The Morning in Pictures

With the morning off, I hustled over to capture some photos to share, starting at the Little League Museum Gift Shop where a new hoodie and coordinating visor would allow me to mingle, unnoticed, among my fans. 

Note: The disguise worked.  No one cared who I was.  Even when I told them.  Twice.

 

 

The evidence is in.  The World leads to the Little League World Series.

A wide variety of foods from which to choose.  Just wondering . . . do I get melted butter with this?

ESPN has created its own little city here.  Broadcasting games live to an international audience while providing views with true insight into the experience from the kids' point of view . . . well, let's just say it is a very coordinated effort, to say the least.  The first and third base umpires are charged with the responsibility of making sure the players and coaches stay in their dugouts during commercial break, and then cue them to take the field as soon as the designated production "Red Cap" gives us the signal. 

These photos give a little perspective.

 

 Gee, when you put it like that, it almost sounds healthy.

 This is a Photo Op that very few families are willing to pass up.  One young boy was resisting getting into place for the picture, and a passer-by said to him,

"Do it.  You'll thank your dad 30 years from now." 

He's right.

Little League's beloved mascot, Dugout.  Is he (or she) a Chipmunk?  A Prairie Dog?  A Gopher?  A Groundhog?  A Beaver with a little bitty tail? 

No one knows for sure . . .

 This is The Lip.  I'll explain in a minute.

Home Plate  is covered as the Grounds Crew works to prepare the field for today's game at Lamade Field.  This will be my spot for the thrill of a lifetime.

We umpires aren't used to all the different ground rules here.  Back home, it's just "If it hit's Roger's truck, that's out of bounds."  At Williamsport, there are camera wells, stairs, padded areas, steps into the dugouts, nets above the rail, nets below the rail - - all areas that may or may not be dead ball areas, depending on where the ball hits and whether it was thrown or batted. 

Got that?

It's really not that complicated, but in the heat of a game when you're not used to those rules and you're already nervous, it can be a little intimidating.  As I've said before, none of use wants to make a mistake.  Every game is important.

Which brings me to THE LIP.

At Lamade, as you may be able to discern from the photo above, there's a pretty steep drop-off behind home plate.  On a passed ball, a catcher has to make a quick decision as he trys to recover the ball: Slide, stumble, or fall.  Most wisely choose to slide, but it's a little more complicated than that.  Once he gets the ball, he now has to throw uphill to his pitcher who is waiting at the plate, ready to put down a tag on a runner who is charging in from 3rd base. If the catcher pulls it off successfully, it's truly a miracle.

His best choice?  Don't allow a passed ball.

For the umpire, it's another new wrinkle in our World Series experience.  The plate umpire has sole responsibililty for the passed ball, so you have to get back there quickly to make sure it's not caught up under the pad (because one of those ground rules would go into effect).  Backpeddle downhill if you dare, but should you choose that option, you're most likely to land on your butt in front of the aforementioned "World." 

Stay tuned.  ESPN at 3:00.