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Not having an umpire for R2 would be more of a concern than having home uncovered. Since PU is up the line to make call on line drive, it's just a matter of him reading the play and moving to either home or 3rd for any play on R3. For BU to see catch near the line and tag at 2nd, he would have to pivot to a position much closer to 2nd than 3rd, leaving him farther from a play at third than the PU should be. If he makes it far enough to have any credibility for a call at 3rd, he will have lost both distance and angle for a tag play on R2 at 2nd.
Having said that, the PU made a good decision by backing off once he saw BU had committed to making the call at 3rd. I would say his ability to read his partner was the key to how fluid this play looked. Had he forced the proper mechanic in this situation, it could have led to the always popular double call at 3rd. This is definitely a lesson better learned over some of your "malted barley" than on the field.
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