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Originally posted by WestMichBlue
#1 - The Hammer. The ASA hammer has been a raised arm with hand open, then pull down to 90 deg position with hand closed. (The NFHS has been a closed fist directly to the 90 deg position.) At the MASA State Clinic last spring we were shown a new hammer - a closed fist slightly behind the ear and pushed into the 90 deg position. When pointed out that was not the technique shown in the 2003 rule book, the instructor stated that the change was made after the book went to print.
So - has ASA changed the hammer? And is that what we should expect to see in the 2004 book?
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I don't think the book will change because the mechanic described is the best method available to teach new umpires. It's great to go directly to the hammer, but you need to know where to end up before you can get there. I've seen newcomers try to learn this without the benefit of the prescribed mechanic and more than half have no idea where their arm and fist are supposed to end up. This means their signals are not crisp and often look sloppy.
So, I teach the "old" method to get them accustomed to the hammer. Only after that has been mastered should they take the shortcut which is now permissible in ASA.
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#2 - 2 man crew: PU mechanic with runner on 1b only, batter hits ball. PU goes up 1B line appx 20', then fades diagonally across diamond to take lead runner to 3B.
Suppose batter bunts; F1 fields ball, has no chance at 2B, then throws ball in dirt at 1B. PU is cutting across diamond, throw to 3B is nearly parallel to BU and coming from behind. This seems like a violation of the Inside-Out theory - you only have three elements (runner, defender, and base) in front of you; ball is behind. I understand when you don't want to be in foul territory at a play at 3B, but this seems like a very bad position to make a call. Or is it the best you can do? The lesser of two evils?
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I don't see how the BU could possibly be involved in this play. Coming inside is fine, but the BU's priority here is staying out of the runner's base path and out of a potential throwing lane to either base. If s/he doesn't get inside, it is no big deal as he can shadow the BR-R and just as easily be in position to make a call at 2B or 1B from that position.
As for the PU, there is no need to be right on the line (and probably not going to get very far up the line), especially if F1 is the defender fielding the bunt. A throw to 3B will most likely come from beyond 1B which mean as long as you don't run to the middle of the field, you are out of the way. If getting in the path of the ball still worries you, I suggest the you take a direct path to approx. halfway point of the 3B-to-HP base line and adjust your position by stepping inside as necessary to see the play. This way, if there is an overthrow, you are now inside, out of the runner's base path and in perfect position to take the runner to the plate with the ball on the outside.