MadMax

Photographic evidence?

Let’s look at this from outside the rulebooks, which @Stk004, @maven and @Richvee already illuminated... Why not go to a (your) BU partner on a check swing appeal? If you are one of these PUs that subscribe to the fallacy that a BU can only interpret / judge swings of a RHB from A (1BS) or a LHB from D (3BS), and cannot from B, or C for that matter, then you’re exhibiting prejudice and biased preconceptions. You’re also missing strikes. You are, like so many adult/professional hitters and coaches, trying to nitpick and quantify what constitutes a swing. Enough of that. If it’s judged to be a swing, then it’s a swing. There are plenty of times that you will need that accessory, available judgement from your BU, regardless of where he is positioned on the field. Say you have a HBP situation, where you (as PU) tracked the pitch so intensely into its impact on the batter’s thigh that you missed his contorting his upper body in a swing attempt. How about if the batter squares to bunt, holds the bat out there, and the pitch is missed by the catcher only to smack you in a vulnerable place? Are you not going to ask your partner if the batter did attempt at it or got his bat back, something you may not have noticed while your masked face is full of baseball? So if you go to your BU, standing in C, at one of those pitches, why is another time any different?

The Schutt XV and Champion P2xx are the budget-busters of their class. Hardshell, compact, and using advanced foam jackets to achieve equitable protection with minimal bulk. The Schutt is better ventilated, and is using the more advanced foam (called D3O), but comes with a wretched Y-yoke harness (hence why you need this mod inspired by some guy named MadMax; or, wait for or locate the Adams XV version), and is one-size fits most (13” tall), but does include an attachable 4” D3O extension. The Champion is available in three different torso lengths (P200 = 17”, P210 = 15”, P220 = 13”), and the harness, while simple and basic, is easily replaceable with a Flex -style harness (ULFH RayFlex, All-Star DeltaFlex, Force3 NewFlex). In regards to the masks, the Diamond iX3 family is top-notch. Diamond went all-in on aluminum, which is a tremendous benefit and value to amateur-level umpires. Only recently has Wilson wised up to this and is offering their iconic DynaLite planform in an aluminum version. Aluminum doesn’t bend, unless there is constant load applied to it in an unplanned direction. In the masks, the welds are more likely to break (pop) under a tremendous or sudden impact than for the bars to bend. Why is this advantageous to Wilson and Diamond? Because a bent mask is a customer service / warranty return issue, whether it be steel or titanium (which both do bend, albeit from differing load forces). And of course, aluminum is cheaper than titanium but just as light. Within the Diamond iX3 family, though, the only differences between the DFM-iX3, DFM-UMP, and DFM-UMP-BL are cosmetic – the frames are all the same. A semi-gloss paint job was applied to the DFM-iX3, while the BL version gets a matte black or clear anodized finish. The BL is the only one that has even remotely useable pads, as they are twice the volume (thickness) of the pathetic pads on the original iX3 and basic UMP. If, however, you are already considering advanced pads (and you should), such as Team Wendy’s or Wilson MemoryFoams, you can save yourself the premium price tag of the BL and get a “lesser” model and switch out the pads. Or, if this explanation just prompts you to snatch up a Wilson DynaLite Aluminum with MemoryFoam pads, go for it.

