[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally posted by Tim C
All four suppliers made the comment that the extended vision is silly since an umpire can see everything he needs to see with a normal mask. The "excuse" of "better vision" commonly means that the umpire will no longer remove the mask (helmet) as has been the rule for decades (See Gary Cederstrom) when making calls other than balls and strikes.

Gary Cederstrom not withstanding, speaking for myself, as well as other umpires I have observed, removing the helmet is no problem whatsoever. We remove it for all the same plays as when a normal mask is used. As soon as a ball is hit, my first natural reaction is to get that thing off my head. It comes right off slick as can be, just use the same "outward then upward" motion you would with a mask. There are umpires so lazy as to leave their regular masks on their heads during plays. I have even seen major league umpires call plays at the plate while wearing their masks. What's up with that?

The biggest selling point so far has been to umpires that work in a very confinded space where a foul ball can strike an overhead or near placed screen and send that ball back quickly and hit the umpire.

This is a legitimate value in the HSM, as I took one off the top of the head at a yard with an overhanging "rec center" style screen.