Questiona about working the Plate in Slow Pitch Softball.

[AtlUmpSteve]

My $.02.

As a general rule, I think umpires should be free to wear whatever they feel they need to be comfortable. At the same time, I think there are way too many that are judgmental about umpires that choose to wear LESS than others, and are comfortable with that.

All that said, I also have never been challenged by a batted ball in slowpitch; at any level, even if Special Olympics. Pitched balls that bounce; hell, yeah. Foul balls, foul tips; just like fastpitch, in the slot, up as tight as the catcher allows, and dropped to a set, never even been close.

If you have foul balls whizzing by your head, get in the slot, move up as best the catcher allows, and drop to a set with eyes at the top of the zone. It will not only keep you from being hit, but will help your strike zone to be balls that actually drop thru the zone, not based on where balls land. Don't be the guy standing fully upright and straddling the catcher and plate.

Except Darryl, he can probably never drop to that level. Sorry, azbigdawg, just have to call you out on this.

[teebob21]

If you want to wear a mask, wear a mask. No reason to put your mug at risk if you are concerned. Back in the day, there used to be something we called a "slowpitch mask". It looked a lot like the steel fielder's masks the girls wear sometimes, with leather pads like a FP mask. Most of the SP guys and gals worked games with one.

[twotakedown]

Originally Posted by teebob21

If you want to wear a mask, wear a mask. No reason to put your mug at risk if you are concerned. Back in the day, there used to be something we called a "slowpitch mask". It looked a lot like the steel fielder's masks the girls wear sometimes, with leather pads like a FP mask. Most of the SP guys and gals worked games with one.

MacGregor Softball Mask - Walmart.com

Is this what you are talking about?

[Tru_in_Blu]

I work about 50 slow pitch games a year, about half of which are 1-man games. So maybe I total 30-35 games on the plate.

I do work the slot. I've never been dinged by a foul ball but have had a few close calls. Sometimes on the flat pitches that some of these guys try to jump on, I barely have time to declare the pitch illegal and they're swinging and fouling the ball back, sometime very close to me. Other times, less accomplished players will try to hit the ball while it's over their heads which can also result in an odd trajectory for a foul ball.

I considered using one of the fielder's masks, but the one I got had a strap that went from the top of the mask to a connecting strap in the back. There was no way to be able to use the mask and wear a cap at the same time.

I've worked with 1 umpire in 10 years that wore a mask in slow pitch. Most of the women catchers do wear a mask.

Still knocking on wood...

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by teebob21

If you want to wear a mask, wear a mask. No reason to put your mug at risk if you are concerned. Back in the day, there used to be something we called a "slowpitch mask". It looked a lot like the steel fielder's masks the girls wear sometimes, with leather pads like a FP mask. Most of the SP guys and gals worked games with one.

Originally Posted by twotakedown

MacGregor Softball Mask - Walmart.com

Is this what you are talking about?

I have seen this mask before in stores and on websites, but I don't think that one can fit it over a full brim ASA hat. If we go with masks we will probably use the masks we use for baseball and fast pitch softball.

MTD, Sr.

[teebob21]

Originally Posted by twotakedown

MacGregor Softball Mask - Walmart.com

Is this what you are talking about?

Similar, but more like a true plate mask. I'll see if I can find a picture online...I don't think they sell them any more. Maybe the mask I saw the "old-timers" wear was actually an old-timer mask.

[bniu]

I paid good money for my mask, why would I not wear it? Back in college, I didn't wear a mask and got hit by a foul ball, never going back there again without a mask on. No need to buy a slowpitch mask, just use the fastpitch mask that you already use. I don't care if it makes me look less macho, I've got to go to work in the morning and I'm not going to risk a shot to the head. I'm there to provide a service to the teams/community, not to engage in a macho contest.

[azbigdawg]

Originally Posted by bniu

I paid good money for my mask, why would I not wear it? Back in college, I didn't wear a mask and got hit by a foul ball, never going back there again without a mask on. No need to buy a slowpitch mask, just use the fastpitch mask that you already use. I don't care if it makes me look less macho, I've got to go to work in the morning and I'm not going to risk a shot to the head. I'm there to provide a service to the teams/community, not to engage in a macho contest.

I am sorry you machismo is challenged somehow. I don't think anyone has commented from that angle. I would just contend that based on the physics of the game, it is extremely unlikely that you need one. It may have something to do with my height, but I have rarely had a ball come anywhere close to my head, even working the slot. I rarely see them used in SP, and there is a reason for that. Do what you are comfortable with.

[teebob21]

Originally Posted by azbigdawg

I am sorry you machismo is challenged somehow. I don't think anyone has commented from that angle. I would just contend that based on the physics of the game, it is extremely unlikely that you need one. It may have something to do with my height, but I have rarely had a ball come anywhere close to my head, even working the slot. I rarely see them used in SP, and there is a reason for that. Do what you are comfortable with.

For us fastpitch guys, a reminder: In SP, pitches thrown with an arc higher than 1.65, or lower than 0.8 "Darryls" are illegal.

In a pinch, we can substitute the "Andy" unit as necessary, if all you know is the metric system.