@Senor Azul (and others), let me interject a post in support of @maven‘s perspective. Here in Arizona, we have a constant cavalcade of tournament and league baseball for amateurs of all ages. In regards to verbal obstruction of the sort of the OP example given, in adult leagues (MSBL, NABA, etc) playing under OBR (with mods), this is a “tough luck, you should know better”. Where it gets grey and sticky is with teams with players between 12 and 18, playing tournaments every weekend wherein they are playing under OBR, Fed, or a hybrid of both (e.g. Fed pitching “allowances”, but OBR mound visits). These same teams are competing, weekend to weekend, under different rulesets. Of course, the core differences need to be adhered to, but in regards to verbal obstruction, say we have Team Reds versus Team Greens, comprised of high school kids who all attend area high schools. While they play Fed rules for sanctioned HS games, or a Fed -rules based tournament on a weekend, they are prohibited from verbally baiting or fake-tagging. Team Green gets a runner, Mikey, on first base, who attempts a steal of 2B. He arrives well before the throw, only to have the shyster shortstop, Ricky, tell him, “Foul ball, dude. Didn’t ya hear it?” Mikey, like any teenage kid, believes his peers more than adults, and starts to head back to 1B, only to get tagged by Ricky or his defensive teammates. Ha! What a dumbass to fall for that, that Mikey! But this sort of shenanigan is prohibited in Fed, and Mikey isn’t (or shouldn’t be) Out. And what are we told not to do as umpires (especially as Base Umpires)? Not to advise or coach the kids (ballplayers), nor to “overcall” (embellish or mechanic an otherwise obvious foul ball to the backstop, or a safe mechanic on an otherwise uncontested steal of a base). So are we going to then allow shysterism and shenanigans between Team Greens and Team Reds the following weekend tournament solely because its modified ruleset is based on OBR instead of the usual NFHS rules? In amateur baseball, we (as umpires) are fairly quick to shut down and negate a Base Coach (or a member of the OT bench) vocalizing “That’s a balk!” so as to unnerve (and prompt or cause) the teenage F1 into stopping his motion or stepping off improperly, thinking that one of the umpires declared it, regardless of it being OBR or Fed ruleset. Shenanigans like this are very unsporting and are not in the spirit of the amateur game; it shouldn’t require a specific ruleset to be employed and a five minute reading of a Sportsmanship Code at the plate meeting.

As long as your shin guards are low profile or tight(er) fitting, you’ll achieve a slim look as a PU by using Combos. Where it all goes wrong for combos on PU is when the shin guards are so “over the top” with double and triple knees, or far too bulky (e.g. Wilsons), or have these elaborate foot /toe guards creeping out the bottom (e.g. Wilsons, or standard catchers guards), which are completely unnecessary when you wear even an average set of plate shoes. I wore Combos for the first five years of my umpire career, teamed with All-Star LGU313’s, which are a very minimalist and low-profile set of guards. When I purchased my Force3 Ultimate Shinguards, I continued to use my Combos for 1.5 years until they faded, shrunk, and lost their professional look. When that happened, I purchased an actual Plate & Base set of Fechheimer polywools and have been tremendously pleased with them since. Recently, I did purchase the Smitty PolyDexes (again, in a Plate & Base set) and have them as a major part of my rotation. The Fechheimers are a very top-notch style, and lay quite well and complimenting for being pleated. The Combos I used for so long were Boombah -brand and flat front (Western cut), and I resisted getting another brand for so long because I hated how pleated pants were cut so unflattering. One of my advantages is that I’m tall with a very athletic build, and I did not like how pleated pants made me look (especially Smitty and other brands). Because of the material used in the Smitty PolyDexes, though, the pleat is not very pronounced or noticeable. The really interesting pant product is coming very rapidly on the horizon, though... from UnderArmour. Next year may bear witness to a paradigm shift for us in uniforms because UnderArmour will employ many of their forward-looking designs from golf and tennis into baseball (finally!).

Hollllly crrrrrrap! Not only did Adams eliminate the Y-yoke harness with the inclusion of D-rings at the shoulders, but... they also eliminated T-hooks in favor of side release buckles. Check the photo!

Waaaaaiiiitaminnnnnute... According to that photo, @wolfe_man, I spy a... D-ring on the trailing edge of the shoulder arch plate. Thus, that means no sewn-on Y-yoke harness, and no need for my MaXV modification! I don’t know whether to be relieved and jubilant, or saddened and slighted. ... and I don’t need any foo-foo bicep protectors.

Must-need info for new umpires: - How to find assigners, umpire directors, associations, or tournament directors. - How to talk with said persons, once found, and what sort of expectations should be considered. - How to construct and maintain an Umpire Resumé.

Not necessarily, @chadozee, but it may be possible. The website store lists them as "NA" or "Not Available", but if you were to click on just about any other product, you won't find an active store page for it. The entire webstore is likely down. Manufacturers will occasionally do this as they are mitigating costs and inventory. They often need to turn their inventory over, and will outlay them to third-party vendors (such as Ump Attire, Sports Unlimited, etc.) so as to get their ledgers back in line so they can order another production run. It doesn't mean that the planform is ending or being retired. I mean, look at Wilson's CP's... those haven't changed in over 15 years, and are still priced on their own website at $200+! Sure, the hope is they'll be updating the XV, with some design/planform adjustments... such as dropping that stupid poorly designed harness.

@Matt...

1st - Nothing good will come from a Facebook discussion group. Nothing. 2nd - Those arguing with you, in that Facebook group, are either antagonizing trolls... or idiots. 3rd - What are they telling you otherwise?

