justwin

The t-ringer shirt is well-constructed. This shirt is noticeably lighter,thinner and softer than my 2011 powder blue smitty. However, when I compare this same shirt to my 2012 Navy Smitty, the material seems to be a similar weight and thickness, but the material is still softer. I wonder if Smitty has gone with a lighter material in 2012? Or is it just a Navy thing? Not sure. . . The t-ringer shirt is sized in the chest exactly like a 2011 smitty. The t-ringer shirt is one inch longer in length, but Terry says he wants to make this a little longer next year which is a good thing, I think. I know a few tall umpires who have issues staying tucked with a CP. The t-ringer shirt is at least another 1/2" longer in the sleeve and has a wider opening. The color is identical to the Navy Smitty. It is a dark, rich, consistent Navy which is darker than my Navy Dalcos (which are way too light). Also, the navy collar matches the navy shirt. I have had Navy shirts where the collar and shirt do not match (darker collar). The t-ringer shirt is well-constructed. This shirt is noticeably lighter,thinner and softer than my 2011 powder blue smitty. However, when I compare this same shirt to my 2012 Navy Smitty, the material seems to be a similar weight and thickness, but the material is still softer. I wonder if Smitty has gone with a lighter material in 2012? Or is it just a Navy thing? Not sure. . . The t-ringer shirt is sized in the chest exactly like a 2011 smitty. The t-ringer shirt is one inch longer in length, but Terry says he wants to make this a little longer next year which is a good thing, I think. I know a few tall umpires who have issues staying tucked with a CP. The t-ringer shirt is at least another 1/2" longer in the sleeve and has a wider opening. The color is identical to the Navy Smitty. It is a dark, rich, consistent Navy which is darker than my Navy Dalcos (which are way too light). Also, the navy collar matches the navy shirt. I have had Navy shirts where the collar and shirt do not match (darker collar). i agree with you.,the officials call in west virginia.. i bought 7 of those shirts off of terry in navy.. i got them for 15.99 ./..they are made in egypt and i was very impressed . the material was light and it stretches and the sizing is very good .. very roomy.. i also bought smitty plate pants from terry at officials call and loved them..i bought 5 hats and a few accessories..he threw in a couple of line up cards gave me a good discount and free shipping. this was last month and i just ordered another pair of base pants and leg guards from him.. he is very nice . wants ur business and my order was delievered in three days. all my fellow umpires should give this guy a try..im a honigs guy but officials call in west virginia is very very good..and those egyptian shirts i rate them right up there with my smitty and new honigs shirt at a better price

actually i think 4 games was too much. miller caused this mess in the first place and he gets off with nothing and lawrie gets 4 games and alomar got 5 games for spiitting on a plate umpire. unbelievable how miller could miss both those pitches in the ninth inning. wow

Welcome. I umpire 20-30 fastpitch games a year. And believe i know its very demanding and alot faster than baseball. Thats why i only 20% fastpitch games lol

LOLOLOL at kevin

Then again . Alot of us buy made in the USA cars and that for sure isnt better . lol

i agree kevin...and wilson rawlings all star too...nothing is made in the usa...except for douglas chest protector that hasnt changed in 25 years

Its nice to see Team Wendy pads get recognized for being one of the best pads out there. When Honigs introduced them last year the response here was lukewarm at best. I have two sets of wendy pads on my masks for a year now and to me they are the best pads i have ever worn. I never did care for the heavy wraparound wilson pads. See all it takes is for Ump attire to carry them and wow everyone goes lolol...Guys who got the wendy pads , enjoy them . Im sure you will be very happy with them.

hey kevin,,,, dont feel too sorry for the major league umps...they have the best job security out there...they have a four man system so they arent over exerting themselves too much...yes they have pressure and umpire at the highest level...but....first year ump makes 125k year and they guys with the most seniority make 350k per year...also they get 265 bucks a day travel expense.....so of if they dont get paid to wear equipment they are doing alright lol.... beats the 70-120 bucks a game i make lololol....have a great season

i agree tghe riddell power is the best ever made in my opinion...i bought mine in 1992 from honigs for 150 bucks back then...used it for years and got suckered in to sell it to a D1 umpire in mephis in 2004 for 125 bucks and his wilson...the next day i regretted selling it and i still do

i hope he doesnt like to bite

we still wear heather gray ...and to be honest the smitty pants are very good.. i have three pairs and am very happy with them..for the price they are very good value. my best pants by far in heather gray are my 5 year old honigs plate and base heather gray pants...wish honigs would make the heather gray in poly again

i find the smitty and honigs fit big...i have 7 smitty and 7 honigs shirts ; plate i wear XXL and base XL....the two UA shirts i had were noticeably smaller . And i agree with kevin the majestics do fit bigger than most..i have 2 of them too...Reason they tell u order bigger size for plate is because XXL costs u more with UA and Honigs and some other brands...The smitty shirts i have are the same price if u wear small or XXXXL....i still think smitty shirts are the best bang for ur buck

he definetely needs 15 inch. im 6-1 and have smaller inseam barely 30inches..i prefer 16 inch chest protector..like i said those wilson hard shells gold and platninum are made for umpires 5-10 and under...great chest protectors but anybody near 6 foot the ribs are exposed ...my friend is 5-11 and has 32 inseam and he bought the platninum and sold it two weeks later after taking a shot in the ribs

