tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22740646657384263362024-10-04T23:07:02.292-04:00That's what I said!football, softball, umpiring, life, and other ramblingsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger118125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-67320903810633299952012-02-06T10:41:00.001-05:002013-02-06T17:02:02.597-05:00My Final Umpire School Evaluation GradesThe final results of busting my butt for 5 weeks. If I had interest in a professional job, I would have had a good chance of being selected to the PBUC evaluation camp in March. Either way, I'm very happy with the way things are and am looking forward to working this spring & summer season when I get home and getting even better. Good luck to all the guys going to PBUC!
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-48401156204791926062012-01-31T22:55:00.001-05:002012-01-31T23:15:50.509-05:00More Celebrities!Today, we met another full time MLB instructor in Bob Davidson. If you're not familiar with him, he is an umpire that the media and broadcasters love to disparage. And one of his nicknames is "Balkin' Bob," due to the his balk calls. Fittingly enough, in today's warm-up formation, he had us do 3 different balk calls. Now that is a man with a great sense of humor! He was amazing and a blast to Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-75161471317655829592012-01-29T17:56:00.000-05:002012-01-29T17:56:12.372-05:001st PhotoSee this article from MLB filmed during our class. Also pic of most of our instructors from "picture day" below.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-21578687396703970232012-01-27T00:26:00.000-05:002012-01-27T07:56:56.051-05:007th Inning StretchSorry for the lack of updates but the last several days have been busy as heck at school.
Since the end of last week, evaluations have started. These evaluations will go for the last 2 weeks of school, with the instructors deciding on the pro potential of students and picking who the top students are in order to send to the PBUC selection camp in March. And from that camp, the top students will Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-90713882944667395732012-01-19T21:43:00.000-05:002012-01-19T21:43:15.923-05:00Weather God Must Favor Us UmpiresUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-54952135083127736542012-01-18T23:21:00.002-05:002012-01-18T23:21:26.955-05:00School In Full SwingToday marks the exact half-way point of umpiring school. We have completed all lessons involving 2 man umpire mechanics as well as the vast majority of the rule book. And a mere week after being confused to the extreme, I must say that I am at a much different place. This is not to say I've gotten everything perfect. In fact, I am still making tons mistakes and there are many things I can do Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-29448253849238330162012-01-11T21:26:00.001-05:002012-01-11T21:54:09.224-05:00Still Some Ways To Go
Boy, the last several days of school have been tough. I don't think I've ever experienced as much frustration, confusion, and exhaustion as I have over the recent days. Needless to say, school has definitely been a challenge, not so much in learning the material and content, but in the application of it on the field. And while our instructors tell us that this is exactly what we should be Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-29708511517541674882012-01-09T00:44:00.000-05:002012-01-09T00:44:59.760-05:00Random MusingsToday was the first free day that I've had since I got to Florida. It also marked the end of the first week at school. Here are two random things that happened or that I noticed, not in any particular order or with any particular linkage between them.
On Friday morning, there was an fire/explosion in one of the rooms of the hotel next to us. It turns out that the room was a makeshift methUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-44799040597143477622012-01-05T23:47:00.003-05:002012-01-05T23:47:51.967-05:00Brief UpdateWalmart is a polarizing retailer; people either love it or hate it. For some at umpire school, it's heaven. With its 90 day return policy and no restocking fees, it was the perfect place for them to "rent" a big flat screen TV to upgrade the old analog TV's in our hotel rooms for the next 5 weeks. Who said umpires weren't clever?
Related to school, I don't have too much to report. In class, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-60472125374963939932012-01-04T00:37:00.001-05:002012-01-05T22:36:07.940-05:001st Class
Today was cold. Well, technically it was high 40's and low 50's, which isn't that bad for this time of winter. But since I'm in Florida, I expect more. At the minimum, I didn't expect the insane wind chill while standing on the fields. But then again, I guess I shouldn't complain since it was low 20's in NY today.
Anyhow, started the first day of class today. Morning was mostly going over someUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-35325135297419927062012-01-02T19:58:00.001-05:002012-01-05T22:36:23.104-05:00Arrived!Today has been one hell of a long day. I've been up since 4:30AM in order to make my 6:30AM flight. And before that, I couldn't fall asleep at all, no matter how hard I tried. It was the first time that this has happened to me since the night before my Junior girls' softball championship game. I can't pinpoint what the reason was since I had been feeling super calm before this. It certainly Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-9845719671823129652011-12-31T17:46:00.000-05:002011-12-31T21:54:48.024-05:00Onwards to Umpire School
"If you never leave home, never let go, you'll never make it to the great unknown"
It was only fitting that on my way to work today, the train conductor punched my ticket, and proceeded to say, "That's your last one." Indeed, not only was it my last ride on the 10 day pass, but it was also my last day at work. Thinking about this, it hit me that I'm really Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-35122561140818016502011-12-28T16:14:00.000-05:002011-12-28T16:14:15.044-05:00Umpire School 101
What is "umpire school"?
