MadMax

Alright, here's the pitch... (Yes, groan, what a pun)... I pick up on trends and quirks pretty quick, and after only a night or two at CDP, I noticed that several of the guys were A) trying to catch a nap whenever possible and B) were trying several different methods of establishing a degree of privacy and darkness around their bunk. Sheets were often the tool of choice, and my arsenal of zip-ties, carabiners and duct-tape quickly got "loaned" (I suppose you never loan duct tape, you give it) and eviscerated. As I've mentioned in other posts, I'm an Env Designer & IT Pro by trade, so I usually carry that stuff with me everywhere. But being the new guy on campus, I got put on "the island" – the bunk on its own in the middle of the floor, yes. Now, being a farm kid, and having spent a long undergrad working around computers, I can honestly sleep _anywhere_. You military guys can definitely relate (or surpass me). The traffic around my bunk didn't perturb me, but I can definitely understand why my fellow umpires didn't want The Island, and were sticking up sheets whenever they could... The noise and lights were obnoxious. So, promptly upon coming home, I set to figuring out a solution, and I think I came up with something... I present to you, The ShutOut ®. I'll post pictures as soon as the first one is completed (any day now... It's being stitched as I type this), but it is a kit comprised of 4 panels of (washable! opaque!) upholstery fabric with D-rings stitched onto the top edge, and straps (included) to hold these panels up over the top (unused) bunk deck conveniently and securely. Thicker than bed sheets, so very little light filters through, but still breathable and certainly removable and washable. The two long panels do have some ribbon loops stitched inside so you can hook your watch, mobile phone, and/or alarm clock to them. I'm taking orders for them now. The first one is getting photographed here, and then sent to CDP for Boddie (if any of you guys know Boddie) to use for Week 1. If you want to stop by and see it, and then order, just contact me. Otherwise, if you're interested just off my pitch here alone, please contact me. I'll be coming up Week 3, and if there are several requests now, I'll send/bring them up with me. Otherwise, I'll have to have them sent from my fabricator here (in Wisconsin) to CDP as the orders are made. There is a cost to it, which I will disclose in PM's. Yes, we do have (limited) color options – black, navy, charcoal, dark tan.

I'm on for Week 4, but since I have Flex time and vacation time to cash in, and everyone in my family will be cooing over my brother & SisIL's baby (she's due top of June), no one will miss me if I turn it in to 4 weeks. Thus, I'm looking at Weeks 3, 5 and 6. I heard from my crew mates from last year that only one (out of six) other will be able to make it – one of the guys, we just heard, had a relapse of cancer, and while he's still walking and breathing, can't travel. I'll be taking up shack with Boddie and Jesse (someone poke Dom! He's snoring again!) once again... Gotta keep the hijinks rollin'! If anyone comes anywhere near my arsenal of Febreeze, and jacks it _this_ year, I'll find you and towel-whip you.

Indeed, Smitty makes Grey, and it's my favorite to wear. I've got two of them in case it's a roaster out, and my partner only has Navy (grrrrrrrr... ). I recently noticed that West Coast Umpire's Apparel is offering a Grey as part of their lineup. I found them on eBay, and they cost less than Smitty shirts. I saw that they have Grey, but I did order Pink... And it's pretty decent quality. WCUA XL = Smitty L (current cut) Did I mention I hate Navy? And that I'm considering locating the New Umpire Orientation guy and gagging him?

Did this idea (digi-camo umpire shirts) die on the vine? With Memorial Day coming up, and a Memorial Day Weekend Tournament staring at me (13 games in 4 days, at least), I would _love_ to have (had) this shirt, or something like it, to use. Stars-N-Bars looks too garish, and Woodland camo just doesn't look right... But digi-camo? Done well? Oh heck yes.

