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Watching the UCSB vs UK game and Ump Attire's @Scott Kennedy Is working the plate in what appears to be a short sleeved jacket. This might be the first time I've seen this behind the plate.

The treasure trove of discussions here is wide and varied. One of the really great things about this place is that so many are willing to share their experiences not only on the field, but with past discussions as well.

... because the INT is with the fielder TAKING the throw, not the fielder MAKING the throw. No throw makes that INT impossible.

See this:

Or ........., the library is where I keep rule books in the off season for reading material, adjacent to the throne. In all seriousness though, @Stk004 nailed the explanation

Those pants look very nice

http://www.ukathletics.com/news/kentucky-ucsb-sunday-photo-gallery-03-05-2017 Go to picture 14 and 17

So is 7 3/4! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I hope you've upgraded your harness, as that makes all the difference in the world.

Nvm, just saw a great thread on the second page. Force 3 shin guards coming up in the same order (you seem to get all my money @JimKirk) and the lows are getting a lot of great reviews. Finishing up year 2 of an equipment retool with the new shoes and shin guards. Still not sold on my west vest gold from last year. Can't seem to get a comfortable fit.

Also worth note, since the OP doesn't specify rule set. In FED, the defense does not lose the right to appeal if a play is initiated by the offense before the next pitch, IBB, etc.

Looks like he was wearing poly spandex

I really like the look of this mask. Reminds me of my old set up on my powdercoated Diamond.

Might be able to contact Jim to see if they would match the price if it wasn't to far back? I can speak to the quality of the Davis-by-Fecheimer pants. Though I wish I had knew about the poly-spandex at the end of last year.

Is this actually a +POS? I've never seen that before...looks kind of Diamond-ish.

@Jimurray I appreciate the apology and clarification of the previous thread. Im thick skinned and don't take offense easily. I'm just here to talk baseball and to get better as an umpire. I still make mistakes and I just want to learn from them so I don't repeat them. Thanks to everyone for their support. I really enjoy this community and the many years of baseball experience and rules knowledge available here. I have learned a lot since I've started coming here. Now back to baseball!

For the Big 12 and the B10, the jackets are black--the old one with the shoulder stripes (default,) or either convertible jacket--the one with the white on the sides and horizontal across the front, or the all-black Majestic.

However a less experienced pitcher might panic and look to make the play on R3 and prevent that appeal happening.

That's what I wear on the plate.

The dentist's smock on the dish. Nice. Hey, if that's what make him feel warm and comfortable back there, that's great. Me, I like long sleeved jerseys on the bases, but know some folks have a fit over this.

@Jimurray apology accepted. One man's chiding is another's abuse. We are all on the same team here. Others in baseball don't care much for us,we can't tear each other down in the place we should all come to for support and clarification. Thanks for understanding.

The key, @Mr Ump,is the size of your thighs. If you're beefy in the thigh then you will be fine. I've been working on slimming down. I now skip leg day in the gym and ride a bike. My .02..... If you want to try my worn once size L (I did wash them), I'll take them back should they not fit.

Timing, timing, timing..... is everything in life.

It was shut down because there were sufficient answers to the original questions asked, some members breached protocol (as you would say) by posting negative comments about GreyhoundAggie, and then others members breached protocol by posting negative comments about those who were posting negative comments about GreyhoundAggie. Basically I shut it down before the hijacking/drama (as Maven would say) SH*#storm (as I would say) erupted, people get butt hurt and we end up losing members of the community.

Yup. Welcome to the new era of umpire pants. https://www.ump-attire.com/Baseball-Umpire-Equipment/Clothing-Apparel/Pants/S392_Smitty-Performance-Poly-Spandex-Charcoal-Grey-Plate-Umpire-Pants

I'm thinking there is some kind of pink mask coming available..

Jim I don't care if I have to cut off an arm and 3 toes I WANT TO GET ONE OF THOSE MASKS! Also, I would cook you and your Wife a nice dinner to get one! Michael

@Jimurray I'm calling you out on this. You are over the line. Consider yourself warned. Further attack like postings like this WILL get you sanctioned on this website. Clear?

I wouldn't even pregame this--this is standard. I think he was a little delayed in getting out of the plate area; a fairly common thing for those who have worked mostly 2-man for years. I wonder if he took the route he did because of that delay, or if he drifted while watching the ball and didn't pay attention to where he was.

Trying to find one that will fit. 6 7/8 is hard to come by. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Greyhound - you had a brain fart. We've all been there (well, we all haven't been there...apparently there are 2 who have never had a brain fart). Thank you for having the courage to post your questions and situations on here. I'm sorry that 2 "umpires" decided they'd ridicule you instead of answering your questions. But that's how it goes with umpire message boards...you'll always have a few who feel the need to insult rather than help. Keep doing what you're doing, learn from your mistakes. You've been to camps, you have a good knowledge, trust your instincts. Even if your partner may have more experience than you it's okay to tell him you're not comfortable with the ruling. Give him what you think and let him decide what he wants to do with it. Keep working hard. Don't be discouraged by the few and continue to post situations if/when they happen. But you also have my email address and you can always contact me instead of subjecting yourself to ridicule when you are simply seeking advice and answers. And with that, since I am a moderator, I'll take scrounge's advice and shut this down.

And that's why we can't have nice things...utterly ridiculous that you treat your own that way on a public forum.

