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Having tested both CPs, the Davis is way better than the POS. My crew tested out the POS when we were in Akron and it didn’t fit one of us very well. And they gave us the 12 and 14 inch to try out. Davis is the way to go

<Sarcasm><Skepticism> Who is "we"?? This is my game, and in my judgement, that 13-year old kid doesn't / shouldn't need to have another set of batting gloves, or an (oversized) sliding oven mitt spilling out of his back pockets on his scrawny arse! He's not wearing his uniform properly! This wouldn't be tolerated back when I was playing! Heck, I know I'm right on this one! We discussed it at our association meeting at the Kiwanis Lodge back in January. Louie even brought out his casebook! Even though we had this new guy in the group, who had just gone to Ump School, what does he know? I've been calling ball games while he was in diapers. </skepticism></sarcasm>

Some background to add context to better answer your question and for future use. Sorry if I am being Captain Obvious in some of this explanation. I am not only an Umpire, I am also the President of a local CR/BR league and have to deal with issues like this one regularly. The way CR/BR is set up using what is known as Sports Engine (online platform) you must designate who the Manger is and all other coaches, bat boys, etc on your roster. This is submitted to CR/BR and eventually used for State, Regional and World series play(Insurance too) and they hold you to it once it is at the State and higher levels. So there is a designated Manager but in the actual 2026 CR/BR rule book (see picture) it defines what the Manager does and can do. No where in the CR/BR rule book does it stipulate that the roster Manager has to be the one at the plate meeting to address the Umpire , they don't address this in game preliminaries and its not mentioned in the Umpire section (9.0). Now comes the twist. CR/BR allows Leagues to have/use Local rules for local play only. Once a team moves to State and higher, they are held strictly to the issued CR/BR rule book. Examples of this that are used in my League address your question, as we have had similar situations. My League has stipulated that the Manger will take the plate meeting and will be the only one allowed to address the Umpire. If the manager is not at the plate meeting ( and this happens a lot due to life), the person/coach taking the plate meeting is the only one who can address the Ump, even if the manager shows up after the plate meeting. Another local rule exception that we allow that CR doesn't, is lead offs in the 10U division. All my league Team managers and Umps know that our league rule set is: Local rules ( same as CR/BR with our local exceptions) , followed by MLB (OBR) and strict CR/BR only for State and higher play. So as you can see, "it depends" on what rules, local or strictly CR, were being used at your tournament. They may have a plate meeting rule similar to what my League uses. In my case, our UIC and the other Umps, self included, all state at the plate meeting that the person /coach taking the meeting is the only one that should approach the Ump during play if they have questions. Since you said this was a tournament and its Fall season and no tourny trail after local play, I am assuming it was Division playoffs/championship? Again, local tourny rules may also be in place, as is done in my League as well. For example, during Division Tourny play we do away with time limits, run rules, etc in certain age divisions that are typically in place during normal season play. So the long way around to answering you question is ask whom ever is running the tourny what rule sets/ground rules they will be playing by and to make your life easier, at the plate meeting tell both people/coaches that they are the only ones you will interact with once play starts. If there is an issue with this, it'll probably make itself known then and you can address it before it gets to what you experienced. Alternatively, as mentioned, you can do a "who are you?" and then follow up with "you weren't at the plate meeting, I will only speak to the person at the plate meeting." Hope this helps you out and answer your question.

I literally said that to a coach. He wasn't at the plate meeting and he's yelling at me about a call and I just yelled back, "Who ARE you?!"

The DX Enduro is no more protective than its siblings (DX Kuta and DX Mk2); it’s simply (a bit) different in the padding vest, and how that padding behaves in high heat & humidity (especially on a daily/frequent basis). The employment of D3O on the Enduro ensures mesomorphic energy absorption (instead of mere compression, which is why open-cell monsters such as the WestVest Gold are so bulky) as well as moisture-shedding. The Kuta and Mk2 employ Corvalta, which behaves similarly to D3O, but without the brand-engineered pedigree. Would I use a Kuta or Mk2 in a pro-level or high-college game? Sure will, I’ve done it before! But if that same game is going to be in 85°+, with high humidity, and it’s a full-9, or the second of a doubleheader, or I’m doing both of a doubleheader, and I’ve got the choice of an Enduro… I’m taking that moisture-shedding characteristic of D3O every time.

For your needs, i think the Mk2 is the perfect fit. The Enduro is going to be overkill here, unless you want that. I'd recommend the Mk2 or the Kuta (if/when) available for those levels of play.

