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Hi all....

 

Well an update is what is needed then an update is what I can give....

 

As you all know I worked the 2010 XM Futures All Star Game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA. The Futures All Star Game is an exhibition of the best of the best MiLB players from all organisations and
all over the world. It is a nine inning game played between the USA and a World Team. This year I was one of two umpires selected from the Texas League for the game. It is both a great honour and
opportunity to both showcase myself to the MLB supervisors as well as enjoy LIFE as a Major League Baseball representative. I am the first Australian Umpire to take part but not the first Australian...
Players have performed in recent years representing Australia as members of the World Team. This year Liam Hendriks was selected but an unforeseen illness unfortunately took the opportunity away
from him. I am very proud to fly the Aussie Flag for a couple of days.

 

The game was played on July 11 at Angel Stadium. I travelled to Anaheim on the 10th from Corpus Christi, TX. I was fortunate enough to have my amazing wife Leigh with me for the game. It was her
first visit to a MLB stadium and I think she might just be able to live with me being away if she can live that life for a while.

 

Day one at the Futures game was a hectic day. On the go from the moment we arrived in Anaheim. We had a scheduled meeting with MLB and others at Angle Stadium for a tour and our first opportunity to walk on the field. We were walking the field as ESPN were setting up their equipment for the All Star Weekend so it was chaos but none the less the field was in amazing shape, much different to anything I have ever walked on. It was onto dinner with the crew and a nice relaxing evening with a couple of adult cordials of course. We had to keep ourselves in check as our hotel was also the Official hotel for MLB hierarchy and unfortunately umpires stick out like sore thumbs in a public place at such an event. But nonetheless we enjoyed our evening and shut it down nice an early for our Big game in Sunday.

 

Early to rise on Sunday morning as there was so much to do in a very short period. Leigh and I progressed to the MLB All Star Fan Fest bright and early to do the souvenir shopping for family, and a cool day and a half's pay later we think we got everyone. It was a quiet lunch for the crew as we were treated to a buffet including roast beef, pasta, rice, potatoes and vegetables before umpiring the game. We were treated like royalty for the short time we spent in Anaheim but it was just a glimpse into the life of a big leaguer. It was then off to walk the field again to ensure ESPN had not gone and put a camera anywhere we did not know about, or that could cause us any crazy problems. It's enough to worry about walking out in front of 31,790 people but then to have unexpected surprises. We had a pre game meeting with ESPN and MLB Security before retiring to the locker room to "Prepare" for the game...

 

With the preparation done photos taken and new MLB uniforms on, game time was upon us and it was time to head for the field. Now unlike ever before we had an escort. Not one guy but 6 of Angel Stadiums finest Security. It's a wonder why because we were in tunnels beneath the stadium and no member of the public had access to these areas. Then moving through tunnels I realised why. It was a maze and who knows where we would have ended up that day. It was onto the field and up, up and away. The game flashed before our eyes and until we could soak up the atmosphere it did not seem real. Standing at first base in an MLB Stadium representing Australia at a Futures All Star Game, although I have a USA jersey, I was representing Australia. A few close plays in the first two innings and it was time to forget about soaking up the atmosphere and get into the game. Everything went very smoothly and the game was over and done with in a cool 2 hours and 56 minutes and we were being escorted back to the locker room... “game over our first experiences on an MLB stadium over”.

 

I was greeted by ESPN at the locker room not for an interview or anything special but to be told 40 minutes till first pitch for the Celebrity and Legends Al Star Softball game. As with every year the MILB Umpires who work the Futures game also work either the Home Run Derby or the Celebrity Legends Softball Game. As I was returning to normality the next day I was doing the softball game. I took the plate. We were told to have some fun talk to people and overall enjoy the event. It is more a fun time for local celebrities than anything competitive. Although seeing some of the hacks taken by former MLB and HOF players they were not out there to have fun. The game quickly turned into a slugfest, but was a lot of fun. It was all over and done within a matter of 1 hour and 45 minutes and thus my MLB experience was nearing an end.

 

All that was left for the night was a quick sushi dinner at the ball park and return to the hotel to enjoy more adult beverages, before a late night followed by the early morning call to the airport and return to normality. I returned to Corpus Christi and yet another blistering plate job in the Texas League and Leigh returned home to her real life back at work. The experience relit the flame for me this year.  A great incentive to get me through the last 60 games of the season, this has quickly become the last 39 games of the regular season before the playoffs begin. It was by far the most amazing and exciting experience of my young career and if I have the chance to live the "LIFE", I don't think I would have any issues taking it up.

 

As for the Texas League season we are now 101 games in and bar picking up other crews’ games, we have only 39 left before heading into the playoffs. The season is like any other is at this stage, the weather is hot, the players are players and everyone is counting the days till their return to normality. Any normal person would ask why we count down until the end of the season, we are living a million people's dreams every day. We are not really counting down more less looking forward to the return to normality for the next 6 months till we all return to do it all again.

 

This year has been by far one of my best. We are looking forward to another evaluation here in the next week or so and as long as I can keep up the good form I have been in of late, I see very little
issues with how I am working right now. IT has been a very cool summer here in the TL until lately definitely easing tensions and ego's of players, coaches, managers and umpires alike. SO although the count down is actually on there is still a hell of a lot of baseball left to play and just as much hard work has to go into everyday for us here on Crew Three of the Texas League. Right now I am only three moves from AAA and this is not looking very positive for this season, I will be looking forward to a good season ending evaluation and fingers crossed moving into AAA for the first pitch of the 2011  season....

 

I hope this has satisfied the hunger for information from me. I have never been very good at this stuff but when I get going I get a lot out..... Drop me a line if anyone needs anything else...

 

Brett