scrounge

Maybe they're just not attached to enough of the velcro strip. I didn't like the low location they came in and moved up nearer the shoulder joint, much better positioning. Still not the protection of the flap on my previous Gold, but acceptable.

What use is he, then? A 13 yr old or some random mom in the stands can make the obvious calls. It's precisely when he's needed that he flakes out?!?

Absolutely a balk....IIRC, that's also the main reason the 'gorilla arm' swing was outlawed in FED when in the set (arm hanging down before the stretch, arm swinging).

Maybe my son was just unlucky, but he had that exact same buckle broken on his Champro last year (his 1st yr of using that protector) on a relatively soft foul ball that hit it just right. I will say that the buckles on the All-Star are considerably further back and more protected than they are on the Champro.

And it goes in the books as the first 2-5-6-3 triple play in 130 years....brutal

It is kind of a pain to keep track and hound the slow-payers, though. Being a financial weenie anyway, I use a spreadsheet to track all my games, pay rate, if the mileage is deductible (it isn't always), if the school has paid yet (!!!), etc. I also use it to note who my partner was, what position I was in, and any notes/issues from the game. I found the log last year was quite helpful for self-improvement and remembering mistakes, as well as tracking pay. Once the school season is over, most games are pay-on-the-spot so it's not quite as vital. But the log part is still helpful when games start running together and it gets hard to remember what exactly happened in which game.

I try not to step on the chalk line when crossing from shallow right field to A, but that's about it. I also do the sweep the plate after the throwdown, but more for timing and routine than any superstition.

eh, what purpose does it serve to be jealous or obsessed with basketball? It's different, with its advantage and disadvantages. I do all three - baseball, basketball, and football. Baseball is far and away the most expensive in terms of equipment, but it has the longest season as well. It's more defined - to me, much more clear on what to do and what to look for. Basketball doesn't have rainouts, but the season isn't as long. Unless you want to do AAU stuff and put up with that nonsense. And it's WAY more physically demanding than baseball. I've had a couple JV games this year with city league teams that weren't very good but all they did was run up and down all night. I could barely walk the next day after one of them. It's much more "watch everything in this area and be prepared to make a call instantaneously". Baseball is my favorite but I found basketball to be quite enjoyable. And around here, the pay structure is pretty much the same at sub-varsity levels, with varsity on par with football (and requiring more of a commitment - arrival time 1.5 hr prior to game, more competitive to get on a good crew, etc).

I have both, an All-Star MVP2500 and a Diamond mask with Team Wendy pads. It's nice to have a choice. I'll wear the helmet when there's a short backstop (it hasn't happened to me, but my son has had a ball bounce off the fence and hit him on the back of the head) or if it's cold or if I just feel like a helmet. I'll wear the mask when it's hot and there's no fence right behind me. It's cooler with a mesh hat on hot days, but I do like the extra protection of the HSM.

He should be ashamed of himself. I'd consider calling his AD, if only to get your side of the story out there for the future if you ever do varsity with this school.

Nice!! Not to go off subject but I hated when a batter stands like that! I usually do too, but this was one team where I would give them a pass, on this and a few other things. It's an inner city middle school team where it became painfully obvious that a good number of kids may never have even played baseball before. No exaggeration. They only had 9 kids, the catcher didn't even know what "balls in" meant. They only had one coach - an immensely patient guy trying to do everything by himself. I chatted with him a bit after the game - the team only had one practice and he's literally teaching them the game from square one. And in reality, he's doing a lot more than coaching baseball. The sad probability is that he may be one of the only male role models a lot of those kids have.

time for a slumpbuster

BOO and substitutions in game, as you're seeing on the DH thread. It's not so bad, at the plate conf note with the coaches if there's a DH. Then just remember that both of them, if used, are locked into that spot. No crazy double switches. If a sub is replaced by a reentering starter, I like to write off to the side his number in an "OUT" column, denoting players out of the game.

yep, it's pretty much just a suggestion.

I had a great catcher that caught this before I had to even say anything. A few questionable pitches that were a bit high but honestly could have gone either way, I could hear the coach whine a bit but the F2 immediately yelled out "bring 'em down a bit, Johnny". Pitcher didn't get an outside pitch and started to pout, F2 calls time before I could send him out and goes out to calm him down. He complimented the other team's batters when they deserved it, told me good call on one that could have gone his way but was a bit low and wasn't being facetious, just an overall great kid. Oh yea, he was an 8th grader. Kid's gonna be a good one.

I'd say 1/2 hour is most common around here, earlier if you can for varsity. But with 5 PM game times, most can't do much earlier than that during the weekday. There's no prescribed time, just custom. Conversely, football and basketball have a prescribed 90 minute before game time arrival for varsity, but not for other levels.

but his first step was with his right foot forward to the plate...how can that not be a balk?