Ah, @65corvair, I see you're one of Paul's (TOC) best customers. The greatest challenge to variety (in umpire shirt colors) comes along two fronts. The first is a very valid perspective – we, as umpires, should be as inconspicuous as possible. Our mechanics, our vocalizations, our conduct and mannerisms, and our uniforms should remain standard and unembellished. And I like I said, it's a sound, logical, agreeable reason. The second one is more complex, but just boils down to stubborn-ness and laziness. State and local associations stubbornly hide behind the codified laziness of the NFHS Rulebook, which states that barring state or association directives, the umpire(s) shall wear a navy blue shirt. Guarded by this, there exists a type of guy who will vehemently refuse to buy anything new or updated. This even goes beyond frugal. As new officials are added to the ranks year-by-year, each governing or association body encounters the same conflict between the latest generation(s) and the entrenched vanguard – the "we want to dress for success, and wear modern styles the NFL/NBA/MLB/MLS employs" movement versus the "the uniform has been in place for 10 15 20 30 years, why change, just to look like those flashy guys on TV the pros?" codgers crowd. It would be fascinating to see what would happen if a major manufacturer like, say, Smitty was to discontinue production of all the "traditional" styles, across all sports (football, basketball, soccer, and baseball), and even offer the latest style at an extremely attractive price. I'm certain someone, somewhere would raise high hell. You know what's tragic? When you have that guy in the group who wears a navy (I'll be fair, "traditional" 2-stripe in powder, navy, etc.) shirt so old and faded, it's coming apart at the seams. It finally gives up the ghost, or his assigner says, "Clarence, why don't you get yourself a new shirt? This one has seen better games," while his fellow umpires are all around him in the common area or locker room, wearing their new 2010's and 2016's -style shirts in black or sky blue, and he shuffles off only to come back next weekend... with the exact same style shirt as the one that expired. Heard of this happening? I've witnessed it! With that said, I have the 2016 Panel shirts in Black and Sky Blue; the 2010 Single-stripe shirts in Black (2), Sky Blue (2), Bermuda Blue, Grey, Cream, Maroon, Black (with Pink trim), Olive Drab Green, Pink (for that lone Cancer Awareness Game, as I wear it in memorial of someone), and Navy (with red trim) and Red (with navy trim); a fairly new, "trial" style I call "Roughneck" (since it has a black collar) in Grey and White; the Camo style shirts (one of our Umpire Directors here in PHX really likes 'em) in Black Camo and Sky Camo (no, I will not get Woodland); and last-but-not-least, the Traditional Dual-stripe shirts in Black and Powder / Baby blue (yup, the ol' softball one... just in case). Yes, Corvair, it's only a matter of time before golf shirts and baseball umpire shirts will look near-identical. Back in 2015, we saw Majestic release a plain, all-black polo shirt that could easily fit in golf, tennis, or casual attire. Of course, it was cut longer so as to be tucked in over plate gear. Why'd they do this? Well, they wanted to introduce their newly revised, smooth CoolBase fabric, but they couldn't settle on a new design to put it into – the Panel -style shirts were still on the drawing board. So, they produced it in plain Black and... <ugh, groan> traditional Navy so as to get the (primarily State) associations to take an interest in what they were developing. Why the sudden concern? Why are umpire shirts going to get a radical shake up very soon, and will look more and more like golf shirts? Because UnderArmour is looming ever-closer on the horizon. @tpatience has it right on the pants. PU's pants would look revolting after just a few innings, given all the chalk, dust and dirt that goes airborne. And we'd still have the "shade variety" problem (fight, sometimes) because not every manufacturer would make "true black". Then you throw in fading due to sun, fading due to improper laundering, and lo-and-behold, we're right back to grey'ish / black'ish pants again... ... and guys unable or refusing to buy new pants.

@TNump, you need a finishing spray. We used it often in the design industry to "fix" graphic design work, which, prior to digital printmaking, was a mash of paper cutouts, paint, marker, and film. We'd spray finishing spray atop it to give it a uniform, fairly abrasion-resistant (scuff, for certain) surface. Krylon makes a version in matte, semi-gloss and gloss, as does Rustoleum. Oh! And it can't hurt to give it a "heat glazing" prior to and after the finishing spray. Take a heat gun or hairdryer and wave over it smoothly and with even motions. Don't linger in one spot too long, but you'll be driving the moisture out of the paint and "baking" or "glazing" it. Then use the finish spray.

