ukce1861

Dude, you look like Batman! How is that a con???:spit:

Question for you. Those of you who think this is wrong, what do you think about the situation I saw in another post here. As I recall, it was runner misses 2nd, ends up at 3rd. Defense throws to 3rd, to appeal his miss of 2nd. Coach knows he missed 2nd, so he sends the runner home, hoping the defense will play on the runner, thus losing their right to appeal. Is that cheating too? I'm inclined to look at this post as cheating, yet that situation as "good coaching" but the more I think about it, aren't they the same thing?

I found this post on "LL metality vs. a business" interesting and have nominated it accordingly for "Post Of The Month March, 2010"

Sr. Softball LL game. R1. Batter drills one straight down into the plate, it bounces about 15' straight up in the air (we have trampolines for plates). Batter turns out of the box and takes a practice swing. Catcher catches the ball and fires to 1st - one out - 1B tags the runner lazily returning - two out... 3rd base coach argues it was foul, it hit the plate. Shut him down, so the 1st base coach says, "You should have yelled fair"...:D

I can't recommend this any higher. I started keeping a game log at the start of this season, and it's helped a ton. It forces me to evaluate my games and identify weaknesses and track my progress on addressing them. An absolute must do for any serious umpire.

I'll bite. What's the proper mechanic?

I think what you're talking about is something like this. I haven't seen a plated one, per se, but that would at least diffuse some of the velocity...

If you want a good price on those shoes try Ref Shop. http://www.refshop.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=192 They're $84.95 plus they have a coupon code right now for 10% off - NEWLOOK10. I think that's good for a few more days, but I'm not sure. With shipping and the 10% off, it's $86.95 This is where I got mine after I got tired of Ump Store screwing up my order and losing me on hold...:D

What a timely topic... I started umpiring about a year ago (LL only) and initially I was taught to stand pretty much like the guy in the picture (although more upright) that ump24 posted. I had my toes in line with each other and my nose lined up on the edge of the plate. I used this through All-Stars and fall ball, but I never had anyone evaluate me so I wasn't sure I was doing it "right". This weekend, I went to the state LL umpire clinic and they tried to put me in the heel-toe stance, and like Warren said, it was very uncomfortable. They also told me that my head should be beside the plate. I found the whole stance to be really uncomfortable and distracting. However I assumed that what I had been doing was "wrong" and this was the "right" way. Is there a right and a wrong way, or are they both acceptable? Which do you prefer and why?

I couldn't figure out which was a better deal, the indicator or the Sale-Sale-Sale!!! on gluesticks for $7.44. So I bought two of each.

Hey, somebody making this mistake on e-bay is one thing. Dick's Sporting Goods should know better... http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3743049 The picture (and price) are a base shoe, but the item description is for a plate shoe... Kudos to the seller for doing the right thing...

I hope this becomes a more frequent thing here in Vero. I work in Vero, but I'm already committed to another clinic this weekend. A little more notice would've been nice...

Not lately... Been down in the 20's and 30's last few days to a week. Which is especially bad when your house has no heating system...

I was working Little League Postseason tourneys in mid-May... NFUA, where in Florida are you? I'm in Port St. Lucie.

But the Diamond and Pro9 also have plastic plates wrapped in foam. Doesn't this provide a similar level of protection? If not, why not? From a physics perspective, the pressure created should be dispersed similarly, no matter where the plastic plates are located, on the surface or below the surface.

I take it y'all would disagree with this post then? I'm going to stick with the CP I've got, at least for now, because I do primarily softball and only little league, but the wide disparity of opinions is rather interesting (and annoying when you're trying to pick gear)... Besides, it's a dang sight better than the cloth-only CP that the league had me using last year...

I just bought the Diamond myself, but I haven't had a chance to try it out. I went with the Diamond because I thought it was a little more substantial, but I may be wrong... If you do end up going with the Diamond gear, try this place. DirectSports.com. The shins are about $10 cheaper and they have free shipping on orders over $100.

Tom, try this link. LL RIM It's for 2009, but I doubt much has changed.