After a five-game grinder, I must have left my UA-brand triangle (it was nice, don't get me wrong) in the restroom as I was de-gearing for the ride home. So, instead of rushing over to a Sports Authority or Dick's (... yeah, how appropriate a pun, huh?) to get another one, I chose to order in a NB directly from Battle. I already had the sliders w/ pouch, so I just needed the item itself, nothing else (thus why I didn't order from Honig's). I then proceeded to work as field ump for the next 4 days (one rainout! Whew! I mean, Drat!) while it arrived, and after 6 games with it, I'm sold (kinda can't return it anyway). Battle is using some kind of polycarbonate for the construct of this thing rather than InjMP or PVC. Or maybe it is a heavy grade PVC and I have my materials expertise wrong. Anyway, it is noticeably more substantial than the other brands (UA, Bike, Adams, et.al.). As you can see on the images, though, it's the shape that matters. It sits in a more natural spot, and doesn't drift around between crouch and standing positions. I haven't taken a shot with it yet, but I did have a whistler through my legs the other day, and the catcher last night had a rather loud cup-check, and those instances gave me pause and reflection...

Ah, a perfect time for my photographic memory of seemingly useless knowledge... http://www.fifthregionofficials.com/umpire-face-mask Fifth Region has two masks offered as just-the-frame, and one is a silver Diamond DFM-iX3 at approx $45. {ed. They also have the black DFM-iX3, and the Honig's FM-K4 ProLine in black, navy or silver at $39} Wish I had found this spot last year, as it would have saved me some $, and I wouldn't have these crap stock-Diamond pads in my trunk.

Like most others, I have the Powder Blue (also called Columbia Blue) shirt w/ white and navy stripe. I'd like to get another, and then was puzzled to find a new shade of blue... Slightly darker Carolina Blue w/ black trim. Right next to it, the Columbia Blue w/ black trim. There's also the Powder (Columbia) Blue w/ white and red trim, but I've been told that's a softball color, and a faux pas to wear (as in, don't). Lastly, there's the new MLB pattern, of all Powder blue (with vertical black piping). Which should I be buying? Would a difference between Carolina and Columbia -blue be that noticeable on-field in youth baseball? Is it totally faux pas to wear the MLB pattern if your partner(s) isn't (aren't)? Is it faux pas to wear MLB pattern if you're not an MLB umpire umpiring less-than-MLB games? The fishbowl for this would be someplace like CDP, where I realize someone always has an opinion on something, but I just want to reduce the (possibility of) snide remarks.

These coaches come unglued because of the money involved. Our instance was during a weekend U13/U14 tournament with a $XXX entry fee (I will only describe it as steep), and the assembled teams were from pretty significant distances for a 8:00AM first pitch, which adds to the angst. Third game into the day for us, and my partner and I have been passing the between-game intervals with scenarios and battle-stories, and the whole specter of "the silent (or unheard) call". Batting team has been having problems all day (we did their 8:00AM game too) in advancing base runners, leading to a frustratingly high H and BB number but a very (and losing) low R quantity. Their kids just seemed to be station-to-station runners. They get BR's on 1B and 2B, nobody out, for the third time this game, and the 3BC (who is the head coach) is already starting to pace like a tiger in his box. To give you one more nugget of info, they hadn't scored on those two previous situations, and they're down by 2. I'm in C position, behind the SS (at his request), able to see everything I need to. My partner and I, at the start of the AB, affirm via signal to remind of infield fly. Fourth pitch in and a silo shot goes up... No question this is an IF, right at the F3, 2-3 steps off the bag towards the mound. I bellow "Infield Fly!", make the gesture, and point at the batter to indicate he is out. A shade later, my partner does the same, but he is jogging up the line telling the batter he is out. With everything in motion, I come into the infield, and wouldn't you know it, F3 is wearing handcuffs and muffs the catch. Cue the Circus Fire Drill. Runners are running everywhere... Fielders are running everywhere. At some point, the SS ends up with the ball and has the TBR _dead to rights_ in the 1B-2B base path, and inexplicably doesn't tag him, instead turning his body to throw to his C at home to prevent the LBR from scoring. In the ensuing rundown there, the LBR ends up safely at 3B, in a heap with his 3BC having an aneurysm. TBR is standing, with a goofy grin on his face, on 2B. Batter is standing on 1B, talking with the F3 about who-knows-what (the F3 was the only one who didn't participate in the rundown... I'm not kidding. F7-F9 all joined in). With everything now settled, I call time to allow my partner to get his mask back on and give everybody a chance to re-focus. I then state, "Infield fly was called, batter (pointing again towards 1B) is out." To the credit of the 3BC, he did not use an expletive and read me the riot act (for which I would have tossed him), but he sure did crack the cover by starting with a "What the...?! You never called it!!!" And storming right up to the chalk on the line. I replied that yes, we did call it, and that probably everybody in the stands heard it. My partner then interjected that he too called it, albeit only loud enough for the ODH to hear. The batter had, in fact, even resigned himself to his being out, but because F3 had dropped it, thought that something had changed and had stood on first base, where a talk with the stunned F3 about something on MTV's Ridiculousness or Miley Cyrus being hot was in order. 3BC kept fuming, turning five shades of red, and I end it with, "Runners safe on second and third... So what's the problem?" Ball back in play, KO, ground out, inning over. Talking about it later, we just settled on... Some people just experience sudden hearing loss, and really should see a doctor.