No, as Max has been strapped for time and cash. As I've received various umpires' CP's to modify, I tell myself I'll do a video... then I realize I don't have that GoPro or other camera with good audio pickup to do the video capture with... then to get the money to buy said camera, I have to work games and do design work... then I end up using that money to pay bills (having to outlay $500 for a deductible on my Umpire Vehicle after we got rear-ended by a 19-year old on her phone hurts), and get more gear, and pay for an Umpire Camp (will tell details later). Then, the umpires invariably want their CP's back so they can start using 'em. I'd like to coordinate with Warren ( @Umpire in Chief) in getting videos like this posted in the same format / style as his Quick Tip videos, perhaps posted under the same account. However, the more I do this mod, the more I realize that I can't just give this process away, especially when Schutt isn't exactly ringing my phone off the hook in trying to seek out my input and opinion on how to improve their CP.

@Jmaytx, that changes things... A Pro-Nine, as a HSM (or in a Traditional Mask*, for that matter) offers nothing unique for protection or for umpires different than what any other HSM offers for catchers. It's not even of the upper echelon of HSM's (Such as the All-Star MVP25xx, Easton M-series, Mizuno Samurai, or the brand-new Wilson Pro Stock (I can't believe I just typed that)) for catchers, instead using the same, common, "budget" planform that All-Star, Easton, Rawlings, Louisville Slugger, TPx, and Worth all use on their mid-range catchers HSMs (Schutt and Diamond use a different planform, but it's much the same – for catchers). Again, I keep stressing – catchers, catchers, catchers. They are designed for catchers, the vast majority of them who, if trained properly, are taught to drop their chin, and will be unceremoniously and recklessly dumping their HSMs off their head. These same catchers are typically youth-age (if you notice, college and adult age catchers have the capital or sponsorship to obtain upper echelon HSMs which I listed before... can you name a college or pro catcher using a $60 Louisville Slugger HSM?), and very very few of them have a 6'6" body frame with a 7-&-3/4" head! That brings up another point – you, sir, are 6'6". How often will a backswing get you up by your head? If you were concerned about wood bats breaking and having that freak Kerwin Danley accident occur, I can understand. But you have to address the context in which you are calling balls and strikes. Is this a strictly amateur environment, with non-wood bats, and speeds less than 90 mph? Chances are you won't need a conventional HSM, and if you're starting out, having a HSM might actually be a hinderance instead of a benefit. Let me explain... The single most important tool for an umpire is our eye(s). I shouldn't need to go into a long explanation as to why they're important, but I will say, that a major component to selling a call – making it credible – is having your eyes unobstructed and seeing the play in its entirety. For this, we are encouraged, nay, directed to take our masks off whenever able so as to have an unfettered, unobstructed view of the play, and so the participants can see that we're looking at the play as well. If and when we do move out from behind the plate, we should have our masks off and carried in our left hand. We (as PU's) must practice and get used to making every mechanic with a mask being in our left hand (safe, foul, etc.) without the "luxury" of being able to dump it on the ground like a catcher (as an umpire, your mask or HSM should never touch the ground unless it was knocked off your head). Some guys have gotten very well practiced with this, as well as repetitively taking the HSM on and off again. If you're new to umpiring, a great degree of the credibility-building you'll be employing is how you dress, how you conduct and carry yourself on the field, how you use your voice and mechanics, your hustle on rotations, and... whether or not they (the participants) can see that you are observing what you're supposed to be. You'll have your mask off far more than on, if you think about it. So too, when you're starting out, you're still learning how to lock in and keep yourself stable so as to fully read and judge pitches. The arrival of a baseball is a violent, sudden act, and it takes practiced and tuned nerves to remain stable in the face of a baseball comin' at you. Many avert their eyes, instinctively and reflexively, often turning or dropping their head. After catching for the many years that I did, I had to overcome a formed habit of mine of dropping my chin on low pitches. By turning your head, not only are you taking your eyes off the pitch, but you're also exposing the sides or top of your head to an uncaught pitch or foul ball (foul tips are directly caught, remember). Now, you might think I just talked us into a HSM; however, that same HSM can give you a false sense of security, because if your entire head is protected, what reason would you have to lock in and not turn or flinch your head? Peril will always change bad habits much much faster than Prescription. If I tell you, "Don't move your head because you don't see the entire pitch", you might nod and say "I'll work on that", but reflexively revert back to it after a few pitches. Whereas, if I tell you, "If you move your head, you're going to be concussed or killed"... I think you're going actively endeavor to stay still. A Traditional Mask is just as protective against frontal impact as a HSM; in fact, I'm of the camp that believes a TM is better protection against frontal impact than every current HSM (which, again, are designed for catchers, not umpires). The only reason NFHS (the Fed) and NOCSAE outlaw TM's in Fed-sanctioned games is because they cannot provide overall head injury protection guaranteed. In summary, if you want to pursue down the path of TM use, I can assure you that you'll be just fine (I can't guarantee it, but insofar as how life is a chance anyway). If, however, you do want to use conventional, current HSMs, at your size... look into getting an All-Star MVP25xx or try and get a Wilson Shock FX before they're gone for good. * : a Pro-Nine Traditional Mask is a decent mask. It is hollow tube steel, of a clean, good-visibility design, and has a subtle, yet functional extended crown guard. This crown guard protects the button of your cap from being impacted, just like the Diamond DFM-iX3 family, the Honig's K-4, and a few Champro masks, but done in a very discreet way.

