This won’t be the sexiest podcast, but someday, it might just save you. This episode is a list of hard-learned lessons about the right items you need to have in your umpire equipment bag.
They were learned the hard way – by not having these things and needing them.
First, let’s define “umpire bag” because umpires usually have a bag for gear that they change out of, drag to the dressing room and they also have a secondary bag (for me, it’s a tupperware bin) with a lot of these other items. Both of these bags are extremely important and should be stocked and checked regularly.
Thanks to many of the our Facebook followers for helping us complete this list!
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SHOW NOTES:
If we’ve missed anything, please let us know in the comments so we can help future umpires make sure they’re well prepared!!
**Items in ALL CAPS are SHOW STOPPERS!! Try umpiring without these.
- Shoe cleaning kit and equipment. (We’re going to have a whole show about shoe and equipment cleaning coming up soon!) But at minimum you should have two dish towels, a shoe brush and a bag to put your shoes in (in case they’re muddy)
- Sunflower Seeds / Gum / Power Bar (check with your location to see if seeds are allowed. They are less and less nowadays)
- Sunglasses/Sunglasses Case/Eyeglasses cleaner
- Extras!!!!!!!
- Indicator
- Pair of Socks
- EXTRA BELT!!
- Plate Brush
- Ballbags (different colors also)
- Bugspray (if keeping in your bag, put it in a ziploc bag in case of leakage)
- Febreeze (ziploc also!)
- Extra medication / Ben Gay / IBUPROFEN (totally different ziploc bag)
- EXTRA SHOE LACES!!
- Pens/Pencil/Lineup Card Protector
- Padlock
- Toiletry bag with baby wipes, deodorant
- Rubbing Mud
- Sunscreen
- Athletic Tape / Small First Aid Kit
- Small notepad or journal
- Chapstick
- Gold Bond (you know who you are)
- Small Sewing Kit
- And finally, and we think this was made in jest – but then again maybe not – pepper spray!
What did we miss? Sound off in the comments or on our Facebook and Twitter pages! Thanks again for listening!!
Oh, and here’s how to sew on a button:
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Billy Haze was inches away from a dream and then walked away. Only to have the pull of baseball bring him back into the game. Billy was an aspiring AAA Minor League Umpire, but didn’t get the MLB call up. After some time off, he returned to the game and is now at the top of the D-I NCAA baseball umpires profession as well as helping others take their first steps in umpiring with the Black and Blue Umpire Academy.
Billy Haze and Michael Bilinci join us from the Black and Blue Umpire Camp to talk on Episode 15 about daily life as an NCAA umpire, who should attend the BBUC camps and the intangibles assigners look for when trying to find folks for the next level.
The Black & Blue Umpire Camps can be found on YouTube, Facebook as well as their website.
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Show Notes:
BBUC Umpire Camp – Main Website
BBUC YouTube Channel
BBUC Facebook Page
A cool video they show at the start of camp
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In the era of sabermetrics and advanced statistics, the SABR revolution finds itself seeping into umpiring. One of the leaders in this avenue is the website CloseCallSports.com. That website is run by Gil Imber and we talk with him on Episode 14 of the UmpTalk Podcast.
Close Call Sports is a website that tracks umpire ejections but also allows the community to analyze close calls in not just baseball but all sports.
The site works to analyze controversial events objectively, but also introduces a big element of fun as well. It is a great website to visit for umpires, baseball fans and wanna-be rulebook lawyers. The centerpiece to the website is an “Umpire Fantasy League” which tracks ejections of umpires, assigns scores to those ejections and allows players to get points according to how their “umpire team” does. The league also awards points for correct applications of rules as well as case studies.
We talk with Gil about how the website started and his own umpiring background as well as some of the more controversial posts on his website.
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Show Notes:
Close Call Sports Website
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For those of us who don’t work a winter sport like football or basketball, the time is now to put down the remote, get off of the couch and get into game shape. The season is just around the corner.
While I am not the most fit, and not many of us are, I do know quite a few tricks to get OUT of exercising. So that makes me the perfect person to lay out some accountability on all of us. Let’s get started!
Here are seven tips to getting ready for that first pitch by getting our bodies back into game shape from the long winter.
A lot of umpires have, um… “softer” frames. This is a way to working on that early and being proactive with your season so your mechanics are crisper, your calls are more accurate and you get into less trouble!
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SHOW NOTES:
Here are seven tips to getting back into game shape along with notes from the episode:
-
Start.
- Right now. Get moving. Get to a gym. Take the dog for a walk. Put down the Pringles. Whatever you’re doing right now, the best way to begin is simply to start.
-
Start slowly
- There is a real risk of a long-term injury if you try to do too much too soon.
- Stretching is a huge part of exercise. Here’s a couple of good websites about stretching.
- Get off the Couch Workout
-
Start with a plan
- Track your food and your workouts
- Schedule your workouts in your calendar
- Drink plenty of water before and after workouts
- Rehydrate is a healthy alternative to Gatorade
- Plan out your food before games, and carry a cooler in the car of healthy snacks.
-
Start with a friend
- Working out with a buddy helps with accountability
- Feel free to add me so we can compare fitness plans
-
Start Mixing It Up
- Try some different excercises to work on your core and lower body. Focus on back and torso excercises
-
Start Something New
- Once you get into it for a few weeks – try something new.
- As for help! Check with the folks at the gym. They’re there to help you!
- Consider getting an hour of personal training time
- Take a class. Yoga isn’t just for ladies!!
-
Start With A Salad
- Journal your food
- Plan out your meals
- Great book called Eat This, Not That
- STAY POSITIVE!!
Good luck with your efforts to get into shape! Sound off in the comments below. What has worked for you?
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Harold Moya has enjoyed a 40 year career in baseball as a player, coach and manager. Several years ago, he decided to add “umpire” to that list as he went to Professional Umpire School and was placed in the Independent Minor Leagues.
Following his experience, he decided to write a book about his journey and experiences.
Harold Moya is our guest on Episode 12 of the UmpTalk Podcast.
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Keep the conversation going at UmpTalk.com, Facebook, Twitter and now listen to us on Stitcher Radio!
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Show Notes:
Amazon.com Link to Harold’s Book:
Blue: A Professional Umpire Strikes Back
Pecos League
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Training and Stories for Baseball Umpires
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