Thoughts ?

[Skahtboi]

I am at the complex at a minimum, an hour before game time, unless there is some mitigating circumstance. (Really bad traffic, a parent who shows up and wants to discuss little Johnny's recent behavior...etc.) Once there, I hook up with partner and we go let the coaches know we are there. Then, back to the vehicles.

I will immediately put some "serious" jazz (Davis, Coltrane, Peterson, Montgomery, Hampton...etc.) into the CD player. Organize my stuff, make sure shoes are cleaned and shined, BS with partner.

Once we being the transformation to umpires, we usually will start doing our pregame with each other. By the time we are dressed, we should have pretty much covered everything. If not, then we discuss it as we walk to the field, which is about 20 minutes prior to game time.

Equipment check is done together, starting with the visitors dugout. We will then walk the field, making mental notes of any abnormalities. Check home team's equipment. Then gather the coaches for the plate meeting. Rinse and repeat!