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You were not watching the game from the umpires viewpoint. The plate umpire is looking straight at the pitcher, but is focusing on the release point to pick up the ball. Only if the base umpire is behind 1B (no runners) will he/she have a view of the leap. In any other position, the BU is focusing on the pitchers release and the tag foot of the runner.
Only coaches (at 1B and 3B) and tv cameras get great views of leaps.
If I can see a leap, then it is not a case of certainty, but of how much. If I see it - I call it.
However - many pitchers will break contact with the ground. But by how much and how long? If the pivot foot is 1" - 2" off the ground, and if it lands 6" - 12" (arbitrary numbers) in front of the plate, and if the toe is down and the foot goes immediately into a drag (actually the foot is already dragging, its just more visable when touching the ground) then I probably am not going to call a leap.
WMB
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