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When I first started officiating baseball, this was one of the hardest things for me to grasp. I felt as if I had to see the whole play in order to make the right call. I found out that although there are times when this is true, for the most part I could'nt watch the foot and listen for the ball into the glove, because I was in too much of a hurry to make the call.
I used to question myself, how I could sit in the stands and get every call right and then go out onto the field and bang those close ones. I soon found out about "ties that go to the umpire", taking my time to watch, listen and call the play, and before I knew it, I was very seldom getting any calls at first wrong. Some people say that this comes natural to them, but I found it difficult until I learned to relax and take my time.
One point that I found helpful from a Gerry Davis training video was to place my hands on my knees and watch the action. This gave me an extra second for a mental instant replay, from the time it took me to raise my hands off my knees to actually makeing and signaling the call. Another hint at first is to let the runner pass the base and you, before you make your call. Putting all these things together also helps develop your confidence and before long your never missing a call. Then you get cocky and miss one, time to go back to the basics. Exactly as you stated "pause, read and react".
It is much more important to get the call right on the bases. Behind the plate coaches are more forgiving with balls and strikes. On the bases, every runner is a potential run.
Good luck
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