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So I just got a PM from Senor Azul this morning. He wanted me to pass on some information. It's true, he is battling some health issues. As of late, he hasn't felt like posting, but he does check in here from time to time. He says he hopes to feel better soon and maybe will post again in the near future. He does appreciate everyone's concern. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers, and send good vibes his way. I'll keep in touch with him, and post updates at his discretion.

So with a day off and the rest of the family getting ready to depart for their spring break sojourn, I thought it would be "fun" to get them started with a ballgame with dear old Dad. So, we caught a nice minor league game today. I certainly "enjoyed" it... Before I get to my "performance", part of what I like about going to an A-League game is that those games are umpired with 2-man crews so, it's a chance to see high level 2-man up close. My kids are casual baseball fans at best so, on the way to the game they're asking me questions like who is my favorite player, who the best players are, how good is this team, who is going to win, etc...all of which I answer by putting on my sunglasses, starting the car, staring into the distance and saying, "Those are good questions. I don't know...I'm here for the umpires." (That needs to be a shirt, btw...) So when PU comes out to brush the plate at the start of the game, there's a lull there which I proceed to fill with, "Wow...I mean...look at that guy brush that plate! I haven't seen a plate brushed like that since Doug Harvey worked the plate at Three Rivers Stadium in 1973! Now...I wonder if this guy is using a Libman 1030? Or maybe that's a Lehman's Amish special...it's so hard to tell these days..." Later, on a routine rotation to third base, "Kids! Look at that! Look...at that...rotation right there! Gettin' all the way into the cut like that?!?!? Like a Boss?!?! That...is how they do that! These umpires, man! I'm havin' a moment right here..." Good times, brothers...get out to your local A-League ballpark soon! Good seats still available! ~Dawg

Greetings brothers...I've been "feeling those negative waves again, Moriarity" so, I need to take a moment here and reset myself with the kindness and goodness that baseball can bring us every once in awhile. (That quote is a reference to the 1970 cinematic masterpiece "Kelly's Heroes" featuring Donald Sutherland in one of my favorite roles as "Oddball" a dirty hippie tanker in WWII trying to "liberate" the town of Clermont in France. An all-star cast...check it out.) Yesterday, I'm working a 13U youth travel double which are always a challenge for the players because for most of them it's their first experience on the big field and their first experience with playing a double header. Temps were up and players were clearly not properly hydrated so, they learned that lesson, too. Santa Umpire brought us not one, but TWO gifts yesterday...we had the red team versus the blue team and blue only had 11 players while red had 15. Red quickly established their dominance in the first game. We are playing 7 innings and no new after 2 hours. Fast forward and we have finished 4 innings (not bad considering) and we are 12 minutes from no new inning. Blue Team are the visitors and their HC steps on the field and says, "Yeah, let's move to the next game, please Blue..." No objection from Red's HC and we tell them we're going for a break and to change and we'll be back as quick as we can and get it going again. We get back 15 minutes later, get game 2 started and we play for about 50 minutes. We had Blue's F2 totally beet red in the face with exhaustion, complaining about knee pain who was then swapped out followed by a series (7 or 8?) of routine fly balls and ground balls that should have resulted in outs being made. Again, Blue HC steps on the field and says, "Line it up! I've got ice cream for you in my truck..." I love baseball. I love umpiring. And I hope all of you do, too. Do I like extra inning games and not getting more pay? No. Do I like working scholastic scrimmages and not getting paid for 5 hours of work plus the drive? No. Do I like waiting out ran delays? No. Do I take the field hoping that something like the above happens so, I can get full fees without working full games? Also...no. Brothers, never forget that this life and our existence is all cosmic, man. Totally cosmic...and that includes baseball. Sometimes we (the umpires) take care of The Game and sometimes, if we are patient and we work hard and give our best...The Game...takes care...of...us. Hey, you might even get an ice cream from a kind and generous coach who knows how to read a room. ~Dawg

The one thing I can say of the years I worked small diamond games, is, you’ll see more crazy stuff that you won’t see in high school every day. The little guys helped me learn obstruction, interference, base path calls… all kinds of crazy stuff. Then that once in a while you see it on HS or above. It’s like “I got this”.

We plan on offering every frame we make as is. Obviously when we finish developing our pads we will offer them bundled (and if you purchase before we offer pads and want them we’ll offer them discounted and free shipping for folks who do want to pick them up) but have no plans on forcing it. Use what pads and harness you want/like!

