Editor’s Message
Greetings and Salutations true blue believers,
Before I begin, I was just handed an urgent bulletin from the BCN Update Desk…VHSL First Round State games will be Tuesday, June 10th at Madison HS, West Springfield HS, Heritage HS, Independence HS and Gainesville HS. Umpire assignments have not yet been finalized.
Secondly, congratulations to the umpire crew for the 2025 Congressional Baseball Game which is Wednesday, June 11th at Nationals Park in DC. Your umpires Craig Alden, John Vena, Jerry Park and Dave Diesselhorst will arbitrate the contest.
Calendar
Association Meetings
- Monday, Sept 14 - Virtual - 7:00 pm
Save the Date
- Umpire Night @ Capital One Ballpark, Tysons VA (June or July TBD)
- Saturday, December 6 - 2025 Association Banquet, Vienna Legion Post 180, 330 Center Street N, Vienna, VA – 7:00 pm
Presidents Message
Today, let’s start by giving a shout out to those umpires volunteering their time in the new Shepherd Program. It’s still very small as we are only providing ‘shepherds’ for first year officials, but our list of first year officials is growing substantially, so if you can help out, please let Bob Nasser know.
Mechanics
The double first base will be used at Capital One Park this summer for the Potomac College league. It is also being used at South County Middle school and Alabama Drive Park. Expect more locations to make this move within the coming months and years as well.
Rules
For this rules presentation, I was asked to write about the DH and courtesy runner rule. There are a number of different cases regarding the DH available for the starting lineup. Another topic that creates some confusion at times is the courtesy runner rule. Courtesy runners are for pitchers or catchers only.
Special Articles
Tax Fundamentals
Some of you know that I volunteer for the AARP Tax-Aide program. I have been with them for 17 years as a tax counselor and now as site leader for the Manassas (Bull Run) site. Over the course of the past few seasons in many pre and post-game discussions, I realized that there are some areas of tax knowledge that I might be able to provide some assistance, especially with some little known areas – Rick McIntosh.
New Legal Protections
Recently, Steve Levine reached out to us here at BCN to give us an update on some legal protections for sports officials in Virginia. Since the beginning of sport itself, society has come to understand that the officials’ place within society is one of a “necessary evil”. As a practical matter we cannot have participants, coaches or spectators officiate a serious contest of sport. The rooting interest simply cannot be suppressed.
Summer Clinics
2-Umpire Clinics
July 10-13 – Fairfax, VA
July 14-18 – Indianapolis, IN
July 29-Aug 2 – Union, NJ
Aug 6-10 – Cortland, NY
3-Umpire Clinics
July 17-20 • Fairfax, VA
July 22-29 • Montclair, NJ
Umpire Profile
Blue Crew Blues
Blues, if you’ve had the opportunity to work, or just talk with him, you know Michael Chmar is one intense gent. Indeed, Michael is extremely intense! And the manner in which he projects that intensity is indisputably affirmative. Furthermore, it presents a distinct tone of encouragement for those lucky enough to umpire a baseball game with him.
BCN Staff/Contributors
- Editor – Robert Fobian
- Co-Editor – Tim Strutzel
- Co-Editor – Mike Chmar
- Presidents Message – Dave Maher
- Mechanics – Paul Porto
- Rules – Greg McEvoy & Vin Vena
- Umpire Profile – Gary Reals
Letters to the editors welcome at [email protected]