A Force-9? Good sir, there is a Force3 or there is a Pro-9, two different companies entirely. My guess is you mean Force3, in which case I would advise you to call Force3 and speak with one of their core staff (you’ll likely get Jason, the founder and president on the phone) about what you’re encountering, and if a solution can be hatched. The chin pad on the Force3 Defender HSM is extremely stiff when brand new, besides being much thicker than other HSM chin pads. Force3 has correctly identified that the chin piece, on an umpire’s mask, is very important (because we’re taught not to drop our chin, unlike a catcher), and in order for the spring suspension to work, there must be firm contact and resistance. Of all the Force3 equipment pieces, this is the design that compromised the most in terms of using conventional parts and thinking. I can understand why – the cost of bringing an all-new shell design/mold into production – that still satisfies NOCSAE’s standards – is likely off-putting. Thus, Force3 used a conventional HSM planform and adapted their shock-spring structure to fit it. This challenge (big head into a conventional HSM designed for catchers’ needs) does beg the question – why a HSM for you? You’re a 6’6” towering umpire, what reasons or factors compel you to find the solution with a HSM? These questions are not rhetorical, silly, or argumentative... I’d like to find a solution with/for you.

I was all over this, and on the verge of calling @BT_Blue to "go git' it!" until I saw that the Nike Steel mask in question is not a Nike Icon, but instead the Nike "Teardrop" design. This was a hollow steel mask that Nike had on retail shelves for about 4-5 year span. @JaxRolo had one at one time. The Nike Icon (which was made in Titanium and Steel versions to the same planform) has never seen North American retail shelves. The Icon and Teardrop are two different planforms, with the Teardrop having a narrower, more pinched chin guard (hence the name "teardrop") and strut-less ear guards. The shape is also deeper and more spherical, while the Icon is a bit shallower and more low-profile. It's a very good mask, but not the vaunted Icon. Then, reading further, I found my face twisting in annoyance that this gear was used by the seller's son as a Plate Umpire for Little League. I may be interested in it to use as bullpen / pitching lane catcher's gear though, so I'm contemplating it...

I've stated this several times on here – tell me you need me to call a game in 10 minutes, and you already have gear for me to use, handing me a Wilson CP, Wilson shin guards and a Wilson steel DynaLite mask in the process, I will gladly do the game without complaint about the gear, and probably hand it back to you saying, "Yup, it did its job just fine." Direct or mandate that I must purchase those same pieces of gear, which have been in unaltered or un-progressed production for over 15 years, at $150+, $90+, and $65+ each, without them using the latest materials or construction methodology, I will raise a bloody awful ruckus. When you peek behind the curtain, and realize where your money is going, and what you and your money represents to a company, your purchasing decisions take on much more power and importance. Otherwise, you're just feeding the machine, and nothing will ever improve.

