Leaderboard

Nice review! My two cents: For the All-Star if you find it slipping I recommend getting another set of pads and mixing two sizes. I'm a 7-3/8 and in theory the large should fit me, but the large slips, but the medium is too tight. M/L mixture is PERFECT for me. As for the looks, no, it doesn't look great, but I think the padding is the best of any other option, so I'll take (perceived anyway) improved protection and comfort (again, my perception) over looks. I don't notice the weight or have venting problems with the UmpLife harness (I did have them with the DeltaFlex, because that harness is designed for catchers, so when you wear the mask forwards the DF covers the vent holes - that's not an issue with the UL, but overall I do like the DF harness better because I think it slips less.) I'm pretty certain the shell of the AS is the same size no matter what padding you get. Mentioning that only because this issue was mentioned on the Rawlings. I'd REALLY love if Gerry Davis and/or @MadMax come out with a true UMPIRE skull cap - with great padding made for umps, but until I can consider that option I'm sticking with the All-Star and recommending it to all my partners. Overall what I love to see, no matter which one, is so many of us using skull caps now!

Illinois has required this for a number of years. They didn't tie the law to IHSA, but to public recreational facilities. Similar to what @MadMax cited, IHSA adopted this requirement for us: 1.) All players properly and legally equipped? 2.) Location of the AED? 3.) Is there a trainer or qualified medical personnel on site? (No emergency plan question requirement, though this is encouraged to be discussed with event management before the plate meeting. The AED and trainer questions could be discussed in this pre-meeting or at the plate meeting.) Answering NO to number 1 means something needs to be rectified before we begin. Answering NO to number 2 means we play, but umpires have to file a special report after the game. Answering NO to number 3 simply means we have the authority to remove a player for suspected concussion protocols, and they may not return.

I can not speak for all foams (big Yellow W, TW, AS, GD, ETC) but i know that for ThighPro there is "Temperature Resistance" testing done by the company we purchase our product from. Here is what they say: Recommended Constant Use, max. 90°C (194°F) Recommended Intermittent Use, max. 121°C (250°F). Even in the hottest summers in So Cal, it doesn't get to 194!! Not saying that is does/does not degrade in heat, but this company supplies foam to the Aerospace, Automotive and Government industries, so the performance in temp is critical to them. PS Please dont put your ThighPro in the dryer!!

Wilson has been somewhat innovative with their Evoshield catchers gear. Reimagined shin guards, Windpact mask pads, chest protectors with a brassière-like wire to provide better fitting. Not all have have survived the 2.0 version of the product but they are doing something on the catcher side. Nothing on the umpire side remotely reflects this innovation through the leap from one to the other is relatively small, especially with masks. Force 3 and All-Star have almost completely cornered the MLB catcher market on face and head protection. Yadi wore an All-Star bucket with Rawlings and then Jordan (Nike) gear. William Contreras wears a F3 mask with Jordan gear. I'm watching the Padres right now and their catcher is wearing a F3 mask with Rawlings gear. It seems that catchers are willing to take the payday from Rawlings and Nike but when it comes to protection that matters, they go with the companies who actually put some R&D behind their product.

But it is much, much longer than 1 year!! 🤨 And yet, the anecdotal, hand-me-down directive is "<hrmph brmph> Change your mask pads every year". I call 🐂 💩! Even if you're going to purport that, "<brmph mrumpf> The foam degrades.", HTF do you know that?! At what rate? Are we actually using "Born On Dating", like they used to promote on beer bottles to avoid "Bitter Beer Face!", or are we going off of from the time the pads are put to use? Because I can tell ya, us amateur-professional umpires are doing 2-4 times more plate games per year than you Professional Umpiresl And, in today's TFU Economy, some mask pads will sit for an entire year on a shelf, in plastic, unused and unsold... have they degraded and decayed??! Again, HTF do you know that?! In plain speak, ya don't. Nobody knows. The basis for that anecdotal crap directive is purely arbitrary, contrived, and steeped in visual appearance. Do the pads look shoddy? Are they faded and in tatters? Then they must be old, therefore, they must be worn out, and need to be changed. Wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. No manufacturer / producer of mask pads, or any of our equipment for that matter, is conducting research on foam longevity. I can tell you, from what limited expertise I have and been adjacent to, these foams can last for an indefinite period, provided they are not exposed to caustic chemicals, or flame, etc. So when you're told to "change your pads yearly", it's driven purely by appearance. So, clean or change the appearance!! That's why we've been going to all these lengths to bring Mask Pad Cores & Socks to market. Ya simply separate the Sock from the Core, and either launder the Sock or replace it; the Cores can continue to be safe and effective for many, many more years (and more to the point, uses).

Ask yourself these same questions where there is no safety base at all. It's the same answer.

