Nah, thats what I pay Bollinger for.

Sometimes you play in the drizzle. Thats the way it goes, especially here in fall ball. You dont get it in writing - you just play and let the tourney UIC and TD figure out when the games get called. Heres the future if you are the one d-head at a tournament saying "wah i want it in writing we play" - you dont work fall ball anymore. If you dont want to work fall ball because you dont want to officiate games where you are playing in less than perfect conditions because you are afraid of lawyers.. then dont. No problem. They will get someone who will (like me).

Bollinger stands ready to deal with this. No one gives a crap about you or your money. They would care about Bollingers money and whoever elses insurance they could tack on. So relax and let them play.

That's all well and good, but sometimes the UIC/TD are noodleheads. You are responsible for determining if your field is safe to play. Drizzle isn't the real issue; mud holes and sloppy base paths are another thing, though.

We had a series of tornadoes go through and nearly wipe out the town of Hugo just north of me. A few weeks later, a TD wanted us to play on with the tornado sirens going of because "the sky doesn't look too bad." Noodlehead.

DoH!

Allow me to add a * to my above statement then.

*If my TD puts me anywhere near (hundreds of miles) of a sounding Tornado siren we aint playing.

(not that I've ever heard a Tornado Siren other than on TV)

If the "powers that be" wanted the umpires to keep a game going in foul weather, wouldn't there be uniform-specific foul weather gear available to us?

So by that logic, we shouldn't play in cooler weather due to the fact that we don't have uniform-specific cold weather gear.

The all-encompassing Safety Awareness Guide only talks about calling the game due to dangerous conditions. It makes no mention of light mists or drizzle. I guess that means it's okay, right? ;)

For me, if the field conditions hold up just fine (no slick base paths, no standing water, etc.), I'm not going to delay a game. If I see things start to get slick, I will call it pretty darned quick. Faster than a lot of other umpires, it seems...

To answer the OP, you could always have something like this. It's only 12" wide when opened, and you can even paint it other colors! :D

But in all seriousness, you could put the line-up card inside your jacket with your back to the direction the drizzle is falling from and hold the holder from outside the jacket.

Hmmm... velcro might even work in this situation.

Anyone here ever hear of lineup holders??

And yes, drizzle is the biggest pain in the a** of all the conditions....

Well, there are cold-weather garments offered, at least by ASA. You know, things like Underarmor, long-sleeve shirts, sweaters, jackets, etc.

Actually, the SAG is nothing more than PC, BS posturing to avoid litigation, no matter how frivilous. This is something that would not factor into life if we lived in a democracy, but is almost demanded to satisfy our citizen's socialistic views and overbearing, overstepping cowardly judicial system. Of course, the latter simply being MPO.

No real argument EXCEPT if you begin a game in those conditions, where do you draw the line? Since very few games involve cloth bases, there really isn't anything such as a non-slippery wet base in damp conditions. Standing water is an indicator, but it is an indicator that you waited too long. If you see standing water, that means a fair portion of the area around it is already saturated and dangerous. Take if from someone who lost a meniscus and eventually a knee to playing on a dangerous field. The sun was out and the grass was dry, but there were still areas where the infield was a bit mucky and, unfortunately, I stepped in that area. Body kept moving, my right foot, ankle and leg did not.

Another thing many umpires overlook is the outfield. Wet grass is just as dangerous as wet dirt, sand, clay, etc. If you walk out into the grass and as you step, a puddle rises next to your foot, that ground is saturated and probably too dangerous even with metal spikes.

Don't get me wrong, like everyone else, I've worked through slight drizzles and mists. I don't like it, but I do it. And I've seen TDs push tournament games in questionable conditions, but I have also stopped games when I knew we had to stop in spite of what a TD had to say about it. S/he isn't the one who will be using up the $5mm liability insurance and missing time from work and family in a courtroom and being asked, "doesn't your rule book give you the ultimate decision on field conditions once the game is started?"

The Under Armour gear is for hot weather, not cold. The lined jackets are a joke, and the closest thing ASA has towards "cold weather" gear are the long-sleeve shirts.

Oh, I agree. I was being sarcastic. :)

I keep a very close eye on the field conditions as BU and PU. I check the bases every half inning, unless the half inning is taking a while. Then I will do subtle, periodic spot checks.

Another reason I walk the entire field before the game. During the game, I tell both coaches to inform their outfielders that if they see anything questionable during the game, they are to notify me right away. Keep in mind that I'm not dealing with children, but supposed adults. Kids' games would obviously be handled differently.

A couple years ago, I caught hell from a league organizer for calling a game after two runners in a row slipped rounding 1B before the end of the top of the 1st inning. The first time, I was willing to chalk it up to the fact that he didn't have cleats on, but the second one certainly did.

Frankly, I didn't care what the league organizer had to say about it. He wasn't there, it was my call, and it's my butt in the sling if someone gets injured and decides to sue. After that, I asked my assignor to try and avoid assigning me there. I refuse to become this organizer's fall guy just because he doesn't want to adjust his schedule.

If it was THAT wet, call the game off.

Bob

Actually, Under Armour also has a line of cold wear that does a pretty good job.

The jacket works fine for me. If anything, it is too warm at times. Like any other cold weather situation the difference is proper layering.

What about the fielders? Their cuts and direction changes are much more stressful and dangerous than that of a runner.

Which is an area where many of us become too complacent.

Unless the league organizer is your lawyer, I really wouldn't care what he said. I don't "need" to work their games.

Oh trust me, I'm originally from WI. I definitely know how to handle cold weather, and yes, layering is helpful. However, my point is that ASA could do a better job of providing us guidance in cold weather scenarios. The jackets don't help when it's 30 degrees out.

Just because I didn't mention them doesn't mean I don't include their safety in my evaluation of the field.

Agreed. Very few actually check the fields, especially when it starts getting wet.

Exactly why I don't call there anymore.

I was wondering... about how many Championship Play games are there each year when it is 30 degrees out? :D

We do games (HS season starts in April; fall league goes into Oct) each year in those conditions, but we wear what is necessary.

Championship play or not, I still want to wear a uniform that is 100% ASA. I just wish ASA would give guidelines on cold weather uniforms, rather than leave it up to the individual umpire.

For example, I know for a fact that there have been Nationals held in WI. Being from that area, I know that it's not uncommon to have it cold enough to snow in August or September. A bit odd, yes, but it does happen. Hell, in July of 2004, it didn't get above 60 for the entire week that I was there.

Just a hint from ASA would be nice, you know?

ASA DID have winter/foul weather gear, but discontinued the line this year due to lack of sales.