JamesC

When you say roll the shoulder pieces, does it matter which way you are rolling them? Or are you just talking about rolling them in anyway in general? Also, I think the cushion pads along the ribcage are part of the problem as well. Is there anything you guys have done that could possibly make that work out better?

Well, I definitely could be exagerating a tiny bit about not being able to move at all, but I was just trying to make the point that I have less mobility in the Platinum than in the one I usually wear (the cheap one). But you guys have been extremely helpful and I think I am going to try to stick with it and wear it in. At worst, come season time, if I don't like it I could always sell it for a little less than what I paid for it. Hopefully, I will come accustomed to it and will fall in love with it.

Well, the shirt is a Large, and I am going to buy new shirts this year that are a size smaller to work the bases with. The shirt I have right now is plenty big enough, so it is not the shirt that is preventing the movement...

Thank you LM, I knew I left a couple of things out, but that was just to name a few.

There's really only 2 specific times. 1) when I present the count every so often, my arms are about head high. With the chest protector on, I feel like I'm doing a workout to just get them to my chest. And 2) like I said earlier, when I'm throwing a ball back to the pitcher. If a ball gets away from the catcher or whatever and there isn't a batter on deck, I get the catcher to go get the ball and I throw the ball back to the pitcher. I know it's subtle things but they are things the do indeed aggravate me for some crazy reason. Oh and also when I am reaching to take my face mask off, I do not want to have to duck my head to reach the mask lol

Ok, so I know people are probably tired of hearing about it, but I am really at a dilemma here. I have pondered this for several days now, and am really at a stalemate here. I like the security the Platinum provides, but I have narrowed down my problems specifically and maybe one of you can help me with this. The 2 problems I am having are 1) the shoulder flaps. I just do not like how...out there they are. They extend much further than what I am worried about, and granted, it is going to hurt like hell most of the time when I get hit in the arm, but I really am willing to give that pad up for more mobility in my arms. And 2) is the 1"-1.5" pad on the front of the CP that provides extra security for the chest and pokes out of the shirt. So now, my question for you is (I know that the Gold version does not have the pad to protect the chest), will purchasing the Gold provide any more mobility in the arms/shoulder area? This is my only concern really. The CP is much bulkier than I am familiar with, however, I have been using a $30 CP from Academy Sports that is not very protective, and quite thin, therefore resulting in MOBILITY...Oh what a crazy world. However, I know my current CP is not that safe were I to take even a 70 MPH fastball clean off the chest. So, what do you think? Should I return it and pay an extra $10 for the Gold, or should I just try to get familiar with the CP, or should I return it and get credit so I could get me some of those awesome shirts?

Yea, I absolutely love their ball bags but kinda disappointed that everyone else on here got free samples to try and I didn't haha jk but I do love their bags and want to try their shirts, but I too am going to have to wait until they get the black and major league blue with black collar.

I did not call but I did send an email and they said they would be glad to exchange it for store credit, just could not give me a refund since it has been over 60 days. This is quite fine with me because I need to upgrade from my original wardrobe of Dalco shirts Has anyone tried the shirts they sale? Ultimate Umpire Shirts maybe? Not quite sure what the thing is called but I've heard they are pretty nice. Just fishing for advice.

Thanks a lot. After my purchase of the Platinum, I was worried that the Gold was the route I should have went, and for only $10 more I could have gotten it and I was aggravated that I took the cheap way out. I played QB in high school and it's more less deja vieux all over again, with me not being able to extend my arms and do things. If the Gold is the same way, I think I may just try another route because the darn CPs are both made just like football shoulder pads down to the straps that affix in the front of the CP to hold it on. Football or Baseball...hmmm

It's just that I cannot move my arms around and everything like I want to be able to. I can't get my arms up over my shoulder or anything (per say, to throw a ball back to the pitcher) and I just don't feel like I can move around in it very well. I understand that breaking it in is necessary for new CPs, but I just don't see how breaking this in is going to make it to where my arms would be more maneuverable.

