[Andy]

The great thing about the three umpire system is that you often start in the position you need to be in to call the next play. You don't have to move to get a good position. The downside of this is that it goes against our two umpire mechanics of having to move almost every time the ball is hit to get to a good position to call the play.

If you are like most of us and work the great majority of your games in either the two or one umpire system, then go to a three umpire game, you have to fight that instinct to move when you don't need to.

The play presented by the OP is a prime example. With a runner on first only, the U3 is postioned at the optimum spot to call a play at second base. However, when the ball was hit to F6, that "I need to get position" instinct may have kicked in and Dave may have instinctively taken a step or two in toward second and put himsef too close to the play and not seen the ball deflect off of the fielders glove.

Just a guess at what may have happened in this particular play, but a very real observation about three umpire mechanics based on personal experience.