No and Yes. Don't make the safety bag complicated. The only thing that has changed with the introduction of a safety base is the B/R must use the orange portion when the initial play is at 1st base. Touching the orange base is the same as touching the white base if there was no safety base.

Luggage issues or the clubbie put his pants in with the bleach load. I was watching at a bar with the sound off so I didn't hear the commentary.

It's an appeal play in NFHS. 2012 Interps; "SITUATION 18: In the bottom of the eighth inning, the score is tied, with the bases loaded and two outs. B6 draws a walk and runs and touches first base. B1 trots in from third and touches home plate. B2, however, begins celebrating and never touches third base. RULING: All runners must legally touch the next base in advancing. If the defense legally appeals while at least one umpire is still on the field of play, B2 is declared out for the third out. Since this out would be a “force” out, no runs would score and the game would continue into the ninth inning. (8-2-1, 8-2-6j, 9-1-1a and d)" We should not "telegraph" missed bases but when you know an appeal might be coming because of obvious neglect by a runner Brennan Miller advised delaying your exit slightly. In the OP U1 might still be there on the chance the batter might go back to touch.

coulda had this happen

Kennedy worked HP at Auburn yesterday.

It affected the whole(?) crew. All 3 BUs were wearing team pants (as in, not umpire pants; and they weren't all the same!* ), and unnumbered, generically-sized convertibles / pullovers, with the Armed Forces Weekend hats (which are totally dope, IMNSHO). I don't think those were their typical base shoes, either, cuz both #25 and #85's cases, I think those were either personal "workout" shoes, or by sending someone to Scheels on the quick to get**. I've never seen #25 wear Hokas before. I'm surprised that #8 had his plate gear... that, or I'm doubly impressed that someone managed to find plate pants to cover the gear that is likely stashed in the umpire room at each ballpark. I've been reviewing the footage from the game, and unless my eyes deceive me, I think #8 is using a black-framed Icon Ti... with Davis Core&Socks pads??!! Could it be true??? * - I'm sure there's more than one current-NCAA / ex-MiLB umpire who is loading up the CrapWagon regarding: - how having mismatching pants, even in these circumstances, is a "bad look", and a demerit - how having too much white on the base shoes is a demerit - how not arriving at the ballpark, with all your gear, in a timely manner to prevent even these sort of occurrences is a demerit

Here is my beef . . . industrial safety equipment is likely changed out more often than it needs to be, however they have some idea of what that longevity is. Yes, I agree with "change the pads every year" is overkill. However, it would be nice to have an idea. Then again, I still criticize companies (even the ones I like!) for producing safety gear with no scientific testing to back it up. You have long (and rightfully) taught us about the various types of foam and qualities out there, yet we are settling for "well, it's different, it's better." You have also long criticized the "big players" for simply riding on decades old R&D with little update . . . and now companies are (seemingly) doing this R&D, but not touting it. Our gear is safety equipment. Maybe my time in an industrial field left me with higher expectations for safety equipment.

I respect the effort, but stave off the fire; instead fold the excess back upon itself into a "tab", wrapped with two circuits of electrical tape. Not duct tape, nor gorilla tape, nor... duck tape, nor athletic tape. Vinyl electrical tape. That wondrous stuff only sticks to itself, so it doesn't leave behind any gross residue if/when you need to take it off, and it can, of course, handle the heat juuuuuussssssst fine. Small trick of those who flip or re-color masks often.

Coach: Can I appeal that? Option one: "Coach, you aren't that appealing. No." Option two: "After review, the call on the field stands. Coach has no more remaining challenges." Building on @wolfe_man and @beerguy55's comments . . . If you are the correct umpire for them to go to, make them explain WHY they want you to go to your partner. Step 1: Coach, what did you see? Step 2: What elements do you think I missed? Step 3: Why do you think I missed it? These are viable questions that can have reasonable answers. We all know it is difficult to see a pulled foot from C (particularly on softball or small fields where you work outside). Since we all know that one, there is no reason to shut a coach down on that one, but we still need to make them vocalize it. Coach could say, "I saw the tag miss the runner. Given your position, I think you were straight-lined and it looked like a missed tag when it wasn't. Could you ask for another set of eyes on that?" If there is no reason to grant the request, be clear in your answer. "Coach, I had a good angle and was right on top of it. My partner was all the way over there, so I'm keeping this one." Unless the coach is a total D, I have started leaving those conversations with "That's one I'd like to see on replay, too. I'm pretty sure I got it, but I'd like to know." This opens that door to let them know we WANT to get it and we aren't just being stubbornly argumentative. Yes, you have to be careful with that. Don't use it with a coach you don't know or one who is just looking for ways to get under your skin.

Yes/no. I'm wagering on an actual 15-year old who is on the spectrum and used AI to clean up his writing. Alex, the qualities you identify are very helpful and can be strengths to umpires who are on the spectrum. I have worked with a few. Where they struggled was in their interpersonal and communication skills. When things were going fine, they were fine. When things started to get weird or contentious, they had trouble processing that. At your age, starting with the local Little League program is the way to go. I hope this works out for you!

