I've Seen It All!!

azbigdawg

mcrowder wrote
az - normally I agree with you 100%. And with you being from AZ, I'm sure you have some experience with those 100 degree days (although I WILL say that 100 degrees and 5% humidity is hot - but 100 degrees and 95% humidity is downright awful).

But this is an exception to the rule - and we WILL match each other, with nice navy blue docker-style shorts (not tattered or old) with creases. And we wouldn't have even considered it except for the fact that due to shorthandedness, the umpire working the LEAST among us will be working for at least 6 hours, with most of us working 10, and one of us (me! yeah!) working 12.

Other than this one weekend, we are a professional looking group 100% of the time. It irks me when I see 2 of my guys looking sharp, and then look over at the adjoining baseball field and see the base umpire in ratty bluejeans and flipflops, sometimes with, sometimes without a hat. I don't think it's too horrible a sin to make this small concession to the elements on this one weekend.

And yeah, I agree it looks a little odd to wear shinguards over bare legs. But it is what it is.

I'm originally form Alabama..so Ive seen both ends of the heat and operated in both. I gotta be honest with you...I still don't like the idea...there are lost of ways to keep cooler, and its just as important to keep that sun off your legs...

One thing we also try to do here is mid tournament field breaks. We have an 18 Gold Sector tournamnet(42 teams) here the first week of June. Its not "hot" yet then, (usually only 105 or 106), but the commisioners side grabbed an extra complex, and we are scheduling games at 7,9,11 a.m. and 6,8,and 10 pm. It sounds like a LOT of wasted time, but it works WELL. The out of town teams love it, and it gives the umpires time to stay fresh. Something like that may also help your umpire shortage issue.

Good luck this weekend. Stay cool.

azbigdawg

milkmandog wrote
Since, I only wear a mask and steel toed shoes behind the plate, I don't look at all stupid in shorts. I wear either pleated dockers style shorts or coaches shorts, If I wear shin protection I wear soccer shin guards under my socks.

If you dont think you might look a little unprofessional..there is probably nothing I could say that would convince you to consider that you do. If you are one of the FEW in your area that does it..why do you think that is? If a LOT of you do it..... oh well.......:rolleyes: Also... No chest protector? what level ball are you calling?..never mind...we had an umpire here last year take a 12u pitch OFF THE GROUND onto his collarbone and break it....consider wearing one.........

mcrowder

milkmandog wrote
I do all levels up to high school. My fellow TX umpires can attest to seeing me do pony, colt and palomino games.

No offense meant here, but this doesn't make you a tough guy. It makes you foolish. A fastball at any level you mention there can break a collarbone or rib, and a shot right on the sternum CAN stop a heart. You're just asking for a problem. 3-4 shots a year is low, so if you're not bailing on fouls, you're EXTREMELY lucky, but even at that low rate, why take the abuse?

milkmandog

If ASA can approve shorts and shirts with hats, socks and belt, shoes, Why can't they be worn. How would that make you look unprofessional? I see more unprofessional looking umps in long pants then I ever look, Their pants are too small for the enormous girth around their waist. Or everything fits, but they still have that huge pot over their belt. That is unprofessional, yet the majority of my fellows in blue are too lazy to run or walk and too undisciplined to push away from the table. It also seems the vast majority of my fellow umpires spend less time reading the rule books then the coaches. I know I'm not speaking of most of us on this board.. But it seems I am working almost all my games alone even when I have a partner. The sad thing is when I work with these idiots and they make a bonehead call, and since I don't throw them under the bus, it makes me look as stupid as they are, so I tell them to make the obvious calls and I will make the close ones. If some 3rd world play occurs I have to work over time covering them. I work the majority of the games behind the plate as it seems they like to call strikes for pitches that sometimes bounce over the plate. when I try to correct their stances and giv ethem instruction on tracking pitches they say they could see it better when they hid behind the catcher and almost sat on the ground getting low., which is why they are calling shin level pitches strikes anyway, Waht really infuriates me is they get the same check I get when it is all said and done. Oh well rant over.

The real shame is, in our little corner of nort san antonio we have about 4qualified umpires to cover 16 fields anight, so we have to deal with the guys that just come out for a part time job, which is why this may be my last year to call baseball or softball.

mcrowder

AZ, looks like you were right.

azbigdawg

milkmandog wrote
If ASA can approve shorts and shirts with hats, socks and belt, shoes, Why can't they be worn. How would that make you look unprofessional? I see more unprofessional looking umps in long pants then I ever look, Their pants are too small for the enormous girth around their waist. Or everything fits, but they still have that huge pot over their belt. That is unprofessional, yet the majority of my fellows in blue are too lazy to run or walk and too undisciplined to push away from the table. It also seems the vast majority of my fellow umpires spend less time reading the rule books then the coaches. I know I'm not speaking of most of us on this board.. But it seems I am working almost all my games alone even when I have a partner. The sad thing is when I work with these idiots and they make a bonehead call, and since I don't throw them under the bus, it makes me look as stupid as they are, so I tell them to make the obvious calls and I will make the close ones. If some 3rd world play occurs I have to work over time covering them. I work the majority of the games behind the plate as it seems they like to call strikes for pitches that sometimes bounce over the plate. when I try to correct their stances and giv ethem instruction on tracking pitches they say they could see it better when they hid behind the catcher and almost sat on the ground getting low., which is why they are calling shin level pitches strikes anyway, Waht really infuriates me is they get the same check I get when it is all said and done. Oh well rant over.