1st game with the All-Star in the books. I'd grade it as an A-. The protector didn't move a bit - VERY stable. And didn't have to tighten the straps much, I hate that tight, constricted feeling. The curved shoulders and harness keep it stable. Neck wasn't tight. The only time I really noticed it was bending over to clean the plate. And earlier, it wasn't easy to get my shirt on, but big deal. Took THREE shots to it, two fouls and one bouncer. Here's where it's a tiny bit of a mixed bag. Hard foul to the upper/mid right chest, solid hit. It didn't hurt at all - but I did feel the pressure of it. This was a JV game, about 60-70 mph pitching. Makes me wonder just a little bit what it might feel like at 80 or 90. Again, it didn't hurt....but it wasn't the "oh, did I just get hit?" barely there sensation that a hit of that speed would be on the Gold. The bouncer came in right below the plexus...that would have been soft skin on the Gold but got nothing but armor plate on the All-Star. It was the second foul that was the key shot. High pitch, batter swings over the TOP and the ball comes straight down right at my collarbone. It didn't even have a chance of hurting, nothing but sound and a little pressure. I'm not saying it would have found the gap on my Gold - but I'm not saying it wouldn't. That alone has me sold on the All-Star. It wasn't a clean sweep, the Gold does feel more padded and I've taken shots to it that felt like feathers hitting a pillow. The All-Star was a bit more jarring, no pain by any means or even close, but it gets your attention. However, the lack of slip, the extra length, and the better collarbone and rib protection outweigh the comfort and padding to me. It's really nitpicking, they're both excellent, and if the Gold covered my last rib I'd probably just get a Delta Flex harness and call it a day. But right now, it looks like the Gold is headed to eBay.

he stepped forward, not back

The Gold doesn't have as large of plates and thicker, softer padding, so it's more form fitting and lays more easily on your body to me. Unfortunately, it has the sag issue, which will be mitigated by the Delta Flex of course. However, it might not completely go away. Or you'd have to tighten the harness. Myself, I don't like it super tight, that constricted feeling is unpleasant to me. Which, admittedly, the new All-Star does have, but not too bad. The All-Star has larger, flatter plates. Maybe over time they'll curve a bit. Bottom line? If the Gold would just cover my lower rib, I'd prob stick with it and retrofit the Delta Flex. However, having that rib exposed is simply a non-starter for me. Even in my stance, the curved point of the rib is uncovered. If I can touch it easily with my finger, a ball can find it. That is disqualifying to me. And I'm only 5'10", 205 lbs, not huge or overly stocky. I'll let you know how it performs tomorrow, but right now, I'm betting the Gold finds its way to eBay.

Just got the All-Star y'day from Ump-Attire. I moved those little pec plates higher. There's basically two velcro connectors that will either attach the pec plates or the inner foam. In the pic, they're attached to the lower connectors. I moved them to the higher. Initial impressions: All-Star pros: MUCH less chance of this baby slipping or sliding down. Not just the Delta Flex, but also the pre-built curvature of the shoulder pad part prevents this. I got the 15" - it definitely covers the last rib and some abdomen but not at all too long to interfere with stance. Looks sleeker but feels more, I dunno, armor-like in a good way. Thing doesn't move around much at all, again not just due to the harness but also the design. There's MUCH less chance of an exposed collar bone. A bit tight around the neck, I guess, but I don't find it too much. I think that's just because it's brand spanking new. All-Star cons: Oddly, though it fits sleeker, in a way it feels a bit bulkier. Also, while those pec plates help, there still seems to be a bit of a gap where there's some exposed areas. It would take a perfect hit to find it - but stuff happens. The plates are a bit angular, not smooth like the Gold. And while a big advantage is the snug fit, it can feel a little too snug. Then again, I just got it and haven't fully adjusted it yet. First game test is tomorrow in a JV doubleheader. I like the gap coverage and overall design of the Gold a tad better - but that's more than offset by the lack of length and tendency to slide down. I thought about retrofitting a Delta Flex to it, but the exposed last rib just bugs me. Yea, there's not much chance of it getting hit, especially down in a stance. But a broken/cracked rib isn't something I even remotely want to deal with. Plus, I admit it, I like a little abdomen protection as well. The Gold does fit more 'naturally' though. Really, I'd be nitpicking to say one's definitively better.

Great stuff. My 17 yr old did rec league stuff the past couple of years but took the state certification class this year. He's now official! In fact, here's a pic of him preparing to take his very first pitch as a certified umpire.

I really don't think it's a big deal at all. Necessary? No, but I've got about 42 other things to improve upon before I get to that.

Just search "yuba city" on youtube and plenty of other videos will show up.

I probably say foul on every ball just out of habit, but if it's obvious or clearly behind us with no chance of being caught I don't say it any louder than hushed conversation level. I doubt anyone other than the catcher hears it. Not really on purpose, just a perfunctory habit of saying it every time. Maybe it reminds me to put it back in play, I dunno. I agree it would be obnoxious to yell it and make a big display.