My balloon protector is going with me tomorrow

[bniu]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

The singular worst tournament I can remember in a long time and the cause was simple.

3 games with a horrible catcher. The coach would NOT pull her, at one point I did lose it. I am injured. I got hurt pretty good 3 times where I am in pain even as I type. In two games hit about 25 times. She couldnt catch a ball to save her life. If I get the unlucky draw tomorrow of this attrocious catcher, I'm using the balloon. It was terrible. It ruined the game for me and them. I told them repeatedly they needed a new catcher. "OH shes a good catcher just having a bad day".

Shes not a good catcher. She had no mechanics of a good catcher. Even the pitches she accidentally caught were not caught with any skill or proper technique. She couldnt block the ball. She would set up outside and while I was dumb enough to stay in the slot I would take the inside shot somewhere.. because she couldnt catch it.

Total bull crap and I actually felt disrespected.. that they would leave me to get hurt just to keep their crappy catcher in. After awhile I could hear the parents even laugh a little when I would get hit. "Oh he got hit again." I was seeing red. I did threaten to eject her... but i didnt.

And, I even feel sorry for the catcher. Someone has put it in her head she can catch or she wants to catch and the simple fact of the matter is she cannot play that position. They should move her. She probably feels horrible about herself tonight and thats not fair to her.. and me. I got a M-F job, I cant be devastated by taking 25 shots in 2 games. That coach needs to pull her head out of her rectum.

Just had to vent a little.

here's a trick, if it's cold, buy a set of football player pants (yes football player pants) and you can tuck thigh pads in there and knee pads if u want. Then put on soccer shin guards and then place your regular shin guards over the soccer shin guards, and put your extra large plate pants over all that. Now you are double protected and even have thigh protection. For upper body, wear a jacket and put on elbow pads and forearm pads (your jacket will conceal all of it). Of course, steel toed shoes, throad guard for your facemask or the hockey mask. wear the inner protector and the balloon protector, now you are more machine than man! haha! That should get you really well protected and keep you warm sometimes in extreme cold weather, I keep my chest protector and shin guards on when I'm doing bases (jacket conceals the protector and shin guards are hidden under my combo pants. All I need to do is flip my ball bag inside my pants and I'm all set. No one will know that I didn't bother to change and I get to stay warm! Needless to say, I LOVE umpiring in cold weather! just throw on the jacket and go, no need to worry about shirts coming untucked, etc...