My association UIC once asked me, "Manny, do you know why umpire shirts have pockets? It's so you know where to iron your Virginia High School League patch."

Seriously, I don't like putting anything in that pocket. I'd much rather keep my red and blue (on the off-chance that a coach hands me a line-up card in red ink) pens in my ball bag with my lineup card holder. And since the holder is too big for my shirt pocket to begin with, everything is in one place in the bag.

Also, I wouldn't want to have to deal with a huge ink splotch if I should get hit in the chest with a pitch or foul ball.

That's why I use that type of pen. It's kind of a flexible, rubber like material, so when I did take a ball right to it, it didn't smash and spew ink all over.

I used to put my lineup cards in my ball bags--too cluttery. I tried my back pocket--too much of a pain in the ass taking them out and reinserting them. For the last several years, they've been fine in my shirt pocket. To each his own, of course, as this is simply my own preference.

I wear double ball bags and I keep my lineups cards in the left bag in the inside pocket toward the back. I agree with Manny A, I always afraid to put anything breakable in my shirt pocket. I too use red as it is easier to see any changes that I have made.

I don't know how it's in other parts of the country, but some coaches have discovered printers and are handing me lineups on big honking pieces of index card stock. Try folding those up and putting it in your lineup card holder.

There is a HS coach around here who hands you an 8½ x 11 sheet of scrap paper (there is irrelevant printing on one side). He claims he is saving the environment by recycling [sic] paper. At least his lineup (and subs) are machine printed in huge type.

Whenever he has a change, it becomes an exercise in unfolding/folding so the right quadrant fits over the lineup card wallet (the small one) so I have something to write on.

I just take my sweet-ass time. If I hear any grumbling, I show them the page and apologize for forgetting to bring my loose-leaf binder.

What's a checkbook?

I use black or blue ink pens, any old cheap pen that will write and has a metal pocket clip. It is in my left ball bag with the notebook, brush and couple baseballs until I need it the first time and then it goes in the shirt pocket with the lineups. Unless, the lineups were too large, then they are folded up and put in back left pants pocket.

Red pen. Right ball bag. Doesn't matter as long as you get it done accurately and timely.

What about blue pen left ball bag, Bob? Or black pen, blue ball bag, right ball bag? Or blue pen gray ball bag, left ball bag? :eek:

I'm confused. :confused::confused::confused:

I got in the habit of just writing down my lineup changes down between innings unless I had to make multiple sub changes. Just folded them up in my little Honig's plastic lineup holder. Got to where I learned to carry an extra writing utensil.

BTW-I would also take projected subs if it was a time limit game, and the coach was trying to get everyone playing time. This was mostly at the sub varsity level.

Often time the BU kept the courtesy runner subs. It made it easier for us a team.

Take your best shots.

I don't know where to start... :cool:

I use a lineup holder from Officially Sports that is hard on both sides. It flips open from the bottom instead of like a book. I write with a red Sharpie Mini. It fits easily in my pocket and it's easy to see the writing. It all goes in my shirt pocket.

As long as it works for you, do it. Doesn't really matter how you handle stuff like this.

I use the KIP, as well. I also wear two ball bags. I have one KIP in each bag. The bag on my left hip is for the team occupying the 3rd base dugout and the one on my right is for the team in the 1st base dugout. I switched to this system several years ago and has vastly sped up my substitution process. No more fumbling with several sheets of paper and making sure I don't mark up the wrong lineup card.

Lineup cards in a pocket in my ball bag. I like writing directly on the cards. I always have a fine point sharpy in the bag. They always seem to write. It seemed that dirt used to mess up regular pens.

That's a good idea...I'll have to try that.

At the moment, I wear two ball bags, although I find that I rarely actually have any balls in the left-side bag.