OUCH!!

[Thunderheads]

got to hurt ........

AND ............. 

Mark Ripperger got hit yesterday as well ..........

(embed not available)

http://m.mlb.com/video/v356953983/?query=umpire

[JHSump]

Ouch is right.

In both cases the mask hardly moved on his head. In the first case the ball did not seem to hit dead on, so shouldn't the mask have spun a bit?

[urout17]

I wear a Wilson Shock hockey style mask.  I've taken the same pitch off of that and it absorbs most of that type of foul ball.  It looks like his face/head/neck took all the punishment.

[gnhbua93]

I have the Force3 Defender mask and had been hit in the mask with foul balls nastier, in my opinion, than what Corey Blaser was hit with no ill effects. If Blaser was using the mask that wouldn't happen. Those shock absorbers are the real deal, disperse the impact very well.

[MadMax]

First, Corey Blaser is wearing a Nike Titanium with the chin guard cut down so the throat guard swings freely. Team Wendy pads.

Second, I've read up on this and done some digging, and the scuttlebutt is the MLB guys wear their masks "too tight". There's something about either if the mask is blown off then insurance coverage is less (or scrutinized) or the gear suppliers freak out because the viewing public think that a mask that flies off must be broken or defective.

[JHSump]

@MadMax wow! Where did you read this? I'd be interested in reading about this.

[MadMax]

I can't quote anyone or anything specifically, @JHSump, but to say it's scuttlebutt... Meaning an amalgamation of reading articles, forum boards, and then "off the record" talking at camps, clinics and tournaments. Strictly best hypothesis at this juncture.

[UmpJeff]

I previously read on this site a posting (I can't recall the member) where an MLB umpire told him that masks shouldn't be worn loose and that MLB guys wear them snug so that the mask padding does what it's intended to do.  

Don't  the messenger...

[MObetterBlue]

From the overhead view of the first one, It looks like Corey Blaser is over the plate and not in the slot.  IMO if he's in the slot, that ball misses him completely.  Maybe his vision was obscured there somehow...

Those shots on the side of the mask really suck though.  I'd rather take it dead center so the energy is dispersed evenly through the mask (like the 2nd one with Mark Ripperger).

[Rulekeep]

I am surprised I didn't hear my father screaming my name from the living room when this happened...usually he does...I mean, it still hurt whether or not the umpire geek was there to witness it but it's strange seeing something umpire related at a Mariners game here first. 

[grayhawk]

From the overhead view of the first one, It looks like Corey Blaser is over the plate and not in the slot.  IMO if he's in the slot, that ball misses him completely.  Maybe his vision was obscured there somehow...

I agree - this was a shot that could have been avoided with proper positioning.

[JDavis225]

From the overhead view of the first one, It looks like Corey Blaser is over the plate and not in the slot.  IMO if he's in the slot, that ball misses him completely.  Maybe his vision was obscured there somehow...

 

It looks as if he was originally in the slot but once the batter squared around he made an adjustment which left him over the plate. Sucks, but sometimes you've just gotta work.

[umpstu]

I agree - this was a shot that could have been avoided with proper positioning.

Disagree.  Sometimes you're going to get hit, damn the positioning.  Case in point, I was hit the other day while in the slot.  Pitcher bounced one about 5 feet in front of the plate and I took it straight in the fat muscle.  Told the catcher that the muscle I had been working on for 56 years was destroyed with one pitch.  And then I cried so much they had to bring out some diamond dust to clean up the mud around home plate.

[grayhawk]

Disagree.  Sometimes you're going to get hit, damn the positioning.  Case in point, I was hit the other day while in the slot.  Pitcher bounced one about 5 feet in front of the plate and I took it straight in the fat muscle.  Told the catcher that the muscle I had been working on for 56 years was destroyed with one pitch.  And then I cried so much they had to bring out some diamond dust to clean up the mud around home plate.

I was merely saying that being in the slot would have avoided the shot in this case.  It's absolutely true that being in the slot means that you will still get hit from time to time.  It will find you no matter how perfect your positioning is.