834k3r

Stoked to see my favorite behind the plate for yesterday's game in Detroit. Well done, good sir.

Please @DerekGDS?

I may end up getting one mesh and one suede and see which I prefer. Like you, I've never been concerned about my TW in cold weather--but @DerekGDS's recommendations weigh heavily for me, so I'll probably opt for the Cloud as well.

I tried. I texted the assigner of our region's volleyball referees and never got a response. Guess they're not as desperate for officials as baseball. As far as baseball goes, I'm blessed enough to live in a corner of the country where the worst fans (as judged by my peers in our association) are vocal, but not mean or nasty as I've heard in some areas of the country. Thankfully a lot of our high school ADs take their presence at games seriously. My son's AD had a meeting with the parents last year--yes, he knows I'm an umpire--and told the parents that if he heard any of the parents say anything negative about a call he would have a chat with the parent and consider removing the parent from the game. It was refreshing to hear, frankly.

Level of play is germane here, I feel--and everyone's right for their level of baseball. @The Man in Blue's OP says it's a middle school game. Pretty sure @grayhawk hasn't worked a middle school game in several years (conservatively speaking). At the higher levels of baseball, players are more aware of everything--and so the mistakes/trick plays/accidental trick plays don't work. So call time preemptively, because the players know nothing weird's going to happen (usually). Middle school? High school? Not calling time--keeping the ball live--makes sense.

This is my technique as well. It's been effective for me, and doesn't raise a ruckus about something (relatively) simple.

I just watched the video again. It appears the guy was working solo (small field so that checks out) and I honestly believe the guy could've used a partner to keep the PU and coach separated.

The two are not mutually exclusive--and a combination of the two is dangerous indeed.

Aside from the broken leg vignette, I agree with all of this. I've been picking up F2's masks for a couple of years now, mainly as a courtesy to foster the relationship we all have with the F2 in front of us.

Agreed.

I'm not a gym rat, so I can't speak to exercises to prevent injury. However; when I retired from the USAF, one of my diagnoses as I left the service was osteoarthritis in my right knee. It bothered me a lot for years, but Mrs Beaker found a supplement that I take daily and it's worked really well for me. https://www.melaleuca.com/productstore/supplements/replenex-extra-strength In addition, when I have games, I'll come home and she'll "patch me"--X39 patches. I'm not sure what they are, but I feel better the day after umpiring than ever. https://www.lifewave.com/lifewaveinc/store/product/39000.022.009 I used to be skeptical about products like these, but they're my go-to now.

BuT tHeY'rE fRoM ChInEsE TaIpEi, So ThEeY'rE tHe GoOd GuYs!!!1111!!

Personally, I salute, cap/skully on, regardless of what my partner does.

90% of those names aren't active, and the thread is 12 years old.

I know a few of us are vets (@Aging_Arbiter, @Umpire Santa, @mac266), but I thought it would be good to see which of us are vets and serving on the diamond as well. I was USAF ('93-'14).

I kinda want the one that Pawol was wearing for her game behind the plate.

I stand (pun not intended) corrected--I saw the mizuno logo in video clips, but was never quick enough to see the model. Definitely not the 11GU2300.

I have a pair of the US model and I have a pair of the Japanese model. The US model has a painted (colored) logo; on the Japanese model the logo's outline is merely stamped (no color). The only other difference is the Japanese toe box is a touch wider (maybe .5"?). It's possible Jen was rocking the Japanese version, but she'd have to have the logo colored in. More likely it's the US version.

I'm not current on my LL rules, but let me tug on that string a bit. If, in this case, R2 had been ejected, what happens? Is R2 replaced with another player (what if the team's using CBO?)? Is there suddenly only R1/R3 post-ejection? Or does it all revert to OBR in that case?