Old Smitty is an umpire in my chapter about whom I've written many times. One day a few years ago we were having a beer after an association meeting.

"I've been trying to get my son to go into umpiring. No luck," Smitty complained.

"He's probably smarter than you." I laughed when I said it, but it was likely true.

"He won't make an umpire; I know that now. We called a Bambino doubleheader the other night. He did ok behind the plate. But he screwed up on the bases."

I finished off my Coors Lite and said, "Work with him. He'll learn where to go."

Continued...