face mask

[DG]

Originally Posted by greymule

In April 1968, all our team's equipment—bats, balls, catcher's equipment, helmets, etc.—was stolen during the night from our cars, which were broken into right outside our sleeping quarters at Duke University. We finished the trip with equipment borrowed from the Duke athletic department.

The case remained unsolved for almost 40 years, but now I hear that the Durham District Attorney plans to charge three hooligans named Seligmann, Finnerty, and Evans with the crime. These guys' high-priced lawyers have come up with a cock and bull story that the three hadn't yet been born at the time of the theft, but the D.A. says he has a witness and promises justice.

That's funny for anyone following the Duke lacrosse case. And the DA actually got re-elected in the fall. Gotta love those voters...

Your theft case will likely drag on for a number of years until the next election and after he is re-elected again the case will be dropped. Of course that assumes he is not dis-barred for his work on this case.

[Dave Hensley]

Originally Posted by greymule

In April 1968, all our team's equipment—bats, balls, catcher's equipment, helmets, etc.—was stolen during the night from our cars, which were broken into right outside our sleeping quarters at Duke University. We finished the trip with equipment borrowed from the Duke athletic department.

The case remained unsolved for almost 40 years, but now I hear that the Durham District Attorney plans to charge three hooligans named Seligmann, Finnerty, and Evans with the crime. These guys' high-priced lawyers have come up with a cock and bull story that the three hadn't yet been born at the time of the theft, but the D.A. says he has a witness and promises justice.

LOL! On this one we're on the same page.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by greymule

In April 1968, all our team's equipment—bats, balls, catcher's equipment, helmets, etc.—was stolen during the night from our cars, which were broken into right outside our sleeping quarters at Duke University. We finished the trip with equipment borrowed from the Duke athletic department.

The case remained unsolved for almost 40 years, but now I hear that the Durham District Attorney plans to charge three hooligans named Seligmann, Finnerty, and Evans with the crime. These guys' high-priced lawyers have come up with a cock and bull story that the three hadn't yet been born at the time of the theft, but the D.A. says he has a witness and promises justice.

You know...I lived in Durham at that time. Just off of the Duke campus on Trinity Avenue. However, I swear that I was nowhere near those parked cars.

[umpbrianc]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

To answer the question, clips2, loosen your harness until the mask just hangs on the bill of your hat. It should be really loose, not tight like a catcher wears it.

Also, if the harness has a "Y" in it, cut out those two "Y" sections, leaving just the center strap and the band going around. More like a "T". This will eliminate the tendency of the strap to grab your hat.

The strap is just there to keep your mask from falling completely off, not to fit snugly on your head.

That is asking for trouble. Your mask should fit snugly and should not rely on your hat to hold it up. Take one good foul ball with a mask loose and you will be sorry. Best way to get mask off and hat stay is practice.

[mrm21711]

Originally Posted by umpbrianc

That is asking for trouble. Your mask should fit snugly and should not rely on your hat to hold it up. Take one good foul ball with a mask loose and you will be sorry. Best way to get mask off and hat stay is practice.

A mask that is loose like this will spin off, where if it is very tight much of that impact will be absorbed into your face. Im sure somebody out there has the correct terminology and theory behind it, but tight as possible and "snug" are not accurate.

[kylejt]

The rule of thumb is when you bend forward and look down, the chin pad should be off your chin by 3-4 inches. You don't want it cinched up tight. It's tangling from your hat, if worn properly.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by umpbrianc

That is asking for trouble. Your mask should fit snugly and should not rely on your hat to hold it up.

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT!

Thanks for playing.

Johnny, tell him what his consolation prize is.

"Well folks, Umpbrian will soon be the proud recipient of a concussion!"

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by umpbrianc

That is asking for trouble. Your mask should fit snugly and should not rely on your hat to hold it up. Take one good foul ball with a mask loose and you will be sorry. Best way to get mask off and hat stay is practice.

No, umpbrianc, what you are saying is asking for trouble. I concur with Garth in that if the mask is too tight, your face will be the shock absorber, not the pads! This is very bad advice!

Your mask is your first and only line of defense! If the mask needs to move to absorb the impact, you must let it or you will be very sorry. Your face cannot absorb that kind of impact without something going terribly wrong. Think of it as the way engineers design an automobile to crumple around and away from the passenger area. It is better to let the force go away from you rather than let it all come to you.

[Tim C]

Umpbrainc incorrectly intoned:

"Your mask should fit snugly and should not rely on your hat to hold it up. Take one good foul ball with a mask loose and you will be sorry. Best way to get mask off and hat stay is practice."

I can put up with dumb posts . . . I can't put up with DANGEROUS posts.

Please ignore brian's advice. Masks should be worn so they lightly rest on your face. If struck by a foul ball or pitch the mask SHOULD spin or fly off your head. That is the correct way to wear a mask.

One Rule ~ One Interpretation ~ One Mechanic

[Dave Hensley]

Originally Posted by umpbrianc

That is asking for trouble. Your mask should fit snugly and should not rely on your hat to hold it up. Take one good foul ball with a mask loose and you will be sorry. Best way to get mask off and hat stay is practice.

As others have noted, your advice is 100% wrong. Teaching to wear a mask loosely (and the physics behind that advice) is umpiring 101, common knowledge among veteran umpires and standard instruction in every clinic from Little League to the pro schools.

What umpire training have you had?

[mrm21711]

Originally Posted by umpbrianc

That is asking for trouble. Your mask should fit snugly and should not rely on your hat to hold it up. Take one good foul ball with a mask loose and you will be sorry. Best way to get mask off and hat stay is practice.

With all due respect I am curious:

1. Where do you get this information from?
2. Where do you get off passing off this bogus information?

[umpbrianc]

Originally Posted by mrm21711

With all due respect I am curious:

1. Where do you get this information from?
2. Where do you get off passing off this bogus information?

Hmmm... this is not bogus information I am passing along. It is directly from a MLB umpire. when I told him about your "hat holding the mask up" and 3-4 inches from the chin when you lean over... he just laughed. That is not proper for your mask.
So everyone can take whatever advise you would like... for me I'll go with the guy doing MLB.

[SAump]

Originally Posted by umpbrianc

That is asking for trouble. Your mask should fit snugly and should not rely on your hat to hold it up. Take one good foul ball with a mask loose and you will be sorry. Best way to get mask off and hat stay is practice.

Probably the best advice on this thread. May I add, it doesn't hurt to wear it loose. The idea is not to wear it so tight or so snug that the harness doesn't properly work. If you can take the mask off easily and keep your hat on, the mask is probably on as lossely as needed. The harness mask combo must work correctly to protect your face.