wolfe_man

I missed an opportunity in a scrimmage last night to get an EJ. VT HC didn't like my call at 1B earlier in the game (maybe 2nd inning) when his runner got back-picked by F2. I banged him out, believing he was out, but not much was said at the time. AC @ 1B only mumbled "I don't know about that", but didn't pursue and we moved on. Now, it's bottom 6th and HT, already up five, was pressing to score again. Solidly hit ground ball to SS should have ended the inning, but instead of throwing to 1B for the easy out, he wants to go the short way to 2B - the only problem is F4 isn't at the bag and takes a long time getting there. So instead of an easy force at first, now we have a bang-bang play at second - and I have R2 just barely getting there first, so signal safe loudly. Immediately, the VT HC says "that's two on you Blue, that's two you've missed now". I gave him the stop sign and gave him the 'that's your warning', but he didn't press it, so we moved on. I regret not tossing him now. Mostly so he will learn that it is not acceptable for future reference. I did file a report with his school and the state so I am hoping his AD lets him know that he was out of line, but I figured since only a scrimmage and it was mild, I'd let it slide. I regret passing the buck to a peer now though, I should have tossed him immediately for crossing the 3P's line (personal, profane or prolonged). I think this is one area we need to spend more time in umpire training. No one wants to be called, or thought of as, a whiner - so training needs to give pretty specific guidelines for how much should we take and when should we stop it. Also, when should we go straight to an ejection. I've learned mostly from experience and reading on here, but there's been very little training on this area from our association or the State. There are days I still think I take too much static and probably should be giving more EJ's, but I let it go on so that I keep getting the games. I don't want to be over-eager, but I don't want to be a push-over either. By the way, a local pho-tog caught the actual play and I was right, he was safe. F4 isn't there yet and R2's foot is touching the base.

I wonder why they went back to the steel? Did their primary masks not make it back from AZ or Japan on time? So they had to use what was available in the locker? I really think I saw Guccione in a mag a few days earlier in the WBC.

I agree, deal it is. Get the gap coverage added from Douglas when you get time. They do a great job!

What we are told is if there is no dugout, then when they leave the playing field (cross the line that separates field from players equipment/bench area) then they would be out as it was clear they did not intend to attempt to advance.

I concur. Both are great companies. Was someone bashing them about pricing? Yesterday or maybe Tuesday, I got an email from Purchase Officials saying that they were refunding anyone who had pre-ordered the shoes $15 (reducing cost down to $150). I thought this was an excellent customer service move on their part and almost unheard of today.

@Thunderheadslock it up please.

Oh man, I feel for you. Those are tough days where no amount of money is enough. I'm glad you had a coach that was smart enough to pull the plug and kill it. I had to ask a JV coach last year if he wanted to end it early after a very lop-sided game. In my opinion, you do what you did. Grab strikes when and where you can - but still try to be consistent. Open it up as much as you can while still being fair. I've let coaches and batters know before that if it's close it's going to be a strike, so come up swinging. On a more personal note, just try to find one thing in your game and really focus on it. Work on timing for example. The game is a throw away and doesn't matter anymore, but you can still challenge yourself to become a better umpire even during these games, but it is a challenge to be sure. Here's hoping the rest of the season goes much better!

They're nice looking hats. A guy in my local association had one on at our latest meeting on Sunday night. I assumed he got it from his son - MLB umpire #62. The funny thing was, I thought it was a 6-stitch, not an 8 but I could have been wrong.

I think All Star has them back in stock if you really want a set. Ump-Attire might by now also.

Totally understandable! I don't think we can come to a consensus of opinion on the board for this one. FWIW, I challenge anyone to find an old photo of a Wilson with that frame. I mean a stock photo of when it was offered for sale. I have never been able to find one, which makes me believe it's an old Nike steel, possibly the first style they made before the Icon style. I have found numerous frames of those over the years on eBay with Nike pads on them in all colors (red, black, navy) which only serves to confirm my belief that they are indeed Nike.

I need for my other masks, sorry.

