Jump to content

ASU/OSU PU

Stk004

By Stk004
in Umpire Equipment

 Share
Umpire-Empire locks topics which have not been active in the last year. The thread you are viewing hasn't been active in 2613 days so you will not be able to post. We do recommend you starting a new topic to find out what's new in the world of umpiring.

Recommended Posts

Stk004

Stk004

Posted
Posted

So I'm sitting at home watching Oklahoma State murder Arizona State, and something seemed off about the plate umpire's mask. They zoom in a bit and it appears to be a FM25 frame with F3 pads. I didn't realize those pads would fit anything other than the F3. Thoughts?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 23
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Popular Posts

Stk004
Stk004

I couldn't get a good picture but here's what I have. 

gnhbua93
gnhbua93

@Thunderheads Looks like Suzuki is a firm believer in Force3. 2017 Spring Training

dumbdumb
dumbdumb

All I know is the PU was a former Pacific Coast League umpire who has worked 3 NCAA Regionals in his spare time. I would assume, maybe incorrectly, he has worked hard and is a good umpire who kno

Posted Images

tpatience

tpatience

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Stk004 said:

So I'm sitting at home watching Oklahoma State murder Arizona State, and something seemed off about the plate umpire's mask. They zoom in a bit and it appears to be a FM25 frame with F3 pads. I didn't realize those pads would fit anything other than the F3. Thoughts?

Pictures?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Blake Ahlers

Blake Ahlers

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, BalkHawk said:

Maybe he fell for the F3 mask, then when he realized his blunder, he figured the last thing he was gonna do is spend even more on new pads for his old mask so he made it work.

 

What exactly is wrong with the F3 mask?  What don't you like about it?  From all accounts that I have read online and from what I have gathered from those that have used it, it seems to be a great setup.  Heck, even the crew chief for the All-Star game last year used it. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Thunderheads

Thunderheads

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Blake Ahlers said:

What exactly is wrong with the F3 mask?  What don't you like about it?  From all accounts that I have read online and from what I have gathered from those that have used it, it seems to be a great setup.  Heck, even the crew chief for the All-Star game last year used it. 

Ask Kurt Suzuki about it ...

He had his chin lacerated with it 2x last year, ...once made him miss a game, the other gave him stitches and missed 2 games .... stock mask, stock pads...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MadMax

MadMax

Posted
Posted

You may be on to something there, @Stk004... Who is/was the PU for that game in question? Chances are he is endorsing / being endorsed by Force3 in some way, shape, or manner, but that FM25 is his "lucky" mask, so he can't bring himself to go with the full Defender rig. The Defender's pads can be shoehorned to fit another standard mask, but it's a bit crammed, considering that Defender pads have that offset gap and extra material so as to accommodate the spring assemblies. It's the lower spring assembly that is leaving Suzuki in stitches. 

On the other hand, it may very well be using a "tag" or "hood ornament" of Force3 over existing pads. Several of us have done similar in the Mask Porn section! 

Advertising and branding is everything. What is the most important spot on an umpire for a company like Wilson? There are two... the spot just above one's heart, at the top of the chest, and the back right pocket, where one's wallet resides.

... they don't give two rips about much else.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BalkHawk

BalkHawk

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, Blake Ahlers said:

What exactly is wrong with the F3 mask?

You are right, there's nothing "wrong" with the F3 mask and my was critique was reckless. On the field I wear F3 socks exclusively and I've owned two F3 chest protectors. I commend them for pushing umpire technology forward.

To each his own.

In the case of their mask, I think added weight negates the reduction in forces transferred to the head on rare occasions. Also, aside from the example of Suzuki, I have been skeptical of the physics since baseball is not played in a laboratory. IMO, trying to absorb the force from a direct shot is tackling the wrong issue.

The mask coming off the head is the second best way to avoid excessive force. I feel cages designed specifically to deflect direct shots (I.e. System Seven) with angular design make the most sense for the wide variety of mask impacts. (I wear a 2nd gen. FM25Ti.)

