I didn't say that league officials or TD's were "water boys". I wouldn't insult them like that. I said they "have" water brought to us. Usually by volunteers, concession stand workers or bench personnel.

B2d ....................
 

I have the greatest respect for your opinion on all matters concerning baseball, but I am not taking the chance that league officials and tournament directors will provide me with water. Many times I would have been sorely dissappointed (and dehydrated) if I had not brought my own water with me.

Silly, in your eyes perhaps. But I am not relying on anyone but myself for my health and well-being.



Doug

I realize that they really aren't water boys, that was just a joke. We have some tournaments like this too. I am just saying that not all baseball that gets played has caring people in attendance to assist the umpires in obtaining water during games.

I have spent many an afternoon on a dry, dusty field, in 100 degree + heat, with no concession stand, no volunteers, no water in either dugout (amazing, but true) and if I didn't have my own, I would have been S.O.L.

This is especially true in adult leagues, such as the Mexican-American League games in the North County area of San Diego. The area here is a desert, and many summer games are played where temperatures on the field reach 120 degrees, with humidity in the 90 + range. If you don't have your own drinks, you are not going to fair well in these conditions working 9-inning double-headers.

In the 10 innning game I mentioned earlier no one brought me water until the 9th innning. I brought my own though.

I don't mind going to the dugout for water if they have a cooler, and cups, but I generally bring my own if it is warm enough.

(Sigh) I didn't say hydrating was silly. I didn't even say carrying water to the field was silly. I said water bottles hanging on the backstop looked silly...to me. And, it does.

If you feel the need to carry water, fine...keep it out of the field of play.

Some backstops in my area have a pad on it, allowing for you to stick a water and rag behind there, without it falling off the bottom.

I don't care if it looks silly sitting against the fence. It looks sillier when I feint. Where else am I going to put it? The dugout? I'd be nervous somebody would spit in it after a bad call :)

It is a job of the umpire to make sure no objects are in the field of play. It seems inconsistent to me for an umpire to put an object in the field of play.



It would look silly indeed to see you "feint", especially if it were to first and you were in contact with the rubber.

I know that some umpires think water bottles on the field look unsightly, but Garth, what do you want us to do, go all the way outside the ballpark to get a drink? Go in the dugout with possibly angry players and coaches? My semi-frozen 32 oz. Gatorade bottle sits over by the fence (in the shade, if possible), and if the ball hits it, it remains in play. I have never heard one single negative comment about the position of these bottles.

The players and coaches hang all sorts of stuff on the fence, including water bottles as well as equipment and helmet bags. These things aren't considered silly, so what is silly about an umpire hanging a water bottle on the fence? Who really pays attention to such trivial, mundane things, except for a fellow umpire and his opinion?

Yes, if you are working a D-1 or pro game, you would have no need to have your own water, because it would be provided, as these people think in advance about the umpires. I agree that carrying water at this high level doesn't look good, either. But in the real world of bush league baseball, most people could care less if the umpire drops dead, and never give two thoughts as to their hydration needs.

I have worked games in southern California in which the leagues and tournaments were not as enlighted. I had my own water. I never found it necessary to place it anywhere in violation of the rules. Perhaps that's a bit anal retentive, but as an umpire I do not believe I should violate the rules. Feel free to disagree. This thread isn't really worth the lifespan it already has.

So, how about that nifty skeet shooting vest by Gerry Davis?:D

Garth ...............
 

While agreeing that this thread has outlived its worth (as do most that go beyond four posts or include SA:D ), the intent was not to irritate you, just to provide my .02.

I still hold your opinion in high regard and enjoy reading anything you post.



Doug

To not drink water (or whatever else is needed to remain hydrated) because of some concern over going into the dugout, getting it from one team or the other, or whatever other reason is just plain stupid. Do we not understand how important it is to keep yourself hydrated, on and off the field? God knows I've learned the hard way.

I've dealt with a bout of kidney stones recently, the cause of which can partly be attributed to my not drinking enough fluids in general. I can assure you that I won't do that again. We are all supposed to drink our wieght in water in ounces every day, so if you're 225 lbs., you're supposed to consume 225 ozs. of water pr day. Admittedly, I doubt many of us follow this guideline, but I'm sure trying to, that's for sure.

During summer ball I bring a cooler jug (usually a 1- or 2-gallon one) of cold water with me onto the field. I set it aside near the backstop's corner, usually out of sight or so. I make sure that I use it whenever I can, which is usually once every other inning at a minimum. If I run out, or when I do spring games, I have no problem whatsoever going to a duguout to grab a drink from either a cup or water bottle. In my D1 or other higher level games, as well as the nice schools in D2 and D3, liquids are provided. Some venues even have water fountains in the dugout. I never hesitate to use them.

My own health is far more important than some stupid feeling of pride, vanity, or anything else that some might otherwise be too worked up about.

I think you have the wrong take on what I said about wanting to go into the dugouts. I have on many occasions gotten water from teams during games. I would just rather have my own, and not need to do so. It has nothing to do with pride or vanity, I just prefer staying away from the dugouts whenever possible. If that is the only source of hydration available, I will use it. I tend to drink a whole lot of Gatorade during games, as I prefer this to plain water. Usually, Gatorade is not available in the dugouts, only water.

Steve, I wasn't directing my post to you directly; rather, it was aimed at the general masses.

I work with a guy every Summer who, no $hit, brings a big ice chest to the field with him. He fills it up with several bottles of Gatorade, a few bottles of water, and leaves a wet bath towel in the thing. On the half inning he goes to whatever dugout he left it in, soaks his head in the towel, and slams a drink.



Tim.