I umpire JV, Varsity, and Legion (Junior and Senior). I moved to the Enduro from my AS Cobalt CP and have not regretted it a single time. It feels slimmer, and I haven't felt anything when invariably the F2 in front of me doesn't do his job. A peer of mine who does JuCo ended up getting one and he loves it (he moved to the Enduro from the Gold W as well)--told me he took a 90+ mph fast ball off the shoulder and didn't feel it. I don't have any experience with the Mk2, so can't really provide any feedback there.

"bUt hE dIdN't dEcEiVe tHe rUnNeR!" Kudos to an MLB umpire calling this in an MLB game. For the rest of us: Call the elephants, ignore the mice.

We've been selling these for a while and they're well liked. I generally wear a wide but I find these to be quite comfortable in the D width and they have good breathability.

Nope. There’s absolutely no way that’s a “production” “Power 13”. Those are football shoulder pads, likely off a “skinny” set (such as for QBs and Receivers), and riveted to a bridge plate, and to an edged foam pad beneath. Sure, they did a pretty nice job for a one-off, but there’s over a dozen “red flags” that paint this as a one-off, scratch-built CP… made with Riddell parts. If you think you’re biddin’ on or gettin’ a mythical Riddell Power… you ain’t.

I've used this over the years. This tension convention happened when a runner in foul territory was hit by a foul ball. Coach: "The ball hit the runner" Me: "Correct." Coach: "And he was off the base wen he was hit." Me: "Right again." Coach: "The rule says he's out." Me: "Is that right?" I have found this is better than any attempt to silence or treat to eject. Ace Holleran, thousand-gamer in CT

This is another one I avoid when it comes up, as entertaining it, only makes way for protracted arguing with the coach. When coaches try to bring up calls from earlier, I shut it down with: "Tom/coach, we are only talking about the current call.." I learned this the hard way and I've had coaches try and bring calls up from past games, some where I wasn't even the PU. I will explain the rule for the current call if it needs explaining, but won't let it turn into an umpire 101 class during the game. Since I am also the President of the League, when I hold the Team manager meetings prior to the start of the season, I go over the Local rule book, primarily updates/changes and the admin stuff, I also have my UIC there and we both address coaches questions about rules and explain some of the more common issues we see. We've found that in this environment where everyone is calm, that we can address scenarios and explain the rules. This has helped cut down on field coach conflicts a good deal for us and also get to know each other better.

As we say in the military..."That's a technique". If it works for you, then, use it. The issue I see with the example you gave is that you are leading on and encouraging the interaction to continue by your replies; you are inviting the coach to continue( you didn't mention if he was yelling or asking calmly). In either case, let him get it all out before responding, no need for your first 2 comments. Once he got to "the rule says" and or stops talking, then you can respond. The best method I have found, even outside of baseball, is to follow and do this: Listen, Pause, Think, and Respond. Listen to what he is saying, meaning active listening, not just waiting to respond with your answer, even if it is obvious to you. Pause, this is a brief pause for you to formulate your reply and to also make it more of a normal exchange and not a back and forth shouting match, even if he is yelling. Think, given the circumstances (yelling, calm, how the game has progressed good/bad at that point) of how you will compose your reply to the situation that also addresses his issue that you identified back at the Listen part of this. Once you have your reply, calmly state it and explain if it requires it. So I use the acronym LPTR to remind myself when I see arms flailing and speed walking coaches coming from the dugout. In your scenario/situation, I would have let him have his say and when he stated "the rule says" and stopped talking, I would explain to him how "that rule" works. Something like: "Tom/Coach, that rule is for a runner in fair territory being hit by a fair ball. The ball was hit foul and the player was in foul territory, so it is foul ball, ball is dead and runners return to their bases at TOP." Context is important in this, as mentioned, has it been a heated game, is the coach calm/yelling, been confrontational all game, etc? Your reply may be shorter and more direct to shut down any further discussion if warranted. If after doing this, he is still going on, then escalate in the usual manner with a definitive ending statement like “The call stands. We’re done. Let’s play.” or “That’s enough. Return to the dugout.”

#2 Beerguy55, that's a pretty funny response. But, to answer the OP, I don't answer statements. If it's a question I will answer. I have found the fastest way to end a conversation that involves a rule interpretation is to say, "Coach if you think I'm wrong, play the game under protest. Otherwise, we are playing ball. What do you want to do?"

