Recontra

You're of course, right. I guess I shouldn't have put so much extra sugar on my second bowl of Wheaties this morning.

Sorry to call a foul, because I truly appreciate this forum, the members and contibutors, and I've certainly learned a ton in the short couple of months that I've been a member. But I kind of feel compelled to call a foul on us. I don't know Jim Evans, but I know of him, and I know first hand that he's done a lot for amateur, youth, and even volunteer umpires. He's been criticized on this thread for being a for profit business person, as if there's something circumspect or presumptively un-American about that. If I could make a living umpiring (or playing golf), I'd be doing it right now in a heartbeat. I applaud those of us who are fortunate enough to support our families doing something we love (me, I sue people for a living--I love it--although I'd rather be making a living at Augusta or behind the dish at Safeco Field). I will say that I've greatly benefitted from Mr. Evans permitting Little League to use some of his copyrighted instructional materials at no cost for training volunteer umpires. And JasonK at Force3, what can I say? He's responded to every single one of my email inquiries--and it looks like he's done the same to virtually everyone else who has contacted him. They both deserve some slack, and (I'm sorry) considerable and deferential respect. "Sports Science?" I recall watching the designer, developer, and marketer of the Nutty Buddy stand in front of a 90 mph fast ball on Sports Science. I immediately bought one. Great product. If Mr. Evans or JasonK or anyone else associated with this new chest protector want to go on Sports Science, let them. But that's their call. Not mine. It's also not my place to try to "sic" the Consumer Protection Agency or Department of Justice upon them. This chest protector was inititially offered at a discount for sale to amateur umpires throught the ABUA website, I presume with the hopes of not only establishing a grass roots marketing platform to hopefully eventually turn a profit (hot dogs and apple pie, Baby!), but I also presume to get some initial real world feedback from the kind of discerning and thoughtful end-line consumers who take the time to participate on umpire forums. Cost? Plastic can be had anywhere for pennies. Kevlar and Unequal Technologies Kevlar in particular cannot. I have a strong suspicion that the response was greater than even they anticipated--and then they ran into some production problems and delays. Do I hope and anticipate that Mid-West Umpire will evaluate the chest protector in its blog (which I can't seem to log onto anymore) or as part of the annual UMPY process? You bet. Do any of them owe it to me? No. If you don't want to run the risk of purchasing a first version of this new product before it's been proven to be the greatest thing since canned beer, then don't. It's fine to be be cautiously optimistic or even cautiously pessimistic. Just not disrespectful. I believe some of us have been a little disrespectful. If a manager, player, or coach (by innuendo and off hand comment) criticized or disrespected an umpire the way Jim Evans and Force3 have been criticized in this thread, I bet most of you would say, "That's enough." And if it continued, you'd toss them (and feel a sense of satisfaction doing it). Just my 2 pennies for this Monday. I bought one. It's on the way. If it doesn't turn out to be what I hoped for, I'll certainly be disappointed. I look at it as a risk I took, and if I lose money, I'll figure it's just partial payback for all the cool videos and drills I was able to enjoy for a week in San Bernardino.

I ordered July 12th and got my tracking number today.

Wow. You give me pause. Because I'm a relatively newer umpire (with no documented concussions), I undoubtedly need to just focus as you say on tracking and calling the next pitch ("man up" as another said). I've never been hurt, so my flinches aren't rational. However, if I had two documented concussions in a year, and if I were as experienced as you surely are, I think I'd develop a quick lateral shift mechanic to use with high inside pitches (especially for youth ball where the little catcher might not be able to physically reach and get leather on the ball), never taking my eyes off the pitch. A moving camera for sure, but reducing the chances of a third concussion. The effects of concussions are cumulative. I've read where they've done PET scans on multiple consussed brains, and you can apparently see all the small areas of calcification where the brain was previously bruised years after the fact.

Why stop with just Team Wendy's pads under the sternum? I'm fixing to customize mine with one of those inflatable Sumo suits. No reason we should be taking any chances!

Also, Trout78, thanks for the "up and back" suggestion when you have to fight for the slot. That's an awesome idea. When the batter crowds the plate (or holds his hands high over the plate so he blocks the pitcher's release point if I'm standing in the slot), and/or when the catcher sets up inside, my inclination was always to squat further (probably having my chin below the top of the catcher's helmet), and to move more behind the catcher (and obviously more in line with where most hard fouls go). I'd get to see more of the pitch, but I'd also lose it as it crossed the plate. That's an awesome suggestion. This forum is like a great pre- pre-season mechanics clinic. Thanks. I will most definitely remember that one.

Thanks. All great ideas. Instead of thinking and concentrating on not flinching, maybe I should concentrate on not concentrating on it. It does make some sense in a twisted way. An experienced umpire mentor I admire gave me a "swing thought" this Spring to help me better track the pitch all the way in to the mitt (or my mask): "PROVE TO ME YOU'RE NOT A STRIKE!!" And because that pitch was never completely done trying to disprove itself till after it had past the plate, my tracking improved immensely--as did my timing--and by the time I recognized it was a mask-banger, it was basically too late to even close my eyes. It was always after a hard clonking that I had the problems. Maybe I just need to concentrate on getting back to that focussed swing thought every time I'm hit--because now that you've chimed in, I have a hunch that my "swing thoughts" afterwards were probably: "I hope I don't get hit again." As far as the slot goes, I do a pretty good job of staying in the slot--it's those high inside pitches that even the batter bails on that tend to tag me

