Stan W.

Of course all situations have a bit of HTBT.............but over the years, I've had a few coaches who try and induce a balk this way. It would be up to the umpire to decide if the "STOP" was an attempt at inducement. Of course there is a rule against that........... NFHS 3-3-1N - A coach, player, substitute, or bench personnel shall not: N. call "time" or use ANY command or commit any act for the purpose of causing a balk. (emphasis mine) The worst one was a 3rd base coach simulating the runner breaking for home. He got no balk and a personal ticket on the 'Ol Parking Lot Express, leaving off the field, for the dugout, and the parking lot and all points beyond...........All Aboooooooooard!!

@kstrunk This was a High School Varsity game.

Thought I had my arms tucked in, but a foul ball caught me flush on the forearm. I thought my arm was broken but finished last half inning. I had to be helped out of my plate gear and immediately drove to ER. ER x-ray showed no break, but traumatic tissue damage. My arm went black from the elbow to my fingertips. To this day I have a flat spot on my forearm. This took months to heal....

I have been fortunate to actually see 2 versions of Cece's work. The things that struck me were the obvious hand craftsmanship and attention to detail. The other thing was how small they were. Obviously when made from the original users measurements, the protector covered them well. @kylejt hits it on the head. For the time frame he was making them they were outstanding. The most obvious reason was the custom fit. At the time I was considering getting Cece to make me one ( Trust me, it was a brief consideration, unfortunately I could not afford it) I was wearing a old style rolled pad CP. A custom made Carlucci would have been quite the step up for me in protective gear. A Carlucci compared to todays offerings would come up short. We are so fortunate to have the advanced styles and materials that we have in the newer models. I'm sure they far exceed Cece's efforts. But like anything custom made.....be it shoes or suits, it still speaks of quality and durability.

It was a marine grade vinyl in Cece Carlucci's trademark Blue color. The CP's were individually measured to fit and all hand made. The style shown above was typical of CP's in the later years of Cece's career. Carlucci passed in 2008. CP technology has far surpassed the styles and protective qualities of these type of protectors. But for cool factor?.......I think the only vintage CP that I can imagine giving up my Platinum for would be a Riddell Power re-fitted with Team Wendy padding.....

very fair if treated well.

If you aren't tall.... and doing a one man kid game........don't trip over the straps and: fall down...... totally face planting.... missing the call at first.... Coming up looking like a powdered donut..... Just sayin......I might know someone who did that......In...... 1982, on a hot Thursday night in Milledgeville, Georgia, probably around 7-7:30...

The responsibility is on the defense to appeal timely. We Umpires are expected to be alert for any situation where an appeal is possible. If I am on the plate, I return the game balls to the home team, wait on my partner and walk to the exit. I do not wait. The times a game ending appeal has happened to me, it was clear that an appeal was coming or there was audible chatter about a possible appeal. Absent these things, I depart as usual.

that "UIC" needs a refresher course........ Just to add as to why...... Per the OP: Ball dropped rolls across the foul line = Ball Ball dropped does not reach foul line = Balk

I have sun visors on both my game masks.........I like them.

I have 2 of the Zero G masks. They are by far, my favorites. I upgraded the pads to TW, but as I've said before, I did not get the results expected from the TW pads. I switched both masks back to leather pads. One set of black +POS pads and one set of Navy Doe Skin Honigs pads. I sold the TW pads to other UE members. I personally do not have any horror stories regarding shipping. But know from people I trust that in the past that was true. I started with +POS back in the days when they held the MiLB contract and was all +POS at one time. (uniforms, gear, ball bags and Plate shoes). Once the founders passed away, Dan has been keeping the company going. I have full confidence in the gear he sells. I hope he can get +POS on good ground soon.

outstanding! Congrats!!

well done rehab on the mask !!........looks amazing.....and it would be great if it is a +POS prototype. we have such great resources available here on this site.

That's the one!........

I'm sure it is!.........as are a bunch of posts from you and me!

This is the day I wish I had Tim Christensen's list to re-post. Tim C. was the ultimate gear junky. The stuff he carried to each and every game was mind boggling.

Although not a baseball/umpire book, I'd recommend reading "verbal judo". Pretty much everything in the book is relatable to umpiring.

Here is where we umpire. In the event of an injury, you are naturally going to have more prolonged delay while they tend to the injured player. Once they determine if the injured player will continue his AB or remove him from the lineup you should be able to expect the substitute to report fairly promptly. Yet I'd err on the side of being a bit more lenient. Better to be seen as respecting the injured player than a OOO who cant wait to get our of there. just my.02

I do not believe that is a +POS frame. Ive worn +POS a long time and don't remember the flat bars nor the angled lower bars. The pads are mismatched, certainly I had a +POS mask with a Brinkman upper pad, but that chin pad is sporting a newer generation +POS logo. I'll have to defer to the experts but I'm suspect of the frame as +POS manufacture and fairly certain that the pads are mismatched generation +POS pads and all the while sporting a +POS sun visor..... Its still cool and I love +POS leather pads! I swapped back out my TW pads for my black +POS leather pads and my Honigs Navy doeskin pads. I sold both TW sets to U-E Members... Get that refinished and you'll have a cool rig indeed.....

Once you are announced as a pinch hitter, it is assumed you are ready to hit. But I'm not aware of any standard time by rule. MLB rules say a batter must take his position in the batters box promptly. (6.02?) But this has always been up to the game management skills of the umpire. Also in rule 6.02 if the batter refuses to get in the box the umpire can direct the pitcher to pitch and will call each such pitch a strike. So I will give an appropriate amount of time to get in the box, if it seems unusually long I will hustle the batter along if I think he is lollygagging...........I did call this strike before in a game where the coach was delaying the game to try and draw a suspended game due to darkness......it does get a batter in the box in a hurry

OH no!.......there is no sports official group any MORE concerned with "Style" than Umpires!............... pants, shoes, shirts, ball bags, jackets, pads, mask types, mask styles, mask harnesses, mask pads, indicators, ...............

Mine arrived in the mail last night and I spent the majority of the evening wearing them around the house.......tried all my belts. I'm going to like these!.......now to drop them off to be hemmed.

welcome to the avocation!............and the site!....

Welcome to the Worlds Best Free Umpire Clinic!................Anytime you have a few minutes just search the forums for a question you might have on Rules, Mechanics, gear and situations. You will instantly be able to access the responses of the members..........you are guaranteed to learn something........

At one time I was all +POS......masks/cp/shin guards/plate shoes and unis....... For upper level games I wore the +POS BB2000 chest protector that resembled samurai warrior armor. It was exceptional in protection but had major drawbacks in bulk and heat transfer. You looked like "ROBO-UMP" and that thing was a furnace to wear. I sold it and purchased a WV platinum and never looked back. For sub varsity games I always wore a Honigs K1 with very good results but after many years service I was looking for a replacement. I purchased the ZeroG protector as I felt it gave me the flexibility of the K1 but with the added protection of external plates. I have been very happy with it. I have worn it in some very competitive higher level games with confidence. My current gear in use includes 2 +POS zero G masks with doe skin pads. a BB181 plate brush and large 3/2 indicators....and up for replacement his year are my +POS brinkman shin guards... Sorry I cant help you with any review of the Cobra model.