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It allows them to work 2nd base the full 360 degrees... just like the plate. It is required even more so since the runners can't slide through the base and not be in jeopardy to be put out. 2nd base has some of the most dynamic play types because of the various angles at which throws can originate from.

I was in the Navy for 20 years and never saw a single ball cap with a crease. I like to crease my umpire hats and it has nothing to do with my Navy service. Just think it looks sharp. And I don't shine any of my shoes. Maybe the soles on the plate shoes. I like white on my base shoes. I saw a comment on this site by somebody claiming that military personnel only like all black shoes. Not true. You do you.

Other 60' orgs seem to keep the BU inside. 2man BUs do shade their B further back. I thought softball and LL have them outside for watching leaving the base.

I think what we can learn from the play is two fold. 1) MLB umpires are paid to get calls right, therefore they do things that umpires at lower levels shouldn't neccessarily do. Now before someone comes on and says "BUT WE ARE ALL PAID TO GET CALLS RIGHT!!!"... They have comprehensive health insurance and will continue to get paid when injured... we will not. They have the ability to get reps in positions that we do not have the abilty to do. That is what I mean. 2) Sometimes we are just SOL on certain plays. Working this type of mechanic is HARD. I mean very hard. People with 30-40 games a year at 2nd base still strugle with it at times.

Because they are not in Toronto, Arizona, Seattle, Houston, Milwaukee, Miami, or Texas? (Or Tampa Bay on some days.)

Oh, Crease . . . No. Heck no. What are you doing next, flat brim and leaving the tags on it? Yes, I have worked with two different umpires who left the tags/stickers on their hats. 🤯

maybe this started it, or they are going back to the red coat days when AL used it a lot. https://larrybrownsports.com/baseball/umpire-joe-west-hit-throw-stolen-base/468407

I'm considering a crease.

I think LL has U2 outside for different reasons than MLB umps who choose outside and that location is closer. I'm not sure of those reasons.

And I'm not doubting you, Velho, but to all ... make sure if you are accusing, you are measuring from the white edge of the plate (not the black) to the edge of the batter's box line ... should be precisely 6". I, too, have seen batter's boxes as close to 3" from the white edge in a Varsity game. The young coach's retort was, "It can't be wrong ... we use a template to draw our lines." So sad ...

Precisely! Among other brands, I do high school, and my Assignor has always told us that we "must go by the lines." Hogwash. Even Varsity High School fields are mismarked, especially batter's boxes, and we are not to be held hostage to them.

Based on all the glowing feedback on the UA FB page, I think the demographic that loves the patent leather monstrosities exclusively belong to states and groups that still mandate navy shirts and plate/base pay differential. I will die on this hil lol