[IRISHMAFIA]

Yes, McClelland saw the play. So did thousands of other people, but I did not say that I believe he saw the play at the proper angle. He had a two dimensional view. You talk about a 4th dimension, this umpire didn't have a 3rd.

He was in the MLB prescribed position, IMO, not the best.

A four umpire crew would matter under a softball scenario as we are trained to watch whatever play we can and do not get hung up on territory if input is needed. Don't know how many times I've heard baseball umpires talk about his play or my play and going for help is out of the question. Granted, old school, but it is still there.

On this play, the four umpire crew would not have made a difference. However, on other plays facing the infield, a PU on 3BL could get help from the base umpires, if necessary and the umpire is willing to use it. Again, in softball, we do not have the luxury of an umpire for each base and responsibilities are different.

Maybe you have seen this mechanic work. I have seen the mechanic not work and it was a Phillies game, again. Runner sliding at the plate. Catcher tagged the runner on a raised, bent knee and the umpire ruled the runner safe. What the umpire did not see was that the extended leg was not near the plate at the time of the tag. Maybe it was that baseball philosophy that a high tag equals safe or maybe the 3BL was a bad angle. The announcers and everyone else who saw the replay not only thinks, but knows the umpire blew a call made from a knee on the 3BL at the rim of the dirt.

I believe the ASA prescribed positioning gives the umpire a set-up which gives the umpire the best view for the multitude of possibilities and flexibility to move with the play.

IMO, there are too many umpires being pushed at the higher levels to be at point A and that's the end of the story. In the recent NCAA, there were umpires so intent on getting to point A, they almost lost the play. One umpire was so intent on getting to the 90 for the call at 1B, the umpire literally stepped into the middle of a possible play. Another so busy working the rim on a call at 3B, the possibility of a play seemed to be overlooked as the umpire placed themselves behind the play and would have missed any tag.

People talk about ASA umpires being too robotic. I would rather have an umpire be willing to get to a position to make sure of the best view and give a standard signal than have an umpire get to his/her prescribed point and make a call on a play not completely seen.

JMHO