That’s a true assessment. I was pretty sure our reflection would be murky for those two games when he became adamant that he was dressed correctly. It became positive when in the second inning of game one he called a balk on F1.


That is certainly the correct approach and I would have gone down that path also had the knucklehead been receptive.

HAHAHAHA THAT IS A FANTASTIC IDEA!!!! maybe I could get some fake teeth like the prank kind and the glasses with the mustache and nose.... hmmmm and one more addition ... I could Rant and RAVE about my college schedule....oops one more thing.. I could pretend to have consumed alcohol and poor it out behind a bush ;) hahahahahah

We just officiated a local GFP tourney of more than 90 teams, 10u through 18u. Unfortunately, this requires the scraping of the bottom of the barrel for umpires, at least until the number of teams gets winnowed down.

On the fields I saw, dress wasn't a particular problem, but mechanics and rule knowledge were another story.

One ump gave us plenty of (1) "Onna cornah for strike 2!" (2) "Ball 4, take ya base!" and (3) Strike 3, battah's out!"

Another, where number 1 batted instead of proper batter number 9 and doubled, enforced the BOO by warning the coach but leaving the runner on 2B. The ump informed the coach that a second infraction would mean ejection, though everything that happens on the field stands. This ump was about to send number 9 up to bat with number 1 on 2B, but I happened to witness this personally and butted in.

Yet another, with 2 out and a runner on 3B in the bottom of the 7th of a 0-0 game, called a "balk" when F1 stopped in her motion in reaction to the batter who had held up her hand to signal a request for time. Game over.

Another, in the plate conference, warned every team that if the runner used the white base and collided with F3, she would be out whether she beat the throw or not.

This spring, I umpired 1 inning of a college game in shorts, boat moccasins, a Phillies' t-shirt, and a visor. My usual partner had been assigned a game in north Jersey, and I traveled up with him to take some pictures of his plate mechanics. Just before game time, his assigned partner called in to say that his teachers' meeting had lasted longer than he expected, so he'd be late. So I acted as BU until he arrived. All I can say for my attire was that it was comfortable, but it's hard to run in those boat shoes. I was considering going barefoot, but the other guy showed up.

I like it. Here's your ATA-Boy: http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.c..._2007_63056700

He's probably heard of them but I'm not sure he can read them. Hearing, reading.....to much multi-tasking.

I guess I'll have to forgive or raise my opinion of some of the partners I worked with lately.

hahaha or he is illiterate ... dislexic .... blind... def... hahah and I liked the ATA BOY that was fantastic and I owe ya one at the platinum

I had a 23U Fastpitch game and shared the flip-flop/tee shirt story with my partner who knows Mr. Xela. My partner pointed out a missed opportunity. The TD should have provided shirts that had: I'm with STUPID who's the base umpire.

This got me to thinking of another opportunity. Provide the umpires who worked games with Mr. Xela a shirt that says: I SURVIVED working games with a STUPID partner who wore flip-flops and a tee shirt.

Or how about...

12 games in 95 degree weather, and all I wore was this stupid t-shirt. :D

That's an ATA Boy for you also!

The only problem with the idea of (RV) wearing the proper uniform to the meeting is that RV will not be bringing uniforms unless absolutely required by LD.

But a good idea none the less.

RV not bringing uniforms certainly makes sense. Do you think that (RV) could put in a request to (LD) that if Mr. Xela umpires any games while in Ohio that he be in proper attire? Past history has shown that Mr. Xela does not always learn from his mistakes:o and it is a NATIONAL tournament.

Maybe you guys should form your own bash-alex web site.

mr.xela would be better off in flip flops behind the plate... maybe that would end his tournement early:eek:

My sons (Mark, Jr., the baseball umpire, and Andy) play in a Knothole (15-18) summer baseball league. This is the third year that Mark has played in this league, so we already know what to expect in the way of umpires: very very few if any are registered as baseball umpires with either the OhioHSAA or MichiganHSAA.

The umpires (both PU and BU) wear khaki cargo shorts (I kid you not.). The umpires can wear either navy blue, red, or powder blue shirts, but the crew is not required to wear the same colored shirts. Hat (the don't have to be a standard umpire's hat, any old baseball style hat will do) are optional even for the PU and if the PU does wear one, it is acceptable to wear it backwards under the mask; the UIC prefers not to wear a hat when behind the plate and feels it is okay to coach a team in the league and order umpires to enforce non-existent rules in the same game that he is coaching.

The PU in one game sent text messages between innings and whenever a pitching change is being made. The BU carried a bottle of water around with him while in the B and C positions on the diamond and felt it was okay to take a drink while the pitcher was pitching.

MTD, Sr.