How does one clean an old sofa? or how about this? That looks really appealing to sit on down and take a snoozer on, doesn't it? I've said it time and again, Wilson's nearly 20-year old West Vest is not doing any of us any favors in terms of using modern materials for improved protection, breathability, and lightweight-ness. In addition, while Douglas will (for a price) take back in your Douglas CP so as to recondition it, Wilson won't even take your phone call on the matter. Prior to Team Wendy having to drop the service, a number of us would have recommended that you send your Platinum CP in to Team Wendy and have them build a new padding jacket using – anybody from Wilson reading this? – technical wicking mesh and their advanced, proprietary foam called Zorbium. Not only would it be (dramatically) more breathable, but it would noticeably reduce the bulk (half the thickness / volume) while offering increased energy absorption. That service, unfortunately, is no longer offered, and there are several of us here on U-E who are endeavoring to address that absence. The problem isn't the West Vest Platinum (or Gold, for that matter) itself, as a piece of protective equipment. The problem is what Wilson does with it, and how Wilson treats us, as umpires, in regards to it. With that said, here's what can be done to revitalize your existing Platinum CP: Separate the padding jacket and components from the carapace plates. The body of the padded jacket does unfasten from the carapace with velcro tabs. Even the shoulder pauldrons unfasten from their domed plates with velcro tabs. In a wash tub, or a soaking tub, or a large Tupperware / Rubbermaid tub-container, or even using your bathtub (if it doesn't have a slow leak, and you don't need to shower for several hours), you'll want to place all the foam jacket pieces. The real shameful thing that Wilson did with their CP's is they use brushed nylon for the casings (cheap, cheap, cheap) and sofa-cushion foam for the innards. Every manner of microbe, bacteria, and grime is squatting in there, and we need to evict 'em. So, get a Technical Wash. Nikwax makes one, often sold via retailers like Campmor, REI, Cabela's, Gander Mountain, and (dare I say) Bass Pro Shop. Why? Because most outdoors gear is comprised of nylon. A Technical Wash is going to be devoid of perfumes and detergents that will coat the fibers in the name of "stain protection" that only defeat the material's ability to wick and transfer moisture. I'd rather you use a bacteria-killer, like Odoban, to kill the smell-causing bacteria than to mask it with a perfumed detergent from Tide or Gain, despite it using Febreeze. Make a solution of water and technical wash, agitate it (stir it up), and then immerse the padding components into it. Use inexpensive dinner plates to hold the padding down if need be, and let the components soak in there for a few hours. While the padded components are drowning soaking, take stock of your carapace components. Now's a great time to clean the plastic. If you have corroded or broken rivets, these can be replaced with Chicago Screws (ask for details) rather easily. If you are planning to repaint the carapace, use an alcohol-based solution so as to prepare the plastic to receive paint. Use a fine (200+) grit sandpaper to take the lacquer sheen off, and the plastic will be more receptive to binding to the paint. Oh, and go ahead and erase all that Wilson -applied nonsense about patent numbers and MLB logos and stuff – no one really gives a hoot about it. By all means, remove the stupid superfluous upper-chest / neck billow (yes, I spelled it right) cushion. It serves absolutely no purpose or function other than to deaden the "CLACK!" of the dangling throat guard against the CP when struck. You'll find that the CP's carapace isn't notched or isn't lacking under it. Once you remove it, you'll hold it in your hand and go, "Huh! So this is all it is?" and realize that it's just a silly gimmick. Consider drilling holes in the carapace to reduce weight and aid in ventilation. You won't compromise the protective integrity of the ABS plastic – it can take it! It's far denser than it needs to be anyway. Why? Because the plastics industry has come a long way in 20 years! Once prepared, paint the carapace. One coat may suffice if you allow for adequate drying time (at least a day). Two coats, with a 4-6 hour curing time between them, will likely do the trick. By all means, consider purchasing and using a sealant (clear finishing spray), either in matte or gloss finish, so as to seal in the color and reduce the abrasive transfer of paint to your shirt. Again, allow adequate curing and dry time of at least a day when it's all said and done. If you want to affix decals and stickers, do so before spraying the finishing sealant on, and that way, everything looks intentional and uniform. Expand your imagination... why do black when you could do liquid gunmetal? Perhaps a vinyl wrap of carbon-fiber print appeals to you? Or, maybe take a walk on the wild side and do it in digital camo, or do a fade-blend of two different paint colors, or paint it in purple (so they don't see the bruises!), or... Oo! Oo!... paint it in royal blue or cobalt so it looks like a Carlucci! Live a little! Who cares what color it is? No one does! If they did, the Platinum would have been black from the start! After a few hours (2-3) of soaking, take the padded components out of their bath and, using a kitchen or utility brush, scrub out the loosened grime from the nylon. Squeeze and rinse, repetitively, a few times, and then hang the components out to dry for several hours. After a few hours, squeeze them some more to push water out, and rehang them. Painting these pads is exceptionally problematic, because painting is applying a coating to the fibers, something you really don't want to do, because that defeats the material's function of wicking moisture and heat away from your skin. Invariably, the paint will come off and transfer onto your under-clothing and skin. The only other option you have, then, is to dye it, wherein the process infuses the color – dye – into the fibers. Most off-the-shelf dye doesn't work too well with synthetics, like nylon, but Rit has recently developed a dye for synthetics called, oddly, Rit II Dye (or Dye-II or Dye-2). The process relies upon heat, and you have to get the water up to near-boiling, stir in the dye, and then soak the items in the solution for 30-45 minutes. I tried this with polyester umpire pants, and while the color came out a beautiful, near-perfect shade of deep charcoal grey, the pants did, irrevocably and irreversibly, shrink. This might happen with the padded components, but it might not to any great detriment. A benefit of getting the water that hot – near boiling – is that it will kill just about every bacteria and microbe hiding out in the padding. A few days later, reassemble your CP and reattach your RayFlex harness. Go volunteer at the nearest baseball game you can find and test it out!

