throat guard discussion

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Garth, this guy is so out of whack that even the best throat guard won't help him! This is almost what I looked like when I did LL eons ago. Yeah, I took a foul ball to the throat way back then but that is when I corrected my stance.

Let's see....D-1 official....2003 and 2004 Community College World Series....professionally trained...

Yeah.....he don't know squat.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Let's see....D-1 official....2003 and 2004 Community College World Series....professionally trained...

Yeah.....he don't know squat.

He may know squat, but it appears he doesn't know how to squat!

I have to go with Ozzy here. This guy looks horrible. Whoever told umpires that touching the catcher was a good thing? Remember, we are only discussing his stance here, not his training or experience.

[etn_ump]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

He may know squat, but it appears he doesn't know how to squat!

I have to go with Ozzy here. This guy looks horrible. Whoever told umpires that touching the catcher was a good thing? Remember, we are only discussing his stance here, not his training or experience.

Well, he must have some training or experience or he wouldn't have risen to the level he has.

Regarding the throat guards, wear or don't wear it, but, show me a stance where the throat is not exposed. Why would anyone choose to not wear something that could keep them from dying on the field?

If the throat guard didn't have a function, like the sunshield so many wear in their masks that do absolutely nothing, it would be different. The throat guard is a functional piece of protective equipment.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Let's see....D-1 official....2003 and 2004 Community College World Series....professionally trained...

Yeah.....he don't know squat.

No Garth - he don't know how to squat!

[SanDiegoSteve]

Sorry I beat you to it Ozzy. Great minds and all....

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Sorry I beat you to it Ozzy. Great minds and all....

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

No Garth - he don't know how to squat!

Hmmmm. His head height is perfect. He's the correct distance from the catcher for his stance, he is stable.

His performance has earned him a D-1 position and, as mentioned, the community college World Series two years in a row.

I'm sorry, I don't see a problem. But then, I'm probably not near the expert that some folks are.

Jason didn't bargain for ridicule by internet umpires so I have deleted his photos from my post. I'll send him a personal apology this evening.

[SanDiegoSteve]

I prefer the guy working the plate in St. Louis right now. I take my instruction from him.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I prefer the guy working the plate in St. Louis right now. I take my instruction from him.

Let's try to stay on topic. I posted Jason's photo to illustrate a point regarding the possibility of one getting struck by a baseball underneath and behind the lower guard portion of a face mask. There was no intent to utilize the photo as part of a clinic.

Whether or not you feel that Jason's stance is text book, it is accurate in height and distance and stability. That's three elements more than many amateur umpires get right.

Poor Jason. He probably will never be a pro. He's only utilized that stance at levels 95% of amateurs will never see.

[SanDiegoSteve]

So, I'm happy for your friend. I have nothing at all against your friend Jason. I just happened to see my association's chief instructor working the plate in the World Series, and drew my own comparision.

Jason's stance looks like it is vulnerable to balls bouncing up and hitting his throat. So what? So are most stances. Getting hit is part of the game. You have to admit that it's kind of uncanny that two different umpires came up with nearly the exact same response to your "squat" comment, at nearly the exact same time!

You keep insisting that being a D-1 umpire is this great honor, or that it guarantees a quality umpire. I know many D-1 umpires. Some are very good. Some absolutely are not. Not all D-1 umpires are top-notch officials. I have seen a few NCAA Division 1 umpires on TV that would fall into a serious "Smitty" category.

I also know quite a few really great umpires in my area who have no chance at all to work college baseball for reasons I've stated ad nauseum in the past. There are also many other quality umpires here who have no desire to advance higher than HS level. I also know of areas of the country that in order to be a college umpire, all you basically need is to have a pulse and umpire gear.

We never said that Jason wasn't a good umpire. We just thought his stance looked kind of weird. You are the one that brought it off topic by commenting over and over about his professional training and level of baseball.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Jason's stance looks like it is vulnerable to balls bouncing up and hitting his throat. So what? So are most stances. .

Which was the only reason it was posted. Thank you.

The topic became off when some internet umpires decided to move beyond that point.