Wednesday, August 23, 2006

The irrelevant & irreverent ramblings
of a couple of your partners in blue

Caspe to marry, contemplates the Mother Country

By Henry Altschuler & John Philbeck
Contributing Editors

Russ Caspe (the Friendly Ghost) is tying the matrimonial knot on Oct. 28. The wedding is planned in New Jersey, We can only assume this remote locale was chosen to assure there will be some control on the exclamations, exhortations and explicatives certain to eminate from any umpire peanut gallery in attendance. The happy couple have been engaged since last September.

Actually, the reason for New Jersey isn't self preservation and domestic bliss. Before Russ came to Seattle he lived and studied in New Jersey where he got his start in umpiring   "I had always taken an interest in the rules of baseball, and knew a lot of the minutiae (not nearly as much as I know now), so rather than flip burgers or pump gas, I started umpiring little league.  When I got out of high school I started umpiring "real" baseball with the NJSFBU (New Jersey State Federation of Baseball Umpires).  When I graduated college I came to Seattle for Grad School at UW, and I did a google search for an umpiring association in Seattle.  First hit was the NBUA."

Following the nuptuals and commensurate chaos Russ is considering an opportunity in Manchester England this autumn. Russ is planning to complete his Masters of Science in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Washington in early October (assumedly without interferring with his appointment in Jersey on the 28th). Then in December or January he has an opportunity to work in Manchester on new processes for manufactuing composite materials. Russ will spend two years in Manchester and then a third in either Seattle or Manchester. He plans to ultimately leave Limeyland behind and return to the States. Russ has resolved his biggest issue with the move. "Thankfully, I've reconcilled a way to move to Manchester, remain a New York Yankees fan and NOT root for Manchester United making me the most annoying sports fan on the planet. I'll root for Manchester City!"

Hey Ghost, while you're processing all those composites, how about designing a comfortable jock and cup for your compatriots in blue.

Finally, and obviously of the greatest importance to any right-minded individual, Russ has contacted and intends to become a member of the Amateur Baseball Umpires Association of Great Britain (ABUAGB). It is believed that Russ will therefore become the second international export from the NBUA. The last we heard Clark Snyder was still in Germany where he is undoubtedly a highly placed official in that country's Octoberfest activities! (eat your heart out, Commish). Russ has also found a men's baseball league in Manchester (The Eagles is the name of the team he informs us) that he will be contacting once he arrives. Tell us Russ, is it true that they run the bases backwards in Great Britain?

John "Stonewall" Philbeck can be reached at st1jrp@comcast.net. Henry "the Yankee" Altschuler can be reached at calledstrike@yahoo.com. Story ideas are welcomed and encouraged!