Cajuncubsfan

Use the vent holes as a guide and use clothes pins to sharpen the crease.

Good recommendation. If youre a junkie like most of us, if you look at some detailed pics of MLB guys everybody creases their caps differently. Some go for more of that rounded look other go for a more pointed look. There is no right or wrong way to line up the creases its up to you!

I agree

Nothing like a cup check to remind you that you are alive.

I had one game where I had not one but three separate pitches rebound and get me from underneath. I was ready to grab <acronym title='Catcher'>F2</acronym> by his chest protector straps and use him as my personal balloon.

I know right!!! I think all catchers should work 9-10 little league so they understand why we depend on them so much. LOL :-) I bet if they take one to the pills they will block those balls better for there umpire. At the beginning of both halfs of the first inning I ask the each catcher "How we doing today, you going to take care of me today!?" catcher 9 times out of 10 they say "Yes Sir"

That Davishield had some nice features about it. The lining was great, as was the velcro adjustments. And it fit like a glove, as the plating flexed around your body.

It just had one small downfall. It didn't protect you against flying baseballs. Details, right?

LOL :-)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/slideshow/1072374/195691/

Does anyone have one of these chest protectors? I saw one a few weeks ago and was thinking about making this my summer chest protector. Any thoughts?

http://www.gerrydavi...uct/B17PR126475

1) Why do you need a "summer" chest protector?

2) I wouldnt recommend this for anything over 10 year olds.

The one I have is Champro Pro-Plus Umpire Chest Protector (#CP135)

http://www.ump-attire.com/Merchant2/4.12/modules/system/prodscrnshots_m4.mv?store_code=UA&ssaction=popup&id=1224&offset=1

It's a good chest protector but it is very thick, the inside foam is hot and can get very smelly.

I have really been eyeing the Wilson West Vest Platinum Umpire Chest Protector

http://www.ump-attire.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=A3215&Category_Code=CHEST-PROTECTOR&Product_Count=2

I had the plate yesterday and I was excited because I was sporting my new plate shoes and mask in a Varcity game. Anyway, this catcher decides he is setup outside of the plate all the time. I told him that if he was going to camp out there the whole game he better be able to get to the inside pitches. Well that was the 4th inning and in the 7th inning. Inside pitch deflects off the knob of the bat and right into my cup ( my mommy daddy button!) and down I went. Cup or not that SH*# hurts!!! After about 5 seconds I realize I'm Tebowing at home plate. My partner walks up and asks me if I'm waiting for someone to take my picture of me Tebowing. I laughed and told him "Yes, Yes I am!" it was a painful and funny at the same time. That catcher came back and very sincerely told me sorry for missing that one.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/slideshow/1072374/195691/

I got to use my new make yesterday. Loved it, lighter, better view and it comes off easier with the new harness I get. I ended up doing my Tebow at home plate with it when I took a foul ball off my cup... 8-/

Does anyone have one of these chest protectors? I saw one a few weeks ago and was thinking about making this my summer chest protector. Any thoughts?

http://www.gerrydavis.com/mm5/category/Baseball_Umpire/product/B17PR126475

I brought this up at our weekly LHSOA meeting. I stood up and demonstrated what the batter did and I was told I made the right call. So, I will contenus to call it how I see it.

For the record, I know that second video WAS interference.

Game On!!!!

So Evans says "other movement that is deemed a hinderance"

Translation "other movement that is judged a hinderance"

Movement is NOT automatic interference.

Some batters duck or squat to make sure they're out of the way. Can I intentionally plunk one that does that and get an interference call? It's movement after all.

Uue your heads guys - that's what it's there for.

Your issues have been asked and answered.

No - they haven't.

I second that motion!!!

1 is probably not.

2 is no doubt interference, day game or night game.

How about this one?

#1

#2

Ok, batter interference Matt?!?

I'm not calling either one of these! If your going to call these you should warn the coach before the game because if there going to call a Hit and Run play then he is going to come unglued when you call his batter out for moving!!!

So Evans says "other movement that is deemed a hinderance"

Translation "other movement that is judged a hinderance"

Movement is NOT automatic interference.

Some batters duck or squat to make sure they're out of the way. Can I intentionally plunk one that does that and get an interference call? It's movement after all.

Uue your heads guys - that's what it's there for.

Thank you!!!

Fastball up and in.

You know the pitch hit something...

But you don't know if it hit the batters hand or the knob of the bat?

What do you do?

What are the different situations that can arise from this? How do you handle those situations?

Please teach me.

Some of you are going to love to hear this and probably think I deserved it.

I had this today, up and in pitch hits the knob of the bat and strait in to my Cup!!!! Down I went... A few seconds went by and it downed on me that I was Tebowing. After my partner gave me a minute to gather my thoughts I had to ask the batter if it hit him or the knob of the bat. Then I told the catcher that of he was going to set up camp on the outside of the plate all day that he needs to help me out with those inside pitches. He said "Yes Sir", he and I had already talked about the fact he was leaving me hanging and he really needed to be able to get the inside pitches.

Anyway, put a strike on the board and let's go!!!!

Jim Evens say

"If he is within the confines of the batter's box, he must make some "other movement" that is deemed

a hindrance to the catcher's play before interference is ruled. ...

I don't understand how y'all don't get my point here. I give up....

We don't get it because it is wrong. Because somebody does it everytime does not make it suddenly legal. He can step back every time that the catcher isn't trying to throw to third and be perfectly legal. Once there is a throw involved his movement will likely be a problem. It is no different than the coach trying to sell that a pitching motion isn't illegal because he does it every time.

