jkumpire

1, Not a dumb question. As the BU, enjoy the show by the PU and make sure you are able to help him if a manager/coach gets hot under the collar with him If you are the PU: 1. Kill the ball immediately. "time, hands up etc." 2. Send the BR to 1B, unless you are convinced the hitter did nothing to get out of the way and he was trying to buy his way on, or you think the pitch is a strike when it hit him, or a ball otherwise. 3. If you think it's a strike, then kill it and call it. "time, that's a strike." 4. If you think it's a ball, then kill it and say "stay here"! Then be prepared to explain to the HC why your didn't give the batter 1B, and why you are calling the strike or ball. Be prepared for a lot of complaining.

Not currently available

Nothing on their site about the bag, and from it said in the thread, there is no separate compartment for clothing. At $200 for the bag, it does not look like a good deal. I am waiting for a return e-mail from them.

Drop me a PM, I might be able to help. On the general subject... I still have never found an adequate bag, and I am at the point of building my own if I can. I am tall, with big feet, and I use a Carlucci protector. There is not a bag out there that I can use to carry 1 mask, a pair of plate shoes, a pair of base shoes, a set of shinguards, a chest protector, and the hats, uniforms, towels and cleaning equipment any umpire needs. For me, the major problem is that bags are not wide enough to store equipment in. Length-wise, the Diamond and the Force 3 or 5, are okay. VBut the Evans bag is made for umpires who travel on airplanes, so a bag any wider will will cost the user $$$, and the others are just about the same width. Right now in My Force 3 bag, I have the shin guards in the lower compartment on top of my clothing, then the other equipment int h top of the bag. I still am stressing the zipper and sides of the bag to fit my CP in. I am also considering building a separate carry bag for the CP to maybe fix the problem. But the only thing that seems wide enough I have ever seen is an old, old +POS bag that looks to be five or six inches wider, and not nearly as long as the more modern bags. I keep trying to buy one from a friend, but he says the bags are shot and are falling apart on him (he uses them in his business to carry samples around). I hope one day somebody wakes up and makes a case for people like me who need some extra width in their bag. But until then, of the two choices above, I'd use the Diamond, hands down.

In Ohio, OHSAA mandates this for all SB and BB umpires. It will not change any time soon either.

Original Question: F. "Are you serious?' to R1, then move to position.

Jax, Yes that is how we are taught, but the other side of the issue is: Do what you want, get the call right. I am part of a local HS BB/SB group. The local SB guys are great umpires. But it cracks me up to hear them talk about mechanics, and these people are top of the list national umpires: SB- you are to move your head to track the ball. BB--????????? Serious? SB- 3 piece strike call, call strike, then get out of crouch, then do the hammer. BB- Voice and signal at the same time. SB-- Use the hammer only BB-- who cares what it looks like, call it. SB: Classic Box stance only BB: Get you head in the slot, however you desire to get it done (Yes, I know what is considered the best mechanics behind the plate, but lots of guys considered better than me don't always follow the 'standard' mechanics) . SB: One guy said another guy is going to X national tournament because his mechanics are so perfect. (???????) BB: I thought he would get assigned to X national tournament because he gets the calls right, and has good mechanics. But sometimes I never hear that from some people, in many sports these days. A very nice man was talking about ASA teachers saying you should have video and PC with you wherever you go so after you film a guy working you can show them on the pc when they stand up up too fast after calling a strike etc. Me- How about this, show him if he got the call right. then offer him an idea of why he missed if he missed it. IT'S THE CALL THAT MATTERS!!!!!!!!!! Did you get it right or not? In other words Jax, there are ways to get things done that are to many people the "best way' to get it done. but as I grow old doing this, i could care less and less about mechanical perfection. the whole point is to get the call right every time, be a good partner so he can get his job done, and do your best for the sake of the players. If it works for you and you get the plays call correctly, then you did your job. But above all else, get the call right. That is all that matters.

