Quote:
Originally Posted by bob jenkins
Since the catcher didn't move, Dave read this as a "block" type play (rather than a "swipe tag" type play). 1BLX is proper for the block.
|
After watching very few big league games over the past few years and working as a fill-in in the PCL and talking to friends that are going up and down I have decided that while MLB has no officially changed the way umpires take plays at the plate, the umpires on the field have.
It seems to me that the start at 3BLX and adjust their angle from there on both swipes and blocks. I have tried this this year and I love it. I usually end up some where between the middle of 3BLX and the 1BL all the way up to in fair territory. It is amazing the looks you can get on both plays, and I have also noticed I have yet to run into a member of the offense there.
If you google clips of plays at the plate or look a pics of MLB umpires, do a photo news search of umpire, you will see just about every play of both types taken from the area that I am talking about. I hope that someone comes out with this mechanic in writing so that it can help people get the best look possible based on thourough analysis.
Just my 2 cents.