It is bulkier than what I like. I feel as though I just cannot move around the way I would like to in it. I would really like to be able to trade it in for a Gold, as I hear the Gold is much better, but as I stated before, I don't know if he would let me because all it is, is just the protector. No wrap or invoice or anything.

I bought a WV Platinum CP a few months back and did not really like it. I kept it in hopes that I would grow accustomed to it but never did. If anyone knows of anything that would maybe be interested in purchasing one that is still brand new for just a few dollars less than from a retailer, let me know. I purchased it from Ump-Attire.com but do not have the invoice and don't figure I would be able to return it.

I hate the wheel play and I hate the 3rd to 1st pickoff. I think the wheel play can be manipulated far too much, with many variations to it, and many times seeming like a balk to somewhere (whether it being 2nd or the plate). Although the 3rd to 1st pickoff is, for the majority of the time, not that effective, and fairly easy to read as a player, I still despise it! A balk = (in simple terms) deceiving the/a runner, right? Well, 3rd to 1st is deceiving the runner on first. You may say, "well, stepping to 3rd is disengaging the rubber" and you would be correct, but I don't understand why a RHP can step to 3rd and do nothing, but a LHP cannot step to 1st and do nothing. Can anyone explain this part to me? I understand, not a hard pickoff move to read, but very confusing to me how this is not deceiving the runner at 1st.

Actually, you could take this another way. I've umpired ever since I was 13, and I am 21 right now, so I have really progressed over time, and I have spent a couple years coaching some younger LL kids when I was around 18 or so. Being as knowledgable about that game at that point as I was, you begin to learn the ways to get in an umpire's head throughout the games. Especially if the umpire comes across as not too bright maybe. If this was one of those rare situations (clearly the umpire was not very intelligent or knowledgable of the rules/game), the coach could have just been bailing his guys out. I mean, as a coach, I'd do anything short of cheating and playing dirty, to win a game. And if you just mention something, as did the coach, and the umpire obliges, then you are not cheating, just helping your team out. Kinda the same principle of an umpire calling a pitch a strike and the coach saying something like, "Blue, that looked a little outside from where I'm sitting", and the umpire basically agreeing and changing the call to a strike. Never see it happen, but if the umpire is stupid enough to do it, then kudos to the coach, right? And MS, I'm guessing your last post was a joke, right? lol But I do like the comments about going to buy bats with a pair of hands included in the purchase price! haha Classic!

While this subject has been brought up, did anyone see the Cincinnati game tonight (8/15) where the umpire ruled the BR out on two seperate occasions for making contact with his bunt outside the batter's box? I could see where the first call could be legit, but there was absolutely NO way the second guy was. The ball went straight down and hit his foot before he even got the other one out of the box. Anyone else see this?

WOW! I just watched that video after reading the talk about the stances. I actually watched this game in real time and seen this happen, but didn't think anything about the stance of the umpire. After watching this video again on here, I cannot see why anyone would want to use that stance and not work the slot. When I first started out I had horrible mechanics and got hit all that time (however, I was only 13 and didn't really know much about what I was doing) and just thought it was one of the things that came along with the job. Boy am I glad I learned about working the slot! Probably took 10-15 less foul balls off the face/chest a year on average in the slot!

I don't know blue, perhaps that could be the case. I did buy the hat during the middle of this season though...Maybe the store just had older versions or something. I don't know. Anyways, I agree with Don though, the one I do have is a M/L and I usually wear a L/XL. The hats run a little big IMO and the M/L does have a little more give than what I tend to like.

I know my hats are Richardson. I'm not sure if this is the new "in" brand for umpires but I did notice that a few of the umpires in the CWS were wearing Richardson caps. My only complain about my navy blue cap is that underneath the bill of the cap it is a light gray color. I wish they would just make that part of the cap navy as well. I think that looks better, but then again, I am not a cap manufacturer...just the person wearing it.

