slowpitch facemask

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Mike must have some Jedi or Matrix thing going on, because even though my reflexes are pretty darn good, I still get hit.

Nothing special, just squared up, in the slot behind the catcher (if they are there).

Though this does raise a good point: why DON'T we wear masks in SP? It's so easy to break a nose and have a pint of blood pour onto the field, and losing an umpire to a broken nose is just... well... silly.

If you want to wear one, what is stopping you?

At some levels, especially the lower Co-ed rec levels, it doesn't matter if you have a "perfect" slot set-up, you still run the risk of getting hit by the ball somehow. As for pitches coming back up and hitting you in the leg, that's a catcher concern. Some catchers are put back there because they're the worst fielder on the team. As for foul balls coming back to hit you, it's because they came off the handle of the bat, and the catcher didn't have the wisdom to try and catch the stupid thing. 9 times out of 10, the catcher will look at me and wonder if they should apologize or they will apologize, but not with so much sincerity in their voice.

At the upper levels, I RARELY and I mean RARELY have a problem with this. If it does occur, it's because the ball took a weird spin that the catcher didn't anticipate. Those are usually followed by a sincere apology by the catcher and a "hmmm, that was weird" comment. I'm usually more forgiving because I know it took a weird bounce or spin and it caught both of us off-guard.

As for a mask, I wouldn't wear one, because I've only gotten one in the face in 15 years I've been doing this. Also, I wouldn't wear one because I don't want to hear our evaluators chirpping about how lame it looks, or how it looks just so wrong to see it in a slow-pitch game. I'm seriously considering shin guards (soccer type) for the lower level rec games next year, because it seems like the number of those bouncing shin smackers are increasing every year.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

Also, I wouldn't wear one because I don't want to hear our evaluators chirpping about how lame it looks, or how it looks just so wrong to see it in a slow-pitch game.

Would an evaluator have the same issue with an umpire with a heart condition wearing a chest protector in a SP game?

As long has the umpire handles the mask as prescribed, it should not be an issue.

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Would an evaluator have the same issue with an umpire with a heart condition wearing a chest protector in a SP game?

As long has the umpire handles the mask as prescribed, it should not be an issue.

We have an evaluation "team". They get assigned certain umpires to evaluate (if that's how I understand their system). There are a couple of egos on that "team" who have issues with certain things, like masks and chest protectors in slow-pitch. I even had a seasoned umpire who works primarily fast-pitch come in and work an upper level slow-pitch game with me who thought it was ridiculous that the pitcher was wearing a hockey goalie's helmet. I told him, at this level, I would be wearing one too. Seems like the guys who have been around since the old days think that slow-pitch teams should just show up with bats, balls, and gloves and nothing else for equipment.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

We have an evaluation "team". They get assigned certain umpires to evaluate (if that's how I understand their system). There are a couple of egos on that "team" who have issues with certain things, like masks and chest protectors in slow-pitch.

If they cannot let that go, they should not be evaluating other umpires

I even had a seasoned umpire who works primarily fast-pitch come in and work an upper level slow-pitch game with me who thought it was ridiculous that the pitcher was wearing a hockey goalie's helmet. I told him, at this level, I would be wearing one too. Seems like the guys who have been around since the old days think that slow-pitch teams should just show up with bats, balls, and gloves and nothing else for equipment.

Was their stealing? I have found there are some FP-oriented umpire who don't like the stealing in SP.

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

If they cannot let that go, they should not be evaluating other umpires.

The evaluation committee usually consists of umpires who have worked nationals and are among the Elite in ASA. The UIC and his deputy are automatically members of it, and they pick the other members of it who are in that category I just mentioned, and usually are the ones who have attended NUS almost every year since they started. (I'm not trying to knock the system here, but I think it needs some tinkering) Pretty much all are fast-pitch who will do slow-pitch in a pinch. One of them is a fast-pitch guy who doesn't shy away from doing the slow-pitch stuff.

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Was their stealing? I have found there are some FP-oriented umpire who don't like the stealing in SP.

There used to be base-stealing in that league. The players voted it out after the year they tried it. They didn't feel it changed the game any, so it wasn't worth it. However, I did have a couple of guys that you described who thought it was ridiculous that these big former college athletes were trying to steal bases in slow-pitch when they aren't too sharp at it in the fast-pitch game. I had to figure that logic out.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

There used to be base-stealing in that league. The players voted it out after the year they tried it. They didn't feel it changed the game any, so it wasn't worth it.

Then I would have to believe the players are either not very smart, not very athletic or both.

I think the stealing adds a bundle to the game. It keeps a player in the catching position. It keeps the pitcher and catcher in the game because they can no longer think about the beer after the game .

It keeps the umpire on their toes, also.

This year in our states of all levels, the steal was a big part of the game including delayed steals of home.

It is so well liked by the "college" players, that every level wants it.

[JPRempe]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Was their stealing? I have found there are some FP-oriented umpire who don't like the stealing in SP.

I love the stealing leagues/tourneys in SP. So much more exciting and more for the BU/PU to do...

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by JPRempe

I love the stealing leagues/tourneys in SP. So much more exciting and more for the BU/PU to do...

I'm not a slow pitch guy, but from the umpire's perspective, it would seem a benefit of a league with stealing is the catcher has to actually try to catch the ball!

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

If you want to wear one, what is stopping you?

That darned "C" word. Con... Con... Consis... Blargh, I forgot it already.