DITTO THAT!!! I've worked 2 plates since receiving my Mirage12, and I am blown away!! Moving (most recently) from the FM4K MAG (and previous to that a DynAlum.) This is the first mask that I've felt confident in not using a DTG due to the beautifully designed XCG. Just the slightest tuck of the chin and my mask taps my chest - providing assurance that I am, in fact, protected. Not having a floppy DTG makes handling/carrying/stowing the mask so much easier and eliminates a few more ounces from an already ultralight package. The biggest WOW factor is the field of vision!! I didn't realize how accustomed I had become to the view from behind my FM4K MAG. I can see better in every direction, hands down. Thanks to the efforts put into this design, thanks for the open communication on this forum! Fantastic work to all who had a hand in this!

For all the ones that had a hand in designing and making this one happen… THANK YOU!!!! no stones left unturned!!! @DerekGDS @wolfe_man @MadMax @concertman1971

I've got obstruction. F3 in the path without the ball. All codes. He did not enter that area because the throw "took him there" He set up there. Call it Sell it Be ready to explain using rulebook terminology. Would have been nice to see BU get a step or two towards the play...Or maybe turn his head and see what was going on before the throw got there.

If you use the All Star Cobalt CP, do yourself a favor. Go to your local big box retailer. You have 2 choices, team orange or team blue. Buy some blue loctite. Unscrew the 2 binding post screws holding each pauldron to the main vest. Make sure you don't lose the back. Add a couple drops of blue loctite to each screw and reinsert. If you use the lower extension, do the same thing for the 2 binding post screws in the center. Golly gee, why should you do this? Allow me to explain. Thursday, I was going through my gear and realized that one of the binding post screws, which holds said pauldron onto my cp, was missing. Did I have blue loctite in my workshop? YES. Did I use it? NO. I did, however, order replacement binding post screws from that online shopping company that has the smile in their logo. They arrived Saturday, while I was on the field....which brings me to why you should do this and thank me. During the third inning, I feel something sliding down my shirt sleeve. What could it be? Oh yeah, the pauldron that I thought would be OK until I got home to add the screw back onto it. Lost the other screw. Had to switch out my CP mid inning. Glad I had a backup. Just loctite the screws. You're welcome. That is all.

The way I handle this in game situations- when the batter takes off for 1b, reiterate “Batter’s out! Batter’s out!” If he keeps running, and the defense throws, it’s on them.

Not at all. I am standing completely upright (at attention) in this photo. In natural posture (and even more, dropping into a plate stance) you have to tuck your chin to create contact. I've always worn a DTG attached to all my masks. My first year umpiring, we had a guy in our association take a tipped pitch to the throat and it spooked me. I am not one for taking chances, and I do not feel at risk with this mask. I am so pleased - I don't think it could be designed any better.

It is time to put the defensive conference limit in. Remove the eye black police. NFHS needs to re-write the pitch timing rules to actually be enforceable. But we will likely get a rule change that isn't even listed on this survey.

Love what Davis is doing

Nice to see the AS MAG pads work with the Mirage. I just happen to have a new set of gray pads and an extra harness. Kudus to @DerekGDS for making this available as a frame only purchase. Excited to get one and give it a whirl.

Just used my Mirage for the first time last night. Outstanding product, nice work all!

I have obstruction. When the runner deviated his path, neither fielder was in the act of fielding the ball and neither would be protected at that point. The ball was misplayed and was not in their immediate reach. That said, PU has a whole lot going on in a small area in a short period of time. This is a bastard play.

Filled a square on the umpire bingo card last night. 1 out. R2,R3. I’m in “C” D3K. F2 fires to 1B, out there. F3 races home, F2 can’t handle it, ball squeaks by him. I’m on my way to 3B area as I have an over zealous R2 rounding third who’s thinking about scoring. He sees F2 gather the ball, he puts on the brakes about 15-20 down the line and starts heading back to 3rd. I’m in a good spot for the throw to third, F2 cocks the arm, and…..here comes R3, who already scored, evidently heading to his dugout, cutting right in front of F2 as he’s ready to fire to third. “WOAH… Time! (Point at the scored runner) That’s interference, (pointing to r2) you! You’re out! The cool part was, the call was so instinctual and easy to process, and not a peep from the offensive bench. The funny part was the look on my PU’s face standing flat footed 1BLX with a WTF just happened look on his face. 🤣

I don't see anything wrong here. It was a footrace and R3 slowed down and tried to go around F2. The contact that knocked the ball loose was a tag attempt, not a collision.

