[umpbrian]

Gentlemen,
I could care less whose is bigger or who got to varsity first. Let's please put away the petty bickering and get back to the subject of baseball. I do not claim to be a great umpire, I am just looking for a little insight into the game and its workings that I can use to improve myself. It is very discouraging to have to sift through 25 posts of endless inane banter just to find one worthwhile nugget. Not every post will please everyone and not everyone will agree on every rule. State your opinion and move on leave the personal jabs at home. It was once written..."An umpire is a loner. The restraints of his trade impose problems not normally endured by players, coaches, management, press and others connected with organized baseball. He is a friend to none. More often he is considered an enemy by all around him - including the fans in the stands who threaten his life." - Art Rosenbaum in The San Francisco Chronicle (1965) The only friends that we have are our fellow umpires who understand what we have to put up with. No sense in beating our own into submission. Just my two cents worth and thats at least three more than I have right now.