Plate or Combo Pants?

[Rulekeep]

Good luck and remember you'll get in less trouble calling a ball a strike than calling a strike a ball. Hitters can adjust to a big zone, pitchers cannot adjust to a tight zone.

Ted Barrett said almost the same thing last Saturday at the clinic I attended. I love hearing the MLB guys philosophy of calling pitches.

Ted Barrett is such a chill guy like wow nice

[MadMax]

Pants:

While the professional appearance is undoubted by wearing plate-specific pants and base-specific pants, there are at least two instances where Combos are the way to go:

 

• "Rapid fire" tournaments, wherein five minutes after ending a game, you're starting another one. Sometimes, you'll get a new partner, and there isn't a decision as to who is going to work which yet.

• Baseball "Theme Parks", such as Cooperstown Dreams Park, All-Star Village, The Cal Ripken Experience, etc. – granted, you want to look your best, but if there's any sure-fire way to destroy (or make disappear) $60-$80 pairs of pants, the laundry facilities at these Parks will find it, and inflict it upon you at the most inopportune time. Your pants will never be as charcoal as they were, will never fit quite the same, will never have the crisp crease you remember, and probably will completely change brands (or numbers of belt loops) by the time Day 6 rolls around. The laundry service is an appreciated, hardworking service, but conscientious and attentive to details? Not happening.

 

When I can get two pairs of better-than-average combo pants for two-thirds the cost of a single pair of polywool plate pants, and I'm looking at doing 14-20 games in a week, guess what I'm getting?

 

 

If you are going to wear Combo's, might as well wear shorts!

 

Rolo, you're so much shorter than me, your plate pants are shorts on me!

 

Throat Guard:

Back when I was a catcher for the school team, I had them on my masks and hated them. My club-ball mask did not have one, nor did my farm-team issued one. When I started umpiring, I used my farm-team mask, and so, never thought to put a throat guard on. One of the nice things about the Nike NRS is the size of the on-frame throat guard, so I very likely won't put one on it. Of my masks, I should probably put a throat guard on the Easton Speed Elite, since the on-frame one is so small, and if I'm going to pass it on to another umpire, it's just good form to do so.

[Thunderheads]

Do whatever you want regarding the pants. I've had base and plate pants in the past but personally prefer the combo pants, which I guess according to some on here makes me a complete hack. I've worked HS varsity ball for years and numerous postseason assignments as well.....in combo pants. Wear what you're comfortable with, for me it's combo pants. 

If that's what you got out of this, .... you're not really comprehending what's being said.

[JaxRolo]

When I came back to Umpiring after a 20 year layoff. I wore Walmart pants. I wore my hat backwards. Then I got a couple of Combo pants.

 

But I quickly learned how to do things correctly if I wanted to move up in the ranks!

 

 

 

 

BTW - I recently got promoted from Pitching machine to coach pitch! YAY for me!!!

[MidAmUmp]

Good luck and remember you'll get in less trouble calling a ball a strike than calling a strike a ball. Hitters can adjust to a big zone, pitchers cannot adjust to a tight zone.

Ted Barrett said almost the same thing last Saturday at the clinic I attended. I love hearing the MLB guys philosophy of calling pitches.

I hate it when these MLB guys steal my material!!!

[Rook23]

Doesn't it also have a little bit to do with the brand? 

 

I'm a true 33 waist and I wear 34 umpire pants. I've tried the Gerry Davis base pants and they were very slim fitting on me. I also have a pair of the polys and the base pants fit more baggy than GD combo pants. 

 

I've found the ploys to be very baggy in the crotch on both plate and base styles unless I pull them up 4 inches above my navel. GD has a much truer rise in my opinion. I realize the color is not popular here but when focusing on styling alone, my point is not all brands fit the same. 

 

Also does personal frame/build not enter into the equation?  Just like anything else, try it on and look in the mirror.  If you think you look like a clown, you probably do. If you feel you look Game 7 ready, you probably do. We're typically our own worst critics. 

[semperfiguy]

If you choose to be smitty, you'll end up looking sh@&ty. Always invest in your craft. A good mentor would have told you that.

[umpstu]

Doesn't it also have a little bit to do with the brand? 

 

I'm a true 33 waist and I wear 34 umpire pants. I've tried the Gerry Davis base pants and they were very slim fitting on me. I also have a pair of the polys and the base pants fit more baggy than GD combo pants. 

