Rover Teams with Long Haul Bombers Again

Rover is providing the pants for the Long Haul Bombers again this year. Here's a pic of Brett Helmer (winning the Finals in Toronto last year) -- sporting his Rover's Black Label pants.

This year's pant will be in the same colors -- but white based. The Bombers liked them -- thought they "were real professional". I'm going to try to get out to the media event in California and get some pics of the new unis.

Softball World Cup Series

Looks like Softball World's tournament series for 2008 is going to be great. Rover is a sponsor along with Worth, Mizuno, and a local screen-printing company. I'm told that Southwest Softball magazine will be covering the tournament. I'll have to get Jim to post the details.

Rover's 2008 Buy-In

We've been getting a lot of questions about the Team Buy-In deals for 2008. We're working on them now and should have info available in the Team Uniform section by the end of the month or so... I think it's going to be a nice package.

We've got a new bat bag coming and some other items, plus a bunch of new styles in Black Label softball pants. Discounts will be tiered based on timing again -- meaning that if you order in Nov/Dec/Jan, you'll get the best pricing levels. You'll still be able to pick your delivery time for later as you choose. Anyone that's interested in getting info can always email to Team@RoverPlusNine.com --- but we won't have firm info on pricing until the end of Oct.

Colorado vs. D-Backs

What are the chances that Arizona can come back and win 4 straight against a team on the hottest streak (maybe) in baseball history? 20 of 21 -- unheard of. Are they gonna lose four straight to AZ --- I don't think so.

At least AZ could go down in style, as opposed to the Padres...

Padres Unis

OK -- Besides the fact that the Padres lost to Colorado, which bites if you're a Padres' fan (I am), I gotta say the unis in Vegas with Navy/White... well, they suck. We do lots of pants with Vegas, and I wouldn't wish this combo on anyone.

The home jerseys in Navy are nice... the Vegas is a sweet touch. But these... not working for me.

Fortunately, they'll have a good long time before they play again, to make a change.

Fabric and Geometry

Ok -- so I was talking about Fabric... And thinking about Fabric Geometry. (Takes me right back to High School, with Mr. Dillard telling me to stop looking out the window... Geometry. Geez.)

Basically, Geometry has to do with space between the fibers in the softball pant fabric. Imagine the difference between a window screen and chicken wire. Both allow air through, but certainly the chicken wire with the bigger gaps is more "breathable". In the same way, a mesh fabric is going to allow more air through than a woven fabric or a knit.

And to make it even more complicated, those little air gaps in the fabric can change while being worn. You sweat a little bit and the fibers swell up, and the "gaps" gets smaller. For instance, cotton fibers can expand 60% beyond their initial size -- just from sweat.

Okay -- I know you're saying "Brian, you moron, I'm not going to put my pants under a microscope. I struggle just to wash them every 5th game."

Fair enough, so here's a simple test: Hold a pant up to your mouth, and breathe through it. Take a second pant and breathe through it. Which is easier? Most likely, the easier one is significantly more breathable.

(By the way, before you try that little test... wash the pants. Voice of experience.)

More on Fabric

I was talking the other day about our fabric. One of the things that's important is getting a fabric that is strong but also breathes. If I can put on my lab coat for a minute, let me give you a brief run-down.

There are multiple factors that affect breathability, but primarily it has to do with the fabric filaments ("What's it made of?") and the fabric geometry. ("How is it constructed?")

Under a microscope, fabric yarns or filaments can look different. For example, a filament can be pulled-out (extruded) in a solid filament like nylon is; or it can be made like a twisted ribbon as in polyester or cotton. Air cannot pass through a solid fiber but it does pass through those fibers with ribbon twists. Twisted filaments are more breathable.

Secondly, how the fabric is put together makes a difference. Next time: What everybody hated in high school: Geometry.