Paperipper17

amarillo You said your dad has the 200...does he have a problem keeping the right shoulder pad in place? Mine is always sliding one way or another. That's really my only complaint with it though. Great CP. I wore one tonight (big lefty 12YO throwing about 80, catcher totally missed one) and didn't feel a thing.

For the most part, the only bad EJ is one you didn't make, unless you were just running a vendetta against the team, which doesn't seem to be the case. I'd have to say after the warnings, hell even before the warning, something like that directed at your partner=. The only thing I could argue is that your partner should have made that one, not you, but if he didn't hear it, then absolutely I'd have done it, but that's just me.

10U rec leagues around here all play closed bases, but this was a "Travel ball" game (which really just means all-star, which was debatable). Travel ball for 10U goes one warning, then balk.

Damn...what's up with them? I ordered a navy and polo blue from them in September, and they came in in about three days. Do they have a bad rep? I haven't been around long, I haven't heard much.

I'm about to by two new shirts. I know I want black, but for the second, should I get white or cream? What, in your experience, is the more commonly used color? I found black, white, and cream at theofficialschoice.com for $25.10, anyone know of anywhere having a sale, or any lower prices? Thanks in advance:cheers:

I'm in. :rock

I know I haven't been doing this very long, but if I never have a day like this again it'll be too soon. 10U DH. That in and of itself sucks. As I said in my CP thread, I'm 6'7". Getting behind those catchers (and it seems like at those ages it's always the smallest kid on the team, or maybe that's just me) takes some doing. I have to get too low to use my normal plate stance, and I still stick out far enough to catch everything the catchers don't. But I don't mean to complain; work is work, and I'll take what I can get. So let's get started. First off, it's a team I can't stand. One assistant is a great guy, good coach, deals well with the kids. The HC is a screamer. Every other sentence is "That's why I have 14 of you. You're replaceable." and he isn't above dragging a kid to the dugout by the earhole:shakehead:. The kids are just not having fun, and IMHO, at that age, that needs to be the focus. Fun and instruction, not going 25-0. So I walk in the gates (My assignor told me i was flying solo, so no partner), shake hands with the AC I know, and the other AC walks up with a guy in a wife beater, Phillies cap, and what I like to call "shants", or shorts so long that they are pants. "Hey Blue, this is (name), he's gonna work the bases for you today." Wooonderful. But if that's how they do it, whatever. Trust me, I'd have been better off without a partner. He kept lining up in B-on a knee-with no one on, and when they were loaded, he'd stand behind third. I tried to tell him at least three times the proper mechanics, but the next inning, he's right back there. I can only recall one play I think he blew-called his runner safe when he was tagged after stopping his slide a solid foot short of second-but to top it all off, if I called a borderline strike or ball against the team his kid was on, I could see him shaking his head behind F1. Thanks, buddy. I know what I'm doing. The visiting team couldn't hold onto a bat to save their lives, and after the mandated "One warning per kid, three per team," I had to EJ their leadoff hitter when he threw one right into F2's chest. I had to call CI four times, twice against the same kid. The visiting F5 caught a knee to the eye during a steal thanks to the most epic roll-bounce-slide I've ever seen. Visiting F1 in game two was, for lack of a better word, a punk-ass. Coach had to tell him every inning to tuck his shirt back in (he untucked it after every inning), he was a serious whiner, and his dad was a "Blue, where was that?" parent. Also, every time he came up to bat, he'd tap each corner of the plate twice and point his bat towards the parking lot until F1 started to pitch(he was 1/5 or 6 on the day with an infield single and at least 3 Ks). After he walked the bases loaded on 12 straight pitches, I had to warn him on his first balk when he didn't even pause after the stretch, let alone come set. he throws both hands in the air looks at his coach and shakes his head. Next. Pitch. Same thing. So, balk. "What?? What did I do?" So I explain it again. He did it four times in that inning alone. Both games ended by the mercy rule. My old buddy the screaming HC was stealing second and third with every runner even when he was up 14-0. He'd have had another run in the second game, but I had to call a runner that beat the throw home out because the freakin' on-deck batter ran in front of the catcher during the play, causing F2 to bobble the throw. Now this was just plain funny. Game one's F1 for the home team was game two's F2. Third inning, I hear a farting noise. Giggle. I thought he was doing it with his mouth. Yeah. Next pitch, I get down... Had to call time. This kid stunk so bad I had to walk away. And he's just laaaaughing. Between innings I'm informed he was EJ'd from their last game for that...He did it twice, umpire told him to stop, he did it again...gone. That has to be the strangest reason for an EJ I've heard. Although, after three times...it wouldn't have been funny to me anymore either. Anyway. Just had to share that experience with everyone. I guess we all need one or two of those days to keep us from thinking we're better than we are lol. :nod:

I did. It's great. Definitely suggesting it to anyone. Yep. . IMHO, a guy making 10 mil a year should be making far more than the routine plays anyway. On a semi-related note, I saw this today and thought it was hilarious....

Defense has been a lost art for a long time. I love hearing the announcers on TV say things like "The great thing about Smith is that he makes the routine play.":rolleyes: I'm always thinking, when did that turn into something special? Good, yeah, but noteworthy? Shouldn't be. Anyway. Used the Champion P200 today in a 14U game with some well above-average pitching. Took one solid shot in the chest that I didn't really even feel (and one dead in the facemask that rung my bell pretty good). The CP was pretty light for a hard-shell and fit well, covered all of my ribs with an inch or so to spare. overall, I love it,

Baseballsavings.com it shipped straight from Champion though. The guys at Baseballsavings were great about calling me to keep me updated, and got the extra padding and indicator I ordered to me within two days. I'd shop with them again for sure.