Believe it or not, baseball umpires don't grow on trees. And contrary to popular belief, they also don't come from homes for the blind. All professional umpires (NOT REFEREES), aka the individuals you see working in the Major Leagues, Minor Leagues, and independent baseball, are trained and developed through umpire schools, of which there are only 3 in the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-82395130098623593012011-11-20T11:54:00.000-05:002011-11-20T12:01:09.388-05:00Umpire School
Yep, I officially signed up. Not everything has gone to plan with this but to hell with it. It's a once in a lifetime trip and I'll make it work. More to come.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-64973284758927272062011-07-18T09:20:00.004-04:002011-12-27T23:55:24.741-05:00StatsJust a quick note, haven't really had time to do the excel stat sheets for the past bunch of weeks and probably won't be able to catch up for the rest of the season. But the online stats are all up to date.
Link here, as well in the softball section above
Thanks.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-88055521343735886212011-05-05T12:55:00.001-04:002011-05-05T12:57:04.247-04:002011 Week 3The team suffered its 1st loss of the season after taking a lesson from the Mets in stranding runners on base with bases loaded 4 times. However, game 2 was a great bounce-back as clutch hits from Eric A, Matt F, Harlan, and Felix backed the strong pitching from Jamie.
Click for full size.
Game 1
Game 2
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-53001544477422871292011-05-04T14:46:00.000-04:002011-05-04T14:46:37.494-04:00Baseball Pep-TalkStarts at :30 mark.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-22889644741588875542011-04-19T15:31:00.002-04:002011-04-19T15:32:30.249-04:002011 Week 2Another week of strong performance from everyone up and down the lineup and in the field. Matt come up big with his pitching and home-runs from Felix and John backed him up in the 2 games, along with a hit parade from Chuck, Purvi, Chris L, Scott, and Erin.
Click for full size.
Game 1
Game 2
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-63653719096698644152011-04-12T00:19:00.000-04:002011-04-12T00:19:46.651-04:002011 Week 1Shout-out to Lance for his awesome pre-birthday performance at the plate and in the field (cutting down a runner at home and a jaw-breaking pick at 1B). Props to Jamie for his pitching performance and home-run as well as Erin for jump-starting rallies with 4-3's.
Click for full size.
Game 1
Game 2
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-60273997236480355362010-12-06T10:29:00.000-05:002010-12-06T10:29:23.104-05:00Wikileaked
From Randy Bish, Pittsburgh, PA’s the Tribune-Review.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-75241011205029158832010-09-28T22:29:00.000-04:002010-09-28T22:29:45.715-04:00Losing Streak Hits Two as What?! Rues Missed Opportunities
The team started poorly, as What?! gave up a quick touchdown and a turnover to fall 2 scores behind. It was then followed by a scores by both teams, which made it 17-6 by halftime.
While playing 1 person down, the team stayed resilient and never got too down on itself. In the 2nd half, What?! clawed back within 5 points to a 25-20 deficit. The defense made several key stops and the offense Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-25971935208975904922010-09-21T21:26:00.001-04:002010-09-21T21:30:59.626-04:00What?! Crashes and Burns
Question.
Is it possible to lose a game in which you dominate time of possession, throw 60 plus passes, score 6 touchdowns, and convert 3 2-point conversions?
No effing way Yes, you certainly can.
How?
By playing with your arms tied behind your back and your legs tied to a flagpole. By giving up one play touchdown drives to your opponent all game.
Not much to say except that it was perhapsUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-73493539439424461432010-09-21T00:41:00.004-04:002010-09-21T21:35:03.353-04:00Game 1Click for full size.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-78507740340909490492010-09-15T22:55:00.002-04:002010-09-15T22:58:08.531-04:00Season Tuneup
After a summer break for the team (save the few who decided to go and win some other random championship), team What?! reconvened this past Sunday for their fall season tune-up. However, due to birthdays, vacations, and shitty weather several contract hold-outs, only the minimum number from the team were available to take on this challenge. Nevertheless, faced the obstacle they did.
In the 1stUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274064665738426336.post-59043256210828313082010-08-10T21:07:00.000-04:002010-08-10T21:07:35.898-04:00PlayoffsClick for full size.
Game 1
Game 2
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0