midwayll

My mellon is oddly shaped and no fitted cap fits me properly. Either too loose or too tight. My flex-fit is perfect. Never comes off when I take the mask off. I wear a S/M and I love it.

Thanks Kevin. I appreciate it very much. Chris

Kevin, since you have one of these I'd like your opinion. I have worn a jacket behind the plate on cold days but never feel comfortable in it. This year I planned on buying a long-sleeved shirt so this thread was great. You have an XL. I am 5'9" / 170. Do you think the XL would be a bit big for me for behind the plate? I don't want a shirt that is too loose but I'm afraid the L may be too tight. Thoughts? Thanks, Chris

Absolutely. I was assuming that the BR was not scrambling back. My bad.

If F3 is staying on the base because F4 is saying that the BR missed the bag, them bang 'em out. You usually don't see F3's foot stay on the base more than a split second. So if F3 isn't moving, you have a proper appeal. F3 has indicated who and what he is appealing and F3 is holding the bag. And, of course, the play is still live. Chris

Thank you, everyone, for the kind welcomes. Much appreciated. Michael, I am in Wilmington. I ump in Delaware District 2 for LL. And thank you for the offer - I may just do that. Chris

Well, I am a lurker in these waters no more. I've recently begun posting over at umpire.org and haven't experienced any of the sniping or holier than thou attitude. But I have a pretty thick skin anyway. If someone comes across like that I simply ignore them and anything they have to say. I've read a lot of good info here, too. But I finally realized that being a participant you learn more than simply being a lurker. I can't promise I'll post a whole lot, but I hope when I do it is a legitmate question or because I have something useful to add. I've only been umping a couple of years and I constantly am reading and learning all I can to become a better umpire. And unlike others I like LL ball. Sure, it isn't the best played ball, but I've found, at least where I live, that the kids are nice and respectful and that alone makes the games more enjoyable. And I have had no run-ins with coaches. My association does a lot of LL Junior and Senior ball (13 to 16YO), plus Legion ball. In my spare time, haha, I am also UIC for my local little league and run a yearly clinic for managers, coaches, parents. Our league is small and we don't pay for umpires on the 60' diamond. And we don't have enough volunteer umpires, so a lot of the managers and coaches also have to umpire. I volunteer my time to do 60' games, but mostly I do my association games where we get paid. Having done only LL up to now, I do, however, have an itch to start to do highler level ball. My assignor asked me to do a Legion game at the end of last season, but it got rained out. So we'll see what next year holds. Oh, and I'm a huge Bruce Springsteen fan. Thanks in advance to all, Chris

Well, I am one of the lurkers. I joined the umpire.org forums since I buy my insurance through ABUA. And being a member has gotten me discounts on the Jim Evans Balk dvd and Jim Evans book about the 2 man umpire system. I've recently begun posting over there and haven't experienced any of the sniping or holier than thou attitude. But I have a pretty thick skin anyway. If someone comes across like that I simply ignore them and anything they have to say. I've read a lot of good info here, too. But it was this thread that finally made me decide to register. I finally realized that being a participant you learn more than simply being a lurker. I can't promise I'll post a whole lot, but I hope when I do it is a legitmate question or because I have something useful to add. I've only been umping a couple of years and I constantly am reading and learning all I can to become a better umpire. And unlike others I like LL ball. Sure, it isn't the best played ball, but I've found, at least where I live, that the kids are nice and respectful and that alone makes the games more enjoyable. And I have had no run-ins with coaches. I do, however, have an itch to start to do highler level ball. My assignor asked me to do a Legion game at the end of last season, but it got rained out. So we'll see what next year holds.