I post because it's winter. All my baseball friends are doing something else. My overall interaction with people is way lower in the winter. I want to talk and read about baseball. I'd rather do that with people who are umpires.

I even find the infantile arguments, name calling, and petty ego stand-offs entertaining.

D

i post because a lot of the time i am on the computer. pretty much everything i do is on the computer, as i am a senior computer science major and i have a job/internship in software development at the same time. there ends up being some down time here and there while waiting for things to compile, or things are slow, or i just feel like browsing the web, so i pop on here.

it is becoming more and more of a waste of time though with the way threads turn, and sometimes watching paint dry would be more beneficial.

OK,
 

Just a harmless question or two:

Has this site gone "downhill" since McGriff has dried up?

AND,

Since I do not see many "new" screen names aren't those of us that cause the problems been reoccurring posters here and are not "new"? (Man is that terrible structure).

Tee

Nah, we had just as many throwdowns three years ago. Many of them involved Rut, but we had plenty. This place is not nirvana and some members forget that thick skin is needed below any UnderArmour.

It's a shame that one can't disagree and toss a barb to an umpire. My goodness, the instructors at pro school are way worse than anything you see here. Those guys don't go dragging tail home thinking, "That mean man couldn't just answer my question politely?"

We see the same arguments, questions and opinions surface from time to time. Some deserve a carefully constructed jeer and others demand our respect. It seems that that is the real problem. We see fewer and fewer of those threads to begin with.

Wait a minute there. I have purposely stayed out of the rash of current stupid discussions just to show how much people argue without me being involved. They were getting into long before you got here on this site and the McGriff’s site. They will get into when the people on this site decide you are no longer important and dump you. That is what baseball umpires do on the internet. They worry about the opinions of other people and try to make themselves seem as if they have done more than what they really have. You should know Windbag, you have mastered that well. :D

Peace

In umpire school, the instructors are there to teach you a lesson, and many times they are simulating a coach. They are not acting as one umpire to another. Just like when I went to boot camp as a young man, where I fully expected to be yelled at and called names, because that is what drill sergeants (and umpiring instructors) are there for. Umpires on forums should be more interested in bettering the profession, and less interested in seeing who can write better, express themselves better, or who uses better grammar. It's one thing to zing or razz someone, but personal attacks, barbs, and insults, when done in a cruel, degrading manner, should be reserved for the likes of coaches only.

Smell the Pansies
 

I haven't touched a REPLY in 6 months. Finally, I jumped all over a good high fastball and it vanishes before it crosses the plate. The post in question had 3000 views and over 200 replies. Everybody was taking a look at it. But I didn't think the moderator would pull the plug within seconds of posting a very good analogy himself.

It was a clear give and take and I took more than about anybody. If I upset someone with my stubborn refusal to give an inch, I do hope that I also provide a little entertainment value by keeping the discussion open. After all, I was the main target from the moment I chimed in on page 1 and it was up to 12 pages. Do we have to discuss whether briefs with a cup trap (from softball) will replace the baseball jock strap any time soon?

I realize my side was the underdog and that it irritated the hell out some of the old guard. But I also looked back and saw that despite the call to pull the plug early and often, NEW people did pipe in with their own opinion. I also noticed that several other more questionable posts (Davies BH, Ruts ND, Bell Curve, etc.)are no longer available for my reading pleasure.

What's going on? To see T and BU buddy up to each other smells so sweet. I haven't seen one eteamz sleaze comment lately. The eteamz site is beginning to look a lot like this one. LDUB must be on vacation. I understand the meaning of civility because I called for a more professional response from the peanut gallery myself. Let's post a reason so we learn what anyone did wrong.

A pansy - flower with bright velvety petals.

Hmmm,
 

So if I agree with the loyal opposition I am "buddying up" . . .

Me thinks not, maybe it was science against internet legend.

Tee

[Edited by Tim C on Jan 17th, 2006 at 10:21 AM]

Rut, during your absence you should have invested in reading lessons. Tee proferred the idea that the antics of this board may be related to the demise of McGriffs. He asked what others thought and I wrote that the antics we see now are little different than what was witnessed three years ago. Even at the inception of this board there were still slings and arrows. The written word is blunter than a fist but that is all we have sometimes.

You failed to see that I wrote your involvement was in many of the fracases three years ago. You have been involved in a few recently (the race related ones, HS mask, etc.) but not like the way you wre scratching and clawing three years ago. To some extent that is because I have refrained from targeting you. Others get your goat and you seem to prefer antagonizing them. That suits me just fine.

I realize that football season is over and basketball is winding into the home stretch. In two months, you'll be putting on the mask and pads for baseball. Try to relax enough to see that I wasn't baiting you as much as pointing out that you were involved much more back then.

Peas

Why I came back?
 

