Quote:
Originally posted by Carl Childress
Quote:
Originally posted by greymule
I just got a DVD of the World Series of 1943, 1944, and 1946, the Cardinals versus the Yankees, Browns, and Red Sox respectively.
On one stop-action, the umpire's arms are already fully extended in the "safe" sign with the runner's foot just barely having reached the bag and the ball a white blur not a foot from the glove.
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I can't comment on the other part of your post, but if you mean the foot was on the bag but the ball wasn't in the glove, that's picture-perfect mechanics. The ONLY reason to delay a call at first is to be sure the first baseman maintains control.
Hence, clinicians teach: Call "safe" at once at home and first because the runner can't overslide/overrun the base. On outs at every base, wait until you've established control.
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An immediate call of safe is warranted, but I think the way greymule described it, the umpire may have signalled early. Since his arms were already fully extended with the foot just barely having reached the bag, he probably began his safe call before the runner touched. Especially because he added that the calls at all the bases (presumably both safe and out) were made without waiting.
I suspect that the evolution of the game has perhaps made most of us good enough to call MLB games. At least for the '40's!
Mike