I always try to pick at least one thing each game to work on. One thing I also invariably find myself having to to work on almost every game is overcoming the "flinches" for the next couple of innings after getting hit in the face. I figured out if I wear yellow shooting glasses in the Spring, I'm immune to mud balls (grit in the eyes encourages flinches). But it's that shot to the mask (even if it doesn't hurt) that I struggle to overcome for the next couple of innings. I'll either close my eyes on balls approaching my face, or even start to instinctively bail (which obviously could expose the side of my face to impact and/or cause me to miss a late swing at a high pitch or or even a struck batter or catcher's interference). I realized it was a big deal after a subsequent pitch came high and inside toward my face, my sub-conscious mind closed my eyes as the ball reached the batter, he swung at the high pitch, and I didn't see him swing at all--went to my partner and got the call right, but obviously that's not ideal plate mechanics (and was kind of embarrassing). After being hit, I've tried consciously keeping my eyes extra wide open, and telling myself I'm going to track any subsequent high inside pitch right into my mask again and trust that leather will fly up at the last instant and save me, and that "swing thought" does help. But sometimes it's like my subconscious mind has an overpowering will of its own. Now I do 60' and 90' LL, so I get hit a lot. I'm just wondering if any of you much more experienced umpires have come up with tricks that have helped you overcome the flinches mid-game after being clonked in the face. Usually after a couple of innings I can get over it again. But it's still a skill that I most certainly need to get better at. Thanks if you have any suggestions that have worked for you. Michael Smith Salem, Oregon

And, I suppose one could even stick a Wendy's pad under the sternum of the Unequal protector in the event there was concern about having adequate protection of the heart--wouldn't change the profile of the protector by much I'd think.

I apologize for this somewhat "off topic" inquiry, but in the pages above several members have referenced Team Wendy replacement pads for a chest protector. I've got them in my Diamond light weight mask, and they've been awesome (because they're stiff, they permit me to wear my mask even looser than I could before with my Wilson leather wrap arounds--and thus not only do they absorb impact, they also encourage the mask to spin away when impacted which also helped my grey matter this past season). While I've already ordered a Unequal protector, my biggest complaint with my Platinum is not that it makes me look like Mean Joe Green--which I kinda like, actually--but rather my lower ribs on the sides are only covered by a very soft nylon covered foam, and I've taken a rib bruising even at Little League level that took weeks to heal). Team Wendy's replacement pad could theoretically ameliorate the lower rib exposure on my Platinum--i.e. make it less of a potential problem--but I couldn't find them anywhere on line. One website has some "Wendy's replacement pads" for like $56 that look like they are kind of a cut and paste sort of thing. Is that what you guys are referring to? Others have referenced a set of Wendy's pads that cost $115. Where have you seen the Wendy's replacement pads for chest protectors??

A year ago, I bought a Honig's velcro lower extension (designed for their Zero Gravity). My thought was that I'd put adhesive velcro on the bottom inside of my Platinum, attach the Honig's extension, and then I'd get complete rib protection on the lower sides (my Platinum only covers my lower outside two ribs with foam, and a bruised rib from a Little Leaguer took weeks to heal). Problem was the Honig's extension only extended protection in the lower middle, and my ribs were still just covered by foam--I returned the extension. Now I just tuck my outside arm in and in front of me--no more rib shots, although my forearm and top of my hand get whacked a couple times per season. Please let us know if you fashion an extension and how it works.

"I was not touched in my plate game last night." Wow, I'd think the Kharma of the vest alone might be worth the money. Can't remember the last time, if ever, I was not touched (and pretty gosh darn hard) behind the plate during a game--testing the limits of my Diamond/Wendy's mask and Platinum vest. My suspicion is that this new vest might have some mighty powerful radiant energy that pushed and guided all those balls around it and you. I'd easily pay $279 for a vest that kept me from getting hit at all!! 'Course, maybe it's that I do 60' and 90' Little League where everyone and their little brother gets a shot at being Johnny Bench, and perhaps you're doing a little higher level of ball. But hopefully that's not it at all, and the vest actually does have radiant repulsive energy that shields the wearer. My check's in the mail at just the mere possibility. Actually, my check was in the mail at the end of July at the mere possibility :-)

Force3 indicates that the new chest protector is made entirely of "Dead Stop" (see unequal technologies website), whereas the prototype in the Jim Evans video was not. I'm looking forward to geting mine and giving it a test during Fall ball (Lord knows I'll be hit more than once during youth Fall ball where just about everyone--and their little brother--who has ever wanted to be Johnny Bench gets a shot at gearing up behind the plate--in fact I'm not adverse to using a baloon protector a time or two in the Fall if I start to get the "flinches" after being pummelled repeatedly). If the sternum protection is too light, I figure I can add/retrofit an additional Dead Stop or Egis sternum plate, but am hopeful that won't be necessary. I could always use any extra for a forearm guard (or send any unused chunk on to you guys for the same--it looks like Unequal sells the plates--although I might need a machine shop to cut the stuff). What I like about the Force3 design is that it extends lower and wider than my Platinum, a protector I love but the Platinum also leaves my lower most ribs on the sides covered only by foam. The Force3 looks like it will cover the entire rib cage of long torso-ed guys like me with Dead Stop plates.

Here's my cooling devices--two of them. Fill with ice in the morning, keep refilling with water throughout the day, and you'll still have ice water after the 3rd game in the afternoon as long as you keep them out of the sun. $19.99 apiece. Go with the polished or regular steel--the colored "enamel" on the others will eventually scratch to show metal anyway. A great Texas company--and hands down the best insulated water bottles I've used. http://www.thinksportbottles.com/products.html