I understand the why, its understandable & not a problem


as far as why "no" ... I took off work last week, not this week ...

good clear up.

I got an email saturday night for the eastern 18u and gold in my backyard, Sterling, VA.

And I just ran into one of Mike's guys and he explained the origin of IrishMafia. do they know, Mike?

I certainly don't.

Do tell, Mike... Do tell...

Thank you, that is good to hear. Just didn't quite sound that way.

Yeah, did Bruce tell you the advice I gave him yesterday?

He-he, is that the part where you said, "If you tell anybody, no one will ever find you?" :D

Hope you guys have fun up in Sterling. Had asked work for the week off because I was told I would be one of the umpires going to this event, but then was told was not needed. So, back to work I went. :)

ASA Tournaments not Making this Year
 

Is it just me, or does it seem that a lot more ASA tournaments are not making this year?

its not you, its a fact

Remember a while back when a poster was 'complaining' about going to a national and not getting enough games for the pay? Well, 'mrs okla21fan' just called from College Station between some games and since Monday she will have worked 16 games (4 a day). While you might not think that is too many, the temps are over 100 degrees by noon and the level of play is pretty good. They are still short blues for this National as new faces are arriving each day, but the blues are doing Yeoman's work. She (and others) didn't get to their hotel last night until after 1:45 AM, and were back on the fields for 8 AM games today. Her last game tonight is scheduled for a mid night start.

She said she is learning much at her first class A nationals and that alone is worth any monetary loss she might incur (suffering to the posting complaining about game fees)

Stinks to be stuck in the office this week, knowing they could use extra blues.

It seems to be pretty much in the divisions and classifications that are getting weaker (i.e. JO SP, some Adult FP, etc.) Meanwhile, it seems like the JO Girls FP is going crazy in some areas.

No he did not.

Mark said they orginally had 50 umps or so needed but not enough teams showed up. They have gone with 32 umps and most are from out of state. Piedmont has 3 I think and Central VA has 4 I know of. I am from NO VA but it is a Central VA slot.Lots of umps who do college ball. Once they get the box stance they seem to have a hard time going back or using the slot.

The father and son tandem from VA beach area is here. Was expecting to see you.

Its the same thing I tell every umpire before going to a national:

Don't **** up!

I had heard this year that approx 70% of all of the umpire slots for nationals (with the exception of 18Gold, and Men's and women's Majors) were going to umpires from the host association to cut down on travel expenses. Is this correct?