OUCH !!!

[Thunderheads]

I couldn't find this posted .....but .......I found it the other day because Joe West told me they were going to post it on the mlbumpires.com site ....so, I thought I'd post it again if it wasn't..........

MAN ...that's a 92 mph shot to the bread-basket!

http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=6312415&c_id=tb

Here is the info from the majorleagueumpires.com on Tom Hallion becoming a crew chief in the "Umpire News" tab....

As for memories with Crawford’s crew, last Aug. 26 in Toronto won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

Hallion had to replace Crawford behind the plate early in the game when the veteran crew chief took a foul ball off his face mask.

In the sixth inning, Travis Snider swung and missed at a Scott Kazmir pitch that crossed up Tampa Bay catcher Gregg Zaun. The 92-mph pitch hit smacked Hallion in the chest, bringing him down.

“He was calling for a slider outside. Kazmir threw a fastball inside,” Hallion remembered.

“It was like I got shot.

“It was never touched. It got the bottom of the chest protector and part of the flesh.”

It didn’t leave a Rawling’s logo on him, but a “bruise that ended up six different shades of color.”

Medical staff rushed to his side and a cart was brought out, but he eventually rose and walked off without assistance. After a 21-minute delay, Hallion returned to handle third base.

“Jerry was already out. I wasn’t going to leave us down to two guys,” he said. “They let me go stand at third base and help with the rotation. They made me promise not to move.”

The bruise eventually went away. Hallion accepts the risk, saying “It was the nature of the beast.” He did, though, get a new chest protector.

“(Umpiring legend) Joe West makes a vest that’s a little longer,” he said. “The next day he called me and said, ‘Your new protector is on the way and you’ll have it before the next time behind the plate.”

Edited May 13, 2010 by Thunderheads

[Rich Ives]

Someone got hit with a pitch and it left a bruise? Wow! What a surprise.

[Thunderheads]

Someone got hit with a pitch and it left a bruise? Wow! What a surprise.

That's all you could muster Rich, ...a smart ass remark??

I didn't see this posted, so I figured it's worth seeing. Goes to show you how dangerous it all can be.

[JamesC]

Now that he mentions at the end that Joe West called him and told him a new CP was on the way, I wonder what he was previously using? Anyone know?

[JamesC]

And to add to that, you hate to see these guys get hurt, but for some reason it seems like it would be interesting to watch a major league game be called with a 2-man system...

[Rich Ives]

That's all you could muster Rich, ...a smart ass remark??

Yes. Gettting hit hurts. Sometimes it does serious damage. It's not news.

[kcfan102]

If you have nothing constructive to add, go to another thread. That way those who wish to participate can do so in peace.

[Thunderheads]

And to add to that, you hate to see these guys get hurt, but for some reason it seems like it would be interesting to watch a major league game be called with a 2-man system...

Hallion came back out, they worked a 3 man .......

Also, ...Id' assume Hallion was wearing a short CP (12") ...probably got a larger one overall, 13.5? of whatever it is ......but it doesn't say...

[Thunderheads]

If you have nothing constructive to add, go to another thread. That way those who wish to participate can do so in peace.

kc, ...I can see why you responded like this. But, after thinking about it, I guess I can see where Rich is coming from, big deal. But, with the current conversation of CPs, and that Wilson's are the end-all-be-all, and that there's no testing for them, ...and the fact that I had just had an email conversation with Joe West about testing, ...I thought it was kind of cool for all to see.

Again, goes to show you that we don't mess around when it comes to calling balls and strikes

Rich, ... no hard feelings, ....I just thought the whole thing was sort of appopriate with issues this board and others have discussed about CPs, safety and testing ......:banghead:

[BrianC14]

Yes. Gettting hit hurts. Sometimes it does serious damage. It's not news.

Here, try this:

Edited May 14, 2010 by BrianC14

[JamesC]

I know Hallion came back out. I was stating that I thought it would be interesting to watch the big boys run a simple 2-man system. Unfortunately, it did not happen that night.

[kcfan102]

kc, ...I can see why you responded like this. But, after thinking about it, I guess I can see where Rich is coming from, big deal. But, with the current conversation of CPs, and that Wilson's are the end-all-be-all, and that there's no testing for them, ...and the fact that I had just had an email conversation with Joe West about testing, ...I thought it was kind of cool for all to see.

Again, goes to show you that we don't mess around when it comes to calling balls and strikes

Rich, ... no hard feelings, ....I just thought the whole thing was sort of appopriate with issues this board and others have discussed about CPs, safety and testing ......

I saw this video last year. It was nothing new to me either. But I hadn't seen the little excerpt that goes along with it. I thought it was neat.

No hard feeling at all to anybody. It just bugs me when people go onto threads and say "Who cares." To me, it's a waste time and space and it doesn't contribute to any part of the discussion. Rich, if you don't want to talk about Tom Hallion takin one in the bread basket, then why post?

But on the other hand, I guess you have every right to say what you want, just like everybody else.

Thunderheads, I thought the excerpt alone was worth sharing.