Helmet v Mask

[LMan]

Spencer, welcome to the forum. Our condolences are offered for the recent London events....

[dudeinblue]

Yeah, but what kind of hockey mask is best to use in your opinion. The Diamond one on Gerry Davis? The All-Star? The Easton? I'm trying to get an idea because I'm thinking of getting one because getting hammered with my regular mask causes my jaw to lock at times and I believe a hockey mask would eliminate this. What is the brand that the major league umpires use?

[Shef24]

They are using the All Star in the majors.

I have the Easton Stealth and I love it. I went with the Stealth due to the lining being nicer and not made out of the foam that are in the lining of batting helmets. The vision is so much clearer and I just feel more protected wearing the helmet that I will never go back.

[Tim C]

"Although when it comes to tight plays or squeeze plays I generally remove it out of habit and also so some twip, e.g a coach, does not bellow about poor vision."

And IF you do not remove the mask at the EXACT same times you would a mask then you are one that is an advertisment for NOT WEARING a helmet.

No one argues that the field of vision for balls/strikes appears to be greater . . . the real issue is two fold:

1) There are umpires that do not take off the mask where normally it is taken off (ex: on ground balls to the infield when you are coming out from behind the dish or a can of corn fly ball),

2) When the helmet is removed the umpire is not wearing a hat (ex: in Alabma you are considered "out of uniform" if after you take off the helmet you do not have a hat).

These two issues can be over come. Non-professional umpires just don't seem to get it.

[dudeinblue]

So I don't see your point, do you use one and encourage using one?

[Tim C]

To Whom is this directed?

. . . if directed at me, my feelings have been made clear already in this thread for those who can read.

[UmpJM]

Originally posted by Tim C

. . . if directed at me, my feelings have been made clear already in this thread for those who can read.

Tim,

I'm guessing he's not an English Major either.

JM

[3appleshigh]

I guess you don't read so good, as my comments about those who try the helmet and kept with it had in it why I belived it was so, but then again how would you possibly see that with all that sand in your face. You simply proved my thinking that although I have never heard anyone that uses the helmet say that it is the only way anyone should go, I have heard the staunch conservative BIG DOG decree it so for the traditional mask.

The hockey vs. baseball had to do with an equipment change and a discussion on the evolution of the piece of equipment not a comparison of "the helmet being great for hockey = it is also great for baseball."

Also I have missed all your insulting little quips when people on here mention football or basketball, I thought this was a baseball forum, how dare anyone think that one sport could possibly learn from another sport - never never.

Now to the people reading for actual info, though I doubt may are left after this debacle of a topic, I use the Easton as well, I love it. I remove it on every play as I would if I had a regular mask. Although the vision is much better than a conventional mask, it is not as good as without a mask. It is the protection, and the vision out the corners of your eyes that make it a better choice for me.

[bdub712]

I have used the h/s mask for five years now. I learned with a conventional mask and made the switch only to experiment with the possibility. I have used the mask in high school games and college games and have seen the benefits during both. I have an All-Star MVP 2300 with the double-bar plain steel mask. I have taken countless shots to the face over the years and the mask has held up perfectly. My main complaint with the conventional mask is the fact that when you get hit, the mask flies off erratically, not to mention the stars that you see afterwards.

Now, the controversy about not having a hat on, and being our of uniform I can buy to a degree. How many times have you seen an umpire quickly remove his mask to only have his hat come off as well? Now, granted it is for a limited time and he replaces it once the play is over, but the hat is still off. An umpire with a h/s mask is seen without his hat on in between innings and during live ball play (if he takes it off like you are suppose) which can be seen as being out of uniform. But, really what does having a hat on in between innings do for you. I have known many base umpires to go out into shallow right field in between innings and remove their hat before they take their position to start the next inning.

Overall, this is a matter of preference. If you feel more comfortable behind the plate, then you are inclined to make better calls and feel more confident. I would think that this is a state that all umpires want to be in regardless of what mask they use.


Play ball...

[milkmandog]

I have 2 helmets and allstar mvp and a nike gold diamond. I can wear either a shortbilled beanie under either or the underarmour skull cap. Since I shave my head I wear one or the other for comfort and protection from the sun. I prefer the underarmour skull cap, but I have 1 tournament director that doesn't like anything new and so out of respect for her I wear the short billed beanie under the helmet when she is the director. She also doesn't like any white on our shoes so I keep a pair of all black shoes for her also.

[ukumpire]

Thnak you for your condolences, tragic as it is we like our friends in the US, NY, shall live on and win.
On top of that, but on a less seriuos but bad news was the Olympic Softball dream for the children in the UK. read my article in here, titled Olympic 2012. Cheers

[cowbyfan1]

I think the nail was hit earlier on this issue. The majority of umpires in 15-20 will be wearing a helmet because that is what they grew up in and around as kids, especially now that the FED said it has to be a helmet.

I wear it mainly for the protection. I have taken some serious shots to it from a high 90's fast ball off aluminum bats. This is just as bad, if not worst than a major leaguer with a wood bat. I have never felt any pain as a result. \
Yes the field of vision is nice with the balls and strike calling but I take it off as soon as the ball is hit just the same as I would with a regular mask.

[mick]

Originally posted by cowbyfan1
I have taken some serious shots to it from a high 90's fast ball off aluminum bats. This is just as bad, if not worst than a major leaguer with a wood bat. I have never felt any pain as a result.

cowbyfan1,
Why could a ball, fouled back, off an aluminum bat be *worst* than a ball, fouled back, off the wooden bat?
Confusing.
mick

[officialtony]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 3appleshigh
[B]

After reading your post and use of the English language and the keyboard, I think my discussion with you is over. You still did not answer the question - what facts do you have to support your statements? None ? So you ramble about other things that mean nothing. I sign off on this topic as it is now officially dead to me.

[cowbyfan1]

Originally posted by mick

cowbyfan1,
Why could a ball, fouled back, off an aluminum bat be *worst* than a ball, fouled back, off the wooden bat?
Confusing.
mick

Why does the ball carry farther off an aluminum bat than it does a wooden one when it is hit normally?? If it goes faster and farther forward, seems to me it will do the same backwards. So if a pitcher is throwing 95 and it is fouled straight back into my mask, don't you think it will be coming back at me faster if fouled off an aluminum bat then a wooden bat???

One more thing to add. Like Tee and a couple others stated before. A number of lower level guys like to copy what the MLB guys do and wear. I am seeing more MLB guys wearing the mask this year then in previous years combined. So if more of them are wearing it, then more people at the lower levels are apt to at least try it.