@midtnump - It wasn't that the stock All-Star pads were _bad_, it's that the Team Wendy's were that much better, and were tan. I actually ordered a FM4000 in Navy, which came with Navy pads and a for-helmet harness (and it cost less than the FM4000UMP), and changed out those parts myself. I'm keeping the Navy pads and harness in my bag just in case I find myself in a situation to catch one more time... I'm selling my heavy Rawlings PWMX from my (long ago) summer in Single-A, and this All-Star will suffice. The stock pads for the Diamond DFM-iX3 are a different story... Burn those, and then scatter the ashes across a great distance, preferably several counties at least. @boyinr - Isn't that FM4000 a nifty mask? It's got some character to it.

Uniforms (Shirts) - You will be issued two CDP Navy shirts, and we are required to wear them for Bracket games starting on Wednesday. That leaves Sunday, Monday and Tuesday to wear any colors we wish _provided_ you match amongst your crew. You start to see who the invested umpires are because all the obscure, elaborate colors start coming out. I'm buying pink and vintage (cream) shirts for that reason! It's all about having fun while honoring the game. Long-sleeve shirts (optional) - if you're the type that gets cold easily, or sunburns easily, or is loaded with tattoos, I would recommend getting a long-sleeved umpire shirt or two. Start with Navy or Powder, and perhaps get a Black. One of the senior CDP staff does _not like_ long-sleeved undershirts under a short-sleeved umpire shirt. Jackets - You are provided a Navy CDP jacket. If it gets cold or mists, we usually default to this to wear, but most of the veteren, invested umpires haul out their Black jackets. I'm getting a Black jacket. Undershirts - You are provided a Navy CDP t-shirt, but this is hardly a wicking undershirt. Besides this, there are varying strong opinions regarding what colors are appropriate for undershirts. Most of it hinges around the color of the umpire shirt vs. the color of the outer stripe on the collar. If it's black, you _should_ wear black. If it's navy, you wear navy. On a Navy umpire shirt, the outer stripe is red... which is where the discussion really heats up, because there's a club or cadre of umpires who dub themselves The Dreamcrushers, and their identification mark is that red undershirt showin' loud and proud. I have all the basics... black, red, navy, charcoal grey... Just don't wear white or some blinding color like Nike Volt. Have several, because you want to be seen and heard, not smelled. Pants - the trend is leaning more and more to charcoal pants instead of heather. I did all of CDP last year with heathers, and didn't catch too much grief... But I did get two charcoals for this year, and will be bringing all 3. You will spend a good amount of time in em, and I recommend Combos at least. You don't want to look like a pine cone in a sausage casing, and while most fellow umpires will loan out their shirts, there are very very few that will loan out pants. Protective Wear - this will never be loaned out. Make sure you have this, and I'd say have two supporters. CDP is a learning experience, and it's learning by showcasing... You're on the main stage, and it would be a shame to not get to call B's and K's because your supporter is trapped in the laundry. Hats - as another posted, bring some hats because the issued CDP one is crap, is