Either you umpires are lying about what you have done in the few minutes pregame or you guys are pretty odd. Not only fixing fences .. but now filling holes, removing banners, working on faucets?

No wonder you work games in cowboy boots with all the bs you shovel.

'course ya gotta get there just a mite before actual game time...

I have held up the start of a game to deal with obvious playing field problems, but never for an outfield fence problem. That kind of stuff (even temp fences that have blown over) is just dealt with during the ground rules.

The only holes I've ever had filled in were mud holes! ;)

What do you do, show up 5 minutes prior to game time?
With our umpires, 45 mins is mandatory.
By the way, the game will wait until YOU get the preliminaries done.

I have it all pictured.. on some slow pitch softball field in Delaware, the teams are sitting there having their pregame adult beverages....

"Hey here comes the blue!" They say in anticipation of starting the game. The umpire, Ira, jumps out of his toyota, wearing his shorts, cowboy boots,and lil ball bag. The teams start to get ready to play, but the umpire wanders into the grass.

"Fill in that divot in left field!" The umpire shouts "You could lose an eye over there".

"Darn it, I need that hole in the fence duct taped! I could have to call a GRD, you know!". The umpire states, eyeing the poor conditions of his domain, a vein starting to pop out in his neck.

"And I want that 'J&J automotive' banner straightened! Its crooked." He yells.


The manager approaches the seething umpire.. "Blue, we just wanna play ball buddy".

"You are ejected!!!" The umpire yells, looking into his line up card holder, so as to not embarrass the coach. "Have you not read page 175 of the umpire manual?". The umpire stomps off, perhaps seeing another divot which could use fillin.

No I'm pretty much known as first. Usually around 1.5-2 hours early. I often fill in for your late buddies.

An hour and a half?
and you can't do a walk through on the field?
Hmmm, I think you have your plans out of whack, you drink the brown pop
AFTER the game.

Yep, the hole in the fence was in DE. The bunting was in FL, twice, the hole under the fence in Mobile and the faucet in OKC. BTW, there is a nice western wear store near the Biltmore in OKC.

Here you go with the real issue, you have traveled to Nationals, and he hasn't.
I wonder why (insert sarcasm here)?

Sheplers in OKC is good......but Drysdales in Tulsa is better, plus Drysdales is doing our umpire association apparels at a really good price :D

Yeah, but Drysdales in Tulsa isn't across the street from the umpire's hotel. :D

It would be if you came to a National here tho. Of course we got some nasty B this year. :)

Check Private Messages

You dont chime in often, but at least when you do, you make up for it by always being wrong.

I don't chime in often because it isn't often that I read such drivel by someone so hell bent on proving he is an a&&.

I am rarely wrong, especially when it comes to the stuff I care about.;)

Again, who is it that has hurt your little feelings so much that you feel the need to try and fight with everyone and denigrate what is important to others?

Look man, if you want to be a half-a&& umpire then go ahead.
But if that is what you want, don't try and drag down everyone else who aspires to be better at what the do.

I never agree with anyone all the time. I have agreed with a lot of what you have written over time and I see the tone change to one of frustration and combativness on your part.

Take a break for your own good before you burn some bridges with others here that you cannot afford to burn.

Scotty, the dr phil stuff aint workin fer ya. You post about drinking.. not knowing that I dont drink.. or at least not enough worth talking about. Maybe once or twice all year so far. nationals without knowing about that, and this "break" stuff, when I'm actually having the best year I've ever had. By this time last year I had probably 20 ejections. I did not want to have it that way this year and figured a difference route to go.. .and having a great time at it. I've had 3 evals this year, including at a 18G NQ, all excellent. I am sure I will do just as well at my NATIONAL this year.

You just dont know squat man, really. So bite me.