How come Blue can wear white or grey?

[ozzy6900]

Originally posted by Rich Ives

To paraphrase Tee: Stick to umpiring.

A white ball coming out of a white shirt background is very difficlut to see.

Fielders have problems with white backgrounds - most often F3 on throws, but sometimes the other infielders on line drives.

From the pitcher's perspective, if you want to stand 52 feet or so from a batter who might hit a screaming line drive right at you - and it's coming out of a white background - go right ahead. See how much fun it is.

Hitters have problems too, that's why there are batter's eyes.

As for the "old timers" in white shirts, they also wore dark plate coats and most often a "raft" protector that covered up the white.

There's a ML catcher that wears a gray chest protector. When the CF camera is showing the pitch, please note that the ball is somewhat more difficult to see as it moves into that background.

And lastly, do you really think a pitcher with any lick of sense is going to tell the umpire that he's a distraction?

Come on Rich, we've been down this road before. Keep the LL stuff in the LL world, okay? Many of your HS, NCAA and MLB wear white (yeah, some have pinstripes or the like) and this "white shirt" crap is just that - CRAP! I have never heard a player complain about a white shirt. Only coaches complain about them because it's another way to pi$$ off everyone. So go back to the dugout coach!

[Rich Ives]

Originally posted by GarthB


I'll break my self-imposed ban on replying to your posts this one time. First, I played F3 in high school and college.

OK

Second, I made a point to keep count of light gray catcher protectors in the majors last year and counted 5. And I didn't see all the teams play. It was more likely on any given day for a catcher to be wearing a light colored protector than a plate ump to be wearing a cream colored shirt.

And I only saw 1

Third, typical Rat-no-nothing, the b*tch isn't about the throw, it's about the hit and on a hit the background provided by the catcher is more in line than that provided by the umpire.

Exactly what I was saying. Or in your zeal to trash my opinion did you purposely ignore my comments that said:

"A white ball coming out of a white shirt background is very difficlut to see."

and

"From the pitcher's perspective, if you want to stand 52 feet or so from a batter who might hit a screaming line drive right at you - and it's coming out of a white background - go right ahead. See how much fun it is."

My other comment

"Fielders have problems with white backgrounds - most often F3 on throws, but sometimes the other infielders on line drives."

was in reference to hits/throws with the crowd as a background, which I could have made more clear.


Fourth, I've not heard an umpire experienced with the issue state that there is a problem.

Go back and read the posts by DavidB, Blue_18, Windy, and umpbrian. I'm not the only one here that thinks it could be a problem.

On the contrary, I've heard an ML umpire say the issue is horsesh*t.

You aren't asking the right folks then. The umpire is in the shirt looking out - not looking in at the shirt. And what umpire would admit he's a problem anyhow?

Have a nice day.

[Rich Ives]

Originally posted by ozzy6900

Come on Rich, we've been down this road before. Keep the LL stuff in the LL world, okay? Many of your HS, NCAA and MLB wear white (yeah, some have pinstripes or the like) and this "white shirt" crap is just that - CRAP! I have never heard a player complain about a white shirt. Only coaches complain about them because it's another way to pi$$ off everyone. So go back to the dugout coach!

Thanks for taking the time to demonstrate that you either didn't take the time to understand the issue or you can't.

The manager gamesmanship you referenced is about pitcher's LONG SLEEVE UNDERshirts distracting the batter. The manager does the complaining so the batter won't get a pitch in the ear. And if it is NOT distracting, why does LL and FED ban white and gray and NCAA ban white? The distraction IS an issue.

Why are batter's eyes required or recommented (depending on the rules)? Because having a white background makes it more difficiult to see the ball.

A white background IS an issue, whether you like it or not, and an umpire's white shirt can mask a line drive.

As to players, Pete Booth posted that Tom Seaver complained. He has "just a bit" of experience on the mound. And, at a game, no player or coach is going to complain to the umpire about the umpire's shirt, even if he really wants to. It's not a smart thing to do, as you and Garth are demonstrating.

[Tim C]

Me thinks some protest too much . . .

If the PU is wearing creme there is very little actually visable from the infield side.

If the PU is wearing Light Blue there could also be a problem as baseballs, in my games, seldom stay pristine.

If the PU works Davis he is far back and mostly blocked by F2, if he is working heel-to-toe he would be leaning slightly forward -- end result as the small amount of creme exposed would make no difference.

