PU's shoes in tonights Nats vs Braves game
 

For all those hobo associations that wet their collective pants over the white +POS or NB symbols on plate shoes, choke on those babies.

Reeboks?:confused:

Mike Reilly is wearing the new Reebok plate shoe which is being tested or worn by some Major League umpires this year. They're trying to cash in on the umpire plate shoe business. I'm sure Reilly is probably receiving a stipend to wear the shoe.

I believe not all umpires will be wearing them as some do not like them.

There can't be any money in producing plate shoes for mass consumption, as we're just too small of a market. I'd guess they do it for the billboard effect of their logo. I know I noticed it. It stuck out more than the Ricoh patch on their shirts in Japan.

Down in FL a few weeks ago there was a barbecue at an MLB umpire's house for all the guys down there working ST and I happened to catch a glimpse of the reeboks in person...they appear to be nothing more than the reebok base shoe with a metatarsel plate attached with a big white RBK logo on the front. I don't care for their base shoes so I can't imagine I'd care for their plate shoe.

I'd bet you'd like them if they came with an annual check.

I was wondering how long it'd be till we saw the first thread on new plate shoes.

I was so distracted by how much Reilly moved around during the pitch, I didn't notice the shoes.

they are not getting paid to wear them

How is Laz these days? Still livin' the good life?

ML umpires are not as fortunate as some of the players as far as getting endorsement deals. They do, however, get a ton of stuff for free.

In addition to the uniform upgrades provided by MLB, they receive shoes, under garments, sunglasses, equipment and other goodies for free from the manufacturers.

Some get more stuff than they can't use and some get stuff they don't like. In both cases, they often give some of it away to MiLB umpires they run into during spring training.

As far as the Reebok shoes...several ML and MiLB umpires will be wearing the base shoes and a couple will be wearing the plate shoes, which as JP has indicated, are basically the base shoes with a metatarsal plate. The other new shoe making the rounds this season is the UnderArmor base shoe. They look good in the ads, but not so much up close.

Haha I'm sure he's doing just fine. It's a really nice thing that he and Jeff do for all the minor league guys down there.

It is. And you'll find that 90% of the other ML guys are just as generous and sympatico. Let me know if you get assigned to the AZL. I'll give you the name of the club where the big boys hang out after their games. You'd find out anyway, but I can save you a week or two.

Will do. I'm an East Coast guy so I hear chances are it'll be the GCL, but hey, you never know.

In general, they do seem to like to keep you in the region closer to home the first couple of years, but there have been exceptions. You should hear in early May, I'd guess.

Matt is going to be in the NWL this year so we'll be able to see him work without traveling 1600 miles.

All right, get a room, you two. ;)