834k3r

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?

One of the reasons I got my Cobalt skully was because my soft hats (standard, 8-stitch bills because I personally don't like the look of shorter bills) would actually ride under and out of the cage at times. Never took a hit--thankfully--but I constantly had to adjust my mask when I wore my AS Mag.

I think he could be forgiven if that was the case here--but it's clearly a mechanic and position he's developed, either solo or under instruction. Hell, 1BLX would be preferable to whatever he's doing.

In my days in the military, I would describe that as a "soup sandwich."

PU not only was shoving people in the scrum (conceivably to try and break up the fight?), but later he was aggressively re-engaging with the HC and others. Not a good look.

@MadMax pointed out to me the other day he's not been on the field since (and in fact according to UmpScorecards he hasn't had a plate since 4/6/25)...so maybe he's not entirely okay.

The black/blue UL ball bags look really good with your new AS Mag--it was my favorite combo.

Live look at Will Venable:

I had one instance this season where I was on the bases and the PU didn't catch the foul off the BR. I held up my hands (I was in B) with the foul mechanic, but it caught the PU by surprise. Since that point, I've been deliberate about pre-gaming this--telling my partner to come up loud if I miss it, and I'll come up loud if I see it and they don't.

I'll walk a ball out to the pitcher, then dust off the plate...but yeah.

💯💯💯💯💯

I'm a Liquid IV guy as well--and I also think they're too strong when mixed as it says on the packaging. I have multiple insulated bottle/jugs (more detail below)--and I find Liquid IV at about 1/2 strength (when compared to the packaging--two packets in a 64 oz bottle) works for me. This is my biggest area for improvement. I will have granola bars in my truck, but I think--as @SeeingEyeDog points out--food that helps hydrate is where I'm lacking in between games. This. When I'm working the plate, I even work this in to my timing for F1 warm ups. If I finish taking a drink and F1 hasn't started throwing, F1's down to 4 warm ups, counting down from there. As to the bottles, I usually take three insulated 64-ounce bottles--each with 2 Liquid IV packets in it--to a double header. One for bases, one for plate, one for in between games. However, during hot games when I'm behind the plate, I finish the 64-ounce bottle by the 5th or 6th inning. Definitely not optimal. In an attempt to fix that shortcoming, I recently got a gallon jug that I'll take behind the plate. Haven't had a chance to try it out yet. I'll add this. Recently worked a game with a partner who's done games up to the D3/NAIA level, and his game behind the plate was...not normal. He wasn't as crisp as I've seen (lots of HOK when in the slot, which he typically does not do). After the game, he admitted that from the 3rd inning he was struggling. We talked more and he went on a hike with a 50-pound ruck the night before. Point is--if you're working a game that's going to be hot (ambient or heat index), watch your physical activity the day before, and hydrate accordingly.

I would say that this scenario there are two outcomes--either I'm calling time, or I'm calling a strike. I still think NFHS will have to tie "conference"--definition pending--with time being called. But then again, they don't think we can accurately adjudicate live balks, so...🤷‍♂️

Personally, I don't grant time for F2 to do this. They may fool me and get it once--especially freshmen and under--but if that's what they do I'll tell them "you're not getting time to do that again." I would think that any codified use of "stoppage" would apply to when time is called rather than situations where players converse when the ball is live.

@concertman1971, how do you recommend sizing this? I wear an XL shirt on bases, plate, and when wearing street clothes. XL? L?

Think of it this way--it's a tax write-off for your 1099.