Ok, I'm going to bring this up at our umpire meeting tomorrow and see what they say.

My thing is that he was still in the box!!!

Jim Evens say

"If he is within the confines of the batter's box, he must make some "other movement" that is deemed

a hindrance to the catcher's play before interference is ruled. ...

I don't understand how y'all don't get my point here. I give up....

Whatever, I will continue to use my Judgment to deside that one!

Cajun,

Well of course you're going to use your judgement - you do that on every single call you make.

But, in order to make the call correctly, you also have to understand the rule. Perhaps you'll find Jim Evans more persuasive. This is what the <acronym title='Jim Evans Annotated rules manual'><acronym title='Jim Evans Annotated rules manual'>JEA</acronym></acronym> says:

...The action by the batter which causes interference does not have to be intentional. The batter is obligated to avoid

making any movement which obstructs, impedes, or hinders the catcher's play in any way. A swing which carries

the batter over home plate and subsequently complicates the catcher's play or attempted play should be ruled

interference. Contact between the batter and catcher does not necessarily have to occur for interference to be ruled.

Merely blocking the catcher's vision to second base may very possibly be interference.

A batter shall not be charged with interference for standing still and consequently complicating the catcher's play

at any base. If he is within the confines of the batter's box, he must make some "other movement" that is deemed

a hindrance to the catcher's play before interference is ruled. ...

...

SITUATION: One out...runner on second. The runner is attempting to steal third on the pitch. The batter tries to get out of the

catcher's way by stepping out of the batter's box. However, this movement hinders the catcher's throw. The runner

is safe at third. There was no intent to interfere. What's your ruling?

RULING: Intent is not relevant. The batter is out for the interference and the runner must return to second.

If the batter stays where he is, he's not liable; if he moves, he IS liable. That's not a question of judgement, it's a rule.

JM

Jim Evens say

"A batter shall not be charged with interference for standing still and consequently complicating the catcher's play

at any base. If he is within the confines of the batter's box, he must make some "other movement" that is deemed

a hindrance to the catcher's play before interference is ruled. ...

I used my judgment and Concluded that he was making the same step he had after every pitch. He was no hinderance and not interfering intentionally.

Whatever, I will continue to use my Judgment to deside that one!

I have had this happen twice in two years.

Last year in Dixie League, <acronym title='Base runner at 2B'>R2</acronym> and <acronym title='Base runner at 1B'>R1</acronym>, <acronym title='Base runner at 2B'>R2</acronym> steals and the catcher stood up and threw the ball right in the back of the batters neck under the helmet like he didn't see him. The batter was in the process of stepping out to look down at the 3rd base coach. I did nothing other than letting the coach come out and look at his batter.

Last week I was doing a High School JV game and had the same thing only the ball glanced off the <acronym title='Time of pitch '>TOP</acronym> of the helmet and the catchers hand hit the batter. I didn't do anything then either because the batter was doing the same thing he had been doing after every pitch. Defense coach came running out fussing at me. I calmly told him why I didn't call interference. He didn't like it but he shut up.

I played catcher in High School and I was taught to tower the mound or the left hand batters o and throw it to 3rd.

cajuncubsfan,

If the batter is stepping out of the box and gets hit by the catcher's throw as he is attempting to retire a runner, it IS batter's interference. Even if the batter was "doing the same thing he had been doing...".

JM

Batter has one foot in the box looking down for coach. Batter is not retired and not tring to block the catcher.

If your going to call batters interference every time the batter gets hit by the catcher then why don't the coaches just teach the catcher the just use the batter and get an out every time someone steals third. I can hear a coach now "Plunk the batter anytime someone is stealing third so we can get an out and he has to go back to second!"

Welcome to the Lions Den!!! Be careful what you ask and proof read your posts. Yea really have to be thick skinned around here. I can handle coaches and I can ignore the crowd but getting beat up by fellow umpires all the time is tuff.

Welcome

We do our best to to keep from being like the other sites.

I'm here because I want to learn and get as good as I can get. I want to do it the right way and I want to look right. So in still here taking my lumps. ;-)

I have had this happen twice in two years.

Last year in Dixie League, R2 and R1, R2 steals and the catcher stood up and threw the ball right in the back of the batters neck under the helmet like he didn't see him. The batter was in the process of stepping out to look down at the 3rd base coach. I did nothing other than letting the coach come out and look at his batter.

Last week I was doing a High School JV game and had the same thing only the ball glanced off the TOP of the helmet and the catchers hand hit the batter. I didn't do anything then either because the batter was doing the same thing he had been doing after every pitch. Defense coach came running out fussing at me. I calmly told him why I didn't call interference. He didn't like it but he shut up.

I played catcher in High School and I was taught to tower the mound or the left hand batters o and throw it to 3rd.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXPeBZ81GSU&feature=related

My favorite team mom shows up to other games too.

Gotta love mom behind the plate.

But I love Critter in the comments even more.

Moms behind the plate are much better than Dads who think they know something behind the plate. LOL :-)

Looks like a good umpire, I have a wide stance like him. I was told I look out of balance. I think it looks fine. I have one foot at batters feet (center of batters box) and the other center of the catcher or the plate.

Stike zone is big!!!

Welcome to the Lions Den!!! Be careful what you ask and proof read your posts. Yea really have to be thick skinned around here. I can handle coaches and I can ignore the crowd but getting beat up by fellow umpires all the time is tuff.

Welcome

Y'all are as hard to please as the crowd at a 9-10 game.

I am dyslexic and when I get pissed off I don't check what I type.

Thank you Mat!!!!