BlueRanger

I hope to God this finally torpedoes the absolute dumpster fire of a website and software that is Arbiter. It is outclassed and outmatched in literally every way by other softwares (Assignr, RefTown, etc.) that there is ZERO reason to continue giving these dinosaurs money. LET IT DIE!

I think an underrated take on the Cobalt rollout is how it's going to affect Force3. I cant imagine anyone would want to pay an extra $100 for a CP with plates they can't see and what seems like not any meaningful step up in technology. Not to mention the fact that the "soft" Cobalt looks pretty nicely poised to dominate the softball market in the near future.

Nope, I flip gear as my side-side gig lol

I've got a pair of 10.5 wide 3N2 low-cuts, used one or two games, asking $50 + shipping

@SeeingEyeDog Here's an AllStar FM25 with LUC pads on clearance for $45. The frame is better built than the Champro and the pads are FAR superior and still in the same realm of what you're looking for. Throat guard brand is irrelevant, buy the cheapest one in the right length. https://www.cheapbats.com/shop/closeout-all-star-traditional-umpire-face-mask-fm25ump-luc-p-3337-c-193.html -BR

The darkening is often a combination of 2 things: - absorbing sweat - absorbing oils from your skin Darkening on the leather doesnt really equate to the pads breaking down, it just means that the leather is absorbing. Personally, I've switched to Wilson Leathers on my Diamond masks and I've just been gently scrubbing at it with the inside of my ball bags to get rid of the salt build-up and then I store them in the ventilated bottom of my bag.

Hey, I didn't buy it because I'd wear it, I bought it because it's 10x better than the crappy champro catcher's CP he's using now Assuming I can acquire those items, what would you advise the next steps be? [I can DM you if you want] Thanks Max!

Hey guys, I bought a used Davishield locally for a friend who needed to upgrade from his softshell. It didn't cost me much, but the original owner butchered this thing by cutting the elastic that held the shoulder assembly together. Now the bicep pad, gap/shoulder protection, and the clavicle plate the elastic attaches to are all cut at the elastic, leaving them in separate pieces. Otherwise, the CP is basically brand-new. My first thought was to remove the hardware that holds the elastic and buy new elastic and then just reattach everything from there. How would you advise I fix this? (Image attachment doesnt work)

The best assignment software IMO is assignr.com and it's not even close. The UI is super easy to use, it's easy for assigners (and I personally know 6 of them that love it), and it makes finding contact info/locations/etc. very easy as well. Best part? Every official is blocked out as a default and must open the specific days and times they want to work, which is soooooo much easier than Arbiter. I highly recommend it!

https://www.ump-attire.com/Baseball-Umpire-Equipment/Gear-Footwear/Masks/UAFM2-WP-BK_Under-Armour-Silver-Umpire-Mask-with-Black-Windpact Damn... This looks pretty interesting! I like the pad concept, but I wonder why AllStar hasn't offered it up as an option for the MAG? Seems like this could be the answer to the top pad issues. Anyways, its nice to see some new innovation in the market!

Preach man. I was filling in for a 14u game this morning and my partner had one of those Diamond throat guards that hangs off the end of the throat extension. Took a foul ball right off it and it got him in the throat. Thankfully he was ok, but I ran out to my car in between innings to get him one of mine to wear correctly. That was scary as SH*#. I thought he was dead for a couple of seconds...

If its over the plate, its a strike in my book. That SH*# is embarrassing. The fact that it happened at the LLWS is just icing on the cake.

Well, TWs work fine for me in the cold. Anyhow, the Wilson Memory Foam pads work very well in cooler weather. Lots of guys on here like to use leather pads in the spring and then shift to TWs in the summer.

This was a fun one... 14u tourney game, had gone fairly smoothly thus far. Curveball about 2 feet inside causes the batter to fall over avoiding it. Defensive HC calls time, I grant it because I figure he's changing pitchers. Instead, he comes up to me and starts telling me that the last pitch should be a strike because an umpire the other day told him that a curveball was a strike if the batter ducks (wtf?). I tell him we're not having this conversation and he keeps going so I tell him he's restricted to the dugout. He heads for the dugout, so I get the game going again. After the next pitch comes in, I look over and this guy is standing next to the on deck circle giving signs. I toss him. He tells me he's the HC, so he gets to be outside to give signs. I tell him thats not the case and to leave. Then he says he didn't hear me. Again, I tell him to leave and to stop lying. He has to be restrained by an AC. Finishes it off with an epic double bird and then finally graces us with his absence lol. What a day....

Aren't the iX3 and Davis pads the same thing?... -BR

@yannick since you live in Spain and getting stuff there will likely be a hassle, here are some masks that come with decent stock pads: - Diamond BigLeague-UMP (Leather) - Wilson Aluminum (Memory Foam or Wrap-Around Leather) - Honigs Mask (Leather or Fabric Pads) - All-Star FM4000MAGnesium (Solid All-Star LUC pads) - All-Star FM4000UMP (All-Star LUC pads) Now, personally, if I were you, I would get a cheap aluminum mask, such as a Diamond iX3 or a Champro Pro-Plus, and get a set of Team Wendy pads. I suggest aluminum, because the frame is almost guaranteed to never break or bend. That way you won't have to worry about the frame getting messed up and needing to get a new one. -BR

Asking that they not coach in their on-duty attire seems reasonable, both from a league and LE Dept. POV. If I'm management in LE, it makes my dept. look horrible if my officers are losing their cool at a kids sporting event of all places. I absolutely agree that having an LEO who is clearly invested in the success of one side is a time bomb. This isn't to disparage LEOs as a group, but we already hear of cases where LEOs acting in blatant favor of one side in a sporting event have led to major issues. Simply asking that they not wear their uniform while coaching seems like the best and most universally palatable solution. -BR

Mark Stubblefield, the MiLB medical director said that the helmets are 3D printed to fit each individual umpire at about $300 a piece.

I get the "WTF?!" part of the situation, have definitely had those. BUT, you should have had to ice your shoulder after this game. Cussing at someone in HS is an auto-EJ. Cussing period at an 8u game means it's time to start the garbage disposal. Just my -BR

Reddit is like a sampler platter of everything the American internet has to offer. I mean literally EVERYTHING...

My parents think I'm obsessed. But I'm not obsessed, I can stop whenever I want. LOL

Thanks man! -BR

Do they fit the same way the Smitty Polydex baseball pants fit?

I've been watching 1B for a pulled foot . Have yet to have any issues on slides that weren't covered by BU. Most of my knowledge of mechanics comes from here, some from UmpireBible, and the rest from the guys in my group, so I never really knew if it was a TASO thing or something they picked up elsewhere, hence the question. -BR

So I've seen a few umpires do this is a 2man system: R1, on a DP the PU comes out to the pitcher's mound and is watching 2B for INT/OBS while BU is getting the safe/outs at 2B and 1B. Is this a standard mechanic I haven't known about? If so, what's the correct way to employ it as far as situations and positioning? Another Q, with R1, when PU rotates up the line, on a ball to the outfield, how do you guys judge whether to commit either way? Right now, I get half-way between HP and 3B and just react to the play and yell at my partner whether I'm staying or covering. I ask mainly b/c I've gotten close to blowing up plays on myself by being caught out of position. Thanks! -BR