a standard-bill, and is going to be needed for parades and final games. You'll want a black hat with standard bill, and a black hat and a navy hat with short bill. Some guys do hat exchanges, so if you have some hats from your home association, bring 'em. Shoes - Personally, I don't wear plate shoes (catcher for 15 years, and I play soccer and hockey... My feet have gotten numb to it), but the guys that do are _adamant_ about keeping them clean. Your shoes should be black, primarily, and kept clean. Bring shoe cleaner and/or polish. Static guard and Scrubbing Bubbles work magically, trust us. Last year, I was nursing a bruised heel from a soccer tournament a week before, and so wore charcoal-grey, leather (CDP clay will _kill_ fabric or synthetic -based shoes) Nike Air Max trainers, which really cushioned my feet, but I got some snide remarks from the fellows. You'll also want a pair of day-to-day shoes, and a pair of Sandals or Crocs -- going barefoot is forbidden, end of discussion. Other clothing - Swim trunks aren't a bad idea, considering that while we do have our own bathroom building, we have to walk to it. And while it is supposed to be summer, a cold front may roll in and you might find yourself wanting a knit hat and some lite-duty gloves, so consider it. Towels - bring 2, even if they're beaters. The laundry service is wonderful, but they might be doing your one when you get off a 2-hour sticky and really need a shower. Bedding - CDP recommends sleeping bags, but they do have mattresses on our bunks, so a set of cheap (Wal-Mart, Target, Costco) sheets will do just fine, and a blanket. I got this synthetic-fill comforter from Wal-Mart for $22... I'm going to sleep on top of it when warm and get under it when cold. Easy to wash, and if it gets shredded or wrecked, I'll just leave it behind. See my posting below regarding The Bunk Booth. A flashlight - Upon penalty of curses, bodily harm and possible death, DO NOT turn those bunkhouse lights on. A charger for your phone - I'm serious... Triple check. I was one of the most sought after guys for my week not only because I brought an iPhone charger, but because I am an IT professional, I brought several with me. Sunglasses - Some days are sheer blinders. Besides, wear some really snazzy ones, and you'll have compliments from every 12 year old in the park. Pin Rolls, A favorite glove, etc. - Remember, you are attending the Birthplace of Baseball -- enjoy it, but don't go overboard. Don't be surprised if you see baseball (or other sports, like football or NASCAR) royalty there in support of their kids. Don't glam-cling, but if you want to exchange a pin or patch, or get your glove autographed, go for it. There are supermarkets and stores off-campus for other necessities as they arise.

Built in AC? There are the special beads in the CP that actually cool you. It works! I'll second that sentiment. The Brock Beads, as a secondary benefit to their primary role of energy dissipation, actually do promote airflow and contribute to the exceptionally light / lite feel of the CP. With BigUmpire's insight, now I really want to try out the AiRFlex CP2. Too bad Schutt doesn't do a trade-in option. I'm actually considering taking my AiRFlex CP1 to an equipment re-conditioner and have them custom attach some additional straps (in other words, make a new harness) for it to get those shoulders to curve, and stay curved.

