nicshow

It appears that I have developed a case of this recently in one foot. Has anyone else experienced this? What did you do that worked to treat it? Nic

I was behind the plate last night in a high school softball game. The runner on 1st runs to 2nd on a pitch. The 2nd baseman catches the throw and applies the tag. I thought the runner beat the tag to the base but the 2nd baseman puts her glove down to make the tag and apparently gets it inside her legs somehow which results in the 2nd basemans glove coming off with the ball in it. My partner ruled her safe which was not heavily disputed. Is there anything in this situation that I should know about before it happens again? Nic

Looks good! https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/mlb-network-s--the-third-team--documentary-to-air-on-friday-night-000849886.html

Friends, As I'm developing my skills, I feel like one area where I am very weak is on the topic of balks. Can anyone recommend a good video series or resource that I could use to improve in this area? Thanks, Nic

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/10/17/umpire-eric-cooper-first-world-series/17475441/

Did you spray in on the whole coat or just around the pockets?

Anyone with any help regarding scotchguarding?

I just got the plate coat from All American but won't wear it until next spring. I'm wondering about how to keep it clean - especially with switching balls in and out of the pockets. Should I Scotchguard it all over or in those areas perhaps? Nic

An interesting one!

Friends, I've been using an All-Star MVP2500 but have been toying with using a traditional mask at times also. I'm wondering if someone can describe for me exactly how the mask pads should sit in order to provide the best protection. I have the new Wilson with the memory foam pads but it feels like the lower pad is sitting mostly at my chin cleft. When I adjust it so that it sits lower on my chin, then it feels as though the bill of my cap is starting to encroach on my view. All of this could be because I'm spoiled by the MVP2500 and what seems to me to be a better view and a better fit. So, any input about how a mask should fit for the greatest protection would be appreciated! Nic

I sent Jeff an email several days ago and have never heard from him. I received a call from one of the salespeople as a result of my first inquiry. It was an unpleasant experience. They readily acknowledge that there is no clear statement about a 25% restocking fee and make no apology about that. Neither, he said, is there anything stated that you can return anything. He said I'm just lucky they allow me to return it at all. I told him that I was shopping for shin guards and wanted to try Douglas but never would have risked a $50 restocking fee had I known. His response was that Douglas products are "made to order" (whatever that means) and that people who purchase Douglas products do not typically want to or need to return them. I told him that ordering shin guards without trying them on is a ridiculous concept and all he would say is that he is sorry I disagree with their policy. I told him again that I had no problem with their policy if I had known what it was before I made a decision to order. My experience with the 2 voices I have talked to has been very negative. The person who answers the phone is very curt and not friendly at all. This person I talked to was not customer-friendly at all. So, buyer beware. Douglas has a 25% restocking fee on top of an initial $35 shipping charge. That return policy/restocking fee is not stated at all or anywhere I saw when considering and purchasing. The salesman told me he thought it was probably on the invoice (which it is not.) Nic

Do you know how I might be able to contact Jeff? @panda76

I just called Douglas back to ask where this restocking policy is spelled out. The person I talked to looked at several pages and finally was able to find it under the "players" section. I told her that I didn't look at the players section because I was purchasing from the "umpires" section. I told her that there was nothing in my order confirmation or on the packing slip to spell out this policy. She said that's the policy she has to enforce. When I asked to talk to someone she said there was no salesmen available and that it would be Thursday before she could talk to someone. I'm not feeling very good about dealing with Douglas. Nic

I received the Douglas shins and the platinums and I think I like the fit and feel of the platinums best. The Douglas shins are tanks - very well built and very protective for sure. The platinums are also very comfortable and are similar to the Douglas - the ankle guards are on velcro so that you can re-position them where needed. I called Douglas to find out how to return them and they kindly tell me that it will be subject to a 25% restocking fee. That's on top of the $35 shipping I paid to get them to me. Ouch. I've written to ask that they do not charge me the restocking since I did not use them other than to try them on! Nic