Warren ( @Umpire in Chief), a few quick bits of feedback from watching this video: Don't apologize for an expectation. The hat shall be worn, bill parallel to the ground and forward. No "ifs ands or buts". If one is wearing their hat backwards, they are a clown. Consider obtaining a baseball-themed poster or print to hang behind you. Consider locating an LED-based lamp, dimmable, and placing it behind you, and low (off-screen). Aim it up the wall so as to "backlight" the wall. As it is, the light source is currently "confrontational", and it makes for some harsh shadows and unsettling contrast. Instead of sitting dead-smack center, consider sitting off to one side, and turned at a very slight angle. Again, you currently are positioned in a "confrontational" manner, where you could be more "conversational" by changing your position and seating angle. As you have it currently, determine what are the boundaries of your viewing plane (width). Mark those with tape on your desk. Then, mark dead center. Then, divide the overall viewing plane width into thirds (1/3rds). Shift your seat over (left or right, whichever you feel is your "better side") and then angle your body slightly away from the camera, towards the center line. Your insight / encouragement to seek or request more baseballs? Brilliant, I like it. You're right, the plate meeting is not a forum for a rules clinic. If we keep it to a simple acknowledgement of the Rules set we're using for that game, "OBR, NCAA, Fed, Tournament Mod'ed, etc." then that eliminates a lot of superfluous talking. Strike zones should not be discussed at a plate meeting. And, lastly, just as much as a Rules clinic is unnecessary at a plate meeting, so too is a tutorial on how to approach an umpire completely unnecessary, as well as being contemptuous and condescending. Our giving them this directive isn't going to change the habits of those jackwagons who storm out of the dugouts and verbally abuse us. Besides that, it doesn't paint ourselves in a particularly good shade of confidence in our abilities and judgement. What coaches are hearing when we burble on about "calling time and approaching the umpire who made the call" is, "Hey, at some point in this game, there's going to be a blown call and I'm hoping you don't chew my ass off about it because other coaches have done it (to me, possibly) before".

