I made the paper

[UmpireErnie]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Dang!! We will be in playoffs by then!

Unfortunatly we can't start till late April, regular season is a whopping five weeks long. "Playoffs" are our two day state tournament here in Anchorage first weekend of June.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by UmpireErnie

Unfortunatly we can't start till late April, regular season is a whopping five weeks long. "Playoffs" are our two day state tournament here in Anchorage first weekend of June.

How do they know which two days Alaska will be thawed out?

[BuggBob]

The game situation: R3 @ 2nd, R4 @1st, two outs. Double steal, B5 bends down in the box and as she does her butt moves into the F2's legs, clearly interfering with F2's attempt to make a play on the runners. I immediately rule interference, the batter is out. The coach came down and calmly discussed why I should not have made that call, and I calmly told him why I did make that call. I like this coach, years ago he taught me how an umpire needs to properly deal with a coach.

1) Listen to the coach's argument.
2) Tell them what you saw -- don't sugar coat it, filter it, embellish it, or bull**it. Tell the truth, stick to the facts.
3) Listen to the coach's counter argument.
4) Tell them what rule you are using -- it is important to know the rules because every good coach will know them, and every bad coach will need them corrected. You may not know the rule number (that is not important) but you must know the rule, and it helps if you know the rule book wording.
5) If the coach wants to protest don't take it personally.
6) Move on and continue the game. Remove that event from you mind and start afresh.

While I am sure that the coach disagrees with what I called, I am just as sure he has accepted it and will not use it as an alibi for a win or loss, and most importantly he will not hold it against me in future games. This coach is a true class act and one that all coaches should emulate.

BTW, we agreed the stick with my original call and ruling.

[bigsig]

I guess those keep the coach's spital out of your eyes!

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by BuggBob

The game situation: R3 @ 2nd, R4 @1st, two outs. Double steal, B5 bends down in the box and as she does her butt moves into the F2's legs, clearly interfering with F2's attempt to make a play on the runners. I immediately rule interference, the batter is out. The coach came down and calmly discussed why I should not have made that call, and I calmly told him why I did make that call. I like this coach, years ago he taught me how an umpire needs to properly deal with a coach.

1) Listen to the coach's argument.
2) Tell them what you saw -- don't sugar coat it, filter it, embellish it, or bull**it. Tell the truth, stick to the facts.
3) Listen to the coach's counter argument.
4) Tell them what rule you are using -- it is important to know the rules because every good coach will know them, and every bad coach will need them corrected. You may not know the rule number (that is not important) but you must know the rule, and it helps if you know the rule book wording.
5) If the coach wants to protest don't take it personally.
6) Move on and continue the game. Remove that event from you mind and start afresh.

While I am sure that the coach disagrees with what I called, I am just as sure he has accepted it and will not use it as an alibi for a win or loss, and most importantly he will not hold it against me in future games. This coach is a true class act and one that all coaches should emulate.

BTW, we agreed the stick with my original call and ruling.

Very good advice to give to another umpire. A conversation between a coach and an umpire does not need to be interpreted as a confrontation. Hear what the coach has to say, and let it be just that - a conversation.

[wadeintothem]

it starts with looking professional.

Now I dont know if you have some condition that requires you to wear ski goggles when working... they look so bad, I almost think you must.

But those things look atrocious and unprofessional.

And they should be off when talking to a coach.

[Stu Clary]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

it starts with looking professional.

Now I dont know if you have some condition that requires you to wear ski goggles when working... they look so bad, I almost think you must.

But those things look atrocious and unprofessional.

And they should be off when talking to a coach.

It's not a real good look.

I had a game day before yesterday. I had the bases with a partner I had never previously worked this. I was shocked to see him conduct the plate conference while wearing mirrored sunglasses.

[Dakota]

I don't wear mirrored sunglasses (ever), but I have been known to conduct the plate meeting and/or have discussions with coaches while wearing sunglasses... Falls into the category of Sr Moment... (I forget they are there...)

[BuggBob]

Thanks Wade, but they're not ski goggles. I wear the Rec Speecs because if I didn't I would not be able to see. I used to were contacts, but a nasty infection in my eyes made me re-examine contacts. I will not wear them on the ball field again. My normal glasses cost $300. After being hit in the snot bucket with a ball I will not wear glasses on the field. The Rec Speecs cost $100 are practically indestructible and don't come off when I take my mask off. They do sometime fog up, but a treatment of shaving cream will clear that up. I have a pair with a clear frame and these with the blue frame. Since on the ball field they call us blue I wear the blue.

[Dakota]

As far as the looks is concerned, it is a matter of taste, I suppose. I will (sometimes) wear prescription glasses on the field, and I have had a pair or two end up damaged (scratched) from being knocked into the dirt and stepped on, that kind of thing.

I did look into rec specs and similar sports glasses last year, but decided they were not for me (again, taste).

I was poking fun in my brief post on the glasses, earlier.

But on a serious comment, it is the wide strap going around the ears and over the hat that bothers me more than the goggle-look itself. But, to each his own.

[UmpireErnie]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

How do they know which two days Alaska will be thawed out?

It can be a tough call!

[INUmp]

nice glasses imo.