The PW never went on sale that I saw? Nic

Young girls (though old enough to play better than they did) game last night, 2 outs, runner on third. Passed ball allows the runner from 3rd to come home but the batter failed to get out of the batter's box. The runner didn't run around her and was tagged out. Obviously the inning was over but my partner and I were trying to figure out what just happened. Is it batter's interference or just a put out? Nic

First, I purchased the 14.5 since that's what my legs measured at according to their sizing (I DO have short legs - a 30 or 32 inseam depending on the pant.) The 14.5 just cleared the top of my knee caps by 1.2 an inch so I ordered the 16.5 which fit just a little taller above the knee but both seem to "eat" my pant leg when going from squatting to standing due to the gap between the top of the guard and the thigh when in the squatting position. Just for fun I've ordered the Douglas guards (painfully - especially after paying the $35 shipping charge) and the platinums (since I learned that Ump Attire sells them in the 15.5 size.) Those should both be here tomorrow and I will post a report of what I find and come to prefer. Sometimes I have a tendency to obsess over these decisions but I guess that's half the fun. Nic

I received the UE Leg Guards and can see why everyone likes them so. As this was my first experience with less than triple knee, what I noticed is that my pants get stuck by the top of the leg guard when I go from squatting to standing. The triple knee, apparently, comes up high enough and provides a "taper" that keeps that from happening. Is that common with the guards like the UE or is there something I can do to keep that from happening? Nic

Are these still available?

I bought the Unequal Chest Protector but I can't say I'm in love with the way it fits so I'm wondering if it's just me since so many others seem to like it. I tried raising a hand above my head (as in calling a softball out) and when I do that the cp is so rigid that it pushes the whole upper quadrant into my neck. In other words, there doesn't seem to be any flex. I tried doing the same thing with my West Vest Gold and everything flexes just right in order to allow that movement. Does that aspect of this cp get better as it gets broken in or is it just how it is made? Nic

I've purchased the UE Force 3 Shin Guards after having worn Diamond DLG-iX3 Triple knee shins. I have really liked the Diamonds and have grown accustomed to the way the protection flows over the knee and un unto the thigh. So now with the UE I'm trying to determine the best fit - the knee protection ends right at the top of the knee or maybe just a quarter of an inch over the knee cap when bent at a 90 degree angle. Do I want more length than that? With the triple knee, I didn't have to think about where the protection ends and now with these I do. So your help and experience is appreciated! Nic

But isn't the rule predicated on the umpire first deciding "ordinary effort?" Is this always the case with the rule - that even if the umpires do not call it, the batter is still out by rule? I can't picture a scenario where this would happen - can anyone help? Nic Yes, it is umpire judgment whether an infielder could make the catch using ordinary effort. That judgment may be exercised either pre-play or post-play. Either way, if the conditions for IFF are met, it's an out. An umpire announcing IFF while the ball is in the air is not required. Thank you, Maven

But isn't the rule predicated on the umpire first deciding "ordinary effort?" Is this always the case with the rule - that even if the umpires do not call it, the batter is still out by rule? I can't picture a scenario where this would happen - can anyone help? Nic

This scenario is in the NFHS 2013 and 2014 Softball Casebook but I do not understand how the infield fly rule can be in effect even though not called? 2.30 SITUATION B: R1 and R2 are on second and first bases, respectively, with no outs. B3 hits a high pop foul between home and first base with F3 losing sight of the ball because of the sun. The ball lands on foul ground without being touched and rolls into fair territory halfway between home and first base. F1 picks up the ball and throws to F4 covering first, who touches R2 with the ball while the latter is off base. RULING: Fair ball. Even though the infield fly was not called, it is still in effect. B3, therefore, is out. R2 is also out. (8-2-9)

The Honigs indeed are nice. As was already mentioned, the neck is snug and the sleeves are short enough so as to not emerge from under the outside shirt (an issue with at least one of the Nike shirts that I found on Ebay.) Nic