Very New Umpire

[Velho]

11 hours ago, eagle_12 said:

So the diamond has a “pocket” for the cup and it’s not “trapped” between a layer and a traditional jock, a la the nutty buddy system?

Yes, the diamond has a pocket with a covering lip of fabric. I'm not familiar with the NB system (I only own the cup).

[Velho]

3 hours ago, wolfe_man said:

I've taken cup shots in both and I have to say the NB is more protective of a cup.

Do you wear the NB with the Diamond jock? I tried once and couldn't get a good position (it was bad) so went back to the Diamond cup. 

[wolfe_man]

41 minutes ago, Velho said:

Do you wear the NB with the Diamond jock? I tried once and couldn't get a good position (it was bad) so went back to the Diamond cup. 

No, I'm all Diamond when wearing it.  It did cross my mind though.

I don't use the pocket on the jock either, still do it NB style and let it "float" between underwear and jock.  It doesn't move as cup has rubber edge.

[MadMax]

I do admire the enthusiasm and thoroughness that is everyone is answering this survey with. There’s a host of great info here… however, there’s one incredibly important factor that has to be incorporated into his choice rationale, and our gear advice… 

On 4/3/2022 at 5:06 PM, Rich09 said:

Starting out in Little League

Because of the imminent peril that this entity brings, we must consider a HSM as an option. Even if “higher levels” is the goal, and a Traditional Mask is best-suited for them, the choice of a HSM for LL mitigates a great deal of the risk that is increased and intensified in the LL arena by frequency alone. 

I know, I’m using big words. 

@Rich09 is just starting out. There (may be) is a proclivity to turn his head. Kids swing wildly, and have a propensity to let go of / fling the bats they use. Baseballs are bouncing and ricocheting everywhere. Because LL (on the local level) is often solo work (or at least becomes it, due to “umpire shortages”), there is a heightened chance of taking one’s eyes off the ball being retrieved at the backstop (so as to watch the Runners and their touches and/or OBS possibilities), and a kid simply whaling a throw into the umpire. Head protection is vastly more important, at this beginning level, than any perceived need to remove the mask to observe and judge plays. 

I will never pooh-pooh anyone’s choice and use of gear provided they made an informed choice. I will absolutely slam that same person’s choice when they blindly buy “the cheapest”, or “the one the MLB guys use”, or they’re told, “this is the (only) one ya need!”. 

So with starting out in LL, insofar as the head/face and chest protection goes, this may be a gradual or two (or three) stage process, and the mask and CP that best suits Rich now might not be the one he’ll want to have or want to use for teenager / higher levels of amateur baseball. 

[BLWizzRanger]

11 minutes ago, MadMax said:

I do admire the enthusiasm and thoroughness that is everyone is answering this survey with. There’s a host of great info here… however, there’s one incredibly important factor that has to be incorporated into his choice rationale, and our gear advice… 

Because of the imminent peril that this entity brings, we must consider a HSM as an option. Even if “higher levels” is the goal, and a Traditional Mask is best-suited for them, the choice of a HSM for LL mitigates a great deal of the risk that is increased and intensified in the LL arena by frequency alone. 

I know, I’m using big words. 

@Rich09 is just starting out. There (may be) is a proclivity to turn his head. Kids swing wildly, and have a propensity to let go of / fling the bats they use. Baseballs are bouncing and ricocheting everywhere. Because LL (on the local level) is often solo work (or at least becomes it, due to “umpire shortages”), there is a heightened chance of taking one’s eyes off the ball being retrieved at the backstop (so as to watch the Runners and their touches and/or OBS possibilities), and a kid simply whaling a throw into the umpire. Head protection is vastly more important, at this beginning level, than any perceived need to remove the mask to observe and judge plays. 

I will never pooh-pooh anyone’s choice and use of gear provided they made an informed choice. I will absolutely slam that same person’s choice when they blindly buy “the cheapest”, or “the one the MLB guys use”, or they’re told, “this is the (only) one ya need!”. 

So with starting out in LL, insofar as the head/face and chest protection goes, this may be a gradual or two (or three) stage process, and the mask and CP that best suits Rich now might not be the one he’ll want to have or want to use for teenager / higher levels of amateur baseball. 

In MM's vein of thought, Monday during a low-level Varsity game, I had a foul ball hit my shoulder/clavicle and ricochet to hit the back of my jaw bone.  Clavicle and jaw bone are sore but not broken.  I am not a fan of HSMs so I will continue to take this risk.  But it is something to think about on how to protect the entire face.

