Time to Get in Shape

We all have come across this umpire on the field - huge gut, doesn't move much. Maybe even the guy who isn't so big, but is too lazy to move himself from behind the plate. I know, I have already alluded to this topic in prior postings, but I have not actually focused primarily on the Lump (large, lazy umpire). 

Several years ago while working in Ohio, I worked a game with a massive Lump. He was probably 6'6" and weighted more than 350 pounds. The guy would sweat through his entire uniform by the end of the 2nd inning. To keep himself hydrated, he required a gallon of water each game. Honestly, it was disgusting. He was an average umpire to say the least, but his massive butt rarely came out from behind home plate.

Lumps come in different varieties - you have the fatties, the bums who don't move, or the guys who are too old to move. I understand that there are guys who umpire for the love of the game, but they are doing a disservice to the players once they can no longer make a good angle on a play because their muscles don't work the same as they did when they were 30. It's okay to retire, because then you leave the game with your dignity in tact. You still have the respect of your fellow umpires. Unfortunately, they disregard this, and end up falling down the ranks of quality umpires.

Then you have the other breed - guys who can call one hell of a game while lounging behind home plate. I'm not sure how you can make a call at 2nd base when you are parked behind home plate, especially when there is no play at home (assuming you are working alone.) Heaven forbid the guy makes an attempt to be in position to make the call. This even happens when there are two guys working together and the base ump makes little attempt to be in position. Though this may not be issue for other umpires personally, it makes the rest of us look bad.

Though we cannot control the actions of our fellow umpires, we can control our own. If it requires us to work out twice a week to stay in shape, then so be it. This may require doing leg presses so we can build our stamina behind the plate for our tired legs, or even just running on the treadmill. In the end though, the appearance and abilities of other officials have an impact on all of us. Lumps give coaches and players the idea that all of us give forth little effort, even if it is just a small handful of those who are guilty. Get in position, hustle, and lay off the bag of chips fatty.