I'm frankly surprised by that because in my experience the most common response you're going to get from a misinformed coach would be "yes" and then it would spiral into a discussion about whether or not the rule book can be pulled out. I see one of two appropriate responses to the coach who is angry over this scenario: 1. You're free to protest, do you wish to do that? 2. Get on your knees and tongue jiggle my left nut.

Wait, were you at my game Sunday? 🤦‍♂️

I can think of any number of reasons: 1. Things happened so fast that before he could even think, "is that the manager?" he was already knee deep into the conversation and it never entered his mind, or 2. The coach is a familiar face (since he coaches several teams) so he never had a reason to wonder, or 3. Everyone knows he coaches several teams so bouncing around from game to game is a regular occurrence that no one perceives to be a problem (is it?). 4. He checked in with the umpire when you weren't noticing, told him his dilemma about bouncing between games, introduced him to his AC and said, "See you 'bout the third inning, gotta go!"

Know how we fix this? Real simple… Pitch comes in… makes contact with something … “TIME!” wait a moment or two, gather evidence, process, observe, process some more… then, “That got him (on the wrist / hand), first base!” Or, alternatively, same pitch, similar contact… “TIME!” wait a moment or two, gather evidence, observe, and process… then, “That’s off the bat (knob) (first), so it’s a foul ball.” What we don’t do is succumb to the imperative that “we have to jump on it and call it FOUL” RightTheF*€kNow!!! If you instead call “Time!” and give yourself a moment to process everything, and (this is key) stay within the dirt circle, and don’t entertain anyone coming over to plead their case, then the Defensive-Head-Assistant-to-the-Director-Booster-Chair-Coach-Whoever (DHADBCCW(?)) doesn’t have much to needle you over being swayed or flipped by the other Coach imploring you. Adam Academy Director Whoever becomes a non-issue, or non-factor. Add: I’m rifling thru Cal Ripken / Babe Ruth rules online, and while it does distinguish a “Manager” and “Assistant Coaches”, and that a/the Manager should be only one interacting with an/the umpire, I have yet to see anything cited regarding “the guy that attends the plate meeting”. If CR/BR is based off OBR, then the person at the plate meeting is inconsequential.

Usually, unless Cal Ripken has a rule that allows someone else to be the designated head coach. "Who ARE you? And why are you on the field?"

Great information, thanks MadMax 🫡

I have close ties to both CPs, and yes… I have… bias to one in particular. Where they’re the same: They both use High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) for their carapace plates. They represent 2 of the only 3 CPs on the market to use this material (the 3rd being the All-Star Cobalt), which is integral to how shape-conforming they can be. HDPE is thinner, but just as strong as ABS, and is much less resistant to “shape creep”… meaning it won’t lose its shape and flatten out. They both have advanced foam laminate systems for their padding protection. While they behave differently, the crucial characteristic they share is they do not retain heat and moisture… which open-cell foams (such as on Wilson, Douglas, and Diamond CPs) do, weighing you down and fatiguing you. Now, where they critically differ: The DX Enduro’s pad components are all removable, attaching to the plates with hook-&-loop tabs (ie. Velcro). In what must be a cost-shaving method, the Cobra rivets the pad parts to the plates. This is a challenge for thorough cleaning, sizing, and the lack of connecting splines (holding the plates together) occasionally hinders achieving and maintaining a good fit. The DX units all use anodized aluminum G-hooks for the all-so-important fastener. Don’t break, don’t corrode, don’t damage your shirts on impacts. The Cobra uses plastic side-release buckles (SRBs), which, of course, are prone to breaking… and are a PITA to replace. The harness on the DX units is a really secure operator, and got the endorsement of the UmpLife harness’ creator. The Cobra is actually using an imitating knock-off of the UmpLife. Lastly, the big one – the DX Enduro uses the latest and best rendition of D3O’s award-winning foam. It’s mesomorphic, meaning that it changes its structural composition when impacted by an energy, and absorbs and dissipates it. This allows the Enduro to be a mere 5/8ths of an inch thick! By contrast, the Cobra is using a “structural pyramid”, which means that it redirects impacting energy on angles away from the main vector. While it’s far better than the bulky open-cell foam of other CPs, it still works off compression alone.

I have had the MK2 since March, and it's amazing. Wouldn't use it past HS, though.

Reservoir OfficialsView the full article

did delauter "make an attempt" to go to second on the overthrow at first to double him up in the top of first in chicago. he went back to first kind of fast. @johnny08 might be the only one who can find the play and show it. gary darling, "I've called it an attempt for less than that" when asked about one of his partner's making that call. there was no play made on him, but just wondering if there had been a play and they tagged him before he got back to first, would anyone have called him out for making an attempt to go to second.

