[Ranger]

As soon as you think you know it all, a new play happens at the plate that proves you wrong. The rule on plays at the plate is that there is no hard and fast rule. The biggest single common position mistake on plays at the plate is distance. Most of this discussion seems to center around angle.

1. Go straight back to the point of plate.

Dave Davies has most of this right. He says PU goes back to the point of the plate. He never gave any distances so I will. As a play develops PU backs up to the grass line at the point of the plate to watch the play develop. I have seen even "experienced" umpires not back up. They stay close and never recover as the play finally explodes on them.

2. Observe the play develop. Begin to make small adjustments. Key on the flight of the ball thrown toward the plate. Key also on the position of the catcher. The catcher will take you to the play. Stay about 12 feet from the catcher. If you get any closer you risk being in the way and losing the field of vision necessary to see the whole play.

3. Dave has the two primary options right.

IF the ball is beating the runner, usually the catcher will have the ball waiting to apply the tag. When the catcher has time he will block the plate and the runner will be forced to run directly toward the catcher. The first base line extended is best here. Do not get closer than 12 to 14 feet from the tag. In this position you will most often see the gap close between the runner and catcher. This will usually be a very easy call. If PU is on the 3B line extended he will see the number on the back of the catcher. X-Ray vision will often be required to see a tag from 3B line extended.

IF the ball is not beating the runner, the catcher is at the mercy of the throw. On this play the umpire must key the throw and try to keep the runner and catcher in view. Since the catcher has no time to catch the ball and set up, the umpire will be positioning himself for a sweep tag. The way this play usually develops is for the runner to be running wide, outside of the baseline, so that if the catcher gets the ball in time, the catcher will have to swing the tag back toward the runner as the runner tries to get around the catcher. In this case, if the umpire is on the 1st base line extended, he will often not see the tag because the runner's body will be screening the catcher and the tag. Davies is in good position for this one also. He went 3B line extended and will be focusing on the area between the runner and the catcher as the runner tries to run wide to avoid the tag. Do not get too close. The runner is not trained or motivated to avoid hitting the PU.

Be careful to keep a good distance. If you get your nose right down in there, as Porter suggests, you will be too close. Remember the runner and catcher are both moving. Our field of vision will narrow the closer we get. A wild play is easily missed if you are closer than 10 feet.

Review the basics on this one. The umpire must make adjustments as the play develops. He must constantly fight for optimal angle and distance. The best angle will be the position that allows him to see the space between the catcher and the runner. The two main types of plays require very different positions to achieve that perfect angle. The wrong position will cause the runner or the catcher to screen the PU view of the tag.

If this play is read correctly and executed correctly by PU the odds favor the umpire. There are many exceptions to this general mechanic but few that can be anticipated. This mechanic is complicated and involves some risk, but if understood and practiced correctly, give us our best odds.