Exposed Chest Protector

[kylejt]

I've got a plate, a base coat, and enough Elbecos for a four man crew. Top that, OZ! But you're right, walk in the field with "the coat", and you rule the roost. Chicks dig the coat.

Wearing a shirt over the chest protector, but under the plate coat is good looking, and great feeling. A black mock turtle, two sizes over, works pretty well. You know that feeling the first time you wore tights under your shin guards? Pretty close to that. Not that I take my cues from the guys on TV, but several MLB guys do this.

What's with the guys wearing long sleeved shirts, and pulling up the sleeves? Make up your mind already!

Wearing your throat protector in front of the frame makes no sense at all. Several guys on TV to this. Odd.

Hey, at least we probably don't have to look at baby blue shirts on TV until next year.

[NuBlue]

Originally Posted by kylejt

I've got a plate, a base coat, and enough Elbecos for a four man crew. Top that, OZ! But you're right, walk in the field with "the coat", and you rule the roost. Chicks dig the coat.

Wearing a shirt over the chest protector, but under the plate coat is good looking, and great feeling. A black mock turtle, two sizes over, works pretty well. You know that feeling the first time you wore tights under your shin guards? Pretty close to that. Not that I take my cues from the guys on TV, but several MLB guys do this.

What's with the guys wearing long sleeved shirts, and pulling up the sleeves? Make up your mind already!

Wearing your throat protector in front of the frame makes no sense at all. Several guys on TV to this. Odd.

Hey, at least we probably don't have to look at baby blue shirts on TV until next year.

Gerry Davis wears his Throat protector on the outside of the frame... don't understand the logic of his placement though...any thoughts?

[jicecone]

I doth believe that most media, fans and players alike, missed how smartly dressed Hunter Wendelstedt was in the Minnesota game.

Did anyone notice he had two different color socks on.?

[kylejt]

Originally Posted by jicecone

I doth believe that most media, fans and players alike, missed how smartly dressed Hunter Wendelstedt was in the Minnesota game.

So true, yet funny. I did have a non-umpire friend ask me about the crappy looking chest protector he was wearing. But most folks don't care about umpires, until they kick a call. And that's probably the way it should be.

[youngblue3]

Originally Posted by NuBlue

Gerry Davis wears his Throat protector on the outside of the frame... don't understand the logic of his placement though...any thoughts?

This way the throat protector doesnt get caught on the chest protector. I was actually thinking about doing this next year.

[RadioBlue]

Originally Posted by NuBlue

Gerry Davis wears his Throat protector on the outside of the frame... don't understand the logic of his placement though...any thoughts?

I had an evaluator once say that when my throat protector was on the inside, it dangled and waved like a wagging tongue. I moved it to the outside several years ago which appeased my evaluator and had the added benefit of not getting caught on my chest protector which would happen from time to time.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by RadioBlue

I had an evaluator once say that when my throat protector was on the inside, it dangled and waved like a wagging tongue. I moved it to the outside several years ago which appeased my evaluator and had the added benefit of not getting caught on my chest protector which would happen from time to time.

t's supposed to dangle and wave. That way if you should happen to tilt your head back it still drops in front of your throat.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by RadioBlue

I had an evaluator once say that when my throat protector was on the inside, it dangled and waved like a wagging tongue. I moved it to the outside several years ago which appeased my evaluator and had the added benefit of not getting caught on my chest protector which would happen from time to time.

Maybe I'm envisioning this wrong, but it seems to me you remove some of the protective qualities by doing that.

[kylejt]

You want to close the gap between the bottom of your mask and your chest protector, so a ball won't sneak in. Low, inside pitches that get fouled up at you are your enemy. Or ones that deflect off the catcher. You want to protect your Adam's apple from being crushed (blunt enough?).

Again, just have someone take a picture of you from the side, when you drop into your stance. Then just draw line on that picture on where, and how long a throat protector might help you.

[midmoump]

YouTube - TOC-Padres-Dodgers.mov

see throat shot at :45. Just another example of "if you are exposed, the ball WILL find you."

[Kevin Finnerty]

Anyone who umpires a ballgame without a throat protector is nuts.

If the guy in that video got hit the same way with a high-80s/low-90s pitch, he would/could have been killed. That's killed with a "K."

You don't like how it looks? Great reason not to use one.