More to the point, the mask pads will always be the last line of defense. Team Wendy's can probably be improved upon, but not by much. Zorbium is so good it makes sense to wear the lightest (comfortable) and stiffest (durable) mask you can.

Let the closed-cell foam wars begin.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BalkHawk

BalkHawk

Posted
Posted
51 minutes ago, MadMax said:

You may be on to something there, @Stk004... Who is/was the PU for that game in question? Chances are he is endorsing / being endorsed by Force3 ...

The PU was certainly a guy who has worked his ass off, dedicated himself and made many a sacrifice, all to hopefully achieve anonymity at the highest level, in the name of baseball.

Chances are he paid himself for every single piece of gear he has on, which probably includes F3 gear and he's proud enough to represent that. He probably has the perspective to realize that managers, athletic directors, conference commissioners, assignors and evaluators could all care less, even though we like to mull.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MadMax

MadMax

Posted
Posted
15 minutes ago, BalkHawk said:

The PU was certainly a guy who has worked his ass off, dedicated himself and made many a sacrifice, all to hopefully achieve anonymity at the highest level, in the name of baseball.

Chances are he paid himself for every single piece of gear he has on, which probably includes F3 gear and he's proud enough to represent that. He probably has the perspective to realize that managers, athletic directors, conference commissioners, assignors and evaluators could all care less, even though we like to mull.

@BalkHawk, in no way was I criticizing the umpire / person in question. I fully endorse Team Wendys and Schutt, and as several here will attest, when it comes to the latter, I have gone to considerable lengths and personal expense to modify Schutt's CP's at no prompting or acknowledgement by Schutt (yet). I fully identify with that umpire, too, because while the managers, athletic directors, conference commissioners, assignors and evaluators you list could all care less, we see our role as an opportunity to endorse and advertise (in a discreet way) the brands and equipment we feel best equip us to perform our role. It's commendable.

This isn't the case in the Major Leagues. Instead, you have an arcane, out-of-touch corporation writing a big check to somebody so as to "own the rights" to have their logo be exclusively exhibited in whatever manner available to umpires, isolated from any competition or context of quality.

If you notice in the photo, Kurt Suzuki's mask is bereft of any logomarks. Sure, we know it to be a Force3 Defender TM, but does the general public? No. Why's that? Because Suzuki is sponsored by UnderArmour, which writes the check to Kurt so as to have their logo placed on his personage as prominently as possible.* Suzuki either chose Force3 and/or Force3 approached Kurt so as to develop a solution to Kurt's problem (getting concussed alot... see Alex Avila as well) regardless of any marketing gain.

I do have to say, though, BH, you're definitely on to something regarding mask geometry. Yes, I watched your video, and yes, I admire that you use the All-Star FM4000, which is, in my opinion, the most advanced geometric design solution a company has yet put forward. The only hitch to it, that I've encountered and why I don't wear it more often, is that it doesn't allow anything greater than a 4-stitch hat to be worn with it. Why's that? Because the FM4000 was designed for catchers. All-Star is a "for catchers" company first and foremost. Why's that? Because another company is squatting on the role as "for umpires" and doing absolutely SH*#-else not much with it. Sure, the FM4000 works, but it could be so much better if a sibling was designed for umpires. Do you know how much better we'd be protected if a company actually threw some interest in developing / using a foam laminate / hybrid / blend as a protective material for absorbing a 95+ mph baseball? Zorbium is wonderful, but its origin lies with reducing / eliminating head trauma due to impacts and concussive force. Kevlar has some potential, based on its use against ballistic projectiles. In any case, sofa cushion foam ain't the answer.

Also, I really like your TheOfficialsChoice 2010-style Shirt in Navy w/ red. Really dapper look, and the only way navy should ever be worn. ;)

* - Yes, I had the "Pledge Pin!" line from Animal House go through my head as soon as I finished typing it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...