[wolfe_man]

25 minutes ago, MadMax said:

I do admire the enthusiasm and thoroughness that is everyone is answering this survey with. There’s a host of great info here… however, there’s one incredibly important factor that has to be incorporated into his choice rationale, and our gear advice… 

Because of the imminent peril that this entity brings, we must consider a HSM as an option. Even if “higher levels” is the goal, and a Traditional Mask is best-suited for them, the choice of a HSM for LL mitigates a great deal of the risk that is increased and intensified in the LL arena by frequency alone. 

I know, I’m using big words. 

@Rich09 is just starting out. There (may be) is a proclivity to turn his head. Kids swing wildly, and have a propensity to let go of / fling the bats they use. Baseballs are bouncing and ricocheting everywhere. Because LL (on the local level) is often solo work (or at least becomes it, due to “umpire shortages”), there is a heightened chance of taking one’s eyes off the ball being retrieved at the backstop (so as to watch the Runners and their touches and/or OBS possibilities), and a kid simply whaling a throw into the umpire. Head protection is vastly more important, at this beginning level, than any perceived need to remove the mask to observe and judge plays. 

I will never pooh-pooh anyone’s choice and use of gear provided they made an informed choice. I will absolutely slam that same person’s choice when they blindly buy “the cheapest”, or “the one the MLB guys use”, or they’re told, “this is the (only) one ya need!”. 

So with starting out in LL, insofar as the head/face and chest protection goes, this may be a gradual or two (or three) stage process, and the mask and CP that best suits Rich now might not be the one he’ll want to have or want to use for teenager / higher levels of amateur baseball. 

Okay, then I recommend the MVP 2500 from All Star - or it's more affordable brother from Under Armour.  It's affordable, looks good and is readily found.  Oh, and did I mention that it is protection for entire head?  It's also lightweight and offers good views thanks to the flat bars.

[Velho]

1 hour ago, wolfe_man said:

No, I'm all Diamond when wearing it.  It did cross my mind though.

I don't use the pocket on the jock either, still do it NB style and let it "float" between underwear and jock.  It doesn't move as cup has rubber edge.

I tried it in the pocket. No bueno.

I use the pocket. It's been warm here and I've taken to wearing the jock, cup, and my plate pants. That's it. It's been working well for me.

[wolfe_man]

4 minutes ago, Velho said:

I've taken to wearing the jock, cup, and my plate pants. That's it. It's been working well for me.

You better hope your pants don't split!  It might be a tad embarrassing!

Although, come to think of it, I've been accused of doing (showing my backside) that before.

[Velho]

1 hour ago, MadMax said:

Because of the imminent peril that this entity brings, we must consider a HSM as an option. Even if “higher levels” is the goal, and a Traditional Mask is best-suited for them, the choice of a HSM for LL mitigates a great deal of the risk that is increased and intensified in the LL arena by frequency alone. 

To add to the litany of LL horrors, I've noticed that LL fields are more likely to have a short and/or covered backstop and ball wills ricochet back on you vs 90' fields are generally larger and may have no overhang.

Also, I find the HSM has larger field of vision which is something I struggled with early on my traditional mask and why I went to HSM.

[Velho]

1 minute ago, wolfe_man said:

You better hope your pants don't split!  It might be a tad embarrassing!

Yeah... that thought had crossed my mind. LOL It did help my motivation to eat better.

[MadMax]

16 minutes ago, Velho said:

Also, I find the HSM has larger field of vision which is something I struggled with early on my traditional mask and why I went to HSM.

Now see, that's what's known as a "subjective qualifier". It's a quality, and it's wholly subjective. You can't argue with it (I'm not saying you're arguing Velho, I'm merely using your statement as a launchpoint towards other folks' fervent comments regarding one gear item versus another). 

I'll also square off with anybody who claims that "this" particular mask is "better" than "that" one regarding concussions. Sorry to hear/find out you experienced a concussion using "that" mask, but you cannot say that I'm going to experience a concussion too. Know why? Because a concussion, in this case, is your own brain sloshing around and smacking the inside of your own skull... because your skull has jerked around in reaction to the impact! The impact in and of itself didn't cause the concussion! No two people are the same, nor are two impacts the same. Just because you experienced a concussion off "this" impact, doesn't mean you're going to experience a concussion off "that" impact; so too, I might not (probably won't) experience a concussion off that same impact, simply because my anatomy and muscle reactions are different. 