 

I've found the ploys to be very baggy in the crotch on both plate and base styles unless I pull them up 4 inches above my navel. GD has a much truer inseam in my opinion. I realize the color is not popular here but when focusing on styling alone, my point is not all brands fit the same. 

 

Also does personal frame/build not enter into the equation?  Just like anything else, try it on and look in the mirror.  If you think you look like a clown, you probably do. If you feel you look Game 7 ready, you probably do. We're typically our own worst critics. 

Doesn't inseam have to do with length, in which case your tailor may be screwing up? ha

[aiber]

Hello all! Are the Honig's Charcoal and the Gerry Davis Charcoal the same shade? Or are the noticeably different? The reason I ask is because I received my Gerry Davis and do not like the fit and I would like to buy a couple of poly-wools everyone seems to be recommending. However, I have to match with my partner and our association recommends the Gerry Davis charcoal pants.

Thanks in advance for your input.

[JaxRolo]

Hello all! Are the Honig's Charcoal and the Gerry Davis Charcoal the same shade? Or are the noticeably different? The reason I ask is because I received my Gerry Davis and do not like the fit and I would like to buy a couple of poly-wools everyone seems to be recommending. However, I have to match with my partner and our association recommends the Gerry Davis charcoal pants.

Thanks in advance for your input.

NO, they are completely different

[aiber]

Hello all! Are the Honig's Charcoal and the Gerry Davis Charcoal the same shade? Or are the noticeably different? The reason I ask is because I received my Gerry Davis and do not like the fit and I would like to buy a couple of poly-wools everyone seems to be recommending. However, I have to match with my partner and our association recommends the Gerry Davis charcoal pants.

Thanks in advance for your input.

NO, they are completely different

Same for the Smitty's? For that matter, are there any that match the Gerry Davis?

[JoHart10]

I pretty much have a pair of all available pants, but here in Iowa where it seems like GD pants are the norm for h.s. umpires, I have found a match to them. Cliff Keen sells a plate pant in charcoal that is really close to GD. I like them because they are not an adjustable waist and the cut seems right. http://www.cliffkeen.com/officials/baseball-softball/pants-shorts/m45-umpire-plate-pants

 

They do have a combo offering in charcoal, but I cannot speak to their color, cut or anything else, because I do not own them.

[Majordave]

From a distance all brands of umpire pants look okay. So long as they are a similar shade and not stained, faded or wrinkled. It's up close where you notice. Nothing looks like Gerry Davis pants except Gerry Davis Pants. It's a totally different fabric and weave and shade of gray as well as cut and fit of the pants.

That being said, unless it's another umpire or some crazy fashionista type person who's into umpires and clothes......NOBODY NOTICES your uniform specifics. Fit, cleanliness and semi-close shade and stripe pattern is all that matters to 99.9% of anyone you'll deal with as an umpire.

What really matters is, how well you umpire. Judgment, consistency, rules knowledge, confidence, authority exhibited, approachability, communication skills and hustle (not necessarily in that order) is WHAT REALLY MATTERS. Trust me.

[T-Rav]

I umpire in Broward and they too recommend the Gerry Davis pants which doesn't make allot of sense since Honig's is not far away, I'm not a fan and only use them for low level games and use my polywools for all my varsity and college games. No one has ever said anything about my lack of conformity and I will continue to wear the Honigs's polywools as it is my belief that they are a far superior pant.

 

Get the polywools and look like a pro.

[Majordave]

For most it is a $$ thing.  I think because there are so many expenses to umpire some guys just get cheap and try to scrimp where they can.  For some of us it is a passion, a calling, an obsession (speaking for myself) and that extends to the little details like pants, creases, hat creasing, etc., etc......

 

Basically, most umpires are cheapskates or really need the money so they cut corners.  OR, they just don't care.  i am amazed daily at how casual our society and peoples' (even highly degreed and highly paid professionals) dress and behavior has become.

 

Some of us are fastidious and some are slobs.  Some of us are articulate and some are inarticulate.  Some are fit and make health and fitness a priority above all and others do not.  It is always going to be that way.  And, I think we two differing archetypes have much disdain for the other.  So, I will end my philosophical diatribe with a quote from Rodney King, responding to the rioting in LA after the verdict in favor of the policemen who beat him on tape; "Why can't we all just get along?"

