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I stopped umpiring (even after 32 years, I didn't "retire"; I just stopped doing it because assigners killed all the allure of self-employment as a sports official) ten years ago, but I used to have a lot of fun with that question. In the 1990s/2000s there was this huge emphasis on shined shoes. Most of my partners were on board. I thought it was silly. At the plate meeting for the second game of doubleheaders, I used to do this: I'd tell the managers, "Before the first game, my partner and I were both here just like we are now. One of us had shined shoes, and one did not. Who had the shined shoes?" Nearly every coach/manager passed on the question. "Who cares?" was the most common response. Some guessed. Nobody got it right because it was a lie. We both always had our shoes shined before game one. My point was that for all the big deal they made of it, nobody really cared, or even noticed.

Kinda what I was thinking.

Dawg, I don't mind the questioning, but I'm not sure that I'm intentional enough with all my setup to answer your questions without guessing. As I said in my first post, one thought I've held (when in B) is to let the ball turn my chest to 2B during the throw. Because of that, I'd say I'm not getting my eyes to the mesh point (base/glove/runner) very much earlier than the ball is arriving. If the throw is hosing the runner by a step or two, I'm golden. Or if a track star R1 is already there, I'm solid. I'm thinking if a runner is already in his slide but not yet to the base are the ones that are really biting me. The more we talk about this, the more clear it seems that I need to try to turn earlier after I confirm a good throw from F2. As for footwork during the course of the play, I don't think I move much from B, but I do know that I try to move a step or two directly towards the base: closer to the throw (line between plate and 2B and deeper towards the base.) The footwork for achieving that is a guess, but I can say with confidence that I get locked down and do not make many calls while moving. If anything, I'm not gaining enough ground toward the call from wherever I start the play. I'm going to try to find some games I have recorded plus be more mindful of how I am executing this with my body movement. Thanks for the replies, gentlemen.

MIZUNO MIZUNO MIZUNO I cannot stress how much better they are, though they do have some stress points that damage more easily, I still recommend them. I'm a 13.5 extra wide, and I get the 15's with work great for me. Little bufferzone so I never feel a thing. I used to get the correct size and took a foul ball that left my right big toe with a bruised bone. So one size up is perfect either way.

My 2012 BRD has this play in INT by Runner with DP, Who is out? The ruling is edited which means it changed from some year in the past. "Play 164-324: R2, R3. The suicide squeeze is on. B1 bunts a pop-up toward short, but before the fielder can make the play, R2 hits him (not maliciously), and the ball falls to the ground; Ruling (Edited) In FED, R3 and R2 are out, B1 gets first. In NCAA/OBR, R2 and B1 are out and R3 returns to third. Easy."

Agree and with @DerekGDS too. The whole site this I removed the link to was AI created garbage. But it's a good though provoking post. Someone did an awesome video covering this many, many moons ago...🤣

It's an ineffective attempt to boost the search engine rankings of the authors website. Where they link to their site using "custom sports uniform". With that being said, I have my own beef. I’ve been umpiring for over 10 years now—mostly Little League and softball games—and something’s been really bugging me lately. We’re always chatting about strike zones, balk calls, and that one coach who won’t shut up (you know the type), but hardly anyone dives into how our chest protection gear—like the top-notch Davis DX Enduro D3O Umpire Chest Protector—actually impacts our safety and authority on the diamond. I swear, this is a way bigger deal than most of us realize—seriously, it could be game-changing. Just last tournament, I noticed half the crew rolling up without proper umpire chest protectors—some dudes were sporting those cheap knockoffs that look like they came from a garage sale. And let me tell you—the difference is huge. Before I switched to the Davis DX Enduro D3O, I got nailed by a foul tip that left me wheezing like a deflated balloon. But now? With that sweet D3O tech absorbing impacts—it’s like wearing a force field. Coaches and players see you geared up in premium sports officiating equipment, and bam—respect levels skyrocket. No more getting treated like a human piñata; it’s all about that pro vibe. This totally links to the massive umpire shortage we’re facing everywhere—new refs show up in flimsy baseball umpire gear that barely protects against a stiff breeze, and they bail after one bad beanball. If leagues shelled out for quality Davis DX Enduro D3O chest protectors right from the start—think how many more would stick around. Feeling invincible helps you own the field—and when a rookie ump feels bulletproof, they’re way less likely to quit over some sore ribs or bruised ego. What do you all think—time to upgrade your umpire protection essentials? /s

I will say, AI has come a long way.