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I’ve been working on something for a while. I have a 1/2” thick prototype that I have worn all season, at the high school, and college levels, taking numerous hits just fine. It is very lightweight and breathable on hot days, differing greatly (in my opinion) from the Team Wendy padding, of which I own 3 chest protectors. My pads will be compatible with the Riddell Power and West Vest Gold, with the West Vest Platinum to follow. I am working on 100 units right now. I’ll update with pictures soon.

Can anyone imagine MadMax's and Wolfman's attention right now hearing about new equipment?

I've worn this prototype... It's good and everything he's saying. I've known about this project for a number of years now, and it's finally getting close as he said. The wait might be finally over boys!

You made a @BigUmpire reference! I'm an exception to the norm (I guess). Ejections are so rare with me, and my last one so long ago, I pretty much have forgotten how to do 'em! But in fairness, with most of the games I do, either I don't let the antics get to that point, or my partners get the fun of ejecting the poor b@$t@rds, and I just have to fill-in my support on the Post-game Report. 🫣

@mark38090, brother to brother...I am sorry you are having to deal with this. You are the salt of the earth, workhorse umpire that makes these leagues go and the kind of umpires we all need around The Game. Please do not allow these actions to negatively impact you and do not take any of this personally. You are simply dealing with people who either don't know how to behave on a baseball field or they do know and are making bad choices. Others above have indicated the next step (or what should have been in place all along...)...get the league administration and/or your umpiring association engaged with this situation immediately. Remember, we don't take the field looking to eject or discipline someone. They eject themselves through their actions and words. What we permit...we promote, whether we actively want to promote or not. As soon as you take the field and the plate meeting has started, you and your partner(s) are the authority. If you see or hear things that are inappropriate address them as soon as they happen. Do NOT presume that "things will take care of themselves" or "things will go away" if you ignore them. They will only escalate. Check with your league leadership and or umpire association so that you are crystal clear on what the discipline escalation is for these games. Have the conversation with your superiors to make sure 100% that they will back you with the potential discipline and ejections you might be handing out. Here is a sample from my association: Profane, Prolonged, Personal...are any of the words and or actions checking these boxes? Yes? Discipline should be applied: 1) Call time, take your mask off, come to the edge of the dirt circle and stare at the offending person until they shut it. You say nothing here and may also choose to put your hand up in a stop motion. 2) Call time, take your mask off, come to the edge of the dirt circle hold up the stop sign again and say, "That's enough. This is your verbal warning" Make a brief note in your notebook of who the warning was issued to, why it was issued (what they did or said) and what point of the game is it. 3) Call time, take your mask off, come to the edge of the dirt circle and say, "This is your written warning for (briefly state what they are doing or saying that is wrong)..." "arguing balls and strikes..." for example, and then add, "...if you continue, you will be restricted to the dugout." Once again, write down who the warning was issued to, why it was issued and what point of the game is it. 4) ...come to the edge of the dirt circle, "You are now restricted to the dugout for the remainder of the game. If you continue, you will be ejected." Once again, make your notes. 5) Ejection...and again with the notes. Make no mistake, there are always the magic words, phrases and or actions that can enable you to proceed directly to an ejection. Make sure you document everything as you go so you don't have to remember anything later. Write up your ejection report immediately, take a shower, give it an hour or so...re-read the ejection report, make any final adjustments and send it in. Make sure when someone is taking themselves through discipline that you are keeping your partner abreast of what exactly you have meted out. A coach doesn't get 5 steps with each umpire. He gets 5 steps, period. So, if he's going to eff around with multiple umpires on the crew, he needs to find out what happens. In closing, make sure you are familiar with the discipline baked into the rules for the games you are working. For instance, under FED a coach who leaves the dugout or coach's box to dispute judgement can be restricted to the dugout and if it's egregious enough, the umpire may eject immediately. We're always here, brother. We will support you... ~Dawg

Mike Muchlinski, Tripp Gibson, Gerry Davis

Got to agree with Hoberg!

Hoberg is my umpire hero..

Enrico Pallazzo, Jimmy Hughes.

Marvin Hudson, John Tumpane, and Jansen Visconti. Marvin is a great dude man! You should order from his shop. Thats how I met him, great guy.

Active: Chris Segal, Brennan Miller, John Tumpane and Pat Hoberg Retired: Bill Klem, Dutch Rennert and Ron Luciano ~Dawg

JOHN TUMPANE FOR PRESIDENT!

Yeah I have nothing. Riddell did mine, but won’t do any others. Is @Razzer still working on replacement options?

@The Man in Blue @Kevin_K I do what I do because that's what the people who sign my checks AND the state athletic association (when it's a HS game) have told me to do. The OP sounded like he needed some support and assistance. The conversation has to start somewhere and I started the conversation where I started it. Mine is one path. There are many paths. Obviously, if a guy comes storming out of the dugout on judgement and is unleashing profanities...he is being ejected immediately. I covered that in my first sentence after step #5. My mileage is varying here...perhaps yours is too, brothers... ~Dawg

This! I have also never regretted an ejection. The only ejections I've ever regretted are the ones I didn't get.

That's four steps too many. As @BigUmpire professed many years ago, shoot one monkey and the others tend to settle down. Why would you permit these nitwits to start sniping at a plate meeting without setting the tone immediately that their behavior is unacceptable and will make their evening shorter that they anticipated? If they keep being idiots, keep punching their tickets early and often. It gets easier with every ejection. I have never regretted an ejection. They make my games quieter and more enjoyable

https://www.aol.com/sports/nlcs-game-2-phillies-security-040833298.html

Think of it this way - and it's a good way to explain it to anyone you know who doesn't understand this. "Force" is a status applied to the runner, not to the method in which is he put out. The runner is forced to advanced to the next base...the only things that remove that status is a following runner getting put out, or successfully reaching the next base. (and, yes, if the runner comes off the base towards the previous base, the force status is reinstated) If the runner makes the third out while under that status, then the third-out run-scoring rules apply. Tagging a runner can be a force. And tagging the base isn't always a force.

not so long ago, all these type posts would be greeted withe a "sniff-sniff." I miss those days.