Uh oh, here we go again. No offense towards you @JHumbert15, but it seems that we go over this once or twice a year it seems. The opinions are split. Because of the ear-guards some think Nike - but the bottom bullring is definitely more Wilson shaped. I’ll say this much, the Nike college steel frames are the exact match to their Titanium brothers - except the ears are bent a little different due to the material used in the manufacturing process. With that in mind, makes me think yours is a Wilson, but still a great looking mask and rare! There is not a truly definite way of knowing, so ultimately it’s whatever you and the market say it is.

I have three MAGs and just lucked into a Nike Ti frame... so I am selling my newest MAG. It's been powder-coated gunmetal by Tony @ Mask-It Sports. Only worn in a couple of games and has had no impacts. I'll include a new AS MAG harness. FREE shipping within the continental USA. It has newer black pads on it or I can include a brand new set of grey instead - your choice. Asking $235 shipped (which is a deal considering PC is $45 + S&H both ways and a new mask is $250 shipped on top of that)

@Thunderheads I just realized I put this on the wrong group. Can you please either delete it or move to the Equipment section? Thanks!

Honestly, I didn't like the fit on them. They feel more narrow than the Reeboks for sure. The metatarsal plate will need stretched out before it fit my foot too. It was tight on the top of my foot. I never buy anything but D width shoes so it surprised me. The 11.5 were too big on me though, so maybe that played more into the fit than I thought it would. I have already sold these and will be wearing NB low plate shoes this year.

Not all PIAS participate, but most do if you just go to their website and search for "umpire" or "catcher mask" etc. These were in a store in GA.

Yes, $220 total investment for out the door after taxes and shipping!

They're probably the Ump-Attire pads aka Diamond pads if I remember correctly. I think UA marketed the Diamond frame years ago with their branding.

What do you have? Most can go in the washer - but let them air dry. Do not put them in the dryer.

Wow - look what I found sitting in a Play It Again Sports (via their website)... buried deep in their archives (literally 13 pages from the beginning, so they'd been there awhile). Now, unless my aging eyes have deceived me - that is NOT a used Wilson umpire mask (it's a Nike titanium) and that is NOT just an old, used Wilson umpire chest protector (but a Wilson WV Gold Team Wendy). This is one of those days that I'm thankful for boredom and having some time to dig for treasures! I know others have found Nike Ti's at their PIAS, but it's never happened for me until today!

It was, but he did make a nice apology afterwards and admitted he was in the wrong. I actually liked his apology as honest ones are so rare today. He said he was given great advice when he started umpiring. The advice given was to umpire every game as if his children were sitting in the front row. He said he fell short of that with Mad Bum and he took from accountability for his actions, but he would learn from it and he wanted to apologize. On the other side, Mad Bum's comment was a bit comical, but what you would expect to hear from him. And I quote: "...if you want to play 'this little piggy' go down to the f-ing Minors where there are kids".

Car parts are dipped all the time, so they will stand up to a foul ball with no problem. They dip wheel rims, bumpers, and so forth so it'll stand up to some abuse. As far as versus powder coating - it's just a style perspective only. Dips come in all sorts of patterns and can have multiple colors, but a powder coat can only be one color.

@Thunderheads lock it up please. Thank you!

@Thunderheads lock it up please. Thank you!

If he caught it, it's an out. The umpire will judge if he maintained full possession of the ball to suffice a catch or not. If the fielder drops it on transfer post-catch, then the batter is still out - but other runners may advance at their own risk after tagging up after the catch. If after the catch, the fielder intentionally drops the ball - it's still an out because he caught the ball before he dropped it. You can't catch and then un-catch a baseball - you either catch it or you do not catch it. If you wanted to try and keep a runner from tagging and going home, then you should just let the ball drop foul and hope the next pitch leads to a better outcome - but you cannot catch a ball and then drop it to stop it from happening. Once a fielder touches the ball, the runner is free to advance. If he doesn't make the catch in the umpire's judgment, then the runner would be sent back for it's a foul ball - but if he completed the catch, then the runners may advance at their own risk.