kwiggie

I just finished a game tonight using the "compressioncupjock" combo with my cup (looks just like an "XO") for the first time. Worked great once I got adjusted. I struggled all spring with "the wandering cup" issue till this system was suggested to me.

Check out this article, I would love to hear your opinions' on it! http://www.sdabu.com/Ejection_Philosophy.htm

Worked a game this week (HS) with a good friend of mine (adult ball player and former teammate who only umps in a pinch, once maybe twice a season in plain clothes) who worked as BU. I am a little ashamed to admit that I used him as a guinea pig in that I positioned him in the "B" and "C" (with hand jestures and such) positions according to the diagram that UIC posted. "I see it", behind the plate and observing my partner I see the advantage that is gained by setting up on the "line" extending from home plate to the edge of mound. I got to impelment it last night during a Men's league game that I worked as BU, little uncofortable but definately a much better veiw of my sorroundings... I will get use to it!

I completely agree... 100%, I have gained too much knowledge from this site to let a handfull of "hot-heads" keep me from posting and asking the questions.

I would love to hear more about the FED rule in regards to "leaving the box" on a dragpush bunt. Had this situation tonight with a game I worked (PU) with a RH hitter who had two feet outside of the box and moving up the line at contact.

Chalking this one up as a "learning curve", after reading your guys's thoughts (including JM's, I did ask for opinions) I will be rethinking my course of actions next time leading up to these situations. I guess what I am getting from your opinion's is look to "remove" the source of the problem as opposed to "correcting" it? yesno Thanks for the input...

1. The swinging strike did not happen, I rung this player up looking at what could have been mistaken for a pitch out (it was that up and off the plate). Just to clarify, this was about the third batter over the course of 2 innings that acted this way at the plate. It was getting progressivly worse leading up to this the 3rd batter. I decided (right or wrong) to give the coach a chance to recognize what was happening and take control of his team's declining attitude. He recognized but was unable to affectively do anything about it. That is when I made up my mind to "example" this player. After this happend (the called strike out) I walked 5' up the 3B line and eyed the coach to see what his reaction would be. The batter shuffling back to his bench mouth still running and the dugout in a tithe the coach looked to me, nodded, and promptly yelled across the diamond for his boys to "SHUT UP!" problem solved. Good tactic, or did I just get lucky things played out the way they did? *opinions please* 2. Mr. Ump, I didn't give the "In your head" scenario any thought until you mentioned it, good point. In my mind after I made my call, the coach took action, and those playersteam settled down, all is good done deal... let's play ball. Some of the offending players did come back up to the plate later on hacking at some really bad pitches however, it was like their coach told them "you guys dinked yourselves now, better be swinging at anything not over your heads or in the dirt". It now becomes their issue they have to work through not mine... 3. As I metioned in the OP this was a HS game, and I will give every oppurtunitiy for a playercoach to collectcorrect themselves so "we" don't have to go down the ejection road.

I turned in my catchers gear about 8 yrs. ago, took some time off and picked up the umpiring gear. I now think about whether I was a "whiner" as a player... I imagine I was to a small extent. Along with youth and HS games I work a Men's league (contracted with a single team for the season) and grew up knowing or associated with 34 of the team that hires me. Guys that I never would have expected to "whine" are some of the worst, like wise players that I would expect to be the biggest problems (visiting teams) aren't . A question I would put out there for discussion (maybe a thread topic?) is "When did Influencing turn into Whining?" I swear, when I played as a catcher I competed every game against the opposing catcher to get "best buddy" points with the PU . I can appreciate a playermanager who tries to "sell it" on close plays. Or classic player moves like, catcher coming out of the shoot on a boarder line 3-2 pitch, batter looking, flip the ball to the PU on his way to the dugout even before the call is made (I loved using this one). Sometimes it works, sometimes it blows up in your face but at least it is being pro-active. Players that try to influence the call through actions shows me "savvy" for the game, players that whine = lack of savvy. It's not just at the adult level either, I rung up a HS player on a third strike 2 feet off the plate head height last week (I swear it was a pitch-out) when he made it a point to turn around and grown about the prior 2 strikes (each time) that where called on him. This was a very good team... and they knew it! So I am wondering to myself were do these kids (14-17yrs) get off trying to show me up? Then I heard it, dad was to my right in the stands actingsounding more childish then his 15 yr. old son who just got rung up very obvious statement call (dad plays for a neighboring town in the Men's league I work). The kidteam got it, never heard a thing for the rest of the game, but guess who never shut up about it... yep dad. " Actions that try to influence are pro-active, whinning is a reaction born out of frustration" IMHO, Not trying to take credit for this quote I am sure I heard this somewhere. In the end, I won't avoid or turn down a Men's League game to work but I would never in my right mind do it for FREE!

I am looking for your opinions' on the BU position at stations "B" and "C" in a two ump system. What I am curious about is the anglefootage that you guys' takeuse for these stations as they relate to the moundrubber, or any other "infield reference" you might use. 99% of the games I work on are all dirt infields, so references to the "grass infield" are not really applicable.

Just got back from working a HS Varsity game (Summer League) tonight and must have jinxed myself when I mentioned "not taking a shot to the mush" (above), cause I got it tonight. Mask worked perfect, it absorbed and peeled upon impact. Spooked me for the remainder of the bottom inning but did give me confidence in the mask. Very, very happy with this mask for the price.

Thank you very much guys, this information is helpful and "timely".

History: I spent the last 4 yrs. as a BU in a men's league, so substitutions were not much of a concern to me. I have moved into a PU role this year at the youthHSMen's league level... and love it! One aspect of the game still confuses me however, as a player I never really worried about substitutions but as an Ump-Chief I need to get my "stuff" straight since I am often paired off with plain clothed locals. Could anyone help me by giving me a "lay-mans" explination of the basic substitution rules that are used by the NFHS. I do read the case book (which is mind boggling at times) and I got to believe that their are a few "basic rules" to apply when dealing with D.H.'s, Substitutions, and 2bl Switches.When it comes to learning the game as an Ump I have no pride! I just want to get things right.

As a part of a combo kit I got the DFM-UMP mask (pictured above only in black). It is light, it has good visibility, and the profile is close. I have been using my partners Wilson titanium (i think that is what it is) for the front half of a H.S. season and he was impressed with the overall make up and "Wieght" of the Diamond mask. As far as protection it has been tested (my experience) from youth through H.S. levels and has absorbed or peeled just like it should upon impact... I have yet to take a direct shot to the mush however, knock on wood

I am built the same as you (5'9"145lb.) and recently purchased my first combo set (Diamond) after 4yrs. of doing the bases for a "semi-pro" men's league (they think they are semi-pro!). After about 2 weeks of research online and off I decided to go with the Diamond iX3 C.P. It is a little bulky across the shoulders (this c.p. has a shoulder flap), but the additional foamplastic and 3 break points vertical makes it "wrap around" our style of bodies pretty well. Unlike bigger guys I will take the added padding at the cost of "looks" any day... after I break it in for a season or 2 I believe it will comform pretty well.