wolfe_man

Interesting topic. Last night, the ball seemed to be jumping a lot more than usual. No one complained about illegal bats, but had me wondering in my head if there was something going on. Both pitchers were pretty good, but the ball was just jumping off the bat - line drives going to all fields! I'm glad we don't have to police it all the time, hardly ever even asked about it, but it had me looking up the rule to be safe.

Wishing you the best! I know several who have had knees done, some had zero pain even! You got the secret already, keep moving. If we stop moving, we'll die. Even if it hurts, keep moving and hope in time it will get better. It's been a long year plus for me, but I refuse to quit until I get better. If you keep that mindset, it will come in time. Stay positive in your mind and keep moving and time seems to go much quicker!

No offense taken. I know some others have been outspoken about if you cannot perform fully, then get off the field. I apologize if you felt it was directed towards you as that was not my intention. I definitely want to do more and be better. For now, I am giving it all I can physically and it's frustrating to find that I cannot perform like I desire to perform. I am not getting to the 45-foot line, I did before, but not right now. I challenge myself to get as far up as I can before the play, but a few steps off the circle is my max under the present conditions. I sincerely hope, I doubt - but I hope, that the neurosurgeon is right and my nerves and back continue to heal so I can return to 100% and run again. For now, physically I'm maybe 80-85% and have a ways to go. The strength and stamina is returning slowly, but I still feel weaker and just not there yet. I'll be honest, there are some days that I'd be truly happy to just walk normal again without pain, but I really want to get back to running if possible. I'm very thankful to not be in a wheelchair and am able to move under my own power, but not satisfied with it. I won't be satisfied until I'm back to 100% again and getting to the places I did before... and hopefully just as quickly. I was entertaining a trip to MO and possibly getting into some lower-level college baseball before my setback. I'd really like the opportunity to get healthy enough to take that trip! I didn't realize you had physical issues also. I wish you the best in your recovery!

I'm not sure what is meant by goals, but my goal is to work the game as close to how I've always worked a game. My goal is to perform well enough as PU that folks won't even know I am handicapped unless they saw me drive up and saw the tag hanging from my mirror. On plays at 1B, I can get out from behind the plate, around the plate and bat, and off the dirt circle - but that's about as far up the line I can get right now before the BR reaches 1st base. I make sure to stop and be still to get a pulled foot or possible RLI. On plays at 3B, if I think there's a chance of any play that way on hits to the outfield, then I start moving immediately if the ball is not my responsibility. I can get close enough to get a good angle to make the correct call. Most of my partners are great at saying they'll stay with the BR all the way and have me take both lines all the way. I still try to move as much as I can to get in position for possible INF at 2B on double plays, on throwbacks from 1st-to-3rd if R2 tries to advance on infield plays at 1B, etc. I simply cannot run yet, the best I can do is a normal/fast walk - which is maybe 3mph. If I try to run my left leg won't work in sync with the right and I'll trip over my own feet literally. So I just walk as fast as I can and it's working so far. I've stayed on mostly lower level games so I don't mess up any important games. But I humbly believe that I can call a game as PU as good as almost anyone else in my area and feel that I can cover the plate responsibilities well enough to do Varsity baseball too. I've had some partners tell me not to feel bad at all about taking Varsity games from anyone, I deserve them on merit. I'm well aware of some opinions that if you cannot perform at 100% then you should not work at all and I respect them. If I ever truly feel that I cannot perform the responsibilities of an umpire well enough to do it justice, then I will humbly exit left and hang them up. For now, getting back out there and performing again has been a huge help to my mental recovery and I believe is helping me physically also.

I hope he’s okay. That was quite the shot he took. I’ve seen a lot of very rude and nasty comments online.

Anyone see that shot to Scott Kennedy this weekend? I wonder if a skullcap would have prevented the knockout? I know I’m sold on wearing it. After four years, I won’t go without it.

Update: While I am still unable to run, I have returned to umpiring high school baseball in the past few weeks. I have done 11 games behind the plate so far. I anm hopeful that my nerves regenerate enough to let me run again, but I’m thankful to be up and moving and able to work games again. I didn’t realize how much I needed it! Thank you to each person who commented or shared. It’s all helpful and appreciated.

Great point made and agreed with wholeheartedly by this guy. Umpire audits at many levels would ding you for being too fast... even if you're right. Like for not doing a pivot at 1st base when you caught the touch and that there was no interference just the same by looking over your shoulder, but you didn't follow the assigned protocol by the age-old umpire association. I've had a, let's call them a supervisor, say that my strike call wasn't long/loud enough (first time I've ever been told I can't be heard, normally I'm told I'm too loud). Twelve years of doing this signal/call and I've not had one coach at any level say "Was that the strike signal Blue? I can't hear you and that hammer confused me" - but I evidently didn't meet the superivosr's signaling/volume expectations. He also said I need to call every pitch because it's nothing until I call it... what about the pitch to the backstop? The one that hits the batter, BALL. Do I need to scream "FOUL BALL" on every foul too - even the one over the grandstand? Change can be a good thing if it gets rid of archaic rules and policies. Can navy shirts be next please? Back to the topic, do you think we'll see an immediate and big change from F2 pitch-yanking or do you think it'll take a few years to trickle down to amateur levels?

