How to Umpire Baseball and Softball » baseball games

Chapter Nine: Why I’m in Texas

Editor — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:40:51 +0000

April 11 I am reminded why I’m umpiring baseball games in Amarillo instead of basking on the Russian River with Donna. I work my first plate game tonight—and I’m brilliant. The energy flows unimpeded, my timing is precise. I can umpire! The game is a rout—13-0, El Paso. No matter, for I could have handled the frigging [...]

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Chapter Nine: Why I’m in Texas

Chapter Six: The Pursuit of Excellence

Editor — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:10:16 +0000

March 24 This week’s piece of work, Fred Frazier. The second baseman for the AAA Salt Lake team is of the Billy Martin mold. Small in stature, volcanic in temperament, he exacts the utmost in patience from an umpire. Today I am on the bases, and rookie Chuck Neisler is calling his first triple-A game behind the [...]

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Chapter Six: The Pursuit of Excellence

Chapter Five: John McSherry

Editor — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:05:00 +0000

March 21 John McSherry visits us in camp today. Big John is a National League umpire, and few can imagine him doing anything else. In the off-season, he serves as chief field instructor for the umpire schools. He was Charlie’s and my instructor, and now he’s come to see us. Mostly he’s come to see Charlie. [...]

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Chapter Five: John McSherry