Would you take the field with this guy?

STL_UMP

umpire99 wrote
Would you take the field with a partner who is working the plate? His pants are obviously not plate pants. They are so tight around the legs that they barely fit over his shin guards. Because of this, his pants are about six inches too short. I was not working this game, but I was embarrassed to be watching it.

Can I wear Combo Pants?

Rich

STL_UMP wrote
Can I wear Combo Pants?

I always say that plate pants are fine for the plate, base pants are fine for the bases, and combo pants are fine for NEITHER. I own none and never will.

STL_UMP

Our main problem here is that there is no place to easily change. Bathrooms are far away and if your games are running late...

mbyron

STL_UMP wrote
Our main problem here is that there is no place to easily change. Bathrooms are far away and if your games are running late...

Wear tights and you can change in the parking lot without embarrassment (or unwanted attention from law enforcement).

Rich

STL_UMP wrote
Our main problem here is that there is no place to easily change. Bathrooms are far away and if your games are running late...

It takes seconds to take the pants off and put another on. Trust me, they'll wait for you.

I wear tights, but a different pair on the plate. I change between my car doors, but there's always about 10 seconds where I'm a bit more, um, exposed than I'd like. And the Umpire's Locker Room is too much of a pain to use.

Still, combo pants suck.

bob jenkins

STL_UMP wrote
Can I wear Combo Pants?

On some guys, plate pants are too big -- the combos work here.

On some guys, the base pants are too small -- the combos work here.

For (almost) no one does the combo work for both the plates and the bases.

UmpJM

STL_UMP wrote
Can I wear Combo Pants?

STL_UMP,

You can, but, based on personal experience, you'll regret it later. 😮

STL_UMP

UmpJM (nee CoachJM) wrote
STL_UMP,

You can, but, based on personal experience, you'll regret it later. 😮

JM

Curious... why would that be?

Rich

STL_UMP wrote
Curious... why would that be?

Because the legs are too baggy when working the bases and they're too tight when wearing shin guards.

I just found out (purely a coincidence) that I'm being provided one pair of combo pants for a tournament I'm working in August. I found out the model of pants and ordered plate and base pants (on my own dime) to use.

Durham

umpire99 wrote
Would you take the field with a partner who is working the plate? His pants are obviously not plate pants. They are so tight around the legs that they barely fit over his shin guards. Because of this, his pants are about six inches too short. I was not working this game, but I was embarrassed to be watching it.

I'm sorry U99, but just so you know; I finally did get some longer pants, but they're still a lil tight. 😉

Durham

RichMSN wrote
Because the legs are too baggy when working the bases and they're too tight when wearing shin guards.

I just found out (purely a coincidence) that I'm being provided one pair of combo pants for a tournament I'm working in August. I found out the model of pants and ordered plate and base pants (on my own dime) to use.

Sk the tourney director if you can get a pair of plate or base instead, tell em you'll buy a pair of the opposite.

Rich

Durham wrote
Sk the tourney director if you can get a pair of plate or base instead, tell em you'll buy a pair of the opposite.

Too late, the pants are already ordered and shipped. I found someone to take the combo pants off my hands once I return.

pastordoug

The question shouldn't be "would you take the field with this guy?" but "Why do some umpires show up to work looking like they slept in their clothes?" While I understand that certain people might be strapped financially, there should be no excuse for not washing and ironing shirts and pants along with dusting off shoes and putting on a little polish. For me showing up to umpire is the same as me showing up for work... While your apperance might not have anything to do with your performance it certainly sends a signal to those at the park and usually that signal isn't very favorable.

MikeStrybel

PastorDoug,
I have a good friend in the trades who shows up in a t-shirt full of holes and pants that have seen better days. He does meticulous work and is always in demand. When I asked him why he doesn't wear a polo type shirt or at least a t-shirt that looks new, he said that people want his work to be good, not for him to look so. He had a point. While most of us take pride in our appearance and performance, so value the latter more.

Rain and 70 in Chicagoland today. What happened to June?

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