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Our 18u winter league just finished its tounament on Tuesday, 20 December. As always, I had the championship game behind the plate.
Rio Grande City played Hidalgo. Bobby Bonds, with an alumninm bat, could hit a ball that would fall perhaps 200 yards from Mexico.
Temperature at game time: 51 degrees. Fans: about 100. Frozen plate umpire: 0. I was wearing my all-weather UnderArmour, tops and bottoms, and my umpire pull-over jacket. About the fifth inning, with the temp dropping into the high 40s, I took off the jacket: Too warm.
Seriously! And I'm a guy who, when the temperature drops below 70, puts on an overcoat.
That's my first point.
My second point:
Johnny Damon as a Yankee?
Yuk!
But my main point:
At the pregame one of the coaches said a curious thing. The other was quick to agree, of course. The visiting coach (50 miles between the two cities) said: "Carl, I'm always glad to have you umpire our games because I know it will be called fair."
Not good. Fair.
He was the third coach to tell me that this season. The Weslaco coach said: "Carl, you and Javi are the most fair umpires I know."
Not good. Fair.
I told this to my boss at lunch today. He pitched in the Astros' organization until he hurt his arm.... Coach Allen said it meant they knew I didn't care who won. I said it meant they knew umpires who did.
So my questions is: Which is better: fair or good?
Our spring season starts January 5. It was scheduled to start on the fourth but that's the evening Texas whips USC.
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