FearNot

Good luck dude

Good luck bro

I rang up a guy on a 2-2 count on 2 outs in the 2nd inning with a big punch out. The batter and fielders started towards their dug outs before my mistake was caught. Everybody got set for the next pitch after a big chuckle. Then the Baseball Gods spoke and they got me good! Next pitch was a foul ball to my thumb which dislocated it! I said "Oh man" then the catcher ask me if I looked at my thumb which I didn't want to look at it. He started walking out to the pitcher to give me a break but I told him to come back. Next pitch was a swinging strike. Thank God! The coaches and my partner thought I should've gone to the E.R.. It did look nasty with my thumb knuckle way out of place. I ask my partner if he and I could switch to finish the game, which we did. I pulled my thumb in place will switching gear. I finished the game on the bases with out another mishap. I think I could of blown a call without the coaches complaining. Yeah.. I screw up now and then!!

I retired my HSM's after 16 years of use after several shots to my TW rig without my ears ringing and sore jaw. I ask myself why I didn't switch back sooner and I feel safer! Those shots to the top of the HSM grill only have a 1/2" padding on your forehead. They seemed to rattle my brain the most. Bottom line is that it's your choice and it's great there are choices!

I also have the Jim Evans Balk DVD and I agree with grayhawks reply. First base is truly the only one I will call if the fielder is positioned as if a fielder without a runner on would and the ball is thrown directly at him. In other words the fielder does not move from his fielding positioning and looks like there truly wasn't a play on.

I switched from using a HSM for 16 years back to trad mask this year. Weight & heat were the top reasons for the switch, after the first shot without my ears ringing and my jaw hurting. I told myself I should have done this sooner. I went to a HSM for better coverage & protection years ago but last summers heat had me thinking I needed to change. I feel the protection on my mask is better on front shots. The padding on a HSM is no where near as thick as my TW's. I'm sure whenever I take a backstop shot to the back of my head I will bitch at myself for switching!

The harness will not work on WV Gold. I'm a big guy and the straps need to be 8" longer for it work correctly. I bought it from UA but never returned it. They have it listed as it would fit, maybe if I was 150#, maybe.

It took an 1 1/2 innings for me to find out if I like my iX3 with tan TW's. I took a foul ball heater almost straight on. My first thought was wow, the 2nd I thought was that my ears where not ringing like my HSM did to me. It barely made any noise I fixed my mask and kept rockin!

You tried bro, let him keep sailing his own course. Some people can not simply be helped.

Truth is... He's an umpire making a call. I'm sure would take a pair of poly-wools and a pair of new NB plate shoes along with new shin guards. But he's doing the job with what he got. He does have a good CP on! I wore shin guards over jeans over 15 years ago when I got ask out of the crowd, because they needed an umpire. I did it & loved it! He's still a brother, right?

Great video of a great play! It gets you into the moment! Good job on the plate.

Yikes..I feel offended!

I think he must take a mongo for sure! I just smile back with approval. The Nutty Buddy strikes again!

It seems your league is getting themselves out of some form of liability and dumping it on you. Very sneaky!

I think they are referring to not tossing the coach on a quick thought. At a recent clinic I attended they covered a similar topic. They talked about giving the coach a little bit of rope to hang himself by letting him act a little bit nuts and you keep your cool. This lets everyone see that your not a RedA$$ along with you tried to not toss the clown but he was acting like a clown! Don't get me wrong, he doesn't always get "A little bit of rope to hang himself." if his actions are of the wall, send the Rat on his way. Best thing to be know as is, He's a nice guy but don't piss him off!

Bad can of worms all around. Mistakes were made by all involved. The most important part is to have a short term memory and quit dwelling on it. Next important thing is to work on mechanics. Everyone of us on here has screwed up and will screw up again. Strive to get better Brother...that's what we do!

My Rawlings HSM weighs in at 2# 8.3oz. in case anyone cared.

My new Diamond iX3 Mask along with my Rawlings HSM which is the 3rd one I have owned, it was tough thinking out of the box on a new mask. I weighed the stock iX3 before I added & changed things: iX3 with stock pads: 17.6 oz. iX3 without pads: 13.7 oz. Stock pads : 3.9 oz. TW's: 5.1 oz. Diamond Sun Shield: 1.1 oz. Champro Vented 4.5" Throat Guard = 2.3 oz. Champro Vented 6.5" Throat Guard = 3.0 oz. iX3, Tan TW's, Diamond Visor, 4.5" Champro TG = 1# 6.4 oz. or 22.4 oz. I went with the 4.5" TG mounted on the bottom of the mask after trying the 4.5" & 6.5" at different mounting points. I did this while wearing my WV Gold to try different ideas. This mount option worked the best for me as I'm a very big chested guy and wearing a WV makes me a bigger chested guy! I wear my CP high and tight but I could sneak a baseball between the mask & CP without a TG. The 6.5" was almost long enough that I could have been safe if I forgot my Nutty Buddy!

My Dad is 68 and his favorite line has been..... Getting old sucks!. Hope things go easy for you and that you stay involved.

Congrats on your success. It's great to hear about your quick turn in your health

I ordered mine on a few days ago from Amazon. A great old friend recommended the read after a discussion of a recent rules interp. meeting controversy. Waiting for the brown truck to drop it off!

Is there a vendor that sells masks with TW's as a package?

Go with the gold and don't look back

Thanks for the link

Yikes! That would burn me out real quick if I had to deal clowns like that.