Spring is nearly upon us, and so the mind turns to baseball. Chiefly, this means that the mind turns to pitchers, catchers, batters, and fielders. Umpires, if they are given any thought, are in the back of the mind. The umpire, after all, belongs in the back of the mind — as he stands in the back of, or rather behind, the plate. Properly, the umpire is not a participant in the game of baseball, although, to be sure, his actions will affect the outcome of the game. Imagine a game in which not a single strike was called. This … Continue reading Umpire Worship