BT_Blue

I like to think I had a lot to do with the posts from Southern CA... However when I finally move to Portland (as soon as this August with any luck) do all my posts get moved to there?

Try living in LA and having people ask me if thats ever happened to me. Im actually that doesnt happen more with Russell Martin (the dodger all star catcher). He has a tendancy to lose concentration and miss the ball. I dont think its intentional but still it worries me. I have looked at the Reeboks that are all black and liked what I saw... I just wish they came in a size I could wear. (size 11 EE)

I wish we had that kind of thing here in SoCal. Would make moving up a lot easier. Oh and by the way. its umpire.org (there is no S)

I found this post on "Neighborhood Play / Phantom tag" interesting and have nominated it accordingly for "Post Of The Month March, 2009"

Warren, Im in too.

Just wish more shoes besides NBs come in wide width.

Man thats actually a DAMN GOOD DEAL for someone! Think about it this way The platinum is about $150, the shins are about $120 and the mask runs around $50-70. To bad I just bought a new mask and wasnt a big fan of the platinum (Im a gold man myself)

Is MAC the Mid-Atlantic Conference like I think most of us were thinking or does it stand for something else?

I caught that too:question1: I was wondering if that was a typo or maybe a slight slip of the tongue?

Oddly enough it was a D1 guy that told me to scoot up in order to see the move to first by a lefty.

Im sorry for the confusion Jim. I thought you did. Could you give a recommendation for an equipment package for the young man in the OP. I know you sell one.

a very good point.

I agree with Larry. Home is where the heart ache is and guess what. Thats where these rookies would learn the most. The base umpire could then every so often or even better after the game can give instruction and help to the rookie. When I first started I worked almost exclusively behind the plate. Bases have a lot to remember and rookies dont need that on their head until later on.

I do the same strike call (swinging, non swinging, strike three) regardless of the count or the number of runners on. Non swinging I use the hammer and have for the last couple years. I used to come up, step back and point to the side. But standing up like that and stepping back out of the GD stance started to really affect my knees. So its the hammer now and Im much happier with it than I ever was with the point. A swinging strike does get the point (I live in LA and witnessed the Doug Eddings incident in Anaheim a couple years ago and dont EVER want to go through anything like that... EVER) but it is while still facing forward. That way I dont lose sight of the ball or the players. Strike three called gets a lift of the right arm much like you used to see dutch rehart (sic?) do but I follow it with "pulling the string" still facing forward since it allows me to keep an eye on the DTS. Swinging strike three just gets the normal out signal. By the way, the only mechanic I am changing this year is actually on the bases. It is in regards to pick offs at first from B or C and not taking that "read step" forward since most of the time you do not have time to re-focus. The other is I am moving closer to F1 than I used to, especially with a lefty on the mound, so that I can concentrate on balks and get a better look at dipping the shoulder and such.

Not much of a fan of the shin guards (as I like to have that floating knee protector) but it definitely would be a better starter package than the McGregor

Sounds like fun and darn it... no more about the Jim Evans clinic I cant make! :clap:

How are they to shine up?

makes sense to me. What area you work in? I decided to stop working little kids ball a while back because I found it hard to go back and forth between the pitching and mechanics on the small diamond to the large diamond. However, with that said I do find myself wishing to go back and work some smaller games just to be able to work with younger umpires.

Like the look, hope they come out with a wide version for those of us with pontoons for feet.

Got to do what you got to do. Its nice that Im running into all these people from the PDX area. There was once a time when Tim_C was the only one. Now there is you and Widac as well. Do you guys work in the same association? Ive been trying to convince my wife that a move to the PDX/Vancouver area would be a good move for us. My sister and husband already live in the Aloha area.

oh ok... that should be interesting. My answer, CAUSE IT WOULD PUT ME OUT OF A NICE CHUNK OF MONEY! LOL

Like I said. All sun and fun here in SoCal. On schedule for my JuCo game tomorrow at noon. (hopefully my partner wont take a ball off the ankle like the last one I had did a month ago.)

I think the person maybe be qualified to give a review is someone that sells equipment. I would like to see what Jim Kirk has to say especially since, if I remember correctly, sells the McGregor equipment pack

In hind sight, a very good point. I just now mentally pitcher Danley in his Wilson Shock with that hockey style throat guard.

Wait... there are places it rains during the summer? We are coming to the END of our "rainy" season here in LA. The local weathermen are all excited about the CHANCE of rain happening late monday or late tuesday. I got rained out of DH two weekends ago and dont think I will run into the problem again for the rest of the year. However, the Govern-ator has asked for federal assistance due to a drought that is supposed to be coming this year so after the rain falls on you guys, you guys mind on sending some of that ground water this way?