Thread: base mechanics
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Old Thu May 18, 2017, 12:18pm
youngump youngump is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CecilOne View Post
Here is another version, copied not mine.

WHO'S GOT THIRD (of course, WHO HAS THIRD would be grammatically correct, and WHO COVERS THIRD correct for umpires)?
The answer isn't "I don't know"!
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In two-person mechanics, there are SIX instances that are the BASE UMPIRE'S CALL:

1) batter-runner on a triple,

2) the last runner into third base,

3) a lone runner on fly ball advancement,

4) any return throw from the plate area, or cut-off by a player,

5) a steal or pickoff, and

6) the FIRST THROW only BY AN INFIELDER

Elaboration:

#6 means that the PLATE UMPIRE has the call at third on the "first to third" play when the runner breaks from second. It also means that with runners on first and second and a hard one hopper to left field, the plate umpire may very well have a FORCE OUT CALL at third base because that is NOT a first throw from an INFIELDER

#4 means that even though the plate umpire has moved up to the holding zone at the beginning of the play, if the throw toward home PULLS him/her back toward the plate area, the BASE UMPIRE has to take the subsequent play at third base

Pregame these coverages with your partner!

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Yes, some are redundant. As copied, not mine.
On number 6, the first play by an infielder. I'm not sure I've ever quite been certain about how to decide if something is the first play on the infield and based on a lot of pre-gaming, nobody else seems 100% confident either. For example, is an appeal after a catch the first play in the infield? The catch is a play, so it doesn't quite meet the definitions, but most people see it as a first play and it makes more sense that way. If you read it as the first throw by an infielder as above, then you have the situation where a ball is popped up right between the shortstop and the left fielder is dropped and who covers the runner moving from first to second depends on which person picks up the ball which doesn't make a ton of sense. I'm not sure how to make the coverage clearer but finding a better way to express this would alleviate confusion. I don't have my rule book with me, but doesn't the actual mechanic say it's based on whether the ball is hit to the outfield not who fields it?
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