Over the course of my experiences, whether they are on the baseball field or elsewhere, when I have sought counsel on my actions, I rarely doubt how I approach similar situations in the future. Self reflection, the willingness to seek advice, and accepting sound advice are traits too many fail to embrace. Keep it up @GreyhoundAggie

Can I just say that why not give props to Greyhound Aggie for posting the situation, instead of bashing him and his partner? We can all learn from each other's mistakes without having some holier than thou attitude, right? Or perhaps you guys have never made a mistake before? In many locations, baseball is starting back up. We all have some rust on us and some have all heck of a lot more rust than others. No need to put guys down. What does that possibly solve? Wait for it.......... Take it easy on folks or nobody's gonna wanna post their "mistakes". Geez....no respect around here!

UCLA Bruins colors. I painted the helmet and no label black vinyl Diamond pads with the columbia blue colors (Rustoleum "Spa Blue") Total weight with the +POS harness is 14.7oz.

In my games: If solo and the winning run comes in and and I know there is a possible appeal I just casually start my end of game process. Watch all runners complete their responsibilities, observe what the defense is doing (running off the field?), I roll the balls, grab my mini-bar (IE water bottles) and start heading for the exit. This takes anywhere from 30-60 seconds depending on what is happening... by this time either the defense is coming to grab me or packing their stuff and heading to the bus. Partner games: Basically the same except either I am holding a few moments for my partner to get to me or I am heading towards him... either way there should be more than enough time for an appeal to be made. I am not an advocate of literally running for the exit nor am I hanging out to get hand shakes and atta-boys... Busting for the exit (assuming your not being pursued) to me just looks bad; like you did not want to be there in the first place and hanging around makes you look like a glory hound. Somehow we need to find the balance of not only what looks right, is right but not tipping our hand to the teams...

LOL, tourney weekends, multiple plates, bad weather.. Although, that backwards configuration could help with any knives thrown from behind the backstop from "those types" of parents..... Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

If he lets it drop, he risks the ball taking a bad hop, and ending up with R1 and R2. if he drops it, he could be called for an intentional drop, batter is out, force is removed.

Good slot, good crouch. Pretty good head height — could be just slightly higher. Timing is not bad, though I'm not certain you're seeing the ball hit the mitt: strike 3 at the end is way too fast. Timing should not change with the location of the pitch, as it takes just as long to hit the mitt and process even when it's right down Broadway. Your right foot is way too open (left foot from with a LH batter), exposing it to getting hit. Point your toes at F1. This strikes me as the biggest flaw in your stance, with an easy fix. Your head moves on the first pitch, but you seem to be aware of it and move much less subsequently. Second and third pitches look a little tunnel-vision-ish, but it's hard to tell. I object slightly to the invitation to "tear you apart," as I offer only constructive criticism, and its purpose is exactly the opposite.

@Thunderheads and @JimKirk Since an umpire's biggest supporter is Smitty and Jim you definitely have the connection and the ear of Smitty, how about seeing if they would be interested in having an umpire shoe designed and made? As a company they own the lions share percentage of the officals uniform market. I think it would be a darn good fit and excellent marketing move. I imagine that the baseball and basketball officials market could be well worth the effort.

You're not going to. Nike isn't anywhere near in trouble, but there have been two things going on that are "of concern" to them, taking any attention they would potentially give to us (as umpires) away. The first is in basketball and the rise of Chinese brands courting and securing NBA talent to signature lines of their own. The Chinese have no scruples about outright copying – this we know – but if they are copying and altering and re-marketing these shoe models for other marquee talent, that's a problem. Klay Thompson is the best example... plays alongside two of the biggest superstars in the modern NBA. Curry is with UA, and Durant is with Nike, while Klay is with Anta, one of these new Chinese startups. Because of the unique way China treats international claims of copyright, and Anta being a Chinese company, Anta can actually cherry-pick KD styles, throw an Anta logo on in lieu of the Swoosh, and even include KD in shots of Klay in their marketing materials, and sell like crazy to the Chinese market. The other major concern – and this is more relevant to us in baseball – is the withering of the Nike brand in golf, specifically the Tiger Woods line. Nike went all-in with Tiger, and produced the entire, exhaustive range of gear, apparel and footwear options for golf. It was a monster. With the new breed of players all gunning for Tiger, the gear rivals – Titleist, Ping, Taylor Made – all landed these new players in sponsorships and started gunning for Nike. Rory McIlroy has just not been able to match the monster presence that Tiger was. Even Tiger, trying to recapture his magic, has abandoned Nike clubs. This has Nike very much disturbed because the production of Nike hardgoods – in this case, the clubs – is very complex and has very little profit margin, if anything. Golf enthusiasts may be loyal to a brand in soft goods, but they are very, very fickle in hard goods because if a player is showing success with this particular putter or that wedge or that driver, they go rushing out to get it and at least try it. Because Rory isn't exactly dominating the circuit, and now with Tiger eschewing Nike clubs, there is no reason for any golfer to get Nike golf hardgoods. This translates to baseball because plate shoes, despite being footwear, are considered protective gear – a hardgood. Nike is having a hard enough time fending off rivals in catchers gear, and the gear environment is eerily similar to golf.

I agreed to work a 10u scrimmage by myself last night for a friend's team. Other than the jack wagon who wanted to complain about the strike zone starting with the 2nd pitch, the night was fun. The best part was on a check swing and out of habit, the coach yells at the catcher to "ask for help" so when the catcher turned to me, I pulled off my mask, pointed to myself and said "Did he go?" And then I quickly said "NO!" Lots of laughs from the fans and the coaches too.

At least at that age a good number of the moms are still hot, so there's a bit of a saving grace ;)

Are in dire straits everywhere until it's time to hire a new Superintendent.