Rover's Think Tank

Rover Teams with Long Haul Bombers Again

2008-01-26T13:13:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-15T15:29:00.000-08:00

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

2007-10-15T15:49:00.001-07:00

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

2007-10-15T15:34:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-03T16:23:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-01T21:06:00.001-07:00

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

2007-10-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

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.

Fabric for Softball Pants

2007-09-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

I got this as a PM on Softball Fans yesterday:

I received the RPN Black Labels... These are da bomb!!! My bro and wife absolutely love them too!!! The fit/cut are sexcellent...all I can say is that the material can be a bit more boombah like (deluxe material)....But I love them...just wanted to tell you that....can't wait to use em next season!!!"

Why don't we use a really "soft" material? Well, soft is good in your woman, and it's good in your toilet tissue, but in softball pants it's not necessarily so good. Softball pants need to protect and be durable, as well as be comfortable. So we chose a material that is optimal. Any softer, and it can burn out or get holes too quickly. Any stronger, and you'd lose some comfort. More on this later...

Softball Tournaments in 2008

2007-09-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

It looks like a local softball park(close to Rover in Euless, TX) is going to be creating a tournament series for 2008. Rover is going to be one of the main sponsors.

It's just in the early planning but it sounds like it's going to be great. Six qualifying tournaments, and then late in the year a "winner takes all" final. From what the park is projecting, the winner will get a prize package worth about $10,000... which may include among other things, a full uniform from Rover (hats, our custom pants, custom jersey team shirts, belts, etc.)

It's gonna be good!

Testimonials -- Fake or Not?

2007-09-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

We got this email the other day.

"I received the [custom softball] pants today! They really are the best pants ever. I thought the testimonials were exaggerations.....but they were right on!....I am going to try to play for as many different colored teams that I can so that I can get them in other colors!!! Thanks again......"

And it got me thinking about Testimonials. I'm the same way as this guy: I always think the testimonials are faked. I mean anybody who controls their own website can write up some nice sounding testimonials and post them up. It ain't rocket science.

Having said that -- our testimonials are actually true. (Really.) And most of them are not solicited, meaning customers just email in because they like our softball pants or were impressed by our customer service. Which is pretty cool if you think about it: Who has the time to write an email saying they liked a product or service?

It's one of my favorite things about working here.

Never blogged before... Let's see how this works.

2007-09-08T16:41:00.000-07:00

So this is it? Hmmm.

Exciting.

Maybe it would be a better blog if I were thinking of something interesting to write. I'm thinking, but in the immortal words of Curly from the Three Stooges: "Nothin's happening."