Editor’s Message
Greetings, NVBUA/MAC umpires,
I’d like to send our association’s best wishes for a speedy recovery to MLB umpire Hunter Wendelstedt who was struck in the head by a foul ball recently. I don’t know what your experiences have been of late, brothers but, I have been setting a personal best on pitches worn on the plate and I know others have had some scary incidents as well. There is inherent risk in this umpiring thing we are all willing to do; even when we are where we are supposed to be and doing what we are supposed to be doing. The ball indeed finds us. As Sergeant Phil Esterhaus (Michael Conrad) used to say on one of my favorite old TV shows, “Let’s be careful out there…”
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
I hope you were able to join into last night’s rules discussion and the three-man mechanics discussion that followed. Please know that our focus as an association is on the training and development of YOU…our umpires.
Mechanics
It is a fine idea to start off the game by introducing yourself to the assistant coaches as your paths cross, or if you are the field umpire, deliberately shaking hands with the assistant coaches at first base. Having a good relationship with assistant coaches helps to facilitate an efficient and safe sporting event.
Rules
In my last post, I wrote about some baseball rules myths. There are many more and I received some others that people hoped would be included, so I decided to continue with some more rules myths about baseball.
Umpire Profile
Blue Crew Blues
When Brennan Miller worked the 2025 season opener a few weeks back at Dodger Stadium, he was not only the youngest member of his MLB crew in Los Angeles for those three games; he was the youngest umpire in Major League Baseball….as he has been since first arriving in the Bigs 7 years ago. Now at the age of 33, that’s the way Brennan has rolled since he began his umpire career 20 years ago. He’s always been the youngest ump around!
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]