US Update - Brett Robson

Ron Doorn, Thursday, 29 July 2010

Read all about Brett Robson's experience at the All Star Futures Game

Ryan Harder, Thursday, 29 July 2010

Read all about Brett Robson's experience at the All Star Futures Game

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 to 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 on 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 a
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 which has quickly become the now 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