Pardon me, I'm just venting over the flippant, casual, and frankly unwarranted "advice" that self-deigned "experts" give to people new to an arena such as ours. No one here in this thread, specifically... just... in general. 

Most of my outrage is directed at the sort of guys I've witnessed stand at the front of a "captive" audience and not only mislabel and trivialize the objects or processes they're talking about ("this is a titanium mask!" – while holding a FM4000), but then go on to state, "This (specific product) is the only one ya need!". 

I will absolutely defend the traits and components of a HSM with the same amount of fervor that I'll defend a TM; each has its own characteristics, advantages (benefits) and disadvantages (detriments). However, when you try to tell me what I "must have", you'll lose me (or you'll pi$$ me off). I myself don't, and will never, wear a HSM. Same can be said about Wilson West Vest Golds... 🤢. I don't hate them because of some technical deficiency they have... wait, correct that, I do hate them because they still, 25 years on, use sofa cushion foam. However, to be fair, they have their benefits, and they are protective. I'll just crap on anyone who buys one, full retail, and boasts that they have "the most protective" or "best" CP on the market because "it's the one the MLB guys use!".

[Rich09]

Thank you for all the recommendations. This is the gear I went with.

All Star System 7 face mask.

All Star Cobalt CP

Force 3 shin guards

Got lucky and got NB plate shoes on the NB website.

Shock Doctor Ultra Carbon Flex Cup

Force 3 dry lo ball bags

Smitty pants and shirts.

Champro 4 dial Optic Yellow indicator metal

Champro 3 dial Optic Yellow indicator metal

I have called 4 games so far behind the plate. Mostly Minor Baseball. Can't wait to call a game at a higher lvl. 

What gear bags do you guys recommend?

 

[JonnyCat]

1 hour ago, Rich09 said:

What gear bags do you guys recommend?

Force 3 makes a nice gear bag. I have had one for years and it has served me well.

[MadMax]

2 hours ago, Rich09 said:

What gear bags do you guys recommend?

One of these: 

Seriously, despite having a Ful Workhorse 30" act as my dependable carry-all thru the past 5 years of cross-country service, I keep several of these IKEA Frakta bags on hand. I keep spare sets of gear (for other umpires) in them, as well as keep one ready to put my own gear when it gets all sand-and-dust -clad after a weekend of tournament games, especially my shoes. Incredibly tough, incredibly cheap, incredibly low-maintenance. Perfect.

Probably the main reason why I'm not pointing towards a "more serious" gear bag, is because... someone is on the verge of releasing something that will be an ideal solution. 😉

[Ump242]

@MadMax I never thought of Ikea bags before but if you're going to go inexpensive that is actually a perfect bag. So long as you keep your stuff segregated and organized inside. I actually bought the three and two bag from Dick's when they had it at 50% off, I also have just a rolling travel bag that I used as well and it was from high Sierra I think I paid like 20 bucks at like Marshalls or TJ Maxx or Ross or something

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[Ump242]

One of these: 
Probably the main reason why I'm not pointing towards a "more serious" gear bag, is because... someone is on the verge of releasing something that will be an ideal solution. 

There is always going to be something that is going to possibly be better, just get what you can afford, and enjoy it. that's what I say

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[Ump242]

Thank you for all the recommendations. This is the gear I went with.
All Star System 7 face mask.
All Star Cobalt CP
Force 3 shin guards
Got lucky and got NB plate shoes on the NB website.
Shock Doctor Ultra Carbon Flex Cup
Force 3 dry lo ball bags
Smitty pants and shirts.
Champro 4 dial Optic Yellow indicator metal
Champro 3 dial Optic Yellow indicator metal
I have called 4 games so far behind the plate. Mostly Minor Baseball. Can't wait to call a game at a higher lvl. 
What gear bags do you guys recommend?
 

That's actually pretty good set up there, I like it I like it a lot

Now your gear last you a few years, but training lasts you a lifetime

I would really recommend looking for a good clinic to go to in your area or within driving distance maybe I don't know that you can go to. You physically comfortable behind the plate secure that you're not going to get hurt is cool but knowing the rules and being mentally comfortable behind the plate is all together different thing.

Post videos if you have them that'd be cool to see you work

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[Rock Bottom]

11 hours ago, Rich09 said:

Thank you for all the recommendations. This is the gear I went with.

All Star System 7 face mask.

 

 

By that do you mean the FM4000 hollow steel? Or the FM4000 Mag?

[Ump242]

By that do you mean the FM4000 hollow steel? Or the FM4000 Mag?

