UmpPhil

1.) Wrist Watch 2.) Rubber Band 3.) Non-Umpire Belt 4.) It's ticky tack but I would like to see his lineup cards in a sleeve 5.) Wrinkles on the front of his shirt...This can be fixed by pulling the sides back towards you 6.) And hold your mask under your arm, don't dangle it behind you 7.) And numbers on his shirt One or two ball bags doesn't really make a difference for me. I consider it a personal preference.

I think the biggest part of this 3 feet rule is a question of how much of the person is allowed to be 3 feet away. His upper half remains fairly close to the baseline and his initial running lane, only his lower half really makes the turn towards the dugout. That's just my thought on this one. Really tough question to ask!

Springfield is pretty far for me. Chicago, Detroit, Indy are possibilities. Anyone have any insight on camps/clinics in that area? Rich Fetchiet is one of the camp directors at the Doane Umpire Camp in Grand Rapids. Wow, really great stuff guys. This is what I love about Umpires, we are a fraternity and almost all of us are in the interest of helping one another succeed. I just found this site yesterday and I know that it will be a great resource for me and all that I want to accomplish in my career.

I am 5'-8" and 180. The 13.5" platinum is perfect. I compared and it is the exact same length as my 13" Douglas. The CP covers the bottom ribs with out being too long. I don't know if I would recommend the shorter model to you. A lot of guys bigger than us wear this and the Gold. I believe the Gold only comes in a 12" model. I appreciate you posting the measurement! I'm just about the same build and wondered what kind of difference it makes. Have you tried the 12'' Gold model?

There's no difinitive answer anywhere. J/R is only one of the sources and it trails MLBUM, PBUC, and JEA in most minds, and perhaps also the BRD. The crux: What if the ODB grabbed the ball and threw it to the catcher? Is that interference or assistance? Should you punish assistance? If the ODB's actions don't really hinder the catcher (he drops the ball in place and F2 picks it up unimpeded) was there interference? Who screwed up in the first place? I don't have any High School Umpiring experience, but my logic would tell me that it would be a dead ball immediately and since it was touched by a member of the offensive team I would assume that runners who advanced would have to return to their original base at the time of pitch. I think that if you were working a 4 man crew you could have more control of where runners are on the base paths at the time of "interference". So, in that case the previous post might apply. But in two man mechanics I would be content sending the runners back since the on deck batter intentionally grabbed the ball. Undoubtedly either scenario would require an explanation to the offensive or defensive coaches. But I do think it would be easier to tell the offensive coach, "Hey, you're player touched a live ball. What else can I do?" Just my opinion on the whole situation.

I have a pretty extensive wish list and maybe you guys could help me figure out the important things from unnecessary. 1.) Wilson West Vest (Platinum or Gold) Have not decided yet 2.) Wilson Shin Guards (Platinum or Gold) 3.) Majestic Thermabase jackets (Navy with Red and Black with White) 4.) One Black ball bag 5.) New Combo Caps (Navy and Black) 6.) Smitty Charcoal combo pants 7.) Wilson equipment bag 8.) Visor for Wilson Mask 9.) New Balance plate and base shoes 10.) A wife that won't kill me if I buy all this stuff!!!!!!!! That's my list, a little pricey but I feel like this would be a lasting investment. Let me know how you guys feel about the West Vest Platinum vs. Gold!

How is this Jacket for 70 degree rainy weather? Too warm? Just curious.

Everyone's knocking the Officials Choice Shirts? I'll admit they're not the best but I believe that they are a good buy for a beginner umpire. I have several myself and on HOT days I love these shirts, very breathable, but they do look like a mesh basketball jersey. I started with Smitty shirts, they do "pill" on the collar and the sleeve, don't know why, and I have a Dalco shirt Pro Blue that I really like, I think they look sharp and breathe nicely. If you don't have the money to be spending on Majestic and Smitty stuff, the Officials Choice is a great option for starting out. You can get 4 or 5 shirts, a nice little selection for the same cost as 2 or 3 of the really great shirts. Because face it, it sucks when you're partners doing the plate, you give him the option of what he wants to wear and you don't have it.

Like all of you most of the people in my umpiring association are in the same boat. I will never get stuck with more than 2 plates in a day and wearing a standard steel mask doesn't drain me. And with the slew of pics I've seen lately of dented and dinged up Titanium frames I feel like my $47 dollar steel caged Wilson mask was a pretty safe investment. They look slick but I want to save my money for a nice set of West Vest Gold Gear.

All-Star was the only brand I would wear back when I played, I feel like they were and still are the best product out there for catchers. But, I'm thinking that Wilson has cornered the market on Umpire protection. There are a lot of things I like about the All-Star protector and shin guards, and I'm in the market for a new set of both. But I'm pretty much set on the West Vest Gold stuff. Anyone have any opinions for me?

You have just blinded me with science!

HAHAHA! That's awesome! I commend you, I'd be a little scared to do that. If they were to use the helmet and get injured, would liability be on the Coach because you checked the equipment in pre-game and alerted them to the fact that it was a racked helmet?

I just learned this mechanic at the end of this season and I really like it. I was a catcher in college and there were many times where a quick call like that would have saved me some grief. i.e. we had one situation in which I was under the impression that it was a dropped third strike, and a runner on 3rd with 2 out, I throw the ball to first expecting to get the 3rd out and the umpire in chief is looking at his partner for help in position B, they look at each other and the runner breaks for home. We got the out at home and then only after that play determined that the batter didn't swing. Could have been catastrophic being that it was a one run game. So needless to say, now that I know that there are guys out there using this technique I am going to implement it into my regiment. It's one of those small things that could really help you from getting burned by coaches.

Hey guys, just joined the website. I'm Phil, 26 years old originally a Buckeye but life carried me into the Hoosier state. I've been umpiring for 2 years, mainly little league ages 11-18 but I have done the occasional travel team or high school summer league. Next Spring I will be enjoying my first year as a High School official, should be challenging but I have been working hard. This fall I was fortunate enough to attend a couple really good clinics put on by some of the top Umpires in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and they taught me quite a lot. As Umpires I find that we have a lot to teach each other, and that we are our best resource in terms of putting out a consistent product because in the end that's what it's all about. I'm really excited to get to talking with some of you guys, listen to your stories, and learn from you.