What does their height have to do with it?

I always tried to envision the little guy's strike zone more like a stop sign, or oval. Where the top and bottom sides of the octagon (armpits and lower knee) are the width of the plate, and the in and out sides line up a good six inches off the outside, and a little less off the inside. If they're up, or down AND in or out, ball it. Center cut...The plate is much wider there.

D2 series this weekend, visible clock, teams are slow to come out EVERY inning, F2 told if he throws down, he will be subject to clock violation. Next half, HC is complaining that we are the "only" crew enforcing the clock and "NO ONE" has not let his guy throw down. THE CLOCK IS IN 2 SPOTS AND AT LEAST 2 FEET TALL!!! Rule has been around for 4 years now. Figure it out.

For B to be correct, we have to assume that F1 has exactly two feet.

I hate every one of you. 😉 I eventually got back down to “only” 4 masks. Sold 3 this Spring. I am feeling the “need” to add one soon. Please cease and desist. Okay. I’m boyinr and I have a problem.

Factory treated before sewing but we are looking at alternative treatments for the future production runs but the sun will always win out one way or another.

Good news for all the lovers of Navy 🫠

A new one for me...I ejected the PA Announcer/Player of Music in a high school game. Would not stop playing music during live balls...including twice starting to play music when the visiting team's pitcher had commenced his delivery (causing the pitcher to abruptly stop (which, of course, risks injury)). My plate umpire warned the box on multiple occasions and told the head coach to send someone up to the box to explain to him the issue and to cease and desist. Finally, on the last time, I (as crew chief) yelled at him that it was the last warning, he replied (over the microphone), "I need 15 seconds!" (apparently that's how long he thought he had a right to play music...regardless of whether the ball had been made live). And that's when I replied, "shut it down! No more announcements or music the rest of the night," while making a slashing motion across my throat. I got no arguments from anyone associated with the home team or their school. One school personnel called the PA Announcer "a clown" to us after the game. LOL

Standing water, mud on the mound or batter's box with poor footing. All the things that I will look for to call a game. One bat slips out of a player's hand and we're done. Likewise, if almost every pitch results in a ball that's too slippery to grip, or pitchers are having trouble controlling pitches, it's over.

If we can't get AI to draw a baseball field correctly, how the hell is it going to call balls and strikes? SMH. Yes, that is what disturbs me in this picture.

Good org to get your feet wet. Get to "real" baseball (even the LL 12U kind) ASAP.

I don't bird dog the stands or whether players are leaving the dugout. I don't make the JV or V, watching the other squad, in the stands stay in the dugout because they are in uniform. If they have a radar gun and you can tell they should be in the dugout put them there. I have never looked in the stands for anyone with a radar gun. I have looked for the KGNS camera and reporter to give them my better side.

The more you learn, the more you’ll learn to stay away from comments on social media. These people are confident in their ignorance. You’re not going change their minds or teach them anything.

All of this. Heck, if you have the same size foot (11.5/29cm) as me, I'll send you my NB plate shoes for nothing but the shipping. That's how much I think you ought to have plate shoes.

"The rules don't prohibit digging a moat around HP or bringing a wolverine on the field either, but the good order of the game does. It's my job to keep everyone here safe, sometimes against their own judgment." I discourage anyone from referring to the baseball diamond where you happen to be officiating at that particular moment as "my field," unless you own the property on which it is situated. That's a terrible look in 2025, and needlessly confrontational ("me vs you"). Asserting authority should be a last resort, not the first club out of the bag. At every opportunity (including here) I strive to talk about "we" and "us" instead of "you." In youth baseball in particular, all the adults on the field have the same mission. We should always be on the lookout for opportunities to forge collaborations. It doesn't always work (asshats gonna asshat), but it's an essential tool in deëscalation.

