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Mizuno shoes are the most comfortable I’ve worn. They’re always on sale too. usa.mizuno.com

Local umpire on plate https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-umpires-announced-for-2026-all-star-game-presented-by-mastercard?msockid=3211c333866860543bead4a087ba6109

If you search Hoka or New Balance on here you'll find threads discussing base shoes. Only thing I'll add is running shoes are fabric so early in the year dew can be an issue (large or small, your call). As for keeping them clean, @The Man in Blue gave the great suggestion of throwing them in the washer (though my wife wants to have words with him about that).

NFHS allows you to put him on the bench Max! If he is one of those ass hats who thinks his own rise to the show allows him to act like a two year old on a sugar high, the restriction will likely be far worse because he can no longer become the center of attention for all to see. Only the other rats in the dugout will be the beneficiaries of his antics. As an added bonus, the first time he tries to come out you get a a second opportunity to call him out as a tool by halting any further peacocking in public view

Same tightness, just have to grab your helmet and frame at the same time, kind of right at the top corner of your mask and it’ll just come right off

Patrick with Umpire Classroom usually has pretty good info and covered the changes: According to his coverage, the 18" is for first base only. Also, not in the press release but he says there is supposed to be an editorial change to the rule book that RLI requires the throw to come from behind the runner.

Oo! I stand corrected… Drake’s not wearing a DynaTite… that’s a black @Whosyourcaddy -supplied Icon Ti (which I nicknamed the Boe-Ti … get it?).

Ah, he’s one of those type-of-coaches. These ex-pros (and recently, too) who are part of, or form their own academy/travel-ball team. Occasionally, they’re control-freaks, and have their players (trying to) do(ing) all these complex things in situations so as to exert “pressure” on the opposing team. They count on having local umpires who either kowtow to their having been a pro, or are old (or “way too young”), and they can “outfox”. While I like @Velho’s and @Coach Carl’s interpretation and imposing a penalty reflective of the “crime”, I can also see @Richvee’s point. What if the pitch had been a ball? What if the pitch had hit the batter? With runners aboard, what if the pitch had been wild, and allowed the Runners to advance? The offense should, in no way, benefit from this shenanigan. So, with this being amateur baseball (< college), it’s best practice to call No-Pitch, with the penalty of a strike because the batter left the box during the pitch. Then, just lay into that “coach”. I’m not going to let him even get that far. Whether I’m on PU or BU, I’m going to verbally chastise him, starting with he can’t just “call Time” (coaches request Time; Umpires grant / call Time), he can’t just walk in the field during Live ball, he can’t interrupt a pitch like that… need I keep going? I’m going to throw it all on him, right up front, and there won’t be any “wriggle room” for him to even argue anything. The only reason I wouldn’t outright dump him, is in that environment, he might be the only “coach”, and if dumped, his team likely forfeits; I wouldn’t want to affect his players so drastically due to his attempted antics. It’s bad enough when a coach makes a mistake and leaves his pitcher in longer than (limited) pitch/inning count, and we’ve got to forfeit the game.

Charlie is wearing a pretty unique combo. The lower pad is our Tango2 Universal and the upper pad is the Shear3 in the pad sock.

I can see how/why you’re reading it this way; instead, I’m reading it from a different way, wherein the (permanent) presence of 18” bases – including 1B – does not disqualify a venue (field) and prohibit (or prevent) a game from commencing. You just know there are strict NFHS Apologists (as umpires) who will take the strict letter-of-the-law to its full degree, and will not let a game start – or worse, will forfeit it – if a double-base isn’t installed / installable at 1B. By including this optional provision, and codifying it, this allows High Schools to use neutral-site, professional or contractual venues without burdening… resources… to accommodate this new HS rule. If we really think about it 🤔, this “covers all the bases”, to employ the pun; a HS could use a college ballfield, and it would have the double-base, whereas a pro ballfield, of each level from inde-pro thru MLB is going to have the 18” bases. As an example, we would have a HS “game of the week” at Chase Field in Phoenix; you better believe they’re not going to put a double-base in just for a HS game. Even the NAIA and JuCos using the 15 MLB/MiLB facilities we have around the valley use the 18” bases.

