Naw, it's to keep your nuts cool.

Different colors keep them even cooler. Rich said so.

It's true, it's true.......

I have a hard time understanding why anyone would put fitump on their ignore list. Are his comments too truthful to handle? Does his knowledge of the game intimidate you? Are his questions about rulings and plays to complicated for some to understand? I need answers.

As you get older, you'll understand.

You're right, they make little difference , but I'm already ticked off that I've had to listen to the, "Why I can't work the plate excuses!"

I find lighter colors to be noticeably cooler. Dark colors are warmer than light colors in the sun.

Worst idea in baseball = designated hitter.

Best innovation for umpires = wicking undergarments (no brand specified).

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by canadaump6
I have a hard time understanding why anyone would put fitump on their ignore list. Are his comments too truthful to handle? Does his knowledge of the game intimidate you? Are his questions about rulings and plays to complicated for some to understand? I need answers.
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Gosh, Bob, he's supposed to learn when? He's out there busting his butt on the field just like you and me so why not give him a straight answer?

Or is he right?

I'm not "in with the in crowd", that's Number One. Proof is the number of posts which are shot in a derogatory manner in my direction never get deleted. Mine, oh five, six every night?

I tell the truth and the truth is the truth calls into question every nuance of what the Old Hats don't want to talk about. They don't want to face change, change equates to "you have been doing this wrong". Which isn't at all the case but that's the knee jerk reaction.

I have played the game at high levels, few here have, I have called the games at high levels, many here have not nor will ever, I question everything because that is the only way to get better. The excuse "we have always done it this way" is an excuse.

The person I am most critical of is myself. I have had the opportunity to work with one person who many of these Old Hats don't like. He is a man who taught me the very meaning of questioning, he is a spectacular umpire, businessman and humanitarian. I leaned more from him in months than I have learned in the rest of my life.

So much of what you see is about the fact that he refuses to accept BS, taught me the same way and the BSers don't care for our honesty.

No, he won't. When canadaump6 gets older, he'll be fitump56.

I believe he is right. "I have a hard time understanding "

As far as the rest of it, imo, most of it has to do with the way the message is delivered -- it gets in the way of the message itself. And, way too much of it is designed *only* to stir the ****, not to lead to any umpire improvement. And way too much of it implies that the way things are done in your area is the way things are done everywhere.

[deleted as uncharitable and unconstructive]

Horse***, if there is one thing I do is question everything, there is rarely, if ever, one way to do anything. If open discussion that questions how and why we do what we do is not designed for improvement, tell me when improvement comes by doing the same thing all the time never asking why?

I've worked in ten states, I have been influenced by many different methodologies. I don't have a clic to fit in with which is obviously part of the nature of this Forum. I'm not looking for one either.

Stir it, so what? Makes for passionate dialog. What's the issue there?

I have my ideas born out of years of umpiring, some are unconventional. What works for me may not for you but if you (plural) pull your head inot your shell when new ideas come around, then expect that you will be the running on a treadmill as far as improvement is concerned.

When canadaump6 gets older, he has a good chance of being older.

steve, you should change your password. i think tim mccarver figured it out and made that post.

That is a McCarverism, isn't it? Waddya know!