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I did my first 12U rec ball game of the year a couple of nights ago. Mind you, I've already worked about 25 HS varsity, JuCo, and D1 games so far, and I've taken a couple of hits off my forearm and thigh, but nothing too painful.
In the first inning of the 12U game, the catcher didn't even get a whiff of leather on the pitch and it nailed me on the right hand, splitting my fingernail and busting up a couple of knuckles. I worked the rest of the game with my hands behind me, and was dodging and weaving pitches to keep from getting hit more than the dozen or so times I did get nailed. I walked away from that two-hour "game" so disgusted with life, I wanted to throw my gear in the dumpster on the way to my Jeep.
Amazing how intolerant I'm getting as I grow older...
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"Let's face it. Umpiring is not an easy or happy way to make a living. In the abuse they suffer, and the pay they get for it, you see an imbalance that can only be explained by their need to stay close to a game they can't resist." -- Bob Uecker
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