Read http://www.houseofpitching.com/blog/

He has some of the the same issues I have, but you still ignore them. Read http://www.houseofpitching.com/blog/

Wow. Even the mere mention of “riseball” gets the passions going in some people. The ironic part in all of this was, the riseball wasn’t even the main focus of that blog entry. But, it prompted a flury of responses… “Prove your ball moves”, “You’ve dodged this for years”, etc. Then came the folks to my defense… “If you haven’ t played, then you’ll never know”.

Irony: I PROVED IT and NOW ITS GONE.

Irony - actually, I spent a good 8 hours on the math and summarized here to DISprove it - and THEN it was deleted. You kept insisting a round object can have LIFT. It cannot. Simply physics principle.

Here Goes
 

Why do I post on umpiring forums?

I suppose it's a great way to further my passion for the hobby of officiating the game of baseball. It is after all a hobby for me. Right now while my sons are still young and playing the game I have no aspirations to move beyond the high school level. I'm a relatively young man so that might change in the future, but for now, I'm happy doing what I'm doing.

By participating on these forums I've been exposed to upper level baseball officials that I probably wouldn't have had the opportunity to hear from any place else. I live in a medium sized urban community and there just aren't that many extremely accomplished umpires here. There are good ones to be sure, but not good to the extent some of the men I've encountered on the internet are.


You can sit and read all of the rules books over and over and find yourself still not completely prepared to rule on some of the more stickey situations that are discussed on these forums. Reading and participating in these discussions allows me to stow away some arcane piece of knowledge that I may only encounter once, if ever on the diamond. When I do see it I'll be able to think back to one of these threads and remember how some of you suggested you would handle the situation.



Combining that with the opportunity to build relationships with officials from all over the country, and it's a win win situation for me. In the past year I've been invited to work games in the Netherlands, Holland, Canada, and all over our country. I've had more than my fair share of battles with certain people, but the positives far outweigh the negatives.


Tim.

Re: Smell the Pansies
 

I didn't (if I am the moderator to whom you are referring) pull the plug on the fastball rising thread. Nor have I deleted any other thread in the past couple of days. I have deleted some individual posts by PWL and BigUmp (and maybe a few others, if they referred only to those dleted posts).

"I realize my side was the underdog and that it irritated the hell out some of the old guard. But I also looked back and saw that despite the call to pull the plug early and often, NEW people did pipe in with their own opinion. I also noticed that several other more questionable posts (Davies BH, Ruts ND, Bell Curve, etc.)are no longer available for my reading pleasure."

What does "Davies BH" mean and why was it a QUESTIONABLE post? Questionable to who?? You??
I deleted my own post because it was going nowhere positive. I took a couple of mild shots at Rut and felt that it was getting out of whack.

I took a shot on the "Bell Curve" post and thought it was kinda funny. Why was THAT post questionable? To you, anyway??

Dave
******

Oh, I just deleted another one of my posts because it was a dead issue. Is that OK with you?

Check your profile to see if your email address is correct.

I used the "mail" button at the bottom of a post to send it to you.

It is? Since when?

Scratching and clawing at what?

When you write this stuff, you actually believe it?

Basketball season is still over a month from over for me. I did not respond to you because I think you were baiting me. I responded because I wanted to tell you how much full of sh!t you are. I like our banter because I know how much of a real coward you are. You talk a real big game but cannot be like a real man and say anything to my face. I get a kick out of that Windbag.

Peace

If I wanted to bait you, I would revisit your insistence that you are a strong black man and that you get all of the college assignments you want-simply because you are available.

You really should read what you wrote. I'm still laughing.

Peas and Carrots

Once again, you actually think these discussions mean something. You can use all the tag words you like, you are still after all of that a coward and cannot even stand by your words. Why would I be worried about what you say? I live in the south suburbs remember. ;)

Peace

What tag words did I use? I believe that those were the very same ones you placed on these hallowed pages. (grin)

I am still amazed at the coward reference. Didn't someone write that you hid behind the table at the IHSA AA championships? You were asked to confront an UMPS guy and you hid? That doesn't sound like a SBM to me. Maybe you were just trying to clear your schedule for all of those 'college' games. Didn't they turn out to be Juco matches? I believe that Jack Nicholson said it best in 'A Few Good Men' - "You can't handle the truth."

If there was a Code Red in IHSA Officiating, you would have been the first recipient.

Aye EYE Mate
 

"I also noticed that several other more questionable posts (Davies BH, Ruts ND, Bell Curve, etc.)are no longer available for my reading pleasure."

What does "Davies BH" mean and why was it a QUESTIONABLE post? Questionable to who?? You??
I deleted my own post because it was going nowhere positive. I took a couple of mild shots at Rut and felt that it was getting out of whack.

I took a shot on the "Bell Curve" post and thought it was kinda funny. Why was THAT post questionable? To you, anyway??