For me, about 98% of the time I WILL NOT call a strike on a left-handed batter when I am in A or a right-handed batter when I am in D unless it is just absolutely positively without a doubt that EVERYONE on the field could tell he swung. You are basically out of position to make that call because the batter's back is to you and it is going to be a BI*** to see whether or not he broke his wrists/bat crossed the plate (whatever you are looking for). If I am behind the plate (mostly doing high school where the players understand somewhat how things work) and this situation arises I will tell the catcher, "He is not in the appropriate position to see that call". About 99% of the time players and coaches alike understand that. However, if there is a right-handed batter and umpire in A I will appeal EVERYTIME a player/coach asks me to. I usually prefer for the player rather than the coach because that makes me feel a little safer back there (I know the player is actually paying a little bit of attention and I may not take as many shots to the head that day) but I will do the same for a coach EVERYTIME! Just my Standpoint!

Yea, I know the pleats/no pleats isn't going to make a difference on the fit really. I was asking for opinions as to what you guys thought look better, pleated or non-pleated.

I know it's late in the season but I am starting to get my wish list ready for next season. I need to know what a good brand for some base pants is. I currently have a pair of Cliff Keen Base Pants that I've had a for a few years now. I like the material they are made of and all, however, the pant legs are too tight around the feet. I like for my pants to at least go over my shoes, but they don't even want to do that. They seem to just sit on the top of my shoe around my ankle, and will not go any lower no matter what I do. So I need a good pair of pants that will last and that is going to fit correctly. Any suggestions out there and perhaps what site to get them from? I have to have heather grey and Ump-Attire only had 3 pair of them from what I saw. Kind of indecisive between pleated and non-pleated. What are your takes on the pleated vs. non-pleated pants? Thanks guys.

I could be wrong Carolina. I know that on a caught fly ball it does not matter where the runner is, he/she can return to touch the base he was on at the time of the hit. Just for some reason I thought that you could not return to touch a missed base after rounding (touching) a following base. I have definitely been wrong about things before and am sure it will happen again...and again...

IMO, in the first situation I would call the guy safe on the tag (since he had already touched the plate, you cannot return to touch a missed base once you have touched the following base, right?) and then, upon proper appeal, whether he did or did not miss the base (in the umpire's judgement) I would still call him out due to the fact that HIS OWN COACH thinks he missed the base. Your stupidity, your fault. I doubt, that if you call him out based on a miscue his own coach strongly believes happened, that you will have any complaints from anyone. However, if you call him safe saying that he did touch the base, even after his own coach is screaming to everyone on the field that he missed it, that it is very likely you could expect to see the other Defensive Team's coach in a quick minute. Just my opinion.

WOW! There are two rules I live by about 99.9% of the time. a) When asking the player to show the ball, this means that you have an out providing that the player does have control of the ball and B) when I point at something on the field, that means that I have something there, most likely an out or a ball on the ground (such as on a tag, out of the basepath, or a trapped/dropped ball). These two rules have yet to get me in trouble and I don't really see where I could go wrong with them.

Yea well, it was a USSSA tournament and the owner of the team had about 3 teams at the tournament this weekend (different age groups). Well, for the past few games he just sat in the dugout with the team for the games and would come out and be in the "huddle" with them when going out on offense or defense. I know it was my fault completely for not tossing the coach, and the only reason I didn't toss him was because he came out asking for appeals and protests. I thought this guy was completely nuts for asking for an appeal because he wanted me to ask my partner if the catcher dropped the ball Also, to add to the situation I have never tossed a coach/player (/manager lol) and don't really know how to handle the situation after the ejection (such as with my assignor or UIC). And again, I know I should not worry about those kind of things because I know they will be on my side in the situation but still...I guess I'm going to have to grow some balls huh? haha Oh well, live and learn!!! B)