Thanks a lot guys . I'm going to pick up a shield and some cheapos and try them both out this weekend...I'm leaning toward the shield, I think the shades will be too much of a pain when I start to sweat during the games and have to take off the mask, hat, and shades. But I'll definitely give 'em a shot. Semper Fi, do the shooter's glasses help at all when it comes to overall vision in the low-light conditions?

Just came in today. It's comfortable, if a little snug under my shirt, but that's to be expected. I'll use it tomorrow and report back

Feel your pain. I forgot my Carmex at the end of the season in the fall once...50 or so, wind blowing at a steady 25-30. My lips were shot. then about the 4th, I pulled off my mask, sneezed, and my bottom lip split. . Magical. ever since then, I keep an extra tube right next to the nail clippers in the truck.

I wear an All-Star I-Bar facemask. I have two problems with wearing my sunglasses under it. A. they don't fit comfortably (Oakley Radars with Shield lenses, so they stick out too far and extend down too far), and B. I'm paranoid of taking a shot and having them break. However, my eyes get very sensitive to sun. Does anyone have any experience with mask sun shields? Where can I get one cheap? Are there any cons to wearing one?

Amen, amen, amen, amen, a-freaking-men. As a half-Irish, half Polish boy, I senond, third, and fourth that motion. Wally World sells this great face stuff by Ocean Potion, it's SPF 45 with zinc oxide, the stuff the lifeguards cake on. I've never had a facial or neck burn with it. Regular SPF 40 on my arms. I agree with the water too. I had a bout with dehydration my sophomore year of college. Never again. It gets hot and sticky down here and I sweat like a fat chick at a cook-off. Peanuts are good for the protein. I like to chew sunflower seeds on the bases as well (Davids and Jim Beams are all I can get down here...but sometimes my old roommate and best friend, from Ontario, sends me Spitz chili lime and dill pickle and I'm in heaven for a few weeks:rock). Chapstick. seriously. I keep a tube of Carmex in my ball bag and move it to my pocket on the bases. It's a lifesaver this time of year. I also keep an extra pair of fingernail clippers in my truck...I always seem to forget to clip until gametime. Then there's the iPod, in case there's a long break between games, cleaning kit for my sunglasses, and a small first aid kit.

Not yet. Unfortunately it was on back order, and is still 7-10 days away . I worked with a guy that had one, he uses it for HS varsity, has no complaints.

I'm with you on that. I think it's more for the player's sake. The coach feels like he has to show the player he "has his back." IMHO, if you need to see your coach argue with an umpire to prove that, you're playing for the wrong coach.

I'm with Semper Fi on this one...If there's another game starting in 15 minutes, I'll call it a minute or two before the time limit. The one time I decided to let it continue, we had a 30 minute inning with about 12 total runs scored and the 8:15 game didn't start until 8:35. These games count for nothing in the grand scheme of things. My job is to keep things running smoothly, and that doesn't include getting the next one started 20 minutes late.

You're absolutely right. I did too much of the wrong things. Doing the good things, like he does, will do great things for your arm.

Not to mention the ligaments, tendons, and nerves. My career ended my junior year of college when I tore my ulnar nerve for the second time. Yes, it's just as unlikely as it sounds. They told me it was due to (an obscene amount of) overwork, on top of which, due to improper mechanics as a kid, never strengthened properly. I threw a lot of curveballs when I was way too young, and apparently that was a huge factor.

I'm not 100% sure...but I have to think this is ok. A friend of mine in college did this, and no one ever said anything...he's low A with the A's now, and says he still does it, and hasn't heard of it being illegal. I can't really see it being some huge advantage...IMO a tape job is a tape job, as long as it doesn't extend too far down the bat. I can't vouch for whether or not it's really against the rules, though.

I'm not sure but I think that's the p180...the 200 is a hardshell, 17 inches. Still waiting for mine to come in, but I've heard good things.

:angel4: always appreciate a good FG reference.

very well said. you're right on there.:angel4:

I feel his pain haha . I was a solid F2 when I was 11, but when I was 12, I was about 6'2", 200. 6'4" by 13. Moved to F3/F5...growing that fast takes a toll on the knees and heels, as I'm sure you know. We couldn't afford travel ball, but my dad petitioned to association to allow me to move up to 90 foot bases when I was 12 instead of 13. Best thing he could have done. By the time I made varsity in HS, I was 6'5", 220, and had a year advantage on most kids. Went to college as a F3, converted to full-time F1, and left college as a 6'7", 225 lb umpire . By the way, I'm also the poster child for not throwing curveballs until you're 14 or so, but that's another thread . I'm fully for moving dominant kids up, or at least making a select travel team out of them. It doesn't help them to dominate smaller kids for an extra year, and it doesn't help the smaller kids that have to be dominated either. Had a game last night...two F1s were both over 6', dealing. Ended up being a 2-1 game. Yes, great game to watch, but the hitters were ridiculously overmatched and one of the catchers had no clue...one of the guys struck out 5 in an inning twice. in fact the 1 run the away team scored came on the 4th strikeout being dropped. That can't be helping anyone.