Editors Message

Greetings and salutations true, blue believers,

…and welcome back to another information-packed edition of The Blue Crew News! Before I run you through the highlights of our First Pitch 2026 Edition, for those who may have missed it, The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported earlier this month that MLB umpire Hunter Wendelstedt is expected to return to duty to start the 2026 season after being struck in the head by a vicious foul ball last April while working at first base at Target Field in Minneapolis. This is excellent news, and we wish all the best to Hunter for 2026. I know we’re all looking forward to seeing him back on the field!

Association president Dave Maher is in his familiar spot, awaiting you with his monthly President’s Message. Dave has several crucial pre-season updates regarding our calendar with dates and times you need to be aware of for exams, meetings, as well as the banquet, and much, much more. He’s also got some news and information about members who are stepping into new roles within the association. Grab Dave’s message here and get all the latest association news.

Speaking of personnel, all of your favorite Blue Crew News writers are back and like all good teams, we’ve added a few new people this year as we continue to expand the horizons of “enhancing the umpire experience”. As you know, Tim Strutzel and Norm Gordon started this publication a few years back. Tim will, of course, continue on with us as Co-Editor; however, I have also added Co-Founder next to his name on his office door. I’d also like to formally acknowledge Norm as Co-Founder and, now, Editor Emeritus. In addition, Collin Agee has graciously agreed to take a seat at the newly completed Umpire Interest desk. We’re still figuring out Collin’s role, and I’m really excited about the energy he is bringing. Finally, I am pleased to report that association rules interpreter Bob Nasser has added Josh Cooper and Matt Power,s joining Thomas Francis and Vin Vena on their team. If you have an idea for a topic we should be covering, please feel free to contact the appropriate staff member. For a full Blue Crew News staff directory, please go here.

Collin gets things rolling in his department this month with a timely piece on health and fitness. He has started a personal regimen with a gym here in Northern Virginia, which provides some individual coaching on exercises and routines that would be helpful to all of us as umpires. Best of all, he has also secured an introductory deal for any of us in the association who want to check out the facilities for yourselves. For a progressive look at fitness and the association’s deal, drop in on Collin here.

Bob Nasser is here this month outlining the plans for the association’s exam prep, which has always been a hallmark to help the membership to achieve the best scores they can on either of the local rule exams. Additionally, Bob posted some very helpful YouTube links that review the new rule changes in the 2026 NFHS rule book. For Bob’s rules related message, please click here.

Rules and mechanics together are the meat and potatoes of the umpire world and so it is here at Blue Crew News. This month, from our Mechanics group, Anthony Mayer has a helpful and informative piece on the importance of communicating clearly with your partners and how to work together to best get the play or plays covered. Don’t miss this opportunity to update your skills, and approach with base coverages and communication with this month’s mechanics feature here.

Rounding out our usual monthly features, Gary Reals returns with another edition of The Gary Reals Profile. This month’s subject is veteran umpire, association life member, board member and association director of training…Paul Porto. Paul’s greatest asset as a trainer and an umpire is how he engages verbally with his fellow umpires. Whether it’s a roomful of accomplished umpires or a classroom of rookies on a ballfield somewhere learning rotations or mentoring his partner in a 2-man crew in a summer travel game, Paul articulates the finer points of umpiring in a very accessible way. If you are a member of this association and would like to reach your maximum potential, Paul Porto is a brother who can help you get there. His feedback will tell you right where you are with your skills and abilities and how you can best go about climbing to the next level of this craft. For Gary’s story on Paul, please click here.

So, that will do it for this edition of The Blue Crew News. As the season draws near, meetings and training opportunities are starting to be scheduled and announced. And with weather and the changing availability of various facilities and fields, schedules will change. Please stay tuned to your email and phone, and- of course- this fine publication for all of the latest news and information.

Excelsior,
~Robert Fobian
Editor, Blue Crew News

“During my eighteen years I came to bat almost 10,000 times. I struck out about 1,700 times and walked maybe 1,800 times. You figure a ballplayer will average about 500 at-bats a season. That means I played 7 years without ever hitting the ball.” – Mickey Mantle, illustrating the high rate of failure in baseball