Well, you must understand the context. My job has never really interfered with umpiring, and I've always had great bosses who understood. My new responsibilities is a new thing, and it's just making doing games more difficult, but ... my work life is just one reason for it all as I stated. Plus, let's not forget, I'm not a spring chicken either 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderheads Posted April 30 Author Report Share Posted April 30 7 hours ago, elares said: Thank you for sharing your wisdom here. I have learned a lot from your posts Thank you, ...but I'll still be on the site 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderheads Posted April 30 Author Report Share Posted April 30 8 hours ago, grayhawk said: Wow Jeff, that time will come for all of us, but I'm glad you are hanging it up on your own terms. I thought 2018 might have been my last, and not even close to on my own terms, but I know it's coming at some point. Congratulations on your retirement and for being an umpire's umpire. Forever in the brotherhood... Thanks Steve, that means a lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StatsUmp Posted May 2 Report Share Posted May 2 I definitely agree with @grayhawk that it's preferable to hang it up on your own terms. Better to walk away when you can still feel good, and a bit proud, about what you've done over all these years. I'm glad I got the chance to meet/see you at the 2022 and 2023 SEMUC camps, and I wish you the best moving forward. If time and interest permit, I hope you consider @SeeingEyeDog's suggestion of finding ways to remain in the sport outside of umpiring. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velho Posted May 2 Report Share Posted May 2 I see instructing at a lot of clinics in your future @Thunderheads 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Umpire in Chief Posted May 3 Report Share Posted May 3 Been there just under different circumstances. My new job in 2018 wasn't flexible with my umpiring schedule and I stepped away, but it really wasn't planned and not truly my decision. At first I think it will be hard, but then you'll get to the point where you really appreciate the open time you have because you're not umpiring. But congrats to you and your umpiring career. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRUMP Posted May 6 Report Share Posted May 6 Congrats Jeff, great run. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richvee Posted May 6 Report Share Posted May 6 Congrats on a great umpiring career. I echo the thoughts of @SeeingEyeDog Stay involved. Teach, evaluate for your association. Spread the wisdom and passion you have for the craft. I keep thinking about the day I can’t get around on the field like I want to, and I’ll have to hang it up. I’m not ready, but when the time comes I know I want to stay involved in the craft in some capacity. Good luck moving on! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noumpere Posted May 13 Report Share Posted May 13 On 4/29/2024 at 11:17 AM, BLWizzRanger said: Please tell us if Umpire's regret is real... you know, you are walking past some clothing store and see the Navy Blue shirt in the window... Will you get pangs of regret for leaving the vocation? I think the regret is not being able to stand around in your underwear in the school parking lot. It turns out that the authorities frown on that if you are not an umpire. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMax Posted May 13 Report Share Posted May 13 On 4/30/2024 at 6:56 AM, Thunderheads said: Plus, let's not forget, I'm not a spring chicken either That’s it! You’ve got a new nickname!!! <clears throat> “Fall Chicken” 🐓 🤣 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLWizzRanger Posted May 13 Report Share Posted May 13 3 hours ago, noumpere said: I think the regret is not being able to stand around in your underwear in the school parking lot. It turns out that the authorities frown on that if you are not an umpire. I don't think I want to test that theory whether I had my gear with me or not. True story that has happened in the past two weeks. While in a park's parking lot, I was separated from my partners by a couple of spaces and a row (lane between our rows). My slim deficient partner was undressing at a diagonal from me and while keeping his shirt on, he discretely pulled his pants down and sat quickly in his chair. The mother of the family that was sitting in the car next to me, waiting for soccer practice to end (I assume), started saying loudly 'that's disgusting' and he shouldn't be doing it around children, yada yada yada. We were 50 to 75 yards from fields. I could just chuckled under my breath as she went on and on. I was more in shock as he finished putting on his shorts and took his shirt off. Nobody wanted to see that. lol 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wood Posted June 3 Report Share Posted June 3 Umpiring is not the most relaxing hobby and it must be hard to combine it with a demanding stressful job. After a bad game I wonder what the heck I am doing. I love the game though and enjoy working with the young players. I am close to retirement and baseball will keep me busy and provide income at some point. All the best. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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