Since I wore the originator of the "HSM" as a goalie in hockey, I'll contribute my take on them... I will not, nor ever, wear one for umpiring. That is my preference, so I will go on record to say I'll never dissuade a fellow umpire from obtaining and wearing one. However, one should read/hear about their characteristics and integrate them into their decision process. The advantages they have is that when you're wearing one, it's on (there's no grey area, or improper position on the face, or being knocked off) -- there is a degree of comfort in that. They do offer flank / side / top protection rather well, and a degree of rear protection that a mask-and-hat just cannot. This is especially beneficial on the batter's backswing, or a released bat, or a shattered bat (when in use in appropriate leagues), or a foul ball bouncing off that backstop fence that is way too close for comfort (you know the kind... the fencing that you can scratch your back on between pitches). Or, even more insidious and tragic, when that catcher retrieving a wild pitch just blindly throws it back towards the diamond and beans the umpire. Some have claimed that there's a better field of view with a HSM over a TM (traditional mask), but I don't "see" it... In order to really benefit on greater peripheral vision when I was playing hockey, I'd have to have my face pressed up as close as possible to the eye cage, but that introduced one of the greatest detriments of the HSM... it's called "standoff distance". That's the problem with a HSM... it is completely dependent upon its shape when an object hits it. It is prow-shaped for a reason, especially in hockey, so as to deflect that impacting object past the point of impact on a vector. Any energy taken by the mask is supposed to dissipate along the entire structure of the mask, but because the standoff distance between the mask and your head is much shorter than a TM, you do take some of it. Where it really makes a difference is when you take an object straight dead-on. That energy has nowhere to go but to continue on the vector it was travelling... which in the case of the HSM, across that very brief standoff space and right into your skull (or, typically, your jaw). In hockey, goalies typically have the ability to "see it coming" and prepare for a puck-shot to the head. As goalies, we're taught to "hunker down" and drop our chin, and try to take the puck off the crown... which is where the greatest standoff distance is. I've taken shots off the mask... the "most memorable" ones are those that hit someone out front (stick or body) and change direction, but that does aid our survivability because some energy is lost on that redirection (especially if it hits a body or a limp stick). This isn't the case with foul balls. There is absolutely no way that you can "see it coming" and anticipate where that foul-off is going to hit you. Thus, that TM, with its more voluminous padding and greater standoff distance is better protection for a ball (thrown or batted) to the face. I emphasize "face" because that's going to be your weigh-off decision... Whether you have a greater concern for protection from objects in front of you or for objects to your peripheral (bats on the backswing, et.al.). From my experience, I couldn't wait to get into an open-ear TM and half-helmet as a catcher. Full-ear helmets were hot, and tore up my ears every time I had to take the mask off (which for a few of my youth pitchers was often). I got really good at being a serviceable catcher even with the mask on (pop-ups, action plays, etc.), much to the chagrin of my coaches ("Take the mask off on a pop-up!" "But coach! I caught it, didn't I?! I saw it the whole time!"). It might be a contributing factor to my success as a wide receiver in football and as a goalie in hockey... I could pick up the ball/puck just fine through the bars. Tuned my eye-hand coordination really well. I can absolutely see why, though, youth and school leagues heavily enforce the HSM for kids. In the brief season we've had so far, I've already had to attend to four catchers hit in the head by bats on the backswing or thrown by an overeager hitter. Each of those shots were the bat hitting the side of the HSM, right where the ear is. When I was a high-school age club catcher, I took a bat to the head that knocked me clean out. I was wearing an open-ear TM and a brimmed helmet turned backwards... and the very inexperienced batter swung at a ball low and away that I (mistakenly, I realize that now) lunged at to scoop, and the bat caught me on the downswing right in the side of the head. Broke the helmet and I woke up in the ambulance. By God's good graces I still have all my marbles, and a HSM wouldn't have mattered. Youth and school leagues heavily enforce HSM use because what is a concussion? A head injury. What's a bat to the ear? A head injury. And liability insurance is all about reducing (they'd like eliminating, of course) all head injuries. It doesn't matter to them that a TM reduces concussions, it matters to them that a TM doesn't reduce head injuries. So, after all that said, as some of the other guys mentioned, there are HSM's from Wilson, Easton, All-Star, Schutt, Diamond and Rawlings. The All-Star ones are the most recognizeable, as they seem to be the brand-of-choice for those MLB catchers that wear them (Buster Posey, Martin Moldanado, etc.) Yadier Molina has a signature line of pads with Rawlings, and thus wears a Rawlings HSM. If you look at the All-Star, Rawlings, Schutt and Diamond models, they all look remarkably similar (differences in cage layout), and that's probably for very good reason. Easton's models are similar, but I've always seen them as narrower than everyone else's. Lastly, you have the Wilson, and in classic Wilson form, they look like no-one else's, and have this weird, bushido-warrior fencing mask appearance that I find, frankly, revolting.

