The Sashman Speaks

As another High School baseball season draws to an end, I am coming to the conclusion of a couple of things.   As much as I love being an Umpire and doing games in New Hampshire and Vermont, I am ready for newer situations and offerings.   Being in New England and submitting to the weather, is not always a win-win situation.  You are lucky if you are on a field in the first week of April, and by the end of May you are done, with the High School season.  2.)  In Florida, you can play baseball close to year round, which offers me a better chance of actually making a career out of being  currently a High School (JV) /Babe Ruth certified umpire, to potentially doing enough games to maybe one day taking another step and working towards becoming a College umpire. 3.)  I am ready to prove myself as an umpire in a new environment and new location. I really think that I am in a bit of a rutt here in New England. I chose 5 years ago to do JV games and to not ...

So spring has finally arrived, and with it the beginning of my 11th year as an Umpire. So far the games have been well played, no major issues with any players,coaches etc, and I have enjoyed being back out on the fields doing what I love.  I have about another 12 games spanning the next 4 weeks for my New Hampshire High School season, plus 2 more for Vermont, as well 6 more for local recreation leagues, before  gearing up for a summer  of hopeful Cal Ripken League games, Babe Ruth League games and some tournaments.   Also am planning on going down to Boston with one of my good friends to catch the sox play and that should be a lot of fun. Usually I try and get to at least ONE game a season and also try to catch some minor league games at either Manchester, or Burlington.    BUT one thing that has kept my mind occupied is the fact that in less then 3 months now I will be leaving Vermont, New England and beginning my new adventure as a Floridian.  I a...

Sooo as Spring has officially arrived, even though there is still currently a good 6 inches of snow on the ground ( Thanks a lot GROUNDHOG) I am looking forward to getting my 11th season as a Baseball Umpire underway.  I have been going to physical therapy for the past 3 weeks and I can feel my legs, quads, calfs and knee  all getting stronger and stronger with each passing day. I have also been slowly ramping up my workouts, and yesterday was able to complete my first mile.   Though I can't run just yet, I was walking at a brisk pace of 3.2 mph which resulted in a 18 minute mile. This is a huge accomplishment for me since, I hadn't been able to get on a treadmill since the injury to my knee back in February.  I have also continued to receive and expand my umpiring schedule and am now upto 20 games. My first will be April 8th on the bases. My first plate game will be Wednesday the 10th and I can't wait to get out there and show everyone just what I learned while I ...

sooo the latest update on my knee for those who are curious. I had the MRI and the results were that I have a small tear in my patella tendon, and a small stress fracture in my Tibula.  Both are not big enough to require surgery and the next step is PT which I started yesterday and will be continuing throughout the month of March.  The hopes of strengthening, and building up my knee in order to be on the fields by the first week of April.  Other then that I am pretty relieved to have been upgraded from the massive-assive brace with hinges and straps and to a knee stabilizing brace which allows me more weight bearing activities.  Still not fully able to put 100% weight on my knee but, with the stretches I was given I am very optimistic that by the time I am back on a field my knee/leg will be stronger then it has been.

Sooo had my MRI today and now just have to wait a week to get the results back.  if for those who don't know already, according to my X-ray I have a small tear in my meniscus as well as a small tear in my patella tendon which supports the knee cap which on the xray is actually above where it should be.  My thinking right now is that depending on how severe the tear in both my meniscus and tendon are is to get surgery to clean/repair my knee.  As much as I would like to get the quick fix with rehab and strengthening my knee which would allow me to  get back on the field as soon as I can, I need to think of the long term effects of not getting surgery and going out onto the field and potentially injuring my knee further.  I don't want to be out on a field and be worried about whether or not this game would be the one that my knee is injured further, I want to be able to focus on the game at hand and that is why I am seriously considering getting the surgery. ...

Soo I am officially back home in VT and am still in amazement at the accomplishment of not only going to Umpire School, but just how much I have learned and grown as a person, and as an Umpire.  I am sooo honored to have gotten the chance to not only work with some of the best umpires in the Majors, but also some of the best Minor League guys, and with some of the best young amateur umpires from not just around the country but the world.  I am very excited for all the guys who made the "next level" at PBUC which is one step closer to the minor leagues for them.  I am hopeful for the Pro's to have a great season, and as for me I am just excited to take what I learned at the school, over the 5 weeks, and be able to apply it on the fields.

Well tonight concludes my 5 week journey here at Umpire School. I will be an official member of the graduating class of 2013. This has been a dream of mine to come here for the past 3 years and I am soo honored and proud to say that I have achieved my goal of coming, and more so successfully completing and graduating.   There have been soo many moments and I can't pick just one. I can't begin to thank everyone who has stood by myside, and encouraged, supported, listened, and just have been there for me over the past 11 years.  I can't wait to see everyone once I get back home from Florida, and to tell them about my experience here.