Quote:
Originally posted by shipwreck
In a two man with nobody on why not as BU go out to watch for fair or foul and if there is a catch or not. Dave
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For consistency reasons. In many (if not most) cases, consistency needs to be the mantra for universal coverage. the plate umpire knows he has fair/foul calls
ALL the time when the ball is hit to left, and every catch/no catch call when the ball is hit to left, to center, and ... sometimes when the ball is hit to right?
And, in slow pitch, with nobody on, the base umpire starts in B position, and has no angle for fair/fou calls, even if the field is properly lined.
The clearest and most simple message to get out to 60,000 ASA umpires, and unknown other umpires not registered with ASA, is that the plate umpire has all fair/foul calls, and all catch/no catch calls. Base umpire is to buttonhook and pick up baserunners. All the time, no matter what field the ball is hit to, whether fast pitch, slow pitch, or modified.
Can higher level umpires vary from that? Sure, if you communicate; but teach the KISS method.