Gerry wasn't wearing a chest protector Gerry sells.

[Recontra]

Loved watching Gerry work the dish for game one. Wicked consistent by the book miniscule strike zone--a nightmare for a fast ball/change up pitcher like Verlander--I knew the Tigers were screwed the minute that first 94 mph fast ball on the corner was met with Gerry's silence. His head height and body were in the same place in the slot on virtually every pitch, every inning. Also couldn't help notice that he wasn't wearing a chest protector that he sells on his website. According to his website, his new and improved thicker DavisShield gives superior heart and shoulder protection ("Maximum Protection"), allegedly better according to his published "drop test" than either the Wilson Platinum or Wilson W (both of which his official website also sells). Yet Mr. Davis wasn't wearing any of the three, and appeared to be wearing a protector that is not even made any more--so I assume no one was paying him to wear it. Makes me wonder if the scientific "drop test" really is the best test for estimating the effectiveness of any given chest protector, although that seems to be the standard that all manufacturers utilize.

Something smells. It makes me fear that I can't even trust the writing on the outside of my Fresh Scent RightGuard: "New and Improved!!" "Maximum Protection!!"

[johnnyg08]

If he doesn't wear what he sells, that makes my decision easy.

[Umpire in Chief]

He wears the Riddell Power. No longer available anywhere.

[gnhbua93]

As a business man he should use the Iasogna style of wearing the chest protector under a under shirt when he uses the plate coat. JMHO.

[BRUMP]

Loved watching Gerry work the dish for game one. Wicked consistent by the book miniscule strike zone--a nightmare for a fast ball/change up pitcher like Verlander--I knew the Tigers were screwed the minute that first 94 mph fast ball on the corner was met with Gerry's silence. His head height and body were in the same place in the slot on virtually every pitch, every inning. Also couldn't help notice that he wasn't wearing a chest protector that he sells on his website. According to his website, his new and improved thicker DavisShield gives superior heart and shoulder protection ("Maximum Protection"), allegedly better according to his published "drop test" than either the Wilson Platinum or Wilson W (both of which his official website also sells). Yet Mr. Davis wasn't wearing any of the three, and appeared to be wearing a protector that is not even made any more--so I assume no one was paying him to wear it. Makes me wonder if the scientific "drop test" really is the best test for estimating the effectiveness of any given chest protector, although that seems to be the standard that all manufacturers utilize.

Something smells. It makes me fear that I can't even trust the writing on the outside of my Fresh Scent RightGuard: "New and Improved!!" "Maximum Protection!!"

is it advertised as MLB quality???? if not then i dont see what the big deal is

[johnnyg08]

We don't know if it's MLB quality. Zero MLB umpires use it.

[BRUMP]

Zero MLB umpires use it.

Probably bexauae it's not MLB quality.

[kylejt]

Having tested it myself, I wouldn't use in any form of baseball.

It would be a perfect softball protector. I'll let you know, once I turn 80, that is.

Oh, and that drop test works great on a flat surface. If your "surface" happens to be dead flat, go get 'em.

[canadianump]

if this gerry davis chest protector isnt good enough for baseball then it definetely is not good enough for softball. i umpire both baseball and softball and i know softnball gets a bad rap from those who umpire only baseball. in elite softball u have a ball coming at the plate at 85 mph being released from 40 feet.if u do the math and convert that from 60 feet u will know it is coming faster than a mlb fastball. nevertheless, gerry davis strikezone in game 1 was too tight and took the game away from verlander, even though he wasnt as sharp as he usually is . as for gerry . the davis shield chest protector is garbage and thats why no major league umps wear them..however two major league umps wear the honigs k-1 , yup thats the one everyone here says is no good. also 2 major league umps wear the 50 dollar champion hard shell chest protector that the majority here say is not good for anything above HS. one final word , all the hype over the new all star chest protector isnt warranted. after talking to a couple of retailers , they inform me it isnt selling as well as expected and guess what...not one major league umpire wears this all star 7 chest protector but four wear honigs k-1 and champion models. u go figure

[scrounge]

I get that you probably mean the "perception" is that it's coming faster than an MLB fastball, but there's no amount of math that makes an 85 mph softball faster than a 95 mph MLB fastball. And the force imparted by a baseball or softball isn't dependent on your perception of speed but rather the actual speed.

[JaxRolo]

I agree. If its coming au 85mph it's not picking up more speed just because its closer.

I don't do Calculus very often. But when I do I drink Diet Coke'

[Jocko]

If your car does a 1/4 mile in 14 seconds at 95 mph, or a fastball does 95 mph from 60'6".... 95 is still 95. Regardless the distance traveled.

Funny, noone does the math to see how fast a heater would be from 40'. Maybe Dr. Ump can shed some light. Cyclonhokiece, you're an engineer. Give us the formula and the breakdown.

[BRUMP]

Speed = distance/time. Lets assume for a minute that air friction does not exist. If a pitcher throws the ball 95mph, you can get hit with the ball right out of the pitchers hand, or hit 95 miles away an hr after the pitcher throws it and it would still be 95 mph. Now with air friction in place, most of the time when a fastball is clocked around 95, immediately after its release it is around 99, and when the catcher receives it, it is around 91. The radar gun can only pick up the mean velocity of the pitch. So the only difference that distance would make in this case is that is that instead of the balls speed dropping 4 mph from the average, it would probably drop around 3-3.3 mph. However because a softball is bigger than a baseball it would even out as the ball has more surface area being exposed to friction.

