Yeah, they didn't show the first pitches, but I got to see Winny get interviewed. I am a PCL fan from back in the early 60s going to Westgate Park with my dad. I wish the Pads were still minor league. They were far more entertaining and the atmosphere can't be beat.

Was that a Nike mask he was wearing with plain pads?

I don't see a reason to talk with the media. No good can come of it.

-Josh

Looked like a Nike. You can sort of see it here and here:
Triple-A All Star Game at PGE Park - OregonLive.com
Triple-A All Star Game at PGE Park - OregonLive.com

Just for fun ;)
Triple-A All Star Game at PGE Park - OregonLive.com

it's not japan. no comment.

Early in my career between innings of a game, the PU came to the backstop where I was to get some water. I picked up my crowd mic and pointed it to him to ask a question about a call and the rule. I was respectful and wasn't accusatory, just curious. He just looked at the microphone and then me like he wanted to shove the mic somewhere. I took the hint and never did that again. I'm glad there was a fence between us!

After the game the crew pulled up behind my car as I was loading the gear and he said "Now, what's your question?" He was very nice and answered my question, but he made it clear that during the game he wasn't going to be bothered by the radio guy. Understood.

Well, there always seems to be an elephant in the room when the discussion of the Nike masks that many of the pro catchers, such as Jorge Posada, are wearing, due to their Nike sponsorships. I have contacted Nike, and all I get is the runaround and everybody acts like they've never heard of them, and it's like one of those government conspiricy theories. They are as tight-lipped about the subject as the Area 51 deniers. One guy I emailed sent me links to the Nike Pro Gold helmets, which is not what I had specified in my email. One guy from customer service told me to apply for sponsorship, and gave me a link for some charity thing, not what I was looking for at all.

I want to know why Nike doesn't want these masks in the hands of the public. They would make a ton of jack, and they would still be sweet masks. All the gear junkie umpires would buy at least one.

Any of you "in the loop" guys out there know the real story here?

A guy I umpire with has a relative at Nike and says all he knows is that they are being issued to professional players only. On Rob Drake's old site a MiLB umpire mentioned he got his by asking a catcher at spring training for an extra.

Nike has to know how many of these they could sell to umpires if they were available.

There must be a reason for not wanting to make more money.