wolfe_man

They were more concerned with the length of their handlebar mustaches!

So was the ball fair or foul? On a side note, I wonder what percentage of umpires were on their school's debate team?

I have an old MiLB buddy that gave me a tip - he said to use a denture brush. It helps get in those small cracks and niches where dirt likes to collect. I use Scrubbing Bubbles and then brush those areas that are stubborn, but normally I can get my shoes clean with just wiping the SB off. Ray Brownlie offered an excellent tutorial on this FB page on how to clean the NB V3 mesh umpire plate shoes. He takes the liners out and then soaks the entire shoe in hot water. Then, he hangs them to dry with newspaper stuffed into them to help dry quicker. He allows them to air dry before wearing. I forget all of the nitty gritty details, but he had a whole process. This was the "deep clean", he offered other tips for between games.

That's nice of you. Most guys in my area work with Purchase Officials or a local shop called Fleming's out of Columbus. Both attend our mandatory meetings in late February to early March. They bring a lot of gear and uniforms with them for guys to try on and purchase if they like it. Plus, any web orders placed with them can be picked up that night for free if they mention they'll be at the meeting. There are other suppliers who carry OHSAA products although I've never used them. I normally work with Purchase Officials as they are the best prices for OHSAA gear and I always have my stuff within 2 days of ordering. I will say though that neither PO or Fleming's carries anywhere near the level of inventory or selection that UA does. UA normally is equal or better-priced on most items too, so other than actual OHSAA gear itself, I mostly use UA as my supplier. Personal Request: I would like to see the All Star MAG pads and regular LUC pads added for purchasing if possible. I'd also ask for Honig's pads, but I realize that is a competitor and not a supplier.

In Ohio, there's a common misconception that we must have all black shoes. The words instead are "mostly black" which means that you may have some white on your shoe. Both my plate (Reebok Mags) and base shoes (Nike Air Diamond Trainer) have white on them. Baseball is already charcoal only for playoffs, but we can wear heather during the season; however no one in my area does except for the guys too cheap to buy a new pair. But then, the guy that won't buy a new pair of pants normally is also wearing a navy blue shirt that has turned soft purple due to the sun and washing/wearing.

I honestly do not know. I was just offering my thoughts on it. I only do HS, Babe Ruth, Legion and Travel ball, so I mostly am in NFHS rule set.

If I were given the choice of a runner stealing 2B, I'd prefer the view from C. It's just like being at home and doing 3B-extended over 1B-extended albeit a somewhat different angle. You should have a better look at the runner coming into the base and see the tag easier. In B, you can get blocked out by feet, glove, fielders knee, etc. and miss something, unless you get almost perpendicular to the bag, which is I think C would offer a better view.

You're not alone brother. So many of us are just longing for a return to the "normal"... the problem is, I'm not sure that's going to happen even once we clear this stuff. Things have changed now and I'm afraid we'll not get some things back. If anyone ever needs to just talk, please reach out. Mental health is just as important, if not more so, than physical health. I'd add spiritual health there too.

Yes, thankfully baseball is more distant than some other sports. I honestly don't see how football or basketball can be allowed at lower levels (read HS and below). There's too much contact and I don't see a mask staying in place, especially for football.

I appreciate what efforts you are undertaking. It is admirable and I respect you for it. With that said, I was a PCT (STNA) in Ohio in the local hospital for a while and understand how quickly and easily it is to cross-contaminate even while using PPE. Most trained people still end up doing it by accident, so hoping the general public can do it is hoping for a long shot, but at least it is something that can be done. I wear masks when going into stores, church, etc. but not at the ballpark. I do try to social distance as much as possible and focus hard on keeping my hands away from my face until I can clean them. I'm even trying to stop touching my face altogether, if that is even possible. I know the virus is real, it's just a shame we don't have more accurate and trusted reporting around it.

I saw a guy on FB that used a second sun visor on the bottom half of his mask. It didn't look too bad, but it isn't near as protective as a mask that covers the airways.

You're going to get opinions on this, because there is no "rule" to do it or not do it. In my opinion, I vocalize close calls loud enough for the coach to hear. I know some will say you should not, especially at higher levels, but I am only doing HS, BR, Legion, etc. not college or MiLB. In this case, an out call and mechanic, followed by "he's off the bag" lets everyone know what you saw and why you called it.

Yes. By all accounts that I have heard, it's better.