[Rulekeep]

For most it is a $$ thing. I think because there are so many expenses to umpire some guys just get cheap and try to scrimp where they can. For some of us it is a passion, a calling, an obsession (speaking for myself) and that extends to the little details like pants, creases, hat creasing, etc., etc......

Basically, most umpires are cheapskates or really need the money so they cut corners. OR, they just don't care. i am amazed daily at how casual our society and peoples' (even highly degreed and highly paid professionals) dress and behavior has become.

Some of us are fastidious and some are slobs. Some of us are articulate and some are inarticulate. Some are fit and make health and fitness a priority above all and others do not. It is always going to be that way. And, I think we two differing archetypes have much disdain for the other. So, I will end my philosophical diatribe with a quote from Rodney King, responding to the rioting in LA after the verdict in favor of the policemen who beat him on tape; "Why can't we all just get along?"

Why can't we be friends, why can't we be friends, why can't we be friends, why can't we be friends.

[Majordave]

@Rulekeep  You get it.

[MidAmUmp]

You guys keep saying "recommend".

 

Do they recommend - To be used in a sentence such as..., "We recommend that you buy from Gerry Davis because someone in our group gets a financial kickback?"

OR

Do they require - To be used in a sentence such as..., "We require that you buy from Gerry Davis because someone in our group gets a financial kickback?"

 

If they truly recommend, then buy what you want.

 

If they require, then I guess you have to do what they tell you, find another association, or start your own.

 

Either way it seems pretty shady to me.

[Richvee]

I pretty much have a pair of all available pants, but here in Iowa where it seems like GD pants are the norm for h.s. umpires, I have found a match to them. Cliff Keen sells a plate pant in charcoal that is really close to GD. I like them because they are not an adjustable waist and the cut seems right. http://www.cliffkeen.com/officials/baseball-softball/pants-shorts/m45-umpire-plate-pants

 

They do have a combo offering in charcoal, but I cannot speak to their color, cut or anything else, because I do not own them.

These pants don't seem to get a lot of love here. I like them a lot. Color, durability, and most important- odd size waists and no adjustable elastic. 

[noumpere]

I wear both (not at the same time).  While they are different, I don't really have a preference for one over the other.

[aiber]

You guys keep saying "recommend".

 

Do they recommend - To be used in a sentence such as..., "We recommend that you buy from Gerry Davis because someone in our group gets a financial kickback?"

OR

Do they require - To be used in a sentence such as..., "We require that you buy from Gerry Davis because someone in our group gets a financial kickback?"

 

If they truly recommend, then buy what you want.

 

If they require, then I guess you have to do what they tell you, find another association, or start your own.

 

Either way it seems pretty shady to me.

For my association, I do not think that it has anything to do with "kickbacks" or such. It is about uniformity.

[MidAmUmp]

 

You guys keep saying "recommend".

 

Do they recommend - To be used in a sentence such as..., "We recommend that you buy from Gerry Davis because someone in our group gets a financial kickback?"

OR

Do they require - To be used in a sentence such as..., "We require that you buy from Gerry Davis because someone in our group gets a financial kickback?"

 

If they truly recommend, then buy what you want.

 

If they require, then I guess you have to do what they tell you, find another association, or start your own.

 

Either way it seems pretty shady to me.

For my association, I do not think that it has anything to do with "kickbacks" or such. It is about uniformity.

 

I was simply using recommend and require as examples in sentences for understanding and clarification. 

[JaxRolo]

Associations don't want to tell members to buy it poly wools because of the price. Lower tier Honigs pants are crap!

I bet if Honigs made PW price compatible to other brands they would put everyone else out of business as far as pants go.

[aiber]

Associations don't want to tell members to buy it poly wools because of the price. Lower tier Honigs pants are crap!I bet if Honigs made PW price compatible to other brands they would put everyone else out of business as far as pants go.

What does your association wear? Do you have a choice?

[WIUMP]

Associations don't want to tell members to buy it poly wools because of the price. Lower tier Honigs pants are crap!I bet if Honigs made PW price compatible to other brands they would put everyone else out of business as far as pants go.

My economics background tells me that if Honigs was enjoying large profit margins on these pants, other manufacturers would jump in with a similar product. The PW "formula" isn't that hard to replicate. There aren't any proprietary materials or processes involved. Instead, I get the impression that Honigs has very tight margins on these. They are made in the USA after all.