kylehutson

There was one about 10 years ago that met NOCSAE standards. It looked like a batter's helmet with a facemask on the front.

Do you get a prize for that?

THIS is the idea you should really be getting behind IMHO.

Especially in the default Aquaman color scheme.

ADD-boy checking in here. 1) I've always got some form of entertainment with me besides what's at-hand. It has to be something really engaging for me to concentrate on one thing. Work, home, whatever. When I'm umpiring, that's usually the longest I go without having *something* else to keep my brain moving. When I was in school, it was books. Now it's usually my phone. For example, I'm a huge Chiefs fan (even through many of the terrible years - I'm no bandwagon fan), and I still had my phone on most of the way through the Superbowl. In that regard, pace of play doesn't matter much. 2) I remember many years ago (before I discovered umpiring) what my favorite sport was. My reply was "to watch or to play?" I loved playing baseball, but it's quite frankly boring to watch, especially on TV. Going to the ballpark is a social event. You go, hang out with your friends, pitchers and batters are doing their thing, with the attendees oblivious to it all. You hear a bat crack. Everybody pays attention to see what happens. Then back to the socializing. Contrast that to a football game where you watch what's going on, then you watch the scoreboard to watch the replay for what you may have missed. Lather, rinse, repeat. In today's society, I'd wager I'm more then norm than the uber inside-baseball fans. What's my point? I don't know. I had one when I started, but then the ADD kicked in again.

It also cemented that we should be calling penalty strikes on batters that ask for time and back out of the box without it being granted (once the 10 second mark is reached). Will definitely have to pre-game this with my partners this weekend, as its counter to everything we've done for many years.

I've got no problem with seeing something and saying "that's not bad, but you know what would make it even better?" It's another completely, to say "that's pretty good, I bet I cash in by doing the same thing" If the UL products weren't any better than the AS, I'd be saying the same thing about them.

There's a reason for that. OWO has been taking Ray's stuff and copying it. Support the innovators, I say.

If I'm U1 there, I'm calling it.

I, too have called it on every game so far. I really wish we could get a visible clock on these lower-level games though. I missed along the way that you could call the penalty strike for becoming unaware. I could have had that two times in my last plate game.

I think that's the first time I've heard those words from a Marine.

Since his wife already outed him on Facebook, I believe @Aging_Arbiter has something he'd like to say here. (And congrats, my friend)

In both cases, the outs stand. The obstruction had nothing to do with the other runners.

It can't be a dipswitch change, but I'm not sure what exactly they will change. It's quite likely some sort of firmware update or reprogramming of an EEPROM.

In my area we haven't even had any umpires working scrimmages for several years. When we did, it was in the form of a clinic, very similar to what you mention (though it's usually "we're going to play for 1-1/2 hours, not keep track of innings or scores, and when we're done, we're done). It was always unpaid

Meeting tonight and a D1 post-season ump said "How do you get a rule changed? Enforce it exactly as written"

Good seeing you again!

Welcome from one state <-- that way!

I use this combo (F3 V2 mask with All-Star skully and UL harness). I haven't had any issues, but I will say that (like the F3 in all configurations) the mask should still be worn tight. Any mask with a skully is going to pull down some on the front, so I just start the skully with the bill a little higher (maybe 1/2" to 1"?) than it seems like it should, and let the weight of the mask pull the skully into the proper location where it rests on my head correctly. On that front, if you don't have sufficient padding in the skully (e.g., bought a large when a small would have been right), I could see how the padding could slip with the weight of the mask.

My first game is scheduled for Feb. 11. Today when I was up and around, it was 22 Fahrenheit with a few inches of snow on the ground.

I'm on the other end of that. By the middle of the season, I'm saying to my assigners "really, you don't have anybody else that can work these games???"

I didn't start until I was 40, and now I'm over "almost 50". Welcome to the club.

Personally, I'm rooting for Paul Clemons (I've worked with his dad and his brother).

I get it, but "when in Rome..." If I went out from A as often as I should, I'm quite certain my partners would be calling assigners telling them not to have us work together again.