boyinr

I can't tell if those cargo pants are the ones with the zip off legs that can become shorts if the temps rise too much. Would be nice for those mid morning games that last into the afternoon.

Does anyone know where to get a tan padding umpire mask with the extended throat guard that Jeff Nelson was wearing in tonight's game? I really like the very extended throat guard and I may want to get this mask.

John:

I honestly doubt that you could find this mask if it was up your a$$ even if you used a flashlight to guide the way. Good day to you!!!

My wish list is:

New charcoal base and plate pants. Trying to decide on the poly wools.

New All Star FM4000-UMP face mask w/ the system 7 throat protector. This is thier new traditional mask. Not Ti but steel at 16oz.

A real umpire bag (Wilson, Diamond or Force3)

Need to replace a couple of shirts (navy and powder blue), a hat and a ball bag.

Maybe a new pair of plate shoes before they close out the NB450's

John:

Why don't you send him a couple dozen emails, follow it up with some hand wriiten letters and then start following him and his crew next season. That should get you the attention (from him and the local authorities) that you are looking for.

BTW if you are wondering that was the All Star FM25 frame with two-tone LMX padding that I was wearing in the Fall ball game yesterday.

How could you NOT notice it? Someone else, who was sporting a plate coat, was wearing on a few nights ago, too. It had a plastic plate on the chest. I also notice this guys throat protector was uneven, and bugged me throughout the game. Come on, man! The best look was a black, mock turtleneck over the c/p, and under the coat. That was classy.

Chris:

I sent you a PM.

Kevin:

You picked the wrong time to MIA.

For those interested here is a link to a vendor that has the new All-Star LCU2000 shin guards for approx $115+shipping. They also have the CPU-4000 chest protector for approx. $150. I have never ordered from this supplier. I just happened upon it.

http://www.betterbaseball.com/browse.cfm/shin-leg-guards/2,434.html?viewfrom=13&sortby=PRICEL

John:

Please let me know if you need any help ordering this online. It comes with either LUC or LMX according to the decription.

I am not usually an enabler but, I just want this to end before Thunderheads chimes in. (Just busting on you Jeff)

http://www.ccathletic.com/All-Star-FM25UMP-p/all-star%20fm25ump.htm

John:

It does appear that he is wearing the FM25UMP with the LMX pads. I have this same mask with the same pads. Here is a link to an online retailer that carrys the complete All Star line.

http://www.sportsdepot.com/allstarfacemasks.html

KF:

Welcome back. I too have too much gear but in my case, each one is different. I had a big clearance sale (ala Kyle) this spring and sold 4 masks, 2 CP's and 2 SG's. It felt good to have all my gear in one bag. Over the summer I picked up another complete set. What a ump to do?

Thank you all for the great replies! One of my concerns is the length of the platinum. The charcoal only comes in one size '13. I had originally purchased the charcoal, it looked like a good piece of equipment, but returned it soon after. I have never worn a CP as this will be my first time umpiring. I am 5'8 and 175lbs, and I'm looking something that will have a good fit as well.

I am 5'-8" and 180. The 13.5" platinum is perfect. I compared and it is the exact same length as my 13" Douglas. The CP covers the bottom ribs with out being too long. I don't know if I would recommend the shorter model to you. A lot of guys bigger than us wear this and the Gold. I believe the Gold only comes in a 12" model.

I appreciate you posting the measurement! I'm just about the same build and wondered what kind of difference it makes. Have you tried the 12'' Gold model?

UmpPhil:

Since that post I have sold the Platinum and bought a Gold. The Platinum just never felt right and was always slipping around no matter how I adjusted it. The padding on the Gold is thicker and that seemed to help. For me, I like the fit of the Gold more than the Platinum. You have to remember that these are two very different CP's and the color is only the most noticable difference. I alwasy recommend to try each one on before buying.

I have what is known as a "van dyke" and I do not think that this is a big deal. But, I will say I have a issue with someone that is typically clean shaven on M-F showing up to a Sunday game with a 2 day growth. If you have facial hair keep it trimmed, if you do not keep it shaven. Either way if you don't it doesn't look good.

Phil

I was one of the testers for the All Star gear and I have a WV Gold. You can read the reviews posted above. The biggest difference to me is the lack of bulk in the All Star gear and the absolute comfort of the Delta Flex harnesses. You really can't go wrong either way. What I would do is sit tight and let some others that have preordered the All Star gear wear it and get a few other opinions.

Best of luck.

KyleJT you are spot on. It is all about the cool. Most of the titanium masks are no lighter than some of the steel masks. The most popular TI frame is probably the Wilson and that is no feather weight as compared to the Champro magnesium or the Diamond aluminum frames. My only knock on the Champro or the Diamond is the poor quality of the standard pads. I dislike the idea of buying a new mask then having to add another $40 for decent pads.

