Personal Opinion:

If you are going to work LL and under only then the raft may be right for you since you're practically a back stop because of the unskilled catchers.

HOWEVER, if you plan on working HS, JV, or even Pony (13-14 yo) i highly suggest the inside protector for reasons stated before. Mainly since it makes you look more professional and your appearance and professionalism is more closely scrutinized as you move up.

National League umpires were using an inside protector many years before American league umpires adopted in the late 70's. I have not seen anyone use an outside protector since 1989.

If you want to be taken seriously you will use an inside protector. If you want to minimize risk then I would suggest volleyball to officiate. I honestly don't think you are cut out to be a baseball umpire.

Dg
 

He could also work Table Tennis.

A version of the inside protector was worn by umpires in the 1930's.

Regards,

Well Tim, I've got to somewhat disagree and go backwards. If you're going to have the leather ball bags you need to do it right and not have pole-climbing shoes... but you need these babies...http://www.frankelcostume.com/images...wnblack_tn.gif

Looks best with combo pants though...that's the only downside. :D

IIRC.. Nowhere did I advocate wearing " jeans, workboots, dickies or pole-climbing boots". It's an invention of your sick, rude and disgusting imagination.

I honestly don't think you are in a position to judge me.

Thanks to all who replied in a thoughtful and polite manner. I will take your advice to heart.

Not to mention elitist........:D

You may be the next coming of Perry Mason, but if you show up for court wearing a long curly haired white wig the Judge (coaches) and Jury (fans) will not take you seriously.

Best analogy yet. Well done.

Ease up chief... His post didn't seem to warrant that response, so don't get your panties in a knot...

actually the thread was done as far as I was concerned. However, four more of you "guys" piled on. Maybe it's not my panties that are in a bunch. I could care less actually. You give yourselves WAAAAAY too much credit.

Since someone called JonathanSCS started this thread, you don't get to determine when the thread is done.

Ray, the bottom line is this: If you want to be respected as an umpire, you need to dress sharp as a tack, and use the commonly accepted tools of the trade. If you look sloppy, or "smittyish," you will automatcally get lumped in with their ilk.

You keep fighting the advice you were given, as if you disbelieve all the people telling you this. You had asked for opinions, then you didn't like the opinions you got, so now it's still open season on Mr. Ray until further notice.

I, and some others, gave good advice - wear an inside protector. Nothing more or less than your evaluator will give you, if you can get one to come out and watch after you tell him you use a raft. If you feel you need the extra protection the raft provides your evaluator will tell you to pick another sport.

Take a college age fast ball off your mask, or off your chest protector, or your bicep in the first inning of a double header and then complete both games and then you can come back and criticize the rest of us for being elitist (ie not rafters). A college catcher (I could say pitcher but it was the catcher that did not get a glove on the ball) broke my left pinky finger in the first inning of the first game I worked in 2005 and I worked two games that day, and I finally went to the doctor 2 days later. If I had a raft I would not have been hurt, and I would not have been working those games either.

And you asked, and received, the feedback you desired. You just don't like the answer.

Ray noted:

"I could care less . . . "

That does not make sense. The correct cliche is: "I couldn't care less."

But I guess that would be elitist if I pointed that out.

Regards,