The real shame is, in our little corner of nort san antonio we have about 4qualified umpires to cover 16 fields anight, so we have to deal with the guys that just come out for a part time job, which is why this may be my last year to call baseball or softball.

How many others in your area wear that outfit? And do you ever give thought that your appearance and uniform might be one of the reasons they dont take your advice seriously? Uniform is only ONE part of being a good umpire, but uniform relfects attitude.

And San Antonio explains a few things....😃

milkmandog

azbigdawg wrote
How many others in your area wear that outfit? And do you ever give thought that your appearance and uniform might be one of the reasons they dont take your advice seriously? Uniform is only ONE part of being a good umpire, but uniform relfects attitude.

And San Antonio explains a few things....😃

Fisrt of all hoss, I only wear the shorts when I work alone and the only when working 10 and under, When I work upper levels I wear umpire uniforms, not sears blue pants, but +pos or honigs. I actually polish my shoes between games and I know what appearance is. I was picked for championship games because of my appearance and mechanics. The reason most of these guys don't take my advice is because they take no ones advice. as far as appearance. Let's meet up and see which of us looks the most proffesional even in my ASA shorts I would look more professional at 170 lbs then one of you 40" waist guys with rumpled shirts and long pants that are old and about to rip apart in the seams because they are hold 20 lbs of lard in the 10 lb bag.

mcrowder

Hoss?

Hey, "Hoss", we're just going off of what you said. Now you change the story - don't blame him for commenting on what you said you wore - YOU SAID YOU WORE IT. I'm wearing shorts this weekend, as I said, but I would never say we were going to be looking professional this weekend - we're making a concious decision to give in to the elements just this once. You, however, seem to think you look good in what OBVIOUSLY (to everyone else) doesn't.

Your attitude is likely representative of EXACTLY the reason no one listens to you. You may know what you are talking about on the field, but if you present it the way you come across here, I can't blame people for blowing you off.

azbigdawg

milkmandog wrote
Fisrt of all hoss, I only wear the shorts when I work alone and the only when working 10 and under, When I work upper levels I wear umpire uniforms, not sears blue pants, but +pos or honigs. I actually polish my shoes between games and I know what appearance is. I was picked for championship games because of my appearance and mechanics. The reason most of these guys don't take my advice is because they take no ones advice. as far as appearance. Let's meet up and see which of us looks the most proffesional even in my ASA shorts I would look more professional at 170 lbs then one of you 40" waist guys with rumpled shirts and long pants that are old and about to rip apart in the seams because they are hold 20 lbs of lard in the 10 lb bag.

Im not talking about how YOU look physically...I am asking you to consider how you look wearing shorts with FP gear. In my OPINION, you look less professional by DEFAULT. I actually am MUCH more concerned by the fact that you dont wear a chest protector for your personal safety. but like I said earlier....I could reason with you all day...

and WHY arent 10u girls worth your best uniform? you have something against them?

milkmandog

I have heard all about why you believe we should be wearing a chest protector. I have just not needed one. I noticed after about 5 years of wearing one that I almost never got hit where I needed one. As far as my best uniform If all I have on is a mask, how is this not a good uniform if it is acceptable for slow pitch why not fast pitch, I would never wear shorts with shin guard or even plate shoes with the metatarsal guard. And I agree that we should all look our best, I just believe that physical size makes many umpires look sloppy and slow as well. My uniforms are always clean and pressed, My shoes and belt always shined. My bib line always straight. I even press my ball bags. I buy new hats every year and rotate them to make sure they are clean and with a garrison crease. I apologize for my attitude, It comes from a season of working 2 games a night with clueless joes. That are wearing pants, but nothing is pressedor shined and their rule books haven't even had the spine creased in them as of yet.

Dakota

milkmandog wrote
...and the only when working 10 and under, ...

I'm staying out of the "shorts don't look professional" discussion - at least this time around.

But, heck, guy, I get hit more at 10U than any other age level. Sure, the pitches are not 65 mph, but the "foul tips" 🙄 still hurt, and I can't imagine calling a FP game at any level without shin guards. I'm not into pain, no matter how temporary.

bkbjones

milkmandog wrote
The real shame is, in our little corner of nort san antonio we have about 4qualified umpires to cover 16 fields anight, so we have to deal with the guys that just come out for a part time job, which is why this may be my last year to call baseball or softball.

