CentralOhioUmp30

I'm offended with this, too. Won't affect me since 5:00 games (when HS starts) will no longer be an option, but nevertheless, that's weak.

Sure looked like the runner was upset that the fielder got the ball after the contact. Plus, hitting the left leg like that? Replay sure seems to suggest it was intentional.

Work in insurance sales. Unfortunately, for the time being my umpiring will take a back seat.

I belong to a very large HS association and there is one person who literally picked up umpiring after long break and within five years has worked a nearly full D2 schedule with the only breaks being eight varsity games so he is tournament eligible. He's in his 50s and just went down to Florida for his first time to work the winter collegiate games. He networked like crazy and went to any camp he could in the Midwest. He'll be D1 within a couple years and the only thing that sucks is that he won't have that long because of his age and the break he took. But it's absolutely possible to get there without umpire school. Basically it's network, be available and go to camps. Of course being a good umpire is a pre-requisite, but if you weren't one now, then you probably wouldn't be asking the question.

​Was just thinking this. Do we really want people like that reproducing?

Third game with the new pads and I suffered a concussion. In fairness, I don't know if there is a pad out there that can protect from a batter fouling a ball flush off the mask from a kid throwing 91. Just took a new job that won't allow me to umpire the rest of the year, but I still have a few games left and unfortunately I won't be calling balls and strikes anymore this year due to not being cleared.

Love them. And as @ElkOil mentioned, they clean up great.

The new set is MUCH softer than the old set. I'm just praying I don't need them to protect me tomorrow and Sunday!

​Just took a look at that article. I'm going to give it a try. Have a tournament this weekend and THREE games on Monday. Very nervous because I haven't worked THREE games for several years because of the pain. Probably going to take a cooler full of ice and put my feet in there between games to numb them.

Unless you have plantar fasciitis like me. Then the insoles really don't do much at all.

About two years. Maybe worked 50 or so games with them. As far as the washing is concerned, I can't imagine how much bacteria would be on the pads if I didn't wash them. Gross. And on some of the Team Wendy literature I received they stated how to wash them correctly and I followed those instructions. So something is obviously wrong with the pads and I'm glad they are getting me out a new set to fix the problem.

Team Wendy is going to send me a new pair on Monday. So I'll get them before next week's tournament. Very satisfied.

​Yep. Bought mine a few years ago based on recommendation from this board. Love the harness, too. Haven't been hit that much with it on, so that's worth the price of admission alone!

​Thanks, just did. Luckily, I don't have any games before a tournament next weekend, so hopefully this gets taken care of quickly.

About 65. Went and checked on the pads again today in 70+ and they were still pretty stiff.

Guys, Search feature wasn't working properly for me, so hopefully this hasn't been a previously discussed topic. Have been wearing Team Wendy pads for a year and I just wash them with my regular dark clothes and then air dry them. Yesterday before I started a game behind the plate I was feeling the lower pad and they were VERY hard. Really had to squeeze them to leave a mark. Anyone else have this issue before and if so, how did you correct it? Luckily I wasn't hit yesterday, but I imagine it would've been more painful than usual. Thanks guys.

Oh man. Not even close to the Helmet catch. You have Manning's jersey held by two different guys with another ready to give him a lick, he somehow escapes and then David Tyree completes the greatest NFL catch period in NFL history. Pats' guy made an incredible jump on the ball, but it pales in comparison to the Helmet Catch. You are right about one thing...it's not even close. If Giants didn't score later, few would remember the helmet catch. But they did score, so..... You seem to like being wrong a lot, ricka (see: NCAA Gladiator Playoff thread). Even a broken clock is right twice a day Should just agree with me so you can be right all the time. Right all the time? ...Like you were in this thread ? ... check out posts 13 and 19. yuk yuk yuk I said "Denver. Big" as in Denver would lose big. And post #19 couldn't have been more wrong. Everyone now knows that B1G offense > SEC athleticism.

Oh man. Not even close to the Helmet catch. You have Manning's jersey held by two different guys with another ready to give him a lick, he somehow escapes and then David Tyree completes the greatest NFL catch period in NFL history. Pats' guy made an incredible jump on the ball, but it pales in comparison to the Helmet Catch. You are right about one thing...it's not even close. If Giants didn't score later, few would remember the helmet catch. But they did score, so..... You seem to like being wrong a lot, ricka (see: NCAA Gladiator Playoff thread). Should just agree with me so you can be right all the time.

Oh man. Not even close to the Helmet catch. You have Manning's jersey held by two different guys with another ready to give him a lick, he somehow escapes and then David Tyree completes the greatest NFL catch period in NFL history. Pats' guy made an incredible jump on the ball, but it pales in comparison to the Helmet Catch.

Surprised the players' union wouldn't advocate for banning the shift. Lowers hitting statistics which can result in less money for hitters. Half kidding.

Don't like this idea. I do like two proposals I've heard so far: 1) Games starting basically immediately after commercial breaks. Love this idea. At the very least that would shave off 15-20 minutes of game time. 2) Make guys keep one foot in the box unless they take a swing. Might only take 5-10 minutes away from the game, but it's so annoying to watch some of these guys basically leave the dirt in-between pitches.

Yeah. College kids partying on campus after their team won the national title. What a bunch of thugs. *rolls eyes*

Trying to decide which of our three stud QBs will play for the defending national championship team in 2015. #BuckeyeNationProblems

Thank goodness the Buckeyes from The Ohio State University had that tune-up game against the SEC entry. If they wouldn't have had that bye week against the SEC-entry, they may have only won the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP by two TDs instead of three TDs @ricka56

I only know one umpire who has a visor, but he always wears sunglasses, so I don't know how much it really helps. I couldn't imagine wearing a visor though. But that's mainly because I have very sensitive eyes, so there's no way I could do any game effectively without complete UV protection.