In FED, in my opinion, this is a situation where you need to understand why the rule was put in place to help determine if it's OBS. According to the chair of the FED Rules Committee, the most injuries happen in HS Baseball around the bases with players sliding. Therefore it seems clear the Rules Committee is trying to limit the reasons and situations for players to slide. Could this be a reason why the FPSR is written as it is? So, if in your opinion the actions of F6, F4, or F5 are such that you think a player is being deked into sliding, even if it is innocent or small, then FED wants OBS to be called. That is a pretty clear guideline if you think about it.

Mazz, Are you sure R1 returns if R3 is out?

I always hate to comment on these because there are times where you can not have inf based on the circumstances of the play with your own eyes. However, from the description it has to be interference. 24 tells us there is contact made between F2 and Batter as F2 is trying to make a play at the plate. If the BR has tried to bunt the ball legally and vacated his box he has the job to stay out of the way of the play, period, unless something really, really weird happens to the ball (like it hits f2's shin guard and hits the BR as he goes up the line). F2 has the right to make a play on R3, no matter what happens, unless he has done something really, really stupid. So: If R3 is not put out, R3 is out, R1 returns, Batter has strike or ball added to count. If R3 is put out, R1 is at 2B, batter has strike or ball added to his count. If it's 2 out on the same play, BR is out, no run scores.

Okay I'm in... My number is 24 as well! Been my number for over 30 years! Protective Gear: Carlucci Chest protector Honigs K2010 shin guards w/o extended above knee protection Wilson Ti Mask (thanks Ray on this board!) Honigs K 4 or K 85 mask in gray with Honigs doeskin pads. Original "Banana Cup" All Star MVP 2000 HSM (this is the original MVP model used by MLB umpires purchased form All Star, also for sale) Shoes: 3 new pairs NB 350's 1 used pair NB 350's 1 used pair NB 993's (For sale if you can wear size 15! Used once) 2 used pairs NB 450's (for sale if you can wear 144E) 1 used pair Reebok Field Magistrate Plate low Clothing: 1 Pair Honigs polywool Charcoal plate pants 1 pair Honigs Ultimate Charcoal plate pants 1 pair Cliff Keen Charcoal combo pants 1 pair Honigs Heather gray plat epants 1 pair McDavid hex pad compression leggings with cup pocket 2 pair McDavid compression leggings with cup pocket 2 Under Armor cold gear leggings, one is from the first year they were sold, and before they were called cold gear (like 1995) 2 Under Armor cold gear shirt 1 McDavid long sleeve back undershirt. 1 1 3/4" garrison belt in patent leather 1 emergency 1 3/4" belt in non patent leather Misc. other undershirts and cold gear 1 Ump-attire Ultimate Shirt in Navy 1 Ump-attire Ultimate shirt in college light blue 5 +POS shirts in White, Gray, Black, and one is old, old old, in red (newer ones also for sale) 7 or 8 Multiple Honigs shirts in white, light blue with r/w/n piping, 2 in black, one in college light blue, one in red, and two in creme. 2 Honig Navy OHSAA Logo shirts for HS games 1 Smittly Black college jacket 1 Honigs OHSAA logo jacket 1 Fetcheimer Black Plate Coat 1 Ancient +POS Navy Plate coat. Multiple hats for several assigning groups, mostly 8 stitch (even though I am told 8 stitch hats are frowned upon these days) 2 Lids Cap Carriers, a fairly soft milded plastic carrier that holds five hats. 1 McDavid Cold Weather hood for under hat 1 Under Armor Cold Weather hood for under hat 2 pr. +POS "Knobby palm" gloves 1 pair earmuffs Accessories: 1 Force Three Gear bag, 2nd generation Evans Bag (I also have a first generation bag for sale of the same type), also multiple shirt and pant holders that come with the bags. 1 +POS umpires gear bag (for spare equipment) 2 plate brushes with small wooden handles made by "Wm. Goetz Company" (somewhere in California I think) 1 Jim Evans "Scraper" brush (has big scraper to clean mud off home plate, 10 years old or so. 10-15 indicators I use, none of them less than 30 years old, mostly purchased off ebay and some for sale if you want a good metal indicator Tarrago black shoe polish, I always carry two for games 1 can Pledge 1 Cross "Classic Century" Ballpoint pen (Last year I had a cheap pen in my pocket and it exploded when hit by a foul ball) 1 set Ump-Attire ball Bags in black (they are larger than normal size thanks to Jim Kirk) can hold up to 7 or 8 balls per bag. 2 sets Carlucci model ball bags, on in black, one in blue. the black set was among the last items ever made by Cece. New stopwatch for NCAA games (model escapes me at the moment) First aid kit, aspirin, ice bag +POS wet gear bag 2 +POS shoe bags 1 Gerry Davis Shoe Bag 4 Honigs Shoe bags (2 pr). I also have other misc items, and I carry FED, NCAA and OBR books in a separate briefcase. Now you see why I am trying to sell some items! Added note: Then I read the thread again. I need to buy more equipment, you all have it all.