Dave
******

Oh, I just deleted another one of my posts because it was a dead issue. Is that OK with you?
-----------------------------------------
You already know the answer to these questions Mr Davies.

"What does "Davies BH" mean and why was it a QUESTIONABLE post?"
BH = Black History Part DEUCE
ND = My DAME in SB, a (1) college town,
Gravity of BELL Curve Up = Gravity of BELL Curve Down
Simply listing 3 of many which have recently VANISHED. Questionable was not meant with an upward+Pos(itive) or downward-Neg(itive) connotation. It was a neutral phrase used to describe the amount of "heat" generated on both sides of an issue, bearing NO critical reference to any one person, or any one reply.

"Questionable to who??" You??"
There was a lot more after your initial thread, (which I LIKED) than anyone cares to admit. I am not saying anyone here is RESPONSIBLE for these issues. May I add a salvo. A lot of "GAY" couples out-of-wedlock are NOW looking for a legal-wedlock certificate. I am definitely NOT QB, but your explanation to delete the post is a NICE way to avoid or ignore these UGLY issues. Where will sweeping every reply under the rug like this take us?

Oh, I just deleted another one of my posts because it was a dead issue. Is that OK with you?
No it is NOT ok with me. Your statement is not factual. A dead issue expires with the passage of time. You KILLED that THREAD in its prime, and several others have also been bludgeoned to death before OUR very eyes. We have many other witnesses who have read or replied to these posts. Their voices have been silenced forever. It is not right. We must protect the rights and opinions expressed in these BASEBALL threads.

JUST KIDDING MYSELF, don't dwell on it, don't reply to this nonsense. Just consider the deeper meaning.

Internet Legend

Fair enough, SA. I can accept your explanation.

I stand by my deletion of the "BH" post, however. When the conversation got to the point where Rut was asked whether he would make up his mind whether he was Black or an African American, I knew the converstion wasn't going to get any prettier.

Trash Rut all you want about his officiating, I don't care. BUT, trashing someone's ethnicity on this Forum is not kosher.

Dave
******

Deja Vu?
 

In response to Mr. Davies, I noticed the following
1) Your statement is not factual.
2) There was a lot more after your initial thread, (which I LIKED) than anyone cares to admit.
3) BH = Black History Part DEUCE
Gravity of BELL Curve Up = Gravity of BELL Curve Down
Simply listing 3 of many which have recently VANISHED.

The deeper meaning explained for your amusement, and to avoid arguement and insult follows.

Stike 1) Your statement is not factual. A RISING fastball can be thrown by a human right down the PIPE, with LIFT generated by a pressure difference underneath a baseball.

Stike 2) There was a lot more after your initial thread, (which I LIKED) than anyone cares to admit - LIFT, known since 1700's and the reason the Wright Brothers, not Wrong Brothers, left the ground FIRST.

Srike 3) BH = Black History Part DEUCE (as in large break on a curveball = speed plus spin plus grip plus finger pressure plus AIR PRESSURE at sea level).
Gravity of BELL Curve Up = Gravity of BELL Curve Down (as in CONSTANT ignoring FLUID DYNAMICS - Drag/Lift - of atmospheric pressure).
Simply listing 3 of many (observational and theoretical PROOFS which I provided earlier) which have recently VANISHED.

Result - Strikeouts! Gravity is only 1 of many forces directing the motion of a fastball. Ignoring all other external forces, except gravity, cannot result in another 200 Strikeouts per season. Many of these strikeouts are the direct result of a rising fastball climbing UP THE LADDER, and the others result from a left right or downward breaking pitch. Gravity is only 1 component contributing to these motions.

It's DEJA VU all over again. Then again, I didn't see it coming, but I did PROVE IT can happen, once before and AGAIN.

Ok, SA, now I'm confused. You're telling me I was arguing about a rising fast ball. Sorry Dude, that wasn't me.

In fact, I don't know what the hell you are talking about now.

Dave
******

I was in the Hospitality tent or out on the concourse the entire time. Many umpires approached the recruiting booth and were welcome to do so. Who I am is very well known. I do not work with UMPS guys so I would have no idea who they are. I know someone will take offense by this, but you all look a like to me. The only UMPS guys I know are the few I might see at the IACAO Clinics or the few that are AOA members. Do not tell me all this crap about I was afraid to confront anyone when I was just about the only Black person that was at the tournament that was watching. Actually in classic white people fashion, I was assumed to be Anthony Holman about 10 times during two days by whom else. I will be at IACAO in late February. I should also be at this year's Baseball Tournament again. I will be at the same place doing the same things, unless they move the booth for some strange reason.

