Off Topic 2014

[mb625]

Re: Off Topic 2014

Amen. I did this during high school for football, basketball and baseball. I reffed two games that were actually competitive and somewhat fun to be at. Baseball was either actually kinda fun or completely awful. Still wish the head ump let me throw the manager out during one baseball game.

After my freshman year of college, I umped youth baseball. One night our town's team was losing the back end of a double header, something to the tune of 21-6 (I think?). It was 10:30 at night. I say, screw it, I want to get out of here, and called pretty much every pitch that was thrown a strike (within reason, of course. Catcher caught it? Good enough for me.), the other team's parents (always the parents) started yelling at me for it and I'm just sitting here like, C'mon... you've got an hour drive, I just want to get everyone out of here... parents get far too into it.

[gopher_guy]

Re: Off Topic 2014

After my freshman year of college, I umped youth baseball. One night our town's team was losing the back end of a double header, something to the tune of 21-6 (I think?). It was 10:30 at night. I say, screw it, I want to get out of here, and called pretty much every pitch that was thrown a strike (within reason, of course. Catcher caught it? Good enough for me.), the other team's parents (always the parents) started yelling at me for it and I'm just sitting here like, C'mon... you've got an hour drive, I just want to get everyone out of here... parents get far too into it.

I used to ump youth baseball as well. Usually 5th/6th grade and 7th/8th grade. The 7th/8th grade games were actually fun to ump because there was actually some decent baseball played. One time I filled in for a kid who couldn't make it to a 3rd/4th grade game. That was the only time I ever umped that age group.

It was boring as hell. First year the kids were pitching, and they were AWFUL.

When I met with the coaches before the game, they both told me to have a wide strike zone, and then after like 2 innings full of walks I started doing what you did, if the catcher catches it, it's a strike.

In classic Minnesota passive-aggressiveness, these coaches would shout out to their pitchers/batters constantly. If I called a strike, coach yells to batter "AAwwww, it's OK Jonny that was a bad call! You'll get the next one!" If I called a ball, coach yells to pitcher: "That's alright Jeff, that was definitely a strike, good pitch!"

I never umped a 3rd/4th grade game again...

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Off Topic 2014

I shoveled snow for four hours straight yesterday. Played some old school Tomb Raider. Watched Bob's Burgers. It was a pretty successful day.

[Mo]

Re: Off Topic 2014

[mb625]

Re: Off Topic 2014

I used to ump youth baseball as well. Usually 5th/6th grade and 7th/8th grade. The 7th/8th grade games were actually fun to ump because there was actually some decent baseball played. One time I filled in for a kid who couldn't make it to a 3rd/4th grade game. That was the only time I ever umped that age group.

It was boring as hell. First year the kids were pitching, and they were AWFUL.

When I met with the coaches before the game, they both told me to have a wide strike zone, and then after like 2 innings full of walks I started doing what you did, if the catcher catches it, it's a strike.

In classic Minnesota passive-aggressiveness, these coaches would shout out to their pitchers/batters constantly. If I called a strike, coach yells to batter "AAwwww, it's OK Jonny that was a bad call! You'll get the next one!" If I called a ball, coach yells to pitcher: "That's alright Jeff, that was definitely a strike, good pitch!"

I never umped a 3rd/4th grade game again...

My hometown is about 7 miles from the Iowa-Minnesota border, so there was a lot of that back home too.

I umped a couple of 3rd/4th games but mostly 5th/6th and 7th (8th plays with high school in Iowa due to the fact that our season is in the summer). I did softball in addition to baseball, so that was kind of tough, getting used to the angles and all, but pretty straight-forward. I'll never forget, one day I was umping a softball game and there was a storm system due to come through. In the second inning, I see a flash of light in the reflection of my mask. Assuming there was lightning behind me, I proceeded to call the game. That is, until I turned around and the lady behind me looks at me and says "That was the flash of my camera." So we played about a half inning more before I saw actual lightning (I turned around and said "No one just took a picture, right?") and called the game for real.

[justblaze09]

Re: Off Topic 2014

Just make him black and you have me.

Also, for the Twitter crew, I took Twitter and Instagram off my phone for today. You have been spared.

[JazzMan]

Re: Off Topic 2014

First Valentine's Day since elementary school that I've actually had to buy something for somebody.

I hate it.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Off Topic 2014

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/3s5xsVHOJQs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[TCM]

Re: Off Topic 2014

I'm really enjoying my schedule this semester, four day weekends every week!

[Bellsprout]

Re: Off Topic 2014

NOT ONLY IS IT VALENTINE'S DAY BUT NOW YOU'RE REMINDING ME ADAM SANDLER USED TO MAKE GOOD MOVIES?!?

DAMMIT JJ.

[Bmore Irish]

Re: Off Topic 2014

I'm really enjoying my schedule this semester, four day weekends every week!

I remember having the four day weekend schedule at one point. Oddly enough, it seemed to coincide with an increase in my drinking habit. Go figure.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Off Topic 2014

NOT IS IT VALENTINE'S DAY BUT NOW YOU'RE REMINDING ME ADAM SANDLER USED TO MAKE GOOD MOVIES?!?

DAMMIT JJ.

Sir, one more outburst and I'll strangle you with my microphone wire, do you understand me?

[slickdtc]

Re: Off Topic 2014

First Valentine's Day since elementary school that I've actually had to buy something for somebody.

I hate it.

Haha, by and large I've done nothing for V-Day. My girl is one of those, "Oh, you don't have to get me anything." Yeah... Sure...

Honestly, I always want to do big extravagant things but its always bad timing financially. There really never is a dull moment.

Last year, one of the guys I was working with mentioned how he's running a bakery out of his home. Really cool stuff. Bunch of us at work went through him to get cakes. The one I bought from him for my girl was sickkkk. My girl was thrilled.

This year, just going the traditional card, chocolate, and flowers. We had a nice dinner on Tuesday night as our Valentine's Day outing. We agreed we didn't wanna do anything today, but still wanted to do a little something.

I really just wanna know if I should leave this rose sitting out, keep it cool, or put it in water? Lol

[dsallupinyaarea]

Re: Off Topic 2014

Also, for the Twitter crew, I took Twitter and Instagram off my phone for today. You have been spared.

1st rule of life: tweet through the pain, homie. Tweet through the pain.

[mb625]

Re: Off Topic 2014

I generally don't pay Valentine's Day much attention. I don't really care too much about it just in general. It doesn't depress me or anything like that, it's kind of just there.