winding down

[Jocko]

For most of us, the season is winding down and the games are getting fewer. Fall season is more relaxed, and there are less games. Great time to work on mechanics, attend clinics, and get your gear ship shape. Yesterday, I decided to try (again) to go from the point to the hammer on called strikes. It was awkward, at first, and I found myself more focused on my mechanic than the pitch. I know I called 2 strikes that I shouldn't have, but that's better than the other way around . After the first half inning, I got comfortable and the hammer didn't feel so weird. After the 1st inning, I didn't even think about it anymore. Just hammered away and felt comfortable with it.

Now, on to the equipment part......

With more time to get your gear in top form, I have some recommendations. Feel free to add on anything you do to this incomplete list.

First, I air out my cp and shins for several days. They hang on the handrail of my back deck and get a nice tan.

Next, I get all my uniforms clean and hung. My tourneys are one day now, so I don't need to carry 12 shirts. And, since I know all my partners, for the most part, we communicate before gameday on what colors we will bring. Alot more streamlined.

Third, and one that I take alot of time on........Shoes. My method for cleaning shoes has changed. (I found a pretty good instructional video that I will share on this) I 'spit' shine my base and plate shoes. Between polishings, I use Spic & Span, a grout brush, and a towel to clean them. For you non-military guys, this will seem overkill-ish, but trust me. The difference is night and day. For all you vets, shine em up just like you did your Cadillacs. They look great. And all you need is:

Kiwi black shoe polish

Kiwi parade gloss black polish

cotton balls

horsehair buffing brush

lighter (I use a plumbers soldering torch. Keep it burning on lowest possible flame)

Spend the initial time getting your first shine, and maintenance is quick and simple. It's time consuming, but very worth the effort.

Lastly, I vacuum out my motherlode and store it away empty. I pack all my gear in a footlocker and get it out as needed. Be sure to apply a light coating of oil on all metal components. If there's surface rust, neverdull and elbow grease will do the trick.

[Jocko]

Couldn't find the right vid. And the one I shared was painful to watch. Sorry for those of you that endured it.

[Jocko]

I'm going to elaborate on the shining method.

Clean your shoes.

apply a coat of regular black. Then melt it in with whatever heat source you're using.

repeat 8 times. Less, and you won't get the results you want. More, and it'll crack and flake off. 8 is the magic number.

After you cook your 8th coat of plain black, buff the sh*t out of it with your horsehair brush.

Then follow with parade gloss.

Apply a coat.

Buff like mad

Repeat 3x

After the third coat, buff until you get the shine you want.

[Jocko]

The more you buff, the more it shines.

Between games, spray with Spic & Span and use a TOWEL (no brush. It'll scratch your polished finish) to clean your shoes. You can brush clean the unpolished areas. Also, I recommend only polishing the toes and heels. The sides, if polished, will crack and look like sh*t.

[gnhbua93]

Where the video went?

[Jocko]

Where the video went?

:rollinglaugh:

[umpstu]

Just use Leather Luster

[BigUmpire]

I'm going to elaborate on the shining method.

Clean your shoes.

apply a coat of regular black. Then melt it in with whatever heat source you're using.

repeat 8 times. Less, and you won't get the results you want. More, and it'll crack and flake off. 8 is the magic number.

After you cook your 8th coat of plain black, buff the sh*t out of it with your horsehair brush.

Then follow with parade gloss.

Apply a coat.

Buff like mad

Repeat 3x

After the third coat, buff until you get the shine you want.

Semper Fi

[Jocko]

I'm going to elaborate on the shining method.

Clean your shoes.

apply a coat of regular black. Then melt it in with whatever heat source you're using.

repeat 8 times. Less, and you won't get the results you want. More, and it'll crack and flake off. 8 is the magic number.

After you cook your 8th coat of plain black, buff the sh*t out of it with your horsehair brush.

Then follow with parade gloss.

Apply a coat.

Buff like mad

Repeat 3x

After the third coat, buff until you get the shine you want.

Semper Fiooh rah

[Jocko]

Just use Leather Luster

my way costs a little sweat equity and under $10.

[JaxRolo]

@Jocko my 5 pair of Reebok plate shoes are in the mail to you.

Can you have them done by next week?

[Jocko]

@Jocko my 5 pair of Reebok plate shoes are in the mail to you.Can you have them done by next week?

yep. I'll even do em for free. Just send me a gallon of each polish, and $350 s/h

[umpstu]

I made a lot of money spit shining shoes while in boot camp.  Plus I knew how to iron clothes. Thank God my mom was mean to me.

[Thunderheads]

The more you buff, the more it shines.

Between games, spray with Spic & Span and use a TOWEL (no brush. It'll scratch your polished finish) to clean your shoes. You can brush clean the unpolished areas. Also, I recommend only polishing the toes and heels. The sides, if polished, will crack and look like sh*t.

Spic & Span?

[MikeSafari]

Between games, I use Scrubbing Bubbles Mega Shower Foamer and wipe with a clean towel. Keeps my shoes nice and clean and also decently shiny. To clean the soles, I usually just spray them down with water and scrub em with a brush. Need to find an easy way to remove all the little pebbles that get stuck in the grooves though...

[Ump17]

For us non military guys, can you explain what you mean by "melting it in 8 times"?  Do we buff the shoes after we heat them each time.  Thanks for your service: both to the country and to the umpiring brotherhood.

[Jocko]

For us non military guys, can you explain what you mean by "melting it in 8 times"?  Do we buff the shoes after we heat them each time.  Thanks for your service: both to the country and to the umpiring brotherhood.

melting it in means literally melting the applied polish into the shoe. You'll see small threads cstch fire. This is a good thing. It cauterizes them in place. Do not buff. Melt it in, then apply another coat until you have put on 8 coats of base black. After #8 is melted in, NOW you buff.

[Jocko]

Between games, I use Scrubbing Bubbles Mega Shower Foamer and wipe with a clean towel. Keeps my shoes nice and clean and also decently shiny. To clean the soles, I usually just spray them down with water and scrub em with a brush. Need to find an easy way to remove all the little pebbles that get stuck in the grooves though...

I was a scrubbing bubbles guy myself. Until I discovered the method I now use.

[Jocko]

http://umpire-empire.com/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=2512

For us non military guys, can you explain what you mean by "melting it in 8 times"?  Do we buff the shoes after we heat them each time.  Thanks for your service: both to the country and to the umpiring brotherhood.

[Jocko]

http://umpire-empire.com/index.php/gallery/image/439-20140422-171924/

@Ump17 - even works well on zigs

[UmpRandy]

This may be covered elsewhere...no time to look right now...

 

If you store gear in a foot locker or bag for the off season, any tips for keeping odor and other science projects out of the bag or locker?

[umpstu]

This may be covered elsewhere...no time to look right now...

 

If you store gear in a foot locker or bag for the off season, any tips for keeping odor and other science projects out of the bag or locker?

Maybe moth balls. Dryer sheets.

[Jocko]

Arm n hammer

[BigUmpire]

Uncooked white rice will absorb humidity

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JaxRolo]

Uncooked white rice will absorb humidity Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Why? Because if the rice was cooked you would eat it!