834k3r

I'm considering a crease.

Mark me in the camp of patent leather too. I blame it on my military time (21 years). I see the umpire uniform as exactly that--a uniform. And I try to look as professional as I can when in uniform. Patent leather is part of it. Same reason why I have my plate shoes prettied up by Leather Luster. But if we're trying to offend each other for comedic effect, I personally think the Reebok Magistrate shoes look like a war crime. Point being, we all have a different sense of style and that's okay.

I've had that conversation with F2s in front of me. "I'm giving you some off the plate, but I won't give you anything over the batter's box." If I tell one team's F2, I tell the other. The comment about marked correctly is understated, but completely germane. There are times where the batter's box line is only a couple of inches from the plate, which reduces the amount of channel/river I give.

Sir, the next time you come into the U.S., we're going to need you to bring MacIntosh toffee and Old Dutch All Dressed chips for everyone. Keep the ketchup chips though--they're a war crime.

Yes, sir. I was merely citing the speaker (singer?) of the words.

Geddy Lee, 1980

Robin Williams' best movie, IMHO. And no offense taken. If I can think harshly about the Reebok Magistrates, you can think harshly about those Mizunos.

Mizuno Japan beat you to it, TMiB.

My skull cap. I use the AS Skully--and it is by and large sufficient for the task--but I think it could be improved in a few ways (looks, padding location).

These two gentlemen have solid opinions, and I tend to agree with them. I do diverge slightly on the accoutrements. Plate shoes - Mizunos. The Japanese model if you don't mind hitting up eBay. I actually find the standard width NB toebox too narrow, and the Mizunos are a huge improvement (YMMV). Indicator - AS 4-dial cast metal. It's a bit heavier, but it's bulletproof, and with the notches I don't need to look at my indicator during a game. Ever. Plate Brush - Japanese style. Once you've tried it, you won't go back. Base shoes - I've tried lots of options, but my NB are my favorite dry field shoe (though I'm going to get the Mizuno shoes that come out this fall). The adidas shoes are for wet fields, but the toe box is too narrow for every game use. Shirts and Pants - I won't go back to Smitty after wearing GD. Personal - OG Thighpro with a Nutty Buddy in the pouch.

FWIW: worked a couple games this past weekend with a colleague (with JuCo experience) who bought the Enduro after seeing mine (moved to the Enduro from the Wilson Platinum). He took a hard foul directly off the CP and was impressed with how little he felt.

These two takes mirror my own experience and why I now call time if I take out my brush (with runners on). I had the exact situation happen to me as TMIB's partner. That was the first--and last--time that's happened to me, and thankfully the defense didn't squawk (at least as far as I heard). This. DTHC, please don't ask for time to go talk to your pitcher after a HBP.

I hope (pray?) it's a video from an April Fool's joke. No mention of the system on the Musco website, nor on their YT channel. No mention of it (on any reputable sites, anyway) via any links, either.

As a vet I agree with both of these takes. Any retired commissioned officer would know better than to treat anyone with disdain.

Funny conversation with my son (senior on varsity) and Mrs. Beaker was had a month or so ago. My son was complaining about a strike called on one of his teammates during the regional tournament. "It was at his letters," exclaimed Son. Me being me, I pulled out Ye Olde NFHS Rule Book and read for the edification of Son and The Missus the definition of a strike. Needless to say the conversation ended pretty quickly thereafter.

Son was a catcher. Can confirm.

I'll let Max and others pipe in when they're available, but I know several folks on here have had success basically making their own (knowing a seamstress or knowing how to sew is key, of course). Can be done for a fraction of the cost of a pre-made from what I understand.

I'm sure @MadMax has thoughts.

How cool would that skully look with the limited edition Enduro CP? https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExNWthZGN0bDA3aW84MnY1a2t5cWhqdTNjY3MzaHVucTJydXozNjc4cyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/xUOwGeP1jGGUKIGoko/giphy.gif

The BR rules for bats isn't exactly OBR--but are available online with a rudimentary web search. But nowhere do they state EJ is required.

Thanks, Mike--your crew called a great tournament!

Maybe @DerekGDS could give you an idea of how long the backorder wait will be. There's also a guy--several of us have used him--that will powdercoat your mask whatever color you want (I had one in carolina blue for a couple of years).

So how, for an example, would this work with the AS Skully? Would the D3O replace or supplement the existing foam padding in the Skully? If supplementing, would the D3O go between the shell and the padding or between the padding at the wearer's head? If replacing, how would the fitting be changed? Color me a bright shade of intrigued.