Once again Windbag, bring on more laughs and giggles. Now tell me more about what I have not done and will never do. The more you talk the better things get. Keep up the good work. You will find out soon enough. ;)

Peace

The only thing we keep 'finding out' is that you stretch the truth. Enough people saw you at the AA series. I read the exchanges between you and the guys on the other board. They flat out challenged you to meet them face to face and when you didn't, you said that you were easy to find. What a coward!

Of course I was there. I told them to confront me and say something. Remember, you all look a like to me unless I know you. Who was I going to say anything to? I was in all the places that many umpires came to. There were several UMPS umpires that were at the hospitality tent with their fellow umpires that worked the state title games. I hung out with all those that were in attendance. I spend almost the entire time with an UMPS member. When he talked to people, I was right there with him. When I talked to people he was right there. Even Shrek was looking for this "group of people" and he was in the organization.

This is not about them, this is about you coward. I even worked with UMPS guys in the playoffs. Who was I running from? People know who I am, who knows your identity? Of course we will never know, because you cannot man up and say all these things to my face. :rolleyes:

Peace

SAC Double - Cliche
 

One discussion answers only your questions. You are the intended recipient and that message has been delivered to you and everybody reading this thread. I played no part in the posts that you have questioned me about, other than reading them. I understand Rut's position very well, but I will refuse to comment on this. I will not use humorous name-calling tactics here, especially after all disparaging comments from third parties have been deleted. What Rut and WWTB have going on here is their BUSINESS, not mine, and ditto to PWL and BU56's private email romance. Just imagine what they write back and forth to each other.

The second discussion challenges the BUZZARDS on this site just waiting to SALIVATE on the LEFTOVERS from Bigump56's rising fastball discussion. Unfortunately for me, that thread was also deleted. I do enjoy the give and take (slings and arrows) with the other guys. I do get a kick out of some of my comments (some real, some creative, some funny, and some so stupid) and I do get a kick out of the unexpected results. For example, I posted PANSIES and Tee replied I think NOT. You never know what the response will be. In baseball, we all make errors or have been hit by an unintentional pitch. I am sure the future holds the same results. Admit that it hurts, laugh it off, and DON'T RUB IT anymore. I guess that is why I have posted on 3 different threads over the past two weeks. Its so much LIKE BASEBALL.

<img src="http://www.axfordsabode.org.uk/images/circles.gif"></img>

it never ends

The word, "Cannabis" comes to mind.

Lie #1 You were challenged to confront the UMPS guys. I distinctly remember one of them saying that if you were a man you would spout your crap to his face. You told him you would and then hid like a little girl.

Lie #2: Shrek was not a member of that group then. He has admitted as much on two different forums.

Misleading Fact #1: "I even worked with UMPS guys in teh playoffs." What the hell does that have to do with the issue. Just like every African American in Wheaton isn't a knuckle dragging, mouth breathing moron, not every guy in their organization knows who you are.

Misleading Fact #2: The best part of this is that you don't know who I am but it just kills you. I even ran into you at a basketball tournament in December. I've shook your hand (easy guys, I washed) at a baseball function. The guys around me knew what I do here and were laughing their asses off that you were being nice to me.

You are proving my initial statement on this thread. You were at the heart of many battles a few years ago. Many others throttled you far greater than I wanted to. You are an easy target and these boards know it. I tossed out a line and like a small fish trying to prove he can do what the bigger fish do, you gobbled the bait and were tossed ashore. This is getting too easy.

Jeff:

Do you think this can become less of a bigoted statement by adding the subtle disclaimer you tried to include?

Of course people will take offense to this statement.

Hopefully people of all races are offended by off hand remarks like these. Does this ideology of yours apply to all races, or just the white race?

I'm not trying to pick a fight with you, Jeff. I just hope you can see how terrible that last statement you made was.

Tim.

Maybe the problem is you are not offended enough. ;)

Peace

I will put it to you like this Windbag. I am not going anywhere. I will be in the same spots. I do not need to hide behind anything. If you have something to say, I will be there. Not sure how someone hides when they participate in very public events and attend a lot of events where many officials attend. Everything I am saying is in the light and everything you are saying is behind a curtain. Not different than the Wizard in the Wizard of OZ. You talk a big game but are a fraud after everything is said.

Peace

You're funny...many people know who I am. Even the man you mentioned earlier knows me and my experience. In fact, we know each other VERY well.

If you haven't figured out who I am after three and a half years it is because we run in very different circles. I have little interest in slumming with your crowd. It is much more fun to point of your mistakes to this board and others who know you. I'll probably poke my head in at IACAO (who's running that clinic?) and see the high school gang. I'll grab some new gear and mingle. Be a SBM and stop by, I won't be hard to find - check the theater at 3. (big hint) If you know where to look and aren't a coward, that is.

Since I've used the Wizard of Oz reference dozens of times here, it is nice to see that you've finally picked up on it. You have much in common with the Lion.