My apologies, I'm very familiar with the older DaviShins, but not so much with the new ones. It is entirely possible I applied the wrong logic for the wrong shins. I should have asked for a pic or confirmed which version first before commenting. I hope you find a good, workable solution.

Thanks man, I've thought of doing that so man times and just haven't taken the time to move it.

A cheap option is to duct tape the top of the shins to your leg. It's not practical, but it'd get the job done. I have seriously thought of using a really large sock and cutting off the feet, then putting it around the top of my shin to keep it held tight to my leg. Very similar idea to some guys wearing a compression shirt over the CP under a plate coat.

So, more starch is also a good answer here?

I have the same issue with my F3's. For some reason, only the left leg grabs my pants like that - but I know the feeling. I've tried to grab my pants and pull up as I stand in one, smooth motion so they won't grab as easily, but it doesn't always work for me. The fix is to have a seamstress add about 4-5" of silk inside your plate pants at the knee. Then, your shins won't grab your pants, they'll slide right on by.

For the record, thanks for sharing. I think there are far more of us out there feeling this way, but too many won't speak up for fear of others poking fun. First off, man, I'm so sorry. I fully understand and sympathize with what you're experiencing. So far, the kids have been mostly okay - but I've been doing mostly 9th/JV until I was sure I could handle the speed of Varsity without issue. While this year hasn't been as bad as the last one I worked yet, I do feel like fan and coach behavior especially is getting worse. Typically, the higher the level, the less issues I have with players and fans, but not always true with the coaches. They can be jerks just trying to throw you off your game for the fun of it or get in your head so you'll call something their way the next time. But I know you're familiar with all that. I believe that you are correct in laying the blame at the feet of social media. There is definitely an anti-umpire bias out there, I've even seen pages called "umpire hate" groups that supposedly post where they believe an umpire has missed a call. You will notice there's never any substance to their post, just overall hate towards the profession. I'm sorry again though. When these start piling up over a few games, it does get you to start asking "is this worth continuing". When I'm hurting and doing my best just to get back on the field and giving it everything I've got and then parents are jerks, it does take a lot of internal calming to keep yourself from letting them know all you've done to get there and call a game so their kids could play... and them complain. Hang in there if you can. Whatever your decision is, I will support you as a friend and brother.

We may need to start another thread for skull caps, sorry for getting us off-topic gentlemen. I am thankful to each of you for sharing your input as I do find personal experience and feedback from peers to be the best form of information. This topic though is supposed to be for the Mirage, which is an excellent mask and is happily used and endorsed by myself and a host of you on here. Has anyone had one of these powder-coated any other color besides black, gunmetal or silver?

Thanks. Yes, this is why I keep using AS too... it just fits great and the washable padding is perfect. I may use the Axis Pro version instead though for my next one to have a longer brim vs. the hard-hat appearance of the umpire version. This is to avoid looking like the guy above or maybe like an equestrian rider in an equine competition (dressage anyone?).

LOL I've been there before brother. I hope it "tightens" up for you shortly. These glasses look like Buddy Holly glasses or the infamous BC glasses as already pointed out, why would kids want to wear them at all? Have we gone from full-face wraparounds to these already?

Interesting. I often remove my hat between innings, but I did that with a regular hat also so figured it was just me. I tend to sweat... a lot. Even with temps in the 60's this week, I find that when I remove my skull cap and hold it vertically, the sweat will run out of my cap! I guess it's true, I am hot-headed. Side note: I need to try a different brand of skull cap and see if their option is any cooler than All Star's. I do think some appear to have seemingly better placed holes for airflow than my AS does.

I've now taken 4 mask shots to my Mirage with Cloud4 pads... no ill effects. My titanium-reinforced (spinal fusion) neck isn't even sore from the impacts either. This mask with its cores/socks is a 10/10 in my book. Over the years, I've had them all (Nike Ti, Steel, Wilson DynAlum, Mizuno 2qa-121 and 122, Diamond, Zro-G, etc.) and each time I wear this Mirage I like it a little more than my previous frames. I really like the extended throat/chin guard. Plus, this mask just seems to slide on and off my head so easily with the standard Davis harness - I almost look like a pro whipping my mask on and off quickly! Note: My setup does include a skull cap, which I also recommend. I am confident that using a skull cap has saved me at least one concussion over the last few years. I also find it a bit cooler and don't have to keep buying plate hats now.

The Mk2 has EVA and some Covalta foam - whereas the Enduro is D3O. The D3O is a bit heavier and considered a more premium product for breathability and protection.

Preach brother, preach.

And with all that, plus spending $1K on BP cage sessions, it's still the umpire's fault that Lil Johnny can't hit a baseball.

Not yet… I think/hope. I don’t know what they look like, so I can’t be sure.

I'm still mad at Diz-knee for ruining this show. It started out with so much promise and then went off the rails.