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An outside chest protector? Today that's about as acceptable as wearing your hat backwards while working the plate and having your shin guards on over the outside of your pants.
I work hands-on-knees now, too (the Gerry Davis stance), and it gives me a superior, locked-in view of the plate and has helped solidify my timing and plate work. The trade-off is that you get hit in the arms every once in a while. Every once in a while when I get hit, a less-experienced partner tries to give me some sage wisdom by saying that getting hit is why they work the plate with their arms behind their back.
How many umpires at the professional (or top amateur) level work with their arms behind their back? None, because it's bad for 2 reasons -- (1) It may help keep your arms from getting hit, but I pity the umpire that takes one on the exposed elbow, and (2) Proper balance involves using the arms out in front of you. I've never seen an arms-behind-the-back umpire that looks completely balanced.
You're going to get hit. Your equipment is protecting the important parts. As far as the hand getting broken, that's a freak accident. You can get your hand broken using just about any good stance. Ever notice where scissors umpires put their hands?
Rich
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