What to do with HSM during ball in play?

[Rock Bottom]

Is it acceptable to leave on your hockey style mask given the vision is so good with them (at least the All-Star) when the ball goes into play, or should you remove it in all the same situations you would a traditional mask?

[Thatsnotyou]

I don’t have one, but anyone I’ve worked with has removed it. In reality it’s not that much different than a mask - it still obstructs your view to a degree. I also think it leaves it way too easy for someone to yell at you to take the mask off the first time they think you’ve missed a call. 

[maven]

Quote

What to do with HSM during ball in play?

Some would say: sell it on eBay?

For me: with no time, leave it on. With time, treat it like a mask.

As it takes slightly longer to pop off than a mask, I'll read the quick fair/foul down the line with the helmet on. Otherwise, I remove it.

[yawetag]

6 hours ago, maven said:

Some would say: sell it on eBay?

While the ball's in play. That's a true BUY IT NOW situation!

[MadMax]

Here’s what not to do with a HSM, as an umpire, @Rock Bottom. This may shape what you do do with it.

• Do not prop it upon your head between pitches, between batters, or between innings. Major League guys  like Cederstrom or Gibson (when he wore one) kinda earned that “right” or privilege to do so. Otherwise, on less experienced guys, it looks lazy and a bit “jag”-ish.
• Do not plop it down in the home plate circle while receiving lineup changes or between innings.
• Never discard it during a rotation.

As @maven mentioned, how much time you have, and how routine the play is will dictate whether or not you take it off or leave it on. Simple, or snap-quick fair/foul reads and signals up to the bags, you likely won’t have time to take it off; most of them, you don’t even need to. If a fly ball is lofted to your area of responsibility (no one on, fair/foul with runners on), then it tends to sell it better if you have the HSM off. 

If you leave it by the backstop to conduct your plate meeting, and then for the national anthem, that’s usually acceptable. Some HSM umpires will bring and wear a hat expressly for this time, if they don’t otherwise wear one under their HSM. Putting it down at the backstop while retrieving water is acceptable, too.

If you do wear a cap under the HSM, never wear it backwards; an umpire’s hat should always be bill-forward.

[Rock Bottom]

Thanks all! I'm still debating between the HSM and TM. Such pros and cons for each. I used the HSM for the one game I got in this weekend that wasn't snowed out, and used a regular hat for the plate meetings all between innings. Liked the vision of the HSM and the feeling (not sure if it's accurate) of being better protected, but didn't like holding it when the ball was put into play. I was hoping to decide on one and return the other while I can, but maybe I'll keep both... Decisions...

[wolfe_man]

I wore an All Star MVP4000 for a year.   If you get the hang of it, you can put on and take off with one hand - just like a TM.  It's really not much heavier and weight is balanced more evenly.  Practice with it until you get comfortable with it and you can take it off, and hold it, with the left hand during plays.  For me, I grabbed the main bar in the middle and that worked, you'll have to play with it to find what works better for you.  Once you get it, then you'll never need to set it down.

[Thunderheads]

5 hours ago, Rock Bottom said:

Thanks all! I'm still debating between the HSM and TM. Such pros and cons for each. I used the HSM for the one game I got in this weekend that wasn't snowed out, and used a regular hat for the plate meetings all between innings. Liked the vision of the HSM and the feeling (not sure if it's accurate) of being better protected, but didn't like holding it when the ball was put into play. I was hoping to decide on one and return the other while I can, but maybe I'll keep both... Decisions...

If I remember correctly, ........Brad at All-Star said a 6-stitch fits underneath the MVP 2500

[Rock Bottom]

2 hours ago, Thunderheads said:

If I remember correctly, ........Brad at All-Star said a 6-stitch fits underneath the MVP 2500

I tried wearing both a 6 and a 4 stitch under there and hated it.  If I decide to go with the HSM, I think I'll just bring a cap and wear it pre-game and between innings.

[Rock Bottom]

2 hours ago, wolfe_man said:

I wore an All Star MVP4000 for a year.   If you get the hang of it, you can put on and take off with one hand - just like a TM.  It's really not much heavier and weight is balanced more evenly.  Practice with it until you get comfortable with it and you can take it off, and hold it, with the left hand during plays.  For me, I grabbed the main bar in the middle and that worked, you'll have to play with it to find what works better for you.  Once you get it, then you'll never need to set it down.

Thanks @wolfe_man!  What made you go back to the TM?

[wolfe_man]

1 minute ago, Rock Bottom said:

Thanks @wolfe_man!  What made you go back to the TM?

Honestly, looks for one.  I wanted to "fit in" with all of the other umpires in my area and no one around here does a helmet.  2nd, I took a shot that hurt up near the top of my head (off the plastic, not the facemask) and didn't want to repeat that experience.

[Biscuit]

10 minutes ago, Rock Bottom said:

I tried wearing both a 6 and a 4 stitch under there and hated it.  If I decide to go with the HSM, I think I'll just bring a cap and wear it pre-game and between innings.

where would you put the hat during play?

[Rock Bottom]

2 minutes ago, Biscuit said:

where would you put the hat during play?

I put it on top of the small cooler bag I hang in the corner of the backstop.

[LMSANS]

9 hours ago, Thunderheads said:

If I remember correctly, ........Brad at All-Star said a 6-stitch fits underneath the MVP 2500

I've always worn a 6-stitch underneath my MVP2500. After the first half inning, I have never had any difficulty. I go back and forth between the HSM & traditional mask, depending on the backstop proximity.

[KenBAZ]

I've worn HSM for years.  I take it off for all calls just as you would with a mask.  Left hand only, out and up.  Hold it in your left hand while making calls.  It never goes on the ground.  I wear a skull cap under my hat.  I use to wear a hat for plate meetings only but let too many stuck in fences.  The skull cap protects my bald head from the sun and makes my HSM fit better.  I just can't manage a hat, my glasses and the HSM.  They are hot, heavy and I feel safer.