Tee----------
Why not come back to the regulars? Things have slowed down a bit, not many pajama parties to frequent.
This ain't Survivor, it's not like being voted out.

Steve

As Always Tee........
 

I have always looked forward to reading every word you write........

I second Steve's plea........

C'mon back.........

We'uns got a lot of Texan's there............and we are friendly people.......

On a side note........I would also like to see JP back......another of my fav's.......two different styles......but always good info.......

But JMHO.....

Joel

Re: As Always Tee........
 

Joel,

No need to panic. I'm still here. Tee's still here. Everything's fine.

I'm just glad that <b>you're</b> still here. Where would I be without my number one fan? (grin)

Just don't go Kathy Bates in Misery on me, and make me write umpiring articles while you slam my broken legs with a sledge hammer.

What???
 

How on earth can anybody even ask the question posed in the title of this thread?

For the life of me I can't believe that....oh, wait.

Oh, I see...<b>eJection</b>, good or bad

That's different.

Never mind.

GB

Scott Higgins, Instructor
 

The question was asked about Higgy's talent as an instuctor. I attended several of Evans schools (4Desert Classics and the Pro school) and Scott was an instructor in all but one.

This guy is a class act, a fine Umpire and a marvelous instructor. The one week schools, geared for guys like me, (I stink) were kind of in a relaxed but serious atmosphere. After the days training, most of the instructors were available to us students.

Guys like Scott, Mike Fichter and others would join us for beverages and umpire talk in the evenings. Jimmy too, of course. The second year, they invited me and my partner, Batterman the Boat Builder, to their favorite umpire bar in the Phoenix area. What a trip! I am a LL umpire and they made us feel like a part of their professional fraternity.

Scott's Instructing talents really came to the forefront, to me, anyway, when me and the Boat Builder went to Florida for the 5 week school. Scottie was Evans lead guy (Camp Higgins). Their attitudes changed in this atmosphere. They were the lions and we were the Christians. Talk about taking gas from our "friends".

Anyway, after one particular session where Scott had to be the "Prick Rat" manager, (a morning session), he became quite emotional and was sitting in the dugout with a bowed head. I asked him if he was Ok. He responded by saying that this was the part of instructing that wore him out. He low profiled the afternoon session. He didn't like screaming at us wanna be umpires.

None of our "friends" were allowed to socialize with us for obvious reasons. Yeah, like me and the Boat Builder were gonna get jobs at age 55!!

The only umpire that enjoyed giving us crap was Jason Moore. Well, maybe Mattingly, too.

Anyway, Scott Higgins is top drawer material.

I'll tell you what these pro umpires are like. I run a 50 hour LL clinic in So Cal and Mattingly heard about it. He volunteered to put a team of pros together and run a full weekend (16 hours) for us, expenses only.

He drove in from Phoenix, picking up Toby Hoy and Jason Moore with him. Ramon Armendariz showed up too.

I'll bet that most of the Minor League Umpires (some now Major) would do the same for your clinics also.

Scott has not been permanently promoted. There are 19 (I think) Minor League Blacks that will rotate to the Major Leagues this year. Scotty will probably get some AAA time.

Dave Davies