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[SanDiegoSteve]

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.

[UMP25]

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

[Carbide Keyman]

Originally Posted by GarthB

School ball is played in cool weather here. During summer ball, when it is hot, league officials and tournament directors will have water brought to us.

I don't carry anything on to the field that isn't umpiring gear. I don't need to worry about where to put a jug or bottle or bota bag. I think one of the silliest things I see at LL fields is umpire's water bottles hanging off the backstop.

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

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by Carbide Keyman

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

(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.

[TussAgee11]

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

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

I don't care if it looks silly sitting against the fence. It looks sillier when I feint

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.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by GarthB

(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.

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.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

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.