Two things you just can't live without ....

A "Clean Sweep"

Dirty isn't the really word, invisible is more like it, and I'm standing only a few feet away. The pitcher, some 60+ feet back is asking me to clean the plate! Regardless of what I do my regular brush just seems to paint the mud from one edge to the other and further darken up the situation.

David Prong, president of Lester's Upstate Sporting Goods must have seen read my frustration for late in the season he forwarded me Joe Brinkman's "Clean Sweep" plate brush. You have to be from somewhere where snow is a reality to appreciate this handy innovation ... design a quality plate brush into the handle of what I would recognize as a small ice scraper.

This plate brush measures 5-1/2" long and is 3" wide. The bristles make up two inches of the length and the rectangular gray plastic scraper the rest. A small 1/2" angled section clearly defines the working end of the scraper handle. There are two elements an umpire wants from a plate brush so let's put this one to the test ....

Will it clean the plate?

It was a cold October morning when I stopped by the local diamonds. The rain and end of season neglect left quite a mess on home plate. A few pushes moved the loose dirt off the edges. Scrape, scrape ... the caked on red clay cleared easily. The thicker, damp mud moved off without effort. No brush streaks. Flip the brush over, my carefully practiced brush motion and bingo ... a clean plate. I think I'm going to like this .... could I have used it on the August long weekend!

Will it fit in my pocket and ball bag?

The brush slid in and out of the brush pocket of my Ump-Attire ball bag with ease. It didn't like the brush pocket on my +POS ball bags though. The brush would fit, but just barely. Too tight to be of use during a game. The key test however is your back pocket. Here the brush went in and out comfortably. The bend in the handle and low profile of the brush allowed for the brush to fit without any pressure on the pocket.

- a four plate rating! (4/5)

And a "Cap Caddy" too!

If you have been are reader of previous articles you know when it comes to hats I strongly encourage you to do three things ... first, only buy fitted hats, second, always buy two, and finally purchase a proper hat washing frame. David Prong, president of Lester's Upstate Sporting Goods, reminded me of the item I had forgot ... keep your hats in a proper Cap Caddy.

Thinker Innovations Inc. manufactures just the item, in fact, it looks just like a clear plastic baseball cap, the way your hat sits on the shelf, with the back folded in. At only $7.00 (US) you will discover your hats arrive at the game clean, looking their best and actually last longer. You will also discover that a hat that used to last only one season now maintains its shape and cleanliness for two or more seasons, more than paying for the modest investment.

The Cap Caddy can accommodate up to three hats but personally I find two to be just the right number. It is available from many officials supply stores and is Lester's catalogue item HL2. Buy two, one for your base hats and the other for your plate hats.

Hint: Several officials tape a package of Silica (the ones that come with so many items you buy) into the Cap Caddy. They find it helps control the moisture. I have a small bag of cedar chips, normally used in a drawer, taped into the back of mine. The cedar absorbs moisture and also eliminates any odors that might be on the cap.

- definitely a five plate rating! (5/5)