All-Star Cobalt on the bases?!?!?!?!

[bbetancourt6]

Greetings, 

 

In my priority for safety, I purchased a skull cap for plate work. However, I am also considering wearing it on the bases. 

 

Opinions? Feedback appreciated.

 

Thank you in advance!

[tpatience]

Um, no

[MattKirky]

Yeah don’t wear the skully on the bases. Get the Unequal one that goes under the cap instead.


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[ousafe]

If your name is Olerud, then probably yes.

[MadMax]

49 minutes ago, bbetancourt6 said:

In my priority for safety, I purchased a skull cap for plate work...

Commendable.

50 minutes ago, bbetancourt6 said:

In my priority for safety... I am also considering wearing it on the bases.

No need, perceived or otherwise. There's only one (live) baseball, is there not? And you're supposed to be aware of where it is at all times while it is live, do you not? 

I'm going through all the possible situations, scenarios, and events that could possibly, even remotely, put your head in peril as a Base Umpire, and there are only 3 that I can come up with:

1. You (buttonhook) pivot in from A when you're not supposed to, or not watching where the batted ball goes, and by fixating on the BR touching 1B, you're oblivious to a thrown ball to 1B and get domed. Solution: Don't buttonhook pivot, and keep better attention on where the batted ball went. 
2. With R1 stealing, you turn too soon on a thrown ball from F2 (catcher) to 2B, and get domed. Solution: Stop turning too soon, and only turn as the ball passes you. If your turn is, as it feels to you, too late, and you don't feel you get adequate look at the stealing play at 2B, then you're positioned way too deep at B, likely at what is called B-deep. Fix your initial position (IP), moving up in the direction of the plate. 
3. You're working at a multi-field facility, and foul balls from the other field arc over and barrage you, striking you in the head. Solution: This is such a remote, interminably small percentage of chance of happening that'd you best be served just staying home if you truly are anxious about it. That, or only work single-field venues. There's "your hill". 

You don't need it. 

[kylehutson]

4. (only bringing this up because it happened to me, once) You're in shallow B or C and the batter hits one right at the ol' noggin that you don't have time to avoid. Solution: faster reflexes

Still, I'm not wearing anything on my head on the bases besides a cap

[BT_Blue]

I also would nix the Cobalt on the bases as the brim of the helmet is FAR to small! 

[Rock Bottom]

4 hours ago, MattKirky said:

Yeah don’t wear the skully on the bases. Get the Unequal one that goes under the cap instead.


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I second the UnCap if you are concerned about that - you can often (depends on the individual) use your regular caps and no one will even likely be able to tell you're wearing it.  

[BlueRanger]

Honestly, depends on what level of ball you're doing.

HS/anything competitive and up? HELL NO.

Volunteering or calling wreck ball? If that gives you the requisite peace of mind to stay locked in and focused on the game when we're at pitching change #5 in the top of the 1st for 9u, go for it.

[umpstu]

3 hours ago, BT_Blue said:

I also would nix the Cobalt on the bases as the brim of the helmet is FAR to small! 

Kind of construction worker umpire look.

[Thunderheads]

Nope.  I'm 55, I still move pretty good considering.  I've not yet been hit by a ball anywhere in B or C (very very close before) so, until my reflexes are to the point where being on a field is dangerous, I won't wear one.  By that point, I'll hang them up  

[kylehutson]

41 minutes ago, Thunderheads said:

I've not yet been hit by a ball anywhere in B or C

In my defense, I did move my head several inches. The ball just "hooked" enough.

I don't consider being on a field dangerous at all. Just sometimes #$@% happens

[SeeingEyeDog]

Agreed...the hooked/sliced baseball is a challenge in B and C. Your first read as the ball comes off the bat is something like, "OK, that's moving left so, I will open to the right." ...and you end up opening up just as the ball's spin takes it back to the right and you step into the ball's path. It doesn't happen often and it's unnerving when it does.

~Dawg

[kylehutson]

17 minutes ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

Agreed...the hooked/sliced baseball is a challenge in B and C. Your first read as the ball comes off the bat is something like, "OK, that's moving left so, I will open to the right." ...and you end up opening up just as the ball's spin takes it back to the right and you step into the ball's path. It doesn't happen often and it's unnerving when it does.

~Dawg

That's exactly what happened. "That ball looks like it's going to whiz by my right ear." Ducked my head down and to the left. *plonk*

After the game, the player apologized. I responded "Why? I probably robbed you of a stand-up double and two RBI's"

 

[GerryB]

I just missed one of those, and the HC at 3rd said, "That's the fastest you've moved in ten years!"

[wolfe_man]

19 minutes ago, GerryB said:

I just missed one of those, and the HC at 3rd said, "That's the fastest you've moved in ten years!"

Did you dump him?

[BT_Blue]

32 minutes ago, GerryB said:

I just missed one of those, and the HC at 3rd said, "That's the fastest you've moved in ten years!"

 

12 minutes ago, wolfe_man said:

Did you dump him?

Or agree with him?

[GerryB]

Kept him in! He was laughing. One of those (really) old-timers who can light it up, but also gets it.

[aaluck]

On 3/10/2021 at 3:58 PM, MadMax said:

I'm going through all the possible situations, scenarios, and events that could possibly, even remotely, put your head in peril as a Base Umpire, and there are only 4 that I can come up with:

4.  Kids taking infield between innings.  Several 'live' balls.  In youth ball I cant tell you how many times I've nearly been hit by the left fielder 'throwing' the ball to the 1st base dugout.

[wolfe_man]

31 minutes ago, aaluck said:

 In youth ball I cant tell you how many times I've nearly been hit by the left fielder 'throwing' the ball to the 1st base dugout.

↑is so true all the way up to JV around here. I always pay attention to throws coming in between innings - too many close calls.

[Mr Ump]

On 3/10/2021 at 1:39 PM, bbetancourt6 said:

Greetings, 

 

In my priority for safety, I purchased a skull cap for plate work. However, I am also considering wearing it on the bases. 

 

Opinions? Feedback appreciated.

 

Thank you in advance!

Don’t do that