350's are so much better than the Reebok's its not fair to the Reeboks to compare them with each other. Noone compares to ...

Ross, You had better get them soon, the 350's have not been made in a while and finding them is almost impossible these days. I agree they are a marvelous shoe, and I have not found a base shoe better then they are for me. Best of luck in finding them. What size do you wear?

A question for you: I have a design for a carrier for my inside protector. Because I am a taller person, I have never found a gear bag that can carry all my gear. The biggest problem is my chest protector. It's a Carlucci, and it stresses my bag, or takes a lot of space away in it. This case would be specifically designed to carry your protector, plus some other items, and if there would be interest have a side container for a mask. It is meant to be carried over the shoulder, or by using straps attached to your regular gear bag. Would you be interested in purchasing such an item? Thanks for your thoughts.

For those of you who call 1-2-3 strikes please send me your address where you live. I'd get hammered if I called those pitches strikes where I live and work. If you can get away with them where you live I want to move there!

Thank you Chris, it's a great idea, and I will report back after I get it done!

Gentlemen (and ladies if applicable), I would love to get my hands on a new Majestic Therma Base Umpire Jacket. Even if I have to sell my firstborn to get it. However, the groups that I work for require Black where the sky blue or red is, and I would prefer to follow their guidelines. If you have this jacket, is there anyway to color that section black so I can use the jacket without guilt? Thanks a lot!

Does anyone have a phone to try and contact these guys? I tried to get an order in before the site went down, and the site didn't take it. I will be happy to buy some of their larger sized-stuff, and I need the gear for my Fall Games. but I can't get anyone there to accept a fax or talk on the phone.

+2, poly wools are worth their weight in solid gold bars. Even though they are expensive, they are worth it.

I loved the old +POS shirts, so when some were sold on ebay, I got several. They are at least one size too small, at least the ones I got. So IMO if you buy them get 2XL on plate and XL for bases.

So ugly that if it was a newborn, it's mom would be slapped. The color is just so far off it is beyond description.

Hi folks! I have no real bad injury story like you guys, thank goodness. But I have to ask if anyone else has a time during the season when you get hit so often you feel like one of the ducks at a mechanical shooting galley, and some guy is winning one of those big stuffed animals by hitting you all the time? In the last two weeks, I have had 5 head shots (from college/HS/and even 13 yr. old ball), a bruise on my leg that went 3/4 of the way around my upper leg (missed HS Fast ball) two bruises on my stomach area below my CP, a bruise on the back of my left hand, a bruise on my left arm above the elbow which is just turning color now a week after it got hit, and a bruise on my right arm just above the elbow. I took two head shots on one college game, and the second one hurt. But I was ok, with no concussion. My last game before this post was a HS tournament game, and I took a shot in the top of the first. But only one. I have had two days off now, I'm ready to go again...

Thanks for the posts guys! I have had a problem with my shoes, NB 450 plates, and 350 low cut base shoes. The shoes lost the shine in them after a while, and usually I would use Pledge wipes to take the dirt off after games. but the shoes started looking duller and duller. So I started putting on a coat of good polish on the shoes, and they looked great. But when I clean them after the game with Pledge or Scrubbing Bubbles, the dirt and the polish comes off, and that means another polish job before i go back on the field. Are there any suggestions for a cleaning product that does not take the polish off after games?