Alright guys, here is where I have to eat a few of my own words. That image of a silver mask with black TW pads against a beige wall with sand-tan carpeting is mine. I claimed it was a Nike Steel because that’s what I had bought it from another guy here on U-E as (I don’t remember who, and frankly, don’t feel that it’s relevant anymore). I know the Nike “Icon” planform so very well, as it was designed by someone at Nike at the behest of Jorge Posada in the early days of his HoF (likely to be) career. It was styled to have simple lines, and give an excellent field of view. The chin guard was made taller (longer) than every other mask on the market at that time because Posada made it a trendsetter to prop the mask on his head, like a knight’s flip-up visor, and he eschewed wearing a dangling throat guard. To be strong enough to withstand the battering and abuse a catcher’s mask takes, and to be thin and lightweight enough to forgo thick vinyl cladding, it was fabricated in titanium. To Posada’s wishes, the chin guard was tall and featured very little forward rake (the angle at which that shape projects off the vertical plumb line) so it would behave like a dangling throat guard, easpecially when a catcher is trained to drop his chin when blocking a ball down off the deck. Now, here’s the important part – I have been unable to determine which was first; Wilson’s Catcher’s DynaLite (with arrowhead ear struts) and Nike based their design planform on it, or Wilson produced theirs in response to Nike’s iconic Titanium getting so much attention in the catching community. Of course, producing a mask in titanium incurs a rather premium cost. So, the next best alternative (at that time) for mass production was steel. In order to give the mask better survivability to corrosion and the constant physical abuse, the hollow steel masks were dipped in vinyl. Even in this construct, the two masks looked vaguely similar, but they still retained their unique characteristics; namely, the shape of the “bullring and wicket”, and the size and rake of the chin guard. Why were the two chinguards so different? That’s best answered with another question – between Nike and Wilson, who sells (thousands upon thousands) more dangling throat guards as accessory purchases? Why, Wilson of course. At some point, Wilson changed their ear struts from arrowheads to single, simple horizontal bars (I have been unable to determine when, or for what specific reason). At around this same time, Wilson introduced their new West Vest CP model variant – the Platinum – in conjunction with a titanium version of their DynaLite, perhaps at the behest of MLB umpires who had taken a liking to Posada’s (and other Nike-supplied catchers’) mask. It had similar lines to Wilson’s DynaLite, with the more-pinched, angular bullring and wicket U-Bars and single bar ear struts. The big, glaring difference was the dramatic forward rake of the chin guard. This was certainly intended to allow a dangling throat guard to be mounted behind it. Accordingly, the Platinum CP received a padded cushion so a dangling throat guard would bounce against it instead of clacking. Keep in mind, though, that the companies are still producing and supplying masks to wholesale and retail outlets in any and all planforms they have. This would be severely hamstrung by the NFHS board outlawing the traditional mask from use within its ruleset. Nike scaled back their production of their iconic mask in steel, relegating it to supply for college catchers and foreign markets. Alternatively, Wilson ceased production of the catcher’s version of the DynaLite, instead forging ahead with the updated DynaLite planform for its captive market – umpires. So, through researching all that, I have since arrived at the conclusion that that mask I had was a Wilson DynaLite-for-Catcher, having been stripped of its vinyl and powdercoated. To make matters more complicated, it looks like the exclusive contract between Nike and the shop in Asia (Taiwan?) where the Icon was produced has ended, and recently the shop has been producing Icons, in Titanium and Steel, with a variety of pad branding on them (Reebok, Adidas, etc.). A few MLB catchers, too, sponsored by Mizuno, have taken to putting Mizuno pads on a titanium Icon.

This is very much like Keg League Softball, of which I observed when I attended the Wettest Campus in the Midwest – the University of Wisconsin - Madison. 2 kegs, one near home plate, the other just behind 2B. A whole mess of plastic cups, most "collected" from the Badger home football games they gave out generously prior to 1993 (when Wisconsin (finally) beat Michigan, and the entire student section rushed the field, landing some 50-80 people in the hospital, 9 of them critical; hard plastic cups were identified as objects that could be thrown (they were, like a blizzard) and incite unruly behavior). All fielders must have a cup on hand or nearby. A batter must have a (somewhat) filled cup while at bat. Upon hitting the ball, the batter must scoop up their cup, run to 1B with it. A fielder may field the ball; if the ball or the fielder knocks over their own cup in the process, spilling the beer, the batter is automatically safe on "Inter-beer-ance". If the batter arrives at 1B with an empty cup, and the ball arrives, he/she is Out because the ball beat the beer to 1B. Refills between plays by fielders are allowed. The Keg at 2B (2nd Barrel) was routinely used for this. Its real reason lay in doubles, triples, and potential HR's. Having touched 1B with beer in cup, the BR could drink it or spill it before advancing to 2B. If he/she carried it beyond a touch at 2B, there would have to be beer in the cup in order to be safe at 3B or Home (the ball beats the beer). So even if a Batter smacked a long one, and the Outfielders were chasing it down, the BR would have to either run cautiously so as to have beer when he/she arrived at Home, or refill it at 2B or at Home Plate Keg prior to the ball arriving at Home. Failure to have beer-in-cup, and touch home, prior to the ball touching Home was an Out. There were a lot of doubles.

Know why these customization options are available? Do you know why Douglas CP's are so expensive? It's the same reason Force3 gear costs so much too... They're both made in the USA.

Honig's makes an outstanding, top-quality mask harness with no printing or logos on it whatsoever. It's available in black or navy. Sell your existing Wilson-MLB harness to one of the fanboys here, one of them will be sure to gobble it up.

Yup, they’re the same. Ump-Attire is just displaying it “flattened”.