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Originally Posted by CoachJM
PWL,
I'm just a dumb coach so some of the umpire mechanics and positioning stuff is a little confusing to me. Could you please explain why it would make sense for the BU to be in C with an R1 & R3 and no outs?
Thanks.
JM
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JM,
We have had this debate on several occasions. R1 and R3 was traditionally taught by the pro schools as being in C back in the day (at least in 1986 when it was taught to me). Somewhere along the way, umpires started popularizing the B position with runners at the corners. Now B is the accepted mechanic, but some old school guys, myself included, find that starting in C gives superior angles for certain situations with R1 and R3. Admittedly, you trade some distance on the pickoff at 1st base. This however, poses no problem, as it is only a little farther away and clearly visible.
There are B umpires and there are C umpires, and no amount of debate seems to convince one camp or the other that they are wrong. My former association (where I was taught C from the pro manuals) has it as personal preference and totally optional.