Ah, you don’t know about ol’ Clarence Callsafew? Clarence’s been callin’ local “little league” and “high school” ball for 20/30 years! He and Ned (the Assigner for the association) go “way back”, but he can’t understand why Ned doesn’t put him on “big” games no more, considering Frank (the association president or founder) is his longtime coworker (outside of umpiring), or fishing buddy, or brother-in-law, or any other familial bond. He can’t tell you any of the rules changes for this year, but he’s been reminded of the Points of Emphasis so much, that he himself will make a point of stressing it at any plate meeting he conducts. In any meeting, no matter the size or context, he’ll cue up his own personal war story, about how he handled this “one play (or situation)” and how that is (or should be) indicative of how to “work your craft”. He has exactly 2 shirts (and yes, one is typically navy) and 1 jacket. When presented with “a new guy”, he’ll expect the two of them to get together at least 30, if not 45 to 60 minutes before first pitch, for the purposes of explaining Clarence’s own methods, signals, and mechanics for calling a ballgame. And then, if-&-when he’s working bases, he’ll come down to chat between innings, or will go and talk in the 1st Base Dugout, etc. He uses “my” a lot – “my game”, “my call”, “my field”, etc. Can’t quote rules to save his skin, so resorts to “my judgement” to extricate himself from any situation. You will encounter a Clarence in your umpiring path.

I would like to thank @grayhawk for being the only person to give an actual answer instead of doing a standup routine lol

@Rock Bottom Derek is correct. I have been using the ASMAG pads on the GD frame and absolutely love it.

These are two great improvements in the collegiate game! Games have pace and are usually finished in a reasonable amount of time. Too many HS games are too long because of stepping off, stepping out, asking for time (that's our fault), players visiting the pitcher, backup F2 for F2 on base at the end of an inning, and everything else that adds 20 seconds here and 30 seconds there. Before you know it, 20 minutes are added to the game

Two games in my umpiring experience has a batters foot been alleged to have been on the ground outside the batter's box when making contact with a pitched ball. Neither one was so egregious that even casual observers would have taken notice. Both times I spoke to the aggrieved DHC about the circumstances. One was a pants on fire coach and the other was not. Both received the same response from me. "I can watch each pitch or I can watch every batter's feet. Which would you like me to watch?" Both returned to their dugout and the issue was suddenly no longer an issue.

I'm just using the caseplay as a guide. It says there's no obstruction if the collision happens after the bag. He's not out for being off the base..He simply hasn't returned yet from overrunning 1B.

It's counterintuitive, but you'll have your least possibility of injury to your hands if you don't brace for the impact. Hang them loose, and don't put them on your shin guards. If you get hit, you'll feel it for sure, but a bruise should be all you get. It's the opposite for shots to the mask (for me anyway). Hold your head steady and let the equipment do the job it's designed to do. I'll actually open my eyes wider when the pitcher is releasing the ball to keep me from blinking and missing a swing or HBP. Plus, if you get the reputation for being a flincher, things won't go well. As with everything else in this hobby/vocation, it gets easier the more you do it.

This thread started with making zero sense and somehow made less sense as it's progressed. I'm all for the use of recreational pharmaceuticals, but responsibly.

I got it!!!! It’s to store the sleeves if you take them off mid-game!

After keeping up with this thread, why do I get the feeling my partners have done this to me?

I might be alone on this..But I think seeing a swing from "A" on a LHB is the easiest of all appeal calls. Sure, I'm not going to great look on a borderline check swing, and the default is "no he didn't", but, if I see a barrel out in front of a LHB's front hip from "A", there's no doubt he went.

No different than any other rule...Check swing comes to mind. PU says "swing" on the coach's batter. .."You can't see that, you got to get help" PU goes for help on a check swing while same coach is on defence...BU says no swing...."That's a swing...you shouldn't need help...you need to get that yourself"

Taking the straps off a watch and using some glue could do the job lol Also I've wanted to use this little emoji since I learnt it existed...so...

All-Star 4-Dial Die Cast Steel Umpire Indicator - 3/2/2 Count It's notched so you can feel which number each dial is on, so you don't have to look at it. It's quite heavy and can serve as a lethal projectile, if needed.

I can see getting away being inside for non-high level 10U. Anything but low level 12U though, that is a very bad place to be. 70ft bases is just big enough to allow it's a different game since lead offs are allowed. Also, it's sub-optimal (I'm being diplomatic) being inside to pick up runners leaving early (the pitch reaching the batter type, not the tag up sac fly version). Just for awareness, this league is setting you up well for normal "big field" mechanics but not softball/LL. It's fine but I expect ss you get experience, you'll outgrow this league (at least at the 60' bases).

Any update on when the mirage12 will hit the market? Will there be a presale similar to the D30 chest protectors? (Love the new developments going on over at Gerry Davis!)