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Originally Posted by PWL
I've often wondered by those foul line guys are so close to the infield. It would seem they would be farther out towards the warning track. Actually, they're so close to the base umpires they could come up and rotate at third and first when the second base umpire goes out, and the third or first base umpire rotate to second or go out on a fly. No need for the plate umpire to go anywhere but stay home. If these guys don't move off the line on certain plays, they're just wasted.
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I believe the idea behind the positioning of the LF and RF umpires is to reduce the responsibilities of the 1st and 3rd base umpire by about 50%. Anything at or in front of the LF or RF umpires is the 1st or 3rd base umpires' call. Anything that turns the LF of RF umpires around is their call. They don't need to be closer to the fence, because then they would not get those good angles (like the one Welke got), and would reduce their fields of vision significantly.