Leaderboard

I have removed the front thigh pads from my old hockey pants and fit them under my compression pants. I started doing this after getting a nasty bruise on my inner thigh. I can't believe that all of us umps are either not using any thigh pads, use the force 3 or have the old hex pads. My old hockey days as a center, defenseman and goalie have trained me on how to stand in front and not flinch when hit but the pads are far more superior and trusting.

Just another reason to never wear a jacket behind the plate. My .02.... YMMV

SH*# happens I guess. Maybe it only happens to me. Just wanted to share my personal experiences with the negative side of T-hooks. It still irks me every time I think of my brand new, first time ever wearing it Majestic convertible having a hole ripped in it right in the front lower chest/stomach. Don’t want that to happen to anyone else if possible. I actually prefer the side plastic buckles on my Force 3/Unequal. I am currently converting my Team Wendy upgraded West Vest Gold to allow side buckles and avoid any more jacket/shirt damage from the T-Hooks being hit by baseballs. I have no problem keeping the WV or the Unequal snug as I use a System 7 harness on the Force3 and an Ump-Life/Razzer harness on the TW WVG. To each his own a guess.

Time Play View the full article

Things weren't too bad. We lost power a few times briefly. It started out as heavy rain and fierce wind. About midnight it switched over to snow. The winds were crazy we lost a couple of trees. Overall about 6" of accumulation there were a couple of areas in my yard that was up to my knees, but the area behind some thick trees the grass was still peeking through. My creek froze over, but it looks really cool.

@Thunderheads. Please lock it up. Mask is sold.

There now is evidence that officials with "baited breath" experience shorter on-field arguments with managers and pre-games with partners. .

I am pretty sure I am on that list of 30+2. If not... then it wasn' long after. So... going to my profile, it says January 2009. So not far off. On a personal side note... January 10th also happens to be the birthday of my wife. Tall about happy coincidences/random personal notes.

Hey, no worries Dave. I used to have the clips on my first couple chest protectors. Then when to ones with the t-hooks. Now I have one of each and I have the pick of the litter. As for my shin guards... nothing beats the plastic clips in my mind. I found myself wishing my last two shin guards had them (West Vest Pro and Bauer1000). So glad the Force3s do.

If the only information that the plate umpire can add is, "you kicked the sh!t out of that call; he tagged him two feet from the base," then you are going to have to eat the original call (unless you're working D1 with instant replay). If this is the only issue (whether he was safe or out on the tag), then the crew is going to have to eat the call, or else the rest of the game will be spent listening, after every play, to pleas from the King Rats to "get help from your partner!" I can guarantee you that every steal/pickoff play the base umpire had the rest of the game would result in howls of "get help! get help!" should the crew have overturned the original call based merely on the plate umpire telling him "the tag clearly beat him."

Look for firefighter hoods on-line. They're designed for cold, wet weather, long enough to fit tuck under anything, and they also come in black. I was never cold in them.

One thing is there are lots of holes there if you are going for a deep polish to be concerned about doing just right. But for a day to day cleaning and buffing, these start out "shiny", should stay that way and that is throughout the upper (no mesh, hence the holes for venting). This post got some conversation going in the office as well to make sure I had explained myself to you correctly. Hope this helps.

Made Logo for you Warren..congratulations

Gap is a necessity - I've caught a ball or two in the shoulder gap and it's not fun. T-hooks is another good one.

Gap protection for sure. I also recommend getting t-hooks for a more snug/slim fit.