This is Blue Force One...requesting takeoff on the 2025 season...

[SeeingEyeDog]

Greetings brothers,

     Well, I have just completed one of my favorite nights of the umpiring season! Ah yes...the night I sort through the gear and uniforms and pack it all in the car for another 8 months of umpiring. Every year brings something a little different it seems...for 2025, I am actually beginning my season with a game, a scrimmage, another game, 3 scrimmages and then it's all games after that. Good thing I spent some time in the cage over the past month. Brothers, I wish you one and all, near and far that you all have your best seasons ever. And a special shout out to those here on U-E, those locally and those across the global blue brotherhood who have announced their retirements. You have laid down your burden of The Craft for the last time. We will hoist it high in the hopes that it shines as bright as ever. You are not forgotten. We carry you with us and all that you have taught us for tomorrow...we RIDE!

~Dawg

[834k3r]

13 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

Greetings brothers,

     Well, I have just completed one of my favorite nights of the umpiring season! Ah yes...the night I sort through the gear and uniforms and pack it all in the car for another 8 months of umpiring. Every year brings something a little different it seems...for 2025, I am actually beginning my season with a game, a scrimmage, another game, 3 scrimmages and then it's all games after that. Good thing I spent some time in the cage over the past month. Brothers, I wish you one and all, near and far that you all have your best seasons ever. And a special shout out to those here on U-E, those locally and those across the global blue brotherhood who have announced their retirements. You have laid down your burden of The Craft for the last time. We will hoist it high in the hopes that it shines as bright as ever. You are not forgotten. We carry you with us and all that you have taught us for tomorrow...we RIDE!

~Dawg

[834k3r]

Last night, got my first pre-season scrimmage. Plate shoes are shined (I know, @MadMax, I know. Military habits die hard.). Truck's loaded up.

[MadMax]

1 minute ago, 834k3r said:

first pre-season scrimmage

[834k3r]

On 3/5/2025 at 8:15 AM, 834k3r said:

Last night, got my first pre-season scrimmage. Plate shoes are shined (I know, @MadMax, I know. Military habits die hard.). Truck's loaded up.

Scrimmage out of the way. Rust started to come off pretty quickly, but I do apologize to those two batters I rang up on pitches that were probably too far outside and down.  

@DerekGDS, the BFX Pro plate pants were great--though I probably should have hemmed them an inch longer than I did.

@concertman1971, I think my Thigh-Pros are defective. I haven't been hit in the legs at all since I got them.

[concertman1971]

On 3/8/2025 at 6:43 PM, 834k3r said:

@concertman1971, I think my Thigh-Pros are defective. I haven't been hit in the legs at all since I got them.

Thats what I have been hearing!