My calls are still plenty loud, but my chatter to the catcher and batter are noticeably reduced. I won't say muffled, per-say, because they can still distinguish what I say, but even I noticed it's like someone turned down the volume knob on my vocal cords. I'm starting to realize that it may even be a benefit, considering there is information that I relay to the catcher and batter purposely, and in the past, wasn't too keen on everyone in the dugouts hearing it. When I wear my other mask (Diamond DFM-iX3 w/ MacGregor doeskins), my voice projects really well. I was hesitant to get the Team Wendy's when I read that it's a microfiber surface, and not leather. I typically sport the "playoffs stubble beard" for weeknight games, and then shave it off for church Sunday morning (and voila, it's back by Monday afternoon), mostly because leather pads on a cleanly-shaven face will cause a break-out. But, other microfiber pads will either snag my stubble, or be retainers of dust and bacteria (which cause and fuel the breakouts), and are more difficult to keep clean day-to-day. I actually keep a bin of Anti-germ / anti-microbial wipes in my bag to wipe down my masks before and after games. The Team Wendy pads do not snag my beard stubble whatsoever. My MacGregor doeskins have been holding up well, but I'm awfully tempted to get another set of Team Wendy pads to put on the black wireframe mask. They would be tans again, unless Team Wendy has inspiration to make alternate colors (silver/grey! So make it so!... or perhaps a Charcoal to match our pants?) -- I'm not a fan of black-on-black.

For games wherein I wear Navy (boring!), Powder Blue, Red or White (anything with Navy trim)... I have an All-Star FM4000 w/ Tan Team Wendy pads and a Honig's navy harness... For games wherein I wear Black, Grey, Vintage (Cream), Pink or MLB Powder (anything with Black trim)... I have a Diamond DFM-iX3 w/ tan MacGregor doeskin pads and the standard Diamond harness... I can already tell I'll need to send the FM4000 to Mask-It (per you guys' advice) at the end of the season. The mask has performed splendidly, but a smart foul-ball does leave a tarnish scar on the rather flimsy paint job. A U14 catcher was using one the other day, and his is so beat up, it looks like dull plastic. Then again, he throws his mask on every action play.

I have the original AiR Flex CP, and got it because it's a Schutt; I used a Schutt AiR helmet and shoulder pads through all four years of high school football and got some intense brand loyalty. This CP has been used on a few community college -level games (and of course many many below this), and I feel dramatically more secure with this over the soft vest I had before (an All-Star one). You're right on the "linebacker" look (someone mentioned it on the AiR Flex V1's thread)... it's overly roomy in the shoulders, and I'm not too keen on it, given that I wore their shoulder pads in football because they were low-profile, which is all I needed as a wide receiver / free safety. Although, it does give me that imposing behind-the-plate-figure. Schutt's second version (AiR Flex CP2, the one at the top of the thread) evidently has an abdomen extension, which would be a nice consideration on someone like myself who is 6'2" and often umpires U9-U10, where the catchers occasionally forget they're catchers. What I would like to see, more than anything, is some over-the-shoulder shaping in the understructure. I can't get the harness tight enough to hold the yoke down, and hold the curve of the shoulder caps over my shoulders (instead of in front of). Look at the photo itself, the CP just lends itself to becoming this "wall" that hangs on you, and while the torso gets nicely form fitting, the shoulders don't, and after a few innings, start to "rise up" on you, and soon it looks like you've got horns growing out of your shoulders. Now, this new version supposedly solves that, and I'm considering getting one to try out. Or, if someone from Schutt is reading this and we can work out a supply / outfitting arrangement. Don't get me wrong, I like it, and will wax poetic about it to my fellow umpires. I'll be headed to Cooperstown this summer, this time for a month, and I'll be showing this off to the guys (last year, all I had was that measley All-Star softie). Other brands aren't a consideration of mine any more (although there is a Champro that's rather attractive), but I would like to see Schutt progress this model. Diversity and choice are good things in the market.