[IRISHMAFIA]

Don,

I do not know for what sanctioning body you were working, bu speaking for ASA, fast or slow pitch, is in multirunner situations, the PU has the lead runner and the BU has everyone else.

The Plate mechanics allow the PU to drift toward 3rd if there is no play at home, but must keep his/her attention to the lead runner touching home. Once that happens, then the PU should turn his attention toward 3B to pick-up the new lead runner.

Action at home plate, whether on a play or appeal, is the most important on the field as it determines a score. The PU cannot worry about 3B until his assigned runner has touched the plate.

The problem with heading toward 3B is in case of a mis-play, either at 3B or maybe a fielder kicks or drops a relay. You're heading toward 3B and all of a sudden this runner is streaking by you and here comes a throw to the plate. Well, no matter agile you may be, most likely you are not going to be in the proper position to make that call on a banger.

Another bad thing is when you have a hustling BU taking the trailing runner into 3B then s/he notices the PU more than halfway up the line. BANG! There's the play and the BU hesitates, not knowing whether the PU is going to make a call or not. Regardless of whether the call is right or not, the crew just placed some doubt in the team's heads.

Yes, this requires the BU to hustle his/her *** off when there are multiple runners in scoring position, but that is just part of the game and the job one is being paid to do.

Of course, much of this can be avoided, with ASA's blessing, by the umpire crew constantly communicating. There have been many a time when I see my partner get hung-up outside the diamond on a play. I'll tell him, "I've got the bases" as I come out from behind the plate reverting to a one-man system. At this point, I will expect to hear, "I'll get the plate" from my partner. If I don't, I know I've got everything and I damn well better get a thank you from my partner d:-)

Mike