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Originally Posted by umpjong
You surely dont believe this? At the higher levels it means a great deal. To propose that you should only concern yourself with outs and safes is a bit short sighted.
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What don't I believe? Fashion is not part of the criteria with which I judge umpires. If you do, so be it. I choose to be value ability over being a model.
Read the original post again.
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Would you take the field with a partner who is working the plate? His pants are obviously not plate pants. They are so tight around the legs that they barely fit over his shin guards. Because of this, his pants are about six inches too short. I was not working this game, but I was embarrassed to be watching it.
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We are not talking about dusty shoes here. As I stated, I will take talent over appearance any day. This original post smacks of generalizing, arrogance and a lack of professional demeanor.
I will work with whomever is assigned to that contest. I may not like them, but for a couple hours I am their best friend and support staff. How they look matters little to me, as long as they are safe and up to the job. I once worked a college game with a guy who forgot his base shoes. He worked the whole game (9 innings) in his old +POS low cuts and nailed the calls that came his way, though a step slower for certain. I have also worked games where the guy forgot to grab his plate pants before heading to work (then directly to the game) and looked like a sausage. With the crazy weather we get here, a guys may have multiple plate games in a row and in pretty ugly weather. I'll cut him some slack if he kicks packing them over a call.
In states where appearance is part of the ratings equation, he probably would suffer from those who are short sighted. Here in Illinois, high school contests are supposed to see umpires wearing navy blue shirts (or jackets)with an IHSA patch visible on the left sleeve. I see most preferring black and some don't have the patch. Amazingly, when playoff assignments come around they find their IHSA hats and shirt with patch though. Apparently, the coaches around here who rate them all year care more about quality than following official guidelines. While I would prefer them to be dressed appropriately, my partners were largely exceptional this year. That's a good trade.