I won't lie, I'm an UmpLife harness snob, and they've all been fitted around the Rawlings Skully. (Then, since I'm a nerd, I have a backup Rawlings skully, then, another backup to that backup), and an extra harness. However, that's all nothingness. I just mean the UmpLife harness is long enough for anything I've done with it. I think there is a big anti cut-and-burn group in here somewhere.

Absolute BS. Though, a person didn't write that or likely even conceive of the topic. 😉

1) Do we even need to have brims? If it was needed for holding the mask catchers wouldn't wear the skull caps backwards. If it was needed for plays at the plate umpires would have a hat on under their helmet for when they took it off. For sun issues we have all the sunglasses and tinted lenses options provided by modern Opticians. 2) The ones that are on the market have a mixture of poor airflow, poor fit, or questionable padding due to their target market being college/pro catchers. Limited market means limited R&D and options as the companies have to charge more to get their ROI on unit price instead of volume. Has anyone else thought to at other sports that have TBI and ventilation considerations that also have a larger target audience for alternatives that might be better for umpires. One sport that comes to my mind is hockey helmets since companies are making them wtih products like 3DO. Unfortunately, growing up in Ga I don't know anything about how hockey gear would translate to baseball.

Coming from a coach -This is not "appealing", this is "shopping". Sometimes it's bullying. Sometimes it's gaslighting. Don't put up with it. Only do this in scenarios where it's possible you had a terrible angle, or didn't see a dropped ball (or if your partner has given you a signal they have something). If you're certain of the call own it - tell the coach you have everything you need, my call is my call...appeasing the request (even if you have no intention of changing the call) just encourages more shopping/bullying. As an example, I had a play at first where F3 jumped in the air to make the catch, and BU, <15 feet away, called out. Our bench was on first base side, so I liked my view/angle - I went out and said, "They came off the base, can you ask your partner if he saw anything?" And he immediately said "yup, they came off the base and then came back down in time to beat the runner". End of discussion. No appeal. No shopping. He owned everything he saw. I say another word at that point and now I'm "arguing" not "asking", because now we're nitpicking on the fraction of a second to when F3 touched the bag. I don't care how right I believe I am at that point. He gets a "thumbs up" from me and I go back to the bench. I also know now that this guy is confident in his game, and he's not going to be nudged by any coach. Nothing is more frustrating as a coach to see the other coach doing this a dozen times a game, and getting away with it...and even getting a call or two go his way. I once got a warning for telling an umpire to "own your call - you had the call right before you changed it, and it wasn't close; stop letting him bully you"...guess he didn't like me challenging his manhood. It's not terrible - it's true. There may be better options, but sometimes the direct approach is better. Some coaches live under the fantasy that the PU has the power to overturn the BU's call...or the older ump can overturn the younger ump's call. I have no issue with educating a coach that the ump who made the call owns the call, and that the power he believes you have doesn't exist. Unfortunately, some umpires live under the fantasy that they can overturn their partner's call, for whatever reason riddles their imagination. (I do know that in some settings one ump is "the boss" - we can only hope their ego isn't so fragile they take that to heart) *this may lead to a debate to whether or not an ump should have made a particular call at all - that's a different discussion, for you to have with your partner - but don't be surprised to hear a coach ask "who's call is that?" or "why are you making that call from there?" I'll go with the first time an ump had to educate me about this process - "talk to the umpire who made the call".

🤨

If a manager comes out and wants to ask a question, then make sure to call "time". I'm surprised how many guys just let them walk right out while the ball is still technically in play. I've learned to point them to my partner as @Velho suggests. Words can many times be used against us or sound feeble, so the less said the better off we are is often true. "It's his call on that, so you will need to direct any questions to him" or something like it works well. I would avoid giving them any information (I didn't see that, I'd make the same call if I were out there, etc.). It's been said to let them talk first and explain what their question is before we start assuming they are out there to argue or complain. He may not even be asking about that specific call, but about a missed base before it or something else. Before we start explaining why we're right, let them ask their question first, it may save us some headaches. Yeah, you're right on the last one. I've said it in the past and immediately regretted it as it sounds terrible like you said. Lesson learned and never-to-be-used again in the future - core memory unlocked.

Speaking just for younger/rec level, when a Manager comes towards me after a call my partner made I make eye contact and give a small point (literally, I point) them to my partner. They almost always know they should not be coming to the other umpire. I also am proud of how the youth I’ve worked with will stand their ground when appropriate. Managers who think they can bully kids into deferring to an umpire that was 100ft away on a banger are ridiculous.

Charlie Ramos appears to have heeded your advice. Cool seeing some Davis stuff at the MLB level (other than those patent leather plate shoes 20 years ago)