Umpire Mechanics

[BretMan]

I have never seen a baseball umpire wear a ball bag on the bases. It certainly isn't a proper piece of equipment they're required to wear. So, if this guy was wearing one, it wasn't because he was a "baseball guy"- he was just "a guy" that didn't know what he was doing.

I have had two softball umpires I worked with wear their bag on the bases. That certainly isn't recommended in softball, either!

One of the guys took it a step further. He wore his shirt untucked, then had the ball bag attached to a thin elastic belt worn outside the shirt. The effect was that his shirt was cinched at the waist, with the untucked tail bloused out below the belt. Looked like he was wearing a tunic or a toga. Probably the most ridiculous thing I've seen in a base umpire uniform.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by BretMan

...One of the guys took it a step further. He wore his shirt untucked, then had the ball bag attached to a thin elastic belt worn outside the shirt. The effect was that his shirt was cinched at the waist, with the untucked tail bloused out below the belt. Looked like he was wearing a tunic or a toga. Probably the most ridiculous thing I've seen in a base umpire uniform.

We have an umpire who works the plate like that. Beltless bell-bottom slacks, untucked shirt, ball bag held up by a belt on the outside, gunslinger style. As I said yesterday ... I can't afford (for my own mental health) to get worked up over umpire unis.

[CajunNewBlue]

I know that guy!!
I told him to take the bag off (we were way past the "asking" stage) and we go do the plate meeting and such. Next thing i know, we have a hit to the outfield, i make the call and look for my partner who's button hooked inside.... lo' and behold there's the F'n ball bag. He had slid it around behind him so i couldn't see it when facing me.
I don't work with him anymore... EVER.

BTW: he is a 99%'r ...1 softball game to 99 baseball games.