throat guard discussion

[nickrego]

Originally Posted by Tim C

Let's step back and take a breath . . .

Nick has been consistent in both his support of the HSM and the dangler.

I have worked very hard to not get my panties in a twitter when Nick takes a weird turn in his positioning.

When someone (not Nick BTW) says "my throat guard gets hit SEVERAL times a season" . . . I just call "bull" . . . Even before I worked the GDSS I seldom, if ever, got hit in the throat guard. I can't be that much different than others.

While I think it is ridiculous that people would where a dangler with an HSM it is not any of my business it they do.

Again, I am guessing here:

For an umpire to get hit in the throat(guard) the ball would have to bounce off the ground FIRST then come up under the mask . . .

If this is true then by working the GDSS, which puts me faaaar back, it is nearly impossible for a ball to get under my WestVest Mask . . .

So my only comment about this thread is:

People should be allowed to wear what they want, in terms of equipment, if it makes them more secure and therefore a better umpire.

He11, I even hear some old guys wear forearm guards.

Regards,

I will say, that since I started using the GD, I get hit in the Throat Guard a lot less.

And I will also say, that until I started using the GD, I was considering wearing Forearm Guards. But in the GD, I get hit a lot less in the Forearms. But I still think they are a legitimate piece of equipment. Our Forearms are at great risk, and a very sensitive place to get hit. I know umpires who quit umpiring after taking a severe hit to the Forearm. And these guys aren't sissy's either.

You know, we are armatures, not professionals. We need to protect ourselves as best we can, so we can continue to support our families by our regular jobs. Getting injured during a $50 baseball game, that keeps us from working is not desirable, in any case.