In my humble opinion, F3 should only be worn with an UL mask harness on it. It makes that much of a difference.

Jim, Will All Star offer the new short-bill version in both navy and black? I ask because I can only wear black in the summer and fall leagues , we're still navy for OHSAA baseball.

Touché! And thank you for providing full disclosure. I am disappointed in what Outwest is doing. I expected better from them. I believe in second chances, but now I’m seeing a pattern that troubles me. I went back and removed all of my comments from this topic as I do not want to appear to be endorsing this type of behavior. I will refrain from further comment on this subject.

Update: 7/27/20 Due to recent updates about this product and a supplier, I have chosen to remove my comments.

Update: 7/27/20 Due to recent updates about this product and a supplier, I have chosen to remove my comments.

So far in my area of Ohio, we're business-as-usual. Behind the catcher like always, and we handle the baseballs. Ohio just moved to masks being required everywhere for the entire state, so tomorrow may be different. Even with these regulations in place I don't think we are required to wear masks when exercising or running, so I think I'm still "as normal".

I work with Pat's dad. I had an umpire shirt on one day (OHSAA umpire logo t-shirt) and Pat's dad saw it and started talking to me about officiating. The conversation eventually got around to his son owning Purchase Officials in Akron. It's a small world.

Well, you had to identify what I said before you could ignore it. Right?

I need to fix my post - you're right!

Use IAWE: Identify & Ignore. Identify the issue and attempt to ignore it if possible and the issue is not flagrant. Example: Coach is griping at 3B after you have explained why you had him out. It's irritating, but he is not cussing and just upset at how it went. As long as he's not causing a scene or belittling you, you ignore it and move on. If he keeps going and doesn't show signs of stopping soon, then you proceed to Step 2. Acknowledge you saw it/heard it "Coach, we're done with the discussion, now let's play ball." Warn the person who is doing wrong. "This is your official warning, if you continue to argue then I will have no choice but to eject you from this game." Eject if it continues "Coach, you're gone. You are ejected for arguing." The Four P's Profane, this one is pretty self-explanatory. There's no place for swearing in the game and most rule-sets actually forbid it from any player or coach. I normally would warn a player if I overhear it (and the fans can't), but if it is directed at you for a call you make - then boom, he's gone! (PS - I do HS and teenage ball, no LL.) Personal, "You suck blue!" This is an immediate eject-able offense. Suggestions you're a homer, a cheat, paid off etc. are NOT to be tolerated. Prolonged , you gave them a warning to stop arguing and play ball. They have no intention of doing so and want to continue arguing, let them take a walk. Do not allow them to continue after a warning was given or you lose respect and make it harder on the next umpire. Persistent, this is one where they want to whine about every call. They'll never get real loud and they're not going to cuss at you, but they'll just eat away at you all game long. Every inning they don't like a call, or a pitch being called a ball or strike and sigh loudly about it, etc. You aren't paid to be their punching bag. After you determine they're planning on this all game, nip it in the bud. Use IAWE and after you acknowledge what is going on, then warn the coach. If they persist, they have to go. I will say that all of this takes time and experience to get down well. My first few ejections were not pretty, but you learn to do better in this area over time. Have fun out there!

If he kept his hands together, then I'm not sure how they balked him. It's hard to say without seeing a video sometimes as something could be missed. Words can be tricky to us sometimes. A shake like Parkinson's is pictured as a small shuffle of the hands in my head, so I don't see any issue.

My opinion only here, but if the umpire did not give a larger strike zone to this pitcher, then where's the problem? There is no conflict of interest as long as he was fair and equal to both sides. Would your knowledge of his teaching (that you learned of after the game) have made a difference during the game? I have umpired games where my son played for one team and the other team never knew it. If anything, I called it better for them when he was up as to not allow even a whiff of partiality in my umpiring. I have umpired games for the high school I graduated from - again, no issues because no one knew it. It seems to me that if this umpire were to disclose that he offers pitching lessons to a player on one team, then this would open him up to accusations of favoritism. I am curious how you found out he offers these lessons. If you say the game was not close and there was no evidence of favoritism or partiality (which you did not say, but I think it's implied by reading between the lines) then I don't see a problem. I don't know you and am not judging you, but whoever told you this umpire offers lessons to the other team sounds like he/she has a bone to pick and is trying to use you to do their dirty work. Again, this is only my opinion, but as umpires we are told not to go picking boogers. In other words, if there isn't an issue, don't create one. Just my two cents.