Balloon sighting!

[TwoBits]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I can't believe more people don't use them.

Why?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by TwoBits

Why?

Cooler, better protection.

A little lost in mobility, but if used properly, it's not a big deal.

You can get the same look at the strike zone as with the inside protector.

The problems are travelling (to the extent they are foam pads and not inflatable balloons) and windy days.

[TwoBits]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Cooler, better protection.

A little lost in mobility, but if used properly, it's not a big deal.

You can get the same look at the strike zone as with the inside protector.

The problems are travelling (to the extent they are foam pads and not inflatable balloons) and windy days.

That makes sense. You don't have to worry much about mobility on a small field with a six-man crew.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

You can get the same look at the strike zone as with the inside protector.

That wasn't my experience. The balloon does not allow for the same heel toe set up in the slot. You'll also get some disagreement from the pro school on that.

On the other hand, one could argue that while it isn't the same, in might be as good.

[RadioBlue]

I know a softball guy who exclusively uses a balloon. He had a catastrophic injury to one of his arms years ago and there's hardly any meat on that forearm. It's basically skin covering bone. His doctors have told him he cannot get hit there, or it's bad news, so he's gone to the balloon.

Unfortunately, he's been told he won't work any state or national tournaments because he uses the balloon. Seems to me that's a reasonable accomodation for the results of a catastrophic injury.

You never know why someone might be using a balloon-style protector.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by RadioBlue

I know a softball guy who exclusively uses a balloon. He had a catastrophic injury to one of his arms years ago and there's hardly any meat on that forearm. It's basically skin covering bone. His doctors have told him he cannot get hit there, or it's bad news, so he's gone to the balloon.

Unfortunately, he's been told he won't work any state or national tournaments because he uses the balloon. Seems to me that's a reasonable accomodation for the results of a catastrophic injury.

You never know why someone might be using a balloon-style protector.

Maybe, but how we look is often the reason we advance or do not get opportunities. That is not going to change just because the guy you described has a good reason to use one.

Peace

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I turned on the Canada vs. Chinese-Tiapei game at 02:15pm, and the PU is wearing a balloon. The PU appears to be a female. Got to run.

MTD, Sr.

[BretMan]

The balloon surprised me. So did the "devil horns" when flashing the count (a 2-2 count meant "double devil horns"!) and the pointing to first base when ball four was issued (and I only watched a few minutes of this game). It just seems like any umpire that's been around the block a time or two, bothered to attend a clinic, read an umpire manual or ever been evaluated would realize that we're not supposed to do that stuff.

[RadioBlue]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Maybe, but how we look is often the reason we advance or do not get opportunities. That is not going to change just because the guy you described has a good reason to use one.

Peace

JRut:

I understand what you are saying, but when numerous codes are now making allowances (read: leagally bound under the ADA) for disabled players, why wouldn't the same apply to umpires who are disabled? When this guy gets told he is not advancing because of his balloon protector, that is a potential violation of federal law. So the guy's choices are: risk losing his arm in order to move up, or keep his arm and not advance. Doesn't seem like a fair choice given whether or not one uses a balloon protector has no bearing on one's ability to umpire.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by RadioBlue

JRut:

I understand what you are saying, but when numerous codes are now making allowances (read: leagally bound under the ADA) for disabled players, why wouldn't the same apply to umpires who are disabled? When this guy gets told he is not advancing because of his balloon protector, that is a potential violation of federal law. So the guy's choices are: risk losing his arm in order to move up, or keep his arm and not advance. Doesn't seem like a fair choice given whether or not one uses a balloon protector has no bearing on one's ability to umpire.

It is not like he has to have to balloon protector to protect his arm either. And this is not an ADA situation as every person with a disability would not be reasonably allowed to umpire or officiate as they could cause harm to other players or themselves. Does he use a protector on the bases too? After all he could get hit there as well. And he is an independent contractor so a lot of decisions he makes about moving up are based on decisions he would have to make. And I am sure working as an umpire is not right, it is a privileged and if a player could not play for such reasons there is only so much accommodation that can be made to allow that player to continue to play as well.

Peace

[wentdl]

Oh yeah she called a bad game, lot of hoopla about her and she stinks. There were quiet a number of bummers again . For all the work these kids put into getting there I think they could do a better job of screening the umps they use rather than being nominated by the good ol boy system.

[LMan]

Originally Posted by wentdl

Oh yeah she called a bad game, lot of hoopla about her and she stinks. There were quiet a number of bummers again . For all the work these kids put into getting there I think they could do a better job of screening the umps they use rather than being nominated by the good ol boy system.

Thanks for bringing up this new perspective. I don't believe we have discussed it before.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by wentdl

Oh yeah she called a bad game, lot of hoopla about her and she stinks. There were quiet a number of bummers again . For all the work these kids put into getting there I think they could do a better job of screening the umps they use rather than being nominated by the good ol boy system.

Thanks for offering your second grade grammar/spelling and your idiotic opinion.

People act as this though this is more than a game played by 11-13 year olds. It's already unfortunate that games like this get so much attention from the likes of ESPN/ABC.