Absolutely 100% Don't go looking for these. They should present themselves.

FWIW, I would rather miss calling a balk than calling a balk that isn't there. One of the all-time worst balk calls I've ever seen occurred in the 2005 NCAA Super Regional between Cal State Fullerton and Arizona State. (Coached by Pat Murphy) As I recall, it was the bottom of the ninth and Fullerton had runners at second and third with one out in a tie game. The obvious call was to intentionally walk the batter to set up a force at any base. Unfortunately, the ASU pitcher was called for a balk (borderline call at best) for not coming to a complete stop on the third wide pitch, thus scoring the winning run from third. The NCAA coordinator at the time, Dave Yeast, danced around like he was on American Bandstand as he tried to defend the call on ESPN the next day. All is well that ends well though, as ASU won the SR and advanced to the CWS.

Have the two pair on the left in the upper photo and love them.

Common sense and fair play. Pitch is thrown behind the batter and it hits the batting glove in the back pocket. Are we really going to keep the batter at home plate? No. We are not.

Watching it live, I saw it immediately and thought he definitely did. Alomar looks like he did, as well since he pointed back to first (which you don't see here as it cuts off just before).

Yes... because the proper location for them is in the back pocket when not being used. This has already been established by rule and common sense.

I thought this was for those parents who need to pump up their young pitcher. Lets them measure how much stress and pressure they are putting on them.

Unfortunately I have not been able to find either of these two on there. I've found Champro, Champion, and an off brand called Teyva. Do you happen to have a link?

Selling a SSK Mask Used for $125 OBO + shipping Thank you

Official Review: Mizuno NEO Daichi 10 Black & White Field ShoesView the full article

I hope they will also come in mid style also.

"Ground rule" double. ... and 50 Chuck'E'Cheese tokens for a perfect Skee-Ball roll.

Don’t be absurd! Those aren’t black. If ya get the call right in 115° heat, or during a steady rainfall, and you are in an existential quandary (“Why am I here??”), does your style of footwear really matter?

Crease for sure on my base caps. Far more difficult to crease my skull though.

Crease! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mark me in the camp of patent leather too. I blame it on my military time (21 years). I see the umpire uniform as exactly that--a uniform. And I try to look as professional as I can when in uniform. Patent leather is part of it. Same reason why I have my plate shoes prettied up by Leather Luster. But if we're trying to offend each other for comedic effect, I personally think the Reebok Magistrate shoes look like a war crime. Point being, we all have a different sense of style and that's okay.

I'll poke at this. Things are good, but we are not in the golden age yet. When @DerekGDS finally threatens the other companies enough that they finally begin innovating also, then we may be there.

We can argue all day about the strike zone. The most important element is, is the umpire consistent? Batters can adjust if an umpire is consistent. If the umpire is not consistent, then it's everyone for himself.

Looks like there was even a thread here! I see some improvements I would make, but that is the concept.

If money was truly irrelevant, then why are we thinking so small, friends? An “oversized” indicator? Psshawh, I got your oversized indicator right here… Every field would have a working scoreboard, and an attentive scorekeeper or, absent that, a remote that I (as PU) or my partner can control during the game. Heck yeah, make the BU pay attention to the game! Every college field would have a clock, too, with again, at least a remote that the BU can manipulate. Heck (again!), these should be on HS fields too! If money was truly irrelevant, every Varsity -rated and college-used ballfield would have lights, too.

Got basically 3 things coming to our offerings. The shoe furthest to the left is what I am guessing is what UA shows. 1. Plate shoes in all black 2. Shoe 2nd from left 3. And below

In my entire NFHS season this year--and even going back to last year--I need 0 hands to count the number of times a batter has been hit by the ball on whatever protrudes from his back pocket. I actually had 2 HBP this year where the ball hit the batter's dangling sleeve. Point being, I think we're making more out of this than is warranted.

@MadMax, my outrage goes beyond that, although I wasn't as vocal in my post. Somewhere along the way, that was LAZILY changed from batting glove to "sliding glove." Have you ever heard "sliding glove" used? Have you ever heard NFHS use it? No. This was an editorial change made by somebody who didn't like what had been previously handed down, and slipped it by. A "sliding glove" was never meant to fit completely in a back pocket, but a batting glove could. But then, why would we be bothered to actually FIX a rule? To add insult to that injury, it disregards EVERY example in the sentence before it specifically called out as "worn correctly and normally."

Douglas shins are 2nd to none!

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. 🤯