I just want to lend my personal endorsement (for whatever it's worth) to Carl's excellent instructions for working alone.
Furthermore, I cannot recommend enough working from behind the pitcher on a 90-foot diamond when alone.
I worked alone from behind the plate for years. When I first heard Carl comment that he worked from behind the mound, I figured I'd give it a whirl.
Balls and strikes seemed easier to me (yes, easier,) and certainly the enhancement of base and catch coverage is astounding, when compared to what we face from behind the plate.
The trade-off is, as Papa C. said, we must utilize the base coaches for fouls which pass over the bag. I agree with his assessment that the vast majority of fair/foul calls on a marked field can easily be called from the middle (with a little quickness and instinct.)
I think having experience working from behind the plate makes working from behind the pitcher a snap. Really, it is. You're at a distinct advantage having seen the strike zone from both sides, and it cannot help but make you a better balls and strikes umpire in the end.
The tricky part is getting the coaches to understand. Sometimes, they don't mind. But other times they can be downright pig-headed about it. All they know of calling balls and strikes from behind the mound is from intra-squad practice games, when a coach, father, or another player is calling the game.
I usually tell them that umpires used to call from behind the mound, so they can think of it as a celebration of the history and tradition of the great game of baseball.
They usually roll their eyes and walk away, never saying a peep again the whole game.
Sincerely,
Jim Porter
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