Ok, I probably don't pay enough attention to where my thumbs are in my stance, it's something I'll work on. My foot positioning, I am straddling the inside portion of the right handed batter's box line. Remember, the catchers box line is wider than the batter's box lines. The catcher is toward the outside corner and moving further that way (I know, not pictured but this is how this catcher worked). I am inside and can see the ENTIRE outside corner. It works for me and no my stance DEFINITELY is not perfect. If you can see the entire zone, are comfortable, feel safe, and get the vast majority of your pitches right, there's nothing wrong with your stance. It always amazes me how people can be so critical and tell you what you can and cannot see based on a side angle photo. Hell, maybe I ought to start an on-line clinic and I'll evaluate umpires based on photos they send me. Get real! If you can stand on your head and get pitches right....stand on your head. i agree 100%.. there is no perfect stance..if the stance u use allows u see the whole plate and u call a good game then so be it..also ur stance should be easy for u to move down the lines ..everyone is so caught up on the perfect stance..evaluators and fellow blue...it seems today we are more concerned on looking really good have that great hammer strike and positioning ourselves sometimes to unconfortable stances in order to make the evaluators and some of our fellow blue happy...whatever happened to just being good and calling a great game behind the dish looking respectable

also i heard heather gray plate and base pants will be on sale for under 25 bucks

dam. wish i could go but got an umpire clinic on saturday all day...good luck guys. hope u get some good deals like last year and give dick if he is the my regards

dont feel intimidated about wearing a plate coat...if its too small...lose a few pounds LOL or take it to a tailor to see if he can take it out a bit...i dont know if a plate coat has to be earned or not...but i ll tell u alot of guys wearing plate coats on the diamond with many years of experience have no business umpiring little league let alone the plate coat at higher levels

i know the feeling..i onced umpired a fastball game and the pitcher was clocked 86mph...however the pitcher pound in fastball is 46 feet and with the pitcher hopping the pitch came in at 38 feet...by far the fastest ball ive seen and that includes many 95+ mph pitches in baseball

The 12 measures 12 TOP of neck to bottom. The sides come down another inch. There is no way a 15" would be too long for someone 6'2", but, we're all built differently........ im almost 6-2 and the 15 inch all star CP is not too big....i would prefer a 16inch version...i have short legs and long torso...my fellow blue bought the 12 inch all star CP and sold it cause it was too short...he is only 5-10...i just cant get over how heavy it is...almost four pounds..wow ...with all this high tech technology u think they could find materials much lighter with great protection

ever notice todays umpires have changed drastically in size over the last 25 years..read in an article the other day, that back in 1983 the AVG height of a major league umpire was almost 6-2..the AVG weight was 225...and in 2010 the AVG height of a major league umpire is 5-11 and a half...the AVG weight is 202..that is a big difference... and also the article said in today s game a lot more complaints against the strike zone and calls on the bases...i think a good reason for the complaints is the scrutiny the umpires have to deal with in todays game...more cameras more high tech makes everything more visible...also game is faster...but i think the umpiring 20 years ago was a bit better than it is today...what do u guys think

i dont whether the study is true.. the big name pitchers get the benefit of the doubt regardless of color or ethnicity...sabathia gets alot of high and outside strikes like does doc..gooden in his prime benefited from a big strike zone...and clemens had the biggest strike zone...but the big name pitchers regardless of color and ethnicity definetely get bigger strike zones...unless u get cb bucknor behind the plate and then u dont know what the hell is going to be called

and finally...when in doubt call em out lololol :notworthy:

also ...i think all we have umpired with fellow umpires who looked better than major league umpires when it comes to apprearance and equipment...and on the field excuse my language they sucked the bone...and im sure we have umpired with some guys that when we saw the way they were dressed and the equipment they had was awful...but were shocked at how really good they were on the diamond...looks deceived us...but saying that ...we all should be respectable with a clean uniform , matching our partners , with aceeptbale mechanics and good presence

having the best gear is great... it protects u well and u look good... having great expensive clothing is great ...it makes u look very professional...i agree we should all look respectable...but u know what ....u can look like a million bucks and have the best of the best in equipment...all the goes away after the first pitch is thrown... and if u dont call a good game ....guess what ...all the TOP not equipment and million buck look uniform didnt do u any good...yes we should look good ....but the most important thing is to call strikes and balls correctly and safes and out correctly and know the rules and enforce them accordingly...i think its very important that we concentrate a bit more on competence on the field and not go to crazy on looking like major league umpires...just my two cents

congrats...good for u...u will feel better...in better health ....and move around the diamond much better...now the hard part...to keep it off lolol good luck fellow blue