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LL clinicians teach that all fly balls in the outfield in a 6 umpire system are handled by RFU and LFU.
On another board, when this mechanic was questioned during the regionals, one of the regional umps said that is what they were taught to use during the Regional Tournament, and I assume the same thing is being taugh to the guys in Williamsport.
To me, it seems a little crazy. On a 60' diamond, U2 in the outfield is close enough to F8 to pat him on the back after the catch. I don't understand having him run AWAY from the sinking liner, just to have it covered by someone at least 60' away.
But LL clinincs also teach that in a 2, 3 or 4 man system, the PU has ALL fly balls in the outfield. Back when I still worked LL, I did 4 state championships. On my crews, fly balls to the outfield were handled the same way they are handled on the 90' diamond.
But maybe that's just ONE reason I was never asked to come to Williamsport.
And before anyone makes comments about LL umps not being real umps, I was working NCAA baseball and LL baseball in the same seasons. LL can be fun, the kids are great, but the adults drove me out. It's not the game, it's the politics, the griping, the manipulating, the coaches that think they are Lou Pinella when in reality they are more like Lou Costello.
If the adults were kept away from the field, I'd go back.
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