Guessing hollow steel, but m planning on going with the magnesium soon enough... Like probably next year cause I'm saving for umpire focus on October (in Riverside California)

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[Rich09]

11 hours ago, Ump242 said:

Guessing hollow steel, but m planning on going with the magnesium soon enough... Like probably next year cause I'm saving for umpire focus on October (in Riverside California)

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I went with the hollow steel. Going to upgrade in a year or two. 

[Rich09]

17 hours ago, Ump242 said:

That's actually pretty good set up there, I like it I like it a lot

Now your gear last you a few years, but training lasts you a lifetime

I would really recommend looking for a good clinic to go to in your area or within driving distance maybe I don't know that you can go to. You physically comfortable behind the plate secure that you're not going to get hurt is cool but knowing the rules and being mentally comfortable behind the plate is all together different thing.

Post videos if you have them that'd be cool to see you work

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Looking for clinics in my area now. Looks like most are going to be this fall. Got a crash course in rules and positioning. 

[Ump242]

Looking for clinics in my area now. Looks like most are going to be this fall. Got a crash course in rules and positioning. 

Unfortunately, Most clinics are in the fall.

There are various awesome resources online

Cbuaump.org is California baseball umpires association's website, they have PDFs for One Man two Men and three man mechanics. Which can come in handy.

Umpire Classroom on YouTube is a Marietta Georgia high School association, but they have really good videos.

There's a few videos where Ted Barrett explains different kinds of plays on youtube.

Yet again on YouTube, look for close call sports. There is various ejection videos there from the Major leagues, but I like how he tends to explain the plausible reason as to why the player, coach or otherwise got ejected. This is nice as a lot of the videos that you'll see online only show the umpire looking like a jerk for ejecting somebody, but he tends to share the reason why or the plausible reason why someone got ejected.

You can always go to mlb.com and download their current MLB rule book for free in PDF format.

I don't recall the website but there are a couple different websites that will give you quizzes you can take online.

What I would do if I was you, would be to search the specific kind of level of baseball that you're working whether it be pony ball Little League travel ball what rules do they follow high school or otherwise, and study up on those particular rules. Read their book 30 to 45 minutes a day, if you have enough time I would probably study the book for 1 to 2 hours.

Better knowledge of the rules you have, and the better understanding have will make every single play easier for you. Now if you have a coach coming out and yelling and screaming that's a different story. But you have to let him know that you can talk to them but you will not get yelled at by them.

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[ErichKeane]

As a recent new ump, I wish I'd seen this thread for the gear recommendations!  I ended up buying one of the 'beginner' sets (the Champro varsity set), and while it isn't "bad" and perhaps good enough to start with, I'm guessing I'll end up wanting to upgrade the gear pretty quickly.  The mask and chest protector both seem pretty comfortable, but the shin guards are likely going to be my first annoyance enough to replace.

 

 

[ArchAngel72]

On 4/17/2022 at 11:34 AM, Rich09 said:

Thank you for all the recommendations. This is the gear I went with.

All Star System 7 face mask.

All Star Cobalt CP

Force 3 shin guards

Got lucky and got NB plate shoes on the NB website.

Shock Doctor Ultra Carbon Flex Cup

Force 3 dry lo ball bags

Smitty pants and shirts.

Champro 4 dial Optic Yellow indicator metal

Champro 3 dial Optic Yellow indicator metal

I have called 4 games so far behind the plate. Mostly Minor Baseball. Can't wait to call a game at a higher lvl. 

What gear bags do you guys recommend?

 

 

Very Very nice choices  

This is the bag I use, I like it, But  I am sure there are better ones out there. Its not bad. Only real complaint I have is the zipper tags broke off so I had to go after market on those.

https://www.ump-attire.com/Products/A9780/Wilson-V2-MLB-36-Umpire-Equipment-Bag-on-Wheels

 

 

 

[ArchAngel72]

51 minutes ago, ErichKeane said:

As a recent new ump, I wish I'd seen this thread for the gear recommendations!  I ended up buying one of the 'beginner' sets (the Champro varsity set), and while it isn't "bad" and perhaps good enough to start with, I'm guessing I'll end up wanting to upgrade the gear pretty quickly.  The mask and chest protector both seem pretty comfortable, but the shin guards are likely going to be my first annoyance enough to replace.

 

 

 

I got that as well, The mask is light but and tough but I got my bell rung with a direct hit from a fastball that the catcher wiffed on.  Agree with you those shin guards are CRAP.  F3 is what you seek for those replacements, Its like strapping on a pillow with a tank in front of it for protection I love those.