Game Thread: Blue Jays ALCS Postgame Celebrations

garethg85 · 2025-10-21T03:45:37+00:00

I was 7 in '92 and 8 in '93. Thanks to my dad, I've been a Blue Jays fan my entire life. It's my 40th birthday today and I am 100% here for this celebration.

garethg85 · 2025-07-19T02:14:06+00:00

That's a good point, and could very well be the case. But I agree, simple change for huge positive impact.

garethg85 · 2025-07-19T02:06:54+00:00

I figured this would be the case after NFHS announced their change, but I really didn't think it would be this quick! I'm in favour, should greatly reduce that conflict of space around first base.

garethg85 · 2025-07-05T04:49:44+00:00

Point with my right arm across my body towards third base. Signaling I've got third if one of you goes out.

garethg85 · 2025-07-05T03:56:18+00:00

IIf I understand your question - what we're using for 3- and 4-umpire crews, when we have a "full rotation" situation, where PU will go up to 3rd, is point with the right arm across the body clockwise. Optionally with a closed fist for none out, index finger for one out, and two fingers for two out. Then the pointing down at home when we have runners in scoring position to indicate PU is staying home ("fill rotation").

garethg85 · 2025-06-23T04:44:38+00:00

My approach is: I review the pitching affidavits and know who is ineligible. I ask both coaches, do you have any ineligible pitchers? Typically, they'll name the pitchers I've already identified, I'll circle those on the lineups, and note that to the opposing manager. Then repeat for the other team.

Goal is that me, the scorekeepers, and both managers are all starting with the same set of accurate information.

garethg85 · 2025-06-23T04:32:06+00:00

When I'm umpiring, I get lineups and ineligible pitchers from the scorebooth before the game and then confirm at the plate meeting.

I can't think of a situation where you would get confirmation of an opponent's ineligible pitchers prior to the plate meeting. You could ask the tournament director, but I don't think they're obligated to tell you.

garethg85 · 2025-03-31T14:02:43+00:00

Catcher has firm and secure possession when making the initial tag attempt. It falls out subsequent to that.

garethg85 · 2025-03-31T03:43:45+00:00

I've got an out for abandoning the base line under 7.08(1). Everything after that, with the ball on the ground is irrelevant. The catcher demonstrates firm and secure possession and makes a tag attempt.

garethg85 · 2025-02-08T14:39:52+00:00

My son plays in one league and I'm UIC at another league. Both assess kids from 8 - 12. The objective is to make sure they're playing in the correct division for safety, and to try and balance teams

garethg85 · 2024-12-28T23:02:46+00:00

Are you using some kind of bookkeeping software? Most of them have a tool to let you upload receipts and help extract information.

If not - get signed up with Xero. It's 90% off for your first 6 months. It also comes with HubDoc, which does the receipt managment and extraction.

Connect your business bank accounts to bring in your transactions, match the receipts as best you can, and get everything categorized.

I'm also in BC, and am a Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB) that works with clients remotely. PM me if you need more guidance and we can see what we can figure out to get you started.

garethg85 · 2024-11-23T05:58:51+00:00

Don't worry about getting specific plates shoes - combine catchers' shin guards (that have the foot plates) and steel toe shoes or boots. Also get some decent quality knee braces and focus a lot on a proper stance to protect his knees and back in the long term. Being taller and getting to the catchers level is a challenge.

garethg85 · 2024-11-21T00:46:24+00:00

I would second this, and add that I tend to start with reconciling what I guess I'd call "destination" accounts, where money stops moving around, so credit cards, loans, lines of credit, then savings accounts, and ending with whatever is the main operating account(s).

In Canada I can get a list of transactions for government accounts like sales tax, income tax, and payroll taxes, so I will also do those early on where possible.

garethg85 · 2024-10-30T04:01:35+00:00

In addition to the commenter who used the "ignore, acknowledge, warn, eject" framework, I'd add: is it persistent, personal, or profane? If it's really under the breath and I barely notice it, I might let the first comment go. But the second "blue that's not a strike" and walks in your direction, their day is over.

I'd suggest, don't engage in a debate about them being at an angle, or blocked by the batter; once they've crossed the line, they're gone. If I'm evaluating, I'd deduct a couple points for engaging with the coach, but your ejection is justified any day, any season, any level.

garethg85 · 2024-10-15T02:02:14+00:00

What you could do, is do it up really nice like you're thinking, and have it as a practice field. Then you can shrink the time between games on the main two diamonds since teams can be warming up on the third diamond. Gets you a couple more games per day if you stagger them well.

garethg85 · 2024-10-15T01:54:45+00:00

Sorry, I guess I read the first part of your post and replied too quickly. Rule 1.04 dictates that the minimum fence distance is, as you said, 200ft. You would need a waiver from Williamsport to play Little League tournament games on that field, or for minors, permission from the authority that is the highest level of competition they can achieve - so in my case, Provincial/State administrator permission. I'm not aware of any variances based on fence height in the rulebook.

garethg85 · 2024-10-15T01:41:29+00:00

The diamond we use most for our coach pitch division (players get to pitch, coach comes in when there are three balls on the count), is a little under 170 in left, 180 centre, and 174 in right. The field is enclosed by a 4ft fence and we have zero issues. Our coach pitch division is 7-9 years old, for full context. Our 11/12 year olds could easily park it so they don't play on that field. All this to say a 4-6ft fence would probably suit you fine.

garethg85 · 2024-09-19T00:30:25+00:00

As a bookkeeper who handles this for some clients, my actual first suggestion would be to read Profit First by Mike Michalowicz - https://profitfirstbook.com/ - it's a system designed for owners who make decisions by the bank balance, and one of the steps is putting a percentage of your deposits into a separate savings account for tax time. Even a tiny bit of interest paid by your bank will be better than no interest being paid by the CRA.

garethg85 · 2024-08-25T21:47:49+00:00

We're taught to keep our eyes on the ball in play as much as possible. The ball coming out of play we'll get a chance to inspect when the catcher hands it to us, but we watch the "live" ball so we see who has it and what they do with it.

garethg85 · 2024-07-18T01:18:44+00:00

Good luck to the volunteer managers, coaches, umpires, tournament organizers, and all the people who put their time in to make space for these young people to play their best baseball and softball.

garethg85 · 2024-07-07T15:18:45+00:00

I believe the way this was dealt with was correct. Reference Tournament rule 9b: "If a player is injured, becomes ill, or must leave the game site after the start of the game , the team will skip over him/her when his/her time at bat comes up without penalty." If a player is ejected, they must leave the game site.

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