Summary- by the time the ball has any chance of hitting the umpire it is less than the mph recorded on any radar gun. The only difference that distance has on speed is the amount of time the object is exposed to air friction. A baseball would loose more velocity strictly due to distance but because of the greater surface area of a softball, it just about evens out and the decreases due to air friction are just about the same (4 mph for each), thus a softball thrown at an avg mph of 85 from 40ft will be perceived faster than a baseball at 95 from 60ft 6 in., but in reality the baseball is still about 10 mph faster.

[Marcus6]

but four wear honigs k-1 and champion models. u go figure

The Champion gained popularity in the Minor Leagues a few years ago as a lightweight hard shell protector that was lighter and more comfortable than the Wilson Gold & Platinum offerings. I know a few MiLB guys who either wear it or have worn it.

[johnnyg08]

Speed = distance/time. Lets assume for a minute that air friction does not exist. If a pitcher throws the ball 95mph, you can get hit with the ball right out of the pitchers hand, or hit 95 miles away an hr after the pitcher throws it and it would still be 95 mph. Now with air friction in place, most of the time when a fastball is clocked around 95, immediately after its release it is around 99, and when the catcher receives it, it is around 91. The radar gun can only pick up the mean velocity of the pitch. So the only difference that distance would make in this case is that is that instead of the balls speed dropping 4 mph from the average, it would probably drop around 3-3.3 mph. However because a softball is bigger than a baseball it would even out as the ball has more surface area being exposed to friction.

Summary- by the time the ball has any chance of hitting the umpire it is less than the mph recorded on any radar gun. The only difference that distance has on speed is the amount of time the object is exposed to air friction. A baseball would loose more velocity strictly due to distance but because of the greater surface area of a softball, it just about evens out and the decreases due to air friction are just about the same (4 mph for each), thus a softball thrown at an avg mph of 85 from 40ft will be perceived faster than a baseball at 95 from 60ft 6 in., but in reality the baseball is still about 10 mph faster.

I agree with BRUMP. It actually is faster out of hand, slows down, but even if it is 80, I'd prefer to not be hit by hit...hell, even if it is 30.

[Fittske24]

also 2 major league umps wear the 50 dollar champion hard shell chest protector that the majority here say is not good for anything above HS.

It should be noted that the MLB umpires that use the champion/ all-American Chest protector use the old version with Velcro. These will work similar to the west vest line.The newer models with rivets only are not recommend above HS.

[kylejt]

It should be noted that the MLB umpires that use the champion/ all-American Chest protector use the old version with Velcro. These will work similar to the west vest line.The newer models with rivets only are not recommend above HS.

I agree. The new, riveted Champions have a much thinner pad behind the plates. It's okay, but not for higher levels. Oh, they go for less than $40 on eBay. Quite the deal for a youth umpire.

[kylejt]

if this gerry davis chest protector isnt good enough for baseball then it definetely is not good enough for softball. i umpire both baseball and softball and i know softnball gets a bad rap from those who umpire only baseball. in elite softball u have a ball coming at the plate at 85 mph being released from 40 feet.if u do the math and convert that from 60 feet u will know it is coming faster than a mlb fastball. nevertheless, gerry davis strikezone in game 1 was too tight and took the game away from verlander, even though he wasnt as sharp as he usually is . as for gerry . the davis shield chest protector is garbage and thats why no major league umps wear them..however two major league umps wear the honigs k-1 , yup thats the one everyone here says is no good. also 2 major league umps wear the 50 dollar champion hard shell chest protector that the majority here say is not good for anything above HS. one final word , all the hype over the new all star chest protector isnt warranted. after talking to a couple of retailers , they inform me it isnt selling as well as expected and guess what...not one major league umpire wears this all star 7 chest protector but four wear honigs k-1 and champion models. u go figure

The big difference between softball and baseball, is, well, the ball. It's (you guessed it) softer. That's why is doesn't hurt as much when you get hit by it, and can wear "lesser" gear. I thought everyone knew that.

The fact that no MLB umpire uses the All Star isn't that shocking. First, they get free Wilson products, and they're pretty good. So that accounts for them. As for the rest, they're probably comfortable with what theyve been trusting throughout their career. Why switch now?

Just a note, I've met a few MLB umpires, and none of them impressed me with their passion for their gear. Not like some of us kooks.

The Davishield isn't garbage. It's got some pretty nice features. The backing in great, as is the harness. It's really comfortable, and fits great. It just won't protect you from baseballs, as well as a decent hardshell does.

[Jocko]

I have several cps,, including a P210. It ranks up there with anything I've worn as far as comfort and protection. I actually prefer it to my system 7.

[Marcus6]

Just a note, I've met a few MLB umpires, and none of them impressed me with their passion for their gear. Not like some of us kooks.

Good point. A lot of MLB guys wearing their Riddells are probably pushing 20+ years with those things. Its about comfort and familiarity and all that. Although they only work the plate every 4 games, a properly maintained CP should last a long time. I work with guys around here who still sport the original Wilson West Vest and those are probably pushing 20+ years and they look really worn out but hey they still work, right?

[johnnyg08]

The MLB guys average 35 plates a year.

[BRUMP]

The MLB guys average 35 plates a year.

Good point. That's a month for some people on this site.

[BigSimonia]

If you're talking about the force that a softball hits the chest protector vs the force that a baseball hits a chest protector, it's more than just a question of speed. f=ma after all and my daughter, a softball catcher, says you all might want to check out this video:

[Umpire in Chief]

***** Foreshadowing ****

Very interesting

[Thunderheads]

Did the Sports Science team consider the fact that the baseball pitcher weakened the machine?

Not slamming JFinch, just saying