new catchers = ouch
I feel your pain.
Sounds like some of the LL minor league games that I ump. Inside pitches are the worst. Inexperienced catchers just don't get the glove up fast enough. The resulting forearm shots leave your hand numb for about 10 minutes and the bruises have people asking questions for about a week. I toyed with the idea of hiding behind an outside protector, but wound up buying some forearm pads (football style) and wear one on my left arm during these games.
Then there is the problem of getting the ball back to the pitcher. Imagine this scenario (with no runners on base):
1) Catcher misses the ball
2) Catcher whips off helmet - runs to back stop
3) Catcher fires ball back to pitcher
4) Pitcher misses the ball
5) Center fielder picks up the ball - fires it back to pitcher
6) Pitcher misses ball again
7) Pitcher, catcher, & F5 converge on ball near 3rd baseline
8) Pitcher finally gets back to the mound while catcher has to ajust equipment (straps on shin guards - usually too large...) and puts on helmet.
Multiply this scenario by how many pitches per inning???
-Kono
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