CS-Blue

And I agree with Umpy...I work some bad neighborhoods in Cincinnati and having some Kevlar may not be a bad idea.

I have emailed back and forth with Jason at JEAPU and they seem very confident in this design. I asked him about their return policy and he said that I should wear it in a few games, take some shots, and then decided if I want to keep it. Otherwise return it. He said he seriously doubts I will return it. He also said they are working on getting out some shin guards and some other accessories in the coming months.

johnny08...I broke down and ordered one too. I figure if it works, I finally have a CP that doesn't make me look like a linebacker. If it doesn't work, I send it back. I have a baseball on a golf shaft waiting for it to arrive.

I can't talk about being bald, but I will say that my All-Star doesn't rip my ears at all and my nickname as a child was Dumbo.

I have done mostly 1-man for the last two years and it has made me (toot, toot) a VERY good balls and strikes umpire. I have been told on many evaluations that I have a consistent, nearly rule-book zone and have never had a complaint from coaches (who do a lot of our evaluations here). We are trained by our association how to do 1-man and 2-man. We are also told that in 1-man, balls and strikes are the most important thing (right up there with hustle your ass off) and everything else will come. I do think that 1-man is a tough way to learn, but it teaches young umpires to rely on themselves in tough situations and not look to a senior umpire every time they screw up. I know I have become VERY confident in my umpiring knowledge and calls and can always explain myself when necessary. So don't knock 1-man. It is trial by fire and weeds out the weak.

I actually started officiating with wrestling. I blew out my knee after three tournaments and haven't been back. Baseball doesn't seem to bother my knee at all...even with all the squats behind the plate. Wrestling was a blast, but you have to be in almost as good of shape as the wrestlers to get up and down and roll and all that while watching and making sure one guy doesn't rip the other one's arm off. I agree with others on here that wrestling is a sport that if you don't know what's going on 100 percent of the time, or can't move around well enough, you WILL get someone hurt badly.

You all should check out ChampionSports.com (http://www.champsspo... KEYWORD SEARCH). They have them for $99 and free shipping. It is the cheapest I have seen them. I know they are not the MVP4000, but unless you are routinely seeing mid-90s and up pitching, the 2500 is just as good.

Oh OK...I thought the post was saying that it was still a rule. I didn't think it was. All the LL and above here play by FED rules with a few modifications for roster batting and safety. It makes it real easy to go from high school to summer ball without having to remember the rule differences between FED and OBR

Since when can you call an out on this without a verbal appeal in FED? Can someone cite the rule?

I work in Kentucky, and while it is not the "deep south" it gets plenty hot and humid here. I did a double-header on Wednesday when it was over 100 here with my new MVP2500 HSM and it was no different heat-wise then when I wore my traditional mask. So there is a southern point of view on the HSM and heat.

goddag

I got my All-Star MVP2500 yesterday...one word...AWESOME!!!

By the way, tried on an All-Star MVP2500 and MVP4000 the other day and they do the same thing as the Shock. It isn't as bad, but it still does it. I will still probably get it. Also, the Shock is still for sale.

I have for sale a brand new (tags off though) Wilson Shock FX 2.0 steel cage HSM. I have only worn it around the house. It just doesn't fit my head right and now I need the money for a new All-Star HSM. I am asking for a paltry $100 plus shipping for the mask and storage bag. If you want pics, please PM me and I will be happy to send some.

I am thinking maybe I should have. I just got a heck of a deal on it so I thought I would try it. I can't return it (bought it from a guy who never used it, maybe had the same issue I did). So, anyone on here want a brand new Shock FX 2.0 (steel cage) for $100 (plus shipping)?

I recently ordered a WIlson Shock FX 2.0 HSM and got it today. I tried it out with my gear to see how it fit and looked. It fit great on my head but one issue did arise. I have a champion p210 CP and I found that the chin piece of the HSM would hit it unless I kept my head level or higher. I actually could not look down more than a few degrees of level without my CP stopping me. Not a huge deal, but has anyone else had this problem? Also, I will add that I have little to no neck.

I am so often amazed about how fashion conscious you all are on this site. I realize it is important that umpires always look professional, but come one, this is pretty nit-picky if you ask me.

I have to say, that article is the most ridiculous thing I have ever read. First off, who wears their chest protector on the drive home? Also, what in the world on the CP is close enough and sharp enough to slice through the skin deep enough to hit an artery? The CP is 90 percent padding (this why it isn't great above JV). I would like to see more about this one. Sounds a little fishy.

I have worn this CP the last two seasons and have been hit numerous times (bad catchers at freshman and JV level) and it hasn't hurt at all. Did I know I got hit? Yes. But it didn't hurt - not even a little. One kid was even throwing in the low 80s, upper 70s (radar gun at a minor league field). Would I wear it above JV, probably not. But it is great for lower level (JV a below) because it is very light weight and cool when it gets hot outside. I would definitely recommend it for summer youth baseball work. But if you are like me and need to be budget conscious, spend the money on one good CP rather than a light weight one that you'll have to replace if/when you move up. I have a champion 210 now and it is almost as light, but a lot more protective than the iX3. I am in the same boat as everyone else on the iX3 mask. I have used it the last two seasons and it is great.

Well, of course it makes financial sense. But at the same time, why do most other shin guard manufacturers have different sizes and do not have the gap?

Like everyone else, I have nothing on the batter. He did what he could do...just stand there. If he would have moved forward or backward, he may have actually moved into a BI call. As for the runner, he is CLEARLY out of the baseline. On the second tag attempt, he goes way wide and to the bottom of the right batter's box. By math alone, he was outside of the 3-foot path from where he started after the initial tag attempt. He was still within 1 foot of the baseline at that time, so ending up where he was after the second attempt put him roughly 4-feet away from his initial path. But the PU would have a tough time seeing that from his position. All he needed to do was take about 2 or so steps to the right on the wild pitch and he could have made the right call on just how far out of the baseline the runner was.

Scott is a big fella. It has been a LONG time since I have been around him, but he was big then and I have seen pictures lately and he still is.

I wear the 15" versions and there is no gap on mine. I don't know why Diamond decided to use the same amount of "hard shell" on the 15s as the 17s. It doesn't make sense. One of the few times I have been happy about being "average" height. I have taken several shots to the area where the gap would be and not felt a thing. Now, if I know the kid that's pitching throws real heat, I break out the triple knee iX3s just to be on the safe side.

Sure...let me know when you all are in town. I will admit that I am not a native of Newport, but I have been in the area for a while.

I read this book a couple of months ago in a single night. My wife nearly passed out when I told her I finished it. The last book I read cover-to-cover was in seventh grade (more than 16 years ago). It was enthralling from the first word to the last. There were a lot of things I learned about becoming a major league umpire that I never knew. I don't think I realized just how hard it is. Much respect for the men in The Show.