I think the protestors are getting waaay involved in something that no one else thinks is even an issue.

OK, of course, all should be given their respect for the posts they make in this "give-an-ump a hug" day and age.

I think this thread is at least funny . . . something that has been missing here for some time.

Tee

[Sal Giaco]

What about catchers that wear light,light grey chestprotector and shin guards (I believe one of the LA Dodgers wears that) - I gotta believe it is more difficult for the infielders to pick the ball up against a light grey background than a creme shirt (which is most covered by F2 anyways).

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally posted by Sal Giaco
What about catchers that wear light,light grey chestprotector and shin guards (I believe one of the LA Dodgers wears that) - I gotta believe it is more difficult for the infielders to pick the ball up against a light grey background than a creme shirt (which is most covered by F2 anyways).

As do the Padres catchers when in their road uniforms. Grey mask, CP, and shin guards. Like Tee said, Lee Weyer wore a white chest protector with his shirt mostly unbuttoned, as well as with his plate coat.

The color of the umpire's shirt has no practical bearing on screening a line drive. Prior to light blue, umpires wore white for many years. And while the balloon protector hid most of the shirt for American League umps, the NL used the inside protector, and all the white showed.

I don't believe that players give a rat's a$$ (pun intended) what color shirt the umpire is wearing.

[GarthB]

Originally posted by Tim C
Me thinks some protest too much . . .

If the PU is wearing creme there is very little actually visable from the infield side.

If the PU is wearing Light Blue there could also be a problem as baseballs, in my games, seldom stay pristine.

If the PU works Davis he is far back and mostly blocked by F2, if he is working heel-to-toe he would be leaning slightly forward -- end result as the small amount of creme exposed would make no difference.

I think the protestors are getting waaay involved in something that no one else thinks is even an issue.

OK, of course, all should be given their respect for the posts they make in this "give-an-ump a hug" day and age.

I think this thread is at least funny . . . something that has been missing here for some time.

Tee

Careful, Tee. You're being logical and apparently you don't agree with whomever it is that Rats consider experts on this...apparently a couple of amateur umpires and a hasbeen Rat.

[briancurtin]

Originally posted by Sal Giaco
What about catchers that wear light,light grey chestprotector and shin guards (I believe one of the LA Dodgers wears that)

back in mike piazza's dodger days he wore the grey, and tim mccarver said he looked like a galvanized trash can.

[Tim C]

I am surprised that this thread has gone this far without a Joe Pepitone reference.

It would be just as valuable as the Seaver statement.

Tee

[ozzy6900]

Well no matter what is said, coaches will complain and in this case, they have a rule to back them. I still think that it is a bunch of BS but then Rich, I never took a pitch in the ear even when F1 wore white. I learned how to focus on my target - a sphere flying toward me at over 90 mph. Man, do I miss those days!

The only complaint that I ever heard my son make (HS F1) was when the PU wears a red shirt. He says that he has to focus a little more for a few minutes until he gets used to the color. It never seemed to affect his pitching or fielding. When I asked him about the cream or other colors, my son said that he had no problem with them. He also mentioned that none of the other players ever complained about umpire colors.

[jumpmaster]

Originally posted by umpbrian
The point that I was trying to make was not whether or not I agreed with the ruling from my superiors, it is simply this is what I have been instructed to do and so I will do it. I personally think that it is just another thing for the rats to take hold of and gnaw on.

That was a very Princess TT like statement...

[Edited by jumpmaster on Dec 16th, 2005 at 07:44 PM]

[rickfriedmann]

If SS and 2B are having problems picking up a baseball off the bat because PU is wearing cream let them PLAY the outfied, Rich. All they have to worry about out THERE is a white-yellow ball coming out of white-yellow lights! Except day games when it's coming out of the sun.

Geesh. Get Winter over with and let the games begin!

[umpbrian]

Originally posted by jumpmaster

That was a very Princess TT like statement...
[Edited by jumpmaster on Dec 16th, 2005 at 07:44 PM]

You should know, you two have been seeing a lot of each other lately.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Say, remember when Joe Pepitone put that kernel of popcorn in his..........? There ya go.

[umpduck11]

Perhaps we should take Charlie Finley's
idea for fluorescent-colored baseballs and
run with it. Would that not solve this
major problem ?