Balloon Protector

[soapbox]

My partner, very new to baseball, and first time to big diamond got dinged on the hand in a Babe Ruth (13,14,15 y/o). Later he got hit on his thigh. Coach asked me between innings why we don't use the big balloon. I told him it's impractical, that only the youth umpires use them primarily. He said, that's ok ump, I know you just want to look cool.

Yeah coach, that's it. He must have seen me drive up in my chick magnet. My 2006, royal blue, dinged up Honda Element.

[umpcoachfather]

"My 2006, royal blue, dinged up Honda Element." With 1000 baseball sized dings in it.

[carolinablue]

I don't work travel ball and HS is over so right now the only thing left for me is LL. I've been working about 8-9 games a week since April ranging from minors to Juniors and I don't think there's a place on me right now that doesn't have a bruise. I may consider a balloon. Nah, I can't do it. :lol:

[JHSump]

Well, I am in about the same position! Many bruises from 12U and 10U games. No problems at all at upper levels or HS.

What, exactly, are the reasons for *not* using a balloon in lower-level games? Sure, when the pitchers and the catchers are skilled, you can use inside protector. You get more mobility, and a better look at the strike zone. But why not use a balloon at the lower levels? Would the games suffer? Really? I doubt it. The field is smaller, so mobility is not as important. For that matter, wouldn't increased safety translate into increased comfort and increased concentration on the task of calling balls and strikes?

Just asking.

[soapbox]

_{He asked at a 15 year old Babe Ruth game. Personally, I can't see going backwards with a balloon. 12 year old games in our neck of the woods are good enough. If I'm doing 10 year old boys games, I hope they are club teams that can catch the ball. However, whatever each is comfortable with.}

[Stan W.]

No balloon....regardless...

my balloon horror story....many years ago when I was just starting out, I was doing a Dixie youth game solo....I came out from behind the plate on a routine play, get tangled up in strap and FACEPLANT myself in the infield......I come up looking like a sugar doughnut.....missed the play and had to have the 1st base coach call the play....

last day I ever used a balloon....

[mstaylor]

I started using the inside protector. My first plate was a SrLL game and while the pitcher was warming he hit me in the shoulder with me standing up the line. Hadn't even called a pitch yet and had my first bruise. I took a couple of shots during the game and the manager asked if I wanted him to get the balloon. I laughed and said I was hardheaded and would hang in. I tried a ballon in a Pony game for an inning, switched between the first and second.

[JaxRolo]

No balloon....regardless...

my balloon horror story....many years ago when I was just starting out, I was doing a Dixie youth game solo....I came out from behind the plate on a routine play, get tangled up in strap and FACEPLANT myself in the infield......I come up looking like a sugar doughnut.....missed the play and had to have the 1st base coach call the play....

last day I ever used a balloon....

You have a video??

[mstaylor]

When Stan and I started they were still shooting super 8.

[Stan W.]

When Stan and I started they were still shooting super 8.

I'd laugh if that wasnt true mike..!!

Nor is there any photographic evidence of me in my league issued uniform....

Blue 2 button polyester coaches shorts..

Blue t-shirt with the dubious screen-printed title of UMPIRE...

Meshback adjustable Elmer Fudd hat...

[JHSump]

Ha ha ha ...I had that same blue t-shirt with UMPIRE in white letters!

This was when I first started out at 17 years-old --- many decades ago (mid to late 70s). We used the balloon in the 13-15 year-old Babe Ruth town league games I umpired. I think the rest of my uniform consisted of shorts and sneakers. I don't think I even had a hat! There was a Babe Ruth game each summer weeknight, and double headers on Saturdays. If I wasn't playing, I was umpiring or watching. Little League games were played every night on at least half a dozen fields across the town. Baseball was either more important in those days, or more important there (Long Island), than were I live now: my town had a Little League parade at the beginning of each season with fire trucks and all the kids in uniform from 8 on up to 12 marching through the town. Other towns had similar situations.

Anyway, the shin guards, mask, indicator, and balloon were waiting for us at the field where I umpired. There was no training. We were on our own. I think my only training was watching umpires on TV on my own (and reading the rule book on my own). I do remember looking over the top of the catcher's head at the strike zone, centered on the plate. I don't remember ever being hit or injured in any way.

Now that I think about it, I can't remember if there was a second umpire! We may have been doing the games solo.

There was a college guy that starting using an inside protector to umpire higher-level games (16-18 Senior Babe Ruth, for example). That guy looked cool --- I wanted to switch to an inside protector, but my parents were against it.

I do have a VHS conversion of a super-8 movie of me playing an inning or two, but nothing of me umpiring :(

[SoCal Lurker]

Anyway, the shin guards, mask, indicator, and balloon were waiting for us at the field where I umpired. There was no training. We were on our own. I think my only training was watching umpires on TV on my own (and reading the rule book on my own). I do remember looking over the top of the catcher's head at the strike zone, centered on the plate. I don't remember ever being hit or injured in any way.

That was my one year as an umpire (I believe I was 13). No training, handed the book ( still think I was the only one who actually read it), coaches screaming, parents screaming -- guess that's just typical LL minors. As I recall there were 2 umps, but I don't think anyone ever even explained where the BU was supposed to be -- and I'd stopped playing in minors myself. One year was enough and I went back to just reffing soccer, which paid more for shorter games, was more fun, and had to deal with less abuse. But with my son playing, I've become intrigued and may try it again one day. But for now, I'll just keep lurking here to learn more about the game.

[mstaylor]

I started out as the big brother getting pulled out of the stands to do bases, you know that anybody can do bases. No rulebook, no uniform, no training. I saw my first rulebook and my first clinic eight years into my career. I was wearing a uniform by then, dark blue with elbecco button down shirt. The local HS assigner taught the clinic, after the second one he asked why I wasn't working HS. So I started HS the next year.

[JHSump]

Gee, I wish there was a clinic of some sort when I started out way back when. And being noticed would have been nice.

Now that I think about it, I must have been noticed in some sort of way, since a few years in I suddenly found myself recruited to work a 4-man crew (!) in some local all-star game (can't remember the age group).

Now there are two funny things about this experience.

One, I received absolutely no training about what to do in a 4-man crew. I don't recall there being much of a pregame discussion.

Second, I'm U2 out near 2B (just beyond the IF dirt in the OF grass) in the first inning, and the first batter pops one up in front of F8. While I had no training, it seemed entirely reasonable to me that I go out to get a good look at the possible running/diving catch by F8 --- there are plenty of umpires to handle the BR, right? Sure enough ball drops in front of F8. I glance back and my partners are all standing at their original places! So, I have to hustle back in to make the call on the BR sliding into 2B!!!! Even with the none-training I had, something seemed wrong about how that played out!