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Originally Posted by bisonpitcher
Where would you have positioned yourself for the throw? I would like to know if I am positioning myself incorrectly in this instance. I have worked HS ball for years and this is the first time I can remember getting blocked in this way. I have always been taught to watch the ball release by the infielder and pick up the first baseman, and set if he appears to have a routine play at first. He was set normally and at the last instant lunged forward and to his left, directly at me. It was so late that if I would have moved to my left to get a better view, that I would have been moving at the time of the catch. Granted the appeal could have been handled better, but I would like to know if there is a better place for me to go here than toward the 45 foot line. And for the call, I could see no seperation from the bag, so I wasnt going to call what i could not see.
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1. It's difficult to answer this since I have no idea where you were on the field. "C" can and does mean many different things. There is no permanent "X" on the field marking A,B,C,D. (Which is one reason the pros do not use those labels. They want to avoid umpires thinking there is one spot that is "B" and one spot that is "C"...etc.)
With R3 only, I am very deep in my C positioning, since any play on him will involve him coming back to the bag from the home side, and I don't need to bust into the grass for the angle, I already have it.
I begin establishing an angle on the play to first when the ball is hit. I read it it's direction and how the fielder is playing it...is he waiting it out...is he moving in on it?
I turn with the ball, keeping chest to ball and I am moving towards an angle that will allow me to see any space between the firstbasemen's foot and the bag, pending a good throw. I then read the throw and adjust immediately, if necessary. I do not come to a standing set until I read a quality throw.
Depending on the andle of the throw from F6, and I may adjust towards second base or to the 45 foot mark on the first base line. It's all on the play.
Straightlining can be avoided.
2. You suggested the "appeal" could have been handled better. You bet. If you've already made your call, there shouldn't be one.