Please don't get too big a bruise from the doorknob hitting you on the way out.

mcrowder

Milkman - I wear shorts and look cool

Everyone else - Wearing shorts cannot look good.

Milkman - No I look cool because everyone else is fat. Plus, I'm tough because I don't wear a chest protector or normal shinguards.

Everyone else - Wearing shorts cannot look good, and you're really endangering yourself by not wearing at least the chest protector.

Milkman - Nuh, uh, Hoss... everyone else is fat - they look horrible. Besides, I only look cool in shorts for 10U, which don't deserve the full uniform.

Everyone else - Wearing shorts cannot look good.

Milkman - Yuh, huh - cause everyone else is fat.

I can't help but picture Ben Stiller in Dodgeball when I read toughguy's posts...

STFU.

milkmandog

Dakota wrote
I'm staying out of the "shorts don't look professional" discussion - at least this time around.

But, heck, guy, I get hit more at 10U than any other age level. Sure, the pitches are not 65 mph, but the "foul tips" 🙄 still hurt, and I can't imagine calling a FP game at any level without shin guards. I'm not into pain, no matter how temporary.

ok I'll be a real smart ***, how do you get hit by a foul tip?

mcrowder

Quotes and smiley apparently lost on this one...

milkmandog

So if I concede the point on shorts, How do you feel about out of shape overweight officials?

CecilOne

milkmandog wrote
So if I concede the point on shorts, How do you feel about out of shape overweight officials?

I think they are great and are some of my favorite people !!

mcrowder

milkmandog wrote
So if I concede the point on shorts, How do you feel about out of shape overweight officials?

I work softball, baseball, and football. I would say that locally I have only really worked with one softball umpire that I would consider significantly overweight - and he buys clothes that fit and busts his hump to get in position. He's very knowledgeable and fun to work with. OTOH, I would have a problem with a sloppily dressed umpire (whether overweight or not), and I would have a problem with a lazy umpire (whether overweight or not).

In football, however, we seem to have more than our fair share of plus-size officials. Some of them hustle, look good, and do their job well. Some of them don't. I do have a problem with those that don't, although again I would say I have the same problem with "in-shape" officials that look crappy or don't get into position.

Perhaps in your locale, you just have more than your fair share of overweight guys, and those guys also happen to be either lazy, sloppy, or both. I have no problem with you focusing some ire on their laziness or sloppiness. I'm not sure I agree with the bitterness solely directed to their eating habits though.

IRISHMAFIA

milkmandog wrote
If ASA can approve shorts and shirts with hats, socks and belt, shoes, Why can't they be worn.

ASA does not approve of wearing shorts. They are simply made accessible for purchase as a convenience to the membership.

How would that make you look unprofessional? I see more unprofessional looking umps in long pants then I ever look, Their pants are too small for the enormous girth around their waist. Or everything fits, but they still have that huge pot over their belt. That is unprofessional, yet the majority of my fellows in blue are too lazy to run or walk and too undisciplined to push away from the table.

That doesn't make you look any more professional, just makes them look bad, also. What does Walt think about you wearing shorts doing FP games?

It also seems the vast majority of my fellow umpires spend less time reading the rule books then the coaches. I know I'm not speaking of most of us on this board.. But it seems I am working almost all my games alone even when I have a partner. The sad thing is when I work with these idiots and they make a bonehead call, and since I don't throw them under the bus, it makes me look as stupid as they are, so I tell them to make the obvious calls and I will make the close ones. If some 3rd world play occurs I have to work over time covering them. I work the majority of the games behind the plate as it seems they like to call strikes for pitches that sometimes bounce over the plate. when I try to correct their stances and giv ethem instruction on tracking pitches they say they could see it better when they hid behind the catcher and almost sat on the ground getting low., which is why they are calling shin level pitches strikes anyway, Waht really infuriates me is they get the same check I get when it is all said and done. Oh well rant over.

That is a reflection on YOUR association. Instead of "covering" for them, maybe there should be some instruction taking place by the association.

The real shame is, in our little corner of nort san antonio we have about 4qualified umpires to cover 16 fields anight, so we have to deal with the guys that just come out for a part time job, which is why this may be my last year to call baseball or softball.

milkmandog

Again I apologize for my bitterness, it comes from a couple of seasons of working with these clowns that are fat, slow, lazy , unlearned and unkempt. I joined the high school association to work with the proffesional guys and found the same guys there for the most part, maybe we are handicapped by the fact that San Antonio is considered one of the fattest cities in the world. Any way I got to polish the shoes and shave the face for a double header tonight with a guy that will probably be wearing track shoes, dickies and have a strike zone that is everywhere but in the zone

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