[SanDiegoSteve]

The U5 and U6 positions would be used year round if they had enough qualified umpires, and could justify the extra salary expense. These extra 2 umpires help to cut down on the number of times the infield umpires have to do rotations, and ensure that all bases are covered by an umpire all the time. With U5 and U6, the foul lines are covered much closer to the fence, and U3 and U1 don't have to go out on the ball down the line. This results in more accurate calls on borderline fair/foul and other close plays at the wall. The only time they have to rotate is when the ball is hit to center and the gaps with no one on base, where U2 goes out.

It would also be difficult to judge an entire crew, when maybe 1 or 2 in each crew are standout, playoff ready umpires, and maybe 1 or 2 in the crew are too inexperienced to work the games. It is better to assign the post season games by merit or rotation only.

All the umpires that were selected to work this post season are top notch, veteran umpires. The talent pool is not watered down, since they are all deserving of working the playoffs, and World Series.