I have worn either the All Star FM2000UMP and FM25TI all season. According to thier website they both weigh about the same. The big differences i.s the FM2000 is a single bar and $150 cheaper but, it does not have the panache of the TI. Both have the LUC micro-fiber pads which I was prepared to not like but, now I love them.

I can't wait for the All Star FM4000UMP to hit the market at approx. 16 ounces for a hollow steel mask frame. Coupled with All Stars testing I think that that mask will be a winner.

KyleJT you are spot on. It is all about the cool. Most of the titanium masks are no lighter than some of the steel masks. The most popular TI frame is probably the Wilson and that is no feather weight as compared to the Champro magnesium or the Diamond aluminum frames. My only knock on the Champro or the Diamond is the poor quality of the standard pads. I dislike the idea of buying a new mask then having to add another $40 for decent pads.

I have worn either the All Star FM2000UMP and FM25TI all season. According to thier website they both weigh about the same. The big differences i.s the FM2000 is a single bar and $150 cheaper but, it does not have the panache of the TI. Both have the LUC micro-fiber pads which I was prepared to not like but, now I love them.

I can't wait for the All Star FM4000UMP to hit the market at approx. 16 ounces for a hollow steel mask frame. Coupled with All Stars testing I think that that mask will be a winner.

I am thinking that it is because it game used by you.:notworthy:

"A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers" - John F. Kennedy

I hope that we all can recall the unity and compassion we felt for each other in the weeks and months following Sept. 11.

Agreed. Here is a great article by Rick Rielly about the heros on flight 93. The first strike back at war that has claimed too many great people.

http://espn.go.com/e...ering-flight-93

Tomorrows game check will go there.

It seems like everyone seems to think this was a no brainer call. It wasn't. Even with the replays, it is a very short hop and difficult to say whether or not the glove was underneath it. You have to make the call as soon as you see it. He saw a catch. From field level, I may have had the same call.

I respectfully disagree. These are the best umpires in the world working a four man crew under ideal conditions. There is no really good excuse for missing that call. Sorry to break away from the party line but, he should have been better than that in that situation.

I play as my schedule allows. Used to be a 14, went up to a 26 and now back down to a 18. I got to play every Wednesday evening this summer with my 20yo son. $18 each at a local course after 4 PM. Having him look forward to spending 4 hours with me is priceless.

J-R and Semper Fi:

If you would like to come to the Northeast for a couple early April, 9 inning scrimmages I am pretty sure you will be able to see the value of this. Being from SoCal and FLA I can understand your opinions.

I wear one from Cabelas

But seriously, gear is a very personal choice and just because someone ,even a MLB umpire, wears it does not make it good or bad for you. Wilson masks are great and a lot people wear them but, I tried one and I did not like it. Therefore I do not wear one. Others do and like them a lot. Wear what you find comfortable and what you like the looks of.

If you can call a good game no one will care what you are wearing and if you can't they won't care either.

Good luck

I have the 12" All Star. Sorry for leaving out that important detail. Good luck.

slo8140 or anyone who has worn the WV Gold and the new AS: I have a WV 12". a tad too short, I'm 5'11". I preferred the Douglas WV at 13". The offered length of this new AS at 15" would seem to go down too far. How would you say they compare? Thanks.

As any of my partners can tell you, washing my pads is not a priority.

Gerry:

I have have worn the All Star, the Gold and the Douglas. I have a 13" Douglas and a M/L WV. The All Star is closer in size to the Douglas than the WV. The All Star is low profile like the Douglas but conforms better due to the way the plates are attached. The addition of the Delta Flex harness makes this the most comfortable CP I have ever worn. This CP fits close and allows a lot of freedom of movement. Never once in wearing the All Star did I feel that I was moving around behind the CP. There was no "break in period".

As for the shins everyone has to decide for themselves. All I will say is that a fair number of the F2's out there are paying a similar price for the All Star shins and I am sure that there are cheaper alternatives out there. I have worn them and I like them. They are light, cool and protective. Again I have worn the Wilson Platinum and Honigs K20 and K2010. I would have liked to seen these in a 16" length

Also remember if you do decide to wash your pads you might not be any better but, you won't stink!!!!

This must meet his needs. I always thought that the Douglas (and now the new All Star) were the perfect combination of low profile and providing max protection. I have often toyed with the idea of installing carbon fiber plates on my Douglas just for the cool factor.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Easton-Umpire-Mask-L-XL-Skull-Cap-BLACK-/310341175896?_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D4%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D2323603395727491151

If you are still looking, looks like a F2 needed some "book" money for the Fall semester.