“How is it legal when a man is on first and pitcher turns toward first in the throw toward second.” If the turn was passed 1B and continuous toward 2B with a free foot step toward 2B it’s legal. Can you quote a rule that it violates? “He held the ball and didn't throw.” A feint does not require a throw or arm motion, only a step. “Runner went back to first. How is it not a balk?” It’s not a balk to throw or feint to an unoccupied base to drive back a runner who’s going there or gives the impression of going there.

is that buyout offer in the original CBA agreement that was just signed. in other words did the language say that any umpire with 20 years?? and 55 years??(just what are the terms) of age could accept a buyout offer after the 2026 season, as long as they turned in the paperwork by a certain date during the 2026 season. was this an offer for all the umpires meeting certain criteria/terms, or just a special offer for this group above. what are the criteria. how much of a buyout would you get after working the 1st year of the contract, how much of a buyout if you meet whatever the requirements are would you get in the second year. how much after the 3rd. if you are still working the last yeatr of the contract there should be no buyout, as you would basically be waiting to get in on the first year of a new contract. inquring minds want to know.

Thanks for noticing… @DerekGDS and I (and others) have been keeping track of it since Charlie debuted it in late March. @wolfe_man and @concertman1971 and @834k3r have heard from me enough that, “All we need is one, just one MLBU to wear it, and everything will take off from there”, and Derek hauls off and drops on me that Ramos broke camp with it, my heart nearly stopped. Unless my eyes deceive me, I think I spotted Rob Drake using Davis Cores&Socks pads on his Wilson DynaTite mask. I’m especially hopeful of seeing more Davis C&S pads out there, since not only is Team Wendy no longer producing any pads, but Davis cores are available in 3 different levels, and the socks (casings) are devoid of any branding that would have to be otherwise obscured. Of course, if sand-tan or sky blue was in circulation, that’d really draw eyeballs. 👀

Looking for some base shoe recommendations. Right now I’m rotating between two old pairs of the New Balance V2s (one mid-top and one low-top), but both are about shot and I’m in desperate need of an upgrade. I’m curious what everyone is wearing that is not advertised as an “umpire shoe”. I definitely prefer shoes with white accents over an all-black look if possible. What are you guys recommending for comfort, durability, and overall performance on the bases? If you’ve got pictures, I’d really appreciate seeing those too! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How is it legal when a man is on first and pitcher turns toward first in the throw toward second. He held the ball and didn't throw. He turn toward first without making a play on the runner. Runner went back to first. How is it not a balk?

Doesn't this wording imply that only 1st base can be the 18" pizza box? Great catch and too kind. It prescribes only first base can be 18": "Beginning next year, high school baseball teams will be given the option to use an 18-inch first base or the double first base. The larger base is presented as an alternative to the previously mandated double first base, which goes into effect in 2027."

Doesn't this wording imply that only 1st base can be the 18" pizza box?

Hey everyone, Figured it was finally time to stop lurking and make an account. I’ve been reading Umpire-Empire since around 2016 when I started umpiring at 13 years old, and I’ve learned a lot from the discussions here over the years. I’m from southeast Michigan and currently umpire both baseball and softball, from 8U all the way through high school. I’m always looking to improve and enjoy working games at every level. Umpiring definitely runs in my blood. My dad has been an umpire for over 40 years and has served as a USSSA UIC/assigner in southeast Michigan for more than 20 years. I grew up around ballfields and have been fortunate to learn a lot from him. Looking forward to learning even more, contributing where I can, and getting to know everyone here! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Crappy for the batter for sure, but that's on the coach. If the coach wants to come and argue about it, it will be a short one and a long walk to the parking lot.

Seeing it more and more across both MLB and MiLB. You'll notice that only those with good flow and tight haircuts do it. That would exclude me (though my haircut is as tight as you can get ) Maybe @tpatience can chime in on whether they run the harness tighter than normal or something more.

Grabbing two strikes here is the crappy end of the stick, I think. Batter stepped out because his coached called for time. I'm all for not granting time, calling a strike on the pitch and warning the coach if he pulls that again he's going to be restricted.

I watched him the other night. He takes it on and off like a one piece catcher's mask. Has he combined the two or has he just got very proficient at pulling the two off together with one hand?

May have missed this on the Forum but I caught the Red Sox-White Sox game a couple of days ago and noticed Charlie Ramos using the Mirage and GD pads...couldn't find a good photo online but did see this from earlier in the season: www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/umpire-charlie-ramos-works-a-game-between-the-st-louis-news-photo/2274572492?adppopup=true first sighting at the MLB level?

Quick bump

Correct and thank you for the correction. The rule text is below. [I forgot this rule because I've never heard of it actually being called and, arguably, it's not the OP but you are right to bring it up]