Quote:
Originally posted by 3appleshigh
eg.
1) a hot shot off a bat up either line, you pick this up 5 times as fast, and can get into position to make fair foul that much sooner, Granted it is only a split second sooner, but helps.
2) you can see the player at first or third take off in an attempt to steal, therefore being prepared for what may or may not occur.
There is a couple just off the top of my head no real thinking involved. I know the first one is a major key to me, as I often had a difficult time picking up the hot shot in my original mask.
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1. getting into position sooner on a shot down the line has nothing to do with your mask and its view. if i was looking through binoculars behind the plate, id still see the ball going towards a line and get out there. you arent, rather i hope you wouldnt, make a fair/foul call from behind the plate, so i dont see this point as too valid in my mind as a point for why to wear a helmet. if i see a ball that isnt going to be played by short or second, i get a view on that line. if its not close to the line, get up the first base line and watch things there. maybe im doing things wrong, but that peripheral view isnt going to change things for me there.
2. i see the runner take off of first just fine with a normal mask. i never had a problem as a catcher, and i can see this happen as an umpire. of course it is not entirely necessary for a PU to see a runner stealing unless you were doing a one man LL game where runners cant take off until it crosses the plate, and you have to call him out/safe at 2nd. if you are thinking like there is just a runner on first, and PU is taking the runner into third, you cant leave the plate till the ball is hit (obviously) and i hope to god you can see the runner by then with any